T.Paine Blogger of Common Sense Hoboken at it Again!

Blogger T. Paine

T.Paine the blogger of Common Sense Hoboken has another new and very lengthy post: "City Council, Corrupted! (Pamphlet #2)".  The author identifies himself as male with the occupation as author, pamphleteer. In his about section on the blog he identifies himself as follows:

"I speak an open and disinterested language, dictated by no passion but that of humanity. Who the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the DOCTRINE ITSELF, not the MAN. Yet it may not be necessary to say, That he is unconnected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence public or private, but the influence of reason and principle. Hoboken, February 14, 2011"

Excerpt from City Council, Corrupted! (Pamphlet #2)" on Common Sense Hoboken Blog:

"An Argument For Exposing The Desire For Permanence By Feigning A Champion:

Despite being convicted by the FBI for taking bribes, some Members of Council share in the stock of a mayoral legacy notorious for ignoring Hoboken residents but for self-gain, which undoubtedly included awarding countless city jobs in return for support and votes, resulting in a bloated city payroll that, to this day, represents over two-thirds of the city's annual budget. So large is this cost, that all the taxes collected from we residents can not cover all payroll costs. Yet, every time a mayor endeavors to responsibly shrink staffing to reasonable levels, the champion pretender takes to the streets with a rabble-rousing mantra that colors a mayor cruel and fashions this Member of Council the protector, nay, PATRON of all residents. The poor community result, in fact, is primarily protection of HIS job and increased taxes to the residents. Surely those few who were to lose their jobs would also benefit, but wherein does the general public benefit from such strategy? Alas, after all this time, the goals and aspirations of some Members of Council have not changed, and more importantly, have gone nowhere. Stay the feigned champion, yet do nothing much for the city as a whole."

Click on the links below to read the whole article.

Link to article: http://commonsensehoboken.blogspot.com/2011/02/city-council-corrupted-pamphlet-2.html
Link to site: http://commonsensehoboken.blogspot.com/2011/02/city-council-corrupted-pamphlet-2.html ◦

T.Paine Blogger of Common Sense Hoboken at it Again!

Deconstructing Hoboken - at HHM February 27, 2011 2-5 PM Opening Reception

The Hoboken Historical Museum is having this opening event this weekend by artist Sterne Slavin:

Artist/photographer Sterne Slaven has an eye for the industrial soul of Hoboken. When he moved here in 1983, after graduating art school, he found himself drawn again and again to the old factory buildings in his uptown neighborhood: Ferguson Propeller Works, the old Shipyard machine shop, the Maxwell House coffee plant. He captured haunting images of many of these buildings on the verge of being replaced by the newer condo buildings, some in the process of being dismantled.

Born in Pittsburgh but raised in suburban Englewood, N.J., Slaven says he's always had an affinity for old, rusting factories and broken glass and metal. He returned to Pittsburgh to study drawing and photography at Carnegie-Mellon University, and moved to Hoboken afterwards not just because the rents were more affordable than in Manhattan, but because he liked the look and feel of the city, and was happy to stay west of the Hudson, where his family still lives. In his career, he's worked as a photographer's assistant, a carpenter and as a prototype model maker in industrial design, and prowled the city taking photographs on weekends and evenings, when the light is less harsh and more diffuse.

For this show, Deconstructing Hoboken: Photomontages by Sterne Slaven, he incorporated the photographs, along with some double exposures and abstracted patterns from old buildings, into intriguing large-scale composite images. Some date from the mid- to late 1980s, and some are more recent. They depict Hoboken's industrial buildings in their twilight years, including the huge ship propellers that used to lie on their sides in the yard of the Ferguson Propeller Works at 12th and Grand St. The effect of the layered photos in the montages and the use of double exposures gives the images a ghostly effect, as though the buildings have left traces-which they have for anyone who lived here at the time.

“Though perhaps not consciously,” Slaven says, “the pieces, with their overlapping and transparencies and general visual chaos, seem to echo the deconstruction of the buildings themselves, their broken windows and piles of twisted rebar.”

Slaven's first Hoboken Museum exhibit opens on Sunday, February 27, with a free opening reception from 2 - 5 p.m. His work has also been shown in galleries and juried exhibitions in Hoboken, New York, Pennsylvania and most recently at the Englewood Library in 2006. Slaven will give an illustrated talk about his work on Sunday, Feb. 30 at 4 p.m., and his work will be on display through Mar. 6. The exhibit is supported by a block grant from the State/County Partnership program for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs. ◦

Deconstructing Hoboken - at HHM February 27, 2011 2-5 PM Opening Reception

Twit of the Day- Terry Castellano

Theresa Castellano tweeted this morning that "There are no plagues in #Hoboken". This was in response to remarks made by Mayor Zimmer during her address when she said "With shipworms eating our waterfront, termites at City Hall, and flooding, I sometimes feel like I am taking on the plagues of Hoboken. But I am very glad to report that there is light at the end of the tunnel with solving our 50-plus year massive flooding problem."
That section of the Mayor's speech was clearly intended to shed light on the situation and the audience laughed. Since Terry Castellano snubbed the Mayor by not attending her speech she is taking this statement out of context for political purposes.

There is indeed a plague in Hoboken, one of political patronage, pandering, obstructionism, politrickery, "chicken hawk" budget making, financial data distortion (the surplus), and blatant disregard for the City Council rules. This plague Terry Castellano is very much a part of as she is one of the "New Majority" that must be voted out of office in order to assure the Mayor can accomplish her many goals come May. All the best to Eric Kurta, her challenger.

Of course if you really want to hamstring the Mayor and forestall progress, by all means Terry Castellano is your choice. It is a free country after all. Terry has a track record of obstruction. However, since she has done many people "favors" along the way she still remains a formidbale challenge. The old maxim goes: never underestimate your opponent. ◦

Twit of the Day- Terry Castellano

Room 84 Tonight - Music by polyRhythm

This Thursdays Event, Feb 24th at Room 84 in Hoboken....

Music by "polyRhythm"

"Gathering of Global Soul Rhythm"

Special Guest DJ "Esteban Fernandez"

Hosted by: Serena Calo and; Sonny Lopez (newlite Muzik)

Promotions By: Jand R Venues, Mykael, Babie Eddie, Get Deep, MJ, and Jesus

$175 Bottles of CIROC in Lounge

AT BAR: $7 ciroc Drinks, $5 Martini's (apple, cosmo, french), $5 Corona's $3 Bud Lights

Doors open: 9pm

ROOM 84
84 Washington st
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
201-420-1112 ◦

Room 84 Tonight - Music by polyRhythm

Hoboken Advisory- Major delays on Lincoln Tunnel due to Accident

An Advisory Message has been issued by the City of Hoboken.

Thursday February 24, 2011 9:21 AM EST

Major delays on Lincoln Tunnel due to accident

An accident in the Lincoln Tunnel is causing major delays. Take alternate routes, NY Waterway ferries, PATH, etc.

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/4659016/?sub_id=306304. ◦

Hoboken Advisory- Major delays on Lincoln Tunnel due to Accident

Helping at Home & in Haiti Benefit Tonight at Chandelier Room - W Hotel

Helping at Home & in Haiti Benefit Tonight

at Chandelier Room - W Hotel

Shadow PR, Party With a Purpose and The Chandelier Room would like to invite you to a benefit event this Thursday, February 24, to celebrate a terrific cause, "Helping at Home & in Haiti."


The event begins at 7:00 pm with a cocktail reception, passed hors d'oeuvres and live music by The Claire Daly Trio and DJ B. Mills.

It has been one year since the devastating earthquake in Haiti and they desperately still need our help. Today there are more than one million displaced people still living under tents and due to lack of clean water and sanitation the cholera outbreak has now hit all 10 Haitian provinces, our aid is vital as the reconstruction effort has barely begun.

What: "Helping at Home & in Haiti" Charity Benefit
Where: W Hoboken @ The Chandelier Room 225 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030,
Phone: 201-253-2400
When: Thursday, February 24, from 7-10pm
Tickets: http://www.partywithpurpose.org/winterbenefit2011/

◦

Helping at Home & in Haiti Benefit Tonight at Chandelier Room - W Hotel

HUMC Statement on Bayonne Medical Center Transaction

Here is a statement from the HUMC on the recently reported transaction between Bayonne Medical Center (BMC) and Medical Properties Trust (MPT).....

Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority Statement on Bayonne Medical Center Transaction

HUMC Photo by the Hoboken Journal

The Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority (the “Authority”) is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC) remains open as a full-service, acute-care, community hospital serving the Hoboken community.

The Authority is aware of the recent transaction announced by Bayonne Medical Center (BMC). According to BMC’s announcement: “Bayonne Medical Center (BMC) has recently entered into a long-term real estate agreement with Medical Properties Trust (MPT), a major U.S. real estate investment trust headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Under the terms of the agreement, BMC refinanced its existing debt and in addition has access to a significant amount of capital for continued improvements in its infrastructure, and essential projects including a major remodeling of its Emergency Department. … MPT has now purchased the buildings and property in which Bayonne Medical Center is located for $58 million and the hospital has a minimum operating lease of 45 years.”

As the Authority announced previously, it has signed a Letter of Intent with HUMC Holdco LLC, an entity having common ownership with BMC, and is continuing negotiations in good faith to reach a final Asset Purchase Agreement. Despite the common ownership, the potential Hoboken transaction is entirely independent from the Bayonne transaction, and the Authority will only enter into a final agreement with HUMC Holdco that meets the Authority’s key goals of maintaining HUMC as a full-service, acute-care, community hospital; preserving relationships with our outstanding employees and medical staff; and relieving the City’s taxpayers of the bond guarantee obligations made to save the Hospital in 2007. ◦

HUMC Statement on Bayonne Medical Center Transaction

Planning Board Meeeting on Master Plan Re-examination Scheduled for March 7th

Here is the latest update from the City of Hoboken from the Hoboken Planning Board......

PLANNING BOARD UPDATE ON MASTER PLAN REEXAMINATION / MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Hoboken Planning Board has released a final draft of the 2010 Master Plan Reexamination Report on the city’s website. The Board will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, March 7th at 7pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 94 Washington Street to give the public an opportunity to comment on the report.

The Reexamination Report evaluates the community’s planning and development regulation documents, identifies whether the community’s policies or objectives have changed since the completion of the last Master Plan, and makes recommendations accordingly.

The meeting is an informational meeting only, and no formal action will be taken.

The current Master Plan (2004) is available online at: http://hobokennj.org/docs/communitydev/HobokenFinalMasterlist.pdf

The Master Plan Reexamination Report (2010) final draft is available online at: http://hobokennj.org/docs/communitydev/Hoboken-Reex-2010-2-21-11.pdf

Residents with questions can send feedback to rex2010@hobokennj.org ◦

Planning Board Meeeting on Master Plan Re-examination Scheduled for March 7th

Kurta and Pinchevsky to Hold Joint HQ Kickoff Monday February 28, 2011

Here is another upcoming political event to add to the calendar:

Eric Kurta &  Rami Pinchevsky Joint HQ Opening Party

Date: Monday, February 28, 2011
Time: 7:00pm
Where: 265 First Street (Corner of Willow)
More info: Refreshments will be served

Come and join us for our HQ Opening Party. Meet the Candidates, sign up to be a volunteer, register to vote, find out which district you live in and where to vote!

Eric Kurta for First Ward City Council
Let's Keep Hoboken Moving Forward ◦

Kurta and Pinchevsky to Hold Joint HQ Kickoff Monday February 28, 2011

Jen Giattino Makes Formal Campaign Announcement for Hoboken City Council 6th Ward

Giattino Announces for City Council

Entrepreneur and local businesswoman Jen Giattino today announced that she is  running to represent Hoboken’s 6th Ward.

“Hoboken has made a lot of progress in the past year and a half but there is much more work to be done. I look forward to working constructively as a member of the Council and focusing on solutions, not politics,” Giattino said.

Jen Giattino

A former specialist at a major brokerage firm and current real estate sales associate, Giattino is the founder and President of Fun Well Done, a web-based business that markets education arts and crafts projects for kids.

She was instrumental in creating the uptown Farmer’s Market and the Community Supported Agriculture program at the United Synagogue of Hoboken. She also spearheaded a free goods exchange program that allows local organizations to recycle items and thereby reduce waste.

A dedicated mother of three, Giattino coordinated the after-school Arts and Open Play program at Calabro Primary School and for the past three summers she has run hoboken’s popular Art in the Park Program.

Committed to helping Hoboken’s residents in need and promoting the importance of Volunteerism in our schools and among our youth, Giattino helped create LOTS (Lunch on Thursday) which encourages parents to send their children to school with An extra lunch every Thursday. The extra lunch is then donated to neighbors at the Hoboken Homeless Shelter. LOTS now provides more than 100 lunches each week And involves three schools and St. Peter and Paul’s CCD camp.

“As someone who spent years in the business world, I know firsthand the importance of fiscal responsibility and holding the line on taxes,” Giattino said. “My goal is to that Hoboken remains a great place to raise a family.”

My Comment: This winter I ran into Jen Giattino with her family at Pier C Park. I remember talking to her extensively about the issues in Hoboken and left that day impressed with her perspective, accomplishments and community involvement. At that time I never imagined that she would run for office. When she did announce and I was able to connect the dots that it ws indeed the woman I met at Pier C and I was very happy. I am happy that she has thrown her hat into the ring to unseat Nino Giacchi from City Council. We need votes of reason to go along what Nino calls his "voice of reason". Nino has been voting lock stop and barrell with the Mason/Russo axis of obstruction to oppose many of Dawn Zimmer's initiatives. I see Jen as an independent voice that is alrgely in support of many of Dawn Zimmer's initiatives. I wish her luck on her campaign.

Jen's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jen-for-Hoboken-City-Council/143543759040363?v#!/pages/Jen-for-Hoboken-City-Council/143543759040363 ◦

Jen Giattino Makes Formal Campaign Announcement for Hoboken City Council 6th Ward