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 Tonight’s City Council meeting includes another go round for the 600K emergency authorization with a list of legal cases for the City Council to express its distaste and capitulate.

David Denning posted his lead-in story to MSV earlier today posted below.

If you’re looking for a good drama this evening, the special City Council meeting tonight should do just fine. The key issue will be whether the Old Guard (Mason, Russo, Castellano and Occhipinti)  bows to reason and extends a sixth vote to finance the city’s legal defenses. 

They have Hoboken in this position because State rules require a super majority for additional expenditures in the period before the annual budget is adopted and many believe they engineered a flurry of legal activity and expense at the beginning of 2012.  A ‘No’ would be in keeping with Old Guard’s strategy of financially starving the city, to force tax increases, defaults and perhaps a return to State control.  A ‘Yes’ vote would indicate a retreat from their Hoboken harming, self-centered strategies. But the drama will not end if the finance resolution fails 5-4 , as the council is forced to declare which cases they do not feel worth defending.

Your master of politrickin this evening, Al Capone, uhm, I mean Councilman Michael Russo

So the first thing on the agenda to pay particular attention is the debate over =&0=&.  A key point: the list of lawsuits increased by two in just the last week, as litigators sensed weakness and pushed up their legal action.  These are items 32 and 33 on the agenda, Maxwell and an ‘affirmative action’ case, that is Angel Alicea claiming he was fired for being Hispanic rather than resigning, after it was revealed he hid his meetings with FBI informant Solomon Dwek.  If  funding for defending the city’s legal interests is not approved expect many more cases, new and old, to be rushed to court as the wolves circle and close in for the kill on our crippled city.  Tim Occhipinti is the key vote here. If the Old Guard is going to fold they will have collectively chosen Tim to act in his ‘independent’ role. If a sixth vote is not forth coming, watch for the next 28 items on the agenda to be voted on individually and for some interesting mechanics as the Old Guard will try to justify their actions. In these votes, an affirmative vote is a vote to end the defense of a lawsuit. Expect Michael Russo to bloviate that this is a meaningless exercise and that, like so many things, this is not his job. Most of the roughly 28 or so lawsuits facing Hoboken break down into a few categories. On of the largest categories is employee lawsuits,  for instance the cases of Andriani, Alicea, and Arezzo, and that is just the A’s. The individuals here are all supporters of convicted Mayors Russo and/or Cammarano. Many of the others also have ties to Old Guard council persons.  From the links above you can see the highlighted cases all intensified or started recently, probably as part of an Old Guard plan to spark this crisis.  The case to watch here is the Alicea case, currently listed in position 32 as a new affirmative action case.  It belies the Old Guard claim that they are saving money as the case is timed to cash in on.  The Old Guard will generally oppose pursuing legal defense here, no matter how they vote as they trade on their ability to protect and steer money to favored municipal employees.  At the last meeting Theresa Castellano, Old Guard, council member was reported to exclaim ‘just give him his job back’ in the case of Al Arezzo. Development issues loom equally large.  There are lawsuits from  Maxwell, Monroe Center Development and Monarch Waterfront Development among others.  Watch for splitting of votes in this class of lawsuits with several 3-6 votes.  This will allow =&1=& while still allowing individual council persons to say ‘I voted against over development in my ward.’  The highlight here will be how Mason deals with the Monarch case. This is an issue she previously put effort into ignoring but recently has made a show of opposing.   Related to development are the fair housing cases;  Advance Housing and Fair Share Housing, are suing Hoboken over failures to provide enough fair housing,  at numbers 22 and 23.  Advance Housing is the odds on favorite to go 0-9 voting wise in support of funding. Advance Housing uses Michael Kates as general counsel, he is Hoboken’s former corporation counsel.  Kates is widely disliked by the Old Guard for his attempts to clean house in Hoboken. The other large group of lawsuits relate to rent control including cases listed as Denardo, Burns and Tumpson.  Apparently Mason’s ordinance changing rent control has not ended rent control controversies as it was intended. The council should vote consistently against cutting funds to these. Despite the deep flaws in Mason’s ordinance it was passed unanimously.  The Old Guard  is staunch in their support so much so that ally Reuben Ramos was reported to have misinformed election day workers that they were opposing the ordinance when in fact they were handing out literature in support. =&2=&

When it comes to naming names of who wants the job of Hoboken mayor, there’s a healthy list with an even healthier amount of ego or is it hubris to go with the desire to occupy Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s seat on the second floor at City Hall.

As anyone vaguely aware of the local political scene can tell you, ambition is not enough and ambition plus oodles of cash to throw at the problem doesn’t equate to victory either.  Ask Councilwoman Beth Mason who has spent nearly seven figures (unofficially) since 2009 all in a vain attempt to get a job that pays less than 116K annually for four years.

Councilwoman Theresa Castellano has flirted with the idea of being mayor and said so publicly in 2009 but what people may not know is that her stringent opposition to Mayor Zimmer does not end with only seeing her out of office.  Her flirting with the idea in 2009 isn’t over with an eye on 2013.

While the list is long on who wants to occupy Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s chair, the divisions among those who are looking to unseat her are not altogether rosy.  Mustering the challenge may be half the battle with the FBI looming over Hoboken in 2012 having just paid a visit to Hudson County offices in Jersey City last week carting out computers less than a year after doing similarly last May in Hoboken. The rest of this story is MSV Premium Content.  You may make a one time purchase of this article for $3.45.  No paypal account is required.  Just follow the link on the button below securely using a debit or credit card:

City of Hoboken announces:

A five story building at 300 Washington Street caught fire shortly after 7pm on Sunday evening. Three Hoboken firefighters were treated for knee injuries, a broken hand, and smoke inhalation. “We are so grateful to the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us every day,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “This is a reminder of how dangerous their work is. I thank everyone for coming together, saving lives and preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings – the Hoboken Fire Department, Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, EMS, and the mutual aid we received from various towns including Elizabeth, Newark, East Newark, Bloomfield, Bayonne and Jersey City.” While all residents of the building are safe, one was treated for smoke inhalation on Sunday night. At least 17 residents lived in the building, and at least nine did not have insurance. A community-organized fundraiser for the fire victims is scheduled for Friday, March 2nd from 7-10pm at Room 84, 84 Washington Street. A donation at the door is requested, and all entrants will receive one free drink upon entry. Additional details on the fundraiser are available online:https://www.facebook.com/events/301015846626195/. Saints Peter and Paul Church is coordinating victim assistance. Residents needing help or who wish to provide assistance can contact the parish at 201-659-2276 or secretary@spphoboken.com. “Sadly, some of our residents lost everything, but we have a strong and generous community that is rallying to their side, so we ask residents to give as much as they can to help,” added Mayor Zimmer. Construction officials have deemed the building uninhabitable and have determined that it will require at least a partial demolition, since the entire 5th floor and several floors in the back were completely destroyed by the fire. Demolition work is expected to begin on Tuesday, February 22nd. Washington Street between 2nd Street and 4th Street will remain closed until the demolition is complete. Demolition work is expected to last approximately one week. Until further notice, NJ TRANSIT bus routes No. 22 (Hoboken-Union City-North Bergen), No. 89 (Hoboken-North Bergen) and No. 126 (Hoboken-New York) will operate on a detour route between Hoboken Terminal and 11th Street at Washington Street. Customers are advised of the following: From Hoboken Terminal (Nos. 22 and 89 to North Bergen; No. 126 to New York) • No service will be provided along Washington Street between 11th Street and Observer Highway. • Buses will operate from Hoboken Terminal along Observer Highway to northbound Bloomfield Street, make a right on 11th Street, a left on Washington Street, then return to the regular route. • Northbound customers are advised to board/alight at the following locations along Bloomfield Street, upon request (waiting customers must hail the bus as it approaches): o Hoboken Bus Terminal o Bloomfield Street at 1st Street o Bloomfield Street at 3rd Street o Bloomfield Street at 5th Street o Bloomfield Street at 7th Street o Bloomfield Street at 9th Street To Hoboken Terminal (Nos. 22, 89 and 126 trips operating via Washington Street) • No service will be provided along Washington Street between 11th Street and Observer Highway. • Buses will operate to Hoboken Terminal from Washington Street at 11th Street, make a left on 11th Street, followed by a right on Hudson Street to Hoboken Terminal. • Southbound customers are advised to board/alight at the following locations along Hudson Street, upon request (waiting customers must hail the bus as it approaches): o Hudson Street at 10th Street o Hudson Street at 8th Street o Hudson Street at 6th Street o Hudson Street at 4th Street o Hudson Street at 2nd Street o Hudson Street at Newark Street o Hoboken Terminal NJ TRANSIT is advising customers to check njtransit.com for service updates throughout the week.For full details, view this message on the web. Photo courtesy Anthony Torres of AST Photos

The web traffic is heavy today with strong interest in the Hoboken Patch story on the Boys and Girls Club but there’s a double dose of buzz in the Hoboken blogosphere according to multiple sources independently contacting MSV.

Hoboken411 is in the middle of it, decrying others should “beware the scams” of the latest fundraiser for Hoboken fire victims at 300 Washington but the trouble with the poison he pumps out into the community is only beginning there.

Perry Klaussen – legal troubles for the website where Beth Mason runs her political operations

MSV hears word on the street Perry Klaussen is facing a pile of problems of his own making on several fronts and apparently it’s all about to come out in the wash.  It looks like MSV is not the only venue that suffered copyright issues with Das Klaussen.  (Hoboken411 like Scott Delea ignored our communications on the matter although he’s still on the list.) Read More...

The Boys & Girls Club in Hoboken is back in the news and more questions and questionable actions by the management is coming to the fore.  In another installment of the series by Amanda Staab, questions on the lease and operations of the building on lower Jefferson Street raise a host of questions with tax implications galore.

What happens when a collision occurs between the interests of the taxpayers against the old dark ways in Hoboken?

Maybe we’re just beginning to find out.

http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/mayor-extremely-concerned-about-the-boys-and-girls-club?logout=true Read More...

RPW announces:

Here’s a quick update on our fight against the Monarch Project: 1. REMINDER – The Hudson County Planning Board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm specifically to deal with the Monarch application.  The planning board needed to schedule this special hearing to give enough time to the public to voice their concerns on this construction project.  Even if you did not attend the first hearing you can still attend this meeting to voice your displeasure with this project.  Here are the details on the location: =&0=& =&1=& =&2=& =&3=& =&4=& =&5=& 2. The Hoboken Planning Board meeting on Tuesday, March 6 will now be held in the Wallace School gymnasium to deal with the large expected crowd.  We applaud the planning board’s decision to change the location of this meeting.  Our best shot at defeating this project is in front of the Hoboken Planning Board.  Here are the details for this important meeting: =&6=& =&7=& =&8=& =&9=&

The day after the fire shows the building at 300 Washington in bad condition.  One report suggests it will be a total loss but that’s unverified along with the cause.

Here’s some additional photos courtesy of Anthony Torres of AST Photos.
All rights reserved.

Assemblyman Ruben Ramos takes photos of a vehicle, possibly his before it’s taken away.

=&0=&: Grafix Avenger unveils the dark side of such tragedies with the typical haterade served in our community by the Beth Mason backed/funded Hoboken411.  Perry Klaussen presents a screed telling the community not to support a March 2nd fundraiser being planned on behalf of the fire victims declaring it’s a scam. Grafix Avenger also notes the alternative Hoboken411 poses is in fact illegal.  OOPS!

Hoboken411 goes all out serving up another drink of its haterade in the Hoboken community.  He declares a fire fundraiser not finalized a scam – this after the same group of residents’ efforts raised over $5,000 for the victims of the Jackson St. fire.  He also scribes about political opportunists but doesn’t name any so MSV is not sure if he’s attacking Tim Occhipinti who briefly attended the Room 84 fundraiser or copyright thief Scott Dela.

Last December Hoboken411 was notably absent and even failed to mention the fundraiser held at Room 84.     MSV saw first hand reporters from Hoboken Patch and the Jersey Journal lending a hand. MSV understands Perry Klaussen is very unhappy with the humanitarian efforts of local businessman Rory Chadwick who he’s been seen screaming at on the street for not supporting, well you guessed it, Hoboken411.   Hoboken411 has a lot of problems and the latest glass of haterade won’t help the unhinged Klaussen.

The above two videos are courtesy of Eric Kurta, the Wiley Coyote.

 The third video from a different angle was shot by GodfatherEnt

Related: Hoboken Patch has a detailed report on the scene with Hoboken resident reporter Katie Colaneri:

http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/building-evacuated-after-three-alarm-fire-on-washington-street

All photos courtesy of Eric Kurta, the Wiley Coyote.  All rights reserved. Copyright 2012 MSV.