News

HudCo slams Hoboken with 11.6% tax increase

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Hoboken saw another double digit increase in county taxes when the County Board of Freeholders last week passed a $525 million budget slamming the Mile Square City with a double digit increase of 11.6%.

Last year’s increase over 14% means Hoboken has seen more than 25% in increased taxes from HudCo in the last two years and almost 50% in the last five.

Anthony “Stick” Romano, the Freeholder representing Hoboken voted no on the Hudson County budget which easily passed 6-3.

Augie Torres laid out the bad news in a rather stoic political column on Saturday. Read More...

News

City Council President Bhalla: Rebuild by Design meeting; taxes, PATH and Washington Street updates

by SmartyJones4 Min Reading

From the desk of City Council President Ravi Bhalla:

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope your summer is off to a great start. I’m very excited about a few news updates and events and wanted to share them with you with the hope that you will stay informed and mark your calendars.

Rebuild By Design

On June 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., I hope you will join me at a public kickoff meeting for the Rebuild by Design Hudson River Project at the Babbio Center on the Stevens campus. I am proud to be co-chairing the Hoboken Citizens Advisory Group, which will provide feedback regarding this $230 million project to implement a comprehensive urban water strategy in the Hudson River. The money was awarded by the federal government following a Rebuild By Design competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As many of you know, flooding has always been an issue in Hoboken, but I am happy to report that through this historic project, we will be able to make chronic flooding in the streets of Hoboken a thing of the past. Please see the city’s website for more information.

Tax Update

I am proud to say that the City Council and Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s administration have kept the municipal tax levy flat for the upcoming year. We have been able to keep taxes under control through hard work and by making tough decisions.

Then why have your property taxes gone up?

Unfortunately, even though the City has held the line on taxes, the County of Hudson is calling for a tax increase to Hoboken of about 12%, or $285 for every $500,000 in assessed property value.  This happens year after year and I find it outrageous and unacceptable.  The current tax formula for the county punishes Hoboken because of our rising property values. As Mayor Zimmer noted in the Hoboken Reporter, Hoboken has 7.9 percent of Hudson County’s population but bears 20.6 percent of its county tax burden. I publicly spoke out against these increases to the Hudson County Freeholder Board last week at their public hearing in Hoboken, asking them to work harder to find a way to provide some relief to taxpayers. We continue to urge the county to find ways to trim the budget, even if that means making tough decisions like we have done here in Hoboken.

PATH Service

You may have also read about cuts in PATH service.   Mayor Zimmer and I met with Port Authority Director Patrick Foye and other representatives about the potential impact of these cuts, including ways to make sure Hoboken’s needs are met. I want you to know that Hoboken does have a place at the table in these discussions, and we are urging the Port Authority to work to accommodate the growth of Hoboken and reward riders for using public transit. 

Washington Street Update and Other Events

If you’re looking for better news, check out this great website from the City of Hoboken which outlines the proposed Washington Street Revitalization Project which, yes, includes a repaving!

Hoboken is also hosting a number of free events this weekend for Frank Sinatra’s 100th Birthday! Check out all the events here! It’s going to be great.

Fundraiser – June 25

Finally, I hope you will join me on Thursday, June 25 at 6 p.m. for a fundraiser I’m hosting at Hudson Tavern (51-53 14th St.). Please RSVP by June 24 and contact Jessica Lanfranchi at (201) 457-9000 with any questions. It is my sincere hope that you will spend the evening with me and discuss any issues that are important to you. If you’re unable to attend but would still wish to make a donation, please click here to visit my new website.

Like my page on Facebook if you’d like to receive more updates. As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance with anything, feel free to call me at (201) 647-6090 or email me at councilmanbhalla@gmail.com.

I hope to see you on June 23 at the Babbio Center and June 25 at Hudson Tavern!

Enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,
Ravinder S. Bhalla
City Council President

Councilman Ravinder Bhalla
http://www.ravinderbhalla.com/
News

Beth Mason temper tantrum: on the warpath for Hoboken Democratic Committee honorary title

by SmartyJones3 Min Reading
=&0=& The farce isn’t over! For those who thought the backbiting, ego-driven mania in the Hoboken Democratic Chair “selections” is over; there’s word more skullduggery and underhanded plans are afoot.  According to yesterday’s Grafix Avenger story, Councilwoman Beth Mason fresh off being snuffed from contention in the Democratic Chair sweepstakes is throwing a tantrum she didn’t get an expected door prize: honorary chair. In an update to the Hudson County View original report, that title was bestowed on Carmelo Garcia who is allied with the Russo’s and a pending Ruben Ramos ticket in the upcoming November City Council ward elections.  Although no Hoboken Democratic committeee members can recall a vote for the purely ceremonial position during the chaos at Room 84 Monday night, HCV remarked in an editorial note the following day it was “informed” the title was given to Garcia. The phony vote harkens back to similar attempts to designate contract outcomes at the Hoboken Housing Authority during Garcia’s controversial tenure there as Executive Director.  Viva the Banana Republic! The Old Guard Dem Committee fun and games harkens to the spirit of midnight hijackings back to the Conrail Boyz days. As fondly recalled in the hood, it’s when informants knew how to take their cut and then cut a deal with the right people in law enforcement. Back to the present, observers say Beth Mason known for her family checkbook’s largess on behalf of the Hoboken Sopranos exited Room 84 feeling jilted and left “in a huff.” Was Mason at the Dem Committee hijacking to applaud preplanned appointments of people like Room 84 owner Joe Branco or was she there for an arranged door prize? Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano, the self-declared “compromise candidate” didn’t have a moment to relish his new position as Democratic Chair when the Mason goon squad went over to complain the boss didn’t get her door prize. “You fucked up,” he barked more than once before lumbering off.  According to Grafix Avenger, the latest “fix” on the Hoboken Democratic Committee is upcoming: “

Stick Carmelo and the Russo diss tonight a secret agreement with her to do honorary chair by letter in a few weeks when they think nobody is looking…This is the bs compromise to appease her and hide it from fulop… I doubt there is an exact offering on the table but the expectation is make her happy and get fundraising asistance. Read More...

News

Indicted West New York Mayor Felix Roque medical business partners with Michael Russo?

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
=&0=&

Yesterday, a blockbuster indictment of a Hudson County mayor – this time West New York’s Felix Roque puts a HudCo vision for statewide dominance and possibly the governor’s seat in 2017 front and center.

The indictment of Mayor Roque for alleged medical fraud billing and bribes may also have a unique connection to Hoboken.

Roque indicted in an alleged illicit medical practice scheme raises questions on a new medical business reportedly recently finalized between Mayor Roque and Hoboken Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo. Read More...

News

Grist for the Mill: “It was a shitshow”

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Update: This story features actual live video courtesy of The Hudson County View.

Chaos reigned at Room 84 as although there’s a new chair in the somewhat reluctant form of Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano, there’s no actual tally for that office or any other according to multiple independent witnesses.

Independent observers say what transpired was less a committee meeting and more “a shitshow.”

As noted earlier, Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo did in the end take the prize for Vice Chair. This even with voices raised questioning how that was possible as the existing bylaws suggest the position go to a woman if a man is chair. Read More...

News

Voting Machine for Democratic Committee cancelled

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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The voting machine expected for tonight’s Hoboken Democratic Committee is cancelled.

According to the owner, Room 84 is not able to accommodate the machine which would need to go to the basement where committee members will be voting.

Joe Branco the owner of the club who also is a current Hoboken Democratic Committeeman noted a problem getting the machine to the basement and other locations inside would block the public egress and weren’t suitable.

The elevator’s use is restricted for reasons Branco declined to detail due to litigation with the landlord. Read More...

News

DANA WEFER LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR 4TH WARD COUNCIL

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
=&0=& =&1=& =&2=&Dana Wefer announced on Monday that she will be running for the 4th Ward Seat of the Hoboken City Council.  The elections for City Council are on November 3rd and all six ward seats are up.   Control of the City Council could change depending on the outcome of this election. 

Wefer, an attorney, has gained visibility and credibility through her work at the Hoboken Housing Authority where she has served as chair since May 2014.  She was just reelected chair for another one year term last month.  At the Housing Authority, Wefer uncovered and blew the whistle on millions of dollars in unlawful procurements.  Her whistleblowing precipitated an independent audit and HUD procurement review that uncovered even more unlawful procurements.  Under Wefer’s leadership, the administration was changed and the agency is now conducting its first ever legitimate nationwide search for a new executive director.   Wefer has also served as treasurer of the Democratic Committee.  Read More...

News

Hoboken Democratic Chair Showdown tonight @ 8:00

by SmartyJones3 Min Reading
MILE SQUARE VIEW EXCLUSIVE =&1=& What is typically an exhibition in the political slug fests common to Hoboken is surprisingly becoming an early thermometer of influence and leadership preceding the important November council ward races. At least for Reform’s Old Guard opposition. 

In one corner: the surprising victor who’s KOed the Beth Mason family wallet for the largely ceremonial Hoboken Democratic Chair, current occupant Jamie Cryan could call it a day and depart having flat out beaten the odds in the Hoboken derby.

In the other corner: the reluctant Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano who didn’t seek this showdown and finds status symbolically at stake as he looks to stay unmarked before the 2017 Hoboken mayoral sweepstakes officially begin. Current Mile Square Democratic Chair Jamie Cryan who’s never say die effort against long odds has made tonight a crash worthy event if you are one of the select party committee members holding a ticket to the big dance at the Hoboken Democratic Committee vote set for 8:00 at Room 84. Back in April, MSV exclusively reported Beth Mason saw her exit visa stamped “=&2=&” from the second ward council seat. She’s induced more self-inflicted nightmares on top of her monstrous cynical efforts to shutter the local hospital, HUMC back in 2011. (Much of that ugly political work is revealed in the words of her own political operatives =&3=& on MSV in their own emails. (See: Bench Slapped – The Hospital Series.)  Much cajoling, begging, pleading, attempted bribes and intimdiation since; Beth Mason’s the odd man out as Jamie Cryan musters one last push versus Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano in tonight’s showdown. Apparently, the Hudson County Democratic Organization (re: HudCo) truly believes the road to the NJ Governor’s seat in 2017 runs through Hudson County and Jersey City’s City Hall.  With that focus and HudCo eyes looking south to Trenton the buzz word is “unity” meaning councilwoman carpetbagger in the enemy camp of South Jersey, re: Beth Mason and the Mason family checkbook are persona non grata. The litigious Beth Mason is not done begging though. Iced out of the official Hoboken Democratic Chair sweepstakes, she’s making a last ditch plea for the honorary position of Democratic Chair currently held by Mayor Dawn Zimmer.  Final word on that sidebar of a race will come after the main event tonight when the elected members of the Hoboken Democratic Committee put in their votes for Hoboken Democratic Chair. If that prequels not entertaining enough for you, say hello to Jamie Cryan’s little friend:
The Hudson County Board of Elections is expected to deliver an operating voting machine for tonight’s Hoboken Chair showdown between Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano and current occupant Jamie Cryan. MSV referenced “hardware” coming into play in its Saturday story.
Well, say hello to Jamie’s little friend.
=&4=&=&5=& =&6=&: Big Monday news as

Dana Wefer throws her hat in the ring for fourth ward council! Read More...

News

A kiss for America’s new love affair

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Not since more than 120,000 people assembled in record setting attendance at Belmont in 2004 have more hearts rooted for a horse to win the elusive Triple Crown.

Yesterday millions of hearts were sent aflutter ending 37 years of angst and heartache, sealed with a kiss for American Pharoah.

Da Horsey, SmartyJones joins in handing the baton of America’s most beloved horse to cousin AP.

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah gets a kiss from winning jockey
Victor Espinoza after winning the Belmont Stakes and earning the elusive Triple Crown.