News

Sign of the Times: Hoboken hosts its 120th Memorial Day Parade

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

Claimed as the longest running event of its kind in America, yesterday’s perfect weather saw an outstanding turnout for Hoboken’s 120th annual Memorial Day Parade.

America’s fallen were honored by all the participants. MSV attended capturing the sign of the times.

A huge American flag is draped over Washington St. at 10th as the crowd assembles for Hoboken’s 120th Memorial Day Parade.
Hoboken’s Finest kick off the event as police on motorcycles lead the way honoring America’s fallen.
Hoboken Color Guard led by “the pipes.”
Hoboken kids were on hand soaking in the Memorial Day Parade including members of the
Hoboken City Futbol Club.
Hoboken’s decked out Firemen with Battalion Chiefs on hand flashed a sharp look on the parade route. 
“Bagoogah!” A Hoboken fire truck circa 1930 makes its way up Washington St.
Hoboken Classic 
Strike up the band! This one featured from Hoboken’s neighbor in West New York
Hoboken officials: Second Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro, Mayor Ravi Bhalla
and City Council President Ruben Ramos.
Soaking it in. Fifth Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham enjoys a moment as Sixth Ward Councilman Jen Giattino snaps a memento with Directors Leo Pellegrini, Steve Marks and Ryan Sharp and Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano (left).
Old Glory 
News

Be on the Lookout!

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Today (and/or tomorrow) may see major news break.

For the conspiracy-fabricating loons at the Cave, let Horsey steer you from the utter vapidity as last when this signpost was highlighted. This is not about Hoboken news. It would be national news related to the collapsing #RussiaCollusionHoax. 

Since many “news” organization share this odd behavior attempting to “control the narrative,” this Horse thought it would be useful to give a heads up.

After this post was written, President Donald Trump issued a tweet early in the am sure to get attention among his more than 51,000,000 twitter subscribers: Read More...

News

It’s around that time

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

“It appears the FBI created the probable cause to trigger an investigation,” he said. “I would have never believed in my life that this would occur in America. We never in our history have had armed representatives of the state involved in usurping the wishes and the actions of the public at large to unseat a duly elected president. You can’t overstate the importance of this because they have weaponized the national security tools that are designed to protect the US from external enemies and weaponized it to go after a campaign and sitting president.” Read More...

News

Grist for the Mill: $700,000, extortion and HHA bidness

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
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Hope that a $700,000 settlement with Mister Carmelo – one infamous Carmelo Garcia would permanently stall at upper levels of HUD came to naught according to well-placed sources on the controversial payoff to settle his civil claim against the Hoboken Housing Authority, City of Hoboken, former Mayor Dawn Zimmer and her husband Stan Grossbard.

Members of the HHA board in addition to the mayor and her husband were also sued individually by Garcia before the payout was finalized.

Carmelo Garcia – $700,000 fatter and new allegations of impropriety in alleged
email showing evidence of bid-rigging involving an aide to State Senator Brian Stack?

What was seen as an attempt to use the 2013 mayoral election as a wedge failed to see Dawn Zimmer capitulate to Garcia’s demands that a controversial redevelopment project to more than double the size of the downtown HHA be approved. Read More...

News

Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher: ‘Hoboken updates amidst dreary weather’

by SmartyJones7 Min Reading

Official release:

Dear friends and neighbors:
Hopefully, this update on Hoboken issues will find its perfect place amongst today’s dreary weather and the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.  There are some attachments and action items that I hope you will consider for today and this week as well.  This weekend’s update includes: 
  • Connecting the Dots:  Today’s Diaper Drive for Families in Need
  • NYWW/Former UDD site – ACOE public comments due 5/24; Alternative Site Analysis 
  • NJ Transit Buses
  • Messy Wires and Cables
  • Return of a Stop Sign and Stanchions
  • Washington St. – meeting with Businesses
  • A few other upcoming and noteworthy
Two things I have come to realize are that many of our neighbors are not aware of all the amazing non-profits and organizations in Hoboken that provide necessary and supportive services to our more vulnerable neighbors.  And that most people want to find ways to give back in their own community.  I want help connect these two dots.  So with each update I send going forward, I will try to include a new series called “CONNECTINGlTHElDOTS” with information on a local organization and ways you can potentially support this organization.  If there is ever any you want me to include, please let me know.  I attended an event at HOPES CAP on Thursday evening, so today I am starting dot connecting with them… CONNECTINGlTHElDOTS:  HOPES – DIAPER DRIVE TODAY (5/19).   Imagine if you or your friends could not afford diapers for your babies and young children.  If you have the means, please consider donating diapers TODAY (of all ages) to assist the families of HOPES Early Childhood Program who struggle to make ends meet.  You can drop them off tonight between 9pm-2am at Maggie’s Place, 87 Jefferson St., or at the following locations:  HOPES CAP, 301 Garden St., or HOPES Family Resource Center, 532 Jackson St.  If you want to order some diapers online and send, please do so to the Garden St. location.  Even just one package helps. From the beginning, HOPES formally Hoboken Organization against Poverty and Economic Stress (H.O.P.E.S), was charged with the responsibility of combating poverty in Hudson County, New Jersey by providing a variety of social services for the community. Established in 1964, HOPES CAP Inc. is a Community Action Agency provides programs which respond to the social, educational, and training needs of the low income individuals in the community from newborns to seniors.  In 1966, HOPES implemented one of the first established Head Start programs in the country.   NYWW/FORMER UDD – A LONG PLAY FOR HOBOKEN With the alleged move date of June 1 looming, NYWW has not yet received its required permits to begin its operations at the former UDD site.  No one wants to see NYWW shut its operations, and although they may threaten to do so for negotiating purposes, IMHO there would not be a scenario where NYWW shut’s down over this – their business is profitable, they have valuable assets and ferry services are too critical to the entire region and are only expanding.  So that being said, Hoboken continues to press on to ensure the focus remains on providing an optimal location for NYWW’s operations, just not in the center of our waterfront.  With this a few updates: Public comments due 5/24 on their ACOE water permit application.  On Wednesday night, the City Council voted unanimously to a resolution I sponsored along with Councilwoman Jen Giattino to submit a letter from the entire City Council to the Army Corps of Engineers requesting a public hearing (resolution and letter are attached). ACOE issued a public notice on 4/26 and the public comment period ends on 5/25.   The process does not require a public hearing, but given the importance of this to our community we felt it was critical for as many voices to be heard on the issue as possible.  The Mayor also submitted a request.  Please take a minute to read the letter and submit your own.  More voices are always better. Feel free to plagiarize any of the content in the letter.   Alternative Site Analysis is being conducted for Hoboken by Boswell Engineering.  Why are we doing this too if others have done this?  Because of potential bias in the results… Only Hoboken will be able to solve for Hoboken’s best interest.  NYWW has supposedly conducted one that they have not made public and that excluded Bayonne as a potential site.  NJ Transit is performing a second one (they conducted one in 2009 – see below), with a particular focus on Bayonne.   2009 NJ Transit Site Analysis Reportnot previously disclosed.  Fund for Better Waterfront sourced this report through an OPRA request that reviews 9 sites from Weehawken to Bayonne and ranks the former UDD site 5th, with Hoboken’s own Lackawanna terminal as 1st.  Interestingly, it identifies pressure from the City of Jersey City and the developer LeFrak as the main obstacle for Lackawanna.  And we now know that the developers in Weehawken who bought their land from NYWW’s Arthur Imperatore are what is pushing NYWW out from their current site.  And… NJ Transit and their development partners LCOR have both indicated to me that the land around Lackawanna is too valuable for ferry operations.  Is it only me that thinks that private profit is being prioritized over public interest? NJ TRANSIT MEET AND GREET ON 5/14 I, and several of our neighbors attended the NJ Transit meet and greet last Monday at Lackawanna Terminal where top executives were there to speak with commuters.  I spoke with Executive Director Kevin Corbett and other senior officials about the 126 Bus and in particular the long lines in the north.  In a nutshell, they are constrained by PABT – specifically the evening rush hours.  They cannot add any more buses given the staging requirements and lack of space.  They will be looking at the numbers for Hoboken to see if reallocating buses within our own city may help balance out the waits – as they understand a lot of our population growth has happened in the north end.   Another major constraint is that a significant number of bus drivers have retired and they are struggling to find replacements.  If you are experiencing any recent improvement it probably has to do with some recent hires.  But if you know of anyone who may be interested tell them to contact NJ Transit here.  They told me with overtime, the role can pay as much as $65k / year with benefits.   We also discussed adding a bus stop in the 1st ward at the corner of Newark and Willow which I have shared with 1st Councilman Mike DeFusco and the city.  And finally, I encouraged them to provide further subsidies to NYWW – as they find an alternative site for them – so that they can reduce fares for Hoboken and make ferry riding a viable alternative to the buses.  Right now the cost differential between the two does not make sense for many.   MESSY CABLES AND WIRES Do you have messy cables hanging across your street that are either or both a safety hazard and an eyesore?  5th Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham has organized with the City meetings with both Verizon and Cablevision (and it successor names) to discuss the removal of these wires.  If you have any please email me the following:

  • A picture of the cables/wires and any context around specific safety concerns (like impacted by a tree, low hanging, etc.)
  • In the subject, write “MESSY CABLES” and the ADDRESS.  This will let us easily chronicle them.
    • Read More...

    News

    Mayor Bhalla hires Sen. Booker aide to head Hoboken constituent office

    by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

    Official release:

    Hoboken Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla has hired Caroline Caulfield to head the city’s newly formed Office of Constituent Affairs. Caulfield, a fourth-generation Hobokenite, joins City Hall from Senator Cory Booker’s Newark office, where she served in the area of constituent relations and correspondence. “Caroline’s stellar professional qualifications and strong family ties to Hoboken make her the perfect choice to head the city’s new Constituent Affairs office,” said Bhalla. “She has a love and knowledge of Hoboken that is key in helping address the needs and concerns of residents.” Caulfield carries on a family legacy of public service to Hoboken.  Both her grandfather and great-grandfather worked for the City. “I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to continue this legacy of service,” said Caulfield. “I have tremendous pride in being from Hoboken, and I believe City Hall has an obligation to make our city more responsive to the needs of residents. I look forward to serving all of the city’s residents, paying close attention to the needs of our lower-income residents and those who have been impacted by our city’s rapid growth.” Prior to working for Senator Booker, Caulfield interned for the New York City Department of Education and canvassed for the Human Rights Campaign. Caulfield earned her B.A. in Political Studies and Human Rights from Bard College. Caulfield’s first day will be on Tuesday, May 29. 
    Talking Ed Note: According to her Linkedin page, Caroline Caulfield is an aide to NJ Senator Cory Booker and a Hoboken real estate agent with Hudson Place Realty.
    MSV was removed without explanation on releases from the mayor’s office. Talking Ed Notes may accompany any as an exception to elected officials releases per MSV policy.
    News

    ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ now comes The Pain

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    And here comes the DOJ Investigator General’s report, part deux, later this month.

    How ya’ll liking the #RussiaCollusionHoax now? No amount of posturing and narrative is going to save them. Right here on MSV, in late 2016, this Horse called it. The Russia Collusion Hoax has backfired.

    Enjoy the Show!

    This post is dedicated to Sybil’s Cave and the little band of rabble who hoped you’d believe in the bag of goods she tries to sell about the good government people, re: the good being bad. Read More...

    News

    Hoboken Corporation Counsel clears Boswell and law firm vendor on Pay-to-Play concerns

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    In a memo released on the eve before the City Council meeting tonight, the Hoboken Corporation Counsel Office cleared Boswell Engineering and a prominent law firm for concerns about pay-to-play.

    The firms were named as concerning at the prior City Council meeting when a $60,000 contract for Prestige Environmental was tabled for similar allegations about alleged Pay-to-Play violations.

    In a four-page memo, Alyssa Bongiovanni, an Assistant Corporation Counsel concluded the two vendors, Boswell Engineering and law firm Lite DePalma Greenberg, LLC “are in compliance with the City’s Pay-to-Play ordinance.” Each made approximately $300 contributions to the Ravi Bhalla mayoral campaign, within the legal limit. Read More...

    News

    Bayonne popping Ravi’s bollards

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    The sweep in Bayonne’s mayoral election by Jimmy Davis is reverberating across Hudson County and one of the biggest losers in the emerging county war may turn out to be Brian Stack and his underlings: Ravi Bhalla and Hoboken.

    Stack who is making a play to be HudCo man about county saw his singular efforts to become Hudson County Democratic Chair threatened as Bayonne under Mayor Davis will likely get behind Amy DeGise, daughter of the HudCo County Executive Tom DeGise.

    For Hoboken, the premature shot joining Stack’s HudCo insurrection may be costly both for its services from HudCo and for the personal ambitions of those who signed up in the failed insurrection. Read More...