UPDATE:
GA has confirmed that it was 4 (not 6) Council members who failed to RSVP in a timely way to the inauguration; a total of 5 Council persons did promptly RSVP.
For folks who could not (or would not) attend yesterday's inauguration, here you go...
MORNING
After the signing, the press swooped in.
Then a proud, possibly overwhelmed Bhalla family including Ravi's parents and uncle- who came in from California- struck a pose.
Schmooze news: Mike Russo's wife is expecting again- twins! Babies make 4! Mazeltov!
GA has confirmed that it was 4 (not 6) Council members who failed to RSVP in a timely way to the inauguration; a total of 5 Council persons did promptly RSVP.
_________________
For folks who could not (or would not) attend yesterday's inauguration, here you go...
MORNING
Did you know that Hoboken Mayor-elect Ravi Bhalla became mayor at 12:01 AM on January 1st, 2018?
As the ball dropped on Times Square, Hoboken dropped on Bhalla. But, if a Hoboken drops on Bhalla and no one's there to hear it, did it make a sound? Hence, the big 2 PM ceremonial inauguration open to the public and media.
Note, yesterday's public event was preceded by a private swearing in. Dunno the time, but it was in the morning, and went off quietly. The reason is that though technically mayor, until the swearing in Bhalla did not have the legal authority to sign an Executive Order. Which he did at noon, declaring Hoboken a "welcoming city."
A finger in your eye, Orange Caligula.
A finger in your eye, Orange Caligula.
GA was a little late for the noon press event in the Mayor's office... When I arrived, Bhallas,food and friends were everywhere; the place was covered with Bhallas, food and friends.
The mayors office likewise was packed with press, staff, more Bhallas, emcee Gerry Krovatin and his wife, writer Anna Quindlen. And Ron Bautista!
After the signing, the press swooped in.
Then a proud, possibly overwhelmed Bhalla family including Ravi's parents and uncle- who came in from California- struck a pose.
Schmoozing proceeded.
Schmooze news: Mike Russo's wife is expecting again- twins! Babies make 4! Mazeltov!
Also heard: 6 Council members did not RSVP to the inauguration. Ultimately they were notified that their seats would be given away if they did not confirm. Sounds kinda like how your mom used to drag you to the dentist. (Was attending Bhalla's inauguration more painful for them than a root canal?)
AFTERNOON
Well, unlike some Council members, a lot folks wanted to be there; the auditorium was jam-packed.
On the right side, GA sat among family, friends and supporters of Bhalla, Doyle, Falco and Jabbour. On the left were reserved seats for elected officials, public officials and special guests. I got there with plenty-o-time to schmooze.
On the right side, GA sat among family, friends and supporters of Bhalla, Doyle, Falco and Jabbour. On the left were reserved seats for elected officials, public officials and special guests. I got there with plenty-o-time to schmooze.
Schmooze news: HoLa is allegedly seeking to expand each classroom by 5 students, and was (also allegedly) trying to slip their amended Charter through now in the last days of the Christie Administration before Murphy gets sworn in on January 16. If true, this expansion is more drag on the Hoboken District budget, and consequently will be passed on to taxpayers. GA is going to look into this one.
Once the ceremony commenced, the historic nature of the day really hit me when voices in front, behind and around me filled the auditorium, reciting the opening prayer in Punjabi.
I can't say that's ever happened before.
When the At-Large folks spoke, all showed us who they are.
Jim Doyle was eloquent, philosophical, funny and ended with this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."
Vanessa Falco spoke about being the first African American Council candidate following in the footsteps of her mom, who was a Hoboken school principal. She spoke about representing a community who has not historically had a seat at Hoboken's table of government.
Emily Jabbour spoke about her service as the organizer of the Hudson County Chapter of Moms Demand Action and her passion to serve the Hoboken community.
Jim Doyle was eloquent, philosophical, funny and ended with this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members."
Vanessa Falco spoke about being the first African American Council candidate following in the footsteps of her mom, who was a Hoboken school principal. She spoke about representing a community who has not historically had a seat at Hoboken's table of government.
Emily Jabbour spoke about her service as the organizer of the Hudson County Chapter of Moms Demand Action and her passion to serve the Hoboken community.
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| At Large Council gets sworn in by U.S. Senator Cory Booker |
The Senator Cory Booker gave an incredible, passionate speech that the day was not the triumph of the "first" but another affirmation of our American principles and our Constitution. Beautiful.
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| Mayor Bhalla being sworn in by U.S. Senator Cory Booker |
Doesn't former Mayor Dawn Zimmer look relieved?
SCHMOOZE NEWS...
GA got an earful once the program ended.
COUNCILMAN OR COW?
Witnesses reported that Michael DeFusco was chomping gum (one person nearby said "snapping gum") throughout the entire program. Yes... chomping like a cow. Really. And whispering to Councilwoman Fisher. Yep, he was still chewing away when he walked across the room to congratulate Vanessa Falco after the ceremony.
Veruca Salt had better manners.
DISSED?
North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, who was in the room but whose name was not announced along with the other Mayors in attendance whose names were announced: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin. Accident or a diss?
BODY LANGUAGE!
During the program, a friend pointed out to me interesting body language between U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and the man seated to his left, incoming NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.
Not surprising, since Grewal served as Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey until 2016, which overlapped the 2015 Menendez and Melgen indictment in U.S. District Court of New Jersey. Now, Menendez was indicted by the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division- not Gurbir's unit, but one can assume the two are aware of their adversarial past.
Not surprising, since Grewal served as Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey until 2016, which overlapped the 2015 Menendez and Melgen indictment in U.S. District Court of New Jersey. Now, Menendez was indicted by the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division- not Gurbir's unit, but one can assume the two are aware of their adversarial past.
Ooops.
Both handled themselves well, but an interesting seating juxtaposition, wouldn't you say?
Hey, did you know that: Grewal and Bhalla are "best friends" from childhood? Yep. Perhaps Hoboken can get the AG's attention at election time, specifically re: Hoboken vote-buying...
FINALLY...
Kudos to Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman and Democratic Comitteewoman Rachel Hodes, and the Hoboken Police Department who all did an excellent job planning the event and keeping us safe.
GA's only gripe was a relentless chorus of restless, complaining and/or crying babies.
People, leave your babies at home.
Don't get me wrong- I love babies. Babies belong where they can be babies... they can't be babies during a 2 hour inauguration without disturbing/distracting their neighbors. Babies are not impressed with the soaring oratory of Cory Booker, or that we have the first Sikh Mayor in NJ. No. Babies want to be babies.
Don't get me wrong- I love babies. Babies belong where they can be babies... they can't be babies during a 2 hour inauguration without disturbing/distracting their neighbors. Babies are not impressed with the soaring oratory of Cory Booker, or that we have the first Sikh Mayor in NJ. No. Babies want to be babies.
Maybe next time the City can a "baby care" amenity for parents who schlep their babies to places where they can't be babies. Maybe get a local daycare on board. I am serious. Gotta fix that.
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| Stay home! |
GA wishes Godspeed to the new Mayor and Council members!
oh so interesting over in the twitterverse both Tiff and Defusco called out with big tears our new mayor for NOT inviting them to the declaring of Hoboken a "welcoming city." Then they don't rsvp to the inauguration? Seems they have some serious EVITE issues......
ReplyDeleteOh brother. The problem seems to be they want to usurp the Executive branch's autonomy. Such as Tiffanie's failed "Municipal Audit committee" resolution- an illegal attempt to appoint members of the public and themselves to oversee an Executive branch department's work. (Oh, did either sponsor- Tiffanie or Jen- give Ravi a courtesy call before putting this on the agenda? No. )
DeleteWill these so-called Reformers support Jim Doyle for Council President? No.
They've gone to the Dark Side. Shown their true colors. They are on Team DeFusco/Ramos now. They'd rather vote for a beneficiary of serious 4th ward vote-farming than an honest, intellectual, decent guy like Jim.
FYI- The inauguration was planned well before the press conference. They didn't have the courtesy to RSVP in a timely way, showing little interest in being a part of the day but now, crocodile tears over not being invited yesterday morning.
Let's face it- they will spend their last 2 years on the City Council fighting the mayor on everything. Sound familiar?
Oh, and the Council does have a Resolution in support of making Hoboken a "Welcoming City."
someone is covering up for their incompetence; or, someone is lying. what? no one forwarded the thank you email from Joanne to one of the city council members thanking them for responding (in the affirmative) so quickly to the invite. no, we would rather paint a dishonest picture of our elected representatives. sad. I wonder if the new dep. cos is willing correct the error/mistake.
ReplyDeleteDon't be coy, Indie. Who is this one council member who you claim RSVPed early? Why so coy? Name her/him. Then I can update the "Schmooze news."
DeleteYou know, if certain council members would stop acting like spoiled little shits, things would be so much better. So please tell whomever you are rumor mongering with to just put on their big kid underpants and stop acting like a 2 year old who keeps soiling their diapers at daycare.
DeleteOkay Indie- see update above. A source with direct knowledge (not a Schmoozer) contacted me to say that one early RSVP did not get relayed to the event organizers- it fell through the cracks, but that once Council member did RSVP promptly.
DeleteAt the same time, I confirmed the other 5 did not.
not quite there yet - think you are still missing (at least) two people that RSVPd
DeleteNo one has done more to "reach across the aisle" than our own InDenial! (sp?)
DeleteAlong with ForeverTiffanie she continues to be one of our as many as four participants on our Alt-Right-Loonies-Only (ARLO) website. Was this Sanders supporter deterred by the demeaning of the alleged sexual assault victims of our Greatest President Ever? NO! Is she put off by the demonizing of immigrants? NO!
These two are showing that just because you're a member of the Democrat party that doesn't mean you have to be supportive of Democrat values or give a rats ass about the people those values claim to protect. So refreshing!
Now that the election is over our ARLO site can wallow in its beloved Hillary fetish undisturbed by the need to seem to be relevant to your little town. As you can see, anonymous posting has returned, which will make it easier for our host to pretend strangers are complimenting his wisdom and insight! Why just today we have little Simonsez who like so, so, so many people just wants to tell our host he was right (YET AGAIN!) about Huma Abedin. The "two" of them will have a lively and complementary back and forth on the subject. How exciting!
Team giaFISHco: What you get when WE don't get what we asked Santa for
sick
Deletethis thread isn't about me
signing off - this site is as dead as all the others no reason to spend time/energy
Indie, unlike the 2 dead blogs you frequent, this one allows dissent. ( Which differs from trolling- which includes SPAMMING, as any blog operator will tell you.)
DeleteYou know, I have been banned from posting on both of those dead blogs- including responding to your ugly and false statements/conjecture you have posted about me, in your agreement with the ugly false things the dead blog operators post.
So, by supporting those blogs, you endorse censorship. Yes, this thread is not about you, but I don't censor other people although I may not always love, or like what they say.
This site is definitely not "dead" if traffic is any indicator. But, by all means leave.
happy to take ownership of ugly and false statements/conjecture (whether that is what they are or not) if you would care to share to what statements you refer.
DeleteYour name on what you write is ownership, and its immaterial what makes you happy. Goodbye, Indie.
DeleteEXACTLY, InDenial! (sp?)
DeleteJust like those ugly and false statements/conjecture from women accusing the GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER of sexual misconduct.
And finally we have you two proud members of the Democrat party, InDenial and ForeverTiffanie, standing with us against this outrage and...
"Helping MSV raise money to locate women who gave a phone number and were never called or were sexually assaulted with a glance while sitting in a robe when Donald Trump walked by."
Enough of this #MeToo nonsense! Every one knows a lot of these so-called #MeToo women are just making up these sexual assault stories for the money and notoriety or because they're just man-hating feminists.
And you two Democrat party ladies, InDenial and ForeverTiffanie, are calling them out for it every time you visit our Alt-Right-Loonies-Only (ARL) website. Tacitly or otherwise, you're siding with us and sending a clear message to these fakers!
#MeToo? Never!
#CountMeOut!!