Official release:
Dear neighbors:Thursday there are two public hearings for the $12.9 Billion Hudson Tunnel Project up in Union City at 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The purpose of the hearing is to collect comments to the Draft Environmental Income Statement which is a large document that assesses the project’s impact on the surrounding environments.
The four top tier mayoral campaigns are in the throes of the dog days of August but it doesn’t mean there’s no muscle being exerted on the campaign trail.
As Hoboken sleepily moves through the summer, mayoral campaign aspirants are engaging in hand to hand combat, online and out on the streets of the Mile Square City.
One pro-DeFusco commenter here brazenly announced the impending death of the Stick Romano campaign this week. That foolish prediction piled on by defending Councilman Mike DeFusco’s stabbing Mayor Zimmer in the back with the excuse she asked for it. Let’s say neither is true and put that commenter out of their misery before they begin plans on how to operate on the hinter regions of farm animals.
Wednesday night and it’s approaching midnight, the magical time when City Council meetings no longer go on into the middle of the night and the wee hours of the morning.
After those council meetings would too often go long past the witching hour, the body changed its rules and made that rule to limit grandstanding and internecine warfare. Those snowflakes troubled by that actual historical revelation of fact may want to take this moment to claim their official MSV cyberhanky. A non-binding resolution on the matter of interstate right to carry for those threatened by the fear of a mass migration of law abiding Americans prepared for self-defense moving to vacation at the Jersey shore arose just before the midnight witching hour. City Council President Jen Giattino after introduction of the resolution attempted to call for a vote but Councilman Mike DeFusco wished to demonstrate his support for the “good intentions” while critiquing some aspect of his believed national interstate commerce violation. Not quite the correct shoe size but he pointed to the political electioneering on point of the non-binding resolution. Councilman Ravi Bhalla embraced the resolution suggesting it be sent to the appropriate New Jersey national legislators while interjecting after DeFusco he was not an actual sponsor. Later, Councilman Jim Doyle would note he’s not the sponsor either as the mayor’s office cited prior to the meeting. Who knows who the official co-sponsors are? What no one wants to be the Hoboken national candidate now, because of a Horse? Enter Councilman Michael Russo, a self-declared gun owner and “progressive Democrat” who has found salvation in the notion any legal carrying gun owner from another state should not trespass with such appalling rights to self-defense while entering New Jersey. Russo would go on to undercut DeFusco on the matter and make his rightful claim to be Hoboken’s national candidate for mayor. Is MSV saying Councilman Mike Russo is running for Hoboken mayor? No, but let’s say he’s keeping his options open as someone who “proudly stands as a progressive Democrat.” =&0=&: It’s the dog days of a global cooling summer but a tip of the hat to Mikie Squared for diving into that cynical play for national votes. Well done!As for Councilman Mike Defusco’s efforts to cut the matter both ways, the correct answer on the national question of civil rights here is not interstate laws but the 14th Amendment and equal protection under the law.
For those with interest in such little matters as the Bill of Rights and American civil rights, the question was recently taken up in the District of Columbia and highlighted in a Bloomberg article a few days ago.
The following report comes courtesy of the Hudson County View:
Although the Hoboken City Council pushed their vote on a new contract with Suez Water, council colleagues/mayoral hopefuls Mike DeFusco and Ravi Bhalla sparred over whether or not the latter had a conflict of interest. “Councilman Bhalla is also a partner [at Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt & Fader], I question whether this is a conflict of interest,” DeFusco said at last night’s council meeting. According to the New Jersey Law Journal, the aforementioned law firm received at least $130,000 in lobby fees from Suez.For the complete story, please see the Hudson County View:
http://hudsoncountyview.com/although-vote-pushed-hobokens-defusco-bhalla-spar-over-suez-water-contract/
Talking Ed Note: Councilman DeFusco is feeling his oats. He recently sent out a four color four page mailer to residents. It’s an investment that doesn’t come cheap. His website further detailed his position undercutting Ravi Bhalla on this topic of the negotiations on updating the Suez contract.
Metaphors of all shades and the politically incorrect kind aside, the four major campaigns are making headway and picking up steam in their Mile Square skirmishes. Independent council candidates are making noise and scoring points too.
Tonight some will feel obligated to make an appearance and speak out on the civil rights of Americans, for or against? One right gets buried beneath an avalanche of “safety” concerns to have it vanquished. That’s the Democratic Republic of Hoboken for you. With the big news on the Monarch – Ironstone Development legal news, MSV premium is delayed and after the warring on the City Council Wednesday night, there will be a special Friday MSV Premium edition.With all due respect to snowflakes who suffer micro-aggression harm when the word “war” appears in a headline or in a solitary sentence. Someone, grab them a cyber-hanky.
It’s nothing like what’s coming in Hoboken. The accusations, the contracts, the non-binding midnight resolutions. Oh and a conflict of interest charge by Councilman Mike DeFusco on his mayoral opponent, Councilman Ravi Bhalla and the law firm he works for that made well into six-figures with Suez, the water company the City of Hoboken is in negotiations with at present.
From the City of Hoboken website:
Message from Mayor Zimmer Regarding Plans to Continue Fighting Monarch Litigation Despite Today’s Court Setback
Today the NJ Appellate Division unfortunately decided in favor of the Shipyard Developer, ruling against the City regarding the Monarch Shipyard development agreement and the City and County Planning Board’s actions. Despite this setback, I am directing our legal team to continue the legal battle by requesting certification from the Supreme Court to hear this matter. Now that this decision has been made, the case regarding the City’s flood prevention ordinance will move forward beginning at the Superior Court level. This legislation, approved by the City Council after Superstorm Sandy, prohibits residential development on the garden/ground level in all flood zones in our City and generally prohibits residential and commercial development on our City’s waterfront. This legislation was unanimously approved by the City Council in 2013 to protect the public safety of future residents and to protect our public safety team which would have to respond in a dangerous situation when another superstorm hits Hoboken. Shipyard’s litigation claims that this legislation should not apply to their proposed waterfront development project. Making rescues on a pier in the middle of another superstorm will be dangerous for the first responders and the residents of the buildings, and the City will fight for our right to protect lives as we face the impact of climate change. Science shows that Hoboken is unfortunately at risk of another Sandy-like storm given the impact of climate change and rising sea levels. This flood prevention ordinance legal case is at the beginning stage, as the Superior Court judge determined that the other legal decisions needed to be made before the flood prevention ordinance could be heard. Given the track record of the other cases, it could take a long time for this matter to make its way through the court system. Our legal team is actively preparing to vigilantly defend this case. With the understanding that it would be a challenge for the City to prevail in this litigation, last year my Administration put forward a proposed settlement that would stop the Monarch project and give the City ownership of the pier in exchange for settlement of development litigation at 800 Monroe. I want to make clear that based on strong community feedback and the City Council’s unanimous decision last year to reject the proposed settlement, my Administration is not willing to consider a settlement that would link the two development cases and force a neighborhood in western Hoboken to take on more development. I fully recognize that a settlement that adds density to the western side of the city would not be fair. The City won the 800 Monroe development case at the Superior Court and is continuing to fight that case in the Appellate court.| David and Michael Barry of IronState Development. Their legal maneuver reneging on a profitable deal in northwest Hoboken means a NJ Appellate decision green lights the Monarch Project. Forget the tennis courts and parking promised as part of the highly profitable Shipyard development.
How many millions in profits is enough? Who keeps either of them on any Hoboken board in the Mile Square City has some ‘splainin’ to do. |
The August City Council meeting tomorrow will see a long and lengthy list of items. Among them the Suez Water contract and an odd item unrelated to any binding policy in the Mile Square City.
No one seems to know how it got on to the agenda and City Hall when contacted did not offer a response as to who is behind this non-binding resolution nor who is sponsoring it.
It’s not like the Hoboken City Council doesn’t have enough to do. There’s a fat resolution pack for the single August meeting.
Official release:
Dear friends and neighbors – I am so proud to introduce the three people I have invited to be on my At-Large Council slate. And I am thankful that each one accepted my invitation. They share my vision for Hoboken and know that this race is all about serving Hoboken and connecting our community: James Aibel, Sal Starace and Jason Ellis. Each Jim, Sal and Jason have the passion and commitment to represent Hoboken residents and have been active in our community.