Now I get it!
Were you confused by the news that Mayor Bhalla had obtained a legal opinion on the constitutionality and enforceablity of Hoboken's Pay-to-Play ordinance? And that outside counsel recommended the complete repeal of the City’s campaign finance legal framework?
I was. Admittedly. With ward elections just 7 weeks away.
Well, now it makes sense. The missing puzzle piece was announced this afternoon: a Pay-to-Play Resolution sponsored by Council members Emily Jabbour and Jim Doyle. The Opinion was procured by the City to have a basis upon to revisit a very problematic and unenforceable Pay-To-Play ordinance.
Just ask Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, who wrote a letter to the Hoboken Corporation Counsel and City Clerk in 2017, with a litany of Councilman Mike DeFusco's Pay-to-Play violations.
What came of it? Nothing. NJ-ELEC enforces violations of state Pay-to-Play law, not Hoboken's local ordinance. Fisher could have pursued ethics charges against DeFusco at the state ethics board, but she didn't. Leaving Mike DeFusco has no incentive to obey Hoboken's law.
It is unenforceable. Not making changes to how the City enforces Pay-to-Play would be passive corruption.
So, thanks to Mayor Bhalla and Council persons Jabbour and Doyle, for addressing this glaring problem which dogs every election. They want Hoboken's Pay-to-Play ordinance re-written so that every elected official and candidate is accountable to obey the law, including Mike DeFusco.
Outside counsel had to be procured because Hoboken is conflicted from advising itself on a law it is subject to follow.
So, Jabbour-Doyle Resolution calls for:
(1) The City Council to direct the City Clerk and Corporation Counsel to take every reasonable measure to enforce Hoboken's pay-to-Play ordinance through the November 2019 election;
(2) The City Council to revisit outside counsel's recommendation after the November 2019 election with the objective of strengthening Hoboken's Pay-to-Play laws; making them enforceable and constitutional.
It appears that outside counsel opinion is recommending that Hoboken adopt State Pay-to-Play regulations.
It's a good start, I think. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting there is one.
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