Okay, this guy is starting to scare me.
His new video sales pitch titled, "Think Big on Education" is a gallon of snake oil on film. DeFusco’s pitch: if you vote for him, he will "bring" you a shiny new High School.
Um, no.
Without magical powers or a coup d'etat of the New Jersey Department of Education, our next mayor has zero legal authority to "bring" a school to Hoboken.
Either he (1) does not understand the legal limits of mayoral authority or (2) he's trying to pull a fast one on the public or (3) he really believes the Hoboken school district answers to him.
I pick all three.
It's clear that Mike DeFusco is uninformed about the NJDOE's authority over the Hoboken School District (the schools answer to the state not City Hall) and the limits of mayoral power but... he appears to know NOTHING about what is currently offered in the Hoboken schools. His video presents "partnership with Stevens" like its some novel idea. Um... no.
The Hoboken School district has had partnerships with local colleges and universities- including Stevens- for years. Hoboken High School students can take advanced classes with pre-med students at Rutgers, and math/science classes at Stevens University. The mayor's son chose Hoboken High School for that very reason.
It is embarrassing, really. Hasn't DeFusco talked to a single First Ward parent about the Hoboken District? Hasn't he ever contacted the Hoboken School Superintendent Christine Johnson?
HOW TO "BRING" HOBOKEN A NEW HIGH SCHOOL
From the NJDOE web site:
Now, it is unclear if Hoboken, as a former Abbott District, and now an "SDA District" is eligible to receive 100 percent state funding of school construction costs.
In any case, the voters must approve any and all construction costs for the new school by referendum put forth by the Hoboken district. Not City Hall.
SUMMARY
- Snake Oil salesman Mike DeFusco has no control over the Hoboken District Superintendent, the Hoboken BoE, what programs they do or don't offer: none, nada, zero, zip, nein. Snake Oil DeFusco clearly has no idea of what's going on in the Hoboken schools.
- "Mayor" Mike DeFusco can't "bring" a new high school- the NJ DOE will make that determination through the Hoboken School District's application process. The NJDOE will decide how much funding Hoboken will get for the school construction costs. Any costs not covered by the state must be approved by voters in a District referendum.
- Snake Oil DeFusco is so anxious to suck up to his developer friends who are drooling to develop this "new high school complex" he is willing to lie to Hoboken residents about delivering something he has no power or authority to deliver.
Looks like a certain blogger just got uninvited to the commencement ceremonies at Shake Shack High.
ReplyDeleteHa! Good one!
DeleteMostly Developer Funding really meant to say this:
ReplyDeleteI will get a new high school built (lot$ of downtown dollars to go around!)
and then I will sell the old high school property to developers to demolished and build whatever the hell they want.
That is the message behind his latest attempt at gaining traction.
It's too bad DeFusco doesn't still have another slot on his ticket! I know someone who has some GIGANTIC ideas about how he can bring a new high school or any other ideas he cooks up, because he knows everything there is to know about Hoboken government! He's the most qualified candidate for office since Ryn Melberg! He's a giant of a candidate, figuratively speaking of course! And most importantly, he's really got it in for that goofy Sikh, the dreaded Bhalli Ravioli!
ReplyDeleteYour loss, DeFusco, ya snooze, ya looze!
Let's put the matter to rest:
ReplyDeleteA man who was Bhalli-obsessed
Created a handle
And struck like a vandal
Then on the other blog he confessed
Roses are red, violets are blue.
DeleteMy doppelgänger has exactly two playmates over there.
Can you guess who?
(hint: one is the admin, the other is a long-ago official clamoring for relevance)