UPDATE: Carmelo-pal HHA nominee "doesn't have the votes"

After my story went up yesterday folks contacted me to say HHA applicant Eduardo Gonzales "doesn't have the votes."  

But, but... if he doesn't have 5 council votes, why the resolution?  Don't you count votes before you put a nominee up for a vote?  As much as GA does not support the recycling of Carmelo's wing man, putting up an unsupported nominee is sadistic. 

What's the point? To stomp on him in public?

The "word" is out that the appointment is DOA. One of the sponsors should pull it. Council President Ramos or Councilwoman Falco. Have mercy. Don't force a public hanging.  Let Eduardo go off quietly into the night. 

Other than that, some folks contacted me to say, "the resolution was sponsored by Ramos and Falco-- not Giattino."  Yes, GA wrote that Giattino "requested the agenda item" - not that she sponsored it.  Giattino brought the Gonzales appointment and  Aaron Lewit appointments to Corporation Council. 

GA doesn't know Lewit, but the Zagat of Reform gives him very high ratings.  

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NEWSFLASH: Former HHA Commissioner Eduardo Gonzalez-- enabler to disgraced Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director Carmelo Garcia-- is up for reappointment to the Housing Authority Board on Wednesday. Sources report  that Council VP Jen Giattino requested the agenda item.  

So, grab your popcorn... the ethical downspiral of  so-called 'reformers' will be on full display Wednesday night!  Watch them scan the bar codes on their principles as they re-appoint Carmelo Garcia's top crony to the HHA!  

Though an HHA Commisioner's job is oversight of agency employees, Eduardo distinguished himself as a Yes-man and Collaborator to All-Things-Carmelo.  Most notable was Gonzalez' resistance to the cleansing initiated under Reform Chairman Stuiver then continued under Chairwoman Wefer ( followed by Chairmen Denning and Mello) For example, Gonzalez vigorously opposed replacement of board professionals-- legal, auditor-- in one instance, using advertising costs of RFPs to make his case. 

 January 10, 2013 HHA meeting shows Chairman Stuiver reacting to Commissioner Gonzalez'  concern over the cost of an RFP. 

Gonzalez, Chairman of the Finance Committee, insisted that the HHA was in great financial shape.  That could be why he was removed from that Chair position. 

A source familiar with the Hoboken Housing Authority told GA that "Gonzalez repeatedly gave the agency under Carmelo a clean bill of health.  He leveraged his professional acumen to add heft to his claims that the agency was in great health... and wrote a letter to the Editor claiming that the HHA was on better financial footing than ever just weeks before the HUD audit showed the opposite. "

One can always ask former HHA Chair Dana Wefer if she inherited an agency that was in "great financial health."

So, HHA Commissioner Eduardo Gonzalez, who thought the HHA was in "great financial health" under Executive Director Carmelo Garcia is poised to be put back on the HHA by "reform" council votes.  Oooh, that is rich.

2014* HHA AUDIT SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

*Earliest report available, includes 2013

HHA AUDIT ARCHIVES