Bergenfield Corruption

two things (4.00 / 1)

1) I thought you were retiring from bluejersey?

2) How can we take any of this seriously when we know that you spin and twist things to fit into what you want to project and you have a reputation for regurgitating Senator Weinberg's talking points even after she has changed her talking points.

PS) No one becomes popular for bashing dennis oury.  Do you want to know why?  Because no one knows who he is.  And when you say you have heard from "folks in town" do you mean that you heard from your Bergen Grassroots/Weinberg/Driscoll team?  Your spin can not change the truth.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Mon May 21, 2007 at 14:43:33 PM UTC

They know who he is now.... (0.00 / 0)

Nobody in Bergenfield, who lives in Bergenfield and votes in Bergenfield want Joe Ferriero running the town...they certainly don't want Oury either....how many political jobs does this guy have? 8? 9?

where does he live?

---

by: BigDaddyDem @ Mon May 21, 2007 at 16:46:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm sorry (4.00 / 1)

but I am a democrat.  I will use my time effectively trying to get rid of republicans not other democrats.  a primary from the carol-wing of the party in Bergenfield will probably embolden the GOP there.  Fortunately I think that you, BigDaddyDem and Carolh are not a significant threat to the democratic party.  Though it seems to be your MO to threaten the democratic party.  we all have our different views but I am convinced that this is not a struggle over ideology.  It is a battle over leadership.  Carol is not in charge of the democratic party and neither are her friends.  They just want to take it over and if they did that they would not operate much differently.  The main difference would be if the Carolh-wing of the party is running against republicans in most towns the GOP would win.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Mon May 21, 2007 at 17:04:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why don't you explain why Mr. Oury (0.00 / 0)

is billing Bergenfield for his political activities as reported by The Record?

Is that a lie?

Did The Record make that up?

I love Democrats who attack other Democrats for having the courage to oppose machine politics that is taking place in Bergen County thanks to the likes of Ferriero, Oury, et al.

Dolores Butler is a puppet. That's pretty obvious.

How can any Democrat defend the actions of Oury?

He should be fired if this is true.

---

by: BigDaddyDem @ Mon May 21, 2007 at 22:29:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't know (2.67 / 3)

But i will tell you that you sir do not appear to be a democrat.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Mon May 21, 2007 at 22:39:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yikes. (1.33 / 3)

BlueBergen, that was a nasty and unfounded personal attack and I think you should apologize to BigDaddyDem.

You have made some jaw-dropping statements on this thread.

1. You say that a primary challenge will "embolden the GOP."  (Did you say that when Ferriero's slate challenged Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle?) 

2. You cast doubt on others' party loyalty when they disagree with you.

3. You say that CarolH and others "threaten the democratic party" because they support challengers in the primary.

Let me break it down simply.  Some Democrats, like CarolH and BigDaddyDem, are unhappy with the current cast of characters fronting the County Party and would like to have a change.  That is why there are a slate of challengers running in the primary.  Party rules allow this.

Therefore, if you have a problem with the primary system, take it up with the Party and stop bashing people for getting involved in an authorized, legal election.

---

by: Moxie Sebright @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 07:47:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

excuse me? (4.00 / 1)

There was no combativeness in my language on this thread.  The fact is that in a municipality like Bergenfield a primary might embolden the GOP.  Of course there is no GOP to run district wide in the 37th.  You would be foolish to assume I am foolish enough to think that.  I haven't been bashing anybody.  I engage in back and forth with BigDaddydem.  He attacks folks much more than I do. 

I disagree with Carol and I am inclined to defend my democratic officials in Bergenfield.  Mr. Driscoll has about as much respect from normal people in bergenfield as Carol does in tenafly. 

I didn't cast doubt on anybody's party loyalty.  If you look at BigDaddyDem's comments on recent threads you would question whether he was a Democrat too. 

I don't think Carol and "others" threaten the party because they support primary challengers.  They threaten the party because they seek to fracture it for personal benefit.  A lot of folks think that there is only a genuine "we're the good guys" message that carol puts out there, but do a little research.  She is just regurgitating talking points from her bosses.  Her stories are full of holes.  Not everybody on BlueJersey is from Bergen county but for too long Blue Jersey has gotten one side of Bergen County politics on these diaries and threads.  I am not attacking anybody but I am correcting misstatements made by others and putting a different opinion held by many democrats in bergen county and MY hometown of bergenfield.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 15:06:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes - Once again (0.00 / 1)

You are (sigh) the victim.  If you must debate me, please by all means address the issues at hand. 

1) Did Mr. Oury charge the TAXPAYERS of Bergenfield for political calls made to the BCDO?

2) Were any of the 5 Bergen County Employee Democratic Council members aware of the embezzlement going on in the tax assessors office?

3) How many of the Dems on the Bergenfield Council or Bergenfield Municipal Committee hold County Jobs?

Honestly, you are tapdancing faster than Richard Gere in "Chicago". 

The "Real Bergen Dems" is still an organization running candidates in this official primary. You can back any horse you want to in this race as a Democrat.  It's allowed.  Look at next year's Primary.  Corzine is backing Hillary, Codey is for Edwards.  Does that make either of them not a Dem? 

If Clancy's friends can back the FOF (Friends of Forgery), from all the way over there in Hackensack, why is it wrong for the Real Bergen Dems who have Column 1 on the ballot, a campaign manager, and candidates in several Bergen County towns to back candidates in Bergenfield from their official office in Englewood? 

You remember, it's the same office where we kicked off the Grand Opening with the head of Democracy for America? You know, Howard Dean's brother?  Oh, that's right.  You were in Hackensack that very same night for the BCDO Coronation Convention where Wildes, Zisa and Wilson were crowned (cricket, cricket).

One more question.  I am curious as to what personal benefit I am shilling for?  I can make a lot more money per hour running my business than I can doing this for free or working for the County.  Do you know something I don't?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 15:53:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

(insert patsy cline song title here) Carol (0.00 / 1)

First off, this article is nothing but conjecture.  There is no evidence.  It is a plant by the RBD slate to attack their opponents in print.  I couldn't tell you whether any of this stuff is true but I don't appreciate you and (sometimes) the Record acting like judge and jury with no evidence. 

WOW!! You mean Jim Dean was at your office?  I am super jealous of you.  Jim Dean?  Way COOOOL!! (snark)

You seem to feel as if being a member of the county committee and an elected official is a conflict of interest.  Why don't you drop one of your positions so you can devote your full time to your wacky crusades?

I've never seen Chicago.  Not a big Gere fan either.

The personal benefit you are shilling for is power.  The power you wish would be yours but it would only be Weinberg and Huttle's power.  If your bosses in the 37th won every primary, they would lose a good chunk in the general but its not winning and governing you all are after.  It is control they are after.  There is nothing wrong with that but admit that its the truth.  There is no holy force driving your cause.  Unless hate and jealousy are holy.


"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:14:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We are not in Middle Earth (0.00 / 1)

There is no "ring of power".  We are talking about open government here.  Power?  All I want is honest government.  Is that too much to ask?

I feel bad that you view the world that way. It must look pretty bleak - like Mordor.  Oury would have all the trees cut down while Ferriero passes out rings of power and County jobs to the County Committee Chairs to bind them all to his will. Meanwhile the loyal Ferrierocrats create a race of super-Ferrierocrats that look like Democrats but don't think for themselves. They just make robocalls from Hackensack HQ and wander the streets of Bergen County looking for towns to surrender to the spells of an evil borough attorney wizard named Oury.

shudder..... I can almost see that eye in Hackensack - turning toward the Northeast........

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:31:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What? (2.00 / 2)

What are you talking about lady?  Are you ok?  Is there somebody there with you in case you need to be taken to the hospital?  Let me know if it gets really bad.  We will get you help.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:35:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

oh come on (4.00 / 1)

So I am a troll now?  Because I am concerned for this woman?  Please someone explain to me A) What Carol is talking about with this lord of the rings stuff and B) what makes me a troll?

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:58:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

bs (0.00 / 0)

That would be a variation of concern-trolling. Your comment was an insult and nothing more.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 17:05:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

you're kidding? (4.00 / 1)

My comment was trolling but her comment where I am accused of being in mordor is kosher?  Is it fair to not apply the same standard to everyone here?  If my feigning concern because someone said something wacky is trolling then isn't the initail wacky comment where I am part of some evil robocalling organization also trolling? 

Not to mention that the entire basis of this post is referencing an article in the record that is a snippet of an interview where carol's prefferred candidates make claims that go unproven.  It is conjecture.  I am a troll though. 

people say far nastier things here and aren't considered trolls.  I can get ahead of myself but I try to keep it civil here and play by the rules. 

Did my comment break the rules jmelli?

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 17:15:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

... (0.00 / 0)

There are guidelines we try to work within. I think suggesting that someone is medically unstable falls outside of those guidelines.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 17:23:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ok (4.00 / 1)

so the rules are fluid....  and thats where the guidelines come in.  I will keep that in mind.  Note to self:  don't suggest people are mentally unstable when they start ranting about the lord of the rings and calling you evil.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 17:30:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ok (0.00 / 0)

Rules and guidelines are in place to keep the community dialog constructive and healthy. It's largely a subjective judgment call. I think it's time to revisit the rules because yes, things are fluid. Context matters.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 17:45:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

ok (4.00 / 1)

just don't go forgetting to be subjective in your judgement the next time carolh or bigdaddydem engage in personal attacks.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 18:03:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It was simply (0.00 / 1)

a joke about "power".  Albeit a long one, but a joke nonetheless.  I was just trying to be entertaining.  No offense.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 18:14:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

well (0.00 / 0)

the "you need help" thing was a joke too.  I hope you did not take personal offense to it.  We can get a little bit fired up here but I try to keep it civil and sometimes try to be funny. 

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 18:26:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

lol (4.00 / 1)

The record didn't make it up.. The Driscoll guys made it up and told the record.  read the article.  It is not reporting it is political hackery.  The record likes to take one side and present it as gospel truth just like some bloggers.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:19:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Busy Borough Attorney (0.00 / 0)

Dennis Oury is the Borough Attorney in Bergenfield as well as Paramus and is Legal counsel for the BCDO and Barnegat Democrats. He was Fort Lee Zoning Board of Adjustment Attorney in 2004.  And Special Attorney for the Borough of High Bridge in 2003.  He may be zoning board of adjustment attorney for other towns as well.

His most lucrative activity is as a land use attorney where he defends the rights of the downtrodden purveyors of porn......

http://query.nytimes...

and owners of structurally deficient buildings:

http://findarticles....

and nightclubs the neighbors are trying to get rid of:

http://www.highbeam....

noisy scrapyards:

http://findarticles....

and developers who suddenly find their property rezoned for their benefit:
Especially to accomodate 12 story 300 unit buildings on busy River Road in North Bergen across from Palisades General.

The types of clients Mr. Oury represents are often developers who like to overdevelop a property to excess and who would fight to put 6 story buildings into zones designed for single family homes.  I call them blivets - military jargon meaing 10 lbs of stuff in a 5 lb bag. 

I would not want my town represented by a Borough Attorney who thinks nothing of rezoning areas and overbuilding them in the blink of an eye for a quick buck.  Zoning decisions are the most important decisions affecting a town.  Look at Fort Lee.  It is being devastated by development.  It gives me the willies that my hometown is now being represented by someone who might give away the store in terms of land use and quality of life.  And the Ferrierocrats in Bergenfield just handed it to him. 

But I digress.  What I really wanted to tell you is that Mr. Driscoll obtained the information in the Record article from the Open Public Records Act.  Not thin air.  That is where the Record got the information.  Essentially from the Borough itself. 

Mr. Oury charged the Borough of Bergenfield for political contacts with Kevin Clancy of County Committee Forgery Fame.  And Bergenfield PAID those bills. 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 14:36:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The problem (4.00 / 1)

I'm not going to defend Dennis Oury's choice of clients.  Everyone's got to eat, but there does seem to be a pattern there.

But the problem with the information in the Record article is that it all comes from charges by the Driscoll slate.  There may very well be legitimate reasons Oury billed the town for the conversations he had with those people.  Or there may not.  Point being, almost everyone in Bergen County politics is politically connected.  You call them 'political contacts,' but the fact of the matter is that there's no evidence of that being the case, beyond an accusation from political opponents of Oury's BCDO, so it should be looked at with some skepticism by thoughtful people.

Not saying you're wrong, but it's not as cut and dried as you've presented it.

And since you're going to ask, no, I'm not employed by or aligned with any of the accused parties.  These are just my impartial observations.

---

by: Somewhere In The Swamps @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 15:16:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

exactly (0.00 / 0)

the article is one sided. 

ps. I am not employed by anybody involved in NJ politics.  If that was unclear.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 16:22:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

But do they pay you anyway? ;) (0.00 / 0)

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 17:21:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No, LOL (0.00 / 0)

That would be nice.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 17:41:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

They were documents obtained by the Open Public Records Act (0.00 / 0)

Mr. Driscoll just asked for them.  He turned them over to the Record.  Mr. Clancy is not employed by the town and is not an elected official there.  He is the main BCDO contact in Bergenfield.  He also resigned as Municipal Chair when the story of the forgeries in Bergenfield broke.  His girlfriend, Councilwoman Rabbitt took over as Municipal Chair.  Clancy was the main suspect in the case.  Although the state has not pursued the case as vigorously as we would have liked and we have no convictions in the case, Mr. Clancy was the person who informed Mr. Discoll that he shouldn't bother showing up to vote at Loretta Weinberg's special election because he was no longer on the County Committee.

There was no reason except political for Mr. Oury to charge the town of Bergenfield for his conversations with Mr. Clancy unless he was trying to get to the bottom of the forgery scandal, which I highly doubt.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 16:43:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Documents (0.00 / 0)

were actual bills from Dennis Oury to the Borough detailing discussions with Kevin Clancy. 

Wait.  I did just think of a possible reason why Oury would charge Bergenfield for political discussions with Clancy.  Clancy was involved in hiring one Catherine Steinel - the Borough Clerk in Bergenfield, formerly of Little Ferry.  For some reason an investigation in Little Ferry turned up evidence that she met with Kevin Clancy to discuss taking the Borough Clerk's job in Bergenfield.

This just begs the question.  Why are political operatives doing the hiring in Bergenfield for such an important job as the Borough Clerk? Why was Clancy doing that?  Most people don't know this but the Borough Clerk is an extremely important job. 

Like Teachers, they can get tenure - meaning it is virtually impossible to get rid of a bad one.  We are extremely lucky in Tenafly to have a clerk who takes her job so seriously that we don't even KNOW her political persuasion.  And that's good.  Because she runs the elections.  She tallies the official votes.  She writes you the letter saying you just got officially elected.  She is THAT important.  You have to trust your Borough Clerk.  Implicitly.  They have a lot power and are probably THE MOST  important employees in any Borough. 

I wonder why Kevin Clancy is involved in hiring the most important tenured employee in Bergenfield?  Each new puzzle piece opens up a whole new set of questions in my mind. 

Anyway, discuss.....

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 23, 2007 at 17:19:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry (0.00 / 1)

to disappoint you.  Bergenfield is not in the 39th.  It is my hometown.  I grew up there.  Since I was 1 year old.  I know many folks there.  The people I am talking about are Republicans who have lived there for over 40 years, who are so angry about the taxes there that they want to vote for Timothy Driscoll.  Now, if I were a betting girl, I would bet on the visible, outspoken guy who is trying to defend the taxpayer in town and who has the most clout with both the Democrats AND the Republicans in town.  That guy will win.  And he is a Democrat.  A Democrat that the BCDO apologists tried to disenfranchise by forgery. 

Just tellin it like it is.  It's my home town, and I don't like carpetbaggers exploiting it.  Especially when we have a better alternative for Mayor who is a Democrat that has bipartisan appeal who will appoint people based on merit - not loyalty to Joe Ferriero. 

Your guys just picked on the wrong town.  That's all. Now it's personal.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 10:45:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just tellin it like it is? (4.00 / 1)

You are just tellin it like you imagine it is.  the Democrats in Bergenfield have done a good job in the short time they have been in office.  Bergenfield had Republican control for a while.  If you think that Tim Driscoll will do anything to solve the enormous tax problems this town has you are sadly mistaken.  What will Driscoll do about the Bergenfield police department?  Does he even know that there is a problem?  Bergenfield is a blue collar town paying white collar property taxes.  I may be wrong here, but I do not believe that your brand of Democrat has a good record of lowering taxes.  Look at Tenafly and Teaneck.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 15:10:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

huh? (4.00 / 1)

Who said Bergenfield was in the 39th?

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 16:19:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Councilman Bruce Carlson - Unbought and Unbossed (1.50 / 2)

Bruce Carlson, the current Bergenfield Councilman running for re-election on the Real Bergen Dems line is the ONLY Democrat on the current all Dem council who DOES NOT have a Bergen County job.  Therefore Councilman Carlson is not beholden to Ferriero.  Just thought I would point that out. 

If ANYONE would like to help the Real Bergen Democrats Councilman Bruce Carlson retain his seat and also help Timothy Driscoll and Barry Doll who have a very tough battle ahead, please contact the Real Bergen Dems and volunteer at their HQ in Englewood at 40 Van Brunt.  Campaign Manager Brenda Allen is doing an awesome job but still needs more volunteers.  June 5th is coming fast......

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 13:30:07 PM UTC

really? (4.00 / 1)

Are the Bergenfield Council candidates working out of Englewood?  I thought your BOSS had her office in Teaneck?  I know that the Bergenfield Deomocrats work in Bergenfield.  Will the Real Bergen Dems try to govern Bergenfield from Englewood too?  They'd probably just call all the shots from the office on Cedar Lane.

"That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be-it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be." -Saul Alinsky

---

by: BlueBergen @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 15:13:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Carlson voted to pay the bills you are challenging (0.00 / 0)

Unless I am mistaken, didn't Carlson vote to pay the very bills you're challenging here?

---

by: Bergendem @ Wed May 30, 2007 at 20:15:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Bills were incurred because (0.00 / 0)

you have a Borough Clerk tainted by association with the main Forgery suspect in an election fraud case.  Oury, Clancy and Steinel are so hopelessly, endlessly entwined in a spiders web of suspicion that it is no wonder it took  a while to unravel it all.  You could hardly blame Bruce Carlson for paying a bill he may have thought was legitimate when it was to the advantage of all parties involved to hide the fact that perhaps it was not. 

Aren't you guys dizzy yet? 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 30, 2007 at 22:35:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

One more question (0.00 / 1)

Why is gtreiner from the official website of the Middlesex County Democrats so interested in cheerleading for the BCDO regarding Bergenfield?  Anybody know the connection here?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 15:58:09 PM UTC

Answer the question. (0.00 / 0)

Did Oury bill the taxpayers of Bergenfield for political communications?

It's either yes or no.

Oury refused to comment on the story. I wonder why?

How many towns does this guy represent in Bergen County?

8? 9?

Where does he live in Bergen County?

Does he live in Bergen County?

How much did he bill Bergenfield in 2007 beyond his salary/stipend?

Inquiring minds would love to know.

Oury represents all that is wrong with the BCDO. He is nothing but an extension of Ferriero's nose in the business of local government.

Isn't there any lawyers in Bergenfield who could serve the community?

Let's stop with the spin and answer the questions.

The voters will on June 5th.

---

by: BigDaddyDem @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 17:38:47 PM UTC

Connection = BlueBergen is a friend (0.00 / 1)

I'm sorry carol if you don't have any....

---

by: gtreiner @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 18:23:17 PM UTC

bye (0.00 / 0)

I was thinking about banning you for systematically abusing the comment rating system by blindly troll rating every comment of carolh's. This comment sealed the deal.

---

by: Juan Melli @ Tue May 22, 2007 at 18:26:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oury's bills (0.00 / 0)

Ok, so I took a look at the bills.  This is probably a day late and a dollar short, now that Carol has spent so much time spinning this, but the bills were in reference to a specific file, "Steinel v. Weinberg."  Turns out these charges were all in relation to a lawsuit filed last year by Tim Driscoll, Loretta Weinberg, Huttle, and Johnson, to kick candidates for the Democratic County Committee off the primary ballot (sound familiar?).  The Borough clerk permittted these candidates to appear on the ballot, and Weinberg, Driscoll, and Co. sued in court, costing the Borough thousands in taxpayer funds to defend the decision of its Clerk.

So why would Oury be talking to Clancy or the BCDO?  Maybe because these people would be the ones with information on what was going on with the County Committee in Bergenfield.  Was politics involved?  Looks like it, because it was a lawsuit about candidates for the County Committee.  But it was Driscoll and Weinberg who cost the Borough the money!

---

by: Bergendem @ Wed May 30, 2007 at 20:22:21 PM UTC

Are you seriously (0.00 / 0)

saying that Driscoll and Weinberg are at fault when they were the VICTIMS of the forgery????

And are you seriously suggesting that we should pity the poor Borough Clerk who got the job due to Clancy - the main forgery suspect, because she was the one who let the imposters stay on the Committee?

Is this the sneak attack before the Primary you clowns were alluding to?

Shouldn't the Borough be responsible for illegal actions committed by it's Borough Clerk or Borough Attorney or TAX ASSESSOR?

The taxpayers of Bergenfield deserve to know the truth - that their taxes went up because their honest state Senator wouldn't let forgery go unaddressed.

Yikes, you do live in Bizarro world - where up is down and the criminals are the victims.  You certainly have chutzpah, I'll hand you that....

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 30, 2007 at 22:05:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So now we know (0.00 / 0)

The number one reason Bergenfield Borough Clerk Catherine Steinel may have been SO accomodating of Clancy's replacements for the County Committee members who were REMOVED from elected office by FORGERY was because she was a FOC (friend of Clancy) and owed him for getting the Bergenfield Borough Clerk job in the first place. 

This just gets more and more interesting......

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Wed May 30, 2007 at 22:20:17 PM UTC

reality check (0.00 / 0)

Excuse me, but the lawsuit last year involved Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson, and Tim Driscoll challenging the candidacies of three hispanic candidates for county committee on the ground that they were not registered Democrats when they filed their petitions (they were undeclared).  The court upheld the clerk's decision to permit these candidates to appear on the ballot, and chastised Loretta and company for abusing the judicial system.  I would say that having the case thrown out of court is a pretty good sign that the clerk did nothing wrong.

---

by: Bergendem @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 04:54:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why do you think (0.00 / 0)

Forgery is OK?  Why did Clancy hire the Borough Clerk when he is a POLITICAL operative?  When are you going to admit that charging the Borough for political meetings or phone calls is not kosher? When are you going to admit that there is a problem having a forgery suspect on the board of elections and as Director of Veterans affairs (dual office holding) when he saw nothing wrong with someone disenfranchising WWII veteran Timothy Driscoll through forgery?  (Timothy Driscoll got abused both coming AND going thanks to simply supporting the Senator in that special election.) 

What do you have to say for yourselves?  Do you actually find your behavior admirable?

And can you tell me - were those county committee folks you so self-rightiously defend, in the BCDO Column on the ballot while Loretta Weinberg Supporters on the County Committee who were incumbents were thrown onto column 3 or 4?  Like I was?

Don't you find it disturbing that every time Joe Ferriero is up to something the Justice Department has to get involved or a protest has to happen and there is a court battle or major fight to just get votes counted fairly? 

Two folks wound up on our County Committee who never show up at meetings, won't display election signs for "personal reasons" and generally do absolutely nothing even though they were elected to the municipal committee after being asked to run by people they won't name.  What are they there for?  Certainly not to represent the Democrats in their district. But Joe Ferriero put them in Column 1 last year.  Why?  We are still trying to figure that out.  This is the kind of stuff we are trying to deal with. 

How can we have a strong Democratic party when our County Chairman plays these games?  And how can we take you seriously when you defend him?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 05:28:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

what the heck? (0.00 / 0)

Am I missing something?  Or are you two talking about completely different cases?  You're just talking past each other, not dealing with the forgery case or the charge that Weinberg tried to throw three Hispanic committee candidates off the ballot.  Both seem troublesome to me, but you're too busy sticking to your talking points to seriously address anything.

Don't you people have some Republicans to fight?

---

by: Somewhere In The Swamps @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 06:04:12 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Well, no (0.00 / 0)

There aren't Republicans to fight here.  Even in my town they are not even putting up a council candidate.  You see, the PRIMARY is coming up.  In only ONE week.  That is where the Democrats run against DEMOCRATS and Republicans run against REPUBLICANS.  We fight the other guys in the GENERAL election.  In November. 

Right now there are VERY important battles to be fought and won in Bergenfield, in Englewood, in Fort Lee, and many other places in NJ where the Parties are trying to clean house.

This is why I have been posting about my own Party and not the Republicans. Someone has to mind the store.  The Primary is KEY to cleaning up corruption in NJ.  And it is up to each of us to vote in the PRIMARY to determine who runs our party in the future. 

No one dislikes Bush and the Republicans more than me, but we are having our Party hijacked by the Pay to Play folks, and I will not stand around and have that happen like the Republicans had their Party hijacked by the religious right. This is where it happens - in the PRIMARY in JUNE where Party officials are quietly elected while the big spotlight is focused on the Republicans and NOVEMBER election.

This is why I have piped up over the past few months.  I see a real need to educate voters about the importance and need to show up in June, not just in November, and for LOCAL races, not just for Presidential races.  If we are unhappy with our party at the national level - we have only ourselves to blame if we kept silent and stayed home on Primary day.

You may think I am just spouting talking points, but no one is paying me, and I truly believe - with a passion, what I am saying here.

To be fair, as you requested, I will get more info to refute the charges they are making, but they have not and will never ever be able to publicly support and condone forgery and efforts to illegally disenfranchise duly elected County Committee members - actions that nearly cost a NJ State Senator a seat in Trenton.

These aren't talking points to me.  Or some abstract memo I read.  I lived through it.  I was challenged at an election.  My hometown is involved.  Do not make light of the situation.  This is extremely serious. 

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 13:42:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

avoiding the subject (0.00 / 0)

Carolh is avoiding the subject, and attempting to spout irrelevent propaganda in this thread. 

This thread was exclusively about the article in the record challenging certain bills from Oury, charging Bergenfield for calls to Clancy and BCDO.  The record, without any independent research, printed the press release of the Driscoll and Co. as a quote in the news article.  If one looks at the bills for the phone calls, one will see, that a) they total a few hundred dollars total (the equivalent of maybe an hour or two of legal work), and b) they were incurred defending a lawsuit filed by Loretta Weinberg to disenfranchise hispanic candidates for the County Committee in Bergenfield because they were not "her" people.  The clerk permitted them to file petitions and appear on the ballot.  Weinberg, Driscoll, Johnson, and Huttle all appeared as named plaintiffs in the lawsuit.  A superior Court judge dismissed Weinberg's lawsuit as without merit, and ordered the names of the candidates to appear on the ballot.

Carolh's allegations of forgery have nothing to do with this thread, those calls, the bills, or Weinberg and Driscoll's attempts to manipulate the electoral process using precisely the same tactics they accuse Ferriero of using.  The bills appear to be legitimate factual research into a county committee petition challenge, and were incurred on behalf of the Borough of Bergenfield in defense of a lawsuit filed by Weinberg, Huttle, Johnson, and Driscoll.  These facts are supported by court documents.  Carolh's allegations of forgery and criminal activity are supported by nothing more than repetition.

---

by: Bergendem @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 14:47:02 PM UTC

Repeat this (1.00 / 1)

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 15:03:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Mayoral Primary in Bergenfield (0.00 / 0)

Is exactly about all of this.  It is all relevant.  World War II veteran and Bergen County Committeeman Timothy Driscoll was the victim of a forgery.  He is now running for Mayor of Bergenfield.  He is central to this entire situation.  He is mad as hell and he is not content being a victim.  He is trying to change things.  He deserves the support of the Progressive community exactly because he is against corruption.  He is against Pay-To-Play, and he is against handing the Borough Attorney no-bid contract to a political operative who is bestest buddies with the King of Pay-To-Play - Joe Ferriero. 

And you may be OK with the way things are going in Bergenfield while it is in the hands of the Ferrierocrats, but believe me - the residents and voters of Bergenfield are madder at the Ferriero supporters than you think I am.  They read the Twin Boro News, they know who the players are, and they are wise to what is happening. It will be very interesting next Tuesday when they get the chance to speak loud and clear. 

I just hope Mr. Clancy of forgery suspect fame and Ms. Steinel who he helped get a job as Borough Clerk see fit to do the right thing and walk the straight and narrow next week.  Mr. Clancy is on the Board of Elections.  I heard Randi Rhodes the other day use the term "the fox being in charge of the fox hunt." That is EXACTLY what we have here when these two are in control of the election process. 

How can they ensure the integrity of the process when we can't ensure THEIR integrity?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

---

by: carolh @ Thu May 31, 2007 at 15:26:06 PM UTC