Reform II, the Sequel



Democracy is messy.

Sometimes allies who share common cause, get sucked into personal squabbles and wounded.  In the process, they lose sight of common cause and the greater good.

It happens.

And when their opponents smell blood in the water, they seek to divide the whole.  (Some opponents are liars and shape-shifters, others support corruption.)

That's the way it goes, sometimes.

GA has reached out to the campaigns today, on the Morning After.

Karen Nason was the only candidate to attend yesterday's presser.  She's been working with a Hoboken resident on a proposal to bring wifi to Hoboken. Good luck, Karen!

Crickets from Perry Belfiore.

Stick Romano told GA he was going to have a presser. Later his spokesman, Pablo Fonseca texted:  "He's not announcing today. I'll be sending around a press release by week's end."   No reason stated, but when your phone rings this week, a pollster may be on the other end.

Ravi Bhalla is off and running- handing out literature at the Ferry Station this morning and landing endorsements, including this big one:




The Morning After showed that the transition to the Sequel, Reform II may not be smooth. 

Well, Democracy is messy. 

In GA's opinion, the Reform coalition needs to stand behind one candidate. 

June opinions will vary about who the 'best' candidate may be, but an election is when 99% of the city that doesn't pay attention to local politics tunes in.  

A candidate maligned by political enemies for a parking ticket, or for leaving her ward after a natural disaster, can introduce the public to the charitable and good works silently performed over the years, to win hearts and minds.   

Ravi Bhalla had endured a shitstorm of Beth Mason and Perry Belfiore smear campaigns for years. No single candidate has taken more shit from Reform's opponents than he has. Minor incidents like a traffic ticket, were elevated to a scandal; yes, Bhalla appeared on the cover of the Beth Mason-ad buying Hudson Reporter for a parking ticket. 

My Councilwoman, Jen Giattino, was viciously attacked by the same 'enemy' and wrote an empathic letter supporting Bhalla in 2013 that deserves revisiting:

  

Reform has always stood up for one another against greater, corrupt forces that will try to hurt us at our weakest moment in the most vicious of ways- to destroy us, our families.  

This letter, "The Truth About Jen" was mailed to media by the Carmelo Garcia supporters in 2015:



Reform's opponents fight DIRTY and UGLY.  

They did it in 2013, 2015 and they will do it again in 2017, no matter WHO runs.  They will always find vulnerabilities, and if they don't find any will make them up. 

So let's get real. 

Reform WINS united. 

We must not forget who we are, what we've accomplished for Hoboken, and how we got here. 

Get in room and work it out.  


Comments

  1. You losers are all done. Peace out!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Would certainly agree, democracy is neither simple nor a straight line. It's a process. There was a time when everyone pledged to Reform to work together on The Team.

    If The Team decides they have the best candidate, then everyone from the mayor on down should get with the program.

    May the best candidate win! Let the people decide!
    In the end, Hoboken expects they will.

    ReplyDelete
  3. me love stick long time, me sucky sucky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like you forget to use your proxy this time. Tsk Tsk tsk... just follow the rat droppings and find the rat.

      Delete
  4. The filthy subtext to Mason and Perry B smearing Bhalla was that he's a Sikh and wears a turban. That's the 500 lb elephant in the room.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I campaigned for Zimmer and I campaigned for Bhalla but I'm pissed off about this very stealth handing over of power. If Zimmer and Bhalla were so sure of his support among reformers it wouldn't have been handled this way. I'd like to have a say about whether the reform candidate for Mayor should be Bhalla or Giattino! Hopefully I hope I'll have my say on the machine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and I want a pony for Christmas.

      Delete
  6. Upon reflection, while I'm still upset about how this is playing out and blame Dawn as the leader who set this in motion, if I put myself in Dawn's shoes, I can see why she approached her departure the way she did. She's worked with all of them. She owes none of them anything. She sincerely believes based on working with them that Ravi's best equipped for the job that she's actually experience and knows what's required. So rather than announce that she's departing and then have all of them or a subset jockey for her endorsement since she's a popular Mayor, she made her endorsement or opinion known up front, so there is no time to jockey. The flip side is that there is clearly shock and not surprisingly hurt feelings for those who were not Dawn's first choice. This forthrightness from Dawn -- here's how I actually feel, not playing games --- all seems consistent with her personality. I will say that it's a bit a cop out because she avoided having difficult conversations over an extended period time and instead said "here's who I support" and was out. But I can see why she'd do it this way.

    About Roman, that was a terribly written rationale for Jen's candidacy. I think as the comment above reflects, the "electability" idea is not based on polling, just Roman's feelings (for a fellow Republican), and the damage done by Mason and Perry B's thinly veiled appeal to the worst in us re: Ravi. What's ironic is that Beth's lawsuit ruined Roman financially but now he's using Beth's tricks to promote Jen as electable. the unfair damage done by Beth's money on Ravi against him. Politics is crazy, that's bat shit crazy. Or is it more crazy that the new Democratic party chair in town may be supporting a Republican who remains a Republican in the age of Trump instead of a Democrat. Wonder that the newly elected enthusiastic Dem committee folks think about that... But I digress...

    Sigh. Losing the Mayorship and Council would be terrible and completely an unforced error. I really hope they get it together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mayor Zimmer "owes none of them anything." Guess the none means to "the team" she's quoted talking about several times in her release. Lots of talk about team but not acting like a team. Unless team is defined as Dawn, Stan and Ravi and everyone else are lemmings who must knuckle under as the decision was announced from on high.

      I can imagine why the mayor and her family would feel they can do whatever they wish but it's surprising to think others wouldn't reconsider, think or respond for themselves after she bailed out of the race (and on Hoboken) Would there be so much in flux if the mayor hadn't acted and decided with Ravi? That was their decision, fair enough. Others get to decide for themselves too.

      It's funny I don't remember anyone complaining when Horse supported reform ideas and candidates - Mayor Zimmer and Councilman Bhalla among them - for years. Now others talk crap about the guy here but don't have the courage to do it on his site and I'd wager they didn't speak to him. That's the terrible thing about politics. One day your friends the next day you take an anonymous crap on them. Does Stan, Dawn or Ravi think that's smart?

      It's sad to see when people react to the improbable turn of events this week, the knives immediately come out. That's truly sad. Sounds like there's fear about the "new Democratic party chair" not knuckling under too. These people in Hoboken have some nerve. Politics is crazy, yeah that's bat shit crazy. The lust for power makes some more crazy. Hopefully they get better soon.

      There's a lot more to life than politics. Ethics in life certainly should take some place before politics. After all, many a men have fallen for placing their faith in politics. For some perhaps, it's too late. Others might rethink it. Sigh, we can only hope.

      Delete
    2. I seriously doubt the Mayor would ever say she owes nothing to anybody. Rather, I I'm guessing she feels strongly she owes it to everyone to do what she can to make sure the next mayor is a reformer who will make sure her legacy is secured and we don't tun back to the dark old days.

      Given the short time frame before the election and the fact that no new candidate would be remotely as strong or well known a candidate as the Mayor would have been, she probably thought was of the essence in getting a campaign up and rolling. Spending weeks deliberating trying to reach consensus over who the candidate would be may seems like a more fair process but while the talking was going on, with no guarantee consensus would be reached nobody would be putting together a campaign and the hill to winning would be getting steeper and steeper. If the candidate was anyone but Ravi who has always been diligent about fundraising, launching a campaign would be delayed still further since the candidate would have to fund raise just to get started.

      Perhaps the Mayor was simply making choices she thought would give reform the best chance to win given the fact that her decision was made so late in the game.

      Delete
    3. It was a miscalculation. We are a team and everyone needs to buy in to Hoboken's next chief executive. Everyone. That said, too much drama queenery, not enough talking. The stakes are too high.

      Delete
  7. I'm trying hard not to say that pic of Shirael Pollack reminds me of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.

    Ah, shoot......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And you look like Gregory Peck?

      Delete
    2. That's what I claim on my profile.

      Name: Anonymous.
      Looks: Think Gregory Peck.

      We anons never make things up so you can take it to the bank.

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you would be lucky if there were seven people who cared about your postings.

      Delete
  9. We are excited to support Ravi Bhalla for Mayor this fall! We appreciate that Mayor Zimmer believes Hoboken can rise above racism and vote for Ravi as someone who can continue her progressive agenda. I've always admired Ravi for being approachable, well-mannered and super sharp. We've agreed with his voting record at CC meetings. I think Jen G would have made a great choice, too, but would she have even wanted to run? Though the mayoral race is typically non-partisan, the question in the back of my mind is whether she would defend policies supporting diversity or protecting people of color, esp. in this era of Trump. Those issues do arise in this city and if she were a candidate, I would want to know how she has voted on those issues and where she currently stands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you serious? Plenty of Republicans "defend policies supporting diversity or protecting people of color, esp. in this era of Trump." Not all Repubs (particularly in the Northeast) are close-minded bigots, even if the president is. And I say this as a lifelong Democrat.

      Delete
    2. I'm serious. I like Jen G quite a bit! And if the question is ridiculous then I would gladly like to hear that from her so that my mind is at ease. But plenty of republicans (yes, even in the NE) voted for Trump and we have a majority of Repubs in Congress and in the Cabinet wreaking havoc on the country right now so excuse me if I'm a bit sensitive to the issue.

      Delete
  10. I await Jen's official entry into the race with baited breath. I will be supporting her candidacy and volunteering to help in any way I can. I will also be urging my friends in town to sign on as volunteers as well.

    I believe she can win and she is the best option.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any political professional would advise Jen that the first thing she should do is poll so she can make her decisions eyes open based on data rather than on wishful thinking or the spin being spun by people with their own agendas for wanting her in the race.

      If she's really as well known and popular as the mayor as some have said then maybe she could win. But that sounds like some serious echo chamber driven wishful thinking. My guess is most people, especially newer residents, would be hard pressed to identify any elected officials other than the Mayor.

      Delete
    2. Regardless of Jen entering mayoral elections are bruising and expensive. My hat is tipped to anyone that is ready to write a 25k check from their own pocket and fundraiser another 80 to 120 from friends and neighbors. It will be a 4 month all encompassing experience.

      Delete
  11. We're seeing comments about Dawn not getting input from her council team, but what about Ravi? I think its unlikely that the rest of the reform team, Tiffanie, Peter, Jen or Jim would have been willing to gear up behind the scenes with a ready-to-go website and Ravi for Mayor FB page while keeping their council colleagues in the dark. I'm disappointed that Ravi's Mayoral bid started with him activating a steal campaign such as he did. I'm ready to hit the 'Donate' button on Jen's mayoral campaign website.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (1) Ravi doesn't have a website yet. He has his council website, that's it.
      (2) Lit can be produced and printed in a day. I've done it.
      (3) Lots of shit stirrers here today trying to divide Reform.

      Delete
  12. I like Jen and am glad she's on the council, but view her potential "draft" into the race as the work of the usual faux-reform mischief makers. I don't care that (that much) that she's Republican, but I do care that she has a tendency to tell whoever she's talking to what they want to hear without being clear where she stands, and that she has relatives in the bar industry without always recusing herself from potential conflicts. That's not a criticism, just a comment that she needs to build more of a record and define herself before throwing her hat in the ring for mayor.

    I know who Ravi Bhalla is and where he stands and think the obviousness of his being the natural successor is a no-brainer to anyone not trying to stir the pot with other agendas.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my, here come the (not so) subtle attacks on Jen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Give me a break. Calling it like I see it is not "an attack." I'm a big fan. My point is from my perspective it's not even a serious question whether Ravi should be the candidate. It's so obvious on so many levels, I can't even look at any other argument as anything but disingenuous pot-stirring.

      "I supported Dawn, and she didn't ask MY opinion!" WAAAAAH! WAAAAAH! Call in the Waaaambulance. Dawn stuck her neck out through THREE elections and a court battle to win her council seat and THREE MORE to win in '09, with all her depositions from 07 leaked for all the world to see, with all the misogyny and anti-Semitism thrown at her and all the "dual-job Dawn" lottery ticket nonsense, and rose to the occasion again and again and again to tackle the budget, the police overhaul, the hospital, Hurricane Sandy, the flood pumps, the city's credit-worthiness, park development -- yeah, she didn't do it all herself, of course she had a team, but she also had a band of fifth-columnists trying to undermine her at every turn while lying to her face. You voted for her, maybe volunteered a few times and maybe posted a few comments in her favor? Good for you. Thanks, buddy. You think that earns you the right to have input on every important decision she makes, to weigh in on who she should endorse as her successor? Yeah, I don't think so. Go cry me a river. You wanna vote for Jen or some other vessel for the jabberwockies that have been waiting in the wings to take over Reform or blow it up trying? Go right ahead, it's a free country. Some people thought Jill Stein was a pretty good idea too. How's that working out?

      Delete
    2. Some of this sounds like trouble making to divide reform so we lose. I'm not surprised that Ravi's out and about and moving fast. From what GA and others have shared, this all happened at lightening speed and then Ravi was told to be quiet when the Mayor approached him because the Mayor wanted to share her decision first with her key staff and then Council Members who she trusted less to not run to the internet since she did not want to endorse them. Informing the Council Members that Dawn's not running and she does not want you to be the Mayor is not his please. Btw, changing the title of a FB page from "Councilman" to "For Mayor" takes a second and his website content remains old and is all about the Council. I also know since I'm on his email list that he's has always fundraised and I think has pretty much raised as much or more than Dawn since they started running together. Not surprised that he could flip the switch once he was approached. He has money and supporters he's cultivated over the years and the Mayor's support. Of course he's ready hit go.

      Delete
  14. I think Jen will have trouble retaining her saint status if she runs without a platform that is actually different than the reform platform and just runs as a second candidate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I think the OG backed candidates will never shed their dirtbag status - neither will their political operatives. ;-)

      Delete
  15. If Jen runs, she will be the Ralph Nader of Hoboken, plain and simple. Maybe that's what some people want, as it creates an opening for themselves in four years...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice attempt to put it on Jen. No, I think Ravi already has that status since being trotted out as heir apparent by no one but the Mayor and himself, and all comers are "interlopers". Lots of people not buying it.

      Delete
    2. Have it your way. Just don't blame in four years when reform is trying to stage a comeback and you get invited to someone else's house to be told who your candidate is. Don't be surprised if it's on a pretty short list of obvious suspects either.

      Delete
  16. Is Jen interested in running for mayor? Is she unhappy about Ravi jumping in and the mayor's endorsement? By all accounts, the answer to both of those questions is no. At this point, comments to the contrary sound like spin and wishful thinking from reform opponents trying to drive a wedge.

    Reforms has never been in 100% agreement on everything, and numerous perspectives are valid. That's the way it should be for a healthy movement. I expect reform will get behind a single candidate because the potential downside of splitting the vote and allowing the OG with win is too great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correct. Now is when the selection process for a Reform candidate should begin, not by predetermination with the point of a scepter by the incumbent on the way out the door.

      Delete
    2. "Selection process" lol. What was the "process" behind Marsh? Or Roberts? lol

      You entitled whiners crack me up.

      Delete
    3. You get to "select" your candidate in the voting booth. Anyone can run. Zimmer had every right to ask any council person to run. It should have been a team buy in, but Zimmer is not known as a consensus builder. That's a flaw in her management style. Its blown up on her a couple of times. But she was a great mayor and there's nothing nefarious here. Just a real failure to let her team be a part of making such an important decision.

      Delete
    4. Please explain what the "selection process" that "should begin" will be. I'll help you out a bit. there is none.

      The Mayor didn't select Ravi as the reform candidate. She selected Ravi as the candidate she would support. Nothing more, nothing less. People think that matters because the Mayor's endorsement carries weight with voters.

      Someone else like Jen could decide to run and some other "reform" elected officials could choose to support her. That is her right and theirs. And to the extent that their endorsements carry weight with voters their endorsements will matter too.
      But her candidacy will not have been the result of reform selection process any more than ravi's was. And the endorsement of a couple of council members will not make jen the "real reform" candidate. she, like Ravi, will be a reform candidate.

      Her candidacy would be the personal decision of a few individuals, just as Ravi's is. It will not be the result of any kind of superior selection process.

      A couple of council members deciding to support someone is no more a "process" than the Mayor deciding who she supports. They will have selected nothing but who they personally support, just like the Mayor did. The only difference is in whose endorsement turns out to be more important to voters, and that would be for the voters to decide.

      Delete
    5. Thank you. Well said.

      Also not a "process": Gathering a handful of Reform people at the home of a leading financier and having Mike Lenz suck the air out of the room and tell us how it's going to be, then have Carol roll around in a fetal position pretending she doesn't want to be the candidate even though the fix was in all along.

      Delete
  17. talk about whiners.......and so is born the "Ravi troll".

    ReplyDelete
  18. As I review these comments from the the Jen folks it seems like the real issue is form not policy substance and issues with Ravi. We need to get this together. In terms of the process concerns, they have some validity, but I think others have articulated well that the folks complaining about process are clearly not saints. They've done the same thing, have benefited from being endorsed the one. What's happening time around though is that they are not the endorsed ones and that hurts. We need to get it together like GA said.

    ReplyDelete
  19. It is pretty telling that none of the discussion in this whole debate has been about who would actually be the strongest candidate or the best mayor. That is the only thing we really should be talking about.

    Would Jen be a stronger candidate than Ravi? If so why? Would she a better Mayor? If so why? If the answer to one or both is yes then maybe she should run and Ravi should pull back and defer to her. That's the kind of discussion people who really care a whit about reform (as opposed to power) would be having. Yet no one has even attempted to have it.

    I think that conversation should be had. Anybody want to take a stab at why Jen would be a stronger candidate or a better Mayor?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll stab it! Both are solid Reform Council persons. Jen is my Councilwoman and I couldn't ask for a better one. Ravi is a friend who has given me sound advice when I asked him for it. I think the question is silly, as neither has been tested at the level of a mayoral race. It's not a popularity contest.

      Delete
  20. oy vey, even the local GOP is chiming in: http://hudsoncountyview.com/arango-council-pres-giattino-is-the-perfect-candidate-for-hoboken-mayor/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sane advice ? You need an exorcism!! Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd like one- this site is infested with a demon named Tony. I'm not sure exorcism would work, his obsession is supernatural.

      Delete
    2. What is his malfunction? He just bitter people stopped listening to him? He mad that he couldn't be some sort of power broker? I don't get why he jumped fully on board w/ the slime brigade.

      Delete
  22. Ravi made his decision to run for Mayor which is his right. If Jen decided that she wants to run for Mayor, that is her right. No good guy No bad guy.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment