From the desk of Council President Ravi Bhalla:
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Dear Friends,
Friday Update: While ownership of 420 Adams St. may not in fact be changing, there may be a plan to convert the building into a restaurant. Any conversion would need approval from the Hoboken Planning Board. As for the Russo Civic Association, they indeed will be moving out. One unconfirmed report says it will be in the vicinity. ======= Not a week after the Council swearing in ceremony and MSV got word of a strange and odd circumstance – the Russo Civic Association had lost its sign and the rumor something was afoot.  Once again a review of Councilman Tim Occhipinti’s final campaign finance report raises a red flag on questionable contributions if not outright money laudering. As MSV reported after his November campaign, a political consulting firm, The Cratos Group specializing in fundraising contributed almost $900 to his campaign. Now in Occhipinti’s latest NJ ELEC campaign finance report, the same firm employed by Councilwoman Beth Mason is a contibutor not a recipient for services rendered. This time Tim Occhipinti gets the whopping maximum from its principal, a full $2,600. 
Did you say indicted? Does that mean someone did something wrong? Could someone have made someone angry? Is it someone in the picture? Is it everyone in the picture? Who’s missing from the picture? Who has a get out of jail card? Who thinks they have a get out of jail card? Who has enough money to buy everyone’s vote in the crowd? Who’s selling? Who’s buying? Who’s lying? Who’s crying? This photo essay brought to you by bludiamonds? No, but it’s in homage to that stain on Hoboken who continues to make mockery of everything sacred in purple pillowdom.  Temperatures are up along with the humidity but one doesn’t have to fret even if bored while waiting for the FBI to return with a knock on the door. For those who are suffering from the lack of budget drama in the last week, here’s an update. During a lull in the City Council meeting Friday, Business Administrator Arch Liston who has mastered the art of Hoboken politics by quietly allowing the other side to demonstrate their incompetence answered a question on how the budget amendment is likely to be reoriented later this month.  Friday’s council meeting saw a packed agenda and a long list of pent up items from an ordinance on Corner Cars to consideration for November elections and anti-wheeling legislation. In the mix was a resolution passed to end the Beth Mason witch-hunt for emails. That original resolution sponsored by Council members Beth Mason and Mike Russo never offered any factual basis for initiation. It ended with the resolution passed Friday but not before some additional, unexpected outcomes. 7-5-11 MSV has been getting emails since last week asking the same question. Where is Scott Delea’s complete campaign report? Every major candidate submitted their campaign reports to NJ ELEC around the due date of May 31. So compliance in Hoboken with the law has been good. More trouble with the law? Now Scott Delea is on the inside looking out not complying with NJ ELEC. Campaign reports were due the end of May but who is responsible for the Delea ELEC report? It certainly can’t be Scott; it must be someone else lacking integrity and honesty. The dozen plus wave of G-men hitting Hoboken City Hall just before the Memorial Day weekend has followed with a half-dozen home visits and likely more according to one source not directly connected to the federal criminal investigation. The fireworks about to hit Hoboken later this month and past Labor Day won’t lead to one prominent official taken down as in the case of ex-mayor Peter Cammarano: not one meaning MORE than one. As MSV noted the end of May, one Old Guard source conveyed near panic, | ||||||
