This is funny in a tragic kind of way...
What may be the best kept secret in the First Ward-- a beautiful park, bigger than a pocket-- was "promised" yesterday to First Ward residents by Councilman Mike DeFusco in a campaign press release complete with this rendering:
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| DeFusco's visionary plan for a clean, lovely park that has been open to the public for years |
What's wrong with that? Let's see...
According to Councilman DeFusco, the existing gated park is "inaccessible" (false-- the gate is open for public use) and unused due to "poor conditions" (false-- it's clean and lovely). This park is underutilized because the signage sucks and no one (including GA) knew that the public was welcome. End of story...
Until yesterday... when the First Ward snake oil salesman rode into town with a rendering and sales pitch: I'll bring you a park that looks just like this! Only he forgot to tell you the First Ward has a park that looks almost just like that. The only difference between DeFusco's rendering and what's there now is that he replaces existing fixed park benches with furniture: tables, chairs-- and kills a couple of trees to locate a food kiosk.
Until yesterday... when the First Ward snake oil salesman rode into town with a rendering and sales pitch: I'll bring you a park that looks just like this! Only he forgot to tell you the First Ward has a park that looks almost just like that. The only difference between DeFusco's rendering and what's there now is that he replaces existing fixed park benches with furniture: tables, chairs-- and kills a couple of trees to locate a food kiosk.
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| Green oasis at 77 Park |
After the Councilman's press release, GA was contacted by dumbfounded folks who utilize the park. Aside from crappy signage-- not welcoming, likely on purpose by the owner-- it is a lovely park, just as is. One First Ward resident wrote:
"Why does he think everything needs to have a commercialized component to it? A retail kiosk in the park selling what; food and drinks? Only takes business away from brick and mortar restaurants and retailers within easy walking distance. Having a kiosk that sells (and stores) food and drinks in the park will add to the RAT, raccoon, and pigeon problem that's already an issue around that and the other large buildings across the street. The property owners would have to be responsible for policing it and daily clean-up (likely?). A retail kiosk there would not benefit the city financially, only the property owner."
And another:
"Someone would have to review the redevelopment approval/agreement to see what the allowances and restrictions were for the open space, but commercializing the park could trigger a variance that the property owner would have to obtain through normal channels. Did he really talk to the property owner/management company of just say that he did? Has he canvased the residents in the apartments that over look the open space to see how they feel about having the park activated? What about the regular row-house condo owners that abut the south end of the open space that have nothing to do with 77 Park LLC?"
WHY HASN'T DEFUSCO TOLD HIS FIRST WARD CONSTITUENTS THEY HAD A BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC PARK?
Sources on background told GA that Mike Defusco was told about this park when he was running for First Ward Council in 2015. He elected to exclude it from his campaign, but has known for 4 years that a park existed at this location, was open to the public yet was underutilized because of poor signage.
Councilman DeFusco had 4 years to negotiate better signage with the building owner, but more importantly, to notify his constituents that they had a lovely park blocks away.
Yet, he didn't lift a finger to tell his constituents they had a park.
Moreover, Luca Brasi's deli, Tony Baloney's and Choc o Pain Bakery are one block away.
Had Councilman DeFusco told the truth about this park instead of misinforming the public that it was "inaccessible" and in "poor condition" how many folks could be bringing sandwiches or pizza or coffee and croissants to that park even today?
But instead of telling his constituents the truth about the park, he's hoarded the information for his own election time benefit. Yikes.
If Councilman DeFusco really cared about his neighbors, he would have promoted this park before it became a campaign rendering.
And in 4 years representing the First Ward, he would have already negotiated better signage so First Ward residents would know that it was open to the public.
BIGGER THAN A POCKET
Not only isn't it in poor condition, it is much larger than a pocket.
Councilman DeFusco had 4 years to negotiate better signage with the building owner, but more importantly, to notify his constituents that they had a lovely park blocks away.
Yet, he didn't lift a finger to tell his constituents they had a park.
Moreover, Luca Brasi's deli, Tony Baloney's and Choc o Pain Bakery are one block away.
Had Councilman DeFusco told the truth about this park instead of misinforming the public that it was "inaccessible" and in "poor condition" how many folks could be bringing sandwiches or pizza or coffee and croissants to that park even today?
But instead of telling his constituents the truth about the park, he's hoarded the information for his own election time benefit. Yikes.
If Councilman DeFusco really cared about his neighbors, he would have promoted this park before it became a campaign rendering.
And in 4 years representing the First Ward, he would have already negotiated better signage so First Ward residents would know that it was open to the public.
BIGGER THAN A POCKET
Not only isn't it in poor condition, it is much larger than a pocket.
Now that you know the truth, listen to the snake oil salesman's pitch:
“Opening a pocket park in the heart of Downtown Hoboken presents us with the unique opportunity to bring food kiosks, live entertainment and a public gathering space to our neighborhood. Through a public/private partnership like this, we can bring much a much-needed multipurpose green space to the First Ward while creating innovative ways for small businesses to expand their operations in Hoboken."
Uh, yeah. We'll think about that sunning at your imaginary waterfront beach or your imaginary Warrington Plaza market (lovely renderings!) In the meantime...
Head over to Luca Brasi's and bring your sandwich and coffee to the park. Or, pick up a cappuccino and dessert from Choc O Pain, or a slice from Tony Baloney's.
This is comedy gold. Just one more example of this guy jockeying to take credit for something he didn't do. If I were Migdalia Pagan Milano, I would run with this angle.
ReplyDeleteYeah but.... our artist’s rendering looks like one of those cross sections of an ant farm. Or a beaver colony. So the subtle implication is industriousness. Vibrant industriousness. Win-win!
ReplyDeleteHonestly this guy is all about fluff. Taking bullsh*t and trying to polish those turds to a nice shine and just to market them as tasty bon-bons. It's not new, innovative, fresh ideas he serves up, it's glazed up balls of faeces. He can't get things done. He lacks ideas that can pass a basic reality litmus test and he lacks the work ethic, wherewithal and minimum intelligence to get anything done.
ReplyDeleteRemember when then Councilwoman Zimmer got the word out that Maxwell place park was public by inviting the public to a whiffleball game there?
ReplyDeleteMaybe Migdalia should organize a public event at this park - maybe a fall picnic. No better way to get the word out.
Agree!
Deletehttps://www.nj.com/hobokennow/2007/08/thats_a_lot_of_politicians_for.html
DeleteRemember what Eric Kurta once said about the Maxwell Place Park in 2007, "I wanted to see the field finally get used the way it was intended to - as a public facility," said Eric Kurta, "I'm pretty tuned in to this town, but the way it was fenced off, we always thought it was a private enclave."
I live on Newark St. I walk by the park everyday with my dog. I had no idea it was open to the public. I think, at the very least, without needing to devolve into political grandstanding, that the park should at the very least be a bit more...welcoming?
Shouldn't we at least agree the park could be slightly redesigned to be less like a Soviet East German park and more like an actual park? For starters lets ask the owners if they would be amenable to remove the fence & gate.
I don't think we need a kiosk. I agree there's lots of local businesses around where you can grab something and sit in the park, if you wish.
Yeah, I agree- I'd always assumed the park was private. So might the senior residents across the street who live in Colombian Arms; they might enjoy some air and sunlight there once in a while. Can a frail senior even open the gate?
DeleteIMO, the fence is okay. Since it's flanking a large residential building, easier with a single entry/exit to point a security camera. But the entry gate should be left open rather than unlocked, with signage. A redesign would be nice though I personally don't object to the current design-- it's more sitting/social area than active play park (I'd add a few chess/checkers tables). IMO not every Hoboken park needs sprinklers and play equipment. Sorry, kiddies!
But really, my point is what has DeFusco done for the last 4 years to get the owner to leave the door open and hang a sign? Nobody would have said a peep, but now he's drawn attention to the fact that he's done NOTHING to promote the park to constituents, while lying to them that it's "inaccessible." Everything is a campaign issue for him- a marketing pitch- with renderings and snake oil.
MdF's activity consists of grand standing and pouting at CC meetings for most of the year - and checking social media / texting when not grand standing or pouting. When it comes close to election time however, we get his grand designs replete with bold ideas of freshness and vibrance. Then after, nothing. He can't deliver anything but fake ideas. Big. Shiny. Turds.
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ReplyDeleteThanks to GA for doing the work and showing the public the truth to DeFusco's lies.
He is such a twit. If he were actually a decent councilperson and had at all ever even tried to work with the mayor (either mayor), his list of accomplishments wouldn't be a blank sheet of paper.
ReplyDelete77 Park tenants will be *thrilled* their councilman plans to turn the park into a concert venue.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget about Greek Town, literally across the street. Shout out!
ReplyDeleteThe kiosks in this park, pier A, and in the train station that MDF wants are all doomed to fail. There is not enough consistent foot traffic to support a full time business in these locations. The parks are only busy on the weekends in the summer and the NJ transit train station is dead except during the morning and evening rush hours.
DeleteThis is another "fake news" win for DeDumbo - park looks fine as is - and he can take credit for that without lifting a finger (his speciality!). Just like the wi-fi on the path - he did nothing and takes credit, a win win for him. Next up credit for pizza being available in Hoboken!
ReplyDeleteI get the distinct impression that DeFusco's media team for lack of anything positive he has actually done while in office went dumpster diving in their highly restricted Facebook page they run for him and decided to regurgitate this garbage for him.
ReplyDeleteEven if true DeFusco is still responsible for this lie under the you bought it, you own it rule.