Happy 2019: Frankencouncil to consummate backroom deal

Happy New Year, people! GA hopes you enjoy the many blessing in your lives in an even better 2019-- however you define "better." Is it more money? More travel?  Getting your child through the college application process (me, me, me!) A  new home? A new job?  A baby?  Whatever it is, I wish success and many blessings for you.

As for 2019's political outlook, well... GA calls it a mixed bag; it begins in a dark place. 

The Council meets for the first time this Wednesday, January 2.  On January 2nd, the Council majority will consummate Part 2 of the power-sharing deal they made in 2018. If you don't believe me, peruse the Agenda.  The Council majority has chosen every Zoning Board nominee. They will swap Mike DeFusco with Tiffanie Fisher for the Council seat on the Planning Board, and make Jen Giattino Council President, Ramos the Vice President.  

GA wonders when Vanessa Falco will discover how she's being played.  Its past time the composition of the Hoboken Planning Board reflected the diversity of the City of Hoboken.  Mayor Bhalla understood that when he appointed the only minority member of the Planning Board, Atif Qatar, an Asian Indian.  Falco is not Council window-dressing. GA thinks that she'd do a fine job on the Planning Board.  She wants it, folks have told me. But Falco wasn't factored in to the Frankencouncil's backroom power-sharing deal.  Falco is used when they need her vote, but she is for all intents and purposes not treated with respect.   Wake up Vanessa!

Ooooh... ahhh.... feels so good to  consummate our backroom deal!

NAKED power grab. 

Falco expected to be shut-out of a coveted Planning Board appointment, that would be Tiffanie Fisher scuttling the first-ever opportunity for the Council to appoint an African American Councilperson to Hoboken's Planning Board. Yes, the public is sympathetic-- we understand the Frankencouncil's concern about a deficit of white, wealthy, luxury condo residents on the City's Planning Board- NOT. Nor does the public understand why Jim Doyle was shut out AGAIN from serving in the Council leadership-- the Council's first-ever opportunity to appoint Doyle to serve as either President or Vice President.  

Reform friends who supported the Giattino ticket for mayor: all of the pretense that Giattino, Fisher and Cunningham serve the public in good faith should end right there. 

COUNCIL DEAL DISENFRANCHISES THOUSANDS OF HOBOKEN VOTERS

Think about it.  Thousands of Hoboken voters chose Doyle and Jabbour on November 7, 2017 because they represented their Hoboken public policy concerns. I did.  I trusted that Doyle and Jabbour had the requisite intellect, seriousness and maturity to govern responsibly.  Out of spite, the ex-Reformers have jumped in the sack with 'Dark Side' politicians, turned a blind eye to Pay-to-Play violations and theft of a hospital board seat-- and shut out Doyle and Jabbour from legislative influence n the direction of the City.  You don't have to like the mayor-- maybe you don't-- but you should be disgusted by this power-mad Frankencouncil of pay-to-players, vbm harvest beneficiaries and reform sell-outs.    

WHY NOT JIM? 

GA says with confidence that if asked to serve as Council President, Jim would say, "yes." And being a man of intellect and gravitas, he would ensure that the legislative body was not wasting time on frivolous legislation, like the vetoed legislation to reduce staffing of the Mayor's office that is on Wednesday's agenda. 

Will the Frankencouncil get 6 votes to override? 

HOSPITAL BYLAWS DON'T NEED "CLARITY"

This one is going to be fun. Who out there has trouble understanding this:

Anyone who doesn't understand this paragraph should resign from the City Council

It appears the Frankencouncil does. 

Read this paragraph from the HUMC Bylaws..  The Hoboken City Council shall "appoint a member of the Hoboken City Council, initially selected by the "Council minority"".  

They did. The "council minority" (Beth Mason, Mike Russo, Tim Occhipinti, Theresa Castellano) appointed Anthony Pasquale to serve on the HUMC board. Pasquale stepped down. The NEXT  hospital board appointee (and all following) is to be a Council member, selected by the City Council. 

The Frankencouncil is going to wriggle like snakes to give Ruben Ramos cover for stealing the seat for his crony, Eduardo Gonzalez.  

In the meantime... GA will update you on the Eduardo Gonzalez appointment to the hospital board. Stay tuned. 

FREE ADVICE 
How about someone on the Council put up a resolution to appoint a Council member to the hospital board?  Then the public can see an inclusive, transparent process: a discussion among all 9 council members about who amongst them is the best person to serve on the hospital board, instead of a sleazy Frankencouncil backroom deal  or Ramos unilaterally appointing his political crony?

How about it?