News

Horse Sense: A Call to Arms – Protect This Island!

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

The shouting, the grandstanding and noise is almost over.  Hoboken is entering Get Out the Vote time – except if you are part of the Raia-Mason VBM (Vote by Mail) Army – then you already got your “assisted” paper ballot vote in or shuttled to the Board of Elections to cast for the Old Guard.


Many have done their part, others are planning to do more.  The mayor made a call for assistance on Election Day and asked the grassroots to help get out the vote. 


In 2009, a sea of Hoboken citizens took back this city for the residents from special interests, back room deals and monied interests from outside of town.  It was a sea tide change in Hoboken heard throughout Hudson County and all of New Jersey.


Hoboken became an island of populism among a county continent of one party control.


Read More...

News

Assemblyman Ramos pitches his Vision for Hoboken

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

The Ruben Ramos for mayor campaign announces:

I will never give up

Dear Friend, 

There are only three days remaining in this campaign that will determine the future of Hoboken. I thought it was important to remember where this campaign began. But I can not do it without your help. Watch this video to hear my plans for a better Hoboken and my vision for a brighter future for our city.
I love Hoboken. I was born and raised here and now my wife and I are raising our children right here. I have friends in every community in this city, and I can’t just sit back and watch it stand still. We need to fix the problems that confront our city like reducing flooding, creating more parking and building parks. Our public schools must be improved with modern facilities, and we need to work with the Board of Education to get the job done. 
 
Hoboken needs a new direction with real solutions and a better vision. My team and I have that vision and we are ready to get our city back on track. 
 
I want to be your Mayor because Hoboken needs a real vision for a better future. Thank you.

-Ruben
News

A day that will live in ringworm history: Here’s Pupie

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

And Beth Mason’s cheap carnival of parlor tricks. Here’s a phony “interview” from the benevolent humanitarians who would like you to think what these contents contain is really true.  As aired originally on Halloween – Be afraid, be very afraid.

This should rattle your senses appropriately to get out and vote Tuesday.

Talking Ed Note: Be careful up there when leaning over your rooftops.

News

Former Councilman Michael Lenz: ‘Voting “No” on rent control helps keep taxes down’

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
=&0=&

Rent control is complicated; there are plausible arguments on both sides.  Most economists assert rent control actually raises rents for new tenants.  But even so, Hoboken’s population has nearly doubled since I moved here in 1981.  You see the crowding for buses, backed up traffic, and jammed parks. Is making rents a little cheaper for new residents really a pressing concern?  I’m skeptical.  Or take taxes: It sounds logical when rent control opponents say that if some pay more, the rest of us will pay less.  But often, when a rent controlled building is vacated it is renovated or replaced to maximize density, bringing more people to town, increasing demand on city services, parking and the rest.  Studies have shown new residential construction actually adds more to the cost of city services than it brings in in ratables.  If taxes are your issue – and they are one of mine—the most important thing to do in this election is vote for Kid’s First:  Gold, Sobolov, Evans; they’ve held the line at the Board of Education.  And then re-elect Mayor Zimmer and her team who did the same for city taxes.   The impact on our tax bills from any change in rent control will be negligible compared with the cost of reverting to the old ways of doing business.  Read More...

News

HFHA – Beware of false information on ballot question

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

HFHA announces:

=&0=& =&1=&=&2=& Ø  =&3=& Ø  =&4=& On
Election Day, November 5th, you will be asked to vote on the only Hoboken
Public Question which proposes major changes to Hoboken’s Rent Control law.
It starts
off with:
“Shall
the City of Hoboken continue annual rental increase protections for current
residents of rent controlled properties …” If you=&6=& =&7=& =&8=& Once a
current tenant vacates his/her unit either “voluntarily” or by court ordered
eviction:
1.    Rents
are DECONTROLLED
and can be increased to whatever the landlord wants to charge for every new
tenant.    In Hoboken, that can mean doubling or tripling the rent.
2.      All 1-4 unit buildings and condos
are PERMANENTLY
EXEMPTED FROM RENT CONTROL. NJ state
law makes it easy for a landlord to obtain court-ordered eviction of tenants
from 1-3 unit buildings and condos and from all rental buildings through condo
conversions or other means.  Even when an eviction is illegal, the tenant
may be unaware of NJ Eviction Law and/or too afraid to contest it in court.
Thus, if
this DECONTROL ballot question is
approved by the voters, landlords will have the means and incentive to evict
current tenants or otherwise “convince” them to move “voluntarily” and then
jack up the rent to whatever they want for new tenants.    MANY HOBOKEN RENTERS WILL LOSE THEIR HOMES. =&16=& This=&17=&, when a majority of 16,444=&18=& that 114 “displaced Hoboken voters” were not allowed to vote on=&19=& =&20=&=&21=&=&22=&=&23=& To volunteer, contact: hobokenfairhousing@gmail.com

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News

Anna Roberts passes away after long fight with cancer

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

With condolences to Mayor Roberts and their entire family, MSV notes the passing yesterday of Anna Roberts his wife of almost 30 years after a long fight with brain cancer.  She was 49.

Dave and Anna Roberts at an American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser in 2011.
The Union City Reporter offered the following details:

Anna is also survived by her parents, Domenico and Antonetta LaMastra, and mother-in-law Ann Roberts. She is the sister of Carmela and husband Sam Mezzina, as well as Damiano LaMastra and his wife Dina, Giuseppe LaMastra and wife Nadia, and Margherita LaMastra. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, retired Hoboken Fire Capt. Charles Roberts, and her aunt, uncle, several nieces and nephews, and cousins. 

Visitation will be Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Sts. Peter & Paul R.C. Church, 400 Hudson St. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at Sts. Peter & Paul R.C. Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. 

Donations can be made in Anna’s honor to the American Cancer Society.  Read More...

News

Ruben Ramos skewered in TV attack ad

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

According to various sources and an independent view yesterday on Grafix Avenger, the Ruben Ramos camp and its backers intend to see some payback for what they feel are numerous violations by their Old Guard opponents backing the Raia-Mason slate.

The rumored TV ad has been obtained from a MSV reader and is published for your consideration.

Coming on the backs of the flyer (now gone from many locations) appearing earlier this week attacking Ruben Ramos and his council ticket for consorting with known criminals – in this case it was felon and ex-mayor Anthony Russo – the blood is only going to be drawn further. Read More...