DeFusco calls Nason's small biz "illegal" at debate

Karen Nason's Certificate of Occupancy for 259 1st Street ("FUSE")

GA's no lawyer so the following is my opinion, but it looks to me like mayoral candidate Karen Nason was slandered in a (very) public venue of Wednesday night's mayoral debate, when opponent Mike DeFusco stated that she had an "illegal" business.

Defusco was referring to FUSE,  Karen's legal cafe/event space which she elected to close in a zoning battle with the City over the definition of "event" (public vs private).  But, how many in the audience only know her as the owner/operator of Hoboken Hothouse, a cafe/pizzeria at 200 Monroe Street? 

Folks, in Hoboken's heated election time rhetoric where folks swap insults and accusations, it is good for all of us to know where the line is.  

I mean it, people.  

All of you snowflakes (Monarch McVictimGate, are you listening?) batting around threats of litigation, better understand that truth is an absolute defense, unverifiable statements (including banter to/about presumed identities (screen names) are not actionable. Neither are insults, hyperbole or opinion.       

However in this case, I believe that DeFusco crossed the line because he publicly accused Nason of a crime. 

"In New Jersey, four categories of statements qualify as defamation per se including statements that a person: (1) committed a crime; (2) has a loathsome disease; (3) engaged in serious sexual misconduct; or (4) engaged in conduct or having a trait that in incompatible with B’s business. These types of statements are considered so clearly defamatory that B’s reputation must have been harmed by it."

Political candidates are public figures and subject to the highest burden of proof, but they are not immune; so telling an auditorium full of people that a woman who makes her living operating a Hoboken small business had an illegal business, well...

For folks interested in this issue, GA recommends reading a legal blog article: "Free Speech Versus False Statements: New Jersey’s Libel, Slander, and Defamation Law"

Now, I'll break some news.

False and defamatory attacks on Karen Nason's business(es) began appearing here months ago; GA  deleted most but saved a few, like this:

The comment-storm appeared to be part of a politically-motivated campaign of harassment to push Karen out of the way for another candidate (guess who)- the same one who publicly attacked her business on October 25, 2017.  

Needless to say, the campaign to push Nason out of the way was not successful.  

Well, about two or three weeks ago a highly disturbing, serious incident occurred, which appeared to be aimed at harming her small business.

It is unknown if the incident is tied in any way to individuals who were libeling her business online, but the Hoboken police are investigating that-  the 'incident' and the harassment (online, individuals at a Hoboken restaurant) presumably to see if or who they are related, and to find the culprit(s).  GA can confirm this is true; Karen provided an email from a Hoboken detective querying her about the "men at the bar."  

How does this tie-in to the DeFusco claim that Karen had an "illegal" business?

According to Nason, the HPD  has 'cleared' her businesses past and present as being 'legal' with respect to the charges made online and now, by DeFusco. 

Unsolicited advice to DeFusco: apologize publicly to Karen.  That's what I would do.