Expects Supporters to apply a different set of rules for Team Zimmer

In a shocking email to supporters, Mayor Dawn Zimmer downplays, and asks Hobokenites to ignore, the multiple ethical and legal violations of Councilman Ravi Bhalla.  Calling allegations about Bhalla’s multiple ethical lapses “false” and “nonsense”, Zimmer asserts that Bhalla has an “outstanding reputation” and that it is essential to re-elect Bhalla, who is part of Team Zimmer.  The facts, however, demonstrate that it is Zimmer who is attempting to mislead the public.  Disturbingly, in his four years on the Hoboken City Council, Bhalla has been found by a myriad of law enforcement and regulatory agencies to flout professional, governmental, and legal standards a shocking number of times.  For example:

• In 2010, the Jersey Journal revealed that Bhalla flouted state laws meant to discourage the insidious practice of pay-to-play by failing to file legally mandated disclosures that would have revealed that he made thousands of dollars in political contributions while receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in public contracts. http://bit.ly/aeJkOw
• In 2011, the Office of Attorney Ethics, which regulates all lawyers licensed to practice law in New Jersey, disciplined Bhalla for irregularities involving his attorney-trust account. http://bit.ly/1ca4Bsg
• In 2012, Councilman Bhalla was issued four (4) citations , including driving with an expired and suspended license. http://bit.ly/181RJfE
• In 2013, Bhalla was issued a NOTICE OF VIOLATION by the Local Finance Board, the state entity that oversees municipal governments and officials, for voting on a public contract in which he had a financial interest. http://bit.ly/GYo29c

Unfortunately, Mayor Zimmer overlooking Ravi’s repeated violation of ethical and legal mandates is not surprising. Under her leadership, the City’s spending on outside legal counsel, including contracts to Ravi’s law firm, has more than tripled and legal contracts have gone to firms that have contributed to her re-election campaign in excess of the pay to play limits. This is simply unacceptable.

As Mayor, I will expect and demand only the highest ethical behavior from members of my Administration and from the City Council.

Thank you for your support.

Ruben