You can't make this stuff up!
On February 28, 2019 First Ward Councilman Mike Defusco boasted on his official Facebook page that he'd thrown a birthday party for his dog.
That's cute; GA wishes his pooch a happy birthday. Only, February 28 was the 6th day of NO HEAT for a senior building in his ward, Columbian Towers (76 Bloomfield).
Councilman DeFusco had no idea that hundreds of senior constituents were suffering without heat during a week where temperatures dipped into the 20's. Some of the buildings residents claim to have contacted him, but he did not return calls. Some said they did not bother because "he won't do anything."
A few folks popped on the previous post to say that the Councilman's attention wouldn't make a difference. GA agrees with this commenter:
"...the Councilperson cannot deliver and install the boiler, but attention and compassion is what's needed. Knock on doors make sure all are ok, taking meds, yes you have to hear the complaints that's what you sign on for. These people want to be listened to and heard, not that difficult, takes your time and patience. The job is not just grandstanding... self enriching as he sees it."
The Councilman's Facebook post is a perfect metaphor for his cluelessness, neglect and indifference toward his constituents-- except when he wants their votes. For the votes, he dips into Union and PAC money to buy a bingo machine or a party.
As the commenter wrote, "knocking on doors to make sure all are okay, taking their meds, listening to their complaints..." is part of the Councilman's job. I am sure if the building were in Jen Giattino's ward, she would have known on the first day without heat, and knocked on every door. She has a heart.
DeFusco is transactional: he gives constituents stuff : parties, bingo machines, in exchange for votes. Just don't expect him to care, or be there when you are in need, when it is not convenient for him. He won't return your call, or if he does you'll hear a panoply of excuses ("I have a full time job! I have a dog's birthday party to go to! I'm busy!")
DEFUSCO DOES DAMAGE CONTROL
Ga's sources reported that in the late afternoon on Friday, March 1-- the day GA broke the story of the freezing seniors-- DeFusco showed up at the 76 Bloomfield Community Room with a supporter, a Marine View resident.
It appears the First Ward Councilman learned that the senior of 76 Bloomfiled had gone without heat for 6 days, on my blog, because according to a source:
"MDF was at 76 in the community room telling people he is there for them. Yesterday late afternoon tabout 4 people in the community room. Telling them he is there for them. Your story definitely got to him. Was there with his co-hort -----. she lived across the street."
You follow? After the problem was solved, the oblivious Councilman rushed over to assure residents he is there for them when he wasn't.
And... GA is giving DeFusco the benefit of the doubt. I assume he didn't know about the broken boiler. A much worse scenario would be if he did know and did nothing. Which is possible.
How many bingo machines will it take to erase this memory of neglect?
Mr. Mike, while the bar owners, real-estate developers, potential pot shop owners and those out of town politicians seeking to get in bed with you can fund your political ambitions they do not live in the First Ward and can not vote for you. You may now try to pretend to care about the seniors but it is clear by everything that you do and don't do it is an act.
ReplyDeleteI find it telling that MDF has so little support in Columbian Towers that he had to bring in one of the very few MarineView senior residents who can even stand to talk with him as back up and then to have less than a handful of residents interested enough to meet him in their own building.
ReplyDeleteOrdinarily I would say that the professionally organized doggie b'day party, as comical as it is, is his personal life and should be off limits.
ReplyDeleteBut DeFusco put it out there himself, using his own doggie as a political prop. I wonder if he even asked the pup if it's OK?
I'll bet the pup would have been just as happy hanging with the freezing seniors, helping to warm and cheer them up. Mike - if you're gonna use your pup as a prop, at least think it through and get some political mileage out of it instead of making yourself into a laughing stock.
Prop is right.... on his City Council page. Beware, he'll block you from posting unless you kiss his rear.
DeleteYou're correct numberscruncher, ordinarily, an elected official's personal life would not be fair game. But when he attacks and illegally blocks Hoboken citizens on social media, when he makes everything about him being the first gay whatever, when his partner goes on sites and says vile things, then it's all up for grabs. I pity that poor dog, locked in a condo all day with no one home.
DeleteAs the latest fresh face incarnation prop of the old guard, he fails miserably at Hudson County politics 101, in which seniors are to be pandered to, those in low income housing are to be led to believe that everything that they're entitled to, and everything that goes well for them in their buildings is not mandated by the federal government, but is because of your beneficence.
There are enough residents in Columbian Towers to sway the next first ward election, and for his opposition, this and Church Towers will be enough low hanging fruit to win the election.
Anon @ 8:48 AM-- Agree. Note, I chose not to publish the photo (of his dog) he posted below his announcement about his dog's birthday party. Even though he put it on his official Council FB page, publishing pics of other people's pets is just creepy.
DeleteFeel free to post pictures of Buddy (my dog) anytime. He's quite photogenic and loves whatever attention he gets.
DeleteHe never had a birthday party though. He's a rescue so we (and he) don't really know what breed(s) he is or how old he is or when his birthday is. Somehow he's fine with that.
anon 8:48 - do you pity all of the dogs in Hoboken who are locked home alone all day? There must be hundreds (if not thousands) of dogs in the same situation.
DeleteI wonder what's worse: A dog home alone or a dog rotting in a shelter?
Mike leaves himself open for so many real issues to attack. Why choose to lament the dog being home by itself all day?
Daisy is home all day. If I leave “the right way” she’s ok with it. If I skip any steps in her protocol, it gets called out, plus all that impulse buying she does on the internet.
DeleteSnoopy, you're correct. I do pity all the dogs similarly situated in Hoboken, and a dog in a well-run humane shelter has a better quality of life in that they have communal play-time, and constant interactions. They are communal animals, not fashion accessories.
DeleteOne couple buying or adopting one and locking it up for in a condo or a crate 10 hours or more a day is not better. For those dogs, it's not a question of if but when they'll become neurotic messes. In Mikey's case, that seems appropriate. And Hoboken also has a lot of large breeds with short lives. Who would subject their children to the loss of a beloved pet every few years, and who wants to clean up after them. Many don't.
I love dogs. I think crating a dog all day is terrible. If someone wants to do that, they might as well not have a dog.
DeleteCatfish - I hope you're able to cure your dog's internet shopping addiction.
One of the reasons First Ward Councilwoman Castellano was in office for so long is that she showed actual real human compassion for the seniors in the First Ward. I don't think the self obsessed MDF will ever even understand what that entails.
ReplyDeleteHe’s done far worse things than this, but voters remember this kind of anecdote disproportionately to its true importance.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mike was on his Washington St bump out kick a few summers back he managed to visit the one senior that sprained her ankle on the contruction mess because it strengthened his argurment that the bump outs should be eliminated. A building full of seniors with no heat doesn’t advance his political agenda. That is why he ignored them at first.
ReplyDeleteThe seniors I know in town like them as it makes their street crossings short and safe, even while their councilman is short and dangerous.
DeleteSome old dude in Columbian Towers should get a Grindr account.
I think the bump outs are great and I am not a senior. Mike was so against them when they first started installing them. He wanted to call an emergency meeting about having them removed wasting everyone’s time and potentially delaying the project even more. Mike is not on Grindr from what I can see. Not sure about Scruff. Not sure if that will help get his attention.
DeleteI really like the bump-outs, too. Wish the city had them when I was pushing a stroller, and when my daughter let me hold her hand.
DeleteNow all the city has to do is keep Washington st maintained. I am sure all the markings will fade in another year or so and like the rest if Hoboken streets, the city will not repaint the markings. In addition the city should invest in a small power sidewalk sweeper. They look like a riding lawnmower. The guys with the handbrooms we have now are not effective at cleaning the sidewalks.
DeleteFisher was very much a part of the anti bump out demagoguery as well. I heard she pulled back only when it was made clear she would own both delaying the project and increasing it's costs.
DeleteAdd traffic engineering to the many disciplines she's clueless about but thinks she's expert in.
I hope she's at least learned the rudiments of municipal finance by now.
Didn't know that about Fisher. I guess that's where that Ravi Bollards stuff came from.
Deletehe's gone to the dogs again.
ReplyDelete