"REFORMERS" poised to kill $39M benefit to Hoboken residents

DUMBER THAN KILLING THE $4.5M GARAGE REFINANCE (2011) & $1.1M FOR WASH. ST. REPAIR (2012)
Reform peeps, didn't you think the costly political stunts were over when "Council of NO" members Beth Mason and Terry Castellano got the boot?

Guess again.

For the newbies:  The "Council of NO" were the reflexively anti-Zimmer coalition on Hoboken's City Council in the years 2009-2015.  So named the "Council of No" because they brought Hoboken residents a litany of "NO" votes against anything put forward by Mayor Zimmer and/or the Reform City Council.   There were too many costly "Council of NO" votes to recount.  The ones that stand out in my mind are:

• (2011) The "Council of NO" killed a $3M bond for major repairs to HPD headquarters including, but not limited to, an inoperable HVAC system, outdated electrical wiring which had caused a fire, 2nd floor toilets leaking to the 1st floor, non-working security cameras, no storage room for evidence (it was being stored outside), and more.  GA watched HPD Chief Falco beg the City Council:  

"Set politics aside for once and do what's right for once...  Officers get cold, get sick.  I implore you to pass this ordinance."

• (2011) The "Council of NO" killed a bond for a traffic light across the street from the new soccer field at 1600 Park causing the park opening to be delayed. 

• (2013) The "Council of NO" killed repairs to Pier C Park after Hurricane Sandy, keeping the park closed all Spring.

• (2012) The "Council of NO" killed a bond to replace 5 Sandy-damaged HOP buses and a bucket truck  forcing reduction in HOP service to seniors. 

• (2012)  The "Council of NO" killed a routine line item budget transfer, then demanded an "investigation"  

 And the most obscene "Council of NO" vote of all...

• (2013) The" Council of NO" KILLED funding for Hoboken's 9-11 memorial- WATCH THE VOTE: 

   

The "Council of NO's" reasons were reliably:

• Beth Mason needed "more information"- (neverending) requests for reports, analysis, studies, investigations. She even demanded an autopsy report for a dead squirrel in her backyard. 

• Mike Russo believed city operations are paid in cash- not with bonds, opting to spend Hoboken's surplus down to zero. 

• Terry Castellano and Tim Occhipinti used all of the above. 

It was a dreadful time in Hoboken government, and Reform stood as a firewall against their poitical gamesmanship that was aimed at destroying Zimmer at all cost.

Now they're gone.  So, what has our Reform Council learned from this dark era?

We'll find out tomorrow when the City Council votes on deal with SUEZ water, 1 1/2 years in the making.

But it does not look good.  Because it's election season, and 5 Councilpersons represent 3 separate Teams running for control of City Hall.  As it stands today...

"REFORMERS" Jen Giattino, Tiffanie Fisher, Peter Cunningham and Dave Mello appear to be united with Mike DeFusco, Mike Russo and Ruben Ramos to KILL a SUEZ contract that would:

• increase investment in capital improvements and repairs from $350,000 to over $1.8 Million per year (average) AND
• wipe out an existing $8,350,000 liability

Yes.  "REFORMERS" posturing to impress voters with their 'due diligence' and 'concern for taxpayers' are about to blow up badly needed $39 million benefits from SUEZ to Hoboken.

All because Dawn Zimmer negotiated the deal, and everybody knows she's "bad in math."

Nothing but POLITICS, people.  Political theatrics from the Giattino and Romano campaigns.

TEAM GIATTINO 

On August 1, Giattino, Fisher and Cunningham issued a press release citing "additional concerns about the proposed contract... we requested again to be provided with the detailed financial analysis supporting the proposal.". 

Um, they have gotten a financial analysis.  Team Giattino needs a second, a third,  perhaps a "report, analysis or investigation"?  Watch Team Giattino channel Beth Mason tomorrow night.  

TEAM ROMANO
GA reached out to Dave Mello to ask why he's not supporting the SUEZ contract.  Crickets.

GA did procure a statement from Team Romano:

"While we certainly understand the critical need for improvements to our aging and dilapidated water system, it behooves us to carefully consider the contract that Suez is offering to the city of Hoboken. We must ensure that this contract brings the maximum benefit to our constituents given this will add ten years beyond the life of the existing contract (which expires in 2024), and future increases will be passed on to the ratepayers. We urge the Hoboken City Council to table this decision until a new mayor and council are elected."

Enough said?

CONCLUSION
The SUEZ contract resolution needs 5 votes to pass tomorrow night.  Four "Reformers": Jen Giattino, Tiffanie Fisher, Peter Cunningham and Dave Mello have killed it out of the gate.

Where does Councilman Jim Doyle stand on this vote?  He told GA:  

"I am leaning in favor but intend to re-review the documents before wed pm and will ask questions in advance, not in front of the camera for dramatic effect. It is one thing to send it to committee for council digestion; it is altogether another to perform a lengthy feasibility study by consultants whose opinions are disregarded if the outcome is not what is desired." 

And as you know, Councilman Bhalla has voluntarily recused himself from all SUEZ matters:

Let's see if Ramos, Russo and DeFusco flip their vote for this contract. Plus Doyle, that would put the blame for Hoboken's loss squarely on Team Giattino and Team Romano. Good politics for them. 

Bad for Hoboken residents.

MSV STEPS IN DOO-DOO 
Folks, GA does this out of mercy before a certain horse buries himself in the doo-doo he's been peddling online.

The matter concerns an old ethics charge filed by Dark Side gad-fly, and Bhalla jihadi Perry "The Hair" Belfiore against Ravi Bhalla.  Belfiore is Mike DeFusco's chief political strategist.

So, on Friday, September 1, MSV wrote "the 2010 Condon matter was at one point dismissed, ruled frivolous before being revived for reconsideration. Now it's extended into 2018, at the earliest" thus reviving the 7 year-old smear, and giving it new life.

All of this based on a "source familiar with the 2010 ethics complaint."

If GA had to guess, his "source" is connected to the DeFusco campaign.  That's a guess.

Friday, September 1, 2017

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Whomever MSV's "source" is, it's clear a horse is letting himself get played.  Because it's easy enough to find out the truth.

GA did what MSV should have and could have done: simply ask Councilman Bhalla for the status of the Belfiore complaint. Here we go!

BHALLA STATEMENT ON BELFIORE COMPLAINT STATUS

"The allegation that a complaint against me is "under active review" by the Local Finance Board is false.  The matter brought by Perry Belfiore was rejected on two occasions when reviewed by the courts, most recently by the Appellate Division. There was no finding of any ethics violation by the Appellate Division in its June 2016 decision , it is  not under "active review" in any court of agency, and is a closed matter. I  was cleared of all allegations, and the matter is closed, with no further rights of appeal. Further, the Local Finance Board has had a full quorum for the entire year and was well within their timeframe to take action further action but failed to do so within the applicable time frame (45 days)."

Now, wipe that doo-doo off your horseshoes!