Fear and Trust


GA cannot tell a lie.

I fear that what's underlying this brouhaha over filling Raia's open 5-year North Hudson Sewerage Authority seat, is a Herculean council effort to accommodate Poopie with somewhere to land on the NHSA.

fear this accommodation to appease the Poopster will break the trust Reform's most active supporters and volunteers have in those we helped elect.

I fear a 7-2 Council misunderstands the power of optics.

I fear a perfect storm of miscommunication has inflamed Reform supporters.

I trust the people we've elected will listen to our concerns, not break faith with Reform principles.

I trust the people we've elected will do what is best for Hoboken and not themselves (politically.)

I trust if the decision they make is not well understood, they will communicate directly to us why that decision was best for Hoboken. 

I trust there's been no "Let' Make a Deal" with Raia to get him a board seat.

Comments

  1. All I can say is that if they do reappoint Raia to the sewerage authority,
    they're in deep Pupie!

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  2. That needed to be said, thanks GA. We think exactly alike. Hopefully all reform council people will read and internalize this message.

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    1. Reform or not to be Reform. That is the question.

      Contact these key council members: Peter Cunningham and Michael DeFusco.

      Emails: cunninghamforhoboken@gmail.com & mike4Hoboken@yahoo.com

      A little bird told me. Just do it!

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    2. To bitch or not to bitch: that is the question.

      Wether 'tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outraged bloggers.

      Or to take a moment to step back get the facts and proceed in a rational manner.

      Ay there's the rub.

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    3. anon at [10:28] am. So what are the "facts"????? How about sharing them?

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    4. I WANT A PONY AND KURT AS SEWER GUY AND I'M REFORMY AND I WANT WHAT I WANT AND ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT WHAT I WANT IS BAD AND NOT REFORMY.

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    5. Uh, hey there screen caps yelling guy. No pony is either voting or up for a vote tonite.

      Ok, back to your wailing "Reformy." Whatever.

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  3. This is just one man's opinion, no disrespect to anyone who differs. My votes for Mayor Zimmer and those aligned with Reform were first and foremost that they were not corrupt, that they would not enrich themselves at the expense of Hoboken taxpayers. I believe this was and very much is still the case. Having said that, it was never my belief that the Mayor and the 7-2 Council majority were pure as the driven snow or anything near that. This is politics, politics in a city, county and state where it more resembles an MMA fight than a civic undertaking. I am not saying the Pupie machinations are right, nor should they be ignored. What I believe is that those who would throw Reform under the bus for this particular maneuver are being somewhat naive. I would rather have a team working for me that does the right thing 80-90% of the time than worry about the 10-20% that they may succumb to political realities. Again, just throwing this out there, it's one man's opinion.

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    1. Fair enough. A sensible POV, I agree in the abstract. No dumping the baby with the bathwater. But in this case, for me, it changes when its Raia we're talking about.

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    2. Come on, this is Raia we are talking about. What does the council have to fear from him? Just do a good job, get Washington Street repaired, get the second flood station up and running, finish Observer, just move the city ahead, which is what they were elected to do. If all that is done, then what effing difference does Raia make? Are they afraid of another "Pawking" video? some more birthday parties? What has he won lately? He spends money like a drunken sailor but towards what end? Man up, reform, and put your big boy pants on. Vote Kurt!

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    3. Look, you can't claim an anti-corruption platform one day and then another day say, "Oh yeah, I'm laying down with the corrupt."

      It doesn't work like that. Agree with QOTV!! Completely!

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  4. Well said GA. Agree on everything you said!!!

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  5. What I hear now is that since sunshine has disinfected this evil little plot to slam Kurt, people on the council are starting to run from it. The hope had been that the deal would not get noticed and Kurt would just fade away. More than anything, to me, it is the principle that the council would even hint that they are available to play dirty little back room games, just as Sullivan, Russo and every other OG loudmouth have been saying for years. And the first time out of the gate, what does reform do, they make a dirty little back room deal. NO! If they do, then everyone one of them is dead to me, and quite a few others that I know.

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    1. I had thought the idea of a 7-2 council was they didn't have to make this kind if deal. Elections have consequences and all that.

      Guess not.

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    2. Sure does suck.

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    3. Again what deal ? All this talk about deals they think have been made because some anonymous person on a blog sad some other anonymous guy told him about it is a waste of time and only serves to hurt reform. Or is that the whole point.

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  6. IF HE IS ELECTED, I WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT REFORM EFFORTS.

    Jim Doyle will do the right thing and he might be the only one. I think we can count of Tiffany too.

    As for the others, they were in bed with him in some way shape or form.

    You boys can take from him with out giving him this appt. In fact, always take from him he will always be willing to contribute so what if you promise him and don't deliver. Big Fn deal.

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  7. I fear that the Reform Counci is not confident enough in getting re-elected on the merits of their record.

    I fear that the Reform Council will insult the intelligence of reform supporters by denying any deal should this 5 year 2 year swap BS be executed. By playing out this game the Reform Council be be confirming a prior plan/deal was in place.

    I fear that certain members of Reform may have succumbed to the threat of future VBM extortion but will end up damaging their credibility.

    I fear of the potential of BS rationalizations to justify a deal with the devil.

    Nothing to fear but fear itself.

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  8. Just saw Horsey and the Pupie may be on the bowl to flush with poopie.
    Sounds like people need to push their council members. Who are being pushed to doing the right thing. Some may need another shove.

    http://www.hobokenhorse.com/2016/01/is-pupie-unraveling-on-sewerage.html

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  9. Self inflicted Reform stupidity. The Dark side is laughing. We can't even stick by our own. Was it Perry B who said, "reform eats it's own." So true. "Pupie is dangerous." No, WE are, to ourselves.

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    1. It only took the reform council less than a month to completely screw this 7-2 thing up.

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  10. How about term limits. One term and you're out. Give others and fresh new ideas a chance.

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  11. Breach of Back Room Deals is what puts council members in this situation.
    Especially Back Room Deals made by behind the scenes unelected puppet masters, contributors and developers.

    Dawn is the only person who said there was a 7-2 majority. Nobody else on the council said that on victory night.

    It's Kurt for FIVE.

    Lets not tolerate some musical chairs with some seat warmer who dials it in for less than half a term or a 20 year hack who's notorious VBM efforts led to John Madigan on the BOE and years of deals with Beth Mason.

    I want to hear Bhalla explain why Kurt is bad and Raia is good.


    I WANT TO KNOW WHY this isnt a no brainer

    KURT FOR THE FIVE

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    1. Kurt for six,
      Enough of the trix,
      He is in the mix,
      Flooding he will try to fix.

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    2. It's a 5 year term...

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    3. I was referring to the number of City Council votes.

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    4. If you can't make it rhyme
      Then he can't do the time.

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  12. Sewerage and Flooding is the most important issue in the city today, yet for the Zimmer Administration to only come up with Raia or Assadourian is quite shady to me.
    Why couldn't they find a third option?

    Thank you Kurt Gardiner for stepping up, otherwise we would be stuck with two jerks who were willing to swap terms and a councilman who once again is caught in the middle of another sketchy controversy.

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  13. I fear the a few who seem to be making the most noise about this appointment don't have any real facts to base their noisemaking and don't represent the views of the majority of those who make up what is being called the Reformers in Hoboken.
    I fear that the caustic wording that some have used in what should be a civil
    discussion hurts all Reformers and plays into the stereotype used against the by those in the Old Guard camp.





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    1. Well Anon @1:19 am , Maybe if the administration would be OPEN and TELL us fools, the "Real Facts" we wouldn't be "noisemaking", Sounds like you're on here at 1:19 am (working overtime) trying to play damage control.
      This is what happens when politicians try to play politics, dodge and take this very well educated population for granted.

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    2. To the wee hour defender... this sounds as pathetic as the attack on the uptown residents lobbed on the Letters to Editor page against his neighbors for worrying about walls ruining the historic streets which the 2million plus homes they own and wouldn't be able to sell if they didn't fight back. Sorry pal, Sunshine is the best disinfectant

      We know these facts:

      Raia wants to keep his seat.
      Raia was going to run against Russo to keep him tied up in the 3rd ward.
      Raia broke that plan
      Raia still wanted to stay on the Sewer Commission

      Reform Council didn't want to vote for Raia, but hoped they could make the argument that he's doing a good job on NHS so stay the course... ( remember the "lesser of two evils" defense on various blogs last October? )

      Now that Raia broke his promise, city hall's brokerage team had no need to oblige.

      Gardner files with a great deal of non patronage, honest and everyday citizen support and a resume of civil service

      Now council is faced with voting for Raia over a Reformer so they recycle a loyal foot soldier to apply for a redundant position, playing the dirtiest of musical chairs.


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    3. Anonymous at 1:19 am, please educate us on the real facts if people here are so wrong. Look forward to your response

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    4. Real facts? How about this, it's possible to not want Raia for the authority and have no reason to think Kurticus Giganticus is qualified for the position.

      Now that Reform has grown hopefully it has the ability to attract strong talent to local boards.

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    5. ok 9:04 am what other candidates are being considered then? You seem to have some inside info. Because as of know it seems like there are 2 spots. Assourdian has one and Raia's seat is opening up. For some reason Assourdian is applying for that spot. If not Kurt then who?? Because from where most are sitting it seems there are 2 seats and 3 people being considered.

      Please educate us all. Who else is out there?

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    6. Stop flailing, it's pathetic. I have no inside information other than not wanting Raia and not being excited by Kurt. In a city of over 50 thousand anyone who thinks there are only two choices for a job are either corrupt, foolish, or related to a Russo.

      Being for good government should be a qualification for any position it should not however be the only qualification. You want more information talk to your council people.

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    7. 9:46, I would hope a lot of candidates are being considered. If you don't feel that Kurt should be the one I have no problem with that. That is your opinion and support whomever you wish.

      What I do have a problem with is Raia being considered at all, and if some sort of games are being played.

      If Raia gets a seat or someone similar I will have zero reason to support those who put him back in that seat

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    8. Update for ANONYMOUS at 9:46 am : According to the agenda there are 3 names being considered. So you may be technically correct in this statement, it's 3 names. "In a city of over 50 thousand anyone who thinks there are only two choices for a job are either corrupt, foolish, or related to a Russo."

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    9. 9:55, If Frank Raia submitted his application then the City Council must legally consider it. Like it or not Frank Raia has 20 years of hands on experience in that position.
      You and I may not like his politics or other actions but he at least in this instance has followed the rules.











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    10. There's only 2 open seats if the council gives assadourian a 5 year extension to his current 5 year seat...

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  14. Let's just say we give the sitting commissioner Mr. Assadourian the benefit of the doubt that he was put in this spot as an alternative to Raia - we should say Thanks!
    But now that Kurt has put his name in the mix Mr Assadourian can withdraw.
    The argument being made is Assadorian has 2 years more experience than Gardiner which is complete hogwash!
    This is not rocket science
    If we were to be honest with ourselves when it comes to related experience on Boards and elected office we wouldn't have any Zoning members, Planning members, Council members or a Mayor.

    All of these roles are supposed to come from the residents of the community to direct professionals with the expertise in an objective manner.
    We don't have a CEO as Mayor, a former Governor as a Council person or the retired CEO of Goldman Sachs as Mayor. I see no reason why Someone with hardly 2 years as a NHSA Commissioner is so deserving of another 5 years over Gardiner who has decades of volunteer and reform community service

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  15. What are the consequences for Raia not getting re-appointed?

    Anyone know what he's using now for this serious consideration, or what he used in the past to obtain the Boys and Girls Club for his publicly funded private school?

    What goods does he have on anyone?

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    1. Jacking up B&G fees from $15/year to $65/week, swapping hot meals for snacks, and keeping B&G workers on the payroll sure cleared the B&G population out of 123 Jefferson Street for Frank's school.

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    2. Oh, lest I forget.... the purging of B&G kids from 123 Jefferson and quiet takeover of the building (Carmelo's wife is both B&G Club director and HoLa afterschool coordinator) was known to The Hoboken Reporter (they read it here) that they declined to cover.

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    3. Yeah, the deal that gave away the B&G Club for the creation of a private school was one of the most blatant acts of racism I can recall in our City, but for Raia to get that building (and a no-bid construction contract for its expansion), must mean that he's in a position to bring down some people.

      The same thing must be happening with his re-appointment to the NHSA seat.

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    4. Raia is a bad guy agreed, so why is the Mayor supporting his Brian the guy who is wined and dined by Raia?

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    5. Doesn't Tony get wined and dined by Raia too.

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  16. I'm not sure I understand the logic behind this deal with Raia. Do these council members really believe if they appoint Raia now, he will support them in the next election? Ask Mike Russo and Ruben Ramos how many times Raia has failed to hold up his end of the bargain on these types of deals? The guy may be the least trustworhty politico in town. The only reason Ramos and Russo support this now is it will dirty up the Mayor and her team, the same way Church Towers dirtied up Mason. If they can split up the "reform" base, they can steal the next election ... oh, and they know there is NO CHANCE Raia makes good on his promise(s) in this deal.

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  17. Reality check: isn't all the "reform has already blown their 7-2 majority" carping a bit premature, considering that no vote has yet been taken? You're already condemning people based on rumors and hearsay.

    By all means write to reform council people and express your views, but it's silly (or spin) to proclaim reform has already eaten itself before anything has even happened. There's major league spin but very few, if any, facts flying around in these comments.

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    1. staying silent in public is how Reform ended up with Raia the Retread, Brian the Puppet and the one TRUE reformer Kurt as odd man out.

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    2. Brian Assadourian's reform credentials are second to none. Hopefully when the BS ends and the vote is taken both Brian and Kurt will be NHSA Commissioners and we will have two TRUE reformers without improper agendas representing our City. Perhaps one day we will even have THREE.

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    3. AMEN.
      Two tonight. Three next year !

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    4. Agreed. Brian Assadourian is a great guy and should continue his term and then get appointed again

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    5. I just threw up a little in my mouth....

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    6. Interesting the Tony attacks the past few hours, just saw his facebook page and spoke with him.
      Today he was at The Hospital for Special Surgery getting a follow up and an MRI, so unless there's an MRI machine that allows you to use your phone or laptop inside, I'd say you guys are really full of shit and a bit in denial that there actually be more than Soares that thinks this plan stinks. But the leader says stick with an extra does of knocking Tony and throw in Lenz as for good measure. And make sure nobody brings up any husbands or you will be arrested by cops

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    7. FYI - MRI's only take about 30-45 minutes.

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    8. I didn't see anything about MRI's on Soares Facebook pages but I did see his posts on Gardiner's page.

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  18. Reform is not a monolith, and that is its strength, for without differences of opinion, there would be no checks and balances and reformers and their elected and appointed officials would be no better than previous administrations.

    Former mayors of the old guard regime allegedly made backdoor deals with New Jersey Transit, sold our water utility's profits, strong-armed corporation counsel from the sidelines at city council meetings, sat on their hands while blacks and latinos perished in what are largely assumed to be arson fires and gave jobs and apartments to their unqualified supporters.

    It's fair to point out that those posting here and elsewhere haven't arrived at the same opinion, but reformers have a long way to go before they're actions are anything like those who used Hoboken as their personal ATM.

    Tonight's vote will be interesting, to say the least, but what it won't be is the end of reform or the return of the corrupt old guard.

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  19. One could speculate that Raia is on this board forever because he knows where all the bodies are..the secrets..the money....

    Follow the money and Raia will be there....personally I doubt this all about health benefits, as it maybe the icing on the cake for Raia....only the true insiders know why Raia is still doing on this board.....it is NOT out of love for Hoboken and it NOT for love of the game to be involved or to fix flooding for Hoboken.

    Raia is up to something......always.

    For you reformers....this is a true test of Mayor Zimmer's makeup and the City council...they are a rubber stamp for her so this is her call...so live with whatever you get tonight :)

    Kurt....he may have done a good job but you will never know. Deals were cut!

    Reformers who slide into bed with Raia …………..are they really REFORMERS or just the same old politician singing the same old tune….

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    1. People can speculate on anything they want but that doesn't mean it is true.

      I would disagree that Frank "Pupie" Raia does not a love Hoboken and add that as a resident and developer he has a vested interest in fixing the flooding. I think we demean ourselves when we attack anyone in that way.
      There are enough legitimate reasons to criticize Mr. Raia.

      I would also disagree that saying that reformers should not be making any deals if after they look at the reality of the situation decide it is in the best interest of the majority of Hoboken. One can come to a compromise without being compromised.

      I would hope that REFORMERS will never be so dogmatic in their thinking or actions that they do more harm than good for the future of a City we all say we care deeply about.

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    2. I've never heard a TRUE reformer claim that the reform CC members are rubber stamps for Zimmer. I think pretty much anybody who knows Zimmer and the reform CC members knows how absurd that claim is.

      As to who are really REFORMERS, there certainly are some people who try to claim ownership of the reform label who have shown themselves to be anything but.

      Since the notorious Soares/Camporeale deal which was supported by friends of Soares who are no longer on the CC (as well as by Russo and Castellano), reform has, it seems to me, stuck consistently to its ethical principles even though I haven't always agreed on their policy choices. I will be very disappointed if Raia gets re-appointed since it will be the second time I've been truly disappointed in reform.

      My gut says that's not going to happen. If it does, the criticism will be warranted but until then the anger and talk of nefarious deal making seems premature.


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    3. We now return to our regularly distraction by the sycophants; Bring up nasty comments about Tony again.--- Tony who was actually reappointed 9-0 by the Zimmer Majority when his term was up.
      Is it true Clavaria is out of jail and Zimmer wants him back on the HHA?

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    4. Well you overplayed your hand stating the council is a rubber stamp. It ain't and that's going to likely be evident tonite. So watch and see as we all must.

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    5. You keep talking about Tony's reappointed as if that expunges the wrongdoing that got him appointed in the first place. It doesn't. The deal was cut, Soares got his health insurance for a few years and residents of the HHA paid the consequences.

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    6. Is Tony really considered a 'REFORMER" anymore?
      Anyone who still takes the time to listen to his intense level of bitterness or have read his attacks on Facebook have to question not only his judgement but his sanity.

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    7. Who cares about Hector Claveria anymore? When Reform first took control of the council in 09 Tony and his friends and council allies' first order of business was FULL COURT PRESS to get Linda Walker on the HHA - a person who was illegally harboring a sex offender in an HHA building.

      Maurice Fitzgibbons was loudly advocating for Tony to get the NHSA seat because he wanted and deserved the health benefits and for no other reason, and Maurice knew Tony was the kind of "reformer" he could always "deal" with. During Cammarano's brief tenure Maurice was rumored to be working on a deal with Tony in which Tony was to publicly advocate against changing zoning appointment powers in exchange for an administration job.

      You want to clean out the closets? That's a two way street my friends!

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    8. Tony himself doesn't really have anything to do with this discussion so the gratuitous Tony bashing seems wrong to me. But the unholy deal that put him on the NHSA has everything to do with this discussion. When reform behaves badly there should be no excuse and no forgiving or forgetting. That's how we keep it from happening again.

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    9. I think Tony's appointment is being brought up as example of bad political deal that shouldn't be repeated.

      I think the Council should catch its breath and not appoint anyone tonight.

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    10. I think when Tony Soares as a sitting NHSA Board member publicly inserts his opinion about NHSA Board appointments by post things about other peoples ethics on the internet then he is legitimately part of this discussion.



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    11. I think a lot of people, or a few people who post many times, don't like Tony and bring him up negatively. Whether it's deserved is a matter of opinion. I don't know all of what he's done so I cannot comment on that.

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    12. In 2010 two votes were taken. Soares was voted onto the NHSA board (despite already being chair of the zoning board) and Marianne Camporeale was voted onto the HHA board in identical 5-4 vote with the support of Russo and Castellano. All parties denied a deal was made but the reality spoke for itself. Instead of remembering it and condemning it some folks for self serving reasons prefer to pretend it never happened. But Reform owes it to itself and to the integrity of our movement to never forget. It has everything to do with any discussion about corrupt deals made by reformers. Whether you like Tony or hate him is not the point. The point is that the history is the history and we forget it at our peril. It can't be undone. The stain will always be there and the only good that come out of it will be if we remember it so we don't ever let something like that happen again. Folks hate Raia because of his history but Raia's history is not the only history worth remembering if one truly cares about reform. And anybody who is an apologist for the Soares/Camporeale travesty while raging against a Raia deal that hasn't even happened is an unabashed hypocrite. Hopefully nobody posting here falls into that category.

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    13. Yes, a that cynical deal was disheartening betrayal of Reform integrity.

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  20. Can you post the under over odds of the cc. Who votes for Kurt/Brian/Frank. Then we can all compare our thoughts?

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    1. OK I'll give it a try:

      Kurt gets 5 years: 49% chance
      Brian gets 5 more years Kurt gets 2: 49% chance
      Brian gets 5 more years Raia gets 2: 2% chance
      Pupie gets 5 years: 0%
      Anonymous REAL Reformer keeps ranting about the deal that never happened trying to blame the Mayor and Ravi for it even though it didn't happen: 100%

      All 7 reformers vote together for options 1 or two. I can't guess the votes for option 3 since I seriously doubt its happening and can't imagine where the necessary 3 reform votes could possibly come from.

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  21. This is a council appointment, maybe Russo and Ramos will vote Pupie but that leaves him needing three more votes. Who in their right mind would vote for Pupie?

    Voting Pupie would blow any good government credit a councilperson has. For a future reform candidate voting Pupie is the equivalent of Mason voting against the hospital and putting bad people on her ticket. It's reform suicide.

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    1. I agree. However, I think it should be kept in perspective. Many of my friends barely know who their council person is, let alone who serves on what board. Most don't care as long as their taxes don't go up.

      I'd like to think I'm pretty informed because I read this blog. And compared to my friends, I really am "in the know". But my memory of Hoboken is not nearly as long as some of the rest of you, nor am as I in tune with things as GA and many of the commenters.

      I guess what I'm trying to say is, this vote may not have a wide sweeping implication on anyone's impression of their council member.

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    2. The importance of the views expressed on blogs like GA and Horsey is regularly both understated and overstated. There's a tendency of individual anonymous bloggers to post stuff like "me and my friends are really mad and therefore so and so is toast." If posters who write that kind of stuff actually believe it they are both delusional and narcissistic, particularly when the issue is an inside baseball thing like an NHSA appointment that the vast majority of Hoboken voters don't know about or care about.

      And the idea that an issue like this is more important than or on a par with keeping taxes stable, controlling development, picking up the trash, etc would strike most voters as lunacy and not because they are mis or under informed.

      But the opinions expressed on blogs do represent the views of a highly informed, opinionated, subset of the electorate who matter because their vocal advocacy helps shape the views of others. Even if most folks don't care about an issue like an NHSA appointment they do pick up from the chatter a general sense that helps shape positive or negative views about government officials.

      The vote whichever way it goes will almost certainly not have a wide sweeping implication on most people's opinions and by itself will not sway many votes if indeed it sways any, but stuff adds up. Outliers don't matter much but when real patterns emerge voters take notice and the blogs help expose those patterns.

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  22. Term limits would be a good idea.

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    1. A friend once told me we do have term limits: 4 years for President, 6 years for Senate and 2 years for Reps. Each vote is a referendum on their performance.

      If only that last part were true!

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  23. Good luck tonight, Kurt!

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  24. term limits as in one term on the board and done. Board members are not employees, so why do they get insurance?

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