News

Guilty pleasures: The Masonista Joy of Censorship

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
The unofficial summer has kicked off with glorious weather but Da Horsey grew green with envy in the Bench Slapped email incorporated into an uproariously hilarious satirical graphic by Grafix Avenger. So MSV dug into the tens of thousands of emails to toss one out onto the barbie and grill up some Masonista loving censorship to couple with the lovely weather. In March of 2012, the efforts to derail the First Amendment in Hoboken was a full force Masonista endeavor. Mere months later, numerous well known Hoboken commenters would see their names appear in the Lane Bajardi and Kimberly Cardinal Bajardi lawsuit unceremoniously announced by Beth Mason herself in the July 2012 City Council meeting. Beth Mason’s announcement of war on the First Amendment went completely unreported then and now. The Hudson Reporter featured her prominently in its story when the civil litigation when it exclusively reported each and every one of the Hoboken commenters was on the hook for $2,000,000 each. (That claim was incorrect and proved ludicrous when the case itself was thrown out of court noting the lack of evidence mid-trial.) Most of the Hoboken commenters named in the SLAPP shared one thing in common outside of their anti-corruption mindset, Old Guard and Beth Mason skepticism having absolutely nothing to do with defamation; they would never see a single allegation made against them =&0=& under NJ law. Their collective guilt was however clearcut among censorship loving Masonistas who went on an anti-speech rampage on Hoboken Patch while perhaps awaiting an answer to their funding appeal for the SLAPP. Here is the special moment of the shared Masonista loving censorship discovery. Hoboken411 having been used, abused and all but destroyed for its single-minded Gestapo like tactics on speech, the Masonistas moved on to Hoboken Patch, their new obsessive focus. Here’s Kimberly Cardinal Bajardi and her friend sharing that special moment when the Joys of Censorship is birthed on Hoboken Patch. The scientific “discovery” is shared in the emails titled, “Re ha ha ha!” Dozens if not hundreds of comments would later vanish at the hands of the Masonistas. 



Kim Cardinal Bajardi and company:
the Joy of Censorship.

Talking Ed Note: At the municipal trial postponement yesterday, Kimberly Cardinal Bajardi showed up to enjoy some quality time with Beth Mason and Mason’s personal attorney Steve Kleinman taking notes in court.

Birds of a feather…

News

Hoboken begins search for new Fire Chief

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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The City of Hoboken is beginning the transition process of identifying a new Fire Chief due to the retirement of Fire Chief Richard Blohm, who has indicated that he will be retiring on June 1, 2015. The City will appoint a Provisional Fire Chief in the very near future, followed by a Civil Service Chief’s test. Once Civil Service administers the Fire Chief’s exam and publishes the results, the Administration will interview candidates for the position of permanent Fire Chief. The Fire Department has been operating with an officer in charge over the past few weeks and will continue to do so until a Provisional Chief is named. Read More...

News

HOBOKEN KEEPS TAX RATE FLAT; COUNTY TAXES TO SURGE AGAIN

by SmartyJones3 Min Reading

City of Hoboken announces:

=&0=& Residents Invited to County Budget Workshop at Hoboken City Hall

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015 the Hoboken City Council adopted a 2015 budget that keeps the municipal tax rate flat, a continuation of years of effort by the Zimmer Administration to cut costs, increase efficiencies, and hold the line on taxes. Since 2010, the local municipal tax levy has been reduced from $57.7 million to $52.4 million. At the same time, Hoboken’s share of Hudson County taxes has increased from $45.5 million to an estimated $67.3 million in the County’s introduced 2015 budget. 

Based on Hudson County’s introduced budget, Hoboken’s County taxes will increase by 11.5% in 2015, contributing $285 to an overall $352 annual tax increase for the average Hoboken property. Since the municipal tax rate is flat, no portion of the total $352 increase is due to the municipal budget.

On Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 6:00pm, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders will hold a budget workshop in Hoboken City Council chambers. It will be an opportunity for members of the public to have a voice in the process. 

“In Hoboken, we have made difficult staffing decisions, tightened our belts, and sought out efficiencies to cut costs and stabilize taxes,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “We’re proud that thanks to our efforts, our bond rating was increased from just above junk status to AA+, reducing our financing costs and providing further savings. Despite these efforts, our taxpayers still see their property tax bills go up primarily because of County taxes. Part of the reason Hoboken’s share of County taxes has gone up is because our property values are rising faster than in the rest of the County. But it is also true that year after year, the County continues to increase its budget, negating our efforts to keep property taxes stable. I thank the County for agreeing to hold a budget hearing in Hoboken and urge our residents to attend and provide their feedback.”

The three primary components of property taxes are municipal, county, and school taxes, along with smaller components for library and open space taxes. In 2010, only 32% of a Hoboken property owner’s tax bill was due to County taxes. Today, County taxes are the largest component: 40%. During the same time, the share of total property taxes due to the local municipal tax dropped from 40% to 31%. 

Based on Hudson County’s introduced budget, the property taxes for a Hoboken property with an average assessed value of $518,000 will increase by an estimated $352 this year. The vast majority of that increase ($285) will be due to County taxes, along with smaller increases due to School ($47) and Library ($21) taxes, while there will be no increase due to the City’s budget.
News

Hoboken’s Annette Chaparro asks for your vote on June 2nd

by SmartyJones3 Min Reading

From the desk of Assembly candidate Annette Chaparro:

Dear Horsey & MSV readers: My name is Annette Chaparro and I am asking voters to place their trust in me to serve the 33rd District as Democratic Assemblywoman. The Primary Election Day is June 2 and I hope you will make your voice heard. I will be a strong voice for the District and will work to develop partnerships with local officials to ensure you, the residents, receive the best representation possible in Trenton.  
 I will work to ensure that every tax dollar spent by the state is truly allocated to benefit the people of New Jersey.  Our public school children must receive the resources they deserve and need to succeed, our police officers and firefighters must have adequate resources to keep our communities safe, and the needs of our seniors must never be forgotten. I will work to ensure that science, not politics, shapes our response to climate change and that we protect our region from future Sandy-like storms.   I will fight for vote by mail ballot reform, because the public must have confidence in the integrity of our elections. As many of you know, the residents of the 33rd District are heavily reliant upon public transportation. I would work to ensure that the concerns of riders are heard – especially as more fare hikes and service cuts are being imposed upon hardworking residents utilizing public transit. The organizations operating the transportation systems on which we all rely need to be held accountable and managed properly. I look forward to working with my fellow legislators from both parties to increase oversight for these organizations to ensure that the concerns of the residents of New Jersey are front and center in the decision making process. I also want to ensure that New Jersey properly funds the Transportation Trust Fund.  Upkeep of infrastructure, while not headline-grabbing work, is an important responsibility placed upon lawmakers. New Jersey has over 38,800 miles of public roads and over 6,500 bridges – proper upkeep now will save money in the future, avoiding major projects and potential tragedies. And costs saved through upkeep now will allow us to use that saved money to honor commitments made in past years. With me as your Assemblywoman, Hudson County will have an honest woman who is ready to listen to all of your concerns and work hard to try and make sure your needs are met. I would be happy to answer any of your questions going forward. I can be reached at ChaparroForNJ33@gmail.com. I hope you will make time to go to the polls and vote for me, Annette Chaparro, as well as Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, on June 2. If you place your trust in me to represent this great district, in return I’ll provide a strong voice as an honest representative. Annette Chaparro Democratic Assembly Candidate (33rd District)
News

Michael Russo has the votes so what will he do with Hoboken Democratic Chair?

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

The fuss over a mostly ceremonial post in Hoboken is echoing across Hudson County and now comes the sounds of dire warning from across the border in Jersey City.

The actual term used here last week was Armageddon. It was described as “all out war” in last weekend’s Between the Lines political column.

Even NJ.com’s Political Insider, Augie Torres got into the act after yawning the holiday weekend was a good time to take an infrequent peek at Hoboken and its “neurotic bunch of politicos.” Read More...

News

The HudCo Beast feeds on Hoboken

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

One more key slide showing the dreadful trend for Hoboken taxpayers. Sure, many have awokened sufficiently to support the Reform Movement and take back their rights here for decent government free of “special deals” the Old Guard feels entitled but that battle goes on too.

Short of going on to tackle the HudCo beast, this trendline isn’t changing:

The tax levy for both Hoboken and by Hudson County on the Mile Square shows an unmistakable five year trend.

In 2010, the tax levey was $45.5 million for Hudson County. In 2015, as proposed Hudson County is increased to a whopping $67.3 million. Read More...

News

Hoboken taxes held to zero as Hudson County ravages the Mile Square

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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People believe all taxes are going up when they don’t actually look at their tax bill. It’s a refrain heard last night in the City Council when the Mayor’s Administration delivered on its promise of fiscal restraint reducing an initial budge with less than a 1% increase to a flat 0.

Unfortunately, Hoboken is being utterly destroyed by Hudson County inflicting double digit tax increases to Mile Square taxpayers.

It’s a divide which may be addressed when the County Freeholders hold a county meeting in Hoboken at City Hall on June 4th. Read More...