Going mano a mano in the first ward, the fourth with an appearance from the unopposed third. In the first ward match-up, a real donnybrook with Michael DeFusco highlighting Councilwoman Theresa Castellano’s voting record time after time. This council debate was one big dust up.

Gloves came off and bombs were flying. This one was the most engaging in some time. More to come.

Downtown City Council Candidates Forum

Tonight, Thursday, October 15th,  7pm – 9pm

Multiservice Center

(124 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ) 

Be an informed voter on November 3! There’s one more candidates forum tomorrow night brought to you by the Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition as part of its series of election-year candidates’ forums, a tradition the Coalition has maintained for over a decade. On Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 pm, come to the Multiservice Center at 124 Grand St. to hear the candidates vying to represent the First, Third and Fourth Wards in Hoboken City Council answer your questions about issues, policies and their qualifications for office.  The forums give Hoboken voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates running for City Council ward seats and Board of Education in the November 3, 2015, election. These events are moderated by Bob Bowdon, a professional interviewer and longtime resident of Hoboken, who has conducted QLC-sponsored forums over the last eight years. Written questions are solicited from the audience and submitted to a panel of Hoboken Quality of Life board members, who will select the clearest and most concise questions on a wide range of topics. Each candidate will have an opportunity to make opening introductory and closing remarks, and a timekeeper will ensure that time limits are respected in answering questions. The events this year are as follows: • Uptown City Council Races: 2nd, 5th, & 6th Wards – Wednesday, September 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 1005 Washington St. • Board of Education forum – Monday, October 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace School Auditorium, Willow Ave. at 5th St. • Downtown City Council Races: 1st, 3rd, & 4th Wards – Thursday, October 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Multiservice Center, 124 Grand St. Video from the first two candidates forums has been posted to the QLC website for anyone who missed the live events. Please share this with your neighbors.  http://www.qlchoboken.org/news/qlc-to-host-3-candidates-forums-for-city-council-boe-elections

These events are free and open to the public.  Please share this invitation.  All are welcome!

About the Forums
These events are arranged by the Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition, Inc., and moderated by Bob Bowdon, a professional interviewer and longtime resident of Hoboken, who has expertly conducted QLC-sponsored forums over the last eight years. These events have consistently delivered a lively exchange of policy ideas, opinions and comments on issues that the voters themselves consider the most important.

Written questions will be solicited from the audience and submitted to a three-person panel, who will select the clearest and most concise questions on a wide range of topics. Candidates will have a minute and a half to respond to each question, and a one-minute rebuttal will be allowed with permission from the moderator. Each candidate will have an opportunity to make one-minute opening introductory and closing remarks, and a timekeeper will ensure that time limits are respected in answering questions.  Read More...

The following report comes courtesy of John Heinis at the Hudson County View:

Hoboken Ward 5 Councilman Peter Cunningham said his track record regarding the city’s finances speaks for itself, further expressing his desire to continue to serve the Mile Square City, also taking a parting shot at his opponent in the process.

For the complete story, see the Hudson County View:

http://hudsoncountyview.com/hoboken-ward-5-councilman-cunningham-touts-track-record-jabs-at-gonzalez/

Talking Ed Note: Less than three weeks to Election Day, accountability matters. Read More...

There’s three weeks to Election Day and trend lines are emerging in the winner takes all council majority sweepstakes. Six of the nine Hoboken City Council seats are up for election and five of the council ward seats are heavily contested.

The appearance last week by statewide powerhouse for NJ governor in the form of Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop at the fundraiser of Mayor Dawn Zimmer for her council slate gave the OGs the willies. 

Mayor Steve Fulop of Jersey City with Mayor Dawn Zimmer in Hoboken set OG’s tongues wagging. Their laments and tales of woes are increasing along with in-fighting about the mayor’s ability to turn out the vote in key wards especially the heart of Hoboken for Jen Giattino and Peter Cunningham in the 6th and 5th. Who turns out their votes on Election Day points to the victor and who will hold the reins with a critical City Council majority.

Cries of panic, lack of manpower, volunteers and fears that HudCo is not with them (and won’t be) saving the day emerged after that event at Arthur’s reportedly added a significant haul to the citywide efforts to engage and turn out the vote. Anthony “Stick” Romano is all in and as a county freeholder knows the cavalry isn’t coming. HudCo thinks the Russo faction ticket in Hoboken is much too toxic to go near let alone support. They’ll cash the big, fat Mile Square taxpayers’ checks and call it a day. Also recall, it was in November 2012 directly after Hurricane Sandy the power barely came back on in time for the election but when it did, massive numbers backed moving to November elections. This despite every argument the OG could muster against such a proposition where paid voters re: “campaign workers” becomes an ever more expensive proposition to beat the teaming masses of regular voters and win elections. Ironically, this election does not feature the presidential sweepstakes atop and that’s the last OG hope remaining. Low turnout is their friend as is subsidized housing residents where their reliable vote does as told. See Applied Housing as the biggest example uptown of that quotient but the question remains between that and a more rebellious minded resident smelling a sea change in the stranglehold of old time corruption, is it enough? There’s no money bags to be found within the Old Guard’s midst although Carmelo Garcia is importing much loot from his Democratic Assembly campaign he knew would never happen. The midtown sixth ward race between Garcia and Councilwoman Jen Giattino is the flash point citywide. It’s the epicenter of how many people will see and hear The Wire’s lying eyes versus the disciplined low key ballet dancer with the actual track record of success much like Reform in the last several years. The last City Council meeting (MSV did not attend) showed signs of getting squirrely and not a little desperation. In public portion, hired hands, shrill voices and whining about the trend line of Hoboken’s park efforts and its improvements were called a stab in the back and made for a muddled mix. =&0=& Much of those differences centers on big development having its way in the Mile Square. (And you think rush hour traffic is bad now?) The Old Guard council members are as their history proves not willing but eager to sell Hoboken out to the highest bidder and cash in behind closed doors making out of town friends and earning favors for their friends and family. HBO be damned, the Hoboken Sopranos are on the air! At the Hudson Reporter debate, Peter “Monarch Man” Biancamano finished his boilerplate scripted lines saying he promised not to break any he’s committed. He of course failed to mention he’s not committed or promised to fight the Monarch Project, a major NJ developer which did exactly that in a contract with the City of Hoboken. Monarch Man can only find words to blame Hoboken in that costly legal wrangle. Pete Biancamano all but admits he’s Beth Mason’s Develop or Die third term. When it comes to big developer broken contracts, he neither sees nor hears any problem worth opposing: even with his Monarch Man super vision.

Peter “Monarch Man” Biancamano promises to keep his word but he’s said nary a single word against the Barry family and their “strong armed” voter tactics in their Applied buildings or their broken promise and contract with the City of Hoboken for tennis courts and open space in the northeast corner. So there you have it, he’s keeping his word with the Barry’s and big developers and wants Applied votes. Any questions?

Biancamano is compromised by his dire need to have Applied Housing and the Barry family turn out the vote by hook or by Raul. Short of that, he isn’t seeing liftoff against Tiffanie Fisher who is finding her stride with a true to life grassroots campaign of Reformers who want to put the nightmare of Beth Mason behind them once and for all. Speaking of the current occupant of the second ward council seat, the rumors are growing louder she’s turned over the street money machinery of Applied and the Barry family along with the Mason family checkbook to Peter Biancamano’s second ward council campaign. (Pablo, show us the money on the ELEC report. That’s a big issue in these parts when it comes to counte$$ and her family checkbook.)  The other Mason family beneficiaries are said to be Eduardo Gonzalez in the fifth ward in his race against incumbent Peter Cunningham and Mister Carmelo in his bid against Councilwoman Jen Giattino. It’s not an election without that ole Mason vindictiveness. It’s oozing out sooner than later. Bonnie Murray is playing her Tiffanie-light role perfectly as both a lightweight candidate who doesn’t take on the x-ray vision of Monarch Man or serious campaign activities. Yesterday, Grafix Avenger said a vote for the wife of “Bathtub Brian” is a vote for Peter Biancamano. She’s not wrong and one long time activist is fuming at Murray’s attempt to take credit for the work of others in the second ward. In the fifth ward, Councilman Peter Cunningham is building on his effective governance rallying friends old and new to marshal up the grassroots for another effective thrust. His opponent Eduardo Gonzalez wants to focus on a free developer deal, trading acres scheduled for parks and a first ever northwest municipal garage he launched right out of confidential negotiations in a closed session City Council meeting. Gee, who let that cat out of the bag before it’s due date again Mikie?  What Gonzalez would like to talk about is the new digs of the Elysian School and what a nice guy he is with those parents. What he doesn’t want to talk about is the years he spent voting for every foul action by Carmelo Garcia on the Hoboken Housing Authority board. The acrid financial doings occurred on his watch and backing. Or have we also forgotten the huge redevelopment scam in 20/20? Besides, look at the other political friends he’s keeping.  Do you think that will be kept under wraps until Election Day? Please stay clear of the coming Horsey stampede. No one rides for free on the Mikie Russo ticket bandwagon. Speaking of stampedes, there’s a two footed hoofer in the first ward scaring the wilikers out of poor Councilwoman Theresa Castellano. She’s not literally poor but there’s poor in health as in when she callously said there’s other bidders in the last minute effort to see St. Mary’s shuttered and there’s poor in spirit. Sometimes you give up the ghost politically speaking when the grim reaper of accountability awaits you at the election polls.  Some say she’s suffering badly from a case of Fuscophobia? Mike Defusco is hoofing it in the first ward with the single-minded focus of the Terminator. The worst is not evident as he’s holding not a single secret weapon but two. It’s been cleared up? Well, almost.

The Terry Castellano nemesis in the first ward is on the move. On Election Day, a secret weapon or two may see things, “cleared up.”

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The Tim Occhipinti campaign for City Council announces:

Friends and Neighbors,

Please take a few minutes and watch this short video highlighting all the quality of life improvements in our neighborhood. The Southwest Park, new open space at 1st and Jackson Street, getting our roads repaved, upgrading both pocket parks on Jackson & Jefferson Streets, the revitalization of Mama Johnson Field and our revamped Community Garden with a quick stop at Big Banner! I also highlight our challenges as we work together to move the 4th Ward Forward including the delayed traffic signal at the Light Rail crossing, the Redevelopment Plan for Southwest Hoboken, traffic on Jackson Street, and getting more of our roads paved. And of course we had to stop in Jack’s Cabin and have their chicken and waffle sliders! 

Moving the 4th Ward Forward With Tim Occhipinti    Today is the last day to register to vote for November’s election. The Clerk’s Office will remain open until 9pm in City Hall this evening for you to register. Please forward to any friends who may need to register. I respectfully ask for your continued support and that you vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3 to re-elect me as your 4th Ward council representative.  Best,  Tim Occhipinti 4th Ward Councilman timothy.occhipinti@gmail.com    timocchipinti.com  News Reach Higher BoE slate ‘Three weeks left to Election Day’ 10/13/201501/22/2021 by SmartyJones2 Min Reading The Reach Higher BoE Slate announces: Dear Friends, Last week, the Reach Higher team faced off against their opponents at the Board of Education Candidates Forum.  Unlike their opponents, Tom, Sheillah, and Addys demonstrated understanding of the issues facing the district and showed that they are ready for the challenges they will face as board members. There are only three weeks to go before the November 3rd election, and we have much work to do to spread the word to ensure high voter turnout. Our all-volunteer campaign needs financial help to reach as many Hoboken voters as possible — especially with the printing and postage for a city-wide mailing on the eve of the election. To that end, we’re aiming to to raise $15K by this coming Friday, October 16th. No amount is too small and every dollar counts. Your contribution will ensure the visibility of our candidates and allow our message — a message of positive leadership and commitment to school improvement — to be heard. Please consider a contribution to Reach Higher Hoboken. You can donate online at http://contribute.reachhigherhoboken.com Or make checks payable to “Reach Higher Hoboken” and mail to:  Reach Higher Hoboken  c/o 515 4th Street, #309 Hoboken, NJ 07030 Read More... News Carmelo Garcia slanders Councilwoman Jen Giattino in defending his duplicitious audiotaping 10/12/201501/22/2021 by SmartyJones1 Min Reading =&0=& At the Hudson Reporter council debate, outgoing lame duck Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia defended his secret taping of Hoboken’s former NJ Senate President Bernie Kenny claiming he did it due to collusion by the Hoboken Housing Authority Chair Dana Wefer and pointing to Councilwoman Jen Giattino as a “culprit” in a conspiracy against him. The secret Garcia taping however came many months before any action by the Hoboken Housing Authority commissioners looking into his questionable practices as HHA Executive Director of whom Dana Wefer would become chair. Read More... News Happy Columbus Day! 10/12/201501/22/2021 by SmartyJones1 Min Reading Channel 7 will broadcast the parade live at noon with 40,000 marchers and 1,000,000 spectators.