Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason made a public call for financial documents from the Hoboken University Medical Center late this afternoon in a video production posted at Hoboken Now. We’re not sure which ones she’s looking for but there’s been an ongoing request. Most recently MSV attended a meeting in late 2009 and the hospital indicated it would cost $3,000 for duplication but they would be made available. It’s unclear if it’s related to this request. One thing Da Horsey does know, it’s not the mayor controlling the financial records of the hospital.
Office of Public Information announced:
=&0=& The Hoboken City Council will hold a day-long workshop on the proposed 2010 municipal budget on Saturday, January 30th beginning at 9:30 am in the Council Chamber in City Hall. The session will conclude at 5 pm. The entire workshop will be streamed live at hobokennj.org and supporting documents can be downloaded from the site. Tomorrow morning a video of the workshop will be aired on Channel 78. The public is invited, but questions will not be taken during the meeting. The schedule is as follows: 9:45am to 10:30am – Public Safety, 10:30 am to11:15 am – Environmental Services, 11:15 am to 12:30 pm – Health and Human Services, 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm – Community Development, 2:15pm to 3 pm – Transportation and Parking Utility, 3 pm to 4:30 pm – Finance/Administration/Corporation Council/Courts, 4:30 pm to 4:45 pm – Office of Emergency Management, and 4:45 pm to 5 pm Administration (continued). There will be a lunch break between 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. Each department director, along with Finance Director Nick Trasente, will lead their respective workshop.
Tomorrow the Budget Workshop is going to be held at City Hall from 9:30 to 5:00. The public is invited to listen but can not ask questions. You are required to submit questions in advance of the meeting to three Council people. Why? We have no idea. Why a Hoboken resident can’t attend and submit questions onsite is sorta like having a dog & pony show with no pony. And frankly it’s pissing this pony off.
So go on submit your questions. But if you forget one or two or something comes to mind and you happen to be sitting through this seven hour budget fest just know, you have the right to remain silent. Oh, they’ll be excuses about this and claims of how questions by the public can be voiced later but this is obviously not the most transparent approach for the public to interface with their local government. There’s no need for such buffering MSV can see. You’d be better off splitting up the Budget Workshop over two days in order to accommodate the public than doing it this way IDHHO (In Da Horsey’s Humble Opinion).
Barnes & Noble is going out of business leaving Hoboken with only Symposia a used bookstore when it closes March 31st. The Jersey Journal has the complete story.
Andrew Tavani has an excellent piece up now too over at Hoboken.patch.com.
On the right, we’ve added some noteworthy books, almost all are available in the kindle format for far less than the tree killing hardcopy versions. Even if you don’t have a kindle device, you can read a book
There’s only one way to watch an Obama speech whether it’s State of the Union, (sound off all 57 Islamic or American states now) or any other, with yet another 400 plus speeches surely lined up for this year. As it’s apparent he believes you and most Americans don’t understand how to listen to his teachable moments, he’s planning to give you more of the same with a few marginal colorations, suggesting a freeze on around 10% of the budget for a spell before declaring victory on the war on spending. But not yet, maybe next year.
Last night’s Hoboken University Medical Center’s monthly board meeting opened 2010 with a State transition report for Gov. Christie all but present in the room, stating it would close even with a $7 million dollar injection. That report was denied vociferously by CEO Spiros Hatiras and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley who handles external communications leading into last night’s meeting.
CEO Hatiras provided more financial detail on the projections for 2010 and a year end surplus along with reassurances the red ink slowed last year would turn around with the hospital being in the black by year’s end.
Seems like all you have to do these days to become a target is get suspended with pay for a couple of years and everyone is out to get you. The wheels of justice move very slowly in New Jersey and this case most recently came up in the City Council when Mayor Zimmer was its President. The frustration was evident by all but it seemed outside the scope of the City’s ability to influence or hasten the outcome. A lot of people in the Hoboken community are frustrated by the absurdity of being suspended with pay for two years. In this circumstance, it’s the State rules driving the process and it’s clearly an uninspiring one. More to come.
City of Hoboken’s Public Information Office announced today:
=&0=& =&1=& City of Hoboken, January 27, 2010 – Mayor Dawn Zimmer is calling for the suspension without pay of Lieutenant Angelo Andriani of the Hoboken Police Department pending a Hoboken Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau investigation resulting from an incident involving Lt. Andriani with the Tampa International Airport Police Department. The incident occurred on the morning of Monday, January 18th in which Lt. Andriani was involved in a “passenger causing disturbance” according to TSA Supervisor Taylor Johnson. “Lt. Andriani must be suspended without pay pending the IA investigation,” Mayor Zimmer said. “This type of behavior can not and will not be tolerated and we are taking swift and decisive measures to remedy the actions of this individual.” Lt. Andriani is currently suspended (with pay) by the City of Hoboken as the result of an alleged incident which occurred approximately two years ago. The incident at the Tampa International Airport is being investigated separately as a violation of administrative policies related to Lt. Andriani’s current suspension. In light of the recent incident, Mayor Zimmer is also calling on all parties to expedite the process involving the outstanding investigation involving Lt. Andriani. The alleged incident involved the Hoboken SWAT team which was subsequently disbanded. Mayor Zimmer has been and continues to demand a resolution to the outstanding SWAT team investigation. The public has waited long enough for a resolution of this case. =&2=& Although the two incidents are not linked, one can certainly say this most recent one is lending itself to spillage from the first. MSV is not sure about the requirements required to be satisfied in a suspension without pay in this more recent incident. We’ll be following it closely to see how it develops. This calls for emergency video from the Wile E. Coyote:Related: The Jersey Journal posts on the Tampa incident.
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The true test of the Hoboken University Medical Center lies directly ahead starting with the first Board meeting tonight at 7:00. After getting $7 million as an outgoing present from ex-Gov. Corzine before Christmas, they are now challenged to show they can make this institution work.
Since our town avoided the dagger to the eye at least for now, being $62 million on the hook in bonds in 2007, (thanks again to the Old Guard: Dave Roberts, Peter Cammarano, Mike Russo, Theresa Castellano and fellow council people) the challenge remains if HUMC executes their $12 million in annualized reductions in a faltering, staggering economy will change the tide and stave off red ink.
Stacks Pancake House & Cafe took a few hours last night to have a launch party for some select lucky guests thanking Hoboken for its warm welcome and sampling its menu for a group of family, friends, local business owners, journalists and bloggers among others. The pancakes and french toast were super, and the strawberry pancake version was absolutely divine and the blueberry didn’t come far behind with a fruity consistency through and through. (Owner Andrew Cohen pictured left holds a tray of the strawberry version with oh uhm, real maple syrup!)