We have the antidote after yet another spellbinding and drawn out City Council meeting. There’s been some developments worth noting but we’re holding off. How much foreboding news can a Hoboken resident take? So we bring you now some comic relief. It’s temporary, comes with no cost and will not cost you any more tomorrow for the laughs incurred today.
If this doesn’t give you a laugh, we owe you a refund.
Hoboken’s front and center again; this time Fred Phelps and his cult have decided Hoboken is the best place to deliver their message of hatred against our fellow Americans. First, for those of you who have not heard of the guy, his self-proclaimed “Christian” cult has taken it upon themselves to seek out America’s fallen soldiers and protest at their funerals calling the deaths the wrath of God for America’s tolerance of homosexuality. He’s made many similar protests at soldier’s funerals across the country with signs saying, “Thank God for dead soldiers” and “Thank God for 9-11.”
The Hudson Reporter to its credit got the heart of this story correct yesterday and is now reporting on a peaceful counter protest in Jersey City. Can Hoboken stand by with indifference now and feel ignoring this cult is the best antidote?
If you want a synopsis of the guy’s history, here’s a story here. The scheduled times of the Fred Phelps family, (most of the church members are apparently related to him) are: Hoboken City Hall, at 4:45 next Tuesday, October 27th, ostensibly to “raise awareness” about the NJ corruption arrests earlier this year. This is to be followed by a protest outside of the United Synagogue of Hoboken at 7:00 pm. They call this the “Just Say No to Goyum/Hebrew Criminal Enterprises Tour.” What a witty guy this Fred Phelps.
Hudson County pols and their infamous county machine as we all have come to know and love are mobilizing for election day two weeks out on November 3rd. There’s been varied speculation it has lost its power to do so with its ready and able foot soldiers indicted, convicted, plea bargaining and arrested by the dozens last summer. There’s one thing we know about a crime mob though, there’s always ready and willing but not always as capable foot soldiers ready to take their place. And even with the election just weeks away, we wonder if Hudson County voters will focus on the dark underbelly revealed in the dozens arrested last summer or the erstwhile efforts of Jon Corzine’s money marshaling the automatons to the polls, corruption and sky high taxes be damned.
Guess it all depends on how you define “past.”
Your honor, submitted for your approval: Councilman Mike Russo had a campaign manager lead him to election victory in 2007. FYI, his name: Peter Cammarano.
Okay, political junkies, in case you haven’t had enough of the candidates, here they are in an onsite debate at the Hudson Reporter. We are going to take a look and may also do a review on this one as well.
Click on the link or the title to go to their site for the video.
Those aficionados of a better Hoboken government are making haste in time for the weekend’s viewing replay of the mayoral debate. If you have a few minutes after watching, please take a closer look at the good work done on our behalf at People for Open Government. Even better toss a few dollars or better still $25 for annual support.
While we’re out doing what we have to do, it’s good to know someone is watching the store. Hit the link and don’t make Da Horsey beg for a carrot. Here’s their heads up:
Video broadcast should begin on Cablevision Ch78 at about 6:00 pm. The forum will be played in rotation with the last City Council and BOE meeting videos (BOE, Forum, CC, BOE, Forum, CC…etc).
Internet video should be available later today/tomorrow at:
People for Open Government.
Update: POG’s online video is up. You can watch the whole debate, or any combination of candidate and topic. Perfect. Enjoy!
There’s several ways to score a debate. Politicians use their own calculus but we’ll try to simplify it a bit. First, debating has a traditional scoring system and you can score it purely on the points made and how opponents do similarly or fail to respond. You can also score it on weight of argument, a less calculating method but combining the two is usually our favorite. In the political world, there are other less mathematical values about likability, horse race impact and other ethereal areas easily spun for hours and hours on end wherever a reporter and a microphone is available.
It’s election season in Hoboken, and politicians aren’t the only ones concerned about the budget or rather the lack of one. Although the fiscal state monitor, Judy Tripodi (pictured above) had a massive cleanup operation in year one, revealing all kinds of state of the art mismanagement and shoddy accounting practices, year two was thought and expected to be different. In fact, it’s showing itself to be more of the same with higher spend rates and no relief for overburdened taxpayers.
At the last City Council meeting, an “emergency” funding measure for the half year of $55 million was presented for passage. Not having sufficient detail to gain five votes, the measure failed. Many of those nay votes were based on a mixture of political concerns (that election again) but also the sense of been there, done that.
Hoboken Revolt, a local grass roots, taxpayer advocacy and watchdog organization is sounding the alarm of concern on the budget and the current cost implications of the ongoing negotiations with the police and fire unions.
Kristina Hahn, a spokesperson for the group states “Based on the current monthly expenditures being brought to the city council for approval every month to keep the city operating (while we are without a budget) the city will spend $120 million plus this fiscal year. That is unacceptable to the taxpayers who have been demanding cuts since last October. We are looking for Judy Tripodi (the state appointed fiscal monitor) to allow the council and mayor to actively participate in the budget process so they can represent the demands of the taxpayers and make cuts. As we move into the second phase of being under state control, phase one being the clean up, there needs to be taxpayer representation.”
It remains unclear if a budget will be available for review before the November 3rd special election. The timing is suspect, especially in looking beyond the local election to the statewide governor’s race. Last spring Judy Tripodi injected politics into the race when layoffs were raised (but not completed) shortly before voters went to the polls. Will there be a repeat performance? Gov. Jon Corzine who is technically the boss of the State fiscal monitor desperately needs as many union votes as possible and along with it a large margin delivered on his behalf in Hudson County to win re-election. How does this factor in the negotiations with Hoboken’s unions and who is representing the interests of Hoboken taxpayers?
In the spring, the budget consensus among the mayoral candidates was in the low ninety million range. What happened? No one, not even the Acting Mayor can say as there’s no budget with its completion only coming behind the conclusion of union negotiations. As Judy Tripodi does not answer to Hoboken’s residents and has declined to appear at any time on budget details before its representatives on the City Council, how do we know the best deal for taxpayers is executed until after the smoke clears and a fait accompli presented?
Wasn’t there a war about this? I think it was in some history books, something about taxation without representation.
Talking Ed Note: Current negotiations with the unions are confidential and City Council members not legally permitted as a party, however the question remains who is representing the interests of Hoboken taxpayers in those negotiations and what political concerns are going to be factored with a sitting Governor seeking re-election? Looking at the track record across the state of New Jersey, it doesn’t look good if you pay property taxes in Hoboken.
If any of this concerns you, Mile Square View suggests you contact Judy Tripodi’s boss, Jon Corzine and ask him who is looking out for the taxpayer’s interests? You can reach an aide to the Governor at his main office (609) 292-6000.
Some of you may recall, we’ve gone this route on another city matter last spring. Well there’s no time like now, right before an election. Just do it.
Related: How Judy Tripodi found her way to Hoboken
Judy Tripodi photo courtesy: Hoboken Now/Amy Sara Clark.
Disclaimer: SmartyJones is not only America’s most beloved pony but a participating member of Hoboken Revolt. Any opinions expressed here without attribution are solely and exclusively Smarty’s.
