Update on 1st and Jackson Street Fire Victims Fundraiser

Here is an update from Rory Chadwick on the efforts to get support out to the families displaced by the fire at 1st and Jackson Street this last weekend....

Just to let you all know we are now receiving donations from people on the west coast!  Tons of people emailing and calling looking to help.  Furniture now being donated too.  Lots of stores donating prizes too.  1 week of time share is already donated for the girls to use themselves after they get settled in, it's valid anywhere in the world for a week.  We are also working on possibly getting a 1 week stay for the girls at The Mondrian Hotel in South Beach Miami.  Lots of amazing people in town offering some amazing things and we're just getting started.

Please note that paypal users can donate by sending donations to Jake Stiver by sending him an email at  jstuiver@gmail.com.

There are now more drop off locations where people can leave clothing, sundries, shoes and anything else.

The locations so far are:

• The Wicked Wolf, 120 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken
• Hudson Family Chiropractic, 51 Newark St Suite #203, Hoboken
• H-Mag - 80 River St Penthouse North, Hoboken
• Midtown Authentic - 728 Washington St Basement, Hoboken

We are also in need of some volunteers to help out this week and next.  People that are interested in helping can email midtownauthentic@gmail.com, joemindak@h-mag.com and josephebranco@yahoo.com.

More drop off locations are coming and we are seeking local eateries to donate food for the charity event. Thanks everyone for posting and supporting!

- Rory Chadwick

Writer, Hoboken Robin and Retail Proprietor of Midtown Authentic ◦

Update on 1st and Jackson Street Fire Victims Fundraiser

John Corea Pleads Guilty to Theft While Director at HPU

Yesterday, former Hoboken Parking Utility Driector John Corea pled guilty to theft. Below is the release from the NJ Attorney General's Office....

 

Ex-Director of Hoboken Parking Utility Pleads Guilty to Official Misconduct for His Role in $600,000 Theft of Parking Meter Funds 

Contractor from Toms River previously pleaded guilty to theft

John Corea

TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that John P. Corea, the former director of the Hoboken Parking Utility, has pleaded guilty to official misconduct for his role in the theft of $600,000 by a Toms River contractor whose company was hired by the City of Hoboken to collect coins from city parking meters.

According to Director Taylor, Corea, 47, of Hoboken, pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon (Dec. 16), to a second-degree charge of official misconduct before Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. in Ocean County. The state will recommend under the plea agreement that Corea be sentenced to eight years in state prison, including three years of parole ineligibility. He must pay $300,000 in restitution to the City of Hoboken and will be permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey. The charge against Corea was contained in an indictment obtained as a result of an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police.

“This defendant corruptly exploited his public office, at a high cost to the City of Hoboken,” said Attorney General Dow. “We are seeking a lengthy prison sentence for this flagrant betrayal of trust.”

“In this difficult fiscal climate, taxpayers need to have confidence that government officials will act as honest and vigilant stewards of all public revenues,” said Director Taylor. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute corrupt public officials such as Corea.”

Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey J. Manis took the guilty plea for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. Judge Hodgson will schedule Corea to be sentenced in February 2012.

In pleading guilty, Corea admitted, among other things, that, while director of the Hoboken Parking Utility, he steered three separate no-bid contracts to United Textile Fabricators to collect, count and manage the coins from the city’s parking meters. He admitted that he made false statements to the city council about the qualifications and experience of the company, which is a coin-operated arcade game manufacturer. He further admitted that he came to believe that United Textile and its owner, Brian A. Petaccio, 51, of Toms River, had stolen a substantial amount of the city’s parking revenues, but did not take any steps to stop the thefts or notify the city.

Petaccio pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, 2009 to an accusation charging him with second-degree theft by unlawful taking for stealing more than $1.1 million in coins from Hoboken’s parking meters between June 2005 and April 2008. Petaccio faces up to seven years in prison under his plea agreement and also must pay $300,000 in restitution to the City of Hoboken. After an audit in 2007 uncovered parking revenue shortfalls, Petaccio and his company returned approximately $575,000 to the city. However, Petaccio admitted, in pleading guilty, that he diverted an additional $600,000 that was not reported to the city. Petaccio will also be scheduled for sentencing in February 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey J. Manis of the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective Peter Layng of the State Police Official Corruption Bureau North Unit and Sgt. Lisa Shea of the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, with additional assistance from Deputy Attorney General Perry Primavera and Administrative Analyst Kathleen Ratliff, also of the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

Attorney General Dow and Director Taylor noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free Corruption Tipline for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities: 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division website at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the tipline or webpage will remain confidential.

Here is the link to the press release: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases11/pr20111219b.html
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John Corea Pleads Guilty to Theft While Director at HPU

Maurice Fitzgibbons passes on - Mayor Zimmer Remarks

Statement by Mayor Zimmer on the Passing of Maurice Fitzgibbons

I learned this morning that Maurice Fitzgibbons passed away. On behalf of the City of Hoboken, I express my condolences to his family and friends. Maurice served the City of Hoboken for many years on the Board of Chosen Freeholders. He was a strong advocate of the arts, with a long history of service to our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. ◦

Maurice Fitzgibbons passes on - Mayor Zimmer Remarks

Twas the night before the Frog March

Here is an epic poem on the topic of the recently reported arrest of former City of Hoboken IT employee Patrick Ricciardi and the possible extensive data theft ring the was involved with. It is possible that the FBI case will only expand and includes at least one current Hoboken official and one past Hoboken Official identified as individuals 1 and 2 respectively. Here is a poem perhaps wishfully thinking that the scope of this investigation will yield the ultimate prize, the downfall of Mrs. Richard Beth Mason. Just a projection and not a prediction at this point. One can only hope. :)

Twas the night before the Frog March

Twas the night before the Frog March, when all through the City’s big house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a Lane Bajardi that easel propping louse.
The Zimmer bloggers were clung to the MSV and GA websites with flair
with hopes that FBI with warrants would soon would be there.

The children/City Council Minority were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Zimmer’s destruction danced in their heads.
And Mamma Russo in her no-show job, and boy Mikey with his political crap,
Had just settled their conniving kleptocratic brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on Hudson Street there arose such a clatter,
Taxpayers sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to their wondering eyes should show,
But a slew of FBI vehicles, all ready to process arrests on the word go.

With a real professional driver, so lively well dressed and quick,
I knew in a moment it couldn’t be “Stick”.
More ravenous than vultures his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Castellano! Now, Russo! Now, Klaussen und Lane!
On, Occhipinti! On, Riccardi! On, DeStefano and Beth Mason the insane!
To the top of Mason Mansion! To the abyss of Hoboken City Hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As downed trees that before the wild winds of Hurricane Irene fly,
When Zimmer was met with obstructionism, piled to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the FBI sleigh full of charges, and hefty legal bills too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard Beth Mason exclaim
“It wasn’t me, I’m innocent, it was my boy Lame”.
As the taxpayers drew their heads, and were turning around,
Down the went all the charges like a bang with a very loud sound.

The FBI lead agent was dressed in all black, from his head to his foot,
And the Old Guards’ reputations were now all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle charges against them he had flung from his back,
But then uber rich Beth Mason came back with her counter-attack.

“These charges are false” Beth exclaimed, “made up and untrue”
“Its all because I oppose Christie and they want me politically through”.
Her droll bitter mouth was drawn up like a bile filled witch,
What she uttered next confirmed what we all knew, that she was a b*tch.

The success of the HUMC sale by Zimmer caused Mason to clench her teeth,
Beth would never be coronated Mayor and wear the grand Masonic wreath.
She had a wretched face that would angrily contort,
As she spouted venom and the truth she would distort.

Beth Mason was angry and bitter, and not quite right with herself,
She once again tried to put the blame on others and her minion, a uni-browed elf!
With a wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
She soon heard the list of charges that she just had to dread..

The FBI laid out all the charges, and went straight to work,
And continued reading and reading, then Beth tuned Mason turned with a jerk.
And laying her finger aside of her super long lying recall me nose,
She sneezed out of fear, as all of her lies had just been exposed!

Mason and cohorts were carted off to the big house, she gave a sneer,
And away they all flew to prison with loud Hoboken cheers.
But we heard her exclaim, ‘ere she was driven out of sight,
"F*ck you FBI, my husband Ricky has got loads of money and he’ll put up a fight!" ◦

Twas the night before the Frog March

Mayor Zimmer on FBI Investigation of City Employee

From the desk of City Hall on the latest FBI arrest in Hoboken. This time it was a City of Hoboken IT employee.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ZIMMER ON FBI INVESTIGATION OF CITY EMPLOYEE

Mayor Dawn Zimmer issued the following statement today after the FBI announced the arrest of a City employee stemming from an investigation regarding a potential security breach in the City’s electronic communications.

“In May, my Administration suspected wrongdoing regarding electronic communications in City Hall. We hired a private security firm to evaluate the situation and discovered evidence of potential wrongdoing. As I have done whenever my Administration has uncovered such evidence since I became Mayor in 2009, my Administration immediately contacted the appropriate authorities -- in this case the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We provided them with all evidence and have been working with the FBI since. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and the special agents in the FBI Newark field office for their assistance and for taking this matter seriously.”

“This is a good example of our City working with the authorities and demonstrates the justice system at work.”

“As we have done in the past, my Administration is respectful of the presumption of innocence while taking the necessary actions to protect the interests of the City. Patrick Ricciardi, who has worked for the City of Hoboken since 1992, has been suspended without pay since May.”

View the announcement from the U.S. Attorney: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Ricciardi,%20Patrick%20Surrender%20News%20Release.html

View the criminal complaint: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/pdffiles/2011/Ricciardi,%20Patrick%20Complaint.pdf ◦

Mayor Zimmer on FBI Investigation of City Employee

Former City of Hoboken IT Manager Charged with Intercepting and Distributing E-mail of Mayor and Top City Officials Emails

Here some breaking news coming from the Newark FBI office about email fraud allegedly committed by a former employee of Hoboken City Hall. This case also involves at least one current and one former City of Hoboken Official names as individual 1 and individual 2 in the complaint. Expect more to break from this case as the dust settles. Below is the press release from the FBI.

FORMER CITY OF HOBOKEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER CHARGED FOR ALLEGEDLY INTERCEPTING, DISCLOSING E-MAIL OF HOBOKEN MAYOR AND TOP CITY OFFICIALS

NEWARK, N.J. – A former management information systems specialist for the city of Hoboken, N.J., surrendered this morning to special agents of the FBI to face allegations that he intercepted communications meant for the current mayor of Hoboken and top city officials and passed them on to other current and former city officials, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Patrick Ricciardi, 45, of Hoboken, is charged in a federal criminal Complaint with one count each of accessing a computer without authorization, interception of wire and electronic communications, and disclosure of intercepted wire and electronic communications. Ricciardi is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

“According to the Complaint, Ricciardi spied on official e-mails to a sitting mayor and shared them with others, even setting up software to automate his intrusion,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman. “Entrusted with the city of Hoboken’s IT infrastructure, Ricciardi allegedly abused that access to divert communications about city business to those who had no business seeing them. Even by those on the inside, breaches of computer security not only violate privacy, they violate federal law.”

According to the criminal Complaint unsealed today:

Ricciardi was a longstanding employee of the city of Hoboken and worked as the chief information technology officer for the mayor’s office. As part of his job duties, Ricciardi was responsible for keeping the city’s network running, and had access to e-mail accounts within the city’s computer system and other aspects of the city’s computer network.

Beginning in April 2011, employees of the mayor’s office became suspicious that the subject matter of e-mails they were sending amongst themselves were being somehow “leaked” to outside parties. The city hired a private security consultant to perform a security audit on computers located within the mayor’s office. The audit revealed an e-mail archive file on the hard drive of Ricciardi’s work computer.

The FBI’s investigation revealed that the archive file had been set up to intercept and store all e-mails sent to the mayor and certain of the mayor’s employees. Neither the mayor nor any other city employee authorized the creation of the archive file or the storage of any e-mails in it.

The archive file was not a standard backup kept in the normal course of business, as it did not follow information technology best practices such as the use of tape backups or other electronic media that systematically save data. True backup systems are housed remotely on a server or other external location. Instead, the software had been configured so that all e-mails sent to the mayor would automatically download into the archive file as they were sent.

E-mails from the archive file, which were intended for the mayor and the mayor’s employees, had been forwarded to at least three current or former City municipal employees, who were not intended recipients. Specifically, Ricciardi forwarded email exchanges between the mayor and high-ranking city employees from his personal email account.

Each of the three counts of the Complaint carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised special agents of the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, for the ongoing investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Intrater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section in the Office’s Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Link to release: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Ricciardi,%20Patrick%20Surrender%20News%20Release.html ◦

Former City of Hoboken IT Manager Charged with Intercepting and Distributing E-mail of Mayor and Top City Officials Emails

Thanks to Everyone For Your Support! Gardiner For Freeholder

Thank you for your support for my first run in Hoboken/ Hudson County politics as Freeholder of District 5 in Hudson County. . As a first time candidate running as an independent I was realistic and did not expect to win. However, I am very happy with the turnout from this election in that I got over 1500 votes. I ran my campaign to raise awareness on the issues of Hoboken getting the short of the "Stick" with respect to services we get back from Hudson County and I believe my message resonated with the Hoboken and Jersey City Heights voters.

This campaign was limited by design. I look at many of my undertakings with an eye on return on investment and not just from a financial standpoint. Sure, I could have spent $30,000 and the margin may have been closer but the result would have very likely been the same. I am grounded in that reality. This run is just a beginning and I intend to get Hoboken involved more in watching the County. Hoboken deserves its fair share and my turnout has sent a message to the County that there is a large enough block of voters that feel they are being robbed. I intend to grow that base of voters over the next 3 years and give it another shot.

I extend congratulations to Anthony Romano for winning his re-election and hope to work with him to be a better Freeholder for Hoboken and JC Heights. I hope next time he will be willing to debate the issues instead of cowering in a corner and hiding behind the HCDO banner. Several debates will give the voters more information next time to make their decision on who to vote for. There are opportunities coming up for the County to finally deliver services for Hoboken that we have been denied of for years. Look for me to continue to advocate for our public schools, a better municipal government and more accountability from Hudson County with our taxpayer dollars.

This first campaign of mine was less of a campaign and more of a social media experiment in enabling a grass-roots political movement . Imagine the possibilities when I run a campaign for real. Thanks again voters. You sent a message to Hudson County Bosses for sure. In words of despised destruct-a-con Hoboken 2nd Ward City Council Woman Beth Mason and Anthony Romano political ally "We did it!" :) ◦

Thanks to Everyone For Your Support! Gardiner For Freeholder

Celebrate Gardiner For Freeholder Post Election Party at Turtle Club Tonight at 8:15pm!

Celebrate Kurt Gardiner For Freeholder Post Election Party at Turtle Club in Hoboken tonight at 8:15pm! Win or lose at the polls we will gather to await results and celebrate choice in democracy and good governance for Hoboken and Jersey City Heights residents. The Turtle Club is located at 936 Park Avenue Hoboken, NJ. Their phone number is (201) 710-5960. RSVP to me at kurt.gardiner@gmail.com and tell your friends who support fair taxation and services for Hoboken/Jersey City Heights residents.

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Celebrate Gardiner For Freeholder Post Election Party at Turtle Club Tonight at 8:15pm!

VBM Vote Harvesting over 1,000 in Hoboken!

Here is a breakdown of the vote by mail totals for Freeholder District 2 which includes all of Hoboken and Jersey City Heights. The total count for Hoboken is 1,065 VBMs. That porbably is a new record in Hoboken. The Fourth Ward has a whopping 574 as of today and all the vote by mails have yet to be counted. Jersey City Heights has 155 VBMs. It would appear Mayor Zimmer opponent Frank Raia has been very busy harvesting votes in the 4th Ward in particular. That man is a hell of a vote harvester. Hats off to Frank Raia for getting out the vote. Looking forward to the forensic analysis on the money trail behind this herculean effort.

For reference, here is the link to the full VBM report: http://thebokenonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Hoboken-JCHeights-5th-Freeholder-vote-by-mail-report-11-7-2011.pdf ◦

VBM Vote Harvesting over 1,000 in Hoboken!

Dave Mello Endorses Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder

Hoboken Councilman At -Large Dave Mello gets into the latest rush to endorse Kurt Gardiner's (my)candidacy for Freeholder. His statement and video are below:

In a video release, Hoboken City Councilman David Mello has endorsed Kurt Gardiner for election as Hoboken's representative on the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders. "I've been fighting for the creation of a southwest park in Hoboken for years now," said Mello. "With seventeen percent of Hudson County's tax dollars coming from Hoboken residents, despite Hoboken making up less than eight percent of the County's population, isn't it time that the County fully partnered with Hoboken in efforts to create this park? A southwest park in Hoboken could provide vital flood remediation and greatly improve the quality of life in Hoboken." Mello further said, "Many large residential buildings have gone up just over the southwest borders of Hoboken in recent years. At this moment, cement is being poured for yet another residential building just south of Hoboken's train trestle in Jersey City; the Cast Iron Lofts. It's only logical to see that residents of other Hudson County municipalities will use a southwest park if one is ever created. Hudson County's Fifth District needs a freeholder who will fight for a Hoboken and County partnership in the creation of this park." The Cast Iron Lofts will bring 155 new rental units to the Jersey City neighborhood just over the border from Hoboken's Fourth Ward.

Jersey City already is home to Lincoln Park, a 273.4 acre Hudson County park. Hoboken's only county park is Columbus Park on Clinton Street, a 3.2 acre, mostly passive park space.

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Dave Mello Endorses Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder

Political Cartoon - Brian Stack Eats Hoboken's Money!

A friend of mine who is a Union City artist that used to live in Hoboken sent this political cartoon in. The cartoon is not so much a reflection of the artist's political beliefs but his understanding of where I stand with respect to Brian Stack on how he eats up Hoboken's money at the county level.

Of course Union City Mayor and NJ State Assemblyman Brian Stack enjoys a large plurality in Union City, Hoboken is paying for it. Tomorrow the polls are open from 6am-8pm. Make sure you vote Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder Column C Row 6. Send Hudson County bosses like Brian Stack a message that Hoboken deserves its fair share too. Its Hoboken's tax money too! Shame on you Brian Stack! Arnold Diaz is watching you!

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Political Cartoon - Brian Stack Eats Hoboken's Money!

Councilwoman Jen Giattino endorses Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder

Hoboken Councilwoman Jen Giattino of the 6th Ward endorses Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder. Read below for another example of additional support that is out there for Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder. The momentum is picking up for my candidacy. It seems my ideas are resonating with voters and my fellow City Councilmen and woman....

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Councilwoman Jen Giattino endorses Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder

Hoboken City Councilman Ravi Bhalla Endorses Kurt Gardiner For Freeholder

Ravi Bhalla, Hoboken City Council President has endorsed Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder for Hudson County District 5:

Dear Editor-

I write to offer support and an endorsement of my good friend, Kurt Gardiner, for county Freeholder for the 5th District, which includes Hoboken and portions of Jersey City Heights.

When Mayor Dawn Zimmer and I first ran for elective office, we were not politicians, but rather citizens sincerely concerned about the direction of Hoboken, and wanted to serve to make positive change for our community. Last Friday’s sale of the Hoboken University Medical Center is just one example of how regular people focused solely on Hoboken’s best interests, can bring their respective talents to the table and achieve historic change for the City of Hoboken. It is also an example of how an ordinary person with extraordinary determination – Mayor Zimmer – brought together like-minded residents to successfully work for the greater good of Hoboken.

We must also remember that Hoboken is not an island unto itself. A large portion of our tax levy is County taxes that are impacted by the decisions of our county legislators, also known as Freeholders. It is important for us to understand the impact that policies at the county and state level have on Hoboken, and for well intentioned and talented residents in Hoboken to step up and run for elective office not just at the local level, but at the county and state level as well.

Kurt Gardiner is one of those persons and I humbly request you cast your ballot for Kurt tomorrow. For as long as I have known Kurt, he has been an honest, thoughtful, and humorous straight-shooter. Kurt does not pull any punches, even with me. There have been times where Kurt has disagreed with a position I have taken, and he never hesitates to call me and express his disagreement. Kurt is a courageous man who I believe has the intelligence, energy and ability to stand up to business as usual at the county level and advocate for the best interests of Hoboken and Jersey City residents.

My endorsement of Kurt is not a reflection of my views of our current Freeholder, Anthony Romano. For as long as I have known him, Freeholder Romano has been a professional and true gentlemen in all of our interactions. Freeholder Romano works very hard and I sincerely believe also has the best intentions of the residents of the 5th District. So you have two good candidates to choose from.

At this time in Hoboken’s history, however, our interests would be better served through the election of a qualified candidate emerging from outside the confines of traditional Democratic county politics. That person is Kurt Gardiner and I sincerely hope you will cast your vote for him tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Ravi S. Bhalla
Democrats for Honest Government

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Hoboken City Councilman Ravi Bhalla Endorses Kurt Gardiner For Freeholder

Anthony Romano Spending Big Bucks to get Re-Elected - Has Mrs. Richard Mason's Money

Anthony Romano is spending big bucks to be re-elected as Freeholder of District 5. He was spotted this morning at the ferry campaigning with 2nd Ward City Counilwoman Beth Mason who did everything in her power to blow up the hospital sale and almost plunge Hoboken into bankruptcy to just make Mayor Dawn Zimmer look bad. Beth Mason's scorched earth politics and quest for power have earned her citywide ire and yet Anthony Romano shows poor judgement and still campaigns with one of the most toxic politicians in Hoboken's history. Makes you wonder if he really has Hoboken's best interests at heart. Beth Mason/ Ricky Mason of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz put in $5,000 to Romano's kittle and had distant 3rd place finisher Ines Garcia pimp out the party line with a fluff piece on Romano's minimal accomplishments for Hoboken in The Hudson Reporter. Both Peter Cunningham and Jen Giattino submitted endorsements of me but they were not published by the Hoboken Reporter.

Below is the cover page from Anthony Romano's 11 day Election report filed late on November 4, 2011. To date Anthony Romano has raised over $108,000 for his re-election and spent over $82,000. Looks like he wants his county car and all the perks really bad. He has essentially ran a campaign of prestige while I have run one on platform. To date I have spent about $1300 and am self-funded to $2500.

Anthony Romano is getting big financial support from HUMC Deal Destroyer Beth Mason as well as Hudson County Bosses like O'Donnel, North Bergen Democrats and Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith. No wonder Hoboken gets back pennies on the dollar for its $46 million we paid in 2010. Anthony Romano is beholden to County Bosses!

Even Peter Cammarano slate-mate Mike Novak who ran with the corrupt Mayor Cammarano who made the classic mistake of going to a money drop with his bag man and Tom Degise get into the act with their contributions.

For reference the latest ELEC reports of Anothony Romano below:

Anthony Romano 11 Day ELEC Report Filed November 4th:

http://thebokenonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Anthony-Romano-Freeholder-11-Day-Report-11-4-2011.pdf

Anthony Romano 29 Day ELEC Report Filed November 4th:

http://thebokenonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Anthony-Romano-Freeholder-29-Day-Report-11-4-2011.pdf ◦

Anthony Romano Spending Big Bucks to get Re-Elected - Has Mrs. Richard Mason's Money

Mayor Dawn Zimmer on Fundraiser, Hospital and Tuesday's Election on Rent Control and Freeholder Race

Mayor Dawn Zimmer gives the Freeholder Race which a mention from her extensive email list. As has been reported earlier the Mayor has stayed neutral on the Freeholder Race between me and Anthony Romano and I respect that. I can't think though that a mention from the Mayor can't help me in terms of my get out the vote effort. Remember to vote Tuesday November 8th Column C Row 6 for the Candidate with the best ideas on how to give Hoboken taxpayers a tax cut and Jersey City Heights and Hoboken more services. That candidate is me Kurt Gardiner and so far the grass roots response has been encouraging. The better my turnout the stronger the message back to the County. Tell your friends.  Rock the vote and the Hudson County Bosses that take our money and give little in return!

Dear Friends,

Great news! Hoboken University Medical Center has officially been saved. On Friday the funds were wired and I received a certificate from TD Bank that the City is no longer responsible for the $52 million bond guarantee!

On Thursday, November 17th, please come and join a celebration at my house, and help make sure we can continue to move Hoboken in the right direction. (See invitation here) .

I cannot thank all the Authority members enough, and in particular, Chairwoman Toni Tomarazzo, for their tremendous contributions to our community.

I also want to thank all of you who gave your support on Sunday night. Thanks to the many citizens who raised their voices the message was clear: Our Hospital and our financial well being are not toys for cynical politicians to play with - the political games that are threatening the health of our community must stop now.

Tuesday, November 8th Election:

Please remember to vote this Tuesday. While many of the races are not in doubt, there are two important items that I’d like to highlight:

Rent control: The new rent control Ordinance being challenged by referendum maintains the core protections of our existing rent control system and was passed unanimously by the City Council with my support.
It is not perfect, but represents a genuine attempt to resolve serious issues with the existing law. Those issues led a court to rule that elements of the existing law were applied in a manner which was “arbitrary and capricious.”

The new Ordinance seeks to create a fairer rent control system for both renters and owners, while helping to protect the City from significant potential litigation exposure. The legislation does not increase in any
way the legal rent that may be charged on any apartment.

The ballot is confusing. A “No” vote supports the new legislation and will allow the modest changes approved unanimously by the City Council to become law.

Freeholder: The Board of Chosen Freeholders is, in effect, the City Council of the County. Kurt Gardiner is running as an independent against the incumbent Freeholder, Anthony Romano. This is technically a partisan election, but no Republican is on the ballot. Kurt stepped up to ensure that voters would have a choice, since uncontested elections are not consistent with our democracy.

I urge each of you to learn about the candidates and cast your vote for the individual who you feel will best represent Hoboken’s interests in the County.

Thank you all for your support, and I hope to see many of you on November 17th.

- Dawn
[Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer] ◦

Mayor Dawn Zimmer on Fundraiser, Hospital and Tuesday's Election on Rent Control and Freeholder Race

Campaign Literature Available for Pickup for Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder

Thanks to my supporters so far that have been getting the word out about my candidacy for Freeholder this Tuesday November 8th. Vote Kurt Gardiner column C Row 6 for an end to business as usual and more services and lower taxes for Hoboken and Jersey City Heights residents!

I have literature that has been produced and attached here for your downloading convenience. I also have many 5X7 campaign post cards that you can pick up at 807 Garden Street Apartment 6 at the following times:

• Sunday November 6th 6pm-9pm
• Monday November 7th 8pm-10pm

My full address is 807 Garden Street Apt 6 Hoboken, NJ 07030.

My email is kurt.gardiner@gmail.com if these times don't work for you.

Gardiner for Freeholder 8X11 flier:

http://thebokenonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gardiner-for-Freeholder-Flier-1.pdf

Gardiner for Freeholder 5X7 cards front:

http://thebokenonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gardiner-for-Freeholder-5X7-Cards-Front.pdf

Gardiner for Freeholder 5X7 cards back:

http://thebokenonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gardiner-for-Freeholder-5X7-Cards-Back.pdf


Note: If you print out any significant amount of literature above provided please keep track of the cost and email me at kurt.gardiner@gmail.com with a receipt attached for reimbursement from my campaign funds as an in-kind contribution. If  you think your copying costs will go over $50 let me know so I can keep track of costs.  It is is very important that my campaign do things by the book.  My campaign is about leading by example. My opponent filed his 29 day report on November 4th. Not a good example of following the rules. Yet another reason I am running for office.

Below are pictures of 5x7 campaign cards that I produced. Kudos to Mimosa Digital on Washington Street for turning this print job around in one day! They are awesome and very customer focused.

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Campaign Literature Available for Pickup for Kurt Gardiner for Freeholder

Sample Ballots November 8th Election

On Tuesday November 8th Hoboken will have the following choiuces to make for election day: NJ Sate Senator, NJ Assembly, County Executive, Register and Freeholder. There will also be two public questions as well 1) To Allow Sports Wagering at Atlantic City and Horsetracks and 2) To Repeal Ordinance Z-88 on Rent Control Changes made Recently by the Hoboken City Council.

I, Kurt Gardiner am running for Freeholder for Hoboken/JC Heights in District 5 of Hudson County. My ballot position is 6C for change and cuts. I am on a platform of more services and lower taxes which is actually achievable since Hoboken has been getting the short of the stick for years from Hudson County. My website is: www.gardinerforfreeholder.com if you wish to see details on platform. ◦

Sample Ballots November 8th Election

Donna Antonucci- Rally to Save the Hoboken Hospital Sunday October 30th at 6pm at City Hall

Here is an email from citizen activist Donna Antonucci urging residents to attend the Hoboken City Council meeting this Sunday at 6pm. At stake is the future of the Hoboken Hospital that so far to date is in jeopardy as the garage deal needed to complete the sale needs a total of 6 votes. So far the obstructionist minority City Council has said no and risks plunging the City into financial chaos for what is perceived by most honest taxpayers as merely political.

To date the minority members of Mason, Castellano (Terry), Russo and Occhipiniti (nicknamed MORTe which is Italian for death) have failed to do their fiduciary duty to the Hoboken taxpayer. Since their power comes from the mob (of paid for voters) the only thing they understand is the mob, a mob of angry Hoboken taxpayers that is. Thus Donna urges the citizens of Hoboken to sacre some sense into these maniacal, vindictive, irresponsible, childish, petty, lying City Council members to stop playing politics and do the right thing: save the Hoboken Hospital. Will you join? Read on...

Did you call the Council Minority yet? Call again. You can also send a text message.

The Council Minority (Mason, Russo, Castellano and Occhipinti) are set to bankrupt Hoboken.

Your taxes will [increase substaitally] because of their political grandstanding. 

• Call Beth Mason at 646-339-2991 today to tell her to vote "Yes" on Sunday. If that box is full, call 201-656-7549
• Call Tim Occhipinti at 917-721-3926 today to tell him to vote "Yes" on Sunday
• Michael Russo is at 201-401-9687
• Theresa Castellano is at - (201) 656-9449

We also need you to show up on Sunday at 6:00PM at City Hall to urge them to Vote "YES" on the Hospital Parking Agreement.

Please go to the mic and make a statement that they are destroying Hoboken and to stop. Make it clear you are ready to make them personally responsible for the damage.

This will trigger a $100MM tax liability that will be due immediately. It can trigger a bankruptcy and render your property worthless.

The Hoboken University Hospital is a failing asset that is losing millions of dollars a month. The

taxpayers are on the hook for a $52MM bond that the City backed a few years ago. The hospital board negotiated a deal to sell the hospital to Hold Co, a private company. They have a track record of turning hospitals around.

A hospital needs parking for it to be successful. We want the hospital to succeed and Hold Co insisted on parking. The hospital board agreed to work with the city to give parking access at the mid-town garage as part of the deal - the garage adjacent to the hospital that was built for the hospital.

Since it is municipal property, the City Council needs to passed the Parking Agreement Ordinance that gives Hold Co. access.

The Parking Agreement Ordinance was passed with the 5 votes on the council that support the hospital sale: Bhalla, Cunningham, Marsh, Giattino and Mello. However, an Ordinance normally takes 20 days before it can be implemented. The hospital cannot make payroll next week and will close triggering payment of the bond and all the costs associated with closing the hospital.

It takes 6 votes to pass an emergency measure to implement the Ordinance immediately without having to wait the normal 20 day waiting period to implement an Ordinance. No one in the Council minority supported this measure at the last Council meeting. This bitter move by the Council minority could sink this deal and we, the people, will bear the results of their irresponsible action.

Taxpayers will be on the hook for $52 million plus, and all residents will lose because the hospital will shut down. In addition to the bond, taxpayers will be liable for payroll (which must be paid before the bond). We would also have to pay personnel costs to move existing patients. The estimate is $100MM that will be needed immediately.

 

We need to show force and voice our opposition to bankrupting the city for political reasons.

The state is also watching and we want them to step in.

Showing up will encourage the state to act. Please come to City Hall on Sunday at 5:30 to sign up to address the Council. The meeting starts at 6:00.

- Donna Antonucci

 

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Donna Antonucci- Rally to Save the Hoboken Hospital Sunday October 30th at 6pm at City Hall

Peter Cunningham to Hoboken Council Minority - Save the Hospital!

5th Ward City Councilman Peter Cunningham chimes in on the City of Hoboken Hospital situation. There is a special meeting on Sunday October 30th at 6pm to see if one more member of the City Council can pass the garage aggreement to waive the 20 day waiting period as the Hospital is running out of money....

Friends, Family and Neighbors,

And yes again, we are at a very critical juncture in Hoboken's history Tomorrow night at 6pm, City Council Chambers, the minority council will have another opportunity (and perhaps last) to favor the
immediate approval of the necessary parking agreement so the new entity can USE [not own] the mid town garage for it's employees and patients.

It is the final piece to close the hospital financing to save Hoboken's hospital and relieve the City of it's $52 million bond guarantee.  It is a condition to close the transaction which should have happened Wednesday, but the minority council of Mason, Russo, Castellano and Occipiniti voted no!

As many of you know, the process for the City to divest itself of Hoboken Univ Medical Center has been on going since the Mayor appointed (and the Council confirmed) a series of highly qualified
individuals tasked with this goal in mind - sell the hospital under our conditions (set forth in the Request for Proposal) that would keep this valuable and historic healthcare entity to serve Hoboken and the Hudson County region, and relieve the City and it's taxpayers from the $52 million bond guarantee.

This action tomorrow night is our last chance to save our hospital and relieve us of the guarantee that surely will be exercised if we cannot close this transaction.  Please attend this meeting and/or write your
councilperson/s to demand that they support this measure.  It is our last hope.

[Peter also refers to Dr. Jonatan Metsch's piece published earlier today on the Hoboken Journal]

- Peter Cunningham
5th Ward City Councilman ◦

Peter Cunningham to Hoboken Council Minority - Save the Hospital!

The Case for Selling the Hospital - by Dr. Jonathan Metsch

It was widely reported that the HUMC sale was close to being finalized after Chris Christie came up with an extra $5 million but the parking agreement for the Hospital sale needed to be passed by a 6-3 super majority on Hoboken's City Council at the last meeting in order to wave the 20 day waiting period before it can go into affect. The issue is simply, the Hospital will not have enough cash to wait that long and will in all likelihood be forced to close. As one hospital official put it "no parking, no hospital".

Without this parking agreement in place on the hospital deal can not be finalized. Mayor Dawn Zimmer is on record saying the hospital will close because it does not have the funding to make the next payroll. If that were to happen the hospital be insolvent and Hoboken might have to declare bankruptcy. 1200 Hospital jobs would be lost, there would be massive municipal layoffs and tax increases.The City of Hoboken could also be put under state supervision.

The Council of No minority of Beth Mason, Tim Occhipinti, Terry Castellano, and Mike Russo  that have been obstructing the Mayor on this deal from day one seem poised to kill the deal. A special meeting this Sunday October 30th at 6pm at Hoboken City Hall has been called and one of them needs to change their mind or the likelihood of this deal falling through is pretty high. Mike Russo accuses the Administration of crying wolf but most intelligent taxpayers that The Hoboken Journal has spoken to are aghast at the shear recklessness and lack of fiduciary duty the Council Minority have displayed here.

Dr. Jonathan Metsch who has served on this HUMC Board for several years for free chimes in with his case for saving the hospital. Read below for his editorial

The Case for Selling the Hospital - by Dr. Jonathan Metsch

On October 7th a federal bankruptcy judge in Newark approved both the settlement agreement between all interested parties, and the sale of the Hospital.

On October 21st, New Jersey's Commissioner of Health and Senior Services issued a Certificate of Need for the transaction, the final necessary regulatory approval to transfer ownership of the Hospital.The transaction's path to closing has been undermined by the City Council minority, where four members have ignored a public policy imperative to get the sale done, and turned the process into a political confrontation focused simply on undermining the Mayor - even if it triggers a the fiscal calamity,that is, an immediate call on the $52 million in City guaranteed bonds.

The City took over the failing Saint Mary Hospital in 2007 using a convoluted governance/ management structure that in large part has led to the current problem. Councilman Russo voted for the City takeover, which was meant to be a short term bridging plan.

A few weeks ago Council members Russo and Mason orchestrated a plan to defeat a self-funding $5 million bond ordinance which was part of the Mayor's exit strategy to privatize the hospital and assure its sustainability.

Last week the same Council members blocked immediate implementation of an ordinance allowing the buyer to lease parking transponders, so the new hospital owners could continue to using the parking garage. Now, the sale cannot be closed until the twenty day clock expires.

As a for-profit entity the Hospital will pay property taxes of well over $500,000 per year!

With the recent public disclosure of three other bids it is important to note that the mythology that Council members Mason and Russo planted about the viability of other offers was just political shenanigans. It was easy for the other bidders to "reinvent" their bids after the selected buyers proposal was posted on the Authority and City web-sites. But they were still deficient proposals.

Nonetheless we are right on the finish line. Governor Christie provided $5 million to add to the amount to be distributed to creditors, additional payments were made by the buyer, and numerous other small steps were identified to fill in the funding gap.

In 2007 after Bon Secours signaled its intention to walk-away from Saint Mary Hospital in Hoboken, and a merger strategy failed to identify a partner, the City of Hoboken, enabled by special state legislation, established the Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority which became the owner and governing Board of the hospital. As part of the change of ownership the City guaranteed $52 million in bonds to be used for capital projects. The hospital was renamed Hoboken University Medical Center. (H.U.M.C.) When the '07 Audited Financial Statement was finally issued in September '09 it showed a $23 million loss, followed by a $10 million loss in '08, both bottom lines further adversely exacerbated by significant increases in accounts payable. The hospital was in a "zone of insolvency."

Mayor Zimmer recognized the challenges facing H.U.M.C. and took immediate action beginning in November 2009 when elected Mayor of Hoboken and became a Commissioner on the Authority.

Immediate actions were taken to stabilize the hospital including:

•  New Commissioners were nominated including a former New Jersey health system CEO, a regulatory/ compliance attorney, a municipal bond underwriter, a bond insurance executive with extensive restructuring experience, and a health care company in-house counsel - all residents of Hoboken.
• Where previously there had been only a Finance Committee (which did not publish minutes), and a Quality Committee with only one outside Boardmember on it (chaired by an ex-officio physician member), two new committeeswere immediately establish - Audit and Compliance, and Strategic Planning.
• Playing catch-up to industry "best practices" an operations/financial performance/ quality dashboard was put in place.
• Having missed the opportunity in '09, an application was made for Health Care Stabilization funding and the State awarded the hospital $7 million in 2010.

Then Mayor/ Commissioner Zimmer established the following goals for the Hospital:

•  Ensuring that H.U.M.C. remains open as a full service, acute Care hospital providing access to quality medical care for all Hoboken residents and neighboring communities.
• Maintaining the almost 1200 jobs of our valued hospital staff.
• Respecting the commitment of the Hospital's medical staff to the Hospital over the recent challenging years.
• Addressing the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services regionalization objectives of reducing excess capacity and Hudson County hospitals' reliance on extraordinary State financial subsidies
• Relieving the City of Hoboken from the financial obligation of the bond guarantee while achieving Hospital sustainability by "privatization," that is finding a new owner with access to capital so the Hospital is able to consider new program development, acquire advanced technology, and maintain the facility.

Next, the Hospital Authority chose a financial advisor and special counsel, an RFP Process was established and implemented, proposals were evaluated, and a "buyer" was selected by a unanimous vote of the Authority. Mayor Zimmer established a close working relationship with the Governor's Office, the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, the NJHCFFA, and DCA.

Despite overwhelming legacy issues we are on the cusp of guarantying that H.U.M.C. remains an acute care hospital for all residents of Hoboken, those who work in Hoboken's bustling business community, the thousands of commuters who pass through Hoboken every day, the residents of neighboring communities, and maintains its critical role in emergency preparedness.

"Re-Privatizing" the Hospital will bring it stability, access to capital, and the ability to compete in the hospital marketplace without dependency on state subsidies and cash advances. It will also relieve the City of the bond guarantee, freeing up bond capacity for other necessary and immediate infrastructure improvements.

This Essential Safety-Net Hospital management transformation initiative - hospital sustainability through privatization - will be a "self-sufficiency" model for replication elsewhere in New Jersey.

Under the Mayor's leadership H.U.M.C.'s finances were stabilized, sustainability goals were established, an RFP process for the sale was managed, an Asset Purchase Agreement was negotiated with the buyer, and the transaction was successfully moved through bankruptcy proceedings and the Certificate of Need process.

Although the Hospital is a "third-rail" of Hoboken politics Mayor Zimmer had the courage to tell Hobokenites that the Hospital is on the verge of closure unless this sale is consummated immediately.

The choice is simple. Support the Mayor's actions to navigate around the Council minority's obstructionist tactics. Or Hoboken will no longer have an acute care hospital but a financial meltdown instead.

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The Case for Selling the Hospital - by Dr. Jonathan Metsch

Vote Column C For Change for Kurt Gardiner Freeholder November 8th, 2011

My latest update on my candidacy for Hudson County Freeholder...

Kurt Gardiner for Hudson County Freeholder

Vote Column C for Change on November 8^th, 2011

For those of you who may not know me by name, my name is Kurt Gardiner and I am running for Freeholder District 5 in Hudson County this coming November 8^th. My opponent, the incumbent Anthony “Stick’ Romano was hand picked by former Hoboken Mayor Dave Roberts to run on the HCDO ticket in 2008 is up for re-election after one three-year term in office. The Office of Freeholder is a county legislative position of which there are 9 seats in total representing Hudson County as whole. The Fifth District consists of Hoboken in its entirety as well as parts of Jersey City Heights. Hudson County taxes make about 1/3 of your property tax bill with School and Municipal/City tax making up the other 2/3ds.

The reasons I am running are quite straightforward:

1)   Hoboken was taxed $46 million in 2010 and received pennies on the dollar back in services. Hoboken is being financially pillaged by every other municipality at the County level. It really is fiscal piracy. Romano has passed all three bloated County Budgets while Freeholder.

2)   Hoboken needs an independent representative that will finally advocate for Hoboken taxpayers rather than sit idly by and take directive from County bosses. These are the same County bosses that donated to my opponent’s campaign war chest at his recent fundraiser.

3)   My campaign will at least give Hoboken voters a choice. Up until early June, Anthony “I love the Russos” Romano was planning on running unopposed until I stepped into the ring. “An election without a choice is not democracy but rather a coronation”.

4)   I feel I have issues that are worth discussing such as operational audits and viewing government from a serviced based architecture rather than a patronage based one which has been the dominant viewpoint of the County for decades. This political patronage has led to the creation of low show and now shows jobs that make our County Government more inefficient than it should be.

5)   It is my hope that my campaign will create more awareness about Hudson County issues and how they affect Hoboken and Jersey City Heights. This is not about my future as a politician but rather the core issues I am running on. As an independent going against an entrenched political machine, I am aware that I am a long shot to win this race. However, this election is just a beginning and not an end. I will continue to try to peel away at the smelly onion that is Hudson County Government to expose how little it serves the constituents of Hoboken and even Jersey City Heights.

6)   Anthony “Stick” Romano is allied with the political opponents of the Hoboken taxpayer. He is an ally of Mike Russo, Terry Castellano, Carmelo Garcia, Tim Occhipinti, Frank “Pupie” Raia, and third place 2009 Mayoral Reject Beth Mason. Beth Mason and her money have tried everything to sabotage the Hospital deal which would cost the Hoboken taxpayers greatly should it fail. It is a shame to see these political “friends” of Anthony “Stick” Romano have such disregard for the Hoboken taxpayer just to make the Mayor look bad. He even had the audacity to Award Beth Mason the Columbus Park Italian woman in the year which was a real slap in the face to the tireless efforts of Toni Tomarazzo who as chair of The HUMC Board and has used her skill to work on saving the hospital while Mason spewed her venom and spent her money.

7)   It would appear my opponent doesn’t want to talk about the issues. My opponent had initially challenged me to two debates which I gladly accepted before the Labor Day Holiday. Now however, it would appear he is trying to back out of the debates now that political handlers like Jaime Cryan are involved in his campaign. It is a shame it appears that his campaign doesn’t want the issues brought to light and host an open discussion on them. Very undemocratic.

Hoboken gets "no giggity" from our current
Freeholder Anthony "Stick/Quagmire" Romano

8)   Anthony Romano isn’t raising the bar that much. During the 5 term 15 year reign of error by Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons (another Anthony Romano political ally) prior to Romano, Hoboken got the short end of the stick as well when it came to county services. That didn’t stop Maurice from pocketing large contracts for various municipal entities such as the Hoboken BOE and North Hudson Sewer Authority just to name a few. Anthony might not be pocketing contracts himself but somehow Michelle Russo almost seemed to land a County job she had no prior experience in.“Stick” remained silent but the resulting controversy eventually led to the offer being withdrawn. It was seem what is good for the goose isn’t always what is good for the gander. Stick comes from a long line of Hudson County yes men that are inserted into power so that Hoboken’s money can be divvied up among the others. Very little has changed. So a couple of roads got paved. What about Washington Street ? That should be a County Road ! Are we supposed to kiss his feet because Hudson Street got repaved after more than a decade?

9)   I am a taxpayer not subsidized by government. Anthony Romano lives in Marine View Plaza which was designed as middle income housing to assist people who want to stay in Hoboken and need a break on rent. Despite having now a substantially larger income than the average resident there he still remains in that facility. This is not at all illegal but shows how my opponent feels entitled to governmental services he no longer needs. As an elected official he should set a better example and let someone else who needs the lower rent. I have no problem with assisting lower income people with respect to housing but I will maintain that all assistance for housing should be means tested. How Anthony Romano doesn’t get point and lead by example is beyond me.

10)  End the Quagmire.

Quag-mire (noun)

1. An area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog.

2. A situation from which extrication is very difficult: a quagmire of financial indebtedness.

3. Anthony “Stick” Romano’s nickname in some circles.

4. A Family Guy character that is a lothario stuck in the free love 70’s  and says stupid things like giggity giggity. Amusing to some perhaps but not that useful. 

5. Another three years of Anthony “Stick” Romano as Freeholder of Hudson County District 5.

 

Stop the self mutilating taxpayer insanity and vote Kurt Gardiner Row C for Change and a County Tax Cut on November 8^th. Go to http://www.gardinerforfreeholder.com/ for more information.

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Vote Column C For Change for Kurt Gardiner Freeholder November 8th, 2011

Hoboken Journal on Hold

I knew at some point it would come to this but with my commitments I can't keep blogging about politics in the near term. Thus I have decided to put my bog on hold indefinitely. The reasons are both personal and business. I have been working on an exciting new venture at http://www.thebokenonline.com/ and have decided to focus my efforts on that website. Due to our comprehensive coverage of Hurricane Irene we had a bit of a traffic breakthrough and according to our Histats counter had almost 18,000 hits on Sunday August 28th. Thus I have decided to focus my efforts there where the most eyeballs are.

Without my blog active there are still plenty of sources of information although I might not agree specifically in all instances with any of their editorial slants, for the most part they print what they think is accurate...

Here are some traditional news sites in the Hoboken area:

Hoboken Patch: http://www.hobokenpatch.com/
Hoboken Now: www.NJ.com/Hobokennow
Hoboken Reporter: http://www.hobokenreporter.com/

Pro good-governance/reform blogs:

Mile Square View: http://www.hobokenhorse.com/
Grafix Avenger: http://www.grafixavenger.blogspot.com/

The City of Hoboken Website: http://www.hobokennj.org/

My Remaining Websites.....

Gardiner for Freeholder: http://www.gardinerforfreeholder.com/ (vote for Kurt Gardiner Row C for Freeholder November 8th)

TheBokenOnline: http://www.thebokenonline.com/
TheBoken Twitter: www.twitter.com/theboken
TheBokenOnline Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheBokenOnline

Please follow TheBoken on either Twitter and Facebook  or both for the latest updates about Hoboken.

And I leave you with a few of my favorite YouTube Videos I produced over the years:


The Political Satire JibJab Series:

The Batman Dance Videos

Peter Cammarano Must Go!

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Hoboken Journal on Hold

Mayor Zimmer's Two New Appointments Shenkler and Tooke

The latest from Hoboken City Hall....

MAYOR ZIMMER APPOINTS PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR AND ACTING ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR

Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced today that she is appointing Jon L. Tooke as Director of Public Safety and Leslie Shenkler as acting Director of Environmental Services.

“So many people deserve recognition for the response to Hurricane Irene, but I want to thank Jon Tooke, who I am appointing Director of Public Safety,” said Mayor Zimmer. “Jon wasn’t scheduled to begin for a few weeks, but he answered the call to help when we needed it most. He caught a flight back from Washington so he could start working on Saturday just as Irene was about to hit, and I think he has done an excellent job so far at keeping our community safe. It is extremely important that we effectively integrate emergency services between Police, Fire, EMS and OEM in a way that maximizes efficiency and public safety, and Jon has the background and experience to make that happen.”

“Jon is a true professional who will bring to Hoboken nearly 30 years experience in the Jersey Police Department, which he helped modernize through professional development and the implementation of technologies like COMPSTAT,” added Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “As Patrol Bureau Commander, he ran the largest bureau in the JCPD and was responsible for staffing and deploying more than 600 employees with a focus on professionalism, service to the community and efficiency. He has more than 20 years experience as a law enforcement instructor, including an FBI-run training program for police leadership and management.”

Mr. Tooke has a Masters in Criminal Justice from New Jersey City University, and his professional development includes the West Point Command and Leadership School, FBI National Academy, DEA Drug Unit Commander Academy and FBI Leadership Fellows Program. He served in the Jersey City Police Department from 1979 to 2008 as City Captain, West District Commander and Patrol Bureau Commander, among other roles. He has since served as an FBI-LEEDA National Training Coordinator.

“I am also announcing that I am appointing Leslie Shenkler as acting Director of Environmental Services,” said Mayor Zimmer. “I thank him for joining our team and leading the cleanup effort after this storm.”

Mr. Shenkler, a veteran who served in the US Army Corps of Engineer, has 10 years of experience serving as Borough Administrator for the Boroughs of Rutherford and Allendale and previously served as Director of the General Services Division for Bergen County for 10 years. He is a registered architect, professional planner, and IMFA Certified Facility Manager.

The confirmation of the appointment of Director Tooke will be on the agenda at the next City Council meeting.

Click here to view Mr. Tooke’s resume.

Click here to view Mr. Shenkler’s resume.

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Mayor Zimmer's Two New Appointments Shenkler and Tooke