Covered in this newsletter:

• Serious Allegations of Corruption Against Mayor Bhalla et al

• Goodbye Democracy in NJ – What You Can Do

• Upcoming City Council Meeting

• Uptown Library Book Locker Ribbon Cutting – May 15^th

• Be Someone's Hero Fundraiser - May 16th

• Congressional Forum Friday Evening – May 17^th

• Mayor Bhalla and Jersey Mayor Steve Fulop conspired in quid pro quo to trade preferential treatment and approval of a dispensary that Fulop would profit from in exchange for legal contracts for Ravi’s law firm that he would profit from.

• Mayor Bhalla traded preferential treatment and approval for another dispensary, in exchange for political support from Brendan Gill, one of the most influential political operatives in NJ.

• Mayor Bhalla made politically driven layoff choices of long time city employees based upon who would negatively impact him the least politically.

• Mayor Bhalla’s top aids obstructed communication with two City Council members – myself and CW Jen Giattino - to control information and limit the council members’ influence over city operations.

• Mayor Bhalla severed ties with former Mayor Zimmer saying she would be “f-ing” him “politically” after she chose to publicly acknowledge the positive service of Director Pellegrini during her tenure. 

• We know: from what was discovered during the condo litigation that Fulop had a large financial interest in the dispensary being approved – to the tune of $1M for his wife and business partner.  Yet Fulop says in the Politico article “.. my family has no economic interest in any dispensary.”  

• We know Ravi’s (and John Allen’s) law firm was given its first contract in Jersey City for $50K around the times mentioned in the complaint. 

• We know: Ravi quashed a dispensary at a competing site around the times mentioned in the complaint. 

• January 14, 2022 - The complaint says Ravi told Vijay, Jason, John Allen and Pellegrini at a lunch that Fulop called him concerned about a medical dispensary Nature’s Remedy that the Hoboken CRB approved 1/7 at 11^th and Washington because it was too close to the one Fulop’s wife Jaclyn was applying for at 14^th and Hudson (Story).  And it is alleged that Ravi also said he was quashing that approval in exchange for Fulop giving Ravi’s law firm Schenck Price a contract (and notably also John Allen’s law firm).  We know: Ravi did stop Nature’s Remedy from moving forward. 

• January 24th, 2022 – We know: Story Dispensary application was submitted to the CRB. 

• February 23^rd – 25th, 2022 – The complaint outlines that the day before the CRB meeting on the 24^th, Ravi tells Vijay, Jason and Pellegrini that the Story dispensary application has to be approved (Jason and Pellegrini were both on the CRB). During the meeting, Ravi allegedly texted Pellegrini, urging him to "stay firm and see it through." It is also claimed that the day after the meeting, Pellegrini was told by Ravi that Fulop had called during the CRB session to push for the dispensary's approval.  The latter is supported, but not corroborated by what happened at the four hour meeting:  There was significant public opposition and the only people who supported came into the meeting at the end and were identified as close friends of the Fulops who did not live in the vicinity of the proposed dispensary. As if Fulop called them and asked that they join, suggesting the possibility that Fulop may also have called Ravi. 

• April 19^th, 2022 – We know:  At their monthly meeting, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency awarded Schenck Price with a $50,000 contract for "Special Legal Services" for general “projects across the city”.  In their proposal a week earlier on 4/12, Schenck Price reveals they have not provided services in Jersey City previously.  The resolution says the contract is “exempt from local bidding”.  Yet in the Politico article, Ravi’s spokesperson gives a conflicting statement saying Schenck Price “was selected in a competitive process by the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.”

• May 17^th, 2022 – We know: the Hudson County Planning Board approved Story, led by John Allen, a commissioner on the HCPB, who was at the January 14th lunch, was then Mayor Bhalla’s Chief of Staff and also an attorney with Schenck Price.

• The public hearings for the 3 proposed art installations are back (feels too soon to me…)

• 2^nd reading of expansion of open container laws to Hoboken Housing Authority (previously not included for some reason) to help ensure safety for HHA residents. LINK

• 1st reading of ordinance to prohibit fireworks from being launched from the uptown waterfront and within the Weehawken Cove due to the proximity to significant residential density – this does not prohibit them from being launched further out in the Hudson River. (I sponsored) LINK

• 1st reading of “Skip the Stuff” ordinance which will require restaurants to not provide plastic utensils with food deliveries unless requested – this is to reduce plastic waste in our landfills and does not prohibit restaurants from providing plastic utensils on site. (I sponsored) LINK

• 1st reading of ordinance to graduate fines for certain trash related events and eliminate requirement for court appearance for first violation (Ramos / Giattino sponsors).  LINK

• Introduction of Hoboken Business Alliance Budget and their installation of bistro lights along Washington street.

 

 

 

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