If it seemed vaguely unkosher- even shady- for a Hoboken councilman to invite Hoboken municipal workers to his political fundraiser, that's because it is.
Make no mistake, inviting Hoboken municipal employees to a "Hoboken Employee Appreciation Happy Hour" that ends at 6:30 PM in the identical venue as a political fundraiser that begins at 6:30 PM, isn't fooling anyone. If one event were not meant to bleed into another they would either be held in separate venues, or else there'd be a break period in between to clear out all municipal employees, hang the political signs, set up for the fundraiser.
But no, the "Hoboken Employee Appreciation Happy Hour" overlaps the fundraiser-- one ends, the other begins at the same time-- ostensibly packing an event purposed for political fundraising with city workers. That appears to be a clear violation of The Hatch Act.
Let's establish that The Hatch Act, a federal law, applies to Councilman Mike DeFusco. It appears to.
So, what's wrong with a municipal official subject to the Hatch Act packing his fundraiser with municipal employees? This:
It is utterly unbelievable that Councilman DeFusco has made Hoboken municipal employees parties to his possible Hatch Act violation by coercing them with free drinks to his political fundraiser, which they are likely unaware of.
Note: municipal employees are allowed to campaign for candidates for
public office in partisan and nonpartisan elections, contribute money to political organizations; and attend and/or giving a speech at a political fundraiser,
rally, or meeting. That is their civil right, if they choose.
That is not the case here. The councilman invited them to an event, lured with free drinks, failing to disclose that the event overlapped his political fundraiser, a likely Hatch Act violation- for the councilman, not the innocent municipal workers.
My heart goes out to those duped municipal workers.
That is not the case here. The councilman invited them to an event, lured with free drinks, failing to disclose that the event overlapped his political fundraiser, a likely Hatch Act violation- for the councilman, not the innocent municipal workers.
My heart goes out to those duped municipal workers.
It seems a bit tone deaf to encourage people to gather in a large crowd in light of CDC guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Is this what #newenergy #newideas gets the residents of Hoboken? The first ward - and city overall - deserves SO much better than this.
ReplyDeleteExactly what I thought. Stevens canceled large discretionary gatherings last week. Hey, coronavirus is #vibrant plus it only kills old people.
DeleteMDF also knows that a municipal employee is not permitted to accept anything of value greater than $25. Or is he looking to trap employees who show up for drinks, on his invitation, by holding that over their heads?
ReplyDeleteOr he just wanted to try to fill an otherwise empty room to take a campaign lit photo.
DeleteI understand the boys from North Bergen are a camera shy.
Didn't Zimmer take donations from Directors and were guests at her events? You know the People she could actually fire... City workers can not easily be terminated unilaterally by a mayor. The Zoning officer and other important employees ( Jobs that should be apolitical ) were fixtures at Zimmer fundraisers. But we shouldn't talk about that right?
DeleteActually she didn't ask for or accept political donations from City Directors.
DeleteAnon @ 2:12pm- Have you read what I wrote?
Delete"... municipal employees are allowed to campaign for candidates for public office in partisan and nonpartisan elections, contribute money to political organizations; and attend and/or giving a speech at a political fundraiser, rally, or meeting. " Is that clear?
That is not what Defusco did. He created an event exclusively for muni employees to show his" appreciation " for them that magically turned into a fundraiser. The workers did not "choose" to attend a political fundraiser, and DeFusco did not disclose that the "appreciation" event would turn into a fundraiser. That was utterly deceptive and unethical of him, coercing political contributions from city workers.
The Law Director is not a Director?
ReplyDelete