Hoboken VBM mysteries

Bad boy, bad boy, watcha gonna do? Watcha gonna do when they come for you?

Strange things are happening in our vote-by-mail  universe...

KNOCK, KNOCK VBM DELIVERY

One campaign appears to be carrying out a stealth, city-wide VBM operation, with incidents reported in the 1st, 5th, and 6th wards.

It appears that persons identifying themselves as Romano campaign workers have been knocking on doors with VBM application forms that are already filled out  with that voter's name, address, birth-date, and  the Assistor's name, address, date and signature.

Then the workers ask the voter if they would like to vote by absentee ballot, all they need to do is sign the application. 

GA first heard about this on October 7th, when a Facebook friend messaged me:

Nancy,  can you text me your phone number... it's for a friend who wants to talk about his mother being tricked into signing an absentee ballot for A. Romano. She lives in senior housing on 1st street.  

The friend never called.  Then, last week I met a gal who told me a strange story.  I asked her to please put it in writing, and she sent it to me yesterday morning:

"We live on Bloomfield and 9th.  On 9/21, 2 men came to my door. One was younger (high schoolish) and other was maybe late 20s. The older one did all the talking. He said he was door knocking for Anthony Melendez who was running for mayor and another position he couldn't remember. This interested me to speak to him a little more because he didn't even have he candidate's name correct. He asked if they had my support and I said no and was about to close the door when I noticed my husband's name on a piece of paper. I asked what it was and he explained that I had to just sign the paper and I wouldn't have to worry about going to vote on Election Day. I asked to keep it but he said I couldn't but let me take a picture." 

Well, guess what happened to GA later that day?   

Knock, knock.

GA: Who's there? 

Kid: We're with the Romano campaign!

Note, there's a big-ass Ravi Bhalla for Mayor sign on my front door.  I opened the door to see four teenagers; one had a list of names and he appeared to cross mine off. 

Kid: Would you like to vote by mail?  (hands me a document)

GA: No, thank you.  (I photograph the document.)   Are you really with the Romano campaign? Where is the headquarters?

Kid: Yes.  Washington and 4th Street. 

When GA inquired about the incident, Romano campaign spokesman, Pablo Fonseca, denied they were his people and his vote-by-mail ballot application.  

He told GA, "I don't have anyone doing VBMs."

If not Romano's, then whose?

DeFUSCO STRATEGIST POINTS FINGER AT ROMANO 

GA saw this shocking (and highly entertaining) sign two nights ago- before I heard that the F.B.I. was in town.  

So, I contacted one of the folks listed on the sign, DeFusco strategist Perry Belfiore.  

"Is this a joke?" I asked.

"No," Perry replied.  "Reports from 4th ward workers indicates workers from Romano campaign masquerading as DeFusco supporters are purloining VBMs from otherwise DeFusco supporters.  Individuals who were with Ramos historically now working for Romano are sowing confusion with the electorate."

"How do you know?"  

He replied, "Hysterical calls from campaign volunteers and workers telling horror stories of former Ramos supporters approaching voters stating they are with the Defusco campaign. I had to spend days in the HHA telling people to vote in the machine. I recommend everyone vote in the machine. I only pay for GOTV workers on election day."

"You mean your campaign isn't collecting VBMs in the HHA?"  I asked. 

"Nancy, VBMS are mailed year after year because a campaign told voters to check the box for permanent elections, so a chase is instigated by the Board of Elections. We tell everyone to vote in the poll.  I am on the flyer and fighting to safeguard integrity of elections."  

Well, there you go folks. Perry Belfiore is there at the HHA guarding the integrity of our Hoboken mayoral election!  With Carmelo Garcia! And Sandra Ramos! And Ruben Ramos! And Patty Waiters! And Angel Alicea!

Phew.  I feel better now.

GA gave the Romano campaign a chance to respond to Belfiore's allegations that they have sent people in to the HHA to "purloin" VBMs from "DeFusco voters."

"Our campaign since day one has been focused on issues and policy, not on negativity and personal attacks and lies as is the DeFusco campaign." the campaign stated, " If anyone wants to talk about fraud and corruption, they have to look at the circle of influence in the  DeFusco campaign". 

"We've caught 3 people that DeFusco has sent to our campaign. These accusations are totally false. More lies and personal attacks from a candidate that's come in 4th place in every poll and has been unable to get any traction. He has made personal attacks and is running a negative campaign because his message is not resonating with Hoboken voters." 

Let's recap. 

• Teenagers are delivering VBM applications- pre-filled out- to voters all over Hoboken, telling voters  that they working for Anthony Romano. 

• One campaign (DeFusco) is finger-pointing at another (Romano)  for "purloining" VBMs from "DeFusco voters" at the Hoboken Housing Authority. 

Both campaigns deny they are collecting VBMs. 

Is that all straightened out for you?  Me neither.