MORTe continues suing Hoboken in emergency appeal to stop Doyle appointment
The City Council last night had nothing of substance to compare in the way of the continuing lawsuit by the Mason family with the Russo clan and Tim Occhipinti costing the City of Hoboken big dollars according to one report in an emergency appeal initially approved.
The appeal was ruled stayed by an appellate judge who will likely hear the matter again within two weeks joined by his two colleagues on the court.
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Beth Mason is excited with the latest delay in the lawsuit against the people of Hoboken. Both she and her allies lost the case and a vote was confirmed to appoint Jim Doyle to the City Council but an emergency appeal keeps it in limbo for at least two weeks. |
Occhipinti actually left a City Council meeting in progress to speak at the Zoning Board meeting where the matter was on the table. It appears his intent was to speak on behalf of the restaurant developer. He was stopped by the board’s lawyer who refused to allow him to do so.
Then again, Michael Russo had his own problems meeting with a federal informant agreeing to bribes as Cammarano but was never charged as any follow up transaction has never been fully vetted with some observers questioning whether Russo himself followed Dwek’s example and turned federal informant.
Here’s the video late in the meeting where Occhipinti defends taking developer money and clearly will support the restaurant taking City property illegally in a development riddled with zoning violations. Do you think Occhipinti’s conscience may change his vote?
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012

Tim Occhipinti’s “pay-to-play” speaking effort last week on behalf of a controversial building riddled with zoning violations in the fourth ward where the City of Hoboken wants to build a Southwest park turns out to involve more money than originally thought.
Based on a disclosure statement submitted by the developer Danny Tattoli, the friend and long time partner of the controversial former Hoboken Construction Office terror Al Arezzo gave Tim Occhipinti money in both 2010 and 2011.
On Saturday, MSV broke the story of Tim Occhipinti accepting $2,000 from the developer at 61 Jackson Street in its rumor column, Grist for the Mill – but the story was not fully confirmed and was posted under “the grist” moniker, with the full amount of the money understated.
In addition to the $2,000 listed by the developer Danny Tattoli in his June 2010 disclosure statement to the Hoboken Construction Office, Tim Occhipinti also received $1,500 in his May 2011 campaign.
The $1,500 appears on the NJ ELEC Occhipinti campaign report on May 10th, City Council Election Day but the first contribution of $2,000 does not appear in any Tim Occhipinti NJ ELEC report.
As Tim Occhipinti was not a declared candidate in June 2010 for the November special election in the fourth ward, the money was clearly intended for that purpose but only a select group among the Old Guard knew of that plan. It may be possible the donation falls outside of the NJ ELEC reporting requirement, although that’s not altogether clear.
The 61 Jackson Street project, intended to be a bar/restaurant currently sits on public property and never obtained proper zoning approved documents from the Hoboken Construction Office. A wall encroaches on an area the City of Hoboken wishes to see as part of a Southwest Park, a plan Tim Occhipinti has said he supports.
His actions on behalf of the developer and his effort to speak for the retention of the building loaded with zoning violations say something entirely different.
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Tim Occhipinti is on sale at City Hall in more ways than one. Developers: please swipe here. |
At the Hoboken Zoning Board meeting
last Tuesday Tim Occhipinti attempted to deliver a prepared speech on behalf of
his $3,500 donor and developer friend, Danny Tattoli.
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: Okay. Let’s open it up to the public.
Any member of the public have a question of Mr. Tattoli?
Seeing none, can I have a motion to close the public portion?
COMMISSIONER SMITH: Motion to close the public portion —
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: Hold it.
A VOICE: Is this just to the witness?
THE REPORTER: I need his name.
MR. GALVIN: Councilmen shouldn’t participate at the Zoning Board, sir.
A VOICE: Well, can I —
MR. GALVIN: No. You shouldn’t participate at all. I am sorry.
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SMITH: I’ll make a motion to close the public portion.
COMMISSIONER DE FUSCO: I’ll second. Thank you. All in favor?
(Tim Occhipinti continues to interrupt and the stenographer does not record his continued demand to read his speech during the commotion. – Da Horsey)
MR. GALVIN: Councilman, right?
A VOICE: Yes.
MR. GALVIN: I am saying it respectfully, but if you are unaware of that,
that is the rule.
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: The public portion is closed.
A VOICE: So no —
THE REPORTER: Can I just have your name?
MR. GALVIN: No. Council people generally are recommended against speaking at Zoning Board matters.
A VOICE: You and I could have a quick sidebar. five?
MR. GALVIN: Sure, we can, outside.
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: Do you want to take
MR. GALVIN: Yes.
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: Take five.
(Recess taken)
CHAIRMAN FUSCO: Okay.
MR. SPECTOR: A decision was reached?
MR. GALVIN: It was a non decision, just me having a consultation with somebody.
MR. SPECTOR: Fine. The applicant rests, so obviously it is open to the public at this point.
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Tim Occhipinti is an eager developer puppet. He’s gleefully looking to vote for a developer’s property encroaching on City land. His MORTe allies voiced support for him at the council meeting last night. |