In Hoboken, Sen. Lautenberg, Sen. Menendez, Congressman Sires and Secretary Lahood back Surface Transportation Bill for NJ

The Office of Senator Frank Lautenberg announces:

SECRETARY LAHOOD, NEW JERSEY SENATORS, REP. SIRES HIGHLIGHT BENEFITS OF SENATE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL FOR NEW JERSEY

Call on House to Join Senate in Passing a Bipartisan Transportation Bill

HOBOKEN, NJ—Today, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood stood with U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and U.S. Rep Albio Sires (D-NJ-13), urging the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and move quickly to pass a bipartisan transportation jobs bill.  Last week, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the Senate passed the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act,” a surface transportation bill which will create or maintain 2.8 million jobs nationwide.  Speaking at the Hoboken Train Station, the federal officials were joined by New Jersey transportation advocates to stress the importance of the legislation, which would provide New Jersey with $500 million for transit projects and $1 billion per year in highways funds.

The Senate transportation bill, which was approved last Wednesday by an overwhelming 74-22 margin, would relieve road congestion, expand transit and rail systems, and direct billions to American workers rebuilding the nation’s aging infrastructure.  The legislation is particularly important for New Jersey, where it would support 54,200 jobs in a state economy powered by regional transportation systems.  New Jersey commuters would get immediate relief through restoration of the commuter tax benefit, which allows mass transit riders to set aside an untaxed $240 monthly to pay for commuting costs.

“I’m thrilled that the Senate has passed a bipartisan transportation bill that will put millions of Americans back to work repairing our aging transportation infrastructure,” said Secretary LaHood.  “If the House follows their lead, we can relieve congestion on our roads, expand our transit and rails systems, and provide Americans with safe, affordable ways to reach their destinations when gas prices are high."

“House Republicans should back away from the extreme Tea Party ideology and pass the Senate transportation bill that will rebuild our nation's crumbling transportation systems and put millions of American to work,” said Sen. Lautenberg, Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.  "In New Jersey, we need this bill to help reduce traffic congestion, benefit transit commuters, and boost our economy.  Funding for America's transportation system expires at the end of the month.  It's time for the House GOP to complete this bill so we can keep people on the job rebuilding America's infrastructure."

"This bill represents years of bipartisan work to invest in our infrastructure, create good jobs for New Jerseyans and give us the transportation network we need for our workers to get to their jobs, for our families to meet their needs, and for our businesses to thrive," said Senator Menendez.  "The toughest work is done.  The Senate’s acted to create jobs and keep commuters moving.  Now it’s time for House Republicans to get on board and do their part for New Jersey."

“I am pleased that the Senate passed this bill, which will provide important funding for our country’s transportation needs,” said Rep. Sires.  “I hope my colleagues in the House will create jobs and keep commuters moving. Now it’s time for House Republicans to get on board and do their part for New Jersey.”

###

Hoboken's Erie Lackawana Terminal the site of an announcement today to support a surface
transportion bill passed in the Senate.  The bill is now in the US Congress.

Photo: Courtesy of TheBoken.com

Tim Occhipinti schooled on legal work, questioned on his "compromises"

The budget hearing Saturday lacked a full quartet of MORTe but don't think grandstanding and political attacks were missing with half their team out.  Tim Occhinpinti filled in although the results were not exactly what MORTe would have in mind.

Tim Occhipinti looked to point the finger at the Administration for an increase in legal costs of about $1.1 million in recent years to $1.9 million currently anticipated.  He cites employee terminations and the mayor's failure "to compromise" as part of the problem.  After all, MORTe may talk a good game about taxes but their top constituents are city employees.  Although Occhipinti didn't go as far as Councilwoman Terry Castellano mentioning names at  recent council meeting on active legal lawsuits against the City, he carried on the position by politicizing the cases collectively to attack the mayor.

Councilman Dave Mello counters the claim pointing to the facts in a chart presented on the legal costs to the City showing that between land use, redevelopment and rent control, the City's legal costs take up 50% of the pie.

Not seen in the video is a point Councilman Mello later makes regarding Tim Occhipinti attending a public meeting about NJ Transit on development downtown but instead of looking at possible models created and listening to the public, Occhipinti ignored both and choose to remain with NJ Transit officials for the entirety of the event.  Mello notes that compromising with NJ Transit would mean a shadow of skyscrapers over southern Hoboken.

MSV reported the exclusive story where unlike other council members who attended, and joined with the public at tables to look at possible designs and share ideas, Occhipinti ignored the public altogether and hung out with NJ Transit officials who did exactly the same.

That story, "Sign of the Times: NJ Transit, the constituent that matters most," appeared on MSV last June.

Here's a short video clip from Saturday's meeting:



Does anyone remember the first time Tim Occhipinti appeared before the City Council to denounce others for not being willing "to compromise?"  Here's Tim Occhipinti reading a prepared and approved Peter Cammarano speech where he calls returning zoning board appointments back to the City Council "a power grab."  Those words were the exact ones used by the convicted felon Peter Cammarano prior to the July 2009 council meeting.

Even more humorous is Occhipinti urging the "Council needs to work together as a whole."
His idea of compromise these days is to take his marching orders from the Beth Russo hydra and enlist the council majority to join in their sabotage against the City.




Talking Ed Note: This July 22nd, 2009 video clip comes courtesy of the Wiley Coyote, Eric Kurta.  While no one would confuse Tim Occhipinti with Peter Cammarano, the Old Guard game remains the same.  Find new faces that look palatable and non-threatening who are willing to sell out Hoboken and fall into line.  Just like Tim Occhipinti.


With another election in spring of 2013, they are already jockeying to do so.  This as Peter Cammarano was arrested, convicted, sentenced and served a reduced prison term.


The Old Guard didn't even pause during any segment of the sordid affair.  There's a city treasury just waiting for them to pillage and plunder.  One thing you have to respect, they keep their eye on the prize and they always follow the money - by hook or by crook.

Tim Occhipinti (l) speaking with NJ Transit's John Leon as a table in the background was one of several where residents shared ideas on the different aspects of a potential redevelopment.  Occhipinti ignored them.

Related: Grafix Avenger takes an in-depth  look at more on Occhipinti and Dr. Seuss:
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/03/timmy-does-not-like-green-eggs-vs-ham.html

Puppet Heap - free exhibition 2:00 - 5:00 at the Hoboken Historical Museum

Puppet Heap Takes Over Upper Gallery
Last weekend, the Museum flipped the switch on our new website design. Same URL: www.hobokenmuseum.org, but with a new look and organization. Coming soon is a new online Museum shop! We're also building up our social media pages, including Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr and YouTube -- we hope to make it easier to share information and inspire more curiosity about Hoboken. Check it all out and let us know what you think!
Opening this Sunday in the Upper Gallery...
Puppet Heap, nationally famous puppet design studio. click on the image to visit the group's website.	Strange Neighbors: The Art & Imagination of Puppet Heap The public is invited to a free opening reception from 2 - 5 pm Sunday, Mar. 18 for a new Upper Gallery exhibition featuring Hoboken’s own Puppet Heap, an innovative design and fabrication studio that creates and brings to life some of the world’s most beloved characters using both traditional and cutting-edge techniques to share stories with modern audiences.An artist’s talk and short film screening start at 4 p.m. Based in the former Levolor factory at 720 Monroe St., “The Heap” is led by artist and entrepreneur Paul Andrejco and boasts a team of the industry’s most talented designers, performers and craftspeople. The studio began in 1992 and has grown into an ever-expanding creative company that develops and designs characters for film, television, theater and the Web for such entertainment companies as Sesame Workshop, The Walt Disney Company, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Andrejco and the Heap also produce award-winning short films such as “Omar’s Mother,” “Ye Ballade of Ivan Petrofsky Skevar,” “I Knew an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” or most recently, “Mother Hubbard Among Others.” And they’ve created a line of retail puppets designed to inspire storytelling through play. The puppets are incredibly detailed and beautifully built from a variety of materials: paper tape, fabric, fur, papiermaché, silicone, latex rubber, among many other materials. Early in his 20-year career, Andrejco worked at the Jim Henson Company as a puppet maker and character designer for the Muppets and other projects. If you saw the new Muppet movie that opened nationwide at Thanksgiving, you’ve seen the studio’s works—Walter, the star of the movie, was designed by Andrejco. 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.
John Gomez will speak on "Mechanical Moderne: Architectural Innovation and Influence in the Holland Tunnel Ventilation Towers "	Tunnel Talks Continue in April: Gomez on "Mechanical Moderne" The Tunnel Talk series continues on Sunday, Apr. 15, at 4 p.m. with John Gomez, architectural historian and advisor to the Hoboken Historical Museum, who will give a talk titled, "Mechanical Moderne: Architectural Innovation and Influence in the Holland Tunnel Ventilation Towers,” about how the towers were designed. The architect was Norwegian, and brought a Scandinavian design sensibility to the project. He went on to work on other projects for the Port Authority, including the towers for the Lincoln Tunnel. The Tunnel Talk series is free and open to all. Two more Tunnel Talks will help visitors "dig" into tunnel lore: Sun., May 20, 4 p.m., Tunnel talk: “Highway Under the Hudson” author Dr. Robert W. Jackson will describe the conditions that precipitated the construction of the Holland Tunnel, and its impact since then. Sun., Jun. 24, 4 p.m., Tunnel talk: “The Last Three Miles” author Steven Hart will discuss the riveting saga of the roads and bridges connecting the Holland Tunnel to the rest of the country. The exhibit and speakers series are made possible through funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission, Applied Companies, Bijou Properties, T&M Contracting, United Way of Hudson County, and John Wiley & Sons.
Uptown Storytime: Mar. 15, Apr 5 & 19
Penny Metsch enthralls her fans	Uptown Storytime Every 1st & 3rd Thursday Toddlers and their parents or caretakers are invited to join librarian and Museum trustee Penny Metsch every other Thursday morning at 10 am for the popular Uptown Storytime. Penny chooses old favorites and new books sure to please kids ages 2 - 5 years. Suggested donation for adults is $2; free for members. Mark your calendars: Upcoming Storytimes are April 5 and 19, May 3 & 17!
Ready to explore the Mile Square city	Looking for summer fun for kids? The Hoboken Historical Museum announces the dates for the2012 Summer Enrichment Program sessions, which booked up quickly last year. Each week-long session runs Monday - Friday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, at the Museum--with field trips around town. Every day includes a little history, exploring, outdoor activities, crafts and a chance to make new friends and have lots of fun. The week costs $225 per child enrolled, Museum Members pay $190. Visit our new website for more information.http://www.hobokenmuseum.org/education/programs/summer-enrichment Or call the Museum at 201-656-2240 or send an email to Robin Westervelt, Education Curator, ateducation@hobokenmuseum.org
Fire Department Museum Open Weekends, 12-5 pm
Family fun at the Fire Dept. Museum!	Hoboken's other best-kept secret is the Hoboken Fire Department Museum, at 213 Bloomfield Street. Come see how generations of fire fighters have battled fires in this dense urban environment. Memorabilia, including photos, hats and equipment, are arrayed floor-to-ceiling, and the fire fighters welcome visitors to climb up on the vintage fire truck. Admission is free for children, $2 for adults. The Hoboken Historical Museum is happy to help the department staff the Museum on weekends from noon to 5 pm.
The Hoboken Historical Museum is open six days a week at 1301 Hudson St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Our hours are 2 - 7 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 1 - 5 pm on Fridays, and noon - 5 pm on weekends. Our number is 201-656-2240. Stop by and see our exhibits, browse our growing collection of t-shirts, books, mugs and postcards, or check out our website and browse our online collections. Happy exploring!

Budget Hearing and noon Special Meeting to approve appropriation today

City of Hoboken Budget Hearing Live at City Hall 10:00 - 5:00 pm

Hoboken's budget hearings will cover most of today at City Hall in council chambers and the mayor's special meeting on a 750K appropriation will also be featured. In the last two years, the budget hearings held by the Administration have produced significant savings well into six figures. It's not clear if those feats will be duplicated so tune in to get insight into the budget process.

At noon, a special council meeting will act on the 750K blocked earlier as a designated emergency appropriation. The change based on NJ State law means five votes not six can pass the measure making MORTe's (Mason-Occhipinti-Russo-Castellano) no votes meaningless.

As the meeting is underway, only Councilwoman Beth Mason is present from the minority.

Talking Ed Note: A three alarm fire last night at 917 Clinton Street damaged several apartments and two residents were seen taken to the Hoboken University Medical Center. Most residents were able to return to the building based on this report from Hoboken Patch.

Update: As expected, the temporary appropriation passed today 5-1. The council majority passed it while the lone vote against came from Tim Occhinpinti.

Hoboken resident Scott Siegel gave a strong overview on the 18% reduction in the tax levy under Mayor Zimmer and noted if the minority had not blocked the simple refinance of the midtown garage it would be 25%.

After an explanation of the State law on temporary appropriations by Finance Director Nick Trasente, dissent expressed by Tim Occhipinti followed. "I don't like it." Occhipinti said adding he would vote against the measure. He left immediately after and did not listen to the public remarks nor a correction on another misunderstanding he had courtesy of Councilwoman Carol Marsh.

Councilwoman Beth Mason was not present for the noon portion of the meeting. She arrived after ten and did not participate in the discussion and vote.

The budget hearings will continue this afternoon.

Celebrating Peter Cammarano's return to Hoboken, a blast from the recent past on zoning corruption that led to federal prison

The war zone between the coalition of the Reform movement and the Old Guard over at the Hoboken Patch comments section is amped up more than usual with the constant chirping from one political operative family not paid for friendship and with it, a look in the rear view mirror of Hoboken's most obvious recent symbol of corruption.

Peter Cammarano celebrates his one week anniversary back in Hoboken from doing a shortened stint in federal prison at Lewisburg and a halfway house in Brooklyn, so let's join in his one week anniversary looking at those who served him so ably in his brief role as mayor.

An attack yesterday on our colleague Grafix Avenger on Hoboken Patch led to her dispelling the fabrication about her appointment to the Hoboken Zoning Board.  With her background as an architect, she was elected in a 9-0 vote on the City Council and has served ably in that capacity.  Months later she began work on a local website called Grafix Avenger.

Nothing in Hoboken has been the same since.  Not only does Grafix Avenger rule the town as the best (and only) regular political satirist, she's a dominant voice using imagery to cement humor and sometimes well deserved ridicule of the Old Guard, their never ending corruption and of course driving them up the wall in pointing out their phoniness and outright hypocrisy.  It even led to Tim Occhipinti calling the police on her "credible threat" of deploying the Vulcan death grip on her Star Trek adversaries.  

Which brings us to this celebratory eve of arrest clip from a Hoboken City Council meeting, courtesy of our noble fellow citizen animal, the Wiley Coyote, Eric Kurta.

Yesterday, Grafix Avenger grew weary of the prosbus/HQ's litany of lies and went researching into recent history to put some pieces of a puzzle together and pose some questions our friends the Boys of Summer may wish to circle back and revisit for a new line of Hoboken questioning.  Da Horsey decided to dig into the Wiley Coyote's vault and lend a hand.

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  It's never been more true here with the FBI's ongoing investigation in Hoboken.  Here is political operative Lane Bajardi performing his stock in trade service on behalf of Peter Cammarano.

Talking Ed Note:  There's wrong and then there's Lane Bajardi wrong.
Or is there something more than meets the eye here?

At this same council meeting, other political operatives spoke on behalf of retaining zoning powers for the newly "elected" Peter Cammarano. Among them was a little known resident who miserably failed to get much traction running for City Council. Guess who would make their first appearance speaking at a City Council meeting for just this same political operation and who also admitted to being a note taker at the council meeting serving the brief tenure of Peter J. Cammarano? He also has his own little problem on voter fraud sitting in the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

 Tim Occhipinti

Video highlights of the Irish Cultural Festival at Sinatra Park

This video comes courtesy of TheBoken.com covering the afternoon Irish Hurling exhibition to the musical acts later through the evening.

Please see their excellent insightful story on the event too:
http://theboken.com/hoboken-headlines/hoboken-irish-cultural-festival-recap-314photos-and-videos/

Hoboken Irish Cultural Event in Sinatra Park a huge success

What a tremendous Hoboken event.  As one person who did not know Da Horsey said, "This is great, the vibe is great, the food is great and the music is perfect."

That kind of sums it up.  The weather and the crowd, just tremendous:

The Freedom Tower at sunset was a spectacular backdrop to the Irish cultural event at Sinatra Park.

Three bands played through the course of the evening and made for a great time.

Hundreds of people in attendance, and the Jersey Journal put the event into four figures.  The event ran to 10:00 pm.

Organizers estimated the event will raise about $4,000 for Hoboken charities but that's not an official tally.

Congratulations to Hoboken residents who worked and contributed to making this a very successful event for the Mile Square.  Thank you to the readers who stopped Da Horsey to tell us they are avid readers and are now following the Hoboken Sopranos, re: the City Council meetings and keeping abreast of what's going on in our local government.

Your kind remarks and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

Irish flag raising at City Hall

Minutes ago at City Hall:

Mayor Dawn Zimmer (l) watches as the Irish flag is raised at City Hall by former Senator Bernard Kenny.
Watching right are Freeholder Anthony Romano and Council members Carol Marsh and Jen Giattino.

Hoboken's Irish Cultural Festival kicks off at 4:00 today

As noted on The Hoboken Journal:


According to organizer Chris Halleron the “Beer permit has been secured! Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s on draught thanks to Peerless Beverages. 


All proceeds from beer sales will go to the Hoboken Shelter and the American Legion Post 107′s Adopt-A-Soldier program.” The flyer for the event has also been released as shown (right).

The itinerary is as follows:

• 4pm- Hoboken Guards Hurling Exhibition (this type of hurling is actually a real sport)
• 6pm- Traditional Irish Step Dancers from the Garden Street School of Performing Arts

Musical Performances by:

• Paddy and the Pale Boys
• George Murphy from Dublin
• The Will O’Connor Band

The link to the Facebook event is here: http://www.facebook.com/events/353842537988783/ ◦ 

Sign of the Times: Mayor Zimmer shows budget professionalism

The Wiley Coyote returns with a budget chart, part of his Hoboken Advocate research showing a timeline for the Hoboken budget's introduction and approval over the years:

The chart shows in dark blue the Hoboken budget's introduction and the time until its adoption in light blue going back to Mayor Anthony Russo.

The Wiley Coyote known to most as Eric Kurta was inspired to make the chart after one fabrication on Hoboken Patch by a commenter who is banned from posting here but has turned the family aspirations for the Public Information Office under their predicted Beth Mason mayoralty into online neurosis of hatred and bajobseeking envy and that site's comment section into a cesspool.  

For the original entry at the Hoboken Advocate, see:

http://hobokenadvocate.blogspot.com/2012/03/city-budgets.html

Unrelated: Da Horsey would be remiss if you didn't get a link to the latest insights into the Boys of Summer, our heroes at the FBI serving the Republic who may have a problem on their hands.

Turns out one confidential informant picked up on waivers in 2009 and a friend of the arrested Patrick Ricciardi hasn't been delivering on his agreement.

http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/03/flip-that-flopped.html

MSV can confirm we've tracked a similar storyline involving this same person for quite a while, but chalk this one up to Grafix Avenger and her source.

State: budget guidelines extended, Mayor acts, calls for special meeting Saturday to pass appropriation

In a stunning reversal of fortune to the logjam in the City Council over an emergency appropriation, a little known rule with the Department of Community Affairs extending the deadline for a budget permits temporary appropriations.  In Hoboken's case, it means 750K to be reconsidered under the budget rules.

Previous to that action, six votes were required for an emergency appropriation.  In four separate votes on three different occasions, the sixth vote was withheld among MORTe: Beth Mason, Tim Occhipinti, Michael Russo and Terry Castellano.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer has notified the City Council there will be a special meeting this Saturday at noon to weigh the matter and under the rules of a temporary budget, five votes are needed not six as in a super majority.

The action by the State means another sabotage of Hoboken by MORTe is all but over if the five members of the council majority show up and vote as they have earlier to approve the measure.

Included in the $750,000 appropriation is pay for firefighters, special equipment for their protection and the leveling of the site of the lower Jackson Street fire on first street.

Last night Councilwoman Terry Castellano complained a Saturday meeting interfered with her store City Discount and Tim Occhipinti complained about holding a budget hearing on the day of a cultural event - the real St. Patrick's Day.

Each time MORTe voted down the emergency appropriation, they failed to say what benefit the City gains by doing so.  The delay in approving the funds jeopardized a number of city services requiring funding before any passage of the 2012 budget and put legal cases numbering in the dozens on hiatus with no payment for services rendered by numerous legal firms retained.

The letter from Mayor Dawn Zimmer to the City Council follows:

Talking Ed Note: MORTe sabotage foiled again.

Beth Mason and her Hoboken411 minions silent as lambs after second defamation letter from former councilman Michael Lenz

A second letter issued to Hoboken411's Perry Klaussen, Councilwoman Beth Mason and Lane Bajardi at the end of February from former Councilman Michael Lenz notes the complete silence of the Mason troika and inadequacy of their failure to respond.

Grafix Avenger notes of the certified letters sent, only Beth Mason signed for the first.

Hoboken411 Defamation Letter from Michael Lenz


Talking Ed Note: MSV will be back but for the moment let's give the Mason Media Complex some time.
Who said there isn't a Hoboken media sequel to "Silence of the Lambs?"

The Hoboken media is as silent as Mason's minions on this story so far.  Coincidence?

Graphic courtesy of Grafix Avenger.

2012 Budget Hearings begin

The City of Hoboken 2012 budget hearings have begun.  MSV is providing the unedited recording of the meeting without comment as it has not been viewed.

The Budget Hearing is now planned for this Saturday 10:00 - 5:00.

State Senator Barbara Buono: On an Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights

Dear Editor:

As a parent, I have a responsibility to do all that I can to protect my children.  When I sponsored the state’s first anti-bullying law in 2002, I did so for the same reason. It is the most basic duty that I share with parents across the state of New Jersey.  And when the opportunity arose to act once again in 2010, I sponsored the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, a law that transcends party lines and brought Democrats and Republicans together for the sake of our children.  The physical and emotional well-being of New Jersey’s young people depends on that sort of progress.

Ensuring the welfare of our kids is not a choice.  When it comes to drugs and alcohol, obscenity, child abuse, and a whole host of other dangers to our young people, no one is looking the other way.  Cases of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in our schools should be no different.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights is more than just words; it is a promise to every child in the state of New Jersey.  It is a declaration that we will not condone harassment, nor will we be bystanders in the presence of intimidation. For so many schoolchildren across the state, it is a lifeline.

The bipartisan enactment of this law was symbolic: right knows no party or ideology.  The fact of the matter is that, for a student who fears going to class each day due to harassment or the possibility of physical harm, party labels have no significance.

The state of New Jersey has set an example for generations to come in its commitment to stand up for justice and equality for all people. And if there is any single legacy for which our Legislature may be remembered, I would hope it would be its adherence to these principles.

Educating our kids means giving them all the tools they need to succeed, from simple things like pens and notebooks to the more complicated peace of mind that comes with knowing that every adult in the state of New Jersey stands with them against bullying.  We owed it to these children to deliver.

Barbara Buono

Senator

18^th Legislative District

Talking Ed Note: State Senator Buono has been discussed as a likely candidate to challenge Governor Christie in 2013.  

Unrelated: An unfortunate incident has occurred not between students but involves a Hoboken parent and another parent who is a former BoE trustee.  Grafix Avenger has the story of an alleged spitting incident.

Hoboken411, Beth Mason and Lane Bajardi face potential "defamation," charges with retraction demand from former councilman Michael Lenz

MILE SQUARE VIEW EXCLUSIVE

Hoboken411's legal problems may only be beginning after a judge's bench warrant issued for his arrest with his failure to appear in a Jersey City court for alleged criminal coercion last week.  In a letter obtained by MSV from none of the named parties, Michael Lenz declares a story updated on Hoboken411 last month "Deconstructing Michael Lenz" is defamatory, demanding the story be taken down and a retraction issued.

The letter is directed not only to Perry Klaussen but Councilwoman Beth Mason and her friend "not paid for friendship" Lane Bajardi.  The letter copied to Michael Lenz's lawyer signals the first ever public challenge coupled with possible legal action to the frequent character assassination deployed on Hoboken411.  Many in political circles claim the unscrupulous attacks on Hoboken elected officials, employees and residents have taken place on the heavily censored website over years where the troika are believed to be involved and Beth Mason's checkbook the driving force.

Michael Lenz's bombshell letter sent by both certified and regular mail describes the parties as "owners, writers, and/or funders, in whole or in part" of Hoboken411.  In the City Council, Beth Mason has not answered questions or offered any transparency on her role in Hoboken411 and the odd appearance of confidential City documents and information appearing on the website where she directs her political operations, only saying she does not "own or control" the website.

The letter outlines its claims of defamatory information in detail, contradicting Hoboken411's story, in itemized fashion and points out Lenz has been a private citizen since the 4th ward special election in November 2010.  In the letter Lenz denies he is the target of alleged racism or discrimination and that any such complaint was made against him.

Since Lenz's departure from the Hoboken City Council, Beth Mason has directed negative comments about Michael Lenz in City Council meetings by name, also in recent months.  Those prepared speeches are believed by many observers written for her by Lane Bajardi, her political operative who is known for his pathological hatred for the current mayor and the former 4th ward councilman.  Bajardi has never publicly denied being a political ghostwriter for Hoboken411 although it's been stated as well known by people in Hoboken political circles here on MSV and other local websites.

The letter to Hoboken411's Perry Klaussen, Lane Bajardi and Councilwoman Beth Mason follows:

A letter from the former 4th ward councilman Michael Lenz and copied to his attorney demands a retraction and removal of what he alleges is defamatory information about him.  Hoboken411 responded by attacking Lenz's wife claiming it had
information she was under consideration for the City's Business Administrator position.  MSV covered that story last week.

Hoboken411's response to the letter appears to have been to bury the original story "Deconstructing Michael Lenz" on its website and then follow with a spurious attack on Michael Lenz's wife claiming it had obtained information she was under consideration to replace Arch Liston as the City Business Administrator.  The source of the Hoboken411 story, as always is not named, existing only in the imagination of the political ghostwriter.

Hoboken411 does not explain why a well paid software engineer would have interest in applying for a lower paying public sector position let alone a financial executive role to begin with and any cursory review of the background of Michael Lenz's wife would reveal exactly the same.

Already persons of interest in the FBI investigation in the massive looting of Mayor Dawn Zimmer's electronic communications, Perry Klaussen, Beth Mason and Lane Bajardi find themselves the targets of another alleged conspiracy: defendants in a potential defamation claim by former 4th ward City Councilman Michael Lenz.

Talking Ed Note: Ironically, Beth Mason introduced a resolution to celebrate Sunshine Week at the City Council after midnight last Wednesday but she's not answered questions about her relationship with Hoboken411 in City Council.  When Mason is exposed in an underhanded political operation, she typically hides from the media until they give up on obtaining an answer.  Don't expect anything different here.

The Mason Media Complex has ignored the earlier story of Hoboken411 being hit with an arrest warrant and being charged with criminal coercion.

Will they keep a lid on this one too?

Stay tuned.