The Department of Justice rings Grafix Avenger's bell

Ding-dong, it ain't Avon calling

As today, it was a sunny spring Thursday morning two years ago leading into the Memorial Day weekend when Hoboken City Hall received a visit from approximately a dozen FBI agents swooping down in SUVs carting away cardboard boxes and electronic data by the bucket load.

The action came weeks after the IT Manager Patrick Ricciardi's office had been padlocked leading into a City Council meeting.  An unscheduled closed session of the council delayed the public from entering its usual starting time.  When the doors opened, Da Horsey entered to the vibe of a distinctly disturbed Old Guard council temporarily led by the inept chair Beth Mason.  The heavy air spoke that something serious had gone down and the Old Guard didn't look too happy about it.

Da Horsey caught a whiff something was amiss during closed session and left a crowded City Hall to gallop up to the obscure third floor taking a photo of Patrick Ricciardi's padlocked office and beaming it out over the internets as Councilwoman Terry Castellano would say.

A cold chill descended on Hoboken as word of FBI visits around town followed with Old Guard and Beth Mason political operatives falling completely silent online for the longest stretch in memory.  Other than a lunatic fringe rant on Hoboken411, the Old Guard had scurried into dark holes like rats hoping the nightmare would pass them by.  Two months later, the Michael Russo Civic Association sporting a big picture of Councilman Michael Russo would close. It hasn't reopened since.

The second year anniversary of the FBI's Hoboken visit looked quiet heading into the Memorial Day weekend but then Da Horsey spied this published yesterday on Grafix Avenger:

The US Department of Justice, the senior agency to all FBI investigations made an online courtesy call to Hoboken.

MSV knows of other more direct clandestine visits and people in Hoboken paid courtesy calls by the Feds.  Patrick Ricciardi who was known to provide information to Perry Klaussen at Hoboken411 hasn't had much to say since the Mason sponsored website tried to point the finger at the mayor, deriding her administration saying it was responsible for calling the Feds into town.

Clandestine visits by Perry Klaussen to the third floor office of Patrick Ricciardi was reported here a year ago in a MSV exclusive and Grafix Avenger questioned the means how Beth Mason's favorite "news site" would post  confidential information out of City Hall that was known to only a few.  After Ricciardi's dismissal and arrest, Hoboken411 has had nothing to publicly say about the Hoboken investigation and his Mason worshiping ghostwriting minion immediately went to ground.

Last November, a random meeting at a Washington St. eatery led to an impromptu conversation with Perry Klaussen.  Upon seeing the FBI hat, he said they were after MSV.  But Perry Klaussen fell silent and made a hasty escape when the subject of an interview with the FBI was raised.  On his silent exit, Da Horsey yelled out wishing Klassuen good luck the interview went well with the proprietor chuckling at Klaussen's hurried exit.

Here's what Perry Klaussen's Hoboken411 published two years ago:

the FBI couldn’t care less about who releases public documents to members of the credentialed media. The press has a legal right and responsibility to inform the public about the government’s operations. Anybody who says otherwise isn’t familiar with  The Pentagon Papers.

Patrick Ricciardi, host to Perry Klaussen in his City Hall office is facing up to five years for releasing "public documents."  Did he release any to his friend at Hoboken411, where Perry Klaussen and his ghostwriting minion call themselves "the credentialed media?"

In another online visit at Grafix Avenger earlier this month by FBI criminal justice, Beth Mason was the person of interest.  Former Business Administrator Arch Liston blew the roof off the investigation when he testified last fall on an employee matter in Newark court showing it had been OPEN SEASON on obtaining confidential information out of the mayor's office.  His testimony pointed to illicit information reaching senior levels of the Hoboken police and fire department.  (Patrick Ricciardi has worked for both.)

To date, Patrick Ricciardi is the only conspirator in the massive Data Theft Conspiracy Ring to be arrested.  He faces up to a five year sentence in federal prison this July. The judge noted his cooperation as a reason he would not be facing 15 years on the three counts he initially faced for his criminal actions.

Related: Former City IT Manager Patrick Ricciardi pleads guilty for looting and sharing electronic information in and out of the mayor's office.

Related news: Jonathan Cummins a city aide who worked with Patrick Ricciardi saw an administrative judge rule he can get his job back.  Both BA Arch Liston and former Corporation Counsel Mark Tabakin testified Cummins admitted to them he was involved in the DTR.  Cummins also attempted to protect Ricciardi by claiming to the FBI he was responsible before the truth of Ricciardi's automated electronic looting became clear days later.

A Hoboken Patch story says the Civil Service Commission will examine the case and determine the outcome.  The judge said there wasn't a "preponderance" of evidence linking Cummins to the DTR. The FBI says Cummins lied to the agency in their investigation, a criminal matter in and of itself in its complaint saying:

"Cummins had falsely confessed because ofthe friendship shared between Cummins and defendant RICCIARDI. Upon further questioning, Cummins confirmed that he had confessed falsely." 

Talking Ed Note: It ain't a conspiracy until more than one conspirator is arrested.  It appears Hoboken's Grafix Avenger just got a timely visit but it isn't her bell the Department of Justice is ringing.

The Boys of Summer arrive just in time... for summer?  Thank you very much Grafix Avenger!

Happy nightmares minions.

14 Hoboken Firefighters to be sworn in today

Thursday May 23, 2013, 10:34 AM City of Hoboken www.hobokennj.org

Community: Community Invited to Swearing In Ceremony for 14 Firefighters The City of Hoboken invites all members of the community to attend a swearing-in ceremony for fourteen new Firefighters. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 2:00pm in the Court Room at Hoboken City Hall, 94 Washington Street. Hoboken City Clerk James Farina will administer the oath of office to the following new members who completed training at the Bergen County Fire Academy on Wednesday May 22nd: • Tyrell Dortch • Jimmy Principe • Tom Worley • Anthony Richards • Joseph Radigan • Ryan Blohm • Dominick Casolaro • Matthew Velez • Marc Calbismonte • Patrick Cappiello • Jose Martinez • Matthew Florio • Kristopher Koukounas • Christopher Lugo Members of the public are invited to attend along with family and the media.For full details, view this message on the web.

Hoboken insurance payments post Sandy shows tales of woe are not past

Insurance woes for Hoboken residents and businesses large, suffer added insult of Old Guard council staged lawsuit after Superstorm Sandy

Coming on the back of the appellate court hearing yesterday in the saga of Jim Doyle's frozen council seat comes this Star Ledger story showing the additional pain of Hoboken people being sued by the Old Guard council members - icing on a bad cake when it comes to insurance payments after Superstorm Sandy.

The Star Ledger writes:

The city of Hoboken, which experienced vast flooding, saw 57 percent of its residential claims and 59 percent of its commercial claims closed without payment. Also, 60 percent of business interruption claims in the city were knocked out.

Paradoxically, though, Hoboken also has enjoyed the third-highest amount of insurance payouts of all ZIP codes in New Jersey, or $54 million so far. The reason why? Auto insurance. Unlike standard coverage for homes and businesses, auto policies typically protect against flooding.

As a result, just 5 percent of personal auto claims in Hoboken were closed without payment, according to state data. That alone has meant $38.5 million in insurance payments in the Mile Square City, or $17,232 per average claim.

Hoboken residents and businesses have seen a high percentage of insurance claims rejected after Superstorm Sandy according to a Star Ledger story.  The Old Guard council continues to sue Hoboken
People anyway in a power grab to keep Jim Doyle from his appointed council seat.

At a council meeting after the hurricane, Tim Occhipinti insulted Hoboken residents saying in effect they didn't have it so bad as towns on the shore when Councilwoman Jen Giattino known for her observance of decorum and protocol curtly responded, "Speak for yourself."  The Giattino family like many other Hoboken residents saw extensive damage to their homes.  Her family like many other residents and businesses have not found any normalcy since and are not able to move back into their primary residence.

Occhipinti who was absent during both Hurricane Irene and Sandy is promoting himself again pushing aid by others to Oklahoma victims.  Will Occhipinti be donating or using other people's money as he's historically made a habit of doing as he also used to attend the Hoboken Relief gala.

The full story on lack of insurance payouts in New Jersy and Hoboken.  

Talking Ed Note: The Star Ledger story shows how important it's been for Hoboken to have a dedicated resource center to help its residents and businesses.  In recent weeks, the temporary person staffed in the City's hurricane resource center was the subject of attack by Councilman Michael Russo and additional defamatory attacks by the Beth Mason sponsored website Hoboken411, also known as Mason411/Hate411.

http://www.hobokennj.org/2013/03/hoboken-hurricane-resource-center-is-open/

The pain for many after Hurricane Sandy in Hoboken is not over.  The Old Guard council members: Michael Russo, Beth Mason, Terry Castellano and Tim Occhipinti are draining Hoboken of tens of thousands in legal bills in their manufactured lawsuit, a bloodsucking vampiric action illustrative of their behavior and character.

That's how the Hoboken Sopranos roll.

JIm Doyle's council seat on the appellate court's docket today

Old Guard staged lawsuit appeal of Doyle's council seat will be heard today in Trenton

The eternal council at-large seat with Jim Doyle's name on it since February will come to a head in a hearing later this morning in the NJ Appellate Court.  Last fall, the Old Guard council implemented a ruse where Beth Mason and Michael Russo would avoid successive council meetings to create uncertainty in a tie-breaking vote by the mayor when Doyle was originally appointed.

The manufactured legal logjam led to Hudson Superior Court Assignment Judge Peter Bariso walking the City Council members through the process, ordering them to show up and vote.  He then examined the vote and concluded no "gamesmanship" should be permitted in the state vacancy law and officially upheld the Doyle appointment early this year.

The Mason family on behalf of the Hoboken Sopranos promptly filed an appeal to keep Doyle from taking his legally appointed seat.  With their strident actions on everything from blocking Pier C repairs to voting down emergency budget appropriations, Beth Mason, Michael Russo, Timmy Occhipinti and Terry Castellano have sought to take whatever leverage they can to upend and disrupt the mayor's agenda.

At the previous City Council meeting, they went as far as seizing control over the meeting with only four members and proceeded to call two illegal votes in support of the controversial Vision 20/20 plan.

Now a panel of three judges will review Judge Bariso's decision and hear oral arguments.

Beth Mason has tried and failed to buy elections of late including neighboring Jersey City but now buying
a legal outcome in the staged lawsuit blocking Jim Doyle is finally up on appeal today.
The Appellate Court will hear oral arguments on Judge Bariso's decision from early this year.

Talking Ed Note: A decision to uphold Judge Bariso's decision may be the difference between Hoboken having its budget approved or sending the City into chaos.  The Hoboken Sopranos have been licking their chops to kill the budget but if a stay is lifted on Jim Doyle taking his seat, their "gamesmanship" as Judge Bariso called it will be over along with the damage the Old Guard council members can do to the City.

Councilman-in-waiting Jim Doyle's at-large seat is up for election in November.  Let's hope he gets some valuable time warming up the chair with a decision ending the Beth Mason's family moneybags justice.

The power grab attempted through a completely manufactured lawsuit has cost Hoboken People over $30,000 and counting to date.  Beth Mason and company could care less.  Even after Hurricane Sandy, all they care about is seizing power.  They don't care if it's by a midnight end run on the City Council without even a legal number of council members present to hold a meeting or deceiving the court(s) in a staged legal action to circumvent the intent of the council vacancy law.

Update: 11:40 - The Trenton court hearing has concluded and Hoboken awaits a decision sooner than later.  One legal beagle believes there will be an answer this month, not up to July as another thought based on the court's workload.  Bottom line: some prayers on behalf of our city can't hurt.  For those who alternatively don't, offer up your sacrifice to ye legal gods.  Da Horsey encourages novenas on behalf of Hoboken and the fine personage in the form of Jim Doyle.

Mazel, mazel, good things.

bludiamonds returns with a sizzling endorsement of Counte$$ boy toy Occupy Occupentay

Guest of the Stable bludiamonds submits for your consideration:


Good day my friends! Tis I, the bluest of diamonds, at your service! Yes, I realize I’ve been out of the public eye for a while, but rest assured, I’ve been keeping my blu behind just as busy as can be. As you know, there is a mayoral election this year, and I’ve been doing everything in my power to get my one true Counte$$ to dust off the ol’ street-cash suitcase yet again and prove to the people of Hoboken once and for all that just like King Arthur, she is the once and future Counte$$ for all to behold!  Alas, I have had no luck in my endeavors. Apparently Counte$$ is actually a little tapped out right now after bankrolling a slew of failed election campaigns (she was never a big Steve Fulop fan anyway – the schmuck got himself attacked with that Jewish-hooknose ad Healy ran with Counte$$’s money because, unlike Counte$$, Fulop never had the good sense to don a cross and an Italian surname in certain circles and not be so darned Jewish all the time). 

Timmay wants to be Hobroken mayor.  "I'm accomplished you know."

Anyway, she’s been funding election travesties and dead-end lawsuits galore, and she just couldn’t bear to get shot in the face Giffords-style by the Hoboken public again, so she’s sitting this one out. But am I Cryan in my dapperness? NO! Why? Because Timmay has come to the rescue! That’s right, friends, in a bold and brazen bit of repartee with NOT-Assemblyman Bhalla, Occupy Occupentay declared he’d “love to” run for mayor! What a generous offer. Clearly, Timmay recognizes that Booben Lamo just ain’t gonna cut it carrying the torch for the crime-family syndicate. Why, you could learn that just by watching the Weather Channel!

So, let’s take a moment and assess the strengths of a Timmay candidacy and offer the boy a bit of encouragement, shall we?

1) Increased Voter “Participation” – Let’s face it, Counte$$ and Plumpie do not like Booben Lamo. If Timmay signs his puppet strings over to them for the full four years, they’ll give him all the $treet money he could ever dream of. That means absentee ballots galore! Hey Matt, put down the baconburger and turn off the WWE Stalker Cam, we’re getting the band back together! The AG’s office never got us last time, why should this be any different? Time to get Booben’s mom, the Kreim family, Scary Blubbiore, and of course Plumpie and all his Capos to fire up the 40-dollars-and-a-mule operation and get some cash-for-votes goin’ on’. Hey Memo, will you please help keep a lid on things while we figuratively rape your tenants? Of course you will, like a good little gangsta! It’s on!

2) Transparency – Dawn Zimmer and her City Council slate promised us openness and transparency. Too bad for them, in this department they’ve got nothin’ on Timmay! When it comes to pay-to-play and quid-pro-quo, it doesn’t get more transparent than Timmay. Just this month, Timmay voted as a Councilman on a request from a developer that gave him campaign cash and that he went to bat for at the Zoning Board. He got campaign cash from NJ Transit and led their PR push to build in Hoboken, openly telling people they should get to do whatever they wanted. Even Anthony Russo tried playing these things a little coy. Timmay has brought more transparency to Hoboken government than we’ve ever imagined!

3) Public Information – Timmay does a fantastic job of informing the public of his many accomplishments. More importantly, he does an absolutely exceptional job of informing the public of accomplishments that were made in spite of him. Vote against funding for increased senior buses? Timmay takes credit for it when the bus lines get rerouted! Vote against funding for road improvements? Timmay positions himself as the vocal champion of infrastructural needs! Vote against funding for park improvements? Wait til the playgrounds get upgraded, then, TA-DA!!! “Another campaign promise delivered!” This is a tactic that’s very near and dear to Counte$$’s heart – after all, “WE DID IT!!!”

4) Budget Priorities – Timmay does not like to recommend serious budget cuts. After all, any drop in taxes would benefit the dreaded Zimmer! Plus, that’s annoying smart-person stuff, like those know-it-all uptowners who think they’re so smart just because they’ve done really well for themselves by actually developing professional skills beyond answering the help-desk line. Timmay does like to add a few line items though. Especially for himself. Specifically, he wants a PR stipend so he can send you more press releases taking credit for others’ work. C’mon, give him credit for the sheer balls on the guy – elect him now!

5) Hospital – We don’t need no steenkin’ hospital! And Timmay had the foresight to support Counte$$ to try to shut it down. Demerit points for buckling under pressure from those blasted Zimmerists.

6) Garage – Timmay cost the Hoboken taxpayers an extra $4M over the hospital garage debacle. Some might say that’s a strike against him. I say, with government, like anything, you get what you PAY for!

7) Municipal-finance expertise – People with strong financial acumen come and go from city government, but Timmay truly takes the cake. Didjaknow the kid just got his municipal finance degree from Jim Cramer’s University of Phoenix Webinar series? That’s right, Hoboken, no need for surpluses – Timmay learned that by watching Yelling Beard Man on YouTube!

8) Arrogant Petulance – Let’s face it, none of us follow local politics because genteel, honest policy debate is so scintillating. Snooze. We like the bloodsport. What else would we entertain each other with at the cyber-watercooler if not the shocking, over-the-top antics of petulant children fighting for the graft that is rightfully theirs. And when it comes to shock, awe and man-child misbehavior straight out of the Can’t Make This Shit Up Department, no one brings it like Timmay. If you think his infantile rants and unprofessional beratement on the Council dais are as good as it gets, just wait until you see him make weight jokes at the Governor when he can’t get his way. Elect him because he’s just so damn entertaining. You don’t think so? Well, “AGREE TO DISAGREE!!!!!” 

Counte$$ Mazin says vote for Timmay Occupentay

Ruben Ramos mayoral kickoff: you can take the operative out of the hood...

Kickoff events for political events are notoriously predictable affairs.  Supporters show up and hear a boilerplate of the campaign, a fundraising plea and hobnob with the insiders who gin up the crowd and convey a sense of confidence suggesting victory lies ahead.

The Ruben Ramos kickoff lacked the sizzle of a mayoral bid and looked more like a HOLA kids or youth soccer event.  That was what the upstairs of Teak appeared to be when MSV was asked to sign in.

Not even before sign in was done, who appeared but the former fourth ward political operative Nick Calicchio, a Bayonne resident better known by the Hoboken public for having Peter Cammarano in his wedding party last September, another in a line of exclusives never mentioned anywhere else.

Nick Calicchio performing enforcement duties at the Ruben Ramos mayoral kickoff.

"Ruben doesn't want you here," Calicchio barked.  "Tell him he can come and tell me himself," was the reply.  More orders and demands continued even though Calicchio was told to stop his harassment or any contact.

That exchange followed with Calicchio attempting to force MSV out but Hoboken nor a local restaurant hosting a political event is a corrections facility where he has any role.  Photos immediately commenced with the same replay of interference as in a City Council meeting where insightful photos of a post meeting clash between Michael Russo and Dave Mello emerged and Calicchio tried to block the effort with a zig-zagging effort ten feet in different directions were followed with plenty of body slams to disrupt photos on the way, followed by his threat to use his correction guard issued handcuffs.

Minutes into the series of mirrored pantomime blocking photos, Calicchio enlisted a young Teak employee to aid in more photo blocking creating a triple play of comedic dance moves. The employee left after MSV said go get the manager.  A brief discussion and the manager asked about the coverage.  The manager seemed surprised by the lack of acrimony in the discussion and Da Horsey told him there was no desire to add to his workload in a longer day departing.

As to who was there among the Old Guard, not many were seen in the curtailed visit.  The only Old Guard person observed was Perry Belfiore.  No Russo members were seen and at last week's meeting on the controversial Vision 20/20 plan, HHA commissioner Eduardo Gonzalez made an appearance ending the happy face of Councilwoman Terry Castellano who at one point could barely contain her laughter, she so enjoyed the HHA residents yelling for approval of the questionable project.  She looked rather morose watching Gonzalez speak in favor of Vision 20/20, a shared position.  (Gonzalez nor anyone on Ramos' ticket was chosen by the Russo clan according to sources unlike Beth Mason's 2009 spring ticket.)

Was Ramos concerned with the lack of visible support from the Old Guard?  Hard to know, but it's revealing for a decidedly low key affair with several dozen people in attendance that the outgoing Assemblyman found it necessary to "lock down" a kickoff.

Nick Calicchio shouldn't be confused with his better known infamous younger brother, Matt Calicchio, a paid political operative for Beth Mason.  About a year ago, MSV was interviewing a former member of the Hoboken Police Department.  At the end of the discussion he went off topic to ask, "Are those Calicchio's still causing trouble over there?"

Da Horsey could only chuckle in reply.

Former Ruben Ramos political aide Nick Calicchio
in action Saturday.

Talking Ed Note; This political event was a first as usually people want you to attend, see they have support and get publicity for a non-theatrical, no surprise political event. Ruben Ramos however is known for being testy as recounted in this 2011 story on Washington Street outside the local Democratic Committee vote.  Members of the Hoboken political class on both sides think he lowered the office of State Assemblyman in backing Tim Occhipinti in the 2010 fourth ward special election which produced inexplicable massive voter irregularities re: fraud. Occhipinti known to many among the Hoboken public and the Old Guard for his hubris and petulance had a falling out with Ramos long before he said "he'd love to" run for mayor at last week's council meeting.

As for Ruben Ramos' political ink to date, it has an uncanny similarity with positions coming out of the Old Guard council. He's strongly criticized the mayor for the council's action last week on the "emergency" demand to approve Vision 20/20.  His campaign calls that and other criticism a "Vision for Hoboken."

Ramos is friends with HHA ED Carmelo Garcia.  That he backs Vision 20/20 and the massive expansion of the HHA should come as no surprise.  The first building proposed, small compared to the more than a dozen others with 44 units nets a clean $1,000,000 fee for the developer, RPM.

If you think that kind of money on the table wouldn't find its way into the Old Guard's welcoming hands and campaign coffers in an election year, Da Horsey has a bridge to sell you.

Related: GA's take on the $20,000,000 HHA Vision 20/20 windfall explains all the screaming about a Ku Klux Klan hood and racist charges by Councilman Michael Russo.  As MSV's outlined earlier, the color in question is green.

Ruben Ramos Kickoff thugging it out at Teak

NJ Corrections Guard and Bayonne resident Nick Calicchio attempts to block photos at Teak.

Billed as a Ruben Ramos mayoral kickoff, long time Old Guard political operative Calicchio tried to intimidate MSV to leave at the 'orders' of Ruben Ramos.

MSV declined Calicchio's orders and told him to keep his hands off or the police would be called.

This time he didn't threaten to whip out handcuffs and use them like he had in a City Council meeting. Eduardo Gonzalez waved hello, but fellow council member candidates Laura Miani and Joe Mindak weren't visible.

Did they see the incident on what a Ramos Administration would be like?
Do they know about a headless council slate being prepared to see them eventually replaced?

More to come!

Talking Ed Note: 9:30 pm - MSV has opened comments on this story.

Michael Russo's race card thrown back in his face: "Desegregate your building!"

Race card explodes in Michael Russo's face as Councilman Dave Mello replies "Desegregate your building!"

After the exchange in yesterday's video where a tactical race card was thrown down for the second consecutive time in two council meetings, Councilman Michael Russo opted to add to it tossing in a pillow case and a Ku Klux Klan "hood" for good measure.

This led to more discussion where Councilman David Mello spoke about his efforts working with impoverished people.  He's a teacher working in the South Bronx.  Russo derided it as not being in Hoboken.

Interjected was the Hoboken fires where dozens of people murdered in Hoboken arsons, many women and children decades and Mello asks Director Carmelo Garcia to detail a recent funeral of a former senior city official he chose not to attend who he felt was connected to the arson.

It was preceded by a heated exchange where Mello loudly exclaims to Russo, "Desegragate your building!"  Russo attempts to change the subject to violent crime in the past to no end as Mello then focuses on the Hoboken arsons.

The Michael Russo who stood up yelling in the video below is NOT the same person who casually laid down the race card earlier in the meeting.

The race card had come full circle landing right on Michael Russo's doorstep.

Talking Ed Note: Church Towers is a group of subsidized PILOTed buildings many suspect its list is controlled by the Russo's.  Councilwoman Beth Mason prior to running for mayor in 2009 had backed a ten year extension of those building's PILOTs many saw as unnecessary and completely political.

The buildings mostly in the third ward are viewed as the power base for Old Guard Russo votes.

As MSV noted in yesterday's story, one HHA resident said they do not have the option of moving "uptown" to other subsidized buildings such as Clock Towers and Church Towers.

Michael Russo and his pillow case Ku Klux Klan politrickery

Here's Episode II of Michael Russo's "How I'm losing out on a developer deal so you get called a racist" game.

Following inane remarks by Timmy Occhipinti, the writing on the wall is clear to Michael Russo support for an "emergency" PILOT for a developer's HHA plan is not passing.

He decides to whip out week two of the race card.  This time he adds a pillow case, scissors and the Ku Klux Klan.



While this was part of an orchestrated backup if intimidation to pass the project failed, later Russo would truly be angered when he is told to "desegregate" his building and give up his apartment.

One HHA resident said they don't have an opportunity in the HHA "to move into Clock or Church Towers."

Resolutions for "emergency" bid for Vision 20/20 fail

"Emergency" demands for Vision 20/20 fails on 4-4 votes
Michael Russo trots out KKK charges

Like the Twilight Zone, another "emergency" twenty year PILOT plan for Vision 20/20 found its way to the City Council after midnight again with Executive Director for the HHA, Carmelo Garcia, his advisor and developer RPM making a pitch for two resolutions see approval.

The City Council was under pressure to evaluate and approve the first phase without an overall plan to consider.  The Vision 20/20 plan has proposed a massive expansion impacting all of Hoboken with large expansion into the third and fourth ward.

The piecemeal tax abatement approach has been questioned by Mayor Zimmer for lacking any transparency and "holistic" approach for evaluation by all of Hoboken's residents.  Council President Peter Cunningham said community meetings for Hoboken had been held on a number of large scale projects from NJ Transit to the Western Edge.

Michael Russo invoked the Ku Klux Klan adding another charge of racist in his desperate bid
to intimidate reform council members into voting for a PILOT in the HHA with no documentation
on the overall Vision 20/20 plan.  One has to wonder how a MILLION DOLLAR developer fee
is getting around considering Russo lives in a "segregated" PILOTed building himself.

The Old Guard council showed a voracious appetite for the PILOT and an escalated series of attacks personal and collective was launched on the reform council members.

In response to Cunningham, Tim Occhipinti muttered, "you're ridiculous." Councilman Michael Russo changed the subject by asking why reform members of the council did not seek out the City directors to ask questions about the project?  Cunningham rejected the analogy describing it as not being appropriate.

Russo added "anytime down the road, we can pull the plug."  (The Old Guard Council has shown a willingness eagerness to build massive out-of-scale buildings to federal HUD guidelines with heavy density and no open space.)

Dr. Powell, an advisor to the HHA described the funding opportunity in optimistic terms and said the council needed to pass the two "small" resolutions to see a strong entry among about 60 statewide competing for funding statewide.

"We have not vetted this properly," Cunninham said in response.

Councilman Dave Mello raised several questions including the apparent ability to change the way HHA residents would be handled on transitioning into any new building.  The variability from the discussion on the project was one of several areas he sought assurances.

Councilman Ravi Bhalla asked for clarification with Mello regarding a million dollar developer fee and said "This Vision 20/20 plan doesn't even exist on paper.  You're coming to me asking for approval without a plan."

Councilwoman Terry Castellano sarcastically called Mello's concerns a death knell for the whole project.  Mello called her declaration "alarmist."

Carmelo Garcia said in response to Bhalla's concern "think about Sandy" as Bhalla said "show me a plan" adding, "there is no plan," which Garcia countered "there is false propaganda put out there."

Bhalla then invited HHA Carmelo Garcia to email him the plan.

Beth Mason claimed a "concept plan" existed in 2011 and compared other zoning "pushed through uptown," became incoherent waving her arms and yelling about something regarding former Mayor Dave Roberts and a pool going to Brooklyn.

Timmy Occhipinti complained "you want to put the brakes on" and said other members should resign. "All you do is listen to a few bloggers who put (out) smear tactics about this project.  You're catering to them."

"Stop talking, stop talking!" he yelled to Peter Cunningham claiming going to an HHA meeting would be sufficient information to hear and vote for the project.  Russo added to his remarks, "You should cut out a pillow case...  You're an outright racist."

Russo apparently escalated his attack of racist from the earlier meeting and decided adding in Ku Klux Klan member charges would be more effective.

Back to the racist mantra because the reform council wouldn't capitulate its oversight function.

Bhalla asked if he was being compared to a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the year 2013. Russo clarified his race baiting remarks saying they were directed against the council president.

Garcia entered the fray again late yelling, "You hate" to the chair and refused to answer how long he has been ED of the HHA saying the authority is "getting results," with earlier "shootings and stabbings and piss in the elevators."

Russo then claimed to read a line out of the Grafix Avenger website and comments about heroin and speedballs on "the blogs."  He appeared to read some commenters remarks on MSV by mistake.

Mello then became angered on a later point and said to Russo, "desegregate your building" and called Church Towers "a segregated complex."

Carmelo Garcia (r) found it far more difficult to talk his way through the City Council than here in a recent HHA meeting. He was challenged to present a complete plan for Vision 20/20.
Based on the discussion in the council, it apparently doesn't exist.

Talking Ed Note: The City Council reform members stood tall and refused to be cajoled into approving a PILOT and a project with no documented plan.

This was one of the ugliest scenes in the City Council with Michael Russo exceeding his past performance yelling "racist" and then some.  He upped the ante and played a new race card - Ku Klux Klan.

Wonder who is getting cut in on that MILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPER FEE?

Occhipinti after the vote began a series of personal attacks on Councilman Ravi Bhalla until the miscellaneous licenses vote was taken.  "How did you ever think you can be an Assemblyman," he repeated several times.  Bhalla calmly responded he could run for mayor which Occhipinti said, "I'd love to."

Gutter plantation exploitation politics by Michael Russo who lives in a three bedroom subsidized apartment.

Dave Mello is correct; it's segregated.

Michael Russo to Council President Cunningham: You're not Jesus Christ!

Ugly speech follows earlier attack of "racist" by Michael Russo at previous meeting

A failed 4-4 vote on HHA candidate Barbara Reyes led to the controversial political environment in recent housing authority meetings coming to the City Council.

Councilman Michael Russo during the contentious battle for political control over the Hoboken Housing Authority laid out an attack on Council President Peter Cunningham saying "You're not Jesus Christ."

Michael Russo took the Lord's name in vain while playing HHA politics.
It follows his "racist" charge from the last meeting.
Well he has to get in his election speeches.

The taking of the Lord's name in vain came with his asking legal opinion on Councilman Ravi Bhalla's comments earlier on a housing authority candidate.

The HHA candidate Barbara Reyes sponsored by Mason and Occhipinti spoke among numerous housing authority residents focusing on service.

Occhipinti concluded with a personal attack on HHA commissioner Jake Stuiver saying he was "pushing a political agenda," and did nothing for them failing to note his out-of-pocket

The HHA residents followed the vote yelling "We can, we will, watch us" in a chant briefly interrupting the proceedings.

Talking Ed Note: No reward for the Hoboken Sopranos for their continued lawsuit against the people of Hoboken.

The Old Guard council members are playing to the mob.  Taxpayers take note.