NJ Transit Towers in 7 Easy Steps

Want to know how massive over-development at the NJ Transit railyards may lead through the former Union Dry Dock property?

NJ TRANSIT TOWERS IN 7 EASY STEPS

(1) Council President Giattino delays eminent domain vote (Second Reading) for Union Dry Dock until after the election:

"This is very important to all of us," said Council President Jennifer Giattino, who cast one of the eight votes in favor of invoking eminent domain on first reading. "To make sure this is policy not politics, the second reading will be after the election."

(2) Failure to proceed with the Second Reading allows NY Waterway to swoop in and buy Union Dry Dock for $11.5 million. NY Waterway intends to use the waterfront property for a repair facility for its ferry fleet. 

(3) Council President Giattino, Councilperson Tiffanie Fisher and Peter Cunningham ("The Sell-Outs") do a backdoor deal* with VBM-harvester Ruben Ramos and P2P champ Mike DeFusco.  The Sell-Outs get Jim Aibel and Ann Graham on the ZBA, Giattino gets VP, agrees to vote for Ramos pal Soares ( booting NHSA Commissioner Brian Assadorian without explanation)  give votes to Ramos for Council President.

*Councilpersons Jim Doyle and Emily Jabbour are shut out from all discussions and communications relating to the reorganization meeting appointments.

(4) MOST CONSEQUENTIAL BACK-DOOR DEAL APPOINTMENT: 
The "Sell-outs" boot open space activist/opponent of height/density over-development, Jim Doyle off the Planning Board, and install the Pay-to-Player, pro-development Mike DeFusco.  

Mike DeFusco with Hudson County Building and Construction Trades Council who  had just endorsed him for mayor including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 164, Sprinkler Fitters Local 696, Pipefitters Local 274, Plumbers Local 24, Bricklayers Local 4 and Painters, Tapers and Glazers Local 711. 

Note, DeFusco got a TON of money from the building trades.  He has NOT given back a PENNY  over legal limits per Hoboken's P2P law. 

Further, does anyone remember Mike DeFusco's September 28 press release, issued almost instantaneously after Mayor Zimmer announced she would put up a resolution to approve eminent domain for the acquisition of Union Dry Dock?  DeFusco said:

"My understanding is that the property owner is willing to begin a good faith negotiation, but not with this current administration and not before the upcoming election when our city’s leadership for the next four years will be decided."

Got that? 

DeFusco admitted to knowledge he was not supposed to have; knowledge of, or involvement with, backdoor negotiations with property owner Union Dry Dock happening while the City was moving toward eminent domain.

So when Council President Giattino had cited "political reasons" for pulling the plug on the Second Reading of the eminent domain resolution it was odd, because the First Reading had gotten 8 votes. Near-unanimous support.  And the consequences of this for Hoboken have been enormous. Her decision led to NY Waterway swooping in and buying the property from under the City's nose. 

And now that Giattino, Fisher and Cunningham ("The Sell-Outs") merged with the Dark Side for  an all-powerful ("7-2") Council faction, they have played right into Ramos/DeFusco's hands.    

The Sell-Outs have put the proverbial FOX (DeFusco) inside of the HEN HOUSE (Planning Board) as the City moves forward on the NJ Transit rail yard development and tries to obtain the NY Waterway property (former UDD) for a continuous public waterfront.  

As the Redevelopment Authority, the Sellout-Dark Side faction has 7 Council votes.  

(5) NJ Transit buys the property from NY Waterways; it becomes leverage in other negotiations, such as height and density for the NJ Transit rail yards.

(6) A 7-2 Council (including Sell-Outs) approves the redevelopment of the rail yards to make NJ Transit's heart go pitter-pat 

(7) Oh, look who's on the Planning Board to grease the project through!

Well, that's how it can happen.

In the meantime, we have a new mayor who, like Dawn Zimmer, is actually working in the best interest of Hoboken.  Mayor Bhalla is not playing footsie with the Dark Side.  He is trying to get Hoboken out of the mess created by not putting up eminent domain for a vote on Second reading.

On Monday, Mayor Bhalla, Assemblywoman Chapparo and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji will be in Trenton, along with Hoboken Fund for a Better Waterfront and Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition.  Bhallawill be hosting a press conference to make our City's case; opposition to a deal NJ Transit is pushing through buy the former Union Dry Dock from NY Waterways, then lease it back to them for $1.  Yes, the NJ Transit Board of Directors will vote to approve the deal with NY Waterway next week, in the waning days of the Christie Administration.