Overheard after protected bike lanes were removed from the Washington Street re-design:
"She is holding us hostage because of this bike lane nonsense she keeps pushing. She needs to stop. Nobody voted for her for bike lanes!" cried Drama Queen #1.You mean, eliminate the feature most folks hated in a sub-committee meeting "behind closed doors"... AND? What else is supposed to go on at a sub-committee meeting- strip poker?
"All the mayor cares about is bike lanes!" cried Drama Queen #2.
"They agreed to this behind closed doors. They deliberately did this on the down low because they knew what the reaction would be," spun Drama Queen #3.
Drama Queen #3, a clever dude, is trying to manipulate public opinion with some heavy spin.
Anybody (besides me) think that DQ's are workin' it pretty hard to turn "bike lanes" into a wedge issue against the Mayor?
As one reader put it, the DQs "are rather obviously attempting to make it their own Benghazi: keep spinning it over and over and over and over."
Well said! GA senses the DQ choir wants something- and it ain't a new and improved Washington Street.
So, who are these DQs and what are they up to?
Is a Reformer looking to sow dissent and form an anti-Zimmer coalition to take her on in 2017?
Will we see ads popping up in the paper, maybe a dopey web site, like last Fall's "Citizens for Accountability," and a petition signed by Ruben Ramos and Anthony Romano?
Over bike lanes? Jeez, that one'll sink like an iron turd. (Though bike lane politics are great fodder for satire. And on that note...)
Lock up your sons and daughters because Bikezilla is frigging pissed protected bike lanes are gone from the Washington Street re-design! Grrrrrrrr!
LOL, perfect. Took about a day for the DQ's to get nailed (or pwned, as the kids say...)
ReplyDeleteRumor has it a disgruntled cabal on the outside is working against the mayor. Watch out if they come a-courting.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that rumor too.
DeleteMe three.
DeleteMe four. Beware of "reformers" doing the dark side's work.
DeletePOT- Meet Kettle
DeleteMaybe it serves you ( much in the way it served Bajardi and Perry ) But I know Lenz and Lenz is busy taking care of his health so go shop your garbage somewhere else.
Every time you guys need a boogie man you go to Lenz, you attack him for being pals with Bernard Kenny but it's okay for Stan Grossbard to be friends, You say he makes deals for jobs while the past city council Pres brokered a light workload Job with a prestigious law firm. Such a great job he attends more press conferences than the press. The Mayor's last aide works for a connected firm and works as the "host" of all Zimmer and Bhalla's fundraisers with construction Union Reps and professionals pouring cash into their coffers
Look in the mirror.
Even if it is out of State in Pennsylvania,Wisconsin or NY.
Hmmmm 1:05 is defending Lenz a little and bitching about Zimmer a lot. Who would do that ?
DeleteLot of cloak and dagger stuff. Anyone want to put some meat on those bones? Otherwise I would suggest to stop floating people's names.
DeleteAnon 1:05 It is interesting that Anon 5:48 didn't name anyone having so-called cabal membership but you did. How do you know that's the right person?
DeleteWhat is going on with this Lenz vs. Zimmer rumor stuff? All this over reacting in a thread about over reacting--it's ironic. The dark-siders are sitting back right now and laughing at us.
ReplyDeleteWe're all on the same side here. Can we stop with the infighting and ego wars? We have a chance to get things done. Let's focus on that.
Some folks don't get satire- or they do get it and like satire when they agree, but attack it when it doesn't support their opinion or agenda.
DeleteJust had an unpleasant offline exchange with an individual who accused me of everything from A-Z because of this "bikezilla" satire- felt attacked, said I should take it down! Accused me of "hurting reform." Imagine that.
Too bad, so sad if some don't like or agree with the opinions expressed here- I may not like yours either but would not deny you have a right to them.
The End.
there is a much simpler explanation. People do not bike lanes and think the mayor is completely out of touch on this issue she keeps bringing up. And let's face it, she brings it up all the time. Every project includes bike lanes and last time I checked, those bike lanes are overwhelmingly empty.
DeleteMaybe it is time for the bike lane stuff to stop? Or at least stop until the places like the waterfront where bike lanes make sense have bike lanes?
And should we even consider doing anything to Washington Street when in a few years NJT is going to put a bunch of high rises down there with 11,000 workers commuting to and from there, many of which will drive?
Anyway, I have said enough. Enjoy your conspiracy theories. I suppose it is easier for some to believe those than to believe that the true cause of the vitriol directed at the mayor is that she just had a really bad idea and she just won't stop pushing it.
Anon@4:56, what's the problem? The mayor likes bike lanes, she proposed having a plan that included bike lanes, the public (INCLUDING ME!!) spoke out against bike lanes, and now the plan doesn't include bike lanes. What the problem with that? I ask again, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM??
DeleteOh right, there is no problem...
The mayor like bike lanes but she didn't get them. SO FRIGGIN WHAT!!!!!
Geez...
Uneasy rests the head that wears the crown.
DeleteAfter an all to brief 23 minute dramatic pause the Queen is not amused.
Anon 4:56- "the mayor won't stop bring it up" is your talking point. The mayor has already "stopped" pushing protected bike lanes on the Washington St. redesign. It appears YOU and others won't stop talking about it! Maybe you want to keep repeating ad nauseum how "all the mayor cares about is bike lanes?" She "stopped" pushing it for Washington street,so move on.
DeleteFYI- you are wrong about "empty" bike lanes. I don't ride bikes, but the 10 bikes in front of ACME across the street from me are gone weekdays, and just checked- there are only 2 left now. The bike share program is a huge success, and the bike lanes are used.
BTW, I agree with you on Washington Street, don't think 50' works. Bike lanes are "not a really bad idea" and I'm glad Hoboken's become more bike friendly- that is my opinion. I think we ought to be focusing on good things coming to Washington Street, not Bikezilla.
In Kyoto, where I lived for a few years, EVERYBODY of every age got around by bike, and shared the road with cars (not recommended!). IMO, biking is a great way to get around Hoboken, and bike lanes make it safe.
And I think all of you missed her commentary on this issue. She is not done with this idea of hers, not by a long shot. Her letter from February 12th clearly indicates she wants to revisit this later. But go ahead and ignore that if you wish and please go back to your conspiracy theories. The rest of us will continue to point out that our only problem with her is she just doesn't get it and won't stop with the bike lane stuff.
DeleteOkay, 6:34... if that is the basis of your position, I'll have a look at it myself. But her February 12 letter was 8 days ago, and 5 days before the resolution was amended, taking out protected bike lanes from the Washington Street plan. And Zimmer conceded on Class 2 bike lanes 5 days after she wrote the February 12 letter, which is the basis you cite for her "not stopping" on bike lanes.
DeleteSo, aren't you being disengenuous, unless you don't want any bike lanes anymore anywhere. I think the objection was to the protected bike lanes on Washington Street. They're out, the mayor conceded.
Shouldn't the focus be on what's being done, not what's been discarded?
Thanks. Go read the letter. And I disagree because her letter indicates nothing has been discarded. She is very clear on that point. Were the bike lanes actually discarded, she wouldn't spend so much time talking about painting the street or how they could go back and stripe in the protected bike lanes later. She has not given up on this and I fully expect to say "I told you so" in no less than 2 years.
DeleteI don't agree with the Drama Queens, but Anon @ 4:56 is spot on. The mayor is beating the proverbial dead horse with this issue. It's only natural that many who support her otherwise are getting a bit pissed off.
ReplyDeleteNo he/she's not. See above.
DeleteThe Drama Queens in question are always pissed off about almost everything. The worst thing you can do to them is ignore them.
DeleteAnon 5:13-- Methinks you and 4:56 are beating a proverbial "the mayor won't stop talking about bike lanes" dead horse. Those who won't shut up on a dead subject are beating a proverbial agenda.
DeleteQuite possibly the worst post on GA- Ever. DONE with this waste of time ONE SIDED Blog
ReplyDeleteDon't ever question GA- It's her blog.
BYE BYE
And don't come crying when you get sued again
OMG -You are such a drama queen.
DeleteYou should use your time not posting here to get ready to howl at the full moon Monday.
Let's hope the "BYE BYE" is permanent.
DeleteLet it be noted: I never "came crying" to anyone when Lane Bajardi and Kim Cardinal Bajardi filed their SLAPP suit. I fought 17 months of it on my own, without an attorney. I asked witnesses for their Affidavits. Honest, decent folks came forward to stand up for the First Amendment, and gave me Affidavits unconditionally. I can only think of one person who seems to use their support for the First Amendment as leverage to take down blog posts he does not agree with.
Isn't that ironic? That says quite a lot about the character and maturity of one who would say, "And don't come crying when you get sued again."
All this phony drama is boring. Bring back snoop.
ReplyDeleteSnoopy FTW!
The operative word is definitely PHONY!
DeleteThis is all much jabberwocky about nothing.
I have listened and read most of what is available for public consumption with regard to the Washington Street Plan. I like GA’s analogy to sausage making and politics. But I think that there is a complete loss of perspective by some of the commenters who seem hell bent on making the Mayor out to be some “back room “ politician and seem hell bent on creating a red herring issue for some kind of stupid political agenda to try and drive a wedge between the reformers and the Mayor. It is really kind of like a stupid pet trick from someone (or a few others)without any real stature within reform, someone who is outside and irrelevant to what reform is today and someone (or a few others) that no longer appear to be interested in moving forward (unless there is something in it for them) with completing the job that started many years ago to remove Hoboken from the gutter of political thievery and being the butt of jokes. Does anyone need to be reminded that two of the last three mayors prior to Mayor Zimmer are federal felons that went to jail? Does anyone have to be reminded of the 800k in “missing” quarters that Castellano said was “all cleared up”? How about $5 per tow? Mike Russo agreeing to accept 15k per zoning variance on the FBI tape? A decade of health benefits to ex mayor and felon Russo that went “unnoticed” by the son while he was head of the finance committee of the Council? Bankrupting the city by trying to shut down the hospital and saddle the city with 52M in debt? The appointment of a fiscal monitor because the OG were playing political games with the budget? A 24% tax increase? Finally getting that witch Mason out of politics and the corrosive effect of her cancerous checkbook? Fighting off NJ Transit trying to shove down a Godzilla development plan? The rebuild of the city after Sandy? Finally getting a SW Park ready to be built (at a reasonable price for the land)?
DeleteAnd these DQs want to try and smear all of that progress by trying to imply that Mayor Zimmer is shady and corrupt over frigging BIKE LANES? If I want DQ I will try the DQ over on West Side in JC. http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/?localechange=1& Personally, I am partial to the Blizzard. I prefer my DQ without a political agenda. After some reflection, it really doesn’t take much brain power to figure out who these piss ant DQs are. And they think that some stupid effign bike lane policy disagreement is a big deal. Pathetic, at best.
Props to QOTV!
DeleteFYI I am not Phony or Jabberwocky, nor am I snoop du jour or anon or anyone other than Snoopy.
Delete