Madigan's BoE stunt BACKFIRES: F-A-I-L (VIDEO)


Last night, the curtain fell on a brief, sordid episode in Hoboken political history.

Let's recap.
  • A BoE member accidently forwarded a private text to public officials; the text contained a slang phrase ("butt buddies") which either means (1) a gay slur or (2) a platonic term for close friends.
  • Along with that phrase, the text contained the photo of openly gay Councilman Mike Defusco with openly straight Brian Murray.
  • Add to the mix, (2) School Board Trustees who received the text: John Madigan and Peter Biancamano.  Both are bitter, political adversaries of the Trustee who sent the text, Irene Sobolov.  
  • The backdrop: a mayoral election that is, at least online, as hot as I can remember.  Mike DeFusco, subject of the text, has been running a stealth mayoral campaign although he has yet to announce he's running.

Well, last night this combustible mixture exploded... BOOM!

But not how Madigan and Biancamano, planners of a dirty political stunt, intended.  

The stunt: John Madigan and Peter Bianacamano sponsored a resolution to force Sobolov to resign from the School Board, AND had shopped the story to numerous media outlets.  Media outlets appeared to have been informed about their resolution before the public was.

Yes, numerous media outlets, including NBC- Biancamano's employer, were notified; GA heard  that "5 or 6" were coming to Last night's meeting.

The apparent "plan"was for the cameras to roll while Madigan and Biancamano self-righteously denounced Irene with prepared remarks describing her as a homophobe and/or bully. They wanted Sobolov to melt under media spotlights, humiliate her, destroy her reputation.  That's what John Madigan and Peter Bianacamano, two political operatives disguised as Hoboken School Board Trustees, intended.

That's not what happened.
  
Hoboken turned out for Irene.

Speakers included public school parents, teachers, friends, her spouse Ivan,  and two prominent, highly respected, openly gay Hoboken residents: Paul Somerville and his husband Allen Kratz.

Paul and Allen, who praised Sobolov, are longtime LGBT rights activists; Paul was the head of the now-defunct Gay Alliance of Hudson County (GAAHC) and  Allen was the head of the statewide New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition (NJLGC).

Perpetually angry activist/candidate Patty Waiters (standing) argues with a member of the public (seated). Unlike the entire audience (seated), Waiters stood in the center aisle, blocking the view of audience members.  Waiters' loud, angry exchange interrupted speaker Paul Somerville's remarks.  Somerville paused until the rude, obnoxious, disruptive Waiters was escorted to a seat, where she should have been in the first place. 

And so, the shallowness and stupidity of the Madigan-Biancamano scripted character assassination stood in stark contrast to the many heartfelt tributes about Sobolov and her years of quiet dedication to Hoboken's public school community.

Speaker after speaker eloquently described personal experiences with Irene-  shaming the two political operatives who DO NOT DESERVE THEIR BOARD SEATS.

There were only (2) speakers who sided with Madigan and Biancamano's resolution:   Patty Waiters and some HoLa-witch who flew in on her broomstick.

Said witch is a nasty HoLa parent who has periodically attended district BoE meetings to insult the district children and Board members; she also ran unsuccessfully for a Board Seat.  In 2014, she was on the  "Parents for Change" BoE ticket with runningmates Brian Murray and Patty Waiters - and finished in LAST place with the lowest number of votes of all candidates running that year.   SAD.

So, last night's audience politely listened as this embittered failed-candidate hissed a litany of insults against Irene, including  lambasting her about the pending "ethics complaint" allegedly filed by an HoLa Parent against board members who donated to the district's legal fund.  



And so, this witch ended her vomitous diatribe with a threat:  "you wait and see..." that community opposition against Sobolov would grow.  With torches and pitchforks?   Maybe district parents should make a scene at her next school board meeting, and scream about HoLa idiots who file frivolous ethics complaints against our board?

I imagine district peeps have too much class for that.

Finally, the VOTE.  After an explanation from the Board Attorney that Madigan's resolution was not legally enforceable- that the Board could not tell one of its member to "resign," the toothless vote proceeded.

Votes split along political factions.

"For" Sobolov's resignation, Madigan, Biancamano and the largely-mute Montgomery. 

Everybody else, against.

Here is video-from the introduction of the resolution through  the vote- which I took last night. The acoustics in the auditorium suck.  (Is it possible to change BoE meeting location?)

In two parts:





GA note: 
Props to Mike DeFusco on how he comported himself in the NBC 4 NewYork interview.

That is the Mike I remember.

Comments

  1. "That is the Mike I remember."

    EXACTLY! A normal, decent guy. Why does that guy allow local political blowhard hacks to ruin his personal and professional reputation, and screw up his political career?

    Resist, Mike. For your own good.

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    1. Will the "real" Mike DeFusco please stand up?

      Mike plays the "normal, decent guy" role well when he thinks that is what will play. But playing that role well doesn't mean its the "real" Mike. If it were, the local political blowhard hack wouldn't be allowed in his room, much less have been calling his shots pretty much from the day he was sworn in.

      It's not like the hack is wearing a disguise, and pretty much every other local politico has recognized and fled from the toxicity. Is Mike's judgment really that bad?

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  2. While we should be used to Patricia Waiters loud, obnoxious behavior it is always disturbing to watch her get away with her crap.

    Good to see Hoboken's most famous "Lenzbian" speaking to the to the BOE to denounce this political stunt.

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  3. I don't agree at all that butt-buddies is EITHER a gay pejorative or a neutra term to describe two people that are close. The two meanings in this case were obviously part of the joke. Its clear to me that part of the joke was Irene other-izing someone on the other side of the aisle because of his sexuality albeit in a passive-aggressive but to me, very transparent way.

    Is that a hanging offense? Not to me. That doesn't mean that Irene did nothing wrong though.

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    1. I'm going to guess that I know Irene much better than you do. Just a guess. On that basis, I know she told the truth. It's not worth debating.

      Of course, believe whatever you want.

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    2. The "joke" that Irene attempted was that if not for politics, DF would never hang with the likes of Madigan and Murray.

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    3. I'm sure you do know her better. Have you considered, that your admiration for her might be clouding your judgement? OF COURSE there is a double-meaning. THAT is what makes it a joke.

      I'm surprised you feel that 1) It's not up for debate and that a reasonable person couldn't come to a different conclusion than you have and 2) that it's not up for debate because you know her.

      I'm glad she didn't resign and I feel we need to have middle ground between "Irene said nothing wrong" and "off with her head".

      To be fair, I'm both gay and to the extent I have been involved in politics, it has been on the side opposite Zimmer/Irene/yourself. Perhaps that clouds MY judgement. I'm not trying to score points. My HONEST interpretation of "butt-buddies" was that Irene was trying to make a crack about Mike's sexuality. Take that for what its worth.

      Enjoy your evening. It's nice out.

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    4. 6:43- I agree with your opinion. The juxtaposition of Murray and DeFusco as people who would never otherwise be 'bosom buddies' was the joke. Like the saying goes:"politics makes strange bedfellows."

      6:49-No, my admiration is "not clouding my judgment". I've known Irene since our kids were together in kindergarten and before she was on the school board. Her kid and mine are HS freshman now. So no, it's not up to debate with ME, but debate with anyone else. I said you're entitled to your opinion.

      Yes, it's beautiful out. My back door is open.

      Enjoy.

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  4. After all the dirty politics served up by Peter Biancamano, I didn't need another reason to avoid patronize Biancamano's Deli on Washington Street. Yet he served up another heaping portion of disgusting. The opportunity to make this a "teachable moment" with our dollars or lack of them will send a clear message that this brand of filth politics is unacceptable in Hoboken.

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  5. "Since Dawn's mayorship, we have a real estate place on every corner. What is his name? Weitzman, Heller, Einstein, every corner okay?"

    ~Patty Waiters, social justice warrior.


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  6. That text message is fake news! This is fake news about fake news! Fake news x Fake news = Real News!!!! That means it's real news!!!!! We win again!!!!! Sad!!!!! The cover-up is worse than the crime!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wanktastic!!!!!!!!!

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  7. "Our city should have no tolerance for that kind of offensive language or for the distribution of it, other than for the purpose of condemning it" -Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer

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    1. Well, that kind of rush to judgment is very disappointing, but I suspect the mayor was sandbagged by the media for a quote and did not have the opportunity to discuss with Irene first. It was a "teaching moment"- the slang term "butt buddies" has several meanings. It can be a gay slur (I thought it was) OR the innocuous PLATONIC meaning "bosom buddies".

      If the mayor hadn't been sandbagged by the media for a quote, and had a discussion with Irene she would have understood that Irene did not KNOW the term was a slur, and meant "bosom friends". I get it, like Easel Weasel Lane Bajardi sandbagged the city council with his 2010 "art show". Its politics- I get it, Irene gets it.

      Now, I get what you and others will try to do.

      Understand this: trying to turn Irene, a founder of the Hoboken Family ALliance and beloved by generations of Hoboken public school families, into a wedge to split reform OR the Hoboken community will not only FAIL, Mike DeFusco will be held responsible. YES, he handled the matter with class, but if he allows supporters to exploit this incident for political purposes the blowback will crush him.

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    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    3. Okay, douche. Let me educate the public on this.

      There is "NO PENDING ETHICAL LITIGATION" against any member of the Hoboken BoE.

      There is a PENDING Complaint at the NJDOE Ethics Commission. The respondents are BOE TRUSTEES who DONATED $ toward the District's legal expenses in BoE v NJDOE COmmissioner/HoLA.

      The FRIVOLOUS complaint was filed by an HoLa PARENT.

      The STATUS is that it's pending preliminary review whether or whether it has merit (will go forward) or is frivolous (will get tossed).

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    4. The complaint has merit-thats why "reform" wanted the taxpayers to fork over $15k for each of the board members named.

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    5. WRONG, dumbass.

      Ever heard of a retainer? So every client that hires a lawyer is "guilty" of the charges? Boy, are you stupid.

      The Commission has broke the complaint into (4) seperate complaints-one for each of the (4) Respondents requiring (4) separate responses/appearances.

      A $15K retainer for (4) Respondents is VERY reasonable. Unspent $ gets returned.

      I hope the HoLa arsehole forcing the district to spend one penny on this evil,FRIVOLOUS complaint gets sanctioned. Once the complaint is tossed, his/her identity will be public information.

      Lastly, the complaint is languishing at the ethics commission, awaiting to be thrown out like the garbage it is.

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG- Hoboken411, the most toxic tool in the Dark side tool chest has been activated by the DeFusco campaign! Not only is that the Kiss of Death to Mike DeFusco, but a gift to Reform!

      Delete
    2. It was a post from the HR not 411
      Keep deleting away

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    3. Since when is the HR any better than 411? LMAO

      Delete
    4. Get this straight: I am not hosting your false and libelous campaign.

      Policy: Libelous posts get deleted, offenders will get banned. Pinched one already. Your turn next?

      Boo hoo and waaah.

      Delete
    5. 10:48 it said Hoboken411 is right and quoted it.

      Delete
    6. Since when does TS quote his arch enemy?

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    7. I don't get it. Who ?

      Delete
  9. Hoboken411 is fairly consistently libertarian. He believes that taking offense is stupid in and of itself. He's no hero of mine, and I certainly don't recommend running to him for ethical guidance. But it would take an extremely selective reading of his "thoughts" to find sympathy for this bit of political maneuvering.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Based on what I have read of both of the two unmarried, middle aged men's highly misogynistic views they are very much kindred spirits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't get it. Who?

      Delete
    2. "I dont mind women acting like men. But why cant they act like nice men?"

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    3. 10:54- that's an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

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    4. 10:48 I am sure EVERYBODY reading this blog knows who. Even you.

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  11. I guess the folks at McDonald's in West NY will see poopy when they come to this site lol.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Is it possible that reform members are leaving vulgar and rude comments about people in town with the hopes people will point the dirty stick at the old guard? Seems like a plausible tactic which so far if true is sadly working. This can be a dog eat dog political community, lots of blood shed and hostility.

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    1. Yessssssss!!!!! Reformerists saying very bad things!!!!! Wanky see, Wanky do!!!!!! Fake news!!!! Sad!!!! The cover-up is worse than the crime!!!!!!

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    2. Best line from MSV today: " Don't be a Soares about it "

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  13. Nope. Understandably truth sometimes hurts

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  14. Biancamano Mr. Campaign Manager 365 was embarrassed in the last election. Madigan lost his patronage job. This was always about personal grudges for two members who just don't care about anything else.

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  15. That's the scariest video since The Bride of Wankenstein!!!! No more please!!! Gross news!!!! Sad!!!!

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  16. I can't wait to find out who filed the phony ethics complaint against the HBOE.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lynn should stay calm and not run down the isle in her condition. Then to threaten Irene and the board? Who called her? John or Pete?

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    Replies
    1. probably Pete.

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    2. And because it happened during the public meeting, not during a recess, the text or email Peter probably sent Danzker is OPRA-able.

      Delete

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