There’s a lot been said about taxes in Hoboken and some of it remains shrouded in mystery. Hoboken taxpayers have received notices for the first quarter and beyond that should know the rest of the year is not as clear as some have suggested.
Let’s use sound and fury Councilwoman Beth Mason as an example. (Sorry Councilwoman can you please stop placing that target on your back?) Clearly, someone is not over the political reality of the election last year because they’re still fighting the battles waged back then. The Councilwoman is quoted in the Hudson Reporter this week,
“In November, Councilman Bhalla said that I was lying when I accused the administration of hiding a tax increase. He personally guaranteed a tax cut. Voters learned who was telling the truth when higher tax bills arrived after the election.”
Well if you think this statement has merit at face value, you’re in for a bit of a reality check. Let’s make it clear Da Horsey style – by talking to the source. Earlier this week MSV contacted the Hoboken tax office and asked for some clarification on the taxes for 2010. What we learned and we’re going to sound this out in line by line points so some politicians can more easily follow:
a) The increase in the first quarter bill is due to tax appeal judgements against the City.
b) There’s no clarity, or to quote “no idea” on the second quarter yet
c) The second quarter along with the third and fourth will be determined by upcoming budget decisions made by both the mayor and City Council. Fiscal State Monitor Judy Tripodi also has a role as she presented the introduced budget.
So where does that put us? In a somewhat cloudy unattractive position with the second quarter looking to be about the same and undecided for the third and fourth quarter. Councilman Michael Lenz indicated he would have more details based on certain outcomes over the next couple of weeks. That roadmap will probably be clearer at that point.
As for Councilwoman Mason, she accused then Acting Mayor Zimmer of “hiding the budget” along with a 15% tax increase. For the record MSV would like to say we hold the Councilwoman accountable for her statements now linking back to the election. And she’s equally wrong then as now. Worse, she has failed to offer any substantial reductions she said she would in her very own newsletter last month: zero, nada, zip. Same goes for her now close political ally, the self-proclaimed budget hawk Councilman Mike Russo.
Mayor Zimmer in an interview last month along with Fiscal State Monitor Judy Tripodi both demonstrated a seriousness in addressing the tax situation in Hoboken. The mayor ran on a platform of reducing taxes 25% and stated on her election night victory taxes would be reduced year over year. Although we’re not convinced the target is achievable, MSV is going to hold the mayor to her word and see that she strives for that mark. Nothing less is acceptable, nor should it be.
At the same time, let’s not allow elected officials in Hoboken believe they can play fast and loose with the truth. Councilwoman Beth Mason is looking more and more unrecognizable to the person MSV thought we’d be casting a ballot for last spring. We’re sure a lot of folks out there feel the same.
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Councilman Russo stated in last night’s meeting there should be a “higher standard” of elected city officials. MSV was not able to attend or view the meeting but looks forward to following up with the Councilman.
He’s emailed that his City Council remarks be posted in their entirety here. MSV would be happy to do so and requests that Mr. Russo submit them along with answers to the two questions emailed yesterday:
Why is there overwriting on a 2007 ELEC report from David Corrigan that looks to be backdated to 2006?
Please describe your knowledge of David Corrigan’s contract within that period in regards to the Pay to Play ordinance?
Pay to play is apparently all the rage in the land. And now MSV enters that fray (again) with an exclusive story questioning a 2007 filing by Councilman Michael Russo. We plan on following up with the Councilman to find out how a bunch of entries for 2007 has one written over and appears to be back dated to 2006. Why?
Take a look at page 2 – SCHEDULE A. It’s the amount of $1,000 and it’s from former Hoboken counsel David F. Corrigan. The total contribution shows as $2,500.
Do we have a real pay to play violation on our hands? As for this filed document, any falsification of the document by backdating an entry itself is a violation. The question being; why are all these entries in this ELEC filing for 2007 except one that appears magically written over? How did the entry concerning contributions from David Corrigan land up in a document of 2007 contributions AS 2006?!
City of Hoboken announces:
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– The City of Hoboken announced today that it will hold a public meeting on Monday, March 8th at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall to update the community and discuss the design of the underground wet weather pumping station which is being constructed by the North Hudson Sewerage Authority on the south side of Observer Hwy between Hudson and Washington streets.
Now that Frank Romano has withdrawn his application for superintendent, the school board has a second chance to hire a new leader for our district—and a chance to do it right this time. The “Real Results” team for the April 20 school board vote—Elizabeth Markevitch, Perry Lin, Kathleen Tucker and John Forsman—vows to push for a careful, transparent and comprehensive search if elected.
Markevitch, Lin, Tucker and Forsman would all bring practical, hands-on business and management experience to the board. Here is their plan to handle the search process if elected:
“1) HIRE A FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES. Often the best candidates are not looking for new jobs, especially in this economy. It is a search firm’s mandate to ferret out and persuade highly qualified individuals to consider switching jobs. The top school districts in the state use search firms and we must do the same.
“1) HIRE A FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUPERINTENDENT SEARCHES. Often the best candidates are not looking for new jobs, especially in this economy. It is a search firm’s mandate to ferret out and persuade highly qualified individuals to consider switching jobs. The top school districts in the state use search firms and we must do the same.
“2) MAKE SURE THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 CANDIDATES WORTH INTERVIEWING. Competition is healthy. It gives the board a sense of the talent level available and leads to better decision-making. In Hoboken’s case, the last search was so superficial that naturally the results turned out poorly.
Yesterday Mark Mauer at the Jersey Journal noted a change for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The Hoboken bars will be opening two hours earlier to 9:00 am.
We’ve noted our concerns about the parade being held on a Saturday again and the lack of seriousness leading into the the 2010 version back in January – “Horse Sense: St. Patrick’s Coming Titanic Disaster.”
There’s been some changes after that story was posted and they are not altogether lacking in improvement. Public Director Angel Alicea spoke to MSV in City Council Chambers about doubling the force with aid from nearby localities and of course the “zero tolerance” policy has been trumpeted over and over with $2,000 fines now the maximum penalty.
Tonight’s City Council meeting should offer a few surprise and more of cough, cough the same. With the State police audit’s possible implementation on the resolution pack list, it’s going to be interesting to see what the Old Guard does or puts forward other than the typical obstruction of serious business. On the important issue of the budget, there’s been absolutely nothing put forward, zero. From the self-proclaimed “budget hawk” Councilman Mike Russo or “the football guy” a double zero. (Someone place an order at Stan’s for his football jersey.)
Hoboken Revolt sent out a communication to its members in the Hoboken community. They have been regularly attending City Council meetings. Here’s the latest:
All are urged to attend and lend your voices to demand significant cost cutting as recommended by the audit regarding the Police Department, other public safety departments and in all other city Departments.The Mayor and members of the City Council joined with Hoboken Revolt to compel the release of the State’s Department of Community Affairs police audit last week. Hoboken Revolt dedicated significant time and resources and communicated directly with the Governer’s office through State contacts, full page media advertisements, e-mails, telephone calls and faxes. Hoboken Revolt continues to make significant strides in fulfilling our mission, which includes ensuring fiscal transparency and responsibility in City Government.
We have elected a Mayor and city council that has pledged to cut spending. Hoboken Revolt urges them to consider the audit and provide leadership to address the safety needs of the City while implementing reasonable cost-cutting actions based on the audit findings and recommendations.
The audit is over 50 pages long and includes recommendations related to equipment, training, facilities and staffing. The following recommendations stand out: