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At 11AM this morning in Pier A Park, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 825 and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) New Jersey endorsed Hoboken Councilman-at-Large Ravi Bhalla for mayor!
Yep, those big endorsements are rolling in:
(1) Anthony 'Stick' Romano received the endorsement of the The Hudson County Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local No. 109, the union representing the Hudson County corrections officers!
Three weeks out, and there's no doubt these endorsements provide a welcome cash infusion to campaigns' GOTV coffers.
But, not all campaigns are waiting around for cash to find them...
Team Bhalla has held two fundraisers since their October ELEC report showed a closing balance of $21,516.70. Last week Bhalla supporter Jim Kocis held a big-bucks fundraiser in his home, and another one was held last night at 10th and Willow. Both events were well-attended, and by Hoboken supporters, netting at least $30,000. Ka-ching.
Team Bhalla has held two fundraisers since their October ELEC report showed a closing balance of $21,516.70. Last week Bhalla supporter Jim Kocis held a big-bucks fundraiser in his home, and another one was held last night at 10th and Willow. Both events were well-attended, and by Hoboken supporters, netting at least $30,000. Ka-ching.
GA will have more on Thursday's fundraiser; a longtime Zimmer donor reported troubling conversations with "newbies there. Here's a teaser: it appears that one campaign continues to market their candidate by saying that that "Hoboken isn’t ready for a Sikh mayor, some of them using the turban word."
Stay tuned, people.
Stay tuned, people.
This should be good for a display of the comedy stylings of propeller as he explains the evils of union endorsements other than to Mike Defusco.
ReplyDeleteI happened to be walking by on Frank Sinatra Drive when this event occurred. Lucky me! I used to work for the law firm that represented IUOE Local 825. I have great admiration for its Business Manager, Greg Lalevee, who had very complementary words for both Ravi and Mayor Zimmer. Local 825 represents all of the heavy equipment operators on municipal infrastructure and other construction projects. Local 825 members built the GW Bridge, the Garden State Parkway, Newark International Air Port...I mean they've worked on really big stuff! Local 825 has an inclusive Apprenticeship Program that was cited by Ravi as the basis of a possible partnership with the City of Hoboken to train local residents in the trade. This is an extremely important endorsement that brought the officers of Local 825 all the way from Springfield, NJ to Hoboken in the middle of the day. Hoboken will be hosting multiple heavy construction projects over the next several years and a solid working relationship with IUOE Local 825 is essential to the successful completion of those projects. Great accomplishment, Ravi!
DeleteI'm probably much more pro-union than most commenters (all) on this blog, but I have to admit that I find it pretty funny when folks see a construction union backing one candidate as a sign of a pro-development candidate and when this construction union backs Ravi, it isn't.
ReplyDeleteBut it is folks. From their website.
LIUNA members are committed to creating partnerships that work... and work collaboratively with project owners, contractors, and government officials to promote the union construction industry and encourage economic development.
And this...the first item listed on their website under the category: Our Work:
LIUNA members practice a variety of skills essential to building skyscrapers, schools, hospitals, shopping malls and other structures. With nine local unions operating statewide under the banner of the NJ Building Construction Laborers District Council, our Building Laborers provide the critical workforce to make projects successful.
If residents of Hoboken are worried about development - looks like they only have one option.
You're ridiculous. LIUNA members are working men and women, laborers in a variety of sectors, including construction. Pray tell, does the Rebuild by Design project build itself?
DeleteIndie...I have had it with your cynical BS. I was not talking about LIUNA as I am not familiar with that union. I don't give a crap what its website says. I am very familiar with IUOE Local 825 as I worked with its officers for a couple of years. What is your problem??? Hoboken will be hosting many different massive construction projects over the next ten to 15 years, of necessity...somebody's got to do the building. Please stop acting like a total ass!
DeleteWow, here we go again! rudydog - I wasn't talking to you, I wasn't responding to you & I didn't even read your comment. My post had nothing to do with your post.
DeleteIt isn't just the union backing that makes Mike an alarming candidate. He has a long record of bending over backwards to accommodate developers. And Jen seems pretty pro-developer too though not surprising considering her occupation. More condos means more commissions. Those microunits will be quite the cash cow for her and her friends.
DeleteArent these the same people that spent millions of dollars to pass one of the largest tax increases in state history? A regressive 23 cent gas tax increase on the highest tax state in the country? Nothing I would be proud of.
ReplyDeleteArent these the same people that spent millions of dollars to pass one of the largest tax increases in state history? A regressive 23 cent gas tax increase on the highest tax state in the country? Nothing I would be proud of.
ReplyDeleteAre you proud of making the same comment with multiple names? Making dishonest posts? Which are you most proud of?
Deletehttp://money.cnn.com/2016/10/07/news/new-jersey-gas-tax/index.html
Because gasoline taxes are not indexed to inflation and cars are becoming more fuel efficient, the amount of taxes collected over time has been completely insufficient to maintain our road infrastructure. I for one am tired of driving on third world roads and think it is past time gas taxes were increased at both the state and federal level.
Delete2 items of note for me here.
ReplyDelete1. Both these unions represent private sector employees. They don’t represent public sector unions whose pension and other demands are blowing holes through municipal and state budgets across the state;
2. I see this as a warning shot to Fulop, Stack etc., to stay out of Hoboken. I think that’s the real game here.
Last but not least, if I remember correctly, didn’t Dawn have support from a bunch of unions in 2013? I vaguely recall the manure/Breithbart Hoboken site trumpeting union endorsements in 2013.
The members of IUOE Local 825 will mostly be engaged in the heavy lifting activities in the rail yard and infrastructure construction projects as opposed to residential construction.
DeleteI'm surprise Bhalla's ELEC report didn't show any payments to Tony Soares. If I were him, I'd happily pay Tony at least $8,000 to campaign against me.
ReplyDeleteha! tony is quickly overtaking beth mason as all-time leader in the "kiss of death" endorsement competition.
DeleteWell, that is why he constantly uses different names when posting online. Even he knows that most people think he is a slimy POS.
Deleteit appears he's even lost his magic touch in spinning al sullivan, who confirms in this week's column that defusco has dropped to four place in the recent poll. all those hundreds of thousands of dollars the MDF campaign has blown through and his numbers have actually plummeted at the finish line, that's rough.
DeleteThanks for this post @rudydawg and for the ones above. Clearly speaking from experience.
ReplyDelete