STRIKE TWO!
Councilman Michael DeFusco's second legislative strike at the Mayor's Office--the "Jason, You're Fired!" ordinance-- surely reveals the character of its sponsor. We can agree that legislating the Mayor's Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman out of a job is the politics of personal destruction.
Note, Freeman does not have a political job. He's another pair of eyes, ears and hands in the Mayor's office; he takes care of important things- days, nights, weekends- that otherwise would have to wait or perhaps fall off the radar entirely; Jason literally doubles the productivity of the mayor's staffers. And he helps every Ward or At-Large Councilperson when they ask. Some even recognize his service and thank him (see below).
Note, Freeman does not have a political job. He's another pair of eyes, ears and hands in the Mayor's office; he takes care of important things- days, nights, weekends- that otherwise would have to wait or perhaps fall off the radar entirely; Jason literally doubles the productivity of the mayor's staffers. And he helps every Ward or At-Large Councilperson when they ask. Some even recognize his service and thank him (see below).
Others, like DeFusco, try to fire him.
Imagine that. The 'legislator' who snuck over to the Jersey City Zoning board last month to shill for a donor's 13-story project on the border of Hoboken, skips every other Planning Board meeting, steals credit for other people's work (PATH Station cell service), blocks constituents on his social media Pravda-style, and just earned a rare rebuke from HPD Chief Ken Ferrante for spreading lies on social media about the police SUV used for the mayor's security detail... that guy is gunning for a hardworking public servant's job.
Well, not so fast.
Well, not so fast.
THE "JASON, YOU'RE FIRED" ORDINANCE IS D.O.A.
To recap, this "Jason You're Fired!" ordinance:
(1) limits the maximum allowable number of staffers the Office of the Mayor is permitted to have two
(2) eliminates the Mayor's Office from having a secretary
(3) eliminates the Mayor's Office from having a clerk/stenographer
(3) identifies which staff positions the Mayor is allowed to have
(4) prohibits the Mayor from having "Chief of Staff" and a "Deputy Chief of Staff"- he may choose one.
In fact, GA's review of the Faulkner Act and New Jersey statutes shows that DeFusco has laid another flaming turd. Yep, he's stepped outside of the limits of City Council authority with an ordinance that is ultra vires, a Latin phrase meaning "beyond the powers." Because in Hoboken's "Council-Mayor Plan" form of government under the Faulkner Act, the City Council has no authority over staffing the Office of the Mayor. None.
New Jersey Statutes for "Mayor-Council Plan" even specify the appointment powers of the Mayor for his own staff --- but only for cities with populations greater than 80,000. The law leaves smaller cities like Hoboken open for the Mayor to determine personnel that he needs to run his Office. To put this in perspective, ff Hoboken's current population of 50,000 increased by 30,000, 40 § 69A-60.1 would permit the Mayor to appoint:
- one or two deputy mayors,
- a personal secretary,
- an executive secretary, and
- aides not exceeding seven in number
So, when you call the Mayor's Office you'll get voice mail. That is what DeFusco, et. al. want: inefficient, crappy government where the public is not being served. Sure, DeFusco wants Church Towers residents to freeze their asses off without a Jason Freemen to assist, so they'll get angry and blame the mayor. Because this Council gig is not about serving the public, its all about him.
Wrong again! What is that - 1000 times in a row?
ReplyDeleteThey talk about Ultra Vires all through Clockwork Orange. All it means is letting off a little steam. Like they do at my rallies.
Today and tonight are the third night of Hanukkah, otherwise known as RUNOFF ELECTION DAY.
ReplyDeleteBut the tone-deaf and blithely anti-Semitic DeFusco, who came late to the Tree of Life memorial service at USH, used his cell phone in the sanctuary during the service where he refused to wear a kippah, and electioneered before his early departure, has assured us that "runoff elections will not interfere with anyone's holiday".
Is his rabid behavior towards Jason Freeman just his latest act of anti-Semitism?
So I'm not alone.... you wrote exactly what I've been thinking.
DeleteYes, and Fisher and Giattino who are part Jewish I guess don't care enough to stop him. To paraphrase Woody Allen, "they're not Jews, they're "Jew-ish", in the same way that DeFusco is gay - for political advantage when it suits them.
DeleteI've seen goyim at services in USH who unknowingly pulled out their phones, who were all but tackled to the floor. Why didn't this happen to Mikey?
I don't see this as involving anti-semitism any more than criticism of Mike DeFusco is anti-gay. It's just nasty and IMHO stupid politics. It's DeFusco being a nasty immature jerk. The fact that Jason happens to be Jewish is just an accident of fate - if John Allen were the deputy COF DeFusco would be going after him, and I don't think John is Jewish.
DeleteWhile the constant playing of the "gay card" by DeFusco and his crew makes this tit for tat completely fair game, I personally think its a distraction from the real issues.
I think MDF may be unaware of how his words and actions are perceived, but that doesn't make them any less bigoted.
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ReplyDeleteGA, your writing style is similar to Anonymous
ReplyDeleteNice try-NOT. "Anonymous" is used by any number of people, including those with registered screen names. Unlike your pal Roman Brice, I'm not compelled to talk to myself.
DeleteBut, you do seem compelled to talk often in the 3rd person. That is quite odd.
DeleteNot at all, its called the editorial voice: GA is the name of this blog. Sorry if that flew over your head. Should you slink out from hiding, I'd be happy to discuss the rest of your issues. Happy New Year.
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