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| original photo: Kurt Gardiner |
GA is delighted to announce that Hoboken's long-time, TALL good government activist, Kurt Gardiner, has thrown in his, uh... leaf, to replace Frank Raia on the North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA).
GA thanks Frank for his NHSA service, but he does not own the seat which he's held since cave people were banging rocks to make fire.
Kurt is no giant-come-lately; he has been documenting the northwest flooding problem for years, and wants to help residents who get whacked every time it rains (a lot).
True, one NHSA commissioner cannot alone remediate flooding in Hoboken's northwest, but ask yourself: why hasn't Frank advocated for solving the flooding in that part of town, which includes his development, ShopRite?
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| Hoboken's ShopRite after 2012's Superstorm Sandy |
The next disaster looms for 5th Ward residents, ShopRite shoppers, and the 4 or 5 dogs that take a dump in Pupie Park (a patch of concrete on the north side of ShopRite that was Raia's "developer giveback" to the City of Hoboken.)
Ask yourself, why is a multi-millionaire like Raia still on the dole for taxpayer-funded health insurance, a benefit not provided to new NHSA commissioners?
Finally, GA will address the elephant in the room: his money.
Yes, Raia is LOADED. So what? Did Frank's money matter in the 2015 municipal race? NO. Did it matter in 2013? NO. Will it matter in 2017?
NO, it will NOT.
GA has observed a trend: Hoboken races are not being won by MONEY nor SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, they are being won by PERFORMANCE and HARD WORK. Dirty tricks don't resonate the way they used to, our electorate has changed.
Gardiner's full statement can be read on MSV; here is why our City Council should appoint Kurt Gardiner to the NHSA.
As a dedicated reformer and good government advocate for many years I have a skill set that I know can contribute to the sewerage board's continued progress. With an extensive background in project management, budgeted for multimillion dollar projects, I am familiar with procurement processes given my Enterprise Resource Planning experience, and a passion for policy as it pertains to infrastructure improvement such as traffic management and flood abatement to name a few. For those reasons I am a strong candidate to serve on the board. I believe that this vacancy should go to a supporter of good government and to someone who is willing to communicate effectively with the public and current administration and I posses the desire and capabilities to do so. It is time Hoboken capitalized on the political capital that the good government movement has earned fairly at the ballot box and bring some fresh ideas to the board to address sewage issues comprehensibly, cooperatively and openly. --- Kurt GardinerOh yeah, GA endorses the appointment of Kurt Gardiner to the NHSA.
Frank is not a friend of reform and Kurt is, so I support his bid assuming no one more qualified throws their hat in the ring.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I hope Kurt considers making his image more serious if he wants to be taken seriously when/if he's appointed to the board.
Knowing what his joke comments have been on MSV in the past, I'm hoping that's where it stays (in the past) if he's appointed. I want our commissioners to be "adults" (for lack of a better word).
Pupie is for Pupie. He's in it for freebies cuz you know, millionaires need to be on the taxpayer dole - FOR LIFE!
DeleteThere's no one else unless a spoiler is planted to undo Reform.
In 2011, Kurt ran a very professional campaign and his platform reflected it. Joking online aside, being good humored has nothing to do with professionalism. See for yourself, he pulled the most votes, over 1700 winning the highest percentage of anyone running against the County Machine. Here's why:
http://gardinerforfreeholder.blogspot.com/p/issues.html
Hello snoopy- The decision on the photo shop I left up to the editor. I let Nancy be Nancy. I take the flooding issue very seriously and just last Sunday another major flooding event hit the Shoprite area. I heard condo owners complain about the expensive cleanup of feces and other waste and while progress is being made I want to ensure even more gets done to make flooding as rare as possible in Hoboken without breaking the bank.
DeleteIt's funny, snoopster. I was under constant fire by those (whatever their reasons) who said similar things about me when I served on the ZBA. But, my position, supported by the Board Attorney, was obedience to rules and obligations of the position do not conflict with one's First Amendment rights to free political speech. I believe Kurt will make an outstanding commissioner. At the same time, once Kurt becomes a public official it's fair comment for others, like yourself, to tell him to tone it down.
DeleteKurt- I think the snoopster was referring to your "joke comments on MSV"- oh, and that's NOT a photoshop. Don't you remember posing for me (with Frank)?
DeleteGA- yes to your 10:58am comment, that is what I was referring to. And you're right, there's nothing wrong with being funny.
DeleteWant some more Raia fodder? Research Jersey Journal editorial of many years ago re Raia's attempt to have his insurance agency get the NHSA contract, immoral if not illegal but a definite conflict of interest.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a link? I'm no Raia fan and would love to see Giant appointed and this certainly sounds like something Raia would do, but these are serious allegations and readers are unlikely to go to the trouble to do their own research. Without a link the post reads like nasty rumor mongering of the H411 kind so please provide a link so its clear "we" are not like "them."
DeleteDidn't Frank Raia also give himself a construction contract at the HoLa school where he also sits on the board? Oh, I believe he did.
DeleteYeah, we should give him everything he wants because he might support Tim Occhipinti for Mayor, Peter Biancamano for council, Carmelo Garcia for the BoE and Beth Mason for dogcatcher. Oh yeah, he does that to Reform all the time.
Pupie's too sick after a Weehawken steak dinner to run for council but he's certainly not too sick to collect Hoboken taxpayer paid health bennies.
Anon @ 11:12AM- that story is true, and I doubt you will find a link. Your query refreshed my memory. Some other "no fan of Frank" sent me old clippings a few years ago. One of the articles I have is dated August 24, 1990 from The Hudson Dispatch. Title:"Conflict by Official Alleged, Raia had private dealings with vendors." Totally forgot I had that. As I said,the story too old to be online but I can post so it's clear GA doesn't operate like cyber-sewer H411.
DeleteIf you want to see Kurt Gardiner as your representative on the HCSA please reach out to your City Council person and ask the to support his appointment.
ReplyDeleteBasing an allegation of wrongdoing on an old clipping from a defunct paper to the effect that somebody once alleged something is pretty lame. There's a whole lot of real stuff to talk about where Raia is concerned without going down that road.
ReplyDeleteSomeday someone could use old clippings from what will by then probably be a defunct local paper to say that Mayor Zimmer was an ethnic cleanser who sent her cronies including a councilwoman to the superbowl at taxpayer expense.
Yeah, there's tons of things to look at and gag over when it comes to Pupie so why you need to "research" decades back is certainly an odd suggestion.
DeleteLooking at VBMs over recent years is far easier.
Well, you've made up your mind already-- before reading the story.
DeleteFirst you argued the article didn't exist. Now you argue it's not relevant because the paper is "old" and "defunct." You mean the Hindenberg didn't crash because the paper that reported it is defunct? I guess the Titanic didn't go down either.
Listen, "real stuff" is written in defunct newspapers. The relevance of it to today can be decided by yourself and the public. It was you who threw down the gauntlet to show that the story isn't "rumormongering" and this isn't H411.
GA, I didn't say the article didn't exist. I reacted to an anonymous poster saying it's out there somewhere and if you want to see it go google it but otherwise accept my characterization of it. My comment was in response to an anonymous poster not you and I wasn't throwing down any gauntlet I was making an observation that I believe was fully justified.
DeletePosting the article would certainly be better than just characterizing it so I hope that you will. And I hope people will read it with an understanding that whatever allegations are in there are just allegations and newspapers are full of BS allegations made by folks with agendas as well as sometimes the real thing.
The fact that something was in an obscure newspaper story long ago without any corroborating context doesn't mean diddly and no one knows that better than you. That applies to stories about Raia just as much as it applies to stories about Zimmer, Bhalla and anyone else.
Raia has been a part of Hoboken's development and political "business as usual" for years. He has a long (bad) record as a Board of Education Trustee and a long record on the Sewerage Authority that I have no idea how to evaluate since I have no idea what those guys actually do.
He has been the main player in the VBM pay to vote activities that have corrupted our elections for years. He has funded nasty political campaigns for horrible candidates and whatever you think of rent control, the campaign he funded against it was both nasty and corrupt.
That's context many of us have lived through and fully understand. In addition, in my opinion, based on my personal observations over the years (I go to his big public b'day party most years) he's a rich guy who wants this job to feed his ego and get free health insurance. Serving his community is far from his main motivation and the job in my opinion should go to someone for whom service to community is job 1.
An old newspaper article about an issue we have no way to evaluate adds nothing whatsoever to a picture that's already as complete as it needs to be.
Fair enough, Anon 2:25. I certainly respect your POV.
DeleteThank you, Anon 2:25 for your suggestion- article posted http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2016/01/once-upon-time-on-nhsa.html
DeleteGo, Kurt! Glad to know Pupie had such miraculous swift recovery right after the last election. Russo is like a divine healer. Praise Mikey.
ReplyDeleteI hear the steaks at Ruth Chris's in Weehawken have miracle curative powers.
DeleteIt would be good to have a member of that board that people in Hoboken don't cringe at the mention of their name.
Either way, Jen crushed it. Kurt has no chance.
ReplyDeleteWha? What does Jen have ti do with Kurt? And why doesn't Kurt have a chance? Explain.
DeleteYou won't get any explanation for any of that. They can't even put out the tripe coherently but there it is!
DeleteIf the rumors that I keep hearing are true and become a reality, then the reform members of the council, including the mayor, are dead to me. Dead. To even consider any scenario where the Poopster retains a seat on the Sewer Authority (irony of all ironies that Poopie whats to be in charge of excrement), in exchange for some promise not to run or fund a ticket in the next election, those brain dead reformers (the "Idiots") will have betrayed every person who has worked for them, contributed money, passed out flyers, asked their neighbors to vote for then. The Idiots should resign en masse if they dare to go through with this mess. What makes any one of these Idiots believe for a second that the Poopster will follow through with any promise that he makes? Who says he will even been around in 2017? Wasn't his last claims to not run in the 3rd ward based upon his failing health? Didn't he fall in the pool at the League convention? Are the Idiots afraid that they cant run, and win, on their record? Well, get to effing work, make a decent record and no one will give a rat's ass what the Poopster does. If these Idiots do put Mr. Pampers back on the Commission, then they shall have utterly failed every campaign promise that they made. I would rather have a slime ball like Ramos in office. At least I know that he is a slime ball and will put his relatives on the payroll at inflated salaries. These Idiots smiled in out faces and then the second that they get a chance, they spit in our faces. Fuck them. And I hear that they are pouting about some breach of etiquette by the Mayor over appointments to the zoning and planning boards. GET THE FUCK OVER IT! What in the hell does that have to do with Poopster back on a board where he has done next to nothing for Hoboken for 20 years but make side deals - see GA's article. As to Pamper Man's contribution to Hoboken, it does not take a genius to understand that if you cover a huge patch of land (a parking lot for a supermarket) with macadam (impervious coverage) that rain water has no place to go - and that is exactly that Poopie did - maximised his value and reduced his costs (increased profits) at the expense of Hoboken. The result, guaranteed flooding. And that impervious piece of overgrown weeds known as Poopie Park at the end of the parking lot, which was such a big concessions when the asked for the approvals.
DeleteSo this decision is a fucking no brainer, you Idiots, It is Kurt Gardiner, End of discussion. And I dont for a moment care if Kurt did not follow the political protocol of calling each of you and kissing your asses before he submitted his applications. GET THE FUCK OVER YOURSELVES and drop the egos! Do the right thing. If you don't, you act at your peril and you deserve all the monkey dung that will be flung your way.
And this Assadorian cretin. I give a flying fuck what his credentials are - if he participates in this charade to get Pampers Man on the Board again, he is part and parcel of the Idiot brigade. This turns my stomach and I will not forget it. You turds can all go fuck yourselves, I feel so betrayed that you would make a deal with a millionaire so he can keep his tax payer funded benefits over moving the reform agenda ahead and doing the right thing. Sickening.
QOTV - that's the deal they've made. Brian gets a 5 year seat then Pupie gets Brian's 2 years leftover. Peter Cunningham, Jen Giattino, Ravi Bhalla are all in on it. Reform has told Kurt to go fuck himself, no room for him in this deal.
DeleteSorry 4:24, this is tough to believe let alone stomach. The Council President laying down with Pupie Raia? No way.
DeleteThe Russos and Raia are working overtime to try to tell this tale butI haven't believed a word they have said in years.
ReplyDeleteWhat tale? That reform council members will vote to put a criminal backed into a conflicted postion on the Sewerage Authority?
DeleteI have nothing to do or say with that crowd. What I have heard is from within the reform group on the council. I am appalled that the reform members of the council are thinking of making this deal.The people that I have talked to have two reactions - shock and betrayal, If the Idiots on the council (with the Mayor's blessing) and that ass Assadourian do this deal, then Al Sullivan was right - Reform is the Old Guard in sheep's clothing - ready to dirty deals. There is no spin on this that is in any manner acceptable. It is Kurt or it is the end of the current reform leadership. Every last one of them.
DeleteOh look, the same tired old guard BS different day, to try to undermine Reformers in Hoboken. Not buying it for a second.
DeleteI am going to say that the Reformers on the City Council will vote Assadourian into the f5 year spot and Gardiner to fill in the 3 year spot on the NHSA Board.
Raia going to WNY.
Russo and Ramos consultants already likely writhing their sour grapes speeches for after the votes.
Anon 4:42- It is grotesque but true. Our reform council would rather shut out Kurt than give Pupie the heave ho.the question is WHY?
DeleteWho thinks that QOTC is agreeing with himself under Anonymous to make it look like what he is saying has credibility ?
Deleteyou and only you....a-hole
DeleteAnon@ 6:21 - you are an idiot but not a full fledged asshole, yet. I am no voice for the OG, and my checkbook proves who I have supported. And if I hear the word "pragmatic" one more time in defense of this twisted little caper, someone is going for a swim in a NHSA holding pen. Here is what I know is the plan as of now. Either Russo or Defusco will nominate Mr. Pampers, and then Ravi, Peter and Jen will join in. There are your five votes dor shot for brains. Doyle and Fischer become irrelevant and can vote anyway they like, but Mr. Pampers has the five votes he needs. Fuck that little rat Defusco. Fuck Ravi and Peter for being pussies. Jen is the one who really surprised me. Kurt's name will not likely even be heard. We now know that Defusco is a rat nibbling on Poopster's cheese and that Ravi, Peter and Jen are going along with the deal that was struck with Mr. Pampers not to run or fund a race in 2017. I wish this was not true, but that, on my mother's grave, is what I have been told is the plan. Unless there is enough push back which reveals this whole mess for the sick and twisted political game that it is, it is likely that Kurt will not be given the courtesy of any acknowledgment. I may not have all of the details down pat, like the timing on the Asshole's reappointment to the five year tern, but that is the general idea. They plan to fuck Kurt. Big time. All to play some silly game with Mr. Shit in his Pants. If you don't like what I written, call Defusco, Ravi, Jen and Peter and put it straight to them. Are you going to vote for Mr. Pampers? Are you going to vote for or nominate Kurt. I dare you - and guess what - they will dissemble and hem and haw, but will not give you a straight answer. But wait and see what happens. And the Mayor is not blameless in this at all. Her answer will be that, mercy me, this is all the decision of the council. Bullshit. Sunshine is the best disinfectant and only sunshine will stop this dirty little mess.
ReplyDeleteQOTV your multiple angry posts come off as being posted by someone who is mentally unbalanced and your repeated use immature foul language is offensive.
ReplyDeleteAm I angry, you bet your ass. What I find offensive is the audacity of those elected reformers who think it is okay to screw the very people that elected them - the words I use can never be as offensive as their immature actions of betrayal.
DeleteI think it is also obvious the whoever is posting as OQTV is also posting under Anonymous at times to try to bolster his or her unsubstantiated position when others understandably disagree with the ranting.
DeleteOh cut the crap = I don't post under anything buy QOTV. Silly. I have no control over whatever anyone else posts.
DeleteWhen will Tony Soares's NHSA board appointment end ?
ReplyDeleteOfficially in a year but technically no board position truly expires. When someone else's board position comes up then regurgitate yourself into that musical chair.
DeleteThe new Reform "standard." Except this is not open government, transparent or reform however the public defines it. Perhaps we need to start a new Hoboken political movement: The Reform Politrickery Party.
Charter members: Every council moron who foolishly votes for musical chairs or Raia this week or the next council meeting with Michael Russo, Honorary Lifetime Chair, Perry, Pupie on the roster.
Obviously Zimmer is playing politics, Soares who is the only one who does any talking at those NHSA or speaks up yet she wants to take care of her buddy Brian. I hear he's getting a nice assembly aide's position as his reward for participating in this sleazy HUDCO style game.
DeleteI think the sooner Tony Soares is off the board the better. Remember he had to have made a deal with Russo to get on it in the first place.
Delete9-0 yea a real deal.... you must be confusing it with Ravi and Stawn's new deal with Russo to keep their covenant with raia?
DeleteWhy Does Assadourian Want Soares's 5 year term too? How about car and a credit and expense account while he's at it?
DeleteUsing a slur started by David Liebler sure don't help your argument
DeleteSlur? Where?
DeleteI think the Anon was referring to "Stawn." IMO, not a slur, but in the same vein as the Clintons were once called "Billary".
DeleteLots of OG and their wannabes commenting here trying to stir the shit, I mean pot.
DeletePlaying these games on something as Critical as the NHSA / Flood management is such hypocrisy WTF , all I hear about Assadourian is he gets wined and dined by Raia after every NHSA meeting.
ReplyDeleteOne big cesspool
It looks like one person with a personal agenda is posting like mad trying to create an issue to attack both the City Council and the Mayor based on little more than rumors he said he was told by an unnamed source.
DeleteAsk yourself who would do that and why?
Haven't you heard this sort of rhetoric from someone before on the blogs?
In the past we have seen this sort of aggressive the sky is falling political spin rain down and then when the truth finally does come out the rumor is proved false and the right things get done for Hoboken and we move on. In my opinion the chicken little alarmism we see being offered up by someone on this thread only hurts Hoboken.
Really? Dodge much?
DeleteWelcome to the new dictatorship.
ReplyDeleteIt's that time of year again for those who want to be on the NHSA Board ?
ReplyDeleteTime to get your application in.
I heard a current board member may not try to re-up his seat.
Delete