Hoboken ‘s rookie mayor Ravi Bhalla came in from the cold late Friday finally making it clear who he stands with in a construction Local 825 union TV ad attacking “ally” Councilman Jim Doyle.
‘I’m with them’ Bhalla let the world know as he declared his allegiance with the construction union that doled out approximately $85,000 a year ago in TV ads to see him win a controversial mayoral election.
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In a stunning political attack on local television seen last night, the construction union Local 825 launched a savage attack on a council ally and running mate of Mayor Ravi Bhalla.
The original and unedited ad is seen here on MSV below and is directed against Councilman Jim Doyle.
The same union was part of a Super PAC, Stronger Foundations that ran TV ads in the closing week of the contentious and venomous Hoboken mayoral campaign urging votes for Ravi Bhalla. (MSV broke that exclusive story in the final week of the campaign.)
Councilman Jim Doyle was the sole council member last year to endorse and later run on Ravi Bhalla’s mayoral ticket.
Doyle was the lone “no” vote on the Hilton Hotel at the last council meeting, meaningless in the outcome where eight of his colleagues voted to approve. Only five votes are required for approval.
The savage attack on an intimate ally of Ravi Bhalla is a political shot across the bow by the construction union flexing their influence if not outright political control over Hoboken as word of additional backroom development deals are anticipated to be announced from the mayor’s office.
The City Council would work late to improve a seven-figure package of givebacks including one million for the local school district and another two million for a revamped uptown community center adding hundreds of thousands later added for the charter schools, Affordable Housing Trust and infrastructure downtown.
In the TV ad, Jim Doyle is attacked for allegedly abandoning Hoboken children and stopping “hundreds of good paying union jobs” before it concludes “Doyle doesn’t get it.”
The attack ad seen last night concludes saying it’s “paid for by ELEC 825.”
It’s the same union featured on MSV last year pushing for voters to
elect Ravi Bhalla mayor.
Talking Ed Note Update: Late Friday afternoon and City Hall is closing up for the weekend and nothing but silence from Mayor Ravi Bhalla.
Not. A. Word.
Over at the Cave, a limp cover-up attempt put forward by the mayor’s office claims Ravi Bhalla decried the attack on Councilman Jim Doyle. Yet, the MSV exclusive has been out ALL DAY, everyone has seen it, other media are covering the story and not even a statement has been issued on behalf of Ravi Bhalla let alone him making a public statement.Read More...
This Election Day Hoboken residents will have the rare opportunity to decide how our local elections are run and vote on a ballot question to enact runoff elections.
If the question is approved, any candidate for Mayor or Council will be required to earn 50% of the vote to win office, otherwise, the top two would square off in a runoff election. Runoffs are used across the state in similar cities like Jersey City, Trenton & Bayonne to ensure majority rule through fair, democratic, elections.
If you can spare sixty seconds, take a look at this video to explain why you should join me and vote YES for Runoff Elections on Nov. 6th….
All you need to know about runoff elections….in 60 seconds
It’s not democracy if your vote doesn’t count!
In last year’s crowded and confusing municipal election we had fourteen candidates running for City Council and six running for mayor, with the winning mayoral candidate only earning 32% of the overall vote.
Establishment politicians and special interests use this fault in the system to intentionally split our community and pander to smaller voting blocks, sometimes even buying those votes. Runoff elections would require candidates to create broader platforms and once elected, broader policies, which benefit the most number of residents as possible, not just the select few who elected them. Voting YES will make certain that everyone’s voice is heard and their vote counted, not drowned out by those looking to divide us for political gain.
Many have asked me about the possibility of ranked choice voting (aka instant runoffs) and though it’s an exciting and interesting concept, New Jersey law currently does not permit municipalities to vote that way.
Regardless of who you supported last year, this is not about a single person, it’s about the future of honest and fair elections in Hoboken and I hope you’ll come out to support this grassroots effort.
A panel on marijuana legalization is set for tomorrow night at Hudson County Community College. The event is being hosted by the Hudson County View from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
Among the panelists is First Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco with State Senator Ronald Rice (D-28), Harmony Dispensary CEO Shaya Brodchanel and NJ Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Police Executive Director Stephen Reid.
The event will be available live on the Hudson County View Facebook page for those unable to attend.
In the “Battle of the Bobs,” it’s one enterprising Bob versus corruptocrat Bob.
One is a former pharma CEO who turned a company around and made it a success becoming wealthy in the process. The other is a decades-long politician with legendary corruption status swirling around him since his HudCo Machine days and in swampy DC as a NJ Senator.
Tonight the battle royale will take the stage as challenger Bob Hugin will go mano a mano with incumbent Senator Bob Menendez in their only debate.Read More...
Dear friends and neighbors:I need your feedback on two topics:
Allowing marijuana establishments in Hoboken (if approved by NJ)
Extended sidewalk/bumpouts for bus stops on upper Washington
MARIJUANA – We really have not had a public discussion on this. But at the last City Council meeting, the administration put forth for first reading an ordinance to allow establishments in Hoboken once approved at the state level. The City Council pulled it from the agenda so no vote was taken. Here is the quick summary of what was proposed (or you can click on the Jersey Digs article that does a good job):
Only 3 “Establishments” allowed in Hoboken. One in each of three industrial and commercial zoning districts –I-1, I-2 and CBD. It is not at all allowed in the residential (R-1, R-2 or R-3) districts. The areas affected are outlined in pink in the attached zoning map.
The ink isn’t dry on the internet pixels with the Hoboken Hilton Hotel agreement last week and Mayor Ravi Bhalla all but announced bigger development coming to Hoboken with an NJ Transit redevelopment in downtown Hoboken.
Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you may have heard, the City Council voted 8-1 on Wednesday night to build a hotel at the site of the Post Office on the waterfront. The press release below discusses the terms of the vote.
I have been a huge proponent of the Hotel for many years, and have served with patience on this committee longer than any other council person. With the addition, over time, of supportive council members, Giattino, Fisher, and DeFusco the project finally gained momentum. Although Councilman Bhalla was a member, he was not supportive and rarely attended committee meetings. At times, it seemed he was there to stop the project most likely because Mayor Zimmer was not supportive. Last year, Councilman Bhalla voted no on the hotel because it was too high.
Times have certainly changed!! Over the last couple of months, the Mayor negotiated exclusively with the developer on a bigger hotel and $3 Million in cash for two nonprofits. Actually, it was learned at our Council meeting that most, if not all, of the negotiating with the developer was not with the Mayor, but with his Chief and Deputy Chief of Staff. Really? Fortunately, as you all know from my last communication, the council committee then insisted on additional funding for affordable housing, our Charter Schools, infrastructure and an upfront payment for the Hoboken Community Center (the YMCA).
It is a shame that the Mayor refused to communicate and collaborate throughout the process. I believe strongly that further negotiations could have increased the overall benefits of the hotel. If the Mayor wasn’t so reclusive and focused on self-aggrandizement, and worked productively with the council from the outset, fantastic things could have happened.
In the end, I am very excited and pleased that the Mayor realized the importance of this project, but sadly, I think we understand its significance for different reasons. The City has additional projects to complete, and I hope this is a lesson of how important it is that we work together for the benefit of Hoboken. Read More...
I have been working with the administration in a number of ways to come up with business supportive / pro-Hoboken events and in particular targeting the upcoming holiday season. We are hoping to roll out some of these ideas in a couple of weeks. We have seen our local businesses really suffer as a result of the challenging retail environment made worse by the prolonged Washington St. project. So more to come… But until then something organic is happening – we are seeing our local businesses take matters into their own hands and I really hope you can go out and support their efforts! Here are two that are up and coming:Read More...
