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Their boots were made for marching

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
-
0
Their boots were made for marching

Since taking the office of president on Friday, Jan. 20, Donald Trump has signed 12 executive orders, including one that weakens the reach of the Affordable Care Act and one that says federal dollars may not go to organizations that provide abortion services (including some that provide contraception and counseling). Also during his first week, he has said he’d investigate what he believes to be up to 5 million illegal votes in his election and has said he’ll build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Dozens of women and a handful of men from Hoboken, Jersey City, and other local towns took 14 buses from Hudson County to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 21 to march for women’s rights and for civil rights for disadvantaged groups. Similar protests were held in New York, Toronto, and London.
Hoisting signs such as “Nasty woman in training,” “These boobs were made for marching,” “My body my choice,” “Women’s rights are human rights,” “Dump Trump,” “Don’t tread on me,” “Men of quality do not fear equality,” and “Keep your tiny hands off my rights,” the women and men spent six hours in the nation’s capital before heading home.
The protest was said to be the largest in U.S. history.
“I hope today is the beginning of a movement to keep the next four years moving forward and not allow this administration to pull us back,” said Hoboken resident Liz Cohen on one of the buses, as the group rolled down to D.C. Participants had to be at the buses by 4:30 a.m.
Cohen, one of the trip’s organizers, said 206 local people made the trip to D.C. after months of planning. Only six dropped out.
“Some people were ill, others decided to attend the march in New York City instead, and we had one family who decided not to go because of the violence in D.C. the day of the inauguration, which is understandable,” said Cohen.

The march

Eileen Vanderhaden, 74, who has lived in Hoboken for 24 years, was one of the marchers. “I’m no stranger to activism,” she said. “I marched for women’s rights in the ’90s and against the Vietnam and Iraq wars. But this march for some reason, seeing all those women and men with a singular purpose, was so thrilling for me I had a lump in my throat the whole day.”
_____________
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles.’ ” – Eileen Vanderhaden, 74
____________
Vanderhaden said she has experienced workplace discrimination in the past because of her gender, when she worked in data security.
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles,’ ” she said. “ ‘All they really want is enough money to buy a good pretty pocketbook. Women do not belong in the workplace. They belong home with their children.’ I was more than happy to testify against him a few years later when he was being sued by a former Hispanic employee.”
Vanderhaden said she was overwhelmed by the love and support of the protestors, even when people who were against the march made their way through the crowd. Those people carried signs against abortion and homosexual rights.
“No one was mean,” she said. “Everyone was kind when those men with the Jesus signs came through. All people did was part and begin chanting, ‘Love trumps hate’.”
Jersey City resident Harriet Taub, 63, said, “There was never a moment from the time I heard about the march that I didn’t want to be a part of it. The tone and tenor of our government is so divisive and mean-spirited that I think it’s important to rally around and be together and say we won’t stand for this.”
Taub said she had marched in D.C for women’s reproductive rights in the 1990s with her then 7-year-old daughter, who was now marching in Toronto with her husband.
She said protesting goes hand in hand with democracy.
“It’s important for anyone and everyone to get together and make a statement and let people know protesting is still a right,” Taub said. “When you take away those rights democracy goes out the window. We have a right to stand together and say, ‘We are watching you and you can’t ignore us.’ I’m hopeful that this march will show the administration and those in political power that we will not accept business as usual, and that they can’t give way to the stroke of a pen and get rid of all the progress this country has made.”
Taub noted, “I have family in Melbourne, Australia, friends marching in Boston, and it’s exciting to see it’s not a localized thing or polarized. Its liberals and conservatives, it’s West Coast and East Coast.”
Thomas Egan, 58, a former Hoboken resident and current Jersey City resident for the past 20 years, felt the march’s positive spirit and enjoyed the creative signs and involvement. He was upset by the election results.
“I felt it would be a historic event if enough people came, and it would become a marker in history,” he said. “Yeah, you could say I was surprised by the election. It was a nightmare. We were looking at the polls thinking it was going to be all right. Then we watched it all fall apart.”
“I went from the despair and depression after the election to absolute joy and a renewal of energy to keep going,” said Cohen after the march. “I remember how horrible I felt. I was literally grieving, thinking the world had come to an end, and now to have been here and think about this today; what a difference. I feel so empowered.”
Hoboken resident Barbara Gambach Weinstein said she thought the march included people from all backgrounds and people with different agendas and some took inspiration from the suffragettes.
“I like the comprehensive nature of the march,” said Weinstein. “This is just the beginning. This is just one part of the strategy. I wore white today because this is what the suffragettes wore to fight and protest before they finally got women the right to vote. They used all the techniques available to them.”
She said, “They marched, they protested, organized, and then went to legislation. This march includes not only women’s rights but movements like Black Lives Matter and women fighting for immigration.”
Jackie Santos, a 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Jersey City, said this was her first march in D.C. She chose to go to D.C. instead of New York. “This is right where all the big decisions are made. Coming here felt more exciting and powerful.”
“There was a lot of positivity and good energy,” she said. “I was a little nervous. Before I came, people were telling me to be careful because it might be dangerous, but it wasn’t at all.”
Santos said she was proud to have been one of the over 1 million people who attended and was comforted by the fact that she wasn’t alone.
The daughter of Hoboken’s late favorite son, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, made it clear on Twitter which side she was on. On Jan. 24 she tweeted “I’ve never been so scared but I will stand up and fight till the end. #Resistance” with an image of an American flag.

Mixed feelings from Republicans

Hudson County Republican Party Chairman Jose Arango did not attend the march, but he said he had neighbors, friends, and employees who did.
“My opinion is, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “It’s democracy. I congratulate all the women who marched and expressed their concerns. I give a lot of credit to women who started this movement.”
Arango said he found the timing of the march a little early.
“Donald Trump was sworn in to office on Friday and they were already marching the next day before he even made a decision or took a next step,” said Arango.
Arango also believed Hollywood stars like Madonna should have been more careful in their speeches at the marches, and that some celebrities were “irresponsible.”
“I say you have a constitutional right to express yourself freely without saying you are going to blow up the White House,” said Arango, referring to Madonna’s controversial comments, which were actually: “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot of blowing up the White House, but I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.”
He added, “She has a lot of youth followers. I think we should have responsible freedom of expression. They criticize Donald Trump for irresponsible speeches, and he has made some mistakes, I agree, but one wrong doesn’t trump another.”
Arango added that speeches like Madonna’s “gave ammunition to our enemies with the way they talk. If I was an enemy of our country I would put Madonna and all these people on a statue. They would be my idol.”

How it began

Cohen decided to get involved after seeing the results of the election in November.
“I was so upset that day,” said Cohen. “I was in mourning literally. I was fully prepared to celebrate the first female president and then it all fell apart.”
Then she heard of the 1 Million Women March, the original title of the Women’s March, and heard of a local meeting of New Jersey Awakens the following week and called the organizer.
“I called her and said I wanted to try and get a bus to go and she said she’d put me on the agenda, and the rest was history.”
Barbara Gross, one of Cohen’s partner organizers, said organizing a project of this magnitude wasn’t easy. There were constant changes, including last-minute bus parking fees, rally point changes, and the weather.
The group paid for the trip using donations and a $50 fee from each participant.
Local businesses and residents donated sunscreen and hand warmers and sponsored seats on the bus for those who would not be able to afford to go otherwise.

What’s next?

Many of the participants in the march felt invigorated after attending. But what is next for the movement?
Several suggested calling their state and local representatives about issues that are important to them. Emailing and on-line petitions don’t make as much of an impact, officials have said.
Scientists around the country have been organizing a march for later this year after Trump supporters have made comments trying to discredit fears of climate change.
Taub said, “Yes, everyone should call their state representatives, or write to them, but we should also call other states’ representatives and talk to them, or research the various national committees to see who serves on them and contact those people as well.”
Taub also called for more education on the fight for gender equality.
“I feel there is an educational gap between women of my generation and millennials or younger,” said Taub. “What you don’t realize is how hard it was to get here. People of your generation grew up with these freedoms and don’t know what it’s like not to have them.”
Among more recent changes in the U.S., the Affordable Care Act ensures that people have health insurance through age 25. Before that, young people often lost their insurance a year or two after college graduation.
Gross said she collected dozens of signs, pins, letters, and emails about the march and donated them to the Hoboken Historical Museum for its archives.
Cohen said she has started contacting her representatives and plans on doing so every Tuesday as part of Take Action Tuesday. She also has begun to take some online tutorials on how to be an effective activist and get others involved.
The group is also planning to meet with other D.C. trip organizers in the area to discuss the next steps.

Woman targeted

Meanwhile, women in other parts of the country have faced blowback for speaking out.
One woman in Mississippi responded on Facebook to some of her state senator, Chris McDaniels’, remarks about the march such as, “So a group of unhappy liberal women march on Washington D.C. We shouldn’t be surprised; almost all liberal women are unhappy. Perhaps there’s a correlation… If they can afford all those piercings, tattoos, body paintings, signs, and plane tickets, then why do they want us to pay for their birth control?” The woman commented that he should be representing everyone, then called him a “f—wit” and asked her friends to call his office and let their voices be heard. In response, he reportedly posted her image and Facebook information, stating “She obviously believes you should be paying for her birth control. Why not let her know how you feel?” She told a reporter that she was harassed in response.

Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.

Their boots were made for marching

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
-
0
Their boots were made for marching

Since taking the office of president on Friday, Jan. 20, Donald Trump has signed 12 executive orders, including one that weakens the reach of the Affordable Care Act and one that says federal dollars may not go to organizations that provide abortion services (including some that provide contraception and counseling). Also during his first week, he has said he’d investigate what he believes to be up to 5 million illegal votes in his election and has said he’ll build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Dozens of women and a handful of men from Hoboken, Jersey City, and other local towns took 14 buses from Hudson County to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 21 to march for women’s rights and for civil rights for disadvantaged groups. Similar protests were held in New York, Toronto, and London.
Hoisting signs such as “Nasty woman in training,” “These boobs were made for marching,” “My body my choice,” “Women’s rights are human rights,” “Dump Trump,” “Don’t tread on me,” “Men of quality do not fear equality,” and “Keep your tiny hands off my rights,” the women and men spent six hours in the nation’s capital before heading home.
The protest was said to be the largest in U.S. history.
“I hope today is the beginning of a movement to keep the next four years moving forward and not allow this administration to pull us back,” said Hoboken resident Liz Cohen on one of the buses, as the group rolled down to D.C. Participants had to be at the buses by 4:30 a.m.
Cohen, one of the trip’s organizers, said 206 local people made the trip to D.C. after months of planning. Only six dropped out.
“Some people were ill, others decided to attend the march in New York City instead, and we had one family who decided not to go because of the violence in D.C. the day of the inauguration, which is understandable,” said Cohen.

The march

Eileen Vanderhaden, 74, who has lived in Hoboken for 24 years, was one of the marchers. “I’m no stranger to activism,” she said. “I marched for women’s rights in the ’90s and against the Vietnam and Iraq wars. But this march for some reason, seeing all those women and men with a singular purpose, was so thrilling for me I had a lump in my throat the whole day.”
_____________
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles.’ ” – Eileen Vanderhaden, 74
____________
Vanderhaden said she has experienced workplace discrimination in the past because of her gender, when she worked in data security.
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles,’ ” she said. “ ‘All they really want is enough money to buy a good pretty pocketbook. Women do not belong in the workplace. They belong home with their children.’ I was more than happy to testify against him a few years later when he was being sued by a former Hispanic employee.”
Vanderhaden said she was overwhelmed by the love and support of the protestors, even when people who were against the march made their way through the crowd. Those people carried signs against abortion and homosexual rights.
“No one was mean,” she said. “Everyone was kind when those men with the Jesus signs came through. All people did was part and begin chanting, ‘Love trumps hate’.”
Jersey City resident Harriet Taub, 63, said, “There was never a moment from the time I heard about the march that I didn’t want to be a part of it. The tone and tenor of our government is so divisive and mean-spirited that I think it’s important to rally around and be together and say we won’t stand for this.”
Taub said she had marched in D.C for women’s reproductive rights in the 1990s with her then 7-year-old daughter, who was now marching in Toronto with her husband.
She said protesting goes hand in hand with democracy.
“It’s important for anyone and everyone to get together and make a statement and let people know protesting is still a right,” Taub said. “When you take away those rights democracy goes out the window. We have a right to stand together and say, ‘We are watching you and you can’t ignore us.’ I’m hopeful that this march will show the administration and those in political power that we will not accept business as usual, and that they can’t give way to the stroke of a pen and get rid of all the progress this country has made.”
Taub noted, “I have family in Melbourne, Australia, friends marching in Boston, and it’s exciting to see it’s not a localized thing or polarized. Its liberals and conservatives, it’s West Coast and East Coast.”
Thomas Egan, 58, a former Hoboken resident and current Jersey City resident for the past 20 years, felt the march’s positive spirit and enjoyed the creative signs and involvement. He was upset by the election results.
“I felt it would be a historic event if enough people came, and it would become a marker in history,” he said. “Yeah, you could say I was surprised by the election. It was a nightmare. We were looking at the polls thinking it was going to be all right. Then we watched it all fall apart.”
“I went from the despair and depression after the election to absolute joy and a renewal of energy to keep going,” said Cohen after the march. “I remember how horrible I felt. I was literally grieving, thinking the world had come to an end, and now to have been here and think about this today; what a difference. I feel so empowered.”
Hoboken resident Barbara Gambach Weinstein said she thought the march included people from all backgrounds and people with different agendas and some took inspiration from the suffragettes.
“I like the comprehensive nature of the march,” said Weinstein. “This is just the beginning. This is just one part of the strategy. I wore white today because this is what the suffragettes wore to fight and protest before they finally got women the right to vote. They used all the techniques available to them.”
She said, “They marched, they protested, organized, and then went to legislation. This march includes not only women’s rights but movements like Black Lives Matter and women fighting for immigration.”
Jackie Santos, a 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Jersey City, said this was her first march in D.C. She chose to go to D.C. instead of New York. “This is right where all the big decisions are made. Coming here felt more exciting and powerful.”
“There was a lot of positivity and good energy,” she said. “I was a little nervous. Before I came, people were telling me to be careful because it might be dangerous, but it wasn’t at all.”
Santos said she was proud to have been one of the over 1 million people who attended and was comforted by the fact that she wasn’t alone.
The daughter of Hoboken’s late favorite son, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, made it clear on Twitter which side she was on. On Jan. 24 she tweeted “I’ve never been so scared but I will stand up and fight till the end. #Resistance” with an image of an American flag.

Mixed feelings from Republicans

Hudson County Republican Party Chairman Jose Arango did not attend the march, but he said he had neighbors, friends, and employees who did.
“My opinion is, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “It’s democracy. I congratulate all the women who marched and expressed their concerns. I give a lot of credit to women who started this movement.”
Arango said he found the timing of the march a little early.
“Donald Trump was sworn in to office on Friday and they were already marching the next day before he even made a decision or took a next step,” said Arango.
Arango also believed Hollywood stars like Madonna should have been more careful in their speeches at the marches, and that some celebrities were “irresponsible.”
“I say you have a constitutional right to express yourself freely without saying you are going to blow up the White House,” said Arango, referring to Madonna’s controversial comments, which were actually: “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot of blowing up the White House, but I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.”
He added, “She has a lot of youth followers. I think we should have responsible freedom of expression. They criticize Donald Trump for irresponsible speeches, and he has made some mistakes, I agree, but one wrong doesn’t trump another.”
Arango added that speeches like Madonna’s “gave ammunition to our enemies with the way they talk. If I was an enemy of our country I would put Madonna and all these people on a statue. They would be my idol.”

How it began

Cohen decided to get involved after seeing the results of the election in November.
“I was so upset that day,” said Cohen. “I was in mourning literally. I was fully prepared to celebrate the first female president and then it all fell apart.”
Then she heard of the 1 Million Women March, the original title of the Women’s March, and heard of a local meeting of New Jersey Awakens the following week and called the organizer.
“I called her and said I wanted to try and get a bus to go and she said she’d put me on the agenda, and the rest was history.”
Barbara Gross, one of Cohen’s partner organizers, said organizing a project of this magnitude wasn’t easy. There were constant changes, including last-minute bus parking fees, rally point changes, and the weather.
The group paid for the trip using donations and a $50 fee from each participant.
Local businesses and residents donated sunscreen and hand warmers and sponsored seats on the bus for those who would not be able to afford to go otherwise.

What’s next?

Many of the participants in the march felt invigorated after attending. But what is next for the movement?
Several suggested calling their state and local representatives about issues that are important to them. Emailing and on-line petitions don’t make as much of an impact, officials have said.
Scientists around the country have been organizing a march for later this year after Trump supporters have made comments trying to discredit fears of climate change.
Taub said, “Yes, everyone should call their state representatives, or write to them, but we should also call other states’ representatives and talk to them, or research the various national committees to see who serves on them and contact those people as well.”
Taub also called for more education on the fight for gender equality.
“I feel there is an educational gap between women of my generation and millennials or younger,” said Taub. “What you don’t realize is how hard it was to get here. People of your generation grew up with these freedoms and don’t know what it’s like not to have them.”
Among more recent changes in the U.S., the Affordable Care Act ensures that people have health insurance through age 25. Before that, young people often lost their insurance a year or two after college graduation.
Gross said she collected dozens of signs, pins, letters, and emails about the march and donated them to the Hoboken Historical Museum for its archives.
Cohen said she has started contacting her representatives and plans on doing so every Tuesday as part of Take Action Tuesday. She also has begun to take some online tutorials on how to be an effective activist and get others involved.
The group is also planning to meet with other D.C. trip organizers in the area to discuss the next steps.

Woman targeted

Meanwhile, women in other parts of the country have faced blowback for speaking out.
One woman in Mississippi responded on Facebook to some of her state senator, Chris McDaniels’, remarks about the march such as, “So a group of unhappy liberal women march on Washington D.C. We shouldn’t be surprised; almost all liberal women are unhappy. Perhaps there’s a correlation… If they can afford all those piercings, tattoos, body paintings, signs, and plane tickets, then why do they want us to pay for their birth control?” The woman commented that he should be representing everyone, then called him a “f—wit” and asked her friends to call his office and let their voices be heard. In response, he reportedly posted her image and Facebook information, stating “She obviously believes you should be paying for her birth control. Why not let her know how you feel?” She told a reporter that she was harassed in response.

Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.

Their boots were made for marching

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
-
0
Their boots were made for marching

Since taking the office of president on Friday, Jan. 20, Donald Trump has signed 12 executive orders, including one that weakens the reach of the Affordable Care Act and one that says federal dollars may not go to organizations that provide abortion services (including some that provide contraception and counseling). Also during his first week, he has said he’d investigate what he believes to be up to 5 million illegal votes in his election and has said he’ll build a wall on the border with Mexico.
Dozens of women and a handful of men from Hoboken, Jersey City, and other local towns took 14 buses from Hudson County to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Jan. 21 to march for women’s rights and for civil rights for disadvantaged groups. Similar protests were held in New York, Toronto, and London.
Hoisting signs such as “Nasty woman in training,” “These boobs were made for marching,” “My body my choice,” “Women’s rights are human rights,” “Dump Trump,” “Don’t tread on me,” “Men of quality do not fear equality,” and “Keep your tiny hands off my rights,” the women and men spent six hours in the nation’s capital before heading home.
The protest was said to be the largest in U.S. history.
“I hope today is the beginning of a movement to keep the next four years moving forward and not allow this administration to pull us back,” said Hoboken resident Liz Cohen on one of the buses, as the group rolled down to D.C. Participants had to be at the buses by 4:30 a.m.
Cohen, one of the trip’s organizers, said 206 local people made the trip to D.C. after months of planning. Only six dropped out.
“Some people were ill, others decided to attend the march in New York City instead, and we had one family who decided not to go because of the violence in D.C. the day of the inauguration, which is understandable,” said Cohen.

The march

Eileen Vanderhaden, 74, who has lived in Hoboken for 24 years, was one of the marchers. “I’m no stranger to activism,” she said. “I marched for women’s rights in the ’90s and against the Vietnam and Iraq wars. But this march for some reason, seeing all those women and men with a singular purpose, was so thrilling for me I had a lump in my throat the whole day.”
_____________
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles.’ ” – Eileen Vanderhaden, 74
____________
Vanderhaden said she has experienced workplace discrimination in the past because of her gender, when she worked in data security.
“I remember at one point my boss called me in and said, ‘I don’t know why they allow women to be put into important roles,’ ” she said. “ ‘All they really want is enough money to buy a good pretty pocketbook. Women do not belong in the workplace. They belong home with their children.’ I was more than happy to testify against him a few years later when he was being sued by a former Hispanic employee.”
Vanderhaden said she was overwhelmed by the love and support of the protestors, even when people who were against the march made their way through the crowd. Those people carried signs against abortion and homosexual rights.
“No one was mean,” she said. “Everyone was kind when those men with the Jesus signs came through. All people did was part and begin chanting, ‘Love trumps hate’.”
Jersey City resident Harriet Taub, 63, said, “There was never a moment from the time I heard about the march that I didn’t want to be a part of it. The tone and tenor of our government is so divisive and mean-spirited that I think it’s important to rally around and be together and say we won’t stand for this.”
Taub said she had marched in D.C for women’s reproductive rights in the 1990s with her then 7-year-old daughter, who was now marching in Toronto with her husband.
She said protesting goes hand in hand with democracy.
“It’s important for anyone and everyone to get together and make a statement and let people know protesting is still a right,” Taub said. “When you take away those rights democracy goes out the window. We have a right to stand together and say, ‘We are watching you and you can’t ignore us.’ I’m hopeful that this march will show the administration and those in political power that we will not accept business as usual, and that they can’t give way to the stroke of a pen and get rid of all the progress this country has made.”
Taub noted, “I have family in Melbourne, Australia, friends marching in Boston, and it’s exciting to see it’s not a localized thing or polarized. Its liberals and conservatives, it’s West Coast and East Coast.”
Thomas Egan, 58, a former Hoboken resident and current Jersey City resident for the past 20 years, felt the march’s positive spirit and enjoyed the creative signs and involvement. He was upset by the election results.
“I felt it would be a historic event if enough people came, and it would become a marker in history,” he said. “Yeah, you could say I was surprised by the election. It was a nightmare. We were looking at the polls thinking it was going to be all right. Then we watched it all fall apart.”
“I went from the despair and depression after the election to absolute joy and a renewal of energy to keep going,” said Cohen after the march. “I remember how horrible I felt. I was literally grieving, thinking the world had come to an end, and now to have been here and think about this today; what a difference. I feel so empowered.”
Hoboken resident Barbara Gambach Weinstein said she thought the march included people from all backgrounds and people with different agendas and some took inspiration from the suffragettes.
“I like the comprehensive nature of the march,” said Weinstein. “This is just the beginning. This is just one part of the strategy. I wore white today because this is what the suffragettes wore to fight and protest before they finally got women the right to vote. They used all the techniques available to them.”
She said, “They marched, they protested, organized, and then went to legislation. This march includes not only women’s rights but movements like Black Lives Matter and women fighting for immigration.”
Jackie Santos, a 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Jersey City, said this was her first march in D.C. She chose to go to D.C. instead of New York. “This is right where all the big decisions are made. Coming here felt more exciting and powerful.”
“There was a lot of positivity and good energy,” she said. “I was a little nervous. Before I came, people were telling me to be careful because it might be dangerous, but it wasn’t at all.”
Santos said she was proud to have been one of the over 1 million people who attended and was comforted by the fact that she wasn’t alone.
The daughter of Hoboken’s late favorite son, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, made it clear on Twitter which side she was on. On Jan. 24 she tweeted “I’ve never been so scared but I will stand up and fight till the end. #Resistance” with an image of an American flag.

Mixed feelings from Republicans

Hudson County Republican Party Chairman Jose Arango did not attend the march, but he said he had neighbors, friends, and employees who did.
“My opinion is, it’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “It’s democracy. I congratulate all the women who marched and expressed their concerns. I give a lot of credit to women who started this movement.”
Arango said he found the timing of the march a little early.
“Donald Trump was sworn in to office on Friday and they were already marching the next day before he even made a decision or took a next step,” said Arango.
Arango also believed Hollywood stars like Madonna should have been more careful in their speeches at the marches, and that some celebrities were “irresponsible.”
“I say you have a constitutional right to express yourself freely without saying you are going to blow up the White House,” said Arango, referring to Madonna’s controversial comments, which were actually: “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot of blowing up the White House, but I know that this won’t change anything. We cannot fall into despair.”
He added, “She has a lot of youth followers. I think we should have responsible freedom of expression. They criticize Donald Trump for irresponsible speeches, and he has made some mistakes, I agree, but one wrong doesn’t trump another.”
Arango added that speeches like Madonna’s “gave ammunition to our enemies with the way they talk. If I was an enemy of our country I would put Madonna and all these people on a statue. They would be my idol.”

How it began

Cohen decided to get involved after seeing the results of the election in November.
“I was so upset that day,” said Cohen. “I was in mourning literally. I was fully prepared to celebrate the first female president and then it all fell apart.”
Then she heard of the 1 Million Women March, the original title of the Women’s March, and heard of a local meeting of New Jersey Awakens the following week and called the organizer.
“I called her and said I wanted to try and get a bus to go and she said she’d put me on the agenda, and the rest was history.”
Barbara Gross, one of Cohen’s partner organizers, said organizing a project of this magnitude wasn’t easy. There were constant changes, including last-minute bus parking fees, rally point changes, and the weather.
The group paid for the trip using donations and a $50 fee from each participant.
Local businesses and residents donated sunscreen and hand warmers and sponsored seats on the bus for those who would not be able to afford to go otherwise.

What’s next?

Many of the participants in the march felt invigorated after attending. But what is next for the movement?
Several suggested calling their state and local representatives about issues that are important to them. Emailing and on-line petitions don’t make as much of an impact, officials have said.
Scientists around the country have been organizing a march for later this year after Trump supporters have made comments trying to discredit fears of climate change.
Taub said, “Yes, everyone should call their state representatives, or write to them, but we should also call other states’ representatives and talk to them, or research the various national committees to see who serves on them and contact those people as well.”
Taub also called for more education on the fight for gender equality.
“I feel there is an educational gap between women of my generation and millennials or younger,” said Taub. “What you don’t realize is how hard it was to get here. People of your generation grew up with these freedoms and don’t know what it’s like not to have them.”
Among more recent changes in the U.S., the Affordable Care Act ensures that people have health insurance through age 25. Before that, young people often lost their insurance a year or two after college graduation.
Gross said she collected dozens of signs, pins, letters, and emails about the march and donated them to the Hoboken Historical Museum for its archives.
Cohen said she has started contacting her representatives and plans on doing so every Tuesday as part of Take Action Tuesday. She also has begun to take some online tutorials on how to be an effective activist and get others involved.
The group is also planning to meet with other D.C. trip organizers in the area to discuss the next steps.

Woman targeted

Meanwhile, women in other parts of the country have faced blowback for speaking out.
One woman in Mississippi responded on Facebook to some of her state senator, Chris McDaniels’, remarks about the march such as, “So a group of unhappy liberal women march on Washington D.C. We shouldn’t be surprised; almost all liberal women are unhappy. Perhaps there’s a correlation… If they can afford all those piercings, tattoos, body paintings, signs, and plane tickets, then why do they want us to pay for their birth control?” The woman commented that he should be representing everyone, then called him a “f—wit” and asked her friends to call his office and let their voices be heard. In response, he reportedly posted her image and Facebook information, stating “She obviously believes you should be paying for her birth control. Why not let her know how you feel?” She told a reporter that she was harassed in response.

Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
-
0
The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
-
0
The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
-
0
The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
-
0
The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
-
0
The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

The Power List

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
-
0
The Power List

Who will be the main influencers in Hudson County during 2018? The Reporter’s annual rankings are below. Influence and power aren’t just confined to the political arena, of course.
Think there are people who should have been on the list? Want to express your opinions in a letter to the editor? Write to us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put your town in the subject head. (Remember that letters should always be under 500 words and include your phone number for confirmation by phone, which is mandatory).
And now, the 2018 list:

1. State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (2 last year). Stack’s early endorsement of Murphy for governor and his always powerful get-out-the-vote operation puts the dual office holder in a prominent position on the state level. North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Sacco’s endorsement of Stack to chair the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) will give him significantly more influence across Hudson County. Stack has built a powerful coalition among other mayors and legislators. This has turned him from the political outsider of the past to the leader of the Democratic Party in Hudson County.

2. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco (1 last year). Nicholas Sacco’s long career as a public servant appears to be changing, but he is still a force to be reckoned with in the county. He appears to be passing the torch to others. The intense battle among statewide Democrats last year led to a realignment of power from North Jersey to South Jersey. Since local Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (a strong Sacco ally) is no longer speaker, and with Sacco giving up the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Party, Sacco’s control over county dwindles. Still, he retains significant power in North Hudson.

3. Gov. Phil Murphy (new). Phil Murphy has already taken the lead in Hudson County concerning major issues, including opposing NJ Transit’s attempt to buy land in Hoboken and promising to make improvements to the beleaguered transportation system. He will likely push ahead with the new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and has supported citizen groups that opposed development plans for portions of Liberty State Park. At an appearance in Jersey City just after being sworn in as governor, Murphy made a commitment to support Hudson County in the future.

4. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (3 last year). Menendez, who has become a leading spokesperson against Trump administration immigration policies, is up for reelection. Although he will not be re-tried on corruption charges, his mistrial may be used against him by Republican opponents.

5. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop (4 last year). Fulop, despite a police scandal during his reign and a near-scandal involving former associates in City Hall, won reelection with 78 percent of the votes cast. He appears to be mending fences with Menendez and Murphy, which bodes well, and is close to Stack. If the prediction is right that Jersey City will become the most populated city in the state (and with buildings rising everywhere, it seems likely), Fulop as mayor will have a lot to say in the future.

6. Anthony Vainieri (8 last year). Named for the second year in a row as chairman of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, Vainieri is a rising star, someone seen as the heir apparent to North Bergen political power once Nicholas Sacco decides to retire. Within a few short years, Vainieri has grown as a leader, laying out his vision for county government and expansion. He will likely oversee the groundbreaking of the new Hudson County Jail.

7. Ravi Bhalla (new). Ravi Bhalla was elected Hoboken mayor last November after facing five other candidates for the office of mayor. He became the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey, making national news. His election was considered a victory not only for minorities but for all Americans, according to Sen. Cory Booker, who in January swore him in. Since his inauguration, Bhalla has designated Hoboken a “welcoming city” and fought NJ Transit so the city can try to acquire northern waterfront property. With the force of a wealthy economy helping, Bhalla has the potential to influence county spending and the impact of county tax burdens on municipalities.

8. Esther Suarez (new). Esther Suarez as Hudson County Prosecutor has already proven herself as a powerful force for law enforcement as well as serving a role model for the Latino community. The Hudson County Prosecutor is poised to take on issues still plaguing the county like murder, gangs, and domestic violence. Political corruption cases can also fall under her purview.

9. State Sen. Sandra Cunningham (honorable mention last year). Sandra Cunningham as state senator, representing all of Bayonne and some of the poorest sections of Jersey City, has been busy drafting and passing legislation designed to help former criminal offenders reenter society as productive citizens. As chair of the state Senate Higher Education Committee, she will have a significant role in helping colleges.

10. Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise (9 last year). Always known as the peacemaker in Hudson County politics, DeGise’s role has diminished somewhat with peace between Stack and Sacco. An already declared candidate for reelection in 2019, DeGise clearly intends to finish up some of the work he started which will include the opening of the new countywide High Tech High School (a competitive countywide public high school), breaking ground on a new court house complex, as well as the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Route 440 in Jersey City. He is often called the “Mayor of Hudson County.”

11. Women in government (new). Political power in Hudson County has historically been mostly a man’s game, but this is changing as women emerge in nearly every field and break the political glass ceiling. There were early pioneers, like Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, former Jersey City Acting Mayor Marilyn Roman, and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley. They paved the way for people like Cunningham (listed above) and Assembly members Annette Chapparro, Angelica M. Jimenez, and Angela McKnight, and Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez.
McKnight, whose non-profit Angela Cares has become a staple of southern Jersey City, is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific lawmakers in her role as an assemblywoman. She has authored and seen passed into law a massive amount of progressive legislation that has a direct impact on Hudson County’s poorest neighborhoods.
Also: Elizabeth Cain became the executive director of the new Exchange Place SID this year, promising to revitalize the waterfront’s cultural and business opportunities. Along with Rachel Sieg, executive director of the Historic Downtown SID, they will have a strong say over cultural and business affairs in the wealthiest part of the county.
Janet Castro is the first woman in North Bergen history to serve as health director. Kathy Gohde of Weehawken is member of the Advisory Council Board for the Hudson County Office on Aging. Benita Caridad Parets serves a similar role in West New York. Although she recently stepped down as Secaucus council member, Susan Pirro is a staunch advocate for animal rights.
Other prominent women in business and government include Francine LeFrak, Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, and Hoboken councilwoman and Hoboken Democratic Committee Chair Tiffanie Fisher. Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman has become one of the most powerful African-American leaders in Hudson County.

12. Environmental groups and activists. Sam Pesin and the Friends of Liberty State Park were instrumental in opposing the state’s development plans in Liberty State Park, and have long protected the park. In Hoboken, Ron Hine and his Fund for a Better Waterfront helped urge for the city of Hoboken to buy Union Dry Dock on the north waterfront so that it could become a park, running petition drives and making the case before the city was able to do so publicly. Former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she’s going to be involved in advocating for environmental protection in the wake of the Trump administration’s rollbacks on various climate change policies. Other local groups have long gotten involved in development controversies and issues.
Behind these two are a variety of powerful groups such as the Sierra Club, The Bay Keeper and the Hackensack River Keeper. With NJ Transit ready to impose projects on Hoboken and wealthy developers seeking to encroach on Liberty State Park, you can expect Hine, Pesin, and others to do what they have in the past, holding rallies and meetings to drum up opposition. The Bayonne Nature Club, under Patricia Hilliard, includes many vocal environmentalists in Bayonne.

13. Art House Productions and other arts groups. Hoping not to get priced out of Hudson County, arts groups (as are the individual artists who can still afford to live here) are fighting to find permanent homes. Still, groups like Art House Productions have sponsored everything from gallery openings to social events to numerous festivals. Jersey City has become a center for the arts, particularly downtown and the Heights. Smaller organizations and individuals in local government have pushed for events such as art exhibits in public buildings, particularly in Union City at the William Musto Cultural Center and on the county level.
Developer Manhattan Builders, which currently provides space for Art House productions at one of its buildings on Jersey Avenue, has proposed to provide more permanent facilities in a new building under renovation. Paul Silverman, a developer in Jersey City, continues to provide space for two galleries as well as supports arts programs throughout the city.
The Jersey Arts Council has successfully lobbied Jersey City to purchase a building in Journal Square that they hope will become a new cultural center.
Meredith Burns took over as executive director of Art House at a critical time. Burns replaced Christine Goodman, who has since become the director of Cultural Affairs for Jersey City.
To show that the arts scene is growing in Bayonne, Cheryl and Christopher Mack recently unveiled the grand opening of their passion project, The Bridge Art Gallery, showcasing local work from Bayonne and Montclair artists, as well as some pieces from Atlanta.
In Jersey City, Mana, White Eagle Hall, and Transmissions have become centers for fine as well as performing arts.
Bill and Michele Sorvino, founders of the Golden Door International Film Festival, are also involved in many other aspects of the arts scene. Theater groups like Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre and Weehawken’s Hudson Theatre Group also keep the arts alive, as do a group of local galleries in those towns. Union City and Secaucus have hosted art shows and plays in their relatively new arts centers. Lucio Fernandez puts together events (and art) in Union City.
Art teacher Liz Cohen Ndoye proves that even a library can become a cultural center with her displays in Hoboken. Geri Fallo oversees the city’s division of cultural affairs. Bryan Beninghove and Margo Parks have expanded The Riverview Jazz Festival beyond the boundaries of Jersey City, bringing in internationally recognized performers.

14. The North Hudson power bloc. The mayors not aforementioned still wield some regional power, although much of it is local. However, there are projects and policies affected beyond their towns. These include Richard Turner in Weehawken, Felix Roque in West New York, Wayne Zitt in Guttenberg, and Michael Gonnelli in Secaucus.

15. The local press. So much is missed by purely political websites, or when the news comes only from City Hall. From those small but important meetings that no one else attends, to the less sensational events that need attention for the greater good (such as charity fundraisers), to corruption investigations that appear to have gone mysteriously quiet and need investigation, the local press will continue to shine a light on stories that would otherwise slip by. Unfortunately, it happens in a climate of dwindling resources (some factors, such as hikes in the cost of newsprint, readers often don’t realize). While the newer websites in the area tend to focus only on major political controversies, longer-term media will feature important news from all facets of the community, whether it’s writing about a needy person, students of the month, school sports, arts exhibits, late-night decisions by zoning boards, and public information that requires weeks of submitting requests to get. Investigative articles in the Hudson Reporter in the last few years have pointed out problems and recently spurred new initiatives. A 100-year-old Secaucus newspaper folded last year (the Home News) and the daily Hudson Dispatch closed in 1991, but there are still a few entities that keep citizens’ questions from being squelched, reach out for comments and quotes from all sides of the spectrum, and remind public servants that their constituents are watching. The media can’t continue to their job without suggestions, feedback, and input from readers, and the letters pages allow residents to speak out about local issues in a different way.

16. Women Rising. With the national “#Me Too” movement drawing attention to so many injustices against women that were not even a part of the conversation a year ago – mainly sexual harassment and coercion – leaders of local nonprofits and activist groups fighting for women have a powerful mandate this year. The county, too, has said they will focus more on domestic violence, although new initiatives have not been publicly announced. Jersey City-based nonprofit group Women’s Rising (led by Margaret Abrams) helps domestic violence victims and may play a part in urging for more attention to the issue after several women were killed, allegedly by their partners, in Jersey City last year. Battered women often need financial help as well as a place to live in order to escape violent situations.

17. Colleges (18 last year). With Gov. Murphy promising to provide free community college education, colleges in Hudson County will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Hudson County Community College may become the foundation for education for many students. With new buildings opening up in Journal Square, expanded programs at its North Hudson Campus, as well as new satellite located at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, HCCC will likely see many more students.
NJCU’s western campus expansion comes with a promise that needy students entering as freshmen this year will leave debt free in four years. This is a result of a private public partnership that will help offset the costs to the college. St. Peter’s University is moving ahead with expansion plans of its own for the McGinley Square area. Hoboken’s Stevens Institute of Technology is undergoing massive expansion.
Paul Hoffman, executive director of Liberty Science Center, will perhaps lead the most ambitious project in planning and building a new technology village near Liberty State Park.

18. Individual women’s activists and trailblazers. Liz Cohen Ndoye organized the Hudson County contingent to the Women’s March to Washington D.C. Ora Welsh, as director of HOPES, has a significant role in helping the community. Last year Cailin Brodel became the first female firefighter in the history of Bayonne. Constance Zappella, in Jersey City, not only became one of the first female firefighters, but fought against discrimination in promotions and became the first female battalion chief.

19. Immigrant rights groups. Secaucus resident Lorna Henkel; Rev. Birgit Solano, pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, and members of First Friends NJ NY, based in Kearny, have led the fight for immigrant detainee rights in Hudson County and throughout the state of New Jersey. Behind the scenes, Howard Moskowitz has been working tirelessly to ferret out information about inmates and develop strategies for helping detainees.
Among public officials most involved in this effort are Freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri and Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Stack has also spoken out publicly against the Trump administration and the national targeting of immigrants. Stack and Fulop have designated their towns “sanctuary cities.”

20. Other civic groups, non-profits and volunteers. Civic groups have grown very powerful over the last year, some in response to policies issued by the Trump Administration, others in response to continuing needs. As people move into luxury housing in the county, the area’s homeless and poorest residents (not to mention artists) need their own protections.
Although she stepped down as Civic JC president, Esther Wintner continues to play an important part in uncovering some serious issues in Jersey City and fighting for quality of life. Mamta Singh helped found in 2010 and it has become a force for diversity in Jersey City and around Hudson County, serving more than 23,000 families.
Other extremely active groups include the Windmill Alliance, Catch You Later Foundation, and Recognized by Hudson County government over the last few years to provide services to the most needy in the county, The Bayonne Economic Opportunity Fund is headed Samantha Howard. Matt and Stephanie Cohen have been very active with The Madison Rose Heart Project for infants with heart defects,
Hoboken’s Shirael Pollack has taken up support for the Hoboken Public School District through her nonprofit, Hoboken Public Education Foundation, which has pusedh for facility upgrades, professional development, and new programs in the district.
Other community activists and groups include Hudson Pride, Laura Knittel for LBGTQ rights, and Tom Foley from Hoboken Senior Center. The Waterfront Project, which opened a new facility in Jersey City, last year provides lawyers working for the poor.
Suraj Kaufman, Sneaker Room in Jersey City, donates to myriad charities.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey became an influential leader in prisoner reentry, reaching well beyond Jersey City and Hudson County, to various community groups.

21. Junior Maldonado (new). He became Hudson County Clerk this year, and his role will allow him to oversee record keeping on property, marriages, and even elections. In one of the most important government positions in the county, Maldonado is expected to make changes that will increase the county’s efficiency.

22. Protectors of the children (new). CASA trains volunteers as local advocates for foster kids, and works to place and provide more stability for the city’s more than 700 foster kids. Many of its volunteers throughout the county have made a major difference in local kids’ lives.
The Hudson County Boys and Girls Club, with Gary Greenberg as executive director of the local clubs, provides kids with safe after-school and summer care. Recently, Greenberg received a visit at the Jersey City location from Tammy Murphy, wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. His location was selected as one of two such clubs in the state as a model for community involvement. It is serving as the springboard for a relief effort to help the victims of Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico last year.
Amy Albert runs Haven for Kids, a safe place for kids at risk in Jersey City.
Although Jerry Walker was elected as a Hudson County freeholder in November, his impact with youth in and outside of Jersey City is well-known. He has managed to create ties to statewide programs that provide local kids with opportunities for success. Pete Amadeo heads the Buddy baseball and other programs for kids with special needs. The True Mentors program hooks kids up with positive role models.

23. Homeless activists (new). Riaz Wahid, Erik-Anders Nilsson, and Jessica Hellinger led the Jersey City Peace Movement, which has taken a stand against violence, war, and immigrant intimidation. They are also key figures in helping to feed the homeless throughout Hudson County. Teaming up with Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation, they successfully lobbied the county to provide a warming center to handle homeless persons who cannot find room in shelters. Other activists include Carol Saint Hilaire, and Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of The Hoboken Shelter. A new home for homeless vets was advocated by American Legion Post 107, led by John Carey and Mark Villamar, which began demolition last year for the space. Rene Gonzalez, owner of Bambino Chef, teaches kids cooking skills and often holds programs that donate food to local shelters.

24. Transit activists and leaders. The influence of Bike JC has been felt throughout the county with towns adopting bike sharing programs. The group is lobbying for safety measures in conjunction with SafeStreets Jersey City focusing the more dangerous streets in the county. Pam O’Donnell works for safe driving in Bayonne. The city of Hoboken appears to have heeded the call of local bicycle riders and may at long last link its bike share system with Jersey City.

25. Chambers of Commerce. Various local chambers of commerce have become more involved in local government, helping to shape new policy and legislation: such as the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, led by President Richard Mackiewicz. The Hoboken Chamber recently presented a unified voice from the business community through a white paper detailing their issues and opportunities as the city undergoes its Master Plan Reexamination. The Hudson County Chamber, under the leadership of President and CEO Maria Nieves, has also had influence countywide.

Honorable Mention

Also worth noting: Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr., head of the JC Redevelopment Agency David Donnelly, Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, City Planner Suzanne Mack, Bayonne Quilt Club (which donates their quilts), Terry Young, Music on Broadway, Captain Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance and all first responders (including the all-volunteer Hoboken Ambulance and Secaucus Fire Department and at Jersey City Medical Center), the unions, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, which supports charities, CarePoint and other medical companies and area hospital operators, adoption activist Heidi Conlin, Matt and Stephanie Cohen, magician and health educator Micky Magic, Sai Rao and the North Bergen Public Library with its ample programming, the Jersey City Public Library, developers who give back, your local bartenders and baristas (particularly those facilitating friendly conversations at hip local joints like ModCup and Bwe), and any resident with the guts to speak out at a public meeting.

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