GA dedicates this post to the Krusty Konspiracy Kook Krew (KKKK) over in a dark, hay-filled corner of the internet.
The KKKK is a small clique of koincidentally-kaucasian kurmugeons, who've declared that local officials should not condemn white nationalists, Neo-Nazis and a pResident who sympathizes with racists and Anti-Semites.
Their reason? The KKKK insists the pResidential endorsement of white nationalists, Neo-Nazi groups is a "national issue."
The KKKK is dead wrong.
Hate crimes are a local issue. They happen on our trains, in our streets, at our mosques and synagogues. Inciting and empowering these hate groups, as tRump has done, endangers the residents of Hoboken.
tRump has shown every hate group in America that he has their back; hate groups march and commit crimes and attack individuals in cities, like Hoboken. His words embolden current and future domestic terrorists to commit acts of violence against ethnic and religious minorities, from Hoboken to Kalamazoo.
"Anti-semitic violence, vandalism and harassment are on the rise in New Jersey and across the country, according to a new Anti-Defamation League report.The ADL reported an 86 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents nationwide in the first three months of 2017, compared with the same period last year. That follows a 34 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2016 over 2015.New Jersey, with 157 anti-Semitic incidents, recorded a 14 percent increase from 2015 to 2016. That was the third-highest total in the nation, behind New York's 211 incidents and California's 199, according to the ADL."GA generally ignores the Krusty Konspiracy Kook Krew's mean-spirited bleatings; one KKKK member makes Sikh-puns, another strikes a moral equivalence between counter-protesters and white nationalists, but this is a teaching moment.
A pResident who strikes a moral equivalencey between Neo-Nazis and those who stand up for our American values hurts this nation at EVERY LEVEL: from our cities down to the individual.
Leadership is truth-telling and standing up for all of your constituents, not talking about your "tears." Anyone can cry. Not every one can lead. Only one mayoral candidate has repudiated the Nazi-coddler, and let neo-Nazis and white nationalists know they are not welcome here in Hoboken.
Thanks, again.
Thank you GA, really thank you. You are on the right side of history.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad to see Kurt and Roman and others not see, or refuse to see, how Trump impacts our community in Hoboken. It's too easy for those of us not as directly impacted by Trump's rhetoric to dismiss it. It's up to us who are statistically less prone to violence and outward displays of discrimination (you name it -- employment, housing, profiling, violence, you're better off if you are in the majority and male as an empirical matter) to be the loudest in opposing it. We should not expect our neighbors to carry that fight alone.
Kurt styles himself a "progressive Democrat." He should drop the word progressive, and while he's at it drop the word "Democrat" too since the rest of us in the Democratic Party are making clear that whether it's healthcare, climate change, education, or hate, what happens in Washington does in fact impact real people in Hoboken. Of course, Kurt and others somehow think Hoboken is an island, a sovereign country not impacted by federal policy. What nonsense. Whether it's a Democrat or Republican in charge in DC or Trenton, we need to know our elected officials will stand up to them when Hoboken's interests are implicated, including on the issue of hate.
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DeleteI too support the American values of pluralism, just not when it comes to that Bhalli Ravioli and his contract-Sikhing ways! I will protest against the KKK til I'm blue in the face, then go back to tag-teaming with Hoboken's leading konspiracy kook/Nazi rationalizer to make sure Hoboken citizens are on full terror alert against Lady Mayor and her Backroom Bhalli!
Deleteover in crazy horseshitville, steve bannon mini-me thinks he's using "national" as a clever shadowy dog whistle code word in the way the alt-right use "globalist" as a derogatory term.
ReplyDeletethese guys (and they are all guys) really need to get out more and get a life, or at least maybe a girlfriend. in terms of fantasyland, it's all one step away from dungeons & dragons.
it is so offensive over there that i cannot support that website or candidate they endorse. #sad
DeletePlease do not insult the Aether Game Cafe, a wonderful Hoboken establishment, or the fine citizens who attend it.
DeleteGlaven.
The Aether Game Cafe is a wonderful business! My daughter loves it.
DeleteI should clarify, upon reflection, that the principle of standing up for Hoboken's interests first, whether it's standing up to Murphy or Trump, is not a partisan issue. I want a Mayor who will go toe to toe with either or both when Hoboken's interests are at stake, similar to how Bill DeBlasio constantly gives Andrew Cuomo a hard time if he thinks NYC is not being served well by the Governor from his party.
ReplyDeleteSorry everybody - I can't resist....so, now that we're all intent on proclaiming that national issues impact Hoboken - how come Hoboken seems to be the only city in the country (and probably the world) where there is no housing crisis?
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'
i'm a little dense, can you clarify what do you mean by "housing crisis"? do you mean when people buy high and are underwater on their mortgage because the market sinks? or do you mean the disappearance of affordable housing?
Deleteif you mean the former, i'd guess it's because we're conveniently located adjacent to the world's most valuable real estate (nyc) and the local economy is strong, lots of people earn a lot and can afford to pay high prices for in-demand housing. if the latter, i'd disagree and say there is a shortage of middle and lower income housing options.
i guess i don't get your question.
me,
DeleteAs usual, Indie wants to hijack the discussion to suit her own agenda. The topic is not housing, it is Trump coddling hate groups and the impact at a local level.
Maybe the KKKK folks can host her agenda.
We have this covered. Our candidate will say the housing crisis makes her sad. We plan to do that with all issues where we're pretty much mailing it in. Charlottesville, housing, rent control, you name it. We're toying with the idea of Issue Hankies. They'll have the campaign website and the name of the issue and will symbolize that we really hope the problem will go away and we will be all sad until it does.
DeleteIf you don't like that, our other candidate will be building a highschool in the river with a pool on top of it and 100 floors of affordable housing on top of that. Don't worry: it will be a public-private partnership, which will make all your nagging doubts go away. Poof!
me: was referring to affordability of housing - a national, and even worldwide crisis - but, when it comes to the administration's agenda, it's down near the bottom. So, here we have something that's a "national" crisis - that's completely ignored and yet, I'm hearing that we have to pay attention to "national" issues because they effect us locally.
DeleteIt seems the narrative here is that, since national issues impact us, (and to some extent I absolutely agree with that) we should, therefore, vote for the candidate that's focused on making statements about national issues.
I think where the narrative goes awry for some of us because we are of the mind that, talk and positions on grand sweeping national issues is fine, but it's no substitute for focusing on and dealing with the things that are, if not completely unique, certainly important to our day-to-day lives as residents of Hoboken - zoning, planning, traffic, infrastructure, small business, displacement, etc.
Indie, the only thing gone awry is you.
DeleteLocalizing national issues means we need to stand strong against extreme ideologies on many sides, on many sides. That means fighting not only Nazism but also the creeping socialism of rent control. My krazy konspiracy kook and I have had enough of Lady Mayor and that dreaded Bhalli Ravioli and the way they fought to preserve rent protrections while our champion Jen Giattino sat on her hands.
DeleteFortunately we can always count on political prostitutes like indiecom to sell out their own principles for a shot at being a big important insider with the new sheriff in town. It's a good thing indiecom is just being used and would never be allowed within 1000 feet of anything important by anyone smart enough to disassociate themselves from the Cranky Old Coot Contingent, but no matter - she's playing her role perfectly and helping us stop the spread of creeping rent control socialism once and for all!
Indie, you're right that housing in Hoboken is not affordable and it's a serious issue. I hope the candidates state clearly their vision and plan in this regard. I'll be honest that I'm not particularly hopeful that the brownstone crowd you (Jen) and I (Ravi) support, has prioritized this issue. My money though would be on Ravi to take it more seriously because 1. He actually took action during the referendum unlike Jen; and 2. His rights background likely makes him more sympathetic (see #1).
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit rich though to see Kurt --- borrowing liberally and with precision from the talking points of Roman, Breithbart, and Steven Bannon --- publicly accuse a minority who stands up against discrimination to just be quiet and not engage in "identity politics." Did he ever consider that maybe Ravi think of his rights advocacy as "the right to be free"?
This is what we've gotten so far from Kurt this election season:
1. Telling a minority to effectively shut up and sit down when talking about hate in the country even though we know it has come to Hoboken. Does he not get the optics of a male from a dominant community telling a minority to be quiet?
2. Loudly saying, "over development is my issue, the Jackson PILOT is evil and all who voted for it are bad a math, maybe corrupt." He then went and endorsed Jim Doyle the architect of the PILOT he supposedly despises so much. Curious that Jim gets a pass on Kurt's number one issue but not Ravi.
3. More time and energy shooting down Reform rather than DeFusco and Romano.
4. Advertising on Roman's site which traffics in hate and not saying a word about it.
The whole last month for him has been a disaster of his own making. Like Trump, someone needs to get the phone out of his hands. He is not ready for prime time.
Don't sell me short, All Hoboken! I'm a man of principal who stands up for what I believe, and I just can't abide that Backroom Bhalli and his Sikhing the big chair from that lady mayor. I can assure you that my views have nothing whatsoever to do with their failure to bow to obvious Hoboken royalty and peerless expertise when I applied for a board position. I'm not just another one of those disgruntled, dejected types like Bajardi, Soares and Branco who are on the team until I don't get the respect I so obviously deserve. I'm not the one Sikhing things for myself here, I'm a pure altruist, not like that Backroom Bhalli and his Sikhing of the big chair from the lady mayor!
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DeleteRe: "The Shadow knows"-
DeleteCo-opting "Bhalli Ravioli" to ridicule "some people" who find it funny to butcher his name is effective comment jujitsu.
Stealing "the Shadow knows" from someone using it to ridicule you and doubling down on it as your actual viewpoint is just clumsy, inadvertent self-ridicule and very Bajardi-esque.
I agree with you AllHob – I hope the candidates state clearly their vision and plan regarding affordability and tenant protections too and, we are also in accord with having concern about this issue regardless of which brownstone (and luxury condo crowd) sees their candidate take the crown. It will be a brave Mayor that is willing to address this when there are a large number of the people that helped them to take office don’t care or aren’t aware of displacement and would rather have the Mayor focus on recreation facilities and initiatives that increase property values.
DeleteWith that said, my money isn’t on Ravi because, although he did support the right side -the protection side (although took no action) on the anti-rent protection referendums (and we were very glad he did) he also pushed through extraordinarily flawed legislation that has harmed untold numbers of tenants and he’s never spent 1/10th of a second trying to learn about any unintended consequences of that legislation. Instead, he’s declared that legislation a success.
The other thing that gets rolled into the mix is that for the last 5-10 years the city has allowed rampant displacement to occur without lifting a finger to address it legislatively – and, without question, there are many things that we could do and to date, won’t do. The longer we wait - the more people of lower, middle and upper-middle class incomes will be pushed out and the less and less people left to voice a concern. Problem solved in a most despicable way.
I’m very aware of how Jen has tried to help many tenants on a case-by-case basis and, I believe, Ravi has also assisted 1 or 2, but in the grand scheme of things it’s been less effective than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. That’s why the at-large part of this election is also very important. In truth, outside of Jim Doyle and Dave Mello, I know nothing about what we can expect from any of them. So, I’ve got some work to do!
Mostly Developer Funds has been strangely silent on Charlottesville... surprising given that the fascists were chasing "F U F*ggots" and You’re f*gs! Go home! You have no testosterone!”
ReplyDeleteGuess he's only about gay issues when drumming up support for his run.
Is MDF attending any of the events this week for JC LGBT Pride?
Has MDF ever cut a check to a local LGBT (Hudson Pride) or state (Garden State Equality) group?
I'd ask on Facebook but I don't want to get blocked.
There is no constructive dialogue going on here just Bitter Bhalla Backers who are devoid of sound argumentation skills. The commenters on here are the real hanky brigade.
ReplyDeleteJust because I occasionally comment on another blog and tend to see eye to eye more with that blogger on local issues does not mean I support his national views. Quite to the contrary. That attempt to link me with him on the front is weak and disgusting.
It is unfortunate that Bhalla supporters call anyone not religously following the Mayor's endorsement stupid, juvenille or a white nationalist.
No mayor has done more for infrastructure than Zimmer but I simply believe we have a better option than Ravi for Mayor. Elections are about choices. I am glad to have a choice.
Enjoy your echo chamber of silly sycophants. No point in staying here for ridiculousness on display here.
And since the author of this blog is leaking private conversations violating any shred of journalistic integrity she might have had I will share with you what author of blog said to me because I caught the Bhalka campaign forcing a a fake Facebook endorsement...
"Go fuck yourself" Yep. That is the temperament of Bonkers for Bhalla website editor. Way to be a positive ambassador Nancy! You go girl!
Just remember the shadow knows! The shadow knows!
Kurt, you have worn out the welcome you never got.
DeleteYou've insulted a bunch of folks whom you don't know-- as any pompous, self-righteous, narcissistic ass would. You arrogantly bitterly spout falsehoods and opinion as fact. And, like any overgrown toddler, you have to have the last word, before declare yourself right, and put everybody else down. Dunno why you have taken to such divisive, scorched earth tactics but I am not a shrink. Glad you suspended your campaign because you are tempermentally unsuited for elected office. Why you've chosen to turn against friends for supporting another candidate was very foolish. Dont know why you dragged me into your post, either. Im out having a nice day, and took a look to see you trashing me. After November, you're on your own. Now, shoo.
Go back to #Trump Square View, whose nuttery and censorship policies you endorse by spewing under various screen names. Saying "I don't support his national views" doesn't cut it. You are the worst kind of hypocrite.
The last word is mine. Good bye.
Hi! I'm the most important person in hoboken! Hey Shadow, Puppet and Backroom Bhalli, remember - When I apply for a board, you better appoint me or I'll quit the team and take my pizza with me! And your little dog, too!
DeleteWelcome to easelville, chumps! GIANT-style!
Oh snap, GA, I guess he'll be heading back over to the other blog Sikhing a more suitable auidince for his Trumpy brand of cultural "satire."
Delete"There is no constructive dialogue going on here..." so we're all supposed to take that as gospel, simply because you proclaimed it as such, LOL! good lord, get over yourself. i didn't get the memo about you being appointed hoboken's arbiter of all things fair and balanced, handing down declarations from on high.
Delete