The wacky world of Hoboken politics is never dull and although it may quiet down in the summer relative to its torrid pace in the other three seasons of the year, there is always some intrigue for the close follower or participant in Hoboken's game within a game of insider political baseball. As Auggie Torres coined in his recent column that my blog may just be a "shout from the anthill" but at least my JibJab videos seem to making a splash in Hudson County's shark infested waters.
2nd Ward Race Shaping up
It appears that all signals are a go for Tom Greaney to run against the Beth Mason in the Second Ward in the May 2011 election. What? Do I mean that the campaign for the Second Ward has unofficially started already? You Betchya! Now, this is still technically unofficial as no formal announcement has been made but Tom Greaney has been making the rounds at City Council meetings and meeting people who live in the Second Ward and elsewhere to get the message out and make the connections necessary. The only outcome that is certain in this election is that Beth Mason will outspend whoever her opponent is. The big question is will money be enough to help her given that she has alienated a vast swath of her initial base? That erosion of her former base even includes many people on her own block. As Paul McCartney used to sing "Can't buy me love". Paul is my favorite from the Beatles.There are also rumors of 3rd person considering a run in the Second Ward but I am checking multiple sources to get confirmation on a name. Stay tuned. The election may be a long way off but the chess match has already started. Expect some Sun Tzu quotes from me as this campaign unfolds.
Steve Fulop is Livid? Over a JibJab Video? WTF?
According to the Hoboken Reporter's Al Sullivan, Steve Fulop is livid over a Jib Jab video that I did about Tim Occhipinti's Kickoff over at Northern Soul on June 17th. If this is true then is this a case of crocodile tears or what? All I did was cut and paste some heads on some political figures that Mr. "Political Insider" Augie Torres himself mentioned in his article about Tim's kickoff party. Given Al Sullivan's accuracy as of late I am not even sure if Steve is livid but Al Sullivan does owe me a retraction.
The video was done by me and under direction of no-one else but me. It was not About Jake Stuiver's event but Timothy's and was on a separate thread than the Mike Lenz kickoff party. This is a case of Al either being sloppy, having very bad sources, or perhaps having an agenda himself. Is there a reason to even read the Hoboken Reporter anymore? After all, Tim Carol is no longer reporting for them and I personally view that as a big loss.
Message to Steve Fulop: If you are truly livid about the video I made you or your handlers can email me at kurt.gardiner@gmail.com if you would like to have a conversation or issue a statement on this matter. Your direct email was not listed on the Jersey City Website. Not very transparent! :)
Connors School to Re-open
Recently it was made official that Connors School will re-open this year. It has initially been slated to be closed for "much needed" renovations but at the last stage funding was delayed from the state this year and will be possibly reviewed for next year. I do understand that the Board and the Superintendent did what was the popular choice for many parents. The choice was made to re-open the school for another year but won't it be harder to now justify that the repairs are really needed when the next round of reviews come for the renovation project to be approved? Just thinking out loud.
The Search is On
Also, the BOE will use a search firm to conduct a search for the next Superintendent of Schools. Having gone the route of going internally within the NJ School system first, the Board will now shell out a little over $8K to hire a search firm to look beyond the normal channels. After what went down last time including a 7-2 confirmation vote, stalled negotiations and blog and smear campaign by one Board Member who was hell bent to deny the board majority their choice, will any decent viable candidate want to work here or will Hoboken just get the Elnardo Websters of the world to show up at the doorstep? Here is hoping that coming to Hoboken as Superintendent is not so tainted. I hope I am wrong on this for the sake of the children of Hoboken who deserve for once strong leadership that is not temporary.
Tim Caroll at Hoboken Patch
Tim Caroll, Hoboken's hard news guy is no longer with the Hoboken Reporter and is now writing for Hoboken Patch on a freelance basis for now. I look forward to Tim providing coverage of Hoboken politics and look forward to seeing his work in a different editorial context over at Patch. Tim did a profile of Mike Lenz last week and will be doing a piece on Timothy Occhipinti this week.
Hudson Shark Week - Something Fishy in Weehawken?
Last week on NJ.com's Hoboken forum, The MSV Blog and Grafix Avenger blog it was Hudson Shark Week. The nefarious blogger who is allegedly tied into the Weehawken political landscape and likes to poke his nose under various blog names and stir up trouble in Hoboken's political landscape was essentially outed last week. Now we can sit and wait and enjoy the retaliation or the silence. Either way makes for great theater. Get the popcorn!
If you thought my JibJab videos stirred the pot you have to watch this video for sure.....
Depicted below is blogger Roman Brice perhaps awaiting the next Hudson Shark attack...
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
Municipal Garage
A temporary solution has been proposed by the Zimmer Administration to close off a section of road at 15th and Clinton. It should be duly noted that a permanent solution is still not in place but the garage is not at the Pino site at 6th Street and Jackson nor at Stevens Institute as predicted or suggested by Hoboken 411. The likely scenario now is that the developer will walk away and that the City will resume ownership of the Garage.
A lot of possibilities are still in the mix, but the City has itself covered and even more so if they can complete environmental remediation on time to recoup another $2.5 million. Now if the City takes over the current garage a fair question to ask is should it stay there in the long term? It is a fair question. If the answer is no, then the City on its own schedule and not under duress can investigate any other of the possibilities. While it is the opinion of this blogger the current Administration would have desired the process to be more open, it would have inhibited their ability to negotiate to have completely shown their hand. The temporary solution is not perfect but it gets the City in a better position to negotiate or determine a permanent solution should the current garage site be deemed undesirable.
4th Ward Race Underway
In the Month of June both Timothy Occhipinti and Mike Lenz declared their candidacies for the special election in November for 4th Ward Councilman. Timothy is touting "Independence" as one of his traits as a candidate. He appears to be backed by the usual status quo operatives, Maurice Fitzgibbons, Mike Novak, Kim Glatt, Ines Garcia-Keim, Augie Torres. Steve Fulop and Frank Raia made an appearance at Tim's kickoff fundraiser but have not officially endorsed Tim to the best of my knowledge.
Mike Lenz had a kickoff fundraiser at a private residence that I was able to attend. 75 people showed up in total and the event was viewed as a success. Mike Lenz is supported by Mayor Zimmer, Peter Cunningham, Ravi Bhall, Dave Mello, Carol Marsh, and many others in the reform movement not necessarily just in the 4th Ward. Dawn Zimmer proved that a reform candidate can indeed win in the 4th Ward but the election will not be an easy one for either candidate. If Mike Lenz plays to his strengths of experience, municipal processes and finance he will be a strong candidate but the looming presence of absentee ballots can be a tough hurdle for a reform candidate, especially in the 4th Ward.
One name that keeps coming up is that of former Councilwoman Terry Labruno but that could be in play for the May election should Timothy Occhipiniti lose in the fall election. No confirmation on this possibility other than the fact it is being discussed as a possible option in some circles. ◦
