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| TRUMPIAN VOTER TURNOUT SUPPRESSION TACTIC |
No matter which political faction you support: the nuevo Dark Side council coalition (headed by Ruben Ramos) or Mayor Bhalla's Reform coalition, every single one of you should be very pissed off.
Why? Last Thursday evening, the Hoboken City Council held a 9-minute Special Meeting. Yes, it was quick. Nine minutes was long enough for the controlling council majority to unanimously note "NO" on the Jabbour-Doyle ordinance to put a non-binding PUBLIC QUESTION on the November 5th ballot re: e-scooters. Specifically, how the public feels about them: do we favor keeping or canceling e-scooters in Hoboken, after the current Pilot Program expires.
Got that? Our democratically-elected ward council members voted to deny us a vote on keeping or canceling e-scooters. Jen Giattino, Council President, babbled something about voting "NO" to keep out special interest money (pause for laughter). I kid you not. SHE WHO BROUGHT BACK RUN-OFF ELECTIONS. Remember, run-off were eliminated by a 2012 grassroots Reform coalition to purge dark money and VBM election rigging. Now SHE WHO BROUGHT BACK RUN-OFF ELECTIONS is using dark money as an excuse to disenfranchise Hoboken voters.
It's outrageous. EVERY HOBOKEN RESIDENT is impacted here. Whether or not you believe that e-Scooters are The Devil or better-than-sliced-bread, you HAVE A RIGHT to tell our elected officials whether or not this e-Scooter Pilot should continue with your vote.
I urge you folks to show up at the next Council Meeting and DEMAND your RIGHT to VOTE.
In fact, wear a "LET HOBOKEN VOTE" t-shirt! Yes, it's real, and will only set you back $12.99 (plus shipping). Do not accept cheap imitations!
"LET HOBOKEN VOTE" T-SHIRT
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SIMPLE SOLUTION TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO VOTE!
Folks, if the incumbent ward Councilmen/women continue to disenfranchise our vote on e-Scooters, there is a solution.
We will need a petition drive. With 1600 signatures supporting the Public Question, we can override the undemocratic, disgraceful behavior of our Ward Council persons, we can force the Public Question on next November's ballot! At the same time, we will make sure to register new voters! Voters who believe that the public deserves a voice in informing public policy!
Out of the Council's undemocratic action, Hoboken could see a windfall for democracy, with hundreds of new voter registrations.
Out of the Council's undemocratic action, Hoboken could see a windfall for democracy, with hundreds of new voter registrations.
THE SAD TRUTH (GA's OPINION)
Booting the Public Question off November's ballot is an unpopular council's effort to depress turnout in our next election. It is obvious. With a Public Question on e-Scooters, Hoboken will see a highly motivated electorate, and possibly historic numbers at the polls.
High voter turnout is not what these unpopular council members want. They want to get out their base, and that's it. They do not want increased participation in our City's next election, including first-time voters. This is exactly what the Republican party does at the state and national level: make it harder to register the "wrong" kind of voters. Democrats. Minorities.
As a patriotic American, this behavior disgusts me. Makes me sick. My nephew is a Marine who may have to fight and die to keep this democracy going. And here at home, we have a council that refuses the public the right to vote?
Oh, Hell no.
"LET HOBOKEN VOTE" T-SHIRT
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So let me get this straight, their minions constantly complain about scooters, they claim folks don't want them and they then turn around and refuse to let this on the ballot?
ReplyDeleteMakes you wonder how afraid of democracy they really are.
YES. The Mayor will listen to the people. The Council will not let the people speak.
DeleteBUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN??? The "scooters are tanks" people are about five on twitter but they post A LOT. One account i'm beginning to think is run by FORD to get rid of the #killerscooters and keep people behind the wheel of those precious cars. If i follow the fight on twitter i think the scooter death count in Hoboken is in the thousands at this point. Considering that is is by far the most important thing happening in Hoboken (wag the dog please - the VBM Poodle is over here and no-one is paying attention to her), I'm surprised the GangOfFour isn't in-front of nuking the scooters.
DeleteThis kind of politics is exactly what we don't need in government.
ReplyDelete'Let the votes count when we can manipulate them by lowering voter turnout,' but not even allowing a simple question about a rather controversial new method of transportation: 'whether it ought to be accepted, or not be allowed to continue' posed to their constituents is simply asinine.
This flawed logic is what allows Fisher, Giattino and Cunningham to be so inconsistent that they claim to be part of Reform, while spreading wide for Ramos, DeFusco and private/special interests. They do not represent the people. They represent their own interests.
At least the Council should hold it's own vote prior to the November election, so voters can hold councilmembers accountable at the polls (or reward them).
ReplyDeleteAlso decisions that purport to be about public safety ought to be based on real data, not anecdotes about millions of supposed close calls that somehow don't result in actual contact let alone injuries to pedestrians.
Real public safety data needs to be compiled and shared with the public. So far, I haven't heard about a single except to scooter rider (who assume the risk and if there were any I'm pretty sure we'd have head about it.
Thats pretty amazing given how much use the scooters have gotten.