THE VOTE THEN THE WINCE
When a politician is so invested in a vindictive, partisan piece of legislation that she 'audibly' winces when it fails, it is time to exit stage left. Seriously.
Because the body doesn't lie. Winces are involuntary reactions to pain or distress. No one plans a wince; it's not like you say, "I am going to wince now." No, winces just happen.
In this case, the 5 council-members: Fisher, Giattino, Ramos, DeFusco, and Cunningham, truly believed they had the 6 votes needed to override the mayor's veto, or they would have pulled the motion; Vanessa Falco, was that 6th vote. (The vetoed ordinance reached into the Mayor's Office to pluck out staff against Corporation Council's opinion that they lack statutory powers to regulate staff in the mayor's office, hence the mayor vetoed it.)
But Vanessa wouldn't play ball. She voted with Jim Doyle, Mike Russo and Emily Jabbour to kill the override. Clearly, the Council President's involuntary physical response to hearing the political operation she's running out of the City Council flopped caused her pain. That wince tells us how important is was to her to mess with the mayor's staff-- that it was personal. Settling scores.
Legislation is not supposed to be personal or vindictive.
This was. Examine the wince in slo-mo- her lips tighten, her shoulders spasm. An actual physical reaction to hearing Clerk Jimmy Farina say"The motion has failed."
WINCE IN SLOW MOTION
COUNCIL KNEW THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THEIR ORDINANCE WAS NON-EXISTENT
By the way, the council knew that New Jersey's Civil Service Commission (NJ-CSC) had reviewed the mayor's 3 unclassified Civil Service employees and said it was permitted. Before the Jan 2 meeting. True. DeFusco and Fisher were contacted by The Jersey Journal after was told by the NJ-CSC that mayors are permitted more than those two "within the mayors office." From the December 31 article:
Nonsense. Terrence McDonald of The Jersey Journal is not a sloppy journalist. The Civil Service Commission spokesman responded to the information provided by McDonald about "those two in the mayor's office." DeFusco and Fisher need "clarification" about anything that contradicts their political agenda -- like Ramos' stolen hospital board seat; DeFusco needs "clarification" on the hospital bylaws.
Hence, exculpatory facts were ignored to keep their political operation alive until the Jan 2, 2019 meeting.
Did the other 4 wince off-camera when their political operation flopped?
I think she is wincing in part b/c it failed and in part b/c they all came across looking like assholes and it still failed. Had they "won" they would have at least won while looking like assholes.
ReplyDeletewhat's up with Russo, is he now supporting reform causes? or just anti-frankencouncil?
ReplyDeleteHe is just laughing his ass off watching it seems.
DeleteHa! Russo is the ultimate political survivor. Can you think of any other Hoboken pol who would have survived being on an F.B.I. surveillance video accepting a $5K bribe from a fake developer in exchange for expediting zoning variances? He's amazing! My opinion: he's not with reform, he's not against it. Russo's a political opportunist and a skillful politician. If I were him, I'd want leverage with the mayor so he wouldn't run a 3rd ward candidate against me, or he'd run somebody weak. IMO, the 3rd ward is winnable- look how close Greg Lincoln got in 2011. He and Deirdre ran a kickass campaign and beat all expectations. The environment is even better now, and social media platforms more sophisticated. BTW, Russo does vote with the Frankencouncil, too--like when he voted to boot Holtzman off the Planning board.
DeleteRusso is exactly where Mike Russo has always been with Mike Russo. However, I think his ambitions have changed and he is not motivated to become mayor like his father.
DeleteFrom all accounts he is financially very successful and has a growing family and becoming mayor would mean a significant reduction in income and an increase of stress. Greg Lincoln ran an amazing campaign against Russo but he had the advantage of the months of scandalous press focusing on Russo including that infamous video. Almost all of that outrage has disipated as most voters have no recollection of any of it. Mike Russo unlike many of the other Councilperson is personable and is very good at responding to the needs of the residents in his Ward. Is he untouchable ? No but IMO he is in a very comfortable position.
All that said if there is another candidate waiting in the wings of the 3rd Ward, it would certainly make things more interesting in November.
Reality check:
Delete2011 3rd ward election results:
Russo 947
Lincoln 459
Thanks for the numbers, numbers.
DeleteYes, that's how I remember it... Reform got about 1/3 of the 3rd ward vote ( 32.6%). You're not impressed? Think back. Russo's mom had a lock on Church Towers and surrounds (am told she'd showed up at the door with a voter registration form when a kid turned 18), the Russo Civic Association was the defacto campaign hq, and there was Beth Mason providing 'resources' to her slate. Greg had no resources by comparisan, but his tiny campaign worked it hard-- in 'Old Hoboken' territory. Against all odds, Greg scored 32.6%! So, that is your 'reality check'! With the passing of the Russo matriarch (RIP), the closing of the Russo Civic Association and the ascendance of social media as a campaign tool which can penetrate 'old Hoboken' fortresses, its a totally different landscape IMO. He is strong, but not invincible. I believe Russo knows it, too. He most likely thinks DeFusco is a douchebag, doesn't like/trust Ramos, so where else is there to go?
I think Russo knows when to expend political capital in the form of votes and when to withhold it. He always playing the long game, which is something that DeFusco and his cohorts don't get, which is why their political careers will be over before too long. They're spending all their time trying to take down Bhalla, and fall on their swords over every petty issue instead of governing. The curtain falls on this shit-show in ten months.
ReplyDeleteRusso's base is has always been centered in Church Towers . One entire tower votes in Giattino's Ward. Russo can either make or break any reelection campaign she decides to run.
ReplyDeleteRusso did not support Giattino in her try for mayor and she lost, more importantly she didn't even carry her Ward.
Regardless of how anyone feels about his past votes, Mike Russo is amazing at constituent services. Too many folks on the council forget that the main purpose of being a councilperson is caring for and engaging with your neighbors and constituents.
ReplyDelete