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Resolution 4: an appointment to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority – for all the poopie.

Alea Iacta Est is the Latin phrase for “the die is cast.”

The full resolution pac is here:
http://www.hobokennj.org/docs/council/respack16/1.20.16.respac.pdf

=&0=& “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other” Steinbeck wrote in the Grapes of Wrath. If that’s the deal connected to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority, many in the Mile Square public aren’t buying and the traffic here yesterday spiked showing a growing not lessening interest. What’s been derisively described as the 2-5 plan: two years for Frank “Pupie” Raia on the back end and five more years for the current commissioner Brian Assadurian on the front end is all the rage and will be on the table tonight. No one connected to City Hall is owning up to it but pulling a switcheroo on an expiring five year board seat with no one in the public actually invited to apply speaks volumes on transparency and good government or the lack thereof. The musical chairs insider game is but one aspect that has observers troubled. What happens with setting a precedent of revolving board members =&1=& with years remaining on their terms shuffled to the front of the line? Who’s to say when the line crosses from ethical to illegal and public outrage?  Yesterday, Grafix Avenger wrote, “I trust there’s been no Let’s Make a Deal” but long time Hoboken politicos ridicule the notion when anything comes to Raia. They’ve seen this movie many times before and believe whenever Raia is involved there’s always a deal and it’s subject to renegotiation at any time. That’s the mechanics of the past and present but for reform oriented voters the mere thought spurs antipathy of such an incestuous entanglement, political expediency be damned.  Commenter Keyston Minions summed up much of the on the ground sentiment of many Reform supporters writing: As for the NHSA itself, the day to day head Dr. Richard Wolff, the Executive Director is said to be fine with any outcome voted in Hoboken by the City Council.

In the quarter century of the Sewerage Authority’s existence, there’s not much sunlight on the finer details of its operations and expenditures. Raia as it turns out has been sitting at the wheel of the SS Sewerage for the entire existence of the agency. The board’s legal counsel is said to be a partner in Hoboken with Raia on multiple real estate holdings including the upcoming Northwest development zone and is a 25% owner on another development project with former partner URSA Tarragon seen before the Hoboken Planning Board last fall. Read More...

The toilet may be ready to flush and it’s the Pupster who is on the bubble. Initially with Frank Raia the strong favorite facing =&0=& on the North Hudson Sewerage Authority, there’s now =&1=& sources close to the City Council suggesting more than a hint of trouble for another five year term. One source close to the City Council retreated from an earlier weekend position saying from the reform viewpoint, giving Frank “Pupie” Raia nothing is “a little bit dangerous” with both a mayoral and three at-large council seats up for election next year. Then earlier today, the same source stated the effort to obtain votes to get Raia back on the Sewerage Authority were not there. “Despite best efforts, there’s no political capital (votes)” to get him in Wednesday night. They did a full pivot highlighting a new potential “win-win” for Reform seeking commissioner Brian Assodurian slotted into Raia’s expiring five year seat and upstart Kurt Gardiner – who jumped in with two feet before letting any political official know his application was in – seeing a two year seat to back fill that term. The only problem with this brave new world? Other sources close to the reform council team could not confirm what the other source is saying. Another reliable source intimate to the council appointment offered without asking or hesitation on a so-called reform “win-win” flatly saying of the new scheme, “I don’t know it to be true.” MSV was unable to confirm that Frank Raia was DOA for =&2=& the five year term =&3=& a two year term which would follow if NHSA commissioner Brian Assodurian is voted in on Wednesday night to a full five year term. (His current term expires in two years.) So Hoboken is on standby as the drama continues to play out and Wednesday’s night resolution no. 4 awaits a name to be filled in to the NHSA five year term. Meaning Kurt Gardiner continues to be the upstart underdog with Frank Raia twisting in the wind and both facing a possible mano-a-mano recommissioned battle in two weeks as the original “compromise plan” falls off the earth.

A five year reappointment appears less likely for the Pupster on the NHSA but multiple sources close to the City Council appear unable to confirm he may be completely flushed. If the current commissioner on the NHSA is shifted and approved for a five year term Wednesday night, a two year term will be up in the air likely for at least two weeks in February. Pupie vs. Gardiner death match 2016?

=&4=&: Stay tuned, this very rocky ride ain’t over! MSV will be back with updates on this exclusive story. All we’ll add is poor Sully at the Hudson Reporter has not a clue of what’s going on and never bothered to speak to Kurt Gardiner. Will someone buy the poor guy a clue? What’s clear to this murky point is a Pupie reappointment is being hindered by a =&5=& which has been filtering up to the mayor and Hoboken City Council members. The final verdict however is still very much in doubt.  =&6=&

Sitting in “Pupie Park” a small area by Shoprite, Kurt Gardiner stated his case to John Heinis of the Hudson County View who filed this report.

Hudson County View spoke with Hoboken’s Kurt Gardiner about why he wants to be appointed to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority early this afternoon outside of the city’s Shop Rite. 

Many expected prominent developer Frank Raia, a member of the NHSA board for over two decades, to get re-appointed to his seat at Wednesday’s city council meeting, but Gardiner has made things a little trickier by submitting a NHSA application last week. Gardiner, a former freeholder candidate, said he wants to sit on the board to help address Hoboken’s flooding problem, as well as to ensure more transparency on the board. He also believes that Raia potentially has conflicts with the NHSA due to business dealings he has with Frank Leanza, legal counsel for the board.

Gardiner concluded by stating this has nothing to do with plotting a future run for office or any other type of ulterior motives.


For the complete story see: http://hudsoncountyview.com/as-hoboken-council-vote-looms-gardiner-still-pushing-for-nhsa-appointment/ Read More...

                               

“I have a dream that my four
little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by
the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Read More...

A dear friend recounted the bad news. Her son, a young father was aiding a driver on the road in a tow operation when a drunk driver came on the scene hitting and putting him in critical condition.

He has a full year of rehabilitation ahead and his young family is left in tatters.

Anything you can do to aid in offsetting the costs of this tragic situation is certainly most appreciated.

The young man’s family would certainly appreciate any and all support: https://goo.gl/DQ6xkU

On Friday morning, a familiar name announced his desire for reconsideration for the full five year seat expiring this month on the North Hudson Sewerage Authority.

Reconsideration, as he’s already an existing commissioner in a five year term on the same board.

The applicant, Brian Assadourian has served on the board for two years. His term isn’t set to expire until February 2018.

The application which raises eligibility, ethical and legal issues beyond the big tent of good government adherents created a firestorm in the comments section on Grafix Avenger where anonymous speakers let fly. Read More...

A litmus test of sorts with a mirror held to the Reform Movement in Hoboken is reflecting odd shadows depending on the angle of its holder.

Behind the scenes probing questions on problematic relationships are escalating as the pending vote for a seat on the North Hudson Sewerage Authority between decades long commissioner and Old Guard stalwart Frank Raia and his reform counterpart Kurt Gardiner approaches.

Yesterday, Grafix Avenger brought to light a long time questionable, some say incestuous relationship between Raia and the NHSA’s legal counsel Frank Leanza. Read More...

Newly sworn in Assemblywoman Annette Chapparo soaks in the moment with her guy, Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante and the former NJ Senate President Bernard Kenny seen here in Trenton earlier this week.

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Hoboken still needs a giant Hudson County tax cut and a good government update to a decades long occupied sewerage seat. Next week the City Council gets to make a choice.

Yesterday, Grafix Avenger gifted Hoboken with one of her satrirical gems seen above.

Gifting is a popular theme in Hoboken.

Some people gift the Hoboken Housing Authority with approximately $40 a vote at election time with the self-serving argument ‘people have a right to work.’

Others fight for a decade to elevate a movement (and others) to deliver Hoboken out of a pit of corruption.

Some people use the school board as a jobs bank for friends and family.
Others fight for school reform and putting the money into the classroom. Read More...