Mayor, aides comfort displaced Marine View residents; DeFusco AWOL, Castellano at the scene

credit: Erica Hill on Twitter

Terrible. As reported this afternoon on Patch:

"HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken emergency responders evacuated a high-rise building on Marine View Plaza on Wednesday, Dec. 5 after a fire sent flames and smoke billowing out the windows.

A Hoboken city spokesperson said the fire – which has since been extinguished – took place at 2 Marine View Plaza. No major injuries were reported among residents of the building, although multiple people were treated for smoke inhalation.

No emergency responders were injured while battling the fire, which started on the 17th floor and spread to the 18th floor, the spokesperson said.

No information was immediately available about the cause of the blaze."

City Hall sources tell GA that dozens of residents have been displaced, and are currently being cared for in the lobby of the W Hotel.

Mayor Bhalla, his Chief of Staff John Allen, and his Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman are all there on the scene, and have been there all day.  The Mayor is coordinating emergency services, Chief of Staff John Allen is negotiating rooms for displaced residents at the W and is securing food donations, Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman is working with Sgt. Montanez from OEM regarding street closures and traffic flow, specifically redirecting NJ Transit buses.  Caroline Caufield from the Office of Constituent Services is taking down displaced residents' information, matching services to needs.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman comforting displaced  Marine View residents at the W Hotel 

What is First Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco doing to help his displaced constituents? 

NOTHING. He's not there. 

But guess who was there for her constituents?  Theresa Castellano, 5-term First Ward Hoboken City Councilwoman was on the scene of the disaster, to comfort residents and offer to help them in any way that she can.  Castellano told GA, "There was a fire on the 17th floor. Residents told me they got smoke and water damage.  They know I am there for them to help any way I can. They are my dear friends, I care for them and care what happens to them."

5-term First Ward Councilwoman Theresa Castellano at the scene to help her constituents

What a shame Marine View residents have a Councilman who doesn't care about them, who fought the City against paying for pizza and soda served at an evening meeting with the mayor!

And the ironies deepen... guess who gave Councilman DeFusco a courtesy call today to notify him about the 3-alarm blaze in his ward?  Jason Freemen.  The public employee he is trying to fire. 

JUST IN: Thanks to John Allen and Jason Freeman, tonight's dinner for the displaced  residents has been arranged. Two mensches.  Thanks for a job well done. 

And as you can see in the photo below, earlier today the City provided pizza and beverages to the Marine View residents in the W lobby. Do you think that AWOL Councilman Mike DeFusco, Jen Giattino, Tiffanie Fisher and Ruben Ramos will refuse to pay this line item like they did the last time the City bought pizza for Marine View residents?

Nothing would surprise  me.

Somebody, tell Mike DeFusco that a developer is waiting in the lobby of the W with a big pot of Benjamins. That'll get him there. 

GA will keep you posted as I get more information.  My heart goes out to all of the displaced, each and every one. 

Joe Lupo of OEM serving lunch to Marine View residents