Giattino voted "YES" to shrink Hoboken's Donut Hole

6th ward people, you are my neighbors.  

On November 5, we will decide who will represent us at the Hoboken City Council for the next 4 years.  And even if one could forget these last two years of  bad faith and junk legislation, an unholy alliance with pay-to-players,  VBM harvesters and HUMC Board seat stealers, false attacks against Hoboken employees, targeted efforts to fire Bhalla staff, accepting an illegal gift of  services then (after she was caught) converting it to an "in-kind contribution," refusing to vote on Hoboken Pay-to-Play enforcement,  almost voting on a donor's contract until it was pulled by corp counsel (a potential P2P violation), trying to keep Easterseals Charity out of Hoboken, and jaw-dropping pettiness (to name a few) ALL endorsed by our Councilwoman, Jen Giattino, her "YES" vote to increase lot coverage almost 2% into the Hoboken Donut Hole is a disqualifier.

Yes, Jen Giattino voted "YES" on the notorious "Donut Munch" Ordinance (B-40) sponsored by then-Planning Board Commissioner Mike DeFusco. 

DeFusco's ordinance proposed to change Zoning law to allow (at least) 62% in lot coverage, by removing the rear staircase from the original 60% lot coverage.  DeFusco's zoning changes would have have benefited Planning Board Applicants by allowing them to build larger building footprints;  some Applicants were also DeFusco donors.   (In addition to skipping out on 8 out of 18 Planing Board meetings, DeFusco was conflicted on numerous applications due to donor conflicts.)    

GIATTINO GOT FAIR WARNING TO PROTECT HOBOKEN'S  DONUT HOLE (SHE IGNORED)
And yes, Giattino was warned about the impacts of this zoning change on Hoboken's Master Plan and threat to the Hoboken Donut, but chose to side with the ethically challenged DeFusco on his lot-coverage grab.

On June 28, 2018, Hoboken's Planner issued a Compliance Review memo on DeFusco's "Donut Munch" ordinance:   

"...the changes to the Yard Regulations do appear substantially inconsistent with the 2018 Master Plan Re-Examination Report 2018 Land Use Element. Specifically, the proposal to exempt the projection of single rear egress stairs from the lot coverage would conflict with the Master Plan recommendations for maximum lot coverage, rearyard regulations and preservation of the “donut hole”.

Next, on July 11, 2018, all City Council members received this Planning Board resolution with the June 28 Compliance review Memo, citing Ordinance B-40 as "substantially inconsistent" with the 2018 Master Plan Re-Examination Report-- a threat to the preservation of the Hoboken's "donut hole."  

GIATTINO IGNORES PLANNING BOARD AND PUTS DEVELOPER PROFITS AHEAD OF HER CONSTITUENTS  

As stated, when B-40 came up for a vote at the July 11th, 2018 City Council meeting, Jen Giattino voted against the Donut Hole, for increased developer profits.

Every 6th Ward resident with a backyard they enjoy ought to think about the priorities of the 6th Ward incumbent councilwoman.  Thank goodness, sanity prevailed and HOboken Mayor Bhalla vetoed this developer land-grab.

BHALLA VETO 

GIATTINO ALLEGEDLY "EXPRESSED HER DISGUST AT MAYOR BHALLA'S LACK OF DEVELOPMENT IN HOBOKEN" 
Two weeks ago GA obtained meeting minutes from the Hudson County Building Trades; they  include a Union Boss relaying his conversation with Jen Giattino.  See below.  Is it so hard to believe that the same Councilwoman allegedly bashing the mayor's "lack of development" voted to shrink the Hoboken Donut to increase developer profits?

Not really.