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Between the Lines

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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Between the Lines

Is Booker the one?

Bernie Sanders’ announcement of his candidacy for president in 2020 may put Hudson County Democrats in something of a bind.

Sanders was seen as the runner up to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic Primary. But Hudson County Democrats were united for Clinton from the start.

While it is way too early to talk about front runners, the fact that Cory Booker, one of two U.S senators from New Jersey, is also running will require some hard choices.

Sanders has redefined some of the Democrat Party’s core progressive values, which may make him a very attractive candidate in places like Hoboken and Jersey City, with their own progressive roots. But Booker is local, and someone that local Democrats may feel obligated to support.

On the other hand, Booker is not Clinton. So local Democrats may face the same issues in selecting someone to support as Democrats on the national stage.

While Clinton is toying with the idea of running again, she will not likely get the overwhelming local support she had in 2016, and could end up in a dog fight with Booker similar to the one she faced in 2008 when she faced off against Barak Obama. In that conflict, then Councilman Steven Fulop led a progressive movement to support Clinton, while then Mayor Jerramiah Healy (an old school politician) supported Obama.

Most likely, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez will weigh in on the matter and push to get local Democrats to support Booker. But Menendez was also behind Clinton in 2008 and could not stop the county’s Democrats from becoming divided.

And it is possible with so many candidates already declared, and a batch more Democrats expected to leap in, neither Clinton nor Booker will survive by the time New Jersey holds its primary.

And unlike the past, Clinton will not be able to rely on solid support from women with prominent female candidates such Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren running.

Hudson County Democrats could also choose to support former Vice President Joe Biden if he decides to run.

Biden represents the center of the Democratic Party at a time when the party has shifted left, and while he would most likely get the support of some tried and true old school Democrats in Hudson County, he will not have the appeal of a progressive like Sanders a county that has become increasingly more progressive.

Deciding on which candidate to support will be one of the biggest challenges for Amy DeGise, who is considered a progressive, but is chairperson of a party that has significant old school membership. Her decision may well determine if Hudson County Democrats will form a united front as in 2016, or get split as they were in 2008.

Fulop has the money edge for mayor

Fulop has already said he will run for reelection in 2021. With $900,000 already in his campaign war chest and internal polls that suggest he still has a 70 percent approval rating, he may be hard to beat.

Those reading the political tea leaves believe Amy DeGise’s recent decision to step down from the Jersey City Board of Education was her first step towards running against Fulop. If so, she’ll need the next two years to play catch up.

Normally, Fulop as a sitting mayor would have the advantage. Even with pay to play laws that put limits on what vendors to the city can contribute to a candidate, many would support Fulop to get in his good favor. This also includes the hundreds if not thousands of city employees who also might feel obligated to donate to their boss in city hall.

But this advantage may be offset by the fact that Amy DeGise’s father, Tom DeGise, is county executive, with nearly as many loyal employees and vendors seeking to earn his gratitude, especially with the political clout of state Senator and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco on his side.

The two state senators whose districts split Jersey City – Sandra Cunningham and Brian Stack – may or may not support Fulop.

Critics of Fulop believe his poll numbers are fragile, based on false assumptions such as his ability to keep his core progressive vote. These critics believe that if Amy DeGise decides to run, she will be able to attract many of the progressives that got Fulop elected and reelected in the past. She will also be able to draw on old school Democrats whose organization she heads.

Hoboken is a free for all

With Hoboken ward council seats up in November, the rhetoric has increased on every level.

Hoboken strongly resembles one of those unstable European governments where power relies on the building of loose coalitions, and allies aren’t really tried and true friends, but friends of convenience.

Mayor Ravi Bhalla is seeking to build a coalition that will allow him to gain the kind of control of the city council as his predecessor Dawn Zimmer had.

But the nearer we get to the election and the louder the voices get in various conflicts, the less likely it looks like Bhalla will get his wishes.

With council members Tiffanie Fisher, Peter Cunningham, and Jen Giattino forming one faction, and Michael DeFusco and Ruben Ramos, another, Bhalla has been relying on newly acquired allies such as Councilman Michael Russo along with council members aligned with the mayor.

This could change dramatically after the November election.

But at the same time, there are those who believe some of his opposition may be vulnerable, such as Giattino, and maybe even DeFusco.

If so, then Bhalla may well be able to do what many see as unthinkable, and gain a voting control on the council after all.

Al Sullivan can be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County Democrats have a new leader

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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County Democrats have a new leader

In a stunning reversal of political fortune, a female candidate beat out powerful state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack on June 12 to become chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization – the longtime political organization that helps choose candidates for local and regional office – in a committee vote held at Kearny High School.
The vote was contentious, as Stack and several other mayors in the county have been hoping to eventually unseat, in 2019, longtime County Executive Tom DeGise, whose job involves overseeing county agencies and facilities.
DeGise’s daughter Amy DeGise, a relatively newcomer to the political scene and a Jersey City school board member, beat Stack for the chairmanship by nearly 100 votes – a larger margin than predicted.
DeGise beat Stack by a vote 452 to 360, with members of local Democratic committees in all towns voting, including some who were bused in.
The war for control of the local party has pitted mayors Stack, Ravi Bhalla (of Hoboken), Steven Fulop (of Jersey City) and Felix Roque (of West New York) against allies of U.S. Rep Albio Sires, who hails from West New York, and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco.
“The 32nd District (which includes North Bergen, Guttenberg, and towns in West Hudson) came out big for Amy,” said Phil Swibinski of Vision Media, the political consultant firm that ran DeGise’s campaign.
Committee people from these towns overwhelmingly voted for DeGise by a margin of 251 to 10.
DeGise, who ran a progressive campaign on issues like women’s equality, becomes the first elected female chair of the HCDO in history. (The organization also saw an acting chair take over in the 1990s, Barbara Habermann.)
In February, Stack was seen as the county’s choice to replace outgoing chairman, Vincent Prieto.
But then, Stack and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop threw down the gauntlet at a meeting in the Coach House Diner and told Tom DeGise they would not support his reelection as county executive in 2019.

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“You win some and you lose some.” – Mayor Steven Fulop
____________

This led to a fight for control of the chair this year since the chair eventually gets to decide whom county Democrats will support in the Democratic primary in 2019 as well as candidates for many county, state and federal seats in the future.
DeGise’s victory as a significant blow to Stack, Fulop, Bhalla, and Roque.
This bodes ill for Roque’s reelection in 2019 since the majority of the West New York committee votes went to DeGise, despite heavy campaigning by Stack. Several of Roque’s allies in the West New York Democratic Committee have broken from him.
Sires, the former mayor of West New York, joined forces with Sal Vega, also a former West New York mayor, to campaign for DeGise.
Sires along with Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner are thought to have accounted for 70 votes in DeGise’s favor.
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis is reportedly credited with bringing in 99 of Bayonne’s 102 votes to DeGise.
Fulop, who may well see a significant loss of political influence as a result of this vote, seemed philosophical about the outcome.
“You win some and you lose some,” he said. “That’s the way this works.”
He added, “Truth be told, we hit our numbers in every city including Jersey City (which supported Stack he said 230 to 67), but we underestimated the turnout from Bayonne by 40 votes and we never thought it possible they would get 100 percent turnout from all of their towns.”
He called the turnout in towns overseen by state Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, “strange.”
“But it is what it is, and we were allowed to check credentials,” Fulop said. “Like I said, you win some and you lose some, but both ways, life goes on.”
DeGise said she intends to rewrite the HCDO bylaws to better reflect the diversity of the party in Hudson County.
Reiterating some of the promises she made when campaigning for committee votes, she said she intends to bolster the party and bring more people into the process.
In an interview prior to the vote, she said she would restore power to people on a committee level, where many of the day to day interactions with the public take place.
One very serious concern will be the impact of the 2020 U.S. Census. In the past, urban and predominantly Democratic areas like Hudson County have seen an undercount. This affects funding and other services provided from the federal and state governments. It also affects how legislative districts are configured. As chair of the HCDO, she said she will use her position to make sure as many people are counted as possible.
In a tweet, Amy DeGise thanked those who supported her.
“I’m so excited to get to work moving our party in a progressive, new direction and to work with every other Hudson Democrat to re-elect our Senator Bob Menendez,” she wrote.
One of the underlying issues in this campaign was the need for Hudson County Democrats to support Menendez, whose reelection as U.S. Senator in November may be threatened by a well-funded GOP challenger.

Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

Why I’m Running for Freeholder

Reader Submitted
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Why I’m Running for Freeholder

Dear Editor:

I want to first thank the Hudson County Democratic Organization, particularly Chairwoman Amy DeGise, for entrusting me with position on its primary ticket as a Freeholder this upcoming election. This a great honor and am overwhelmed by the support I have already received. For those who may not know me, I want to quickly introduce myself and share why I decided to run as the District Four representative on the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, where I stayed very close to my family, studied dentistry and always made it my priority to help others in my community. With my family’s blessings, I came to the United States in 1985 and worked hard to financially support myself while in college. I hold an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Hostos Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from NJCU and a Master of Public Health from the University of New England. I currently work as a clinical instructor at Eastern International College.

Outside of my professional career, I participate in many religious, civic and professional groups because I take great pride in the community I am proud to call home. I am a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and frequent volunteer in my church. I am a member of the Friends of Liberty State Park, Serra Club, Journal Square Community Association, Loyal Order of the Moose and actively involved with New Jersey Dental Hygiene Association and the Hispanic Dental Association.

I have been a Democratic committeewoman in Ward C, District 23 where I serve as sergeant-at-arms for the Jersey City Democratic Organization. I’m running for Freeholder because I want to tackle the most important problems in my community and make sure my neighbors have a voice. Initiatives near and dear to me are public health, senior services, homelessness, vocational training, open space acquisition/improvements and cultural affairs.

Over the next three months, I look forward to continuing to meet my constituents and share with them my vision for District Four. Please do not hesitate to contact me at apontelipski4freeholder@gmail.com or (551)247-0533 to discuss my candidacy, any of the issues you are facing in our community or to arrange time to grab a cup of coffee.

Yraida Aponte-Lipski

Hotel Trades Council endorses Team Fulop for reelection

Marilyn Baer, Staff Writer
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Hotel Trades Council endorses Team Fulop for reelection

The Hotel Trades Council (HTC), which represents 40,000 hotel and restaurant employees and has nearly 1,000 members in Jersey City, endorsed Mayor Steven Fulop and his City Council slate in this year’s nonpartisan municipal election.

HTC worked closely with the mayor in 2019 to win a major ballot referendum that placed regulations onto Airbnb’s operation in Jersey City, which has safeguarded thousands of jobs for working families while also protecting the community’s quality of life. Despite Airbnb spending over $4.2 million, the HTC and Mayor Fulop prevailed. 

“Mayor Fulop has demonstrated throughout his career in public service that he is a true champion for working families who can be counted on to stand up for organized labor and the values we share,” said Rich Maroko, president of HTC. “He has been a leader on so many progressive issues that are vitally important to the labor movement, from guaranteeing earned sick leave to fighting for a $15 minimum wage to ensuring equitable development that creates economic opportunities for local communities, and we are proud to be the first labor union to endorse Mayor Fulop’s campaign.”

With the Mayor and Council election now only nine months away, Mayor Fulop has already garnered support from major Hudson County Democratic leaders like Rep. Albio Sires, as well as the Hudson County Democratic Black Caucus. 

Fulop is running for his third term alongside incumbent Council members Joyce Watterman, Daniel Rivera, Denise Ridley, Mira Prinz-Arey, Rich Boggiano, Yousef Saleh and Jermaine Robinson, as well as Council at-Large candidate Amy DeGise. The final member of Team Fulop, who would represent Ward E if elected has not yet been announced.

“Partnering with the Hotel Trades Council and other labor unions to fight for bold, progressive action to help working families has been one of the most gratifying and rewarding experiences I have had as Mayor of Jersey City,” said Fulop. “I thank HTC for their continued support and look forward to continuing to work with them to build an even better future for our city.”

WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

Mike Montemarano
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WEEHAWKEN BRIEFS

Elisabeth Morrow School hosts musical “petting zoo”

On Feb. 10, from 1-3 p.m., The Elisabeth Morrow School will host a free musical “petting zoo” at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal, at 4800 Avenue at Port Imperial. Children can play real musical string instruments with professional music instruction on the instruments of their choice. The event will be commemorated with photos. There will also be a performance from the Elisabeth Morrow School Orchestra. The event will include ice cream, face painting, balloon artists, STEAM activities, and more. The event is free for children of all ages. For more information, contact admissions@elisabethmorrow.

Amy DeGise resigns Jersey City school board to focus on running HCDO

In a move that may be a prelude to her running for mayor of Jersey City in 2021, Amy DeGise announced that she will step down from her position as trustee on the Jersey City Board of Education on Feb. 1 to focus on her role as chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, to which she was appointed last June.

The move comes after Chairwoman DeGise and the HCDO delivered a massive turnout in the November election, helping propel U.S. Senator Bob Menendez to victory with an 85,000 vote plurality.

Many believe DeGise’s move will be a prelude to an attempt to unseat Mayor Steven Fulop in the 2021 election.

“My focus will be on developing new ways for Hudson residents to get involved in our party through caucuses and committees, with a goal of harnessing the unprecedented levels of activism and civic engagement we’re seeing into meaningful progressive change,” she said.

 

Local Job opportunity: EZ Ride recruitment

EZ Ride shuttle services will hold an open recruitment on Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at North Hudson Community Action Corporation, 400 38th St. Suite 214, Union City. Recruiters are seeking CDL drivers for full time and part time positions, with both a.m. and p.m. shifts. Candidates must have a CDL license with a “P” endorsement, and must not have a “Q” restriction. A clean driving record and ability to communicate in English and fill out reports and forms are necessary. Competitive compensation is offered. For more information, call or email Carla Gonzalez-Rios at 201-939-4242 ext. 138, or at cgonzalez-rios@ezride.org.

NY Waterway keeps running in winter weather

All NY Waterway ferries, which have climate-controlled cabins, operated normally through recent winter storms and low temperatures.

Ferries operate 12 months a year. In the rare event when there is ice on the Hudson River, ferries usually keep operating.

Weehawken High School hosts open weight room

Weehawken residents are invited to attend an open weight room at Weehawken High School. On Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m., the weight room will be open and supervised for students continuing until Mar. 13. There is an open enrollment. No training will take place on Feb. 18.

Art lessons in Weehawken High School

Beginner, intermediate, and advanced art lessons are being offered at Art Room 1 in Weehawken High School. Limited-size classes will instruct groups of ages 13-18 and ages 19+. Classes will take place on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m.; registration is required.

Senior Citizen Events – Winter 2019

On Feb. 11, seniors are invited to a valentine crafting night under the direction of Weehawken Girl Scout Troop 12933, from 6-8 p.m.

Bingo night will take place for senior residents on Feb. 25 from 6-8 p.m. in the Weehawken Nutrition Center at 201 Highwood Ave.

Chair Yoga for seniors is a free class in moving meditation. Members practice seated and standing Yoga poses. One class will be held on Wednesdays at 525 Gregory Ave., and another will be held on Fridays at the Senior Nutrition Center at 201 Highwood Ave. Classes will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.

To register for senior programs, call 201-319-6060.

Adult basketball for men 30 and over

The Roosevelt School gym hold open pickup basketball games on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., for men 30 and over. Basketball enthusiasts who still want to play in a non-league situation are looking for new members. A photo ID with proof of age, and proof of residency will be checked. Pickup games are open to Weehawken residents only.

Hard choices on ICE detainees

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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Hard choices on ICE detainees

Even as the Hudson County Board of Freeholders heard public remarks from activist groups seeking to force the county to cancel its $10 million, 10-year contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – in which the county would earn the money for holding immigrant detainees in the county jail — Mayor Steven Fulop Tweeted his own criticism, followed by a Jersey City Council resolution passed on Aug. 15 demanding the county rescind the contract that it approved in July.
A similar resolution had already been passed by the Hoboken City Council, encouraging canceling the contract.
These moves suggest that the contract will likely be ammunition for those in next June’s Democratic primary who hope to unseat Tom DeGise as county executive.
A number of progressive politicians and groups are applying pressure because they feel it is hypocritical for the most diverse county in America to be cooperating with federal authorities by holding immigration detainees. Union City and Jersey City have openly declared themselves sanctuary cities, meaning they have instructed their employees, police, and others not to help identify possible targets of ICE. Hoboken has defined itself as “a welcoming city,” which falls on the same side of the immigrant question.

Political patronage or a kind heart?

Some Hudson County officials argue that to do away with the contract would mean detainees may be relocated to other less well-kept facilities, far from their families, friends, legal advisors, and support groups.
More astute observers are quick to note that the issue is really about dollars and cents. Changes in state laws regarding bail and other reforms have reduced the criminal jail population in the Hudson County Correctional Facility to levels that could force the county to downsize and cut staff. By having detainees at the jail, the county maintains a higher population, justifying the number of jobs and other operations the jail provides.
Many of these jobs are seen as patronage jobs, given to current or potential political supporters of state Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, who also appears to have a say in who gets hired at various other county institutions, such as the county schools and the sheriff’s department.
Control of these jobs was partly at the heart of the battle for chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) earlier this year, in which Tom DeGise’s daughter, Amy DeGise, beat State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack.
Although Amy is seen as a progressive, the chair battle was old fashioned arm-twisting politics as usual, with the most ruthless of the political old guard trying to fend off a move by Fulop, Stack, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, and West New York Mayor Felix Roque to gain control of those jobs.

Political backlash

Ironically for a progressive, Amy DeGise finds herself on the wrong side of a mounting political battle in which many of the county’s progressives will likely side with Fulop, Stack, and Bhalla in next year’s move to unseat her father in the Democratic primary.
Some of this progressive opposition to DeGise is opportunistic, seeking to use a very powerful issue against him. But many of the politicians and others speaking out against the county ICE contract are true believers, sincerely viewing the contract as a deal made with the devil. And not all of those who defend the contract are defending political patronage. Some of the freeholders who voted in July for the contract really apparently believe detainees will be better off kept closer to home.
Larry Wainstein, arch rival of Sacco, has already issued a letter to freeholder Chairman Anthony Vainieri, a strong Sacco supporter, urging him to cancel the contract. Wainstein ran against Sacco in 2015 and is rumored to be planning a run again next year. Stack and Fulop may throw support Wainstein’s way as part of the countywide political war.
West New York Mayor Felix Roque is also rumored to be running for reelection next year. His support for Stack has damaged him politically in West New York, and a number of people are rumored to be planning to run against him next year. But this could be a real dogfight, since Sacco may back one candidate and Rep. Albio Sires, another.
Sires, a former West New York mayor and Assembly speaker, appears poised to take back control of his hometown after having given it up to Sal Vega more than a decade ago. Showing just how far Roque has fallen from grace, Sires and Vega have resolved their political feud recently and so are poised to work together.
Bhalla also has a critical election date coming up in 2019 in Hoboken, not for his own reelection, but for control of the City Council. All six ward seats are up for reelection – and currently, he can only count on two or three council votes. Many of his most ardent political council opponents are up, and he could gain control if he successfully gets candidates to unseat them.

Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

County Democrats have a new leader

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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County Democrats have a new leader

In a stunning reversal of political fortune, powerful state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack lost his bid to become chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization – a longtime political organization that helps choose candidates for local and regional office – in a committee vote held at Kearny High School on Wednesday, June 12.
The vote was contentious, as Stack and several other mayors in the county have been hoping to eventually unseat, in 2019, longtime County Executive Tom DeGise, whose job involves overseeing county agencies and facilities.
DeGise’s daughter Amy DeGise, a relatively newcomer to the political scene and a Jersey City school board member, beat Stack by nearly 100 votes – a larger margin than anyone predicted.
DeGise beat Stack by a vote 452 to 360, with members of local Democratic committees in all towns voting, including some who were bused in.
The war for control of the local party has pitted mayors Stack, Ravi Bhalla (of Hoboken), Steven Fulop (of Jersey City) and Felix Roque (of West New York) against allies of U.S. Rep Albio Sires, who hails from West New York, and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco.
“The 32nd District (which includes North Bergen, Guttenberg, and towns in West Hudson) came out big for Amy,” said Phil Swibinski of Vision Media, the political consultant firm that ran DeGise’s campaign.
Committee people from these towns overwhelmingly voted for DeGise by a margin of 251 to 10.
DeGise, who ran a progressive campaign on issues like women’s equality, becomes the first elected female chair of the HCDO in history. (The organization also saw an acting chair take over in the 1990s, Barbara Habermann.)
In February, Stack was seen as the county’s choice to replace outgoing chairman, Vincent Prieto.
But then, Stack and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop threw down the gauntlet at a meeting in the Coach House Diner and told Tom DeGise they would not support his reelection as county executive in 2019.

_____________
“You win some and you lose some.” – Mayor Steven Fulop
____________

This led to a fight for control of the chair this year since the chair eventually gets to decide whom county Democrats will support in the Democratic primary in 2019 as well as candidates for many county, state and federal seats in the future.
DeGise’s victory as a significant blow to Stack, Fulop, Bhalla, and Roque.
This bodes ill for Roque’s reelection in 2019 since the majority of the West New York committee votes went to DeGise, despite heavy campaigning by Stack. Several of Roque’s allies in the West New York Democratic Committee have broken from him.
Sires, the former mayor of West New York, joined forces with Sal Vega, also a former West New York mayor, to campaign for DeGise.
Sires along with Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner are thought to have accounted for 70 votes in DeGise’s favor.
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis is reportedly credited with bringing in 99 of Bayonne’s 102 votes to DeGise.
Fulop, who may well see a significant loss of political influence as a result of this vote, seemed philosophical about the outcome.
“You win some and you lose some,” he said. “That’s the way this works.”
He added, “Truth be told, we hit our numbers in every city including Jersey City (which supported Stack he said 230 to 67), but we underestimated the turnout from Bayonne by 40 votes and we never thought it possible they would get 100 percent turnout from all of their towns.”
He called the turnout in towns overseen by state Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, “strange.”
“But it is what it is, and we were allowed to check credentials,” Fulop said. “Like I said, you win some and you lose some, but both ways, life goes on.”
DeGise said she intends to rewrite the HCDO bylaws to better reflect the diversity of the party in Hudson County.
Reiterating some of the promises she made when campaigning for committee votes, she said she intends to bolster the party and bring more people into the process.
In an interview prior to the vote, she said she would restore power to people on a committee level, where many of the day to day interactions with the public take place.
One very serious concern will be the impact of the 2020 U.S. Census. In the past, urban and predominantly Democratic areas like Hudson County have seen an undercount. This affects funding and other services provided from the federal and state governments. It also affects how legislative districts are configured. As chair of the HCDO, she said she will use her position to make sure as many people are counted as possible.
In a tweet, Amy DeGise thanked those who supported her.
“I’m so excited to get to work moving our party in a progressive, new direction and to work with every other Hudson Democrat to re-elect our Senator Bob Menendez,” she wrote.
One of the underlying issues in this campaign was the need for Hudson County Democrats to support Menendez, whose reelection as U.S. Senator in November may be threatened by a well-funded GOP challenger.

Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

HOBOKEN BRIEFS

Submitted Content
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HOBOKEN BRIEFS

Amy DeGise will seek HCDO chair

In a move that apparently hopes to capitalize on her hefty voter numbers in last year’s Board of Education election, Amy DeGise – daughter of County Executive Tom DeGise – announced on May 10 that she will seek the chairmanship of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO.)
An elected member of the Jersey City Board of Education, lifelong Jersey City resident and educator, DeGise hopes to gain the support of the majority of the county’s mayors as well as many other Democratic leaders. A full list of endorsements will be announced soon.
DeGise will challenge state Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack in a committee vote in June to replace outgoing HCDO Chair Vincent Prieto.
The move is part of a fight for control of the HCDO and is apparently designed to help rescue her father as county executive, who Stack hopes to defeat with a candidate of his own in 2019.
Stack, along with Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, West New York Mayor Felix Roque and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, have said they would like to see a candidate other than Tom DeGise run for county executive in 2019.
The chair of HCDO would have a lot of influence in deciding which candidate will run on the official Democratic line on the primary ballot.
The campaign supporting Tom DeGise is promoting Amy DeGise as an example of Hudson County’s diversity.
“Hudson County is the most diverse, dynamic and exciting place in New Jersey and it’s time for our Democratic Party to reflect the energy and progressive values that our residents live every day,” said (Amy) DeGise. “I’m running to lead our county party into a unified, strong future that is open to everyone who cares about their community and wants to see progress in our county. I’m incredibly excited to begin this journey and look forward to working as hard as I can for each and every vote and for the future of our Hudson County Democratic Organization.”
But critics – even some supporters of Tom DeGise – are critical of the move, and believe Tom DeGise should run, not Amy.
The elected committee members of the Hudson County Democratic Organization will be voting on June 12.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers calls for more vetting of Union Dry Dock property

According to a press release from the city of Hoboken, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has determined that it will require NY Waterway to undergo a more vigorous and public vetting process prior to allowing work to commence at the former Union Dry Dock site.
NY Waterway purchased the property in uptown Hoboken last November to become its ferry home port for maintenance, refueling, and repairs.
Hoboken wants to acquire the property for public open space.
The Army Corps decision was determined after Mayor Ravi Bhalla sent a letter to them requesting heightened scrutiny of the proposed use, a process that will allow for more public input and force NY Waterway to document the impact of the facility more thoroughly.
The Army Corps issued a notice stating that the NYWW application will be subject to review as an “individual permit application” rather than a national permit application.
An individual permit application requires a heightened level of scrutiny, a more open, transparent and public process, and the opportunity for a public hearing at the discretion of the Army Corps of Engineers at a location in near the project site.
As part of this process, the Army Corps will also study more suitable alternative locations for the proposed use.
“This is great news for Hoboken,” said Bhalla. “We have been advocating for an open and transparent process, so the voices of residents are heard and taken into account. I am grateful that the Army Corps of Engineers will take into consideration public input, including the well documented public detriments of the proposed use. This is a great step towards a regional solution that considers all legitimate interests.”
As part of the review process, residents may submit comments and request a public hearing in Hoboken.
“I am calling upon the [Army Corps] to convene a public hearing to take place in the City of Hoboken at a convenient day and time for residents,” said Bhalla. “There should be no barrier for our residents to voice their opinions. This is the public process we were promised earlier this year. The Army Corp of Engineers is to be commended for undertaking an open and transparent approach to this matter.”
The individual permit application, as opposed to the less-thorough national permit application, also requires a study to determine the impact of the use on air, water, wildlife, recreation, public safety, and other relevant considerations.

City removes sunken boats in Weehawken Cove

Two of the six sunken boats in the cove between Weehawken and Hoboken were removed Monday, May 7.
A spokesperson for the city, Santiago Melli-Huber, said two of the six boats were being removed as “those two are the ones that pose an immediate public safety risk. We have to work with the DMV because the other four don’t pose an immediate safety risk, so it’s a different process for removal.”
According to Melli-Huber children were playing on the two boats in question due to their close proximity to the rocks. He noted there is also concern that they could become loose.
Many of the boats have lain for years in the bottom of Weehawken Cove.
People have anchored their boats for free in the cove, only to have them capsize when a big storm rolls through. Some of the boats have been submerged since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and removal has proven difficult.
Hoboken Fire Chief Brian Crimmins said removal was “long overdue.”
He said the boats are not only an eyesore but a hazard.
“Its a hazard to navigation,” said Crimmins. “They could crash into a boat or ferry. We have two marinas within half a mile and two ferry terminals within half a mile of the cove.”
Crimmins noted that the cove is not a designated anchorage area.
He said the Army Corp of Engineers does not remove capsized boats unless they pose an imminent hazard such as drifting farther into the river and that the boat removal can be very expensive; a barge with a crane must be hired to have them pulled up from the cove’s floor.
Melli-Huber said the removal of the two boats costs $15,200 but that the owners have been identified, and they will be billed for the cost of removal.

Cake Boss joins NJ Hall of Fame

Hoboken’s “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame last weekend at a ceremony in Asbury Park.
“Truly blown away that I’m going to be inducted into the NJ Hall of Fame tonight. So honored and so happy my family will be here with me to celebrate the moment!” the Cake Boss star Valastro, who owns Carlos Bakery, said on May 6 on Instagram.
Seventeen other people were inducted during the 10th anniversary of the state’s hall of fame. Inductees included Steven Van Zandt, Meryl Streep, Harlan Coben, The Four Seasons, Gloria Gaynor, Debbie Harry, and more.
“Induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame is the highest civilian honor that our state can bestow on someone,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a January announcement of the inductees. “It’s a celebration of New Jersey that inspires the next generation of New Jersey leaders. Our inductees remind us how so many of our citizens have transformed the world and how proud we should be of that fact as New Jerseyans.”

Hoboken to host Propelify Innovation Festival; residents get free tickets

The City of Hoboken will welcome back the Propelify Innovation Festival on the Hoboken waterfront on May 17. Last year, more than 10,000 attendees from around the tri-state area united for a day advancing innovation and technology with tech, talks, exhibitors, startups, investors, music, food, drinks, and more.
This year, speakers include Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Governor Phil Murphy, GE’s former Vice Chair Beth Comstock, as well as founders and execs from Google, Plated, Contently, AeroFarms, NEA, Snopes, X.ai, Samsung, iHeart Media, and many more.
“The City of Hoboken is a great home to innovative companies and individuals,” said Bhalla. “We’re excited to welcome back the Propelify community and bring this opportunity to our residents to learn more about technology and explore career opportunities.”
As a sponsor and host city, Hoboken is offering residents special access. Residents can use code hoboken07030 to get a FREE ticket, while supplies last, by going to http://propelify.com/gaticket-18.
“I’m proud to bring the tech ecosystem of the Northeast to Hoboken,” said resident Aaron Price, founder of Propelify and the NJ Tech Meetup. “Our beautiful and convenient city is a perfect place to unite the tech, startup, and corporate innovation community. We all know how hard it is to convince New Yorkers to cross the river in our direction! I’m thrilled that we welcomed thousands from NJ, NY, and even 43 other states and 10 countries to our hometown for the Innovation Festival last year. It’s an honor to collaborate with the mayor and the city to show off the mile square for Propelify again.”
Propelify will include over 50 speakers on two stages, onsite tech recruiting, investor speed dating, a startup competition with over $3,000 in prizes plus a spot on Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch, a casting call for season three of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch, Startup Humanity Heroes showcasing tech for social good, Voices of Progress by Audible, Drone Demos, Startup/Tech Exhibitors, Red Bull E-Sports Gaming Lounge, Food, music, and more
See the full program at: https://propelify.com/festival18/.

St. Francis Church to celebrate the Month of Mary with prayer ribbons

As the Roman Catholic Church celebrates May as the month to recognize the Blessed Mother, St. Francis Church, at 308 Jefferson St. is placing an outward expression of faith and devotion to the Holy Mother of Jesus with prayer ribbons for Mary.
After the Crowning of Mary which takes place on Sunday May 17, St. Francis will make blue prayer ribbons available to all who would like to write a prayer or intention and hang it on an ornamental wrought iron fence that surrounds the small church. The prayers are being included in the church’s weekly intentions.
“The month of May is a tribute to the Blessed Mother and we thought it would be a fitting, public expression of our faith and prayers for all of those in and outside our community to offer the Prayer Ribbons as we pray to Mary,” said Pastor Christopher Panlilio. “We hope to see the entire fence flowing in blue ribbons by the end of the month and will say prayers for all of those intentions written on the ribbons.”
The church is providing the ribbons and markers daily, along with a small card with the pastor’s favorite prayer, Hail Holy Queen.

Mile square Theatre presents 7th Inning Stretch

Mile Square Theatre will present its annual 10-minute play festival, 7th Inning Stretch: 7 10-minute plays about baseball during the weekend of May 18.
In celebration of Hoboken’s historical claim as the birthplace of baseball, since 2003 MST has commissioned some of America’s most celebrated playwrights to create short works on the theme of baseball.
This year’s lineup of writers has eagerly accepted the assignment and will be hitting it out of the park on May 18, 19, and 20 when this annual event at Mile Square Theatre at 1400 Clinton St.
This year’s writers include Bixby Elliot (If on a Winter’s Night), Bruce Graham (Moon Over the Brewery), Chris O’Connor (The Mascots), Tira Palmquist (The Way North), Guillermo Reyes (Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown), Nantida Shenoy (Washer/Dryer), and Anna Ziegler (Photograph 51).
“This is our 14 th year of premiering 10-minute baseball plays, and once again, we have an accomplished and diverse roster of playwrights for the Stretch,” said Chris O’Connor, MST’s artistic director and producer of the festival. “The plays are moving, funny, and so entertaining. It makes for a unique evening of theatre. The Stretch never fails to dazzle our audience, and they will not be disappointed. The entire event is a benefit for Mile Square Theatre.”
Shows will take place on Friday and Saturday May 18 and May 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday May 20 at 3 p.m. Before the 8 p.m. show on May 19 attendees are welcome to arrive early at 6:30 for the Triple Play Party to join the actors and the board for food, drink, and an auction.
Tickets to the performance at $30 and $18 for seniors and students. The Triple Play Party is $75.
Tickets are available at www.milesquaretheatre.org, or by calling (201) 683-7014.
Discount parking is available at The Harlow on Fourteenth Street and Willow Avenue, and at Little Man Parking, 1300 Jefferson St.

Annual suicide prevention walk announced

On May 19, the inaugural Solace Sunrise Walk will include Hoboken with other locations in the U.S. and Canada to support Solace House, a suicide prevention center whose mission is to create a world where suicide, self-harm, and stigma have been replaced by hope, self-care and acceptance.
The Solace Sunrise Walk is a unique experience, which starts in each city at 5 a.m. with participants crossing the finish lines just as dawn breaks.
The event symbolizes the journey of many individuals who experience suicidal thoughts or engage in self-harm, who turn to Solace House for support and free therapeutic counseling. The walk is permission for individuals bereaved by suicide to openly grieve those they have lost as the walk itself is a healing process and a chance for people to come together in the fight against suicide.
Funds raised will help Solace House expand counseling services for those who are in suicidal crisis, and will also help the organization broaden its services through much-needed awareness workshops and training programs. Solace House provides services at no cost to those seeking help.
“I am overwhelmed by the response we have received since bringing Solace House to the U.S. and am thrilled to walk in solidarity with our supporters in our first inaugural Solace Sunrise Walk later this month,” said Senator Joan Freeman, founder and CEO of Solace House. “The Solace Sunrise Walk will bring us strides closer to our goal of preventing suicides in our communities.”
Online registration and further details for Solace Sunrise Walk are available at www.solacesunrisewalk.com.

Royal wedding fundraiser next week

The Elysian Café, on the corner of Tenth and Washington streets, will host a real-time royal wedding viewing party to raise funds for the Jubilee Center’s Summer Programs.
The fundraiser will be held at 7 a.m. on May 19 (Britain is five hours ahead of the U.S.).
Residents will receive a proper English breakfast and champagne toast as they watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot.
Tickets cost $28 per person, with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Jubilee Center’s Summer Programs. For more information, call (201) 798-5898.

Free author reading May 20

On Sunday May 20 at 11 a.m. Little City Books at 100 Bloomfield St. will host a free author reading.
Minneapolis author and illustrator Cori Doerrfeld will read her new book The Rabbit Listened.
It is an adorable and thoughtful new picture book for children from ages one to eight.
For more information contact Little City Books at (201) 626-READ.

A year to remember, unhappily

Al Sullivan, Senior Staff Writer
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A year to remember, unhappily

Hudson County politics made history in 2018, but not in a positive way, and local events reflected some of the broader conflicts unsettling the nation.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez fended off a well-heeled Republican challenger in a hard-fought contest that bristled with familiar accusations of political, corporate, and even personal corruption.

Menendez’s victory assures his position as the predominant political figure in Hudson County whom the local political princes – mayors, freeholders, even state legislators – must continue to consider in their political calculations.

His victory may also help reunite a Hudson County Democratic Party that was fractured by infighting over the past year, including a failed attempt to overthrow the county executive and seize control of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

The big backfire

What some observers have described as the biggest political blunder in recent memory unfolded when four mayors started a war that they actually didn’t have to wage on the Democratic establishment.

In February, state Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, and their political guru Mark Albiez bushwhacked Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise at the Coach House Diner in North Bergen and told DeGise they would not support his reelection effort in 2019.

Just why they did this, when they did this, still defies logic. If they had waited until after the June 2018 primary, they might very well have gotten what they wanted without the nasty political fight they ignited.

Until the Coach House meeting, Stack was seen as the heir apparent to take over as chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. As the chairman, he would have had the power to dump DeGise from the official Democratic line on the 2019 primary ballot and rob him of a major electoral advantage.

But his premature attempt to unseat DeGise started a war for control of the HCDO. It pitted Amy DeGise – Tom DeGise’s daughter – against Stack.

While Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and West New York Mayor Felix Rogue supported Stack and Fulop, most of the other Democrats – including council members and commissioners in Hoboken, Jersey City and West New York – did not.

Selecting a county chair requires the votes of a majority of about 900 committee people throughout the county, all of whom were being asked to pick a side. But the chair vote hinged on a public election of committee people in West New York. If Roque had not failed to get them elected, Stack would have won.

DeGise, a Jersey City school board member and social studies teacher, is as popular in Jersey City as Fulop, and when state Sen. Nicholas Sacco came out in support of Amy DeGise, Stack lost.

The forgiven and the unforgiven

The aftermath of that battle may spell political doom for Roque, who will face stiff opposition in his 2019 bid for reelection. Fulop won reelection in 2017, so, he will not have to worry about reelection until 2021. But the HCDO has a long institutional memory, and insults tend to linger.

For Fulop, this was perhaps the worst of a series of bad political moves in 2018 that will likely damage any hope he has of seeking higher office in the future.

Stack and Bhalla mended fences with Menendez later in the year, by endorsing him, then pushing hard to get the vote out for him against well-funded GOP challenger Bob Hugin. While Menendez eventually triumphed with a significant win, there were times during the campaign when people reading the polls feared he might lose. Fulop’s refusal to support Menendez angered the Democratic leadership.

Roque also damaged himself by feuding with Rep. Albio Sires, a very popular former mayor in West New York, all but assuring Sires will lead the attack in May to unseat Roque.

Perhaps the most significant outcome of the war was Amy DeGise’s victory as the first female chair of the HCDO, against the background of a national surge of female activism incited by the presidency of Donald Trump and the #Me Too movement.

Many people see her as the future of the party, a shift from middle-of-the-road male-oriented Democratic leadership to a progressive party more in touch with the emerging diverse population of the county.

School board elections may foreshadow change

Despite uncontested municipal elections in Union City, Weehawken, and Secaucus, several board of education battles may foreshadow future political events.

In West New York, former superintendent and board president Adriane Sires, the wife of Rep. Sires, carried her ticket to victory, indicating a change of direction for the school district and carrying implications for the commissioner election next May.

Jersey City’s school board election has significant implications after a battle for a district that faces serious financial challenges, and an ongoing dispute between the board and the superintendent of schools. Control of the board over the last five years has shifted from a faction that largely supported the superintendent’s policies to one that largely opposes them.

In 2018 anti-superintendent candidates won by significantly large margins, promising significant changes in policy next year.

Back to the future in Hoboken

The overwhelming vote to restore runoff elections in Hoboken will likely impact ward elections next November, when Mayor Ravi Bhalla will try to run a ticket of candidates in hopes of retaking control of the City Council.

The change also will force Bhalla to seek reelection in 2021 with more than 50 percent of the vote, which he failed to do in 2017.

To comment on this story on-line, go to our website, www.hudsonreporter.com. Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com

Did you miss these stories over the weekend?

Submitted Content
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Did you miss these stories over the weekend?

In a stunning reversal of political fortune, powerful state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack lost his bid to become chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization – a longtime political organization that helps choose candidates for local and regional office – in a committee vote held at Kearny High School on Wednesday, June 12.

The vote was contentious, as Stack and several other mayors in the county have been hoping to eventually unseat, in 2019, longtime County Executive Tom DeGise, whose job involves overseeing county agencies and facilities.

DeGise’s daughter Amy DeGise, a relatively newcomer to the political scene and a Jersey City school board member, beat Stack by nearly 100 votes – a larger margin than anyone predicted.

DeGise beat Stack by a vote 452 to 360, with members of local Democratic committees in all towns voting, including some who were bused in. Click here for more.

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Thirty-five residents attended a hearing on Monday to determine how the city of Hoboken should be developed over the next decade or so, including zoning laws changes and capital improvements. Twelve of those people spoke at the meeting, held at the Multi Service Center on Grand Street, offering suggestions ranging from more one-bedroom units to more public bike racks.

The suggestions will help shape the city’s final Master Plan Reexamination report, on which the Planning Board will vote June 25. Click here for more.

______________________________

In a local bodega not far from City Hall in Jersey City, a store clerk puts a cup of coffee into a paper bag for the customer to take. The spilled liquid soaks through the bottom of the bag – forcing the clerk to put both bag and coffee into a cheap plastic bag.

Plastic bags of this kind replaced paper bags during the late 1970s and into the 1980s, partly because of scenes like this and partly because environmentalists saw plastic bags as a way to preserve woodlands devastated by harvesting to make paper products. Plastic bags are also more durable than their paper equivalent and for many are easier to transport.

But environmentalists now have different concerns. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims that 80 percent of the pollution in the world’s oceans comes from land-based trash and that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. Click here for more.

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