Fiddling around while Hoboken burns

Note: GA graphic is unrelated to today's topic...

FIDDLING WHILE HOBOKEN BURNS

While factional infighting engulfs Hoboken City Council and rabid "resistance" operatives,  Hudson County bosses are taking full advantage of our political discord. 

One notable example: District 32's Senator Nick Sacco who tightly controls North Bergen, allowed a North Bergen politically-connected law firm to gift Hoboken Council VP Jen Giattino with the free "Ryglicki Opinion."  That favor was done for Giattino's political faction to usurp Mayor Bhalla's RLB appointment powers.

Nothing altruistic there.  

Sacco was using anti-Bhalla Council members to (1) undermine our city's pro-Stack mayor and (2) foment more instability between Hoboken political factions. Ramos and DeFusco know the game. Both have willingly lapped up help and money from outside benefactors. They likely took secret pleasure when Giattino dirtied herself by taking the gift, thus entering into a quid pro quo relationship. 

No one said it better than Councilman Mike Russo in 2009. 

"I said... let me explain to you how this works. I said, I did for you, you do for me."

Here's that object lesson in its proper context; the transcription of the F.B.I. Surveillance tape made during 2009's Bid Ring political corruption investigation.  

When you read this, think how that parallels District 32 "doing for" Giattino so she can control appointments to the Rent Leveling Board.  

I want people to get why this matters.  

BETWEEN THE LINES 

Did you read Al Sullivan's column this week? It included a cleaned-up version of the talking-points of Hoboken's own Alex Jones.  

Sully wrote:

"Meanwhile, sources say that 3rd Ward Councilman Michael Russo will likely run on a ticket backed by Bhalla."

Al's sources appear to be the Team who want to foment anger against Bhalla among his voters. 

When the mayor can work collaboratively with fellow Council members for the GOOD OF HOBOKEN that is what residents want.  

That appears to be happening with Falco and Russo. 

Working collaboratively with other Council members is not a political endorsement of any individual official. 

Yet, anti-Bhalla operatives have spun collaboration into a series of loony conspiracies.

One is that the mayor is cutting a deal with Russo for a Church Towers Pilot- in fact, word is that the Council member pushing the PILOT is Jen Giattino. Makes political sense; CT is partially in the 6th Ward. 

Well, GA appreciates the collaboration between the City Council, including Mike Russo and Vanessa Falco, and the Mayor for the good of Hoboken.  

As for putting a slate together, let's take a trip down memory lane.

Who remembers when the theft of 1 million quarters from Hoboken parking meters flagged by Councilman Mike Russo in one meeting, got "cleared up" by the next?

Councilman Ruben Ramos sat there and didn't say a peep!

Now ask yourself who "sources" for the rumor that "Bhalla is running Russo" might be?