Breaking: Ex-BoE Official Prevails in Court!

Photos of assault victim, former BoE official Jean Marie Mitchell, taken at the police station at March 9, 2012

Folks, the use of our courts to file nuisance complaints against supporters of Reform in Hoboken and Mayor Zimmer is turning a corner.  So is the bullying of public officials at our schools and on the streets.

The victims are fighting back. 

Case in point, Board of Education Vice President Theresa Minutillo won a moral victory in June against Councilwoman Beth Mason's employee Matt Calicchio when Judge Sixto Macias said this:

THE COURT:  Like most every political case the core is worse than the incident.  I -- I am really taken aback by -- by the testimony of Ms. -- Ms. Garcia.  It's completely incredible.  I do not believe one word of what she told me.  

I -- I -- I believe that if instead of reading the blogs, I think if you're going to bring somebody to court to testify on your behalf you should at least get your stories together...

I -- I also believe that the whole testimony of Ms. -- Ms. Garcia and Mr. Calicchio -- Calicchio were fabricated.  It -- it is unreasonable to believe that two individuals can take off from work anytime they want to pick up a child.  Two people.  At a serious political job, and I understand this is Hudson County.  

But that's beyond what I'd -- what I think political jobs are. Anytime they wish to make -- that she could walk into that job any time she wanted to according to her testimony.  Afternoons, mornings.  And -- and really evasive.  The defendant was asked, you know, what did he do for -- at his job.  He said I work for Gallery 400 (sic).  What is it, that they -- they -- every time they have a -- a board of education meeting you have to attend?  I believe the -- the -- the defendant is 23 years old, right? 

MS. (Elise) DI NARDO:  Yes.           

THE COURT:  How many 23-year-old individuals go to monthly board of education meetings?  That is your job to go to the board of education meeting.  That is -- that is how you got from being a volunteer to -- to -- to working full time in -- in -- in -- in Hoboken someplace and getting a salary.  

By working for somebody.  That?s how Ms. Garcia got her job.  Probably because her uncle is a board of education member. 

But -- but then -- see, the problem then is not only you and Ms. Garcia, and the uncle, and everybody that's involved in politics in Hudson County probably is -- is guilty of something like that.   

  

Now if you are an elected official, and we see it every day.  People want to -- people want to call you names.  They do to each other, and we do -- and -- and the public calls them names. I -- I believe that -- that -- that eventually it have a serious effect on people running for office. 

 ... As a public officer, the -- the -- the standards -- you're a public figure.  As a public figure you have to expect people to react to your -- to your position.  And we live in a democracy where we can voice our -- our -- our disgust, our other way of thinking to the other person. 

 ...People lied.  Openly lied, which is -- which is worse than -- than a harassment charge, you know.  I would have -- I would have taken a charge of harassment better than somebody calling me a liar.  And I find you not guilty, but I think you lied. 

See that?

The judge recognized the Defendant and his witness as political operatives that were holding political jobs for City Councilwoman Beth Mason, working for her 501(c)(3) The Mason Civic League.  (Are 501(c)(3)s allowed to employ political operatives?)

Well, folks, yesterday ANOTHER victim of anti-Reform aggression, former School Board member Jean Marie Mitchell, assaulted by an opponent of the Kids First School Board majority PREVAILED in court- this trial was her 5th (and final) court appearance for this unfortunate matter.

If you recall, Ms. Mitchell was spat upon in an unprovoked attack outside of the Hoboken High School auditorium.  Not just 'spit'- but her assailant had a mouthful of something... disgusting.

Well, the judge agreed, and here is what GA heard from Mitchell yesterday:

Just got out of court. Verdict scheduled at noon. The judge re-read all the testimony, then issued his verdict - Candelaria is guilty of assault or simple assault. He said that my testimony was calm and consistent. He said that Candelaria's testimony was consistent, but was a 180 degree difference from mine in her interpretation. He found that my story was credible and hers was not. He said it was a "disgusting act." The prosecutor also requested that the judge issue a 'no contact order' against her, and it was granted. I will call the prosecutor to get the exact criminal statute.

Congratulations, girlfriend!  You know, GA accompanied Mitchell to 2 of her court appearances, and it was quite an ordeal.

But as Jean Marie Mitchell and Theresa Minutillo know, ya gotta stand up to bullies. Whatever it takes.

But GA's faith in the justice system, in Hudson County, has been restored by these recent rulings by our judiciary who saw through the Hudson County cesspool of  dirty tricks and political machinations.

Yes, Hudson County is a hornet's nest of political operatives. 

Well you know what happens when you get SLAPPed around?

You get a SLAPP-back.