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The end of a typical five hour council marathon was nearing completion when Councilman Michael Russo decided he would start his time in New Business by launching an attack on Council President Peter Cunningham.
Alleging “arrogance,” Russo began his soliloquy boasting how he has done so much for Hoboken as a cub scout and he’s been “showing up” for thirty years is looking to “show up” for thirty more and proudly references this as his “record.”
The Hoboken candidate petition deadline has come and passed. It didn’t go quietly into the night.
Hoboken resident Domenick Amato working in recent days to get on the ballot for City Council admitted in a conversation with MSV he came up short. “I started too late,” the retired civil engineer said although in three days he tabulated almost 300 of the just over 400 petitions required.
Some HHA and senior building locations became war zones in recent days and featured dirty tactics according to one certification awaiting council candidate Patricia Waiters. She described nefarious activities where petitions were being paid at ten dollars per signature outside lower Jackson St. where the monthly housing meeting failed to make quorum.
In an interview with Hudson County TV at the 1600 Park kickoff, Assemblyman Ruben Ramos declared the race for mayor between himself and Mayor Dawn Zimmer calling the new slate underwritten by Frank “Pupie” Raia “a sideshow.”
Ramos continued to attack the Raia slate slamming mayoral candidate Tim Occhipinti as less than independent and all but calling him a tool of a developer. Raia is a long time developer in Hoboken and in New Jersey.
In another interview, Tim Occhipinti told HCTV the Raia slate had filed its petitions and as MSV predicted the ticket includes BoE trustee Peter Biancamano and newcomer Britney Montgomery who is a NYC schoolteacher and neighbor of Timmy.
| Mayors David Roberts, Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken and Weehawken Mayor Richard Tuner who all had a role in bringing 1600 Park to fruition graciously posed for MSV after the 1600 Park ribbon cutting ceremony as council candidate Frank “Pupie” Raia looks on. We’ll take another pic of you Frank, not to worry. |
In a major victory for long time Southwest Park advocates, the check prepared to purchase the one acre piece of land approved by Hudson County Superior Court passed in a 5-1-1 vote.
Tim Occhipinti who was for the Southwest Park before he voted against it previously asked if a resolution was needed seeking to delay the payout but it was explained to him by Steven Marks, Asst. Business Administrator the court action meant the City could proceed with the purchase.
A Southwest Park has been a signature goal of Mayor Dawn Zimmer who entered the political arena seeking a way to make the idea a reality. Councilman Dave Mello has also been a long time advocate for a Southwest Park, even prior to being elected to the council.
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Tonight is the first City Council meeting for September moved from Wednesday due to the Jewish holiday.
No small irony on the same day 1600 Park sees its official ribbon cutting ceremony opening, the Hoboken City Council will have up for approval the court approved purchase of the one acre piece of land, re: Block 12 in the claims tonight.
The price is below $3 million, the amount the county allocated and was reprogrammed for the Southwest for just this opportunity. The council has been split along usual lines and it’s unclear if a fifth vote will be available to join the reform oriented group who will likely provide four votes in favor.
| BoE trustee Peter Biancamano an unannounced council candidate speaks to a Hoboken resident Saturday as a final petition push was underway. |
The City Clerk’s office will be accepting petitions today for candidates who are looking to run for the at-large council seats and mayor.
Domenick Amato’s sign above invited patrons of Mr. Wraps to sign his petition for one of the at-large council seats.
All weekend workers were on the streets around town collecting petition signatures for Tim Occhipinti who wishes to join Assemblyman Ruben Ramos and Mayor Zimmer in the mayoral sweepstakes this November.
One commenter notes the uptown ferry had folks out collecting signatures for Occhipinti.
Friday’s Hoboken heat featured smoke signals circling as word the Feds had paid visits to the Hoboken Housing Authority, feudal land of contracted leader of the wannabe Carmelo Garcia banana republic.
It doesn’t even scratch the surface of the buzz downtown where “the suits” are only the early feature story as the HHA is rife with rumor the Feds have made a pinch and release of the person who is infamous for throwing others under the bus.
| Honk! Honk! Rumors are widespread the Feds are hot on the heels of Carmelo Garcia the center of controversy at the Hoboken Housing Authority in every direction. State Senator Brian Stack who is also the subject of Carmelo Garcia’s “I’m forced to set you up” audio library may be in the mix. |
Check your email MSV subscribers and let the games commence!
Multiple independent sources confirm there’s been onsite inquiries made at the Hoboken Housing Authority by unidentified federal agents.
The week looked headed into a lovely, sleepy holiday weekend when a buzz of rumors erupted about “a Federal raid” at the HHA.
Late this morning HHA Chairman Rob Davis said he had not heard about any visits from the Feds and repeated efforts to obtain comment from Emil Kotherithara, HHA Chief Financial Officer were fruitless. A voicemail left for him this morning inquiring on visits by the Feds was not returned although he was said to be in the building.