Interesting update in today's Hoboken Reporter update (5/8) on Councilwoman Mason's street-money

distribution.

4thStreet30:

The Condon report was posted in its entirety as is standard policy. NJ.com also posted the same exact report.

The rent control issue is PRESENTLY highlighted on Mile Square View (MSV) right now on PAGE ONE. Scroll down from the main page:

http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com

Or here's a direct link:

http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com/2010/04/rent-control-heats-up-and-with-it.html

In an interview with Corporation Counsel Kates, MSV reported the process where the two men discussed the Condon matter in advance of the meeting before a vote was held on the matter.

In fact MSV looks first to report the Condon contract was even under review. As in FIRST.

Here's that link:

http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com/2010/03/corporation-counsel-2008-condon.html

True enough Rudy, actually I don't think that it was major news because all the papers (and the blogs too I think) had already reported a month ago that the corp counsel had advised Bhalla that he was ok voting on Condon's contract, I believe. So I do not think it is new that the corp counsel found the same thing again a month later, but it should have been noted none the less.

It was posted on the Horse blog this week in order to defend Bhalla when he needed it, simple. And probably on nj.com in order to respond to the outcry from bloggers.

Still I agree that it should have been at least mentioned in the media after the meeting. So much goes on at these meetings that things probably get lost that should not.

Are any of these people (not to mention the blogs) who are writing about the rent control issue that are about to come through, rather than the past deeds of Mason and Bhallah? According to the Reporter article this weekend there is a lot of potential changes. Speaking of Bhalla and Mason this is what they are up to! They are both on the committee so I guess this is taking time away from governance. When will the blogs pick up on this weekend's story about the rent control, some of us who follow politics are not concerned just about elections and the "HORSE RACE" but also what the legislation that is coming before the council will actually DO. Hello is this mic on?

For the record, here's some of the exclusives by MSV: arrest photos including the JC bomb squad in Hoboken, interview with the fiscal state monitor Judy Tripodi, Zoning Board member living outside Hoboken, budget funding reversal by the fiscal state monitor, BoE Board Secretary's resignation, Zimmer's failure to obtain a million dollar grant leading into the November election, Fire union going to arbitration.

So how is reporting Mayor Zimmer failed to apply and obtain a million dollar grant favorable to Zimmer among others?

Here's a little nugget from Da Horsey. No candidate or elected official has complained or elected official about any story. One campaign manager once asked for (and received) a correction. Now some elected officials are not enthused to respond to questions but that is a short list and was highlighted during the BoE election - a exclusive list in fact.

Btw, what has happened to all the Mason online operatives? They have evacuated late yesterday and headed for the hills. Now that's what you call political operative discipline.

Impressive.

The Kates Report was made public at the April 23rd City Council meeting. This was not a MSV scoop - he didn't get special access and he deserves credit for being the first to put up a story that frankly should have been picked up by the media on April 23rd.

The City shouldn't have to issue a press release for the media (and POG) to know what transpired at a public meeting that was live streamed and carried on channel 78.

Westy, that story was posted on nj.com around 4 p.m. yesterday, six hours before you posted your comment, I guess you were not looking hard.

The Horseblog is good at getting scoops about things that are in favor of the Zimmer administration and nothing else. With such a narrow mandate, I'm sure he can get them much faster then anyone else.

I do agree though that he is unlikely to censor and the blog is entertaining to read if you know where it comes from

As long as we are talking about blogs and the bloger posted here, I would like to point out a story that Mile Square View has covered that I have not seen elsewhere.

Hoboken Corporation Council Kates report on Mason's previous charges against Cunningham and Bhalla in the Condon contract vote.

He posted the entire report but the salient point is Mr. Kates found the no violation.

For the record, there is no censorship and there will be no censorship at Mile Square View.

In the time the website was founded (due to the arrest of Peter Cammarano), only one person has been banned from posting.

Although MSV feels it's fine to raise questions and stated same, there's been no conclusion on the ethical questions raised on Councilman Bhalla.

On the matter of Councilwoman Mason, the law is clear and the violations are documented.

How people choose to respond is entirely their own choice. Unlike Matt72, there's no need to leave a token opposition. But scrutiny is the order of the day at MSV. Some folks can't handle that for whatever reason. And sometimes it's part of a plan to avoid scrutiny. The BoE election illustrated that too.

If you notice, all the Mason operatives (and their various screen names) have suddenly fallen silent tonight.

Mile Square View

http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com

Someone made a good point on nj.com, it was that these politicians trying to point out wrongdoing on the part of each other to take the heat off themselves are riduculous, if they did something wrong, they did something wrong.

I also notice that ONLY on the Reporter and on NJ.com do you see people writing about both sides of the issue, or not taking either side and just being disgusted. While on two local blogs the only comments are pro-Bhalla. Are some being erased? Not that 411 is much better but at least Matt72 is offering another opinion on that site.

just to point out, I think the person below me meant COUNCIL not counsel.

Reform Hoboken, that's some good background about things I only suspected...please keep informing, you know more than I.

One thing, I dont think Masons consultants are in hiding, the press conference was only earleir today, they are probably strategizing how to respond. Im sure when the stories come out well all get to see what she has to say and I personally am curious to see it.

The reporter headline says it best, this is going to keep goign back and forth and the blogs are zigzagging with it too, I wonder what will come out next??

I don't see anything disparaging about what they wrote above but the blog itself because thats exactly what the blog said HOWEVER I believe the blog should not be legitimized. What they wrote is a good summery of what's on the Grafix blog and actually legitimizes that persons blog which I find a problem.

What I dont understand is the bloggers argument that the reason that Bhalla, as a lawyer and elected official (and contractor with cities too), obviously was not aware of the form because...get this....he was TOO SMART TO HAVE AVOIDED IT ON PURPOSE knowing that one day a newspaper might sniff it out and ask him about it. I am not agreeing or disagreeing, just asking for an explanation of such a backward expalantion on the blog. If it was anyone else, she would make the reverse argument so clearly its a bias, and also: now we are judging whether officials did something wrong on purpose or by accident based on the authors personal knowledge of their IQ?

Thats why I try notto read blogs and I dont see why the Reporter legitimizes this one. After all you would not have an article in the reporter or the Jersey Journal or StarLedger say 'I know Bhalla and he must not of done it because hes too smart.' Only a blogger who supported him would say it

Yes the Zimmer-led counsel appointed the person and not Zimmer personally. I notice the local bloggers pointing more and more fingers at the press (particularly JJ, Star Ledger and here now the HR) because the bloggers are upset the newspapers report fairly. It seems like they are turning into 411 but this time just for another side. I thinkt he press should not legitimize these blogs if the bloggers are afiliated with campaigns. I understand some blogs are the pulse of the public but at laest point out where their alliances lie especially a political appoitnee!

Mason is really in trouble. How does she own up to the violations without owning up to be a felon?

It was super dumb for her to attack Bhalla for a sin that she and the whole Council and Mayor have been guilty of in the past (not keeping up with filings). But Mason really killed herself by not only failing to file, which is a civil violation, but also giving away street money in cash which is an obvious CRIMINAL violation of election law.

Mason is really screwed. She certified on the ELEC to writing 48 checks to "CASH." ELEC law says she can't do that and that it is a 4th degree FELONY to do so.

How does she get out of this one? She needs her PR people (now deadly silent while she remains in hiding) and a lawyer to sort this one out. My guess is that this is why team Beth is silent. I wonder if the press that so gullibly reported on the Beth consultant fed story is going to be able to wrangle a comment out of her before the City Council meeting tomorrow.

Boy she should fire her team for messing with Bhalla who she should be courting not alienating in light of her 2nd Ward race. She should have been focusing on reform efforts all these years. Instead, she not only accomplishes NOTHING in 4 years as a Council Member but she continues on money on consultants and illegally street cash to destroy Reform candidates.

I find this all amazing because she is the only member of the Council I believe who does not have a full-time job and instead lives off her spouses' salary. How could someone with so much time on her hands mess up their Council career so royally and end up alienating herself from everyone but the Russos? What a loser.

How appropriate that she's now in legal trouble because crap she threw bounced back on her. Beth Mason is more than useless actually. She is a danger to others and now even herself.

Is H411 reporting on any of this yet? Of course not!

Regarding what else may be going on (the last comment): I think mainstream Democrats may be threatened by a no-nonsense articulate candidate who is educated, energetic, can raise money, and received more votes than any other City Council candidate the last election cycle. They're finding any way they can to take him down early. All the other folks on the City Council have the same issues. Why go after Bhalla? It's not a mistake.

What kind of ignoramuses write for this paper?

Mayor Zimmer gave the authority to appoint Zoning Board members to the City Council. The CITY COUNCIL. Why keep referring to the blogger as a

Zimmer- appointee'? Cammarano wanted to keep Zoning appointees in the Mayor's office, Zimmer CHANGED that.

You need to make this CORRECTION because you seem to want to disparage Zimmer and this blogger.

According to some other web sites, Mason ilegally paid election day workers about $15,000 in cash and that's apparently a 4th degree felony.

That seems a whole lot more serious to me than legal donations that some people (including me) think should be illegal and a late filing of a disclosure form.

Its hard to understand why someone like Mason, with all her high priced consulting help, would do something so incredibly stupid. But I long ago stopped trying to understand how a supposedly smart person can continually do such incredibly stupid things.

Maybe its the people she hangs out with leading her astray.

There is indeed an election going on, just not Hoboken municipal. There is always something behind this. I'll leaveit to others to speculate what.