2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher's battle with Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante's contract ended last night.
It started at the July 9th Hoboken City Council meeting when Fisher stepped out of her legislative lane to deny the Chief's contract an up or down vote. Instead, she sponsored a resolution of recommendations- all punitive- to City Hall for amendments to Ferrante's contract. Amendments championed by Fisher were: (1) cutting the contract length by one year to end with the mayor's term, (2) stripping his bonus, and (3) stripping 5 vacation days.
Fisher's resolution passed 6-3. The six who endorsed hacking bits off Chief Ferrante's contract were Councilpersons Ramos, Giattino, Russo, Falco, DeFusco and Fisher.
No vote, no contract.
The natural consequence of Fisher's actions was ugly public controversy. The Chief's contract was needlessly subjected to weeks of unseemly public debate on social media. Ferrante's professional merits, his record, were weighed against the disputed contract terms in grotesquely transactional Twitter commentary by Fisher. Ferrante felt compelled to defend himself against his persecutor's Twitter-salvos; all-in-all an embarrassing public spectacle for an extraordinary public servant. He did not deserve it. Fisher's toying with the employment of Hoboken's Finest was harassment.
The natural consequence of Fisher's actions was ugly public controversy. The Chief's contract was needlessly subjected to weeks of unseemly public debate on social media. Ferrante's professional merits, his record, were weighed against the disputed contract terms in grotesquely transactional Twitter commentary by Fisher. Ferrante felt compelled to defend himself against his persecutor's Twitter-salvos; all-in-all an embarrassing public spectacle for an extraordinary public servant. He did not deserve it. Fisher's toying with the employment of Hoboken's Finest was harassment.
But public opinion was overwhelmingly in Chief Ferrante's favor.
So, in case you are interested, the full council contract vote- debate included, is below. It is quite revealing.
The Council sheepishly tried to slip the contract vote in the consent agenda, but Councilwoman Emily Jabbour pulled it for discussion. So when the contract came up for a vote, Council President Giattino pulled a shifty and suspicious move: she argued that the resolution should be sponsored by Mike Russo (Chair of Public Safety) instead of Corporation Counsel.
"I think Councilman Russo should be the sponsor," Giattino said.
"We received emails asking to sponsor that," replied Director of Operations Jason Freeman.
"Yeah, not buying it, " Council president snapped back.
Councilwoman Emily Jabbour then spoke eloquently about the consequences of Ferrante's mistreatment: reputational harm to the City of Hoboken, how mistreating excellent public servants will make it hard to attract qualified people. Councilman Phil Cohen continued on that theme, citing how the council had abolished Office of Constituent Services during a pandemic, and tried to abolish the office of City Engineer. The result: one job was eliminated, another job threatened.
The council's political games with city personnel have a destabilizing effect on our City. Look how close we came to losing our Police Chief.
Watch the video to see what Ferrante's Chief Antagonist has to say (Hint: nothing.)
VIDEO: COUNCIL VOTE
Strictly my opinion, but it's a safe bet that Councilwoman Fisher has torched her political future in Hoboken. Who can forget this? Playing political games with the public safety of Hoboken residents, and during a pandemic!
Advice to the Chief: if there is a next time, don't engage her on social media. Ignore. We all try to.
Hoboken wins> Ferrante scores and we are all glad the fiasco started by tiffanie fisher is over and done!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Beth Mason-era Dark Side Grinder that harassed HONEST public servants out of Hoboken is alive and kicking, thanks to the metamorphosis of Jen Giattino and Tiffanie Fisher. Former victims of the Grinder include BA Arch Liston, Corp Counsel Michael Kates, Director of Transportation and Parking Ian Sacs, School Superintendents Romano and Toback.
ReplyDeleteCurrent Grinder- victims include BA Stephen Marks and Dir of Constituent Services Carolyn Caulfield. The Neo-Dark Side tried to grind up the first black female City Engineer, Kim Craft, in a resolution to abolish her job sponsored by Vanessa Falco, but had second thoughts so quietly pulled it.
HPD Chief Ken Ferrante was their latest target. They tried to grind him, but guess what? Fisher and the others ended up grinding their own political futures in Hoboken. For once, the Good Guys won.
Congratulations on escaping the Grinder, Chief Ferrante. May you protect Hoboken residents for many years to come.
Careful, don’t say Grindr too much or Mikey’s handlers will come down hard on you.
DeleteIt's Grinder with an 'E' like Liza with 'Z'
DeleteNot Lisa with an 'S' or Grinder with no 'E'
'Cause Lisa with an 'S' goes 'ss notzz'
It's 'Z' instead of 'S', 'E' before the 'R'
It's simple as can be, see, Liza
and Grinderrrr
A short good guy story. It was a very cold winter night in January and as I walked from the Path station to the City Council meeting and notice a very elderly homeless woman sleeping huddled with her belongings in the bus shelter on River Street. I saw Chief Ferrante behind me and told him about the woman, he immediately stepped into the hall way and called to have someone check on her. Later he tapped me on the shoulder to let me know that the woman had been taken to Hoboken Hospital were she was examined and has going to have a room at a shelter. Thankful to have someone like Ken Ferrante watching out for Hoboken.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell is Mike Russo wearing, why is he wearing sunglasses and what the hell is that behind him? And that hat! Is he trying to play at being a wannabe thug? FAIL!
ReplyDeleteBased on his own and family history he doesn't have to pretend
Delete