...John Allen says "hello!" (and other stuff)

The future looks bright...

"YOU'RE HIRED!"
As Nixle told you this morning:

Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced today that she will appoint John Allen to serve as Chief of Staff effective December 4, 2017.

“In consultation with Mayor-Elect Bhalla, I am appointing John Allen as Chief of Staff,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “John will help ensure that there is a smooth transition between administrations and will be a tremendous asset to Mayor Bhalla and the City of Hoboken.”

"John has all the right qualities and experience to take on this important role in City Hall,” said Mayor-Elect Ravinder S. Bhalla. “I look forward to working with John as my Chief of Staff in 2018.”

Mr. Allen is an attorney who specializes in the representation of governmental bodies, including boards of education and municipalities. He serves on the Board of Directors of Easterseals New Jersey, one of the state’s oldest and largest charitable organizations dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities.  He is a graduate of Rutgers University and earned his law degree at Rutgers School of Law.

While the news of Allen's hire set off one member of the anti-Bhalla fringe movement "Reform Resistance" (not to be confused with my surging movement, "The Reform Persistence"),  others who care about a smooth transition of power from Zimmer to Bhalla, were elated. 

In my personal opinion, Allen became the focus of resistance-rage not because of who he is (none of John's detractors have met him) but what he is: youthful, handsome, engaged, employed.  

Yes. It's that simple: primal male rage at the man and his profession. 

I am reminded of the illogical,  knee-jerk hatred of the youthful Dan Bryan who was appointed by Mayor Dawn Zimmer to serve as her first Chief of Staff.

For no reason but malice, Zimmer's young Chief of Staff Dan Bryan was targeted for abuse by the Mason cabal and their media wing, Hoboken411.  Dan did nothing to warrant the abuse, except exist. He was followed around and photographed, his picture posted on Hoboken411 along with uncomplimentary articles.

You can see this "Dan Bryan" animus in literally dozens of  Bajardi v Pincus MSJ exhibits:

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Now, swap Dan Bryan's name with John Allen's, then Barracato/Klaussen/Bajardi's name with ["Reform Resistance" founder], and it's back to the future.

Yes, history is repeating itself.  These "Reform Resistors" have become what they despised.  SAD.

Fortunately, The Reform Persistence (my surging movement) knows Allen personally. On that basis The Reform Persistence can say that Allen embodies the spirit of an honest public servant, believes in good, clean government, is a really hard worker, has a sunny disposition, and has 'the goods' intellectually for the tough job ahead. 

Like Bhalla, he is modest. John told me today:

"I am incredibly honored by the trust placed in me by Mayor Zimmer and Mayor-elect Bhalla. I'm looking forward to a smooth transition and helping Ravi achieve his vision for our city."

Good luck, John. The decent people of Hoboken (and my surging "Reform Persistence" movement) want you to succeed. 

We rise or fall together. 

TROUBLE AHEAD?

Losing a big election can do strange things to people.

Does anybody remember Beth Mason rescinding her offer of "working for $1" after she lost the 2009 fall mayoral election (to replace Peter Cammarano)?  In 2011, the blog, YoGregory wrote:

After losing the first Mayoral election, Mason, still holding her Council seat, reneged on her pledge to forgo her Council salary and benefits. Not only that, she demanded she receive "back pay" for the salary she had voluntarily forgone. Mason's public persona had changed and her supporters noticed it. Between the two Mayoral elections Mason lost many of her supporters, who defected to support Zimmer in the fall election.

original music video "Things Get in My Way" by YoGregory

It's a matter of opinion why Mason turned a '180' after she'd branded herself as Hoboken Reform.  

After The Metamorphosis, she became a major Zimmer-opposition  funding source- both in cash and in-kind donations- and the leader of the City Council's anti-Zimmer coalition, "The Council of No." 

That was then.

It is too soon to say if Hoboken is headed toward similar troubled waters.  But there are troubling signs that bruised feelings may seep into governing Hoboken:

• Mayoral candidate Jen Giattino was the only mayoral candidate to turn down leadership of a Transition Committee; she was offered to lead "Constituent Services." 

• Multiple sources report that she is currently whipping votes on the Council for a 4th term as Council President. Why?

• A "friend of a friend"- and an HPEF donor, reports that Giattino has removed herself from the Hoboken Public Education Foundation (HPEF) mailing list.  He said, "That confirms my suspicions all along; that she was never really for public education, she just said anything she thought people wanted to hear."  Why "unsubscribe" from the HPEF after the election?  Is it because an HPEF co-founder, Shirael Pollack,  is a prominent Bhalla supporter? 

HPEF co-founder Shirael Pollack with Councilwoman-elect Emily Jabbour and Mayor-elect Ravi Bhalla at the Nov. 16 FBW fundraiser

(Looking good, Shirael! Shirael has bravely been sharing her battle with stomach cancer on Facebook; if you have not read her inspiring posts, you should.) 

As for the council, GA has adopted a wait-and-see approach. If anyone is governing with hurt feelings it will be obvious to all.

You know, being the self-appointed leader of a surging Reform Persistence movement calls for giving elected officials a chance to prove they respect the verdict of the electorate, that they will use their power for good, not to settle scores.