In the news today is a story about a brew-ha-ha between Micheal Lenz, Tony Soares, and Ravi Bhalla in the Dawn Zimmer Camp vs. Ines Garcia-Keim and Jake Stuiver who are on Beth Mason's campaign that occurred at the Kids First Campaign Celebration at Maxwell's on Tuesday night. What is really a shame in this is that the real story is that individuals supporting different candidates for Mayor got together and supported the best ticket for Hoboken's Schools. Of course it goes without saying that Dawn's campaign lended out its organization to help get out the vote but the message was all from Kids First. Here is the story from two different story tellers. I ask you the reader to figure out which account is fairer after reviewing both accounts:
Here is the story on "Faux News Subsidiary" Hoboken 411 (just a little joke):
http://hoboken411.com/archives/17781
Here is the story on the Hoboken Reporter by Tim Carol:
http://tinyurl.com/d6r7m8
http://hoboken411.com/archives/17781
Here is the story on the Hoboken Reporter by Tim Carol:
http://tinyurl.com/d6r7m8
Here is the response by Ravi Bhalla on the Hoboken Reporter by Tim Carol:
http://tinyurl.com/d7eon2
Reader Question: Which do you think is more balanced as stories go: The Hoboken Reporter or that other website with the silly piss myself drunk yellow colors and flashy ads all over the place, and partially ghost written by unspecified politicos with a personal agenda despite claims to the contrary, to top it all off?
http://tinyurl.com/d7eon2
Reader Question: Which do you think is more balanced as stories go: The Hoboken Reporter or that other website with the silly piss myself drunk yellow colors and flashy ads all over the place, and partially ghost written by unspecified politicos with a personal agenda despite claims to the contrary, to top it all off?
My Take:
I was at the party but was outside when the incident took place. I saw Ines and Jake leaving visibly upset as they walked outside. Other than that I can't comment on what actually transpired, just the aftermath. The aftermath is best described by me being outside and listening to Jake Stuiver who I don't know well, rattle on about this on and on for well over 2o minutes. He kept emphasizing to Tim Carol on how this incident should be a news story.
I was at the party but was outside when the incident took place. I saw Ines and Jake leaving visibly upset as they walked outside. Other than that I can't comment on what actually transpired, just the aftermath. The aftermath is best described by me being outside and listening to Jake Stuiver who I don't know well, rattle on about this on and on for well over 2o minutes. He kept emphasizing to Tim Carol on how this incident should be a news story.
Did Jake actually expect to get the red carpet treatment when he walked in? After all he is Beth Mason's campaign manager and her campaign did not give its endorsement and had at least one member of its slate working it for Pupie in the Applied buildings. The smarter play from Mr. Lenz would have been to let things be that night but he felt compelled to speak his mind given what he believed to be misrepresentations about himself and Dawn's campaign. In no way am I defending Micheal Lenz's actions but any of those who actually volunteered and supported Kids First were made more than welcome by him and Tony regardless of who they supported for Mayor with Ines and Jake as the noted exceptions. Ideally, it would have been best for both campaigns if this little tiff never happened. Camp Peter Cammarano must be loving this one. I for one did not find it newsworthy until all the clap-trap started on the "Yellow Website of Malcontents with Purple ads Preferentially Placed". Despite whatever your opinion Mr. Lenz's conduct, this story is overblown and out of proportion by Mr. Stuiver. Campaigns always bring out such passion in people and this story should not detract from a great win for Hoboken Schools.
If Jake and Ines truly did support Kids First as they say it would have helped if they gave a personal endorsement, challenged, walked the street, or a letter to the editor but that would have been a break in campaign discipline. Ines stated she donated and I do take her at her word given her support over the years to progressive educational causes. I do find it hard to believe that the two of them seem to not understand how upset many progressive voters were at Beth's decision to sit this one out especially after her endorsing Maureen Sullivan last year. It was certainly Beth's right to do whatever and it was calculated to maximize votes. With such calculating there is always fallout and Beth's decision to sit it out on the BOE election will be evaluated in the coming weeks as to what effect it will have on her campaign just as Mr. Lenz's behavior.
This wasn't about Dawn vs. Beth it was about the best slate to run the BOE. Go Kids First and let us move beyond the pettiness of personalities to the real issues at hand.
Over and Out
- the Editor
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