COVID-19: Councilman attacks City Hall, OEM, then flexes biceps on Facebook

Starting this week, Hoboken City Council President Jen Giattino will be convening daily 10AM conference calls with council members, OEM Coordinator Sergeant William Montanez, Health and Human Services Director Leo Pellegrini and Assistant Business Administrator Jason Freeman, to discuss COVID-19.  

Speaking of Giattino, this is a quote from City Hall: "Council President has been fantastic during this, she wants to help. Seriously, Jen has been great."  As have other council persons who have shelved partisan politics and risen for the public good during this unprecedented crisis.  Well, all but one...

Yesterday, was the first council COVID-19 conference call. The mood was sober. No one expected what happened: a petulant, partisan tantrum from Council Man-Baby DeFusco, who still does not seem to grasp the seriousness of the moment.  Nor does he seem aware that the Mayor- jointly with OEM, has issued 14 citywide COVID-19 advisories in the last 8 days (11 in the last 5 days, and 8 in the last 3 days).  

The oblivious councilman angrily berated the City's "poor communication" and "terrible job" during this pandemic; he blasted OEM leader Sgt. Montanez, who has been working 20-hour days. And when DeFusco was asked to get on the same page as the City and follow protocol (not dispense handouts with contradictory information like he did on Sunday at Marine View Plaza), the Councilman's hostile retort was, "then deliver it to my house." 

A couple of hours later, while the Administration, OEM, CERT, Giattino and other Council members were focused on the safety and well-being of Hoboken residents, here's what Councilman DeFusco was focused on... he posted the following after the council's COVID-19 meeting:

POSTED AFTER BERATING OEM/THE CITY FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE 



Nothing said at that meeting made a dent.

As Hoboken residents are bracing for an anticipated spike in coronavirus that will tax our healthcare system and endanger residents, this nitwit is prattling on about his "race with himself."  The magnitude of DeFusco's cognitive dissonance with reality and indifference to everything but himself is stunning. Our lives and our families' lives have been up-ended as we face this deadly pandemic. The image of a public official flexing his muscles on Washington Street amidst this crisis is jarring.

Folks may be relieved to know that Councilman DeFusco was AWOL from today's daily COVID-19 meeting, allowing it to be productive. 

Why would the First Ward Councilman skip out on his daily COVID-19 meeting?  Has he got more important things to do than protect the health and well-being of Hoboken residents? Maybe he's commuting to a gym in Pennsylvania?



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