In case you have not heard it, this Saturday John Heinis broke the news that Mayor Bhalla had taken an of-counsel role with a South Jersey law firm.
GA'S TWO CENTS
When I read it on Saturday, I had a "WTF?" reaction. Within 5 minutes, I called Mayor Bhalla.
Our chat was private. In short, Bhalla explained his personal reasons for accepting this work. All good reasons; he will not be the first Hoboken mayor to have concurrent revenue streams from a business or real estate. Most importantly, this "of counsel" position- in reality, more like loaning his name- will not impact on his full-time work as Hoboken mayor.
The issues, as I see them are:
(1) In politics, when you're explaining, you're losing. And taking another job- even if it's in name only- after telling the public that you are a full-time mayor- requires explaining. And when you're explaining...
(2) The optics suck.
But, Mayor Bhalla is no dummy. I'm sure he anticipated blowback from his enemies. He may not have anticipated any from friends.
From friends, it's more like head scratching.
GA'S EXTRA TWO CENTS
Peeps, we are two short months into a four year Bhalla administration.
While his enemies seek to define him by his mistakes, he will ultimately be judged on his accomplishments. In two short months our new mayor has stopped the sale of the Union Dry Dock property to NJ Transit, and a little birdie tells me Hoboken is getting a hefty transportation grant- in no small part because of Bhalla's relationship to Murphy.
But, predictably the jealous council election losers are blowing this job into Benghazi- proportions.
A QUARTET of whining press releases from the four losers were published today by John Heinis. No surprise. With zero legislative accomplishments, they hope machine gun politics will work. Rat a tat tat. Lotta noise, lotta whining, very little action. DeFusco acting as obstructionist on the Planning Board. Giattino working every angle to undermine Emily Jabbour, Jim Doyle and the mayor.
In my opinion, the two whiniest election losers, Giattino and DeFusco, would not be as good a mayor on their best day as Bhalla is on his worst day.
Well, anyhoo.... brace yourselves peeps, Benghazi here we come!
Agree on the optics. Doubt anything has changed financially that required an added revenue stream. Which means it was always going to happen after the election. If you divest because you understand the optics are bad and then reinvest after the election - that means you understood the optics of the investment.
ReplyDeleteYou can expect the ranting to go on indefinitely. This council is similar to what Obama dealt with in congress. They'll obstruct constantly and then claim Bhalla (Obama) was an ineffective leader - pointing their own inaction as proof.
The problem with this strategy is this council has to be re-elected first. Showing up in 2019 with a shitty Suez contract, no action on UDD, and stalled progress on a host of other items will be their problem. Trying to blame it on Bhalla ain't gonna work.
At the end of the day, both Ravi and the Council members will be judged by the voters based on their body of work (or lack of it) as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIf Ravi doesn't put in the time needed to get his very demanding job done for the city he will rightfully be held accountable by the voters, who will be entitled to be angry.
Likewise if the council members spend the next two years obstructing, attacking and investigating they too will be held accountable by the voters, who will be entitled to be angry.
The voters want the BS to stop and the City's work to get done. In my opinion Ravi has demonstrated a far better grasp of that pretty simple idea so far than most of the Council.
Five Councilpeople have made their views known on this issue by each putting out a statement. I'm sure they will each take the opportunity to say their piece expressing their "concerns" sincere or not, at tomorrow's council meeting. There's nothing wrong with that - they are entitled to speak out with their opinions.
Then it will be time to get back to doing the people's business.
Ultimately, all elected officials will and should be evaluated by how well they execute, in other words can they deliver. You’re right to point out that the Council Members have not accomplished anything other than using their Council seats to electioneer. In that regard, the Mayor is well ahead of them.
ReplyDeleteAdding to Mayor Bhalla's optic problem is he simultaneously increased the size of his staff while taking on an additional paid position.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious question will be was his staff increased due to real need or his additional outside position.
I was surprised by this move. But, as long as Ravi gets his job done for Hoboken, why does it matter if he has other jobs?
ReplyDeleteSo check this out. On HCV, Cheryl Fallick posted (under screen name "Ko-Ko") a LIST of names- first and last- of everyone who endorsed Ravi on Facebook. The list was pretty long- most of them aren't public figures, just Hoboken residents. A shady disgusting effort by Fallick to intimidate/bully folks for their political affiliation by publishing their names online! The post was taken down. But, hard to believe that Cheryl Fallick (also posting on HCV as "Hal 9000") really kept an "list" of Ravi endorsers- very creepy. I didnt have an opinion before, but that conduct does not merit the privilege of a board seat.
ReplyDeleteYou got to love the multiple screen names and how she pops up in this thread after weeks of inactivity.
DeleteJust wow.
DeleteWhatever the issue, whatever the venue, but especially at city council meetings, is anyone else sick to death of hearing from Cheryl Fallacy, Hairy Mary and Batty Waiters? They have opinions on everything, if you can follow their ramblings, but never let facts interfere with their addled minds. Perhaps this bi monthly verbal torture is just desserts for the council members that deserve it.
DeleteIs there any other member of any other Board in Hoboken who has a political on line presence ? Ms Fallick's hyper-partisan often abrasive on line political persona is her right but I think she needs to decide if she wants to be on the internet or on a hoboken Board. I am certain that she would be critical of anyone else trying to do the same thing
DeleteI understand Councilwoman Giantino trying to change the rules to specifically benefit two of her inner circle campaign members, Cheryl Falick and Michael Lenz, but I also understand the blatant hypocrisy of her and her City Council faction previously demanding the heads of others to fit her own political agenda. Giantino and Falick can not claim any moral high ground.
Please keep your lies to yourself
ReplyDeleteThat's the best you can do, "Ko-Ko"? You don't even have the guts to say that crap under your own name.
DeleteA nice warm cup of golden koko from our beloved InDenial (sp2).
DeletePlease note that we’re NOT saying it would be reprehensible to do such a thing. Half the purpose of HCV is to out our enemies and make them google-able. So we’re just saying unless there’s proof we’re going to deny it. People line that one.
We're naming names. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Butthurt Bunch butt-hurting brigade? Please be prepared to testify about any and all members you know before the Council UnButthurtican Affairs ComIndie.
DeleteNot Cheryl took down not Ko-Ko's list it seems. We can take comfort in knowing that she's always on the wrong side of a rational argument, so without knowing the details, it's safe to assume that Ravi is doing nothing wrong if she's against this.
DeleteWho would have thought that the voices of reason at tonight's meeting on this issue.would come from Michael Russo and Patricia Waiters.
ReplyDeleteWhat did they say?
Delete