Did you get it? GA did on Christmas Eve, at 7 PM.
Sponge Bob Interruptus.
Who do you think it was? 3rd Ward Councilman Michael Russo! He, his wife and daughter wished me a Merry Christmas, and somberly told me that in lieu of his annual Christmas card, he "will be making a monetary contribution to Sandy relief across the state"
Did he tell you the same thing?
I'm guessing he did, since GA's gotten emails from all over Hoboken from folks just as special to Councilman Russo as I am. GA appreciates the 'Merry Christmas' greeting.
But the rest of the call was as transparent as a Fredrick's of Hollywood nightie.
Citywide? Does Russo send Christmas cards to all six wards of Hoboken? Of course not. So, his Christmas Eve robocall notified the entire city he was calling them in lieu of the card they weren't going to receive. That's like you calling a stranger and telling them the call is in lieu of your annual birthday gift. Make sense?
But Russo is a politician and you're not. So the call was about sending a message.
So what was it?
Russo wants the entire city to know he "will" contribute to Sandy relief "across the state."
A source told GA that's the new Dark Side strategy to oppose the Mayor: minimize the Sandy impact within Hoboken and emphasize Sandy damage outside of Hoboken. Then they'll attack Mayor Zimmer for over-reacting, talking to the media, and asking the government for 'too much' help. You saw Occhipinti do that at last week's City Council- opposing $2.25 M in emergency appropriations on the basis that the Jersey shore suffered more 'structural' damage. The same Occhipinti that (it appears) left 5 tons of Louisiana donations for us in Bayonne. Beth Mason is fundraising for the rest of Hudson County, including Weehawken Mayor Turner's 527 political organization and throws parties in Secaucus. Now Russo in his robocall tells us he" will" contribute to Sandy relief "across the state."
Across the state.
What about contributing here in Hoboken? One option is RebuildHoboken.org a bipartisan 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping Hoboken residents by sponsoring grants based on need.
Russo's schtick is disingenuous on so many levels.
- The cash he dropped on a city-wide robocall probably matches the cost of Christmas cards to his ward.
- Russo's primary residence is Church Towers. Like many Church Tower residents, he has a beach house, likely to have had storm-related damage. (Poor Dave Roberts' house floated out to sea) Is this another reason why he says he's giving "across the state"?
- Note his promise, he "will" contribute. Will? Why hasn't he already? The storm was 2 months ago.
- Why didn't he name the Sandy relief charity? He's had 2 months to come up with one. Imagine, recording a message for all six wards of Hoboken but not caring enough to select a charity you are allegedly giving to. Here you go, a list of Hurricane Sandy charities from CharityNavigator.org that GA found in 2 clicks of a mouse.
All Hands VolunteersNow do eenie-meenie-miney moe.
Alley Cat Allies
American Humane Association
American Red Cross
AmeriCares
Bergen County's United Way
Best Friends Animal Society
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Relief Services
Children's Hunger Fund
Church World Service
City Harvest
Community FoodBank of New Jersey
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Convoy of Hope
Covenant House New Jersey
Direct Relief International
Episcopal Relief and Development
Feed The Children
Feeding America
Food Bank For New York City
Food For The Poor
The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
Foodshare
Gleaning for the World
Habitat for Humanity International
Heart to Heart International
Hope For The Warriors®
International Medical Corps
International Rescue Committee
K.I.D.S.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Matthew 25: Ministries
Mercy Medical Airlift
New York Cares
Operation Blessing International
Operation USA
Rebuilding Together
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center
Samaritan's Purse
Save the Children
United Methodist Committee on Relief
World Vision
The Zakat Foundation of America
How hard was that?
And while you are "contributing", how about letting residents keep the money they're spending to defend your idiotic lawsuit against Jim Doyle?
Dead on accurate about what was behind the call. Unfortunately for hi, he still thinks Hoboken circa 1985m where this kind of crap would work. We are well past these pathetically transparent games that he, TIMMAY and that uber cretin minion, that scaly little anchovy Finboy. At least the dynamic duo went under cover so that they can claim plausible deniability for the recent crash and burn efforts i.e. the Nazi truck, the fake charity, the fake fundraiser dinner, the missing donations from Louisiana. If this is the best that the sorry lot can some up with, downplay the damage form Sandy and claim the mayor soiled the City's reputation by working to get aid resources when they were DRASTICALLY needed, then they have for all intent and purposes, concede the next mayoral election. SSSSSHHHH, don't tell them that. Let them keep self inflicting such deliciously wacky wounds.
ReplyDeleteI still find it disgusting that people feel entitled to squat in affordable housing apartments while they own homes elsewhere. The should be a law....hmmmm.
ReplyDelete