Defending Pay-to-Play in Englewood

by: Thurman Hart

Mon Oct 13, 2008 at 12:35:24 PM EDT

[Wildes] continued, "There are other grounds for objection to this provision.  The Planning Board acts as a quasi-judicial body when it hears an application.  The proposed ordinance requires that only "applicants" make disclosures of political contributions to various persons.  The disclosure requirements, if deemed necessary, must also be applied to persons who object to applications before this Planning Board.

If disclosure is proper for an 'applicant', disclosure is equally proper for persons who object to proposals.  If the aim is to maximize disclosure then an objector, or his lawyer or other representative should reveal if he has made contributions to any City official or candidate for public office.  The treatment of both sides of a case under consideration must be even handed," Mayor Wildes reasoned.

Yes, if Michael Wildes has his way, a common ordinary citizen will be prevented from opposing over-development because they did not file the financial disclosure paperwork.  If you didn't know better, you'd think that random home-owners are buying the Planning Board off to defeat development.  Of course, the problem is that Wildes has stacked the Planning Board full of friends who have conflicts of interest with some of the developers that come before them - which has heretofore gone unnoted.  This is nothing more than Michael Wildes defending his pay-to-play income under the guise of protecting the public.  

But who protects us from Michael Wildes?

Patronage Hurts

by: Thurman Hart

Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 10:47:26 AM EDT

Nealy was reprimanded by the state in 2001 for misappropriating $4,000 and failing to keep proper records, state documents show. In 2004 he was reprimanded for "gross neglect" after the state found he failed to file paperwork and misled a client.

The next line is priceless:

The city hired him as a part-time public defender in June 2007.

Now, it could be that Walter Nealy learned his lesson in 2001 and 2004.  He could have come on board as a new lawyer and worked his tail off.  He could have interviewed for the job and convinced them that he had turned over a new leaf.  

All in the Family - Starring: Michael Wildes

by: Thurman Hart

Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 01:41:29 PM EDT

Mayor Michael Wildes has stocked Englewood's Planning Board with campaign contributors and personal friends who have, in turn, voted for projects presented by other friends and donors.

Wildes, a Planning Board member himself, also has voted to approve some of those projects.

At the same time, board members, applicants, their employees and family members have donated a combined $50,775 to Wildes since he took office four years ago.

There's no connection between contributions and appointments, the mayor said in an interview. News flash: The mayor appoints people he respects who bring professionalism to the board, and an angle that was not there before. Every mayor across the state does it.

Newsflash: I wasn't born yesterday - and if I had been born yesterday; then I didn't live all day for nothing.  It would seem that the Mayor - to use his words - only "respects" people after they give him money.

Six people who donated $21,225 to the mayor were appointed to the Planning Board following their initial contributions. Two are lawyers who have received business referrals from Wildes, who is also an attorney. A third is a close family friend who vacations with and was endorsed by the mayor for a council run.
Those appointees have voted as a bloc to approve projects by other Wildes donors and friends almost without exception. The mayor has recused himself on donors' plans at least nine times.
Three times, Wildes voted to approve a project presented by a donor who contributed before or after the approval. Two of those times, he voted for plans represented by attorney Nicholas Sekas, a donor who rents Manhattan office space from the mayor and is a "very close personal friend," Wildes said.
Sekas and another lawyer, Nicholas Doria, their family members and staff have donated a combined $17,900 to the mayor's campaigns. Doria is Wildes' campaign treasurer and has also received a business referral from Wildes, the mayor said.
Each of the nine applications over the past four years where Doria or Sekas was identified as the attorney were approved. The proposals sought everything from setback variances to an office building.

Doria, by the way, doesn't even live in Englewood.  I'm sure, however, that there is no one living in the city that could serve on the Planning Board.

Latinos in NJ for Obama Part 2: THE Latino Issue.

by: El Sanchez19

Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 04:41:40 AM EST

Seton Hall's Center for Social Justice and the Brazilian Voice filed FOIA litigation today in the District of New Jersey to compel DHS and ICE to release records on ICE home raids in NJ.

http://law.shu.edu/csj/ice_doc...

Senator Obama:

I am a simple minded voter. Your story and that of your family is what first drew me to your vision for the United States of America. Like the vast majority of Americans (with the exception of bluejersey junkies), I do not know, nor can I possibly absorb or break down, your position on every single imaginable issue dear to the heart of the American electorate. My decision to support you in this election is based purely on the issue that is closest to my heart and the issue that affects ALL Latinos in New Jersey and the United States. My family crossed the border "illegally" from Tijuana to San Diego twenty years ago looking for opportunity. I was but seven years old, but I can still remember the desert sand, the tripwires, the "coyotes", ducking from border patrol, and crossing a highway towards living the dream that I live today.

http://lawprofessors.typepad.c...

My father came to this country from a small village in Africa because he was looking for opportunity. So when I see people who are coming across these borders, whether legally or illegally, I know that the motivation is trying to create a better life for their children and their grandchildren.

The Arizona Republic reports that it's Obama's work on issues that touch the Latino community -- such as racial profiling -- and his personal experience with immigration that makes him a strong bet for these Latino leaders:
John Laredo, former Arizona House Minority Leader, said that the work Obama, who is an Illinois senator, has done against racial profiling and other issues have benefited Latinos...
State Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said Obama's experience addressing the needs of people of color is documented. "Look at what he's done for minorities and Latinos in Illinois," he told Latino voters.
"When you look at education, health care, housing and particularly immigration, Obama has been at the forefront."
Former State Sen. Alfredo Gutierrez said because Obama's father was from Kenya, Obama can relate to many Latinos' desire for immigration reform.

Immigration cuts across all racial and political Latino party lines. Many so called Democrats reveal their true Republican identities when addressing this issue.

Hillary: As one of my former coworkers once exclaimed, "Could you at least pretend to be a Democrat?!"

Real Bergen Democrats Sweep Bergenfield, Englewood

by: Juan Melli

Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 12:54:41 AM EDT

His running mates - Barry Doll and Councilman Bruce Carlson - defeated BCDO candidates Carlos Aguasvivas and John Person.

In Ward 2 of Englewood, Council President Charlotte Bennett Schoen defeated BCDO candidate Marvin Anault.

In Fort Lee, Councilman Michael Villano - the Real Bergen Democrats mayoral candidate - lost to the current mayor Jack Alter.

Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire (BCDO) held on to his seat by defeating Allen Gailes, Jr (RBD).

Bergenfield
 
Mayor
Timothy Driscoll  (RBD)  623
Dolores Butler    (BCDO) 529

Council
Bruce Carlson     (RBD)  644
Barry Doll        (RBD)  588
Carlos Aguasvivas (BCDO) 511
John Person       (BCDO) 468

Englewood, Ward 2


Council
Charlotte Bennett Schoen (RBD)  411
Marvin Anault            (BCDO) 335

Allen Gailes Jr.: You are our only hope.

by: quimbaya

Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 06:49:17 AM EDT

I am not sure how long this entry will be, so this is my essay topic:

Re-elect Charlotte Bennett Schoen for 2nd Ward Councilwoman in Englewood. Say no to Michael Wildes? puppets.

Vote Lieutenant Allen Gailes Jr., for Bergen County Sheriff. Say yes to diverse and independent government.

This is my conclusion:

Vote for the Real Bergen Democrats, Column 1. Vote for the Weinberg/Johnson/Huttle team.

Englewood Report Interviews Lt. Allen Gailes Jr.

Englewood Report Endorses Charlotte Bennett Schoen for Reelection

Bergen Grassroots Endorsements

Exhibit D: From noon to 8pm this day, you can support the Real Bergen Democrats candidates who are opposed by Boss Ferriero's hand-picked candidates in the June 5 primary. They are Englewood Council President Charlotte Bennett Schoen; Bergenfield Council incumbent Bruce Carlson, Timothy Driscoll for Mayor and Barry Doll for Council, and County Sheriff candidate Allen Gailes, Jr. All have the endorsement of Bergen Grassroots.

The polls open soon, so I have not had the time to write this in Spanish. I will add this post to my "to translate" list. And I should have probably written this post last night or maybe a couple nights ago, but I tend to procrastinate. But for the record, my two centavos.

Good Idea/Bad Idea

by: Juan Melli

Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 10:02:47 AM EDT

Good idea: Getting your voters to vote for you.
Bad idea:

A loss for Ferriero's candidates in the primary would have marked a significant defeat for the chairman, who has grown accustomed to robust fund raising and history-making victories.

In recent days, his organization had taken the unusual -- some would say desperate -- step of asking Republicans to switch their allegiance to his party before Primary Day so they could vote for Wildes.

Max Prager, a prominent member of the Englewood Jewish community, sent a letter to about 75 Republican friends, stamped by the Democratic Organization's postage meter, urging them to re-register as Democrats, if only for a day, to support Wildes.

"Obviously, there's something not right," said Elaine Yaffe, an Englewood Republican who received a call urging her to become a temporary Democrat. "Going to ask someone to change their affiliation? For one day? Too outrageous for me."

And before anyone says that this was about reaching out to win over new voters, keep in mind these people were sent two voter registration forms - one so they could switch their party affiliation to Democrat, and another so they could switch back. Someone's been taking party-building classes at the Michael Brown School of Disaster Preparation again!

ICE raid in Englewood??!!

by: lsanchez490

Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 12:23:28 AM EDT

END THE ATTACK ON IMMIGRANTS!
DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF ALL WHO LIVE AND WORK IN NEW JERSEY!

STATE-WIDE SPEAK-OUT AND PROTEST MEETING

Saturday March 31 1:00 PM
Paul Robeson CenterBusch Campus
600 Bartholomew Rd
Piscataway, NJ

Immigrants in New Jersey, as in the rest of the United States, are facing increasing attacks. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids are being stepped up, tearing families apart, detaining and deporting those who have lived here for years. Demagogic town governments are taking anti-immigrant measures. Morristown, for example, is planning to deputize its police as ICE agents.  Massive workplace raids like the recent one in New Bedford, Mass. can happen at any time. A New Jersey radio station, 101.5, has called for people to turn in their neighbors as suspected undocumented immigrants, encouraging vigilantism.

The attacks on migrants are attacks on all of us. They are aimed at maintaining an underclass of workers who are too terrified to assert their rights to decent pay, working conditions and living conditions.  No one, not even the government, wants to deport 12 million undocumented immigrants who are vital to the economy. The attacks and anti-immigrant laws aim to drive down the cost of all labor, benefiting employers, pitting worker against worker, and hurting us all.

We are fighting back, immigrants and native-born united!  We are speaking out against the attacks and the demagogic proposal in towns like Morristown's and Freehold.  We are starting to organize a Rapid Response Network which will give aid to those confronting ICE raids or employer abuses of immigrants. We are joining with organizations across the country to organize a Second Great  Boycott.

Speak out for the rights of ALL!

We invite your organization's endorsement and participation in this event and in an April 3 noon press conference in New Brunswick

Endorsing organizations(list in formation):
NJ May 1 Coalition
IRATE/First Friends
NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee
Philippine Forum
United Day Laborers of Freehold

Interested in reading about progressive Morristown:
Town seeks new power over illegal immigrants
Morristown wants to give its police the same authority as federal officers

Much respect to Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo.
Hispanics steamed by shock radio stunt

And from a New York Times Article, good old Freehold.

PUBLIC LIVES; Back in the Fight He Picked Decades Ago
Article Tools Sponsored By
By LYNDA RICHARDSON
Published: March 17, 2004

CESAR A. PERALES, the president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, is revved up. But he is not losing his cool. (He is too cool for that.) He is talking about the fund's wranglings in federal court over the attempt by Freehold Borough in Monmouth County, N.J., to prevent day laborers from gathering at a vacant lot to scout for work.

''The question of the treatment of day laborers is so flagrant, I feel it viscerally,'' Mr. Perales says, leaning over to emphasize the point. ''This is to me as horrific as the segregation that the government imposed in the South. We're seeing local governments treating undocumented workers in a similar fashion, marginalizing them, not wanting them to live where they live. This is a fight that will take a long time.''

Master Plans

by: carolh

Sun Mar 18, 2007 at 12:43:15 AM EDT

Be aware - folks, there are things that just fall into place for these guys when they win council seats and these towns become Ferriero towns.  Next thing you know, you have a different city planner and city engineer and stuff just gets pushed through.  And then neighborhoods become emminent domain for the money men. 

Just as troubling right now, is the County Executive's office trying to pressure Tenafly and some other Bergen County towns to accept this DMU passenger rail deal, which honestly makes the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. I'd like more info on that one before I just sign on.

Be vigilant - go to your planning board meetings - know what is going on.  There is stuff going on right now that some folks would rather you not know. 
Turn the lights on - in every corner of your borough government.  Use the Sunshine Laws - that's what they are there for.

The Englewood Report

by: carolh

Sun Mar 04, 2007 at 04:17:51 PM EST

http://www.theenglew...

Especially see the story "Who is Joe Ferriero?"

It may have been Howard Dean who inspired me to get involved in Presidential Primary politics.  But it was what has been happening in Englewood over the past few years that compelled me to become more involved in local politics.

While I was rounding up volunteers to walk Tenafly for John Kerry, and the BCDO had given us flyers to hand out for the County positions, I ran into a problem I just never saw coming.

Several volunteers I had called who lived in Englewood asked me if the literature we would be handing out contained information on the County Candidates.  I said yes and they politely declined to help us.  When I asked why, I was informed of how in Englewood, many CC members were gotten rid of by Ferriero by trying that now familiar "put your CC enemies on line 4" trick, that would be used on me not 2 years later.

There were other folks from Leonia that had such a terrible opinion of Ferriero from a Pay-To-Play aspect as well.  The more I heard about these tactics, the more I learned about Joe Ferriero.

Being a Howard Dean fan who would ask EVERYONE for their votes, I was extremely disturbed that tactics used by the head of our Bergen County Democratic organization had actually caused upstanding Democrats to leave the Party. 

When we LOSE people from the party due to ethics - that is NOT a good sign.  I took that sign in consideration when I was asked to support Loretta Weinberg and Valerie Huttle for the Senate and Assembly in 2005.  Based on how Ferriero's tactics had damaged the Democratic Party in Englewood, I wholeheartedly supported Weinberg and Huttle in their special elections.

Now in the middle of the room during two actual BCDO special elections, when I saw how Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Huttle were treated by the BCDO, and how I was treated for simply voting for them, I knew I had picked the right course and had backed the right team.  When I then saw Senator Weinberg and team go on to garner 75% of the votes in the general election, I knew I had backed the choice of the voters in the 37th district - including Republicans and Independents.

When I then saw how UNHAPPY Ferriero was that we had done the will of the voters in the 37th district, I knew then that Joe just had to go.  If he was not there to elect popular Democrats to office in a general election, what was he there for?

There were only several answers to that question and none of them good.

There are some folks here that will back up Ferriero right or wrong because he is the head of the Democratic Party here in Bergen County. However, I believe THAT view is shortsighted when it disregards the future effects of the attrition ALREADY BEGUN on the Democratic party in Bergen County. 

It is my party, my responsibility to the voters of my district to make sure the Democratic party here is not run like a Sopranos episode.  As an Italian American myself, (I love a good cannoli probably more than he does) I am still very sensitive to that stereotype and offended by the way Ferriero runs the BCDO. 

Just because the Mob is ORGANIZED and good at keeping their boys in-line doesn't make them choir boys.  The same can be said for the BCDO.

It is precisely Ferriero's antics in Englewood that display vividly exactly what is wrong with Bergen County politics.  I urge you all to read and bookmark the Englewood Report.  It couldn't be more timely.

The Englewood Report Is Back

by: The Englewood Report

Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 12:39:58 AM EST

NO Joe, NO!

by: lsanchez490

Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 05:09:11 AM EST

This week will shake Bergen County to the very core. We are at war.

Why can't we all just get along? That is a good question. Why can't Boss Joe get along with Loretta, Gordon and Valerie? Why has he embarked on this crusade? A one man ego suicide trip. Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle have said NO to Joe Ferriero. In this diary I will somehow try to understand why Joey Joe is driven to self destruction against the LD37 team of Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Vainieri Huttle.

F.A.I.R. and Current Nativist Trends in New Jersey

by: lsanchez490

Fri Jan 26, 2007 at 06:00:03 AM EST

This will be an evolving and lengthy diary. I can't help myself. I should probably tell all of you that I was born in Pereira, Colombia. My family crossed the Mexican border to escape the puppet state that is Colombia. I love Englewood because it is as diverse a municipality as you will find in all of Bergen County.

From Wikipedia:

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 26,203 people, 9,273 households, and 6,481 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,056.3/km² (5,322.0/mi²). There were 9,614 housing units at an average density of 754.5/km² (1,952.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.49% White, 38.98% African American, 0.27% Native American, 5.21% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.50% from other races, and 4.50% from two or more races. 21.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

7.17% of Englewood residents identified themselves as being of Colombian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, the ninth highest percentage of the population of any municipality in the United States.

That is not including the massive Colombian-American colony found in the other D37 municipalities, namely Hackensack, Bergenfield and Bogota.

I'm not sure where this post will go. Inevitably, this will all conclude with more thoughts on the Hispanic leadership in Bergen County. And some of the policies that many of the organizations in New Jersey that claim to represent us support that are a betrayal to our community. But before I get there, I will indulge myself with some personal reading/references/musings. I hope to refute absolutely every single conclusion in FAIR's report.

And yes, I will have to comment on LADA (The Latino American Democratic Association of Bergen County)and why LASO-NJ must succeed and move beyond our seemingly inauspicious birth.

Who is Michael Wildes? Cid Wilson? Ken Zisa (Kenny won't be difficult)

by: lsanchez490

Wed Jan 24, 2007 at 03:34:39 AM EST

Michael Wildes for Congress

I guess one must respect Michael for fantasizing to be more than just the Mayor of Englewood. After all, he is no longer 'boy wonder' and must be painfully conscious of the looming and dreaded 'has been' status. He has goals and a vision for his future. We must all have goals and a vision for our future. For further reading I will include some memorable bits  that Englewoodians enjoyed during the Wildes v. Stern matchup.
To be fair, I must include a link to Dr. Stern's website.

Bob Stern for Mayor 

For those of you looking for a multimedia experience, try the following links:

Meet the Real Michael Wildes 

Inside the Mind of Michael Wildes 

and one more...

Vote Against Scare Tactics 

As far as Mr. Wilson is concerned, I will have to confess that as a Latin American Democrat, I do not know what to make of Mr. Wilson and his decision to add his name to that of Kenny and Michael. I will provide some links with basic biographical information on Mr. Wilson. I do not know anything about his politics. But I will say that he has a most impressive resume. And were his name not attached to that of Zisa and Wildes, I would have to be very impressed by a Dominican-American Latin American success story. But the fact that he has lent his name to complete the Ferriero-crat Triumvirate tears me to pieces.

Bergen County and The 78th Birthday Celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968

by: lsanchez490

Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 03:30:11 AM EST

Tonight I attended the 78th Birthday Celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program was hosted by The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Observance Committee of Bergen County. The event was held at SMA Fathers (Society of African Missions) in Tenafly. The theme of the program was "Coming Together to Make the Dream a Reality" and the Keynote Speaker was the Reverend Lucius Walker.

What is LASO-NJ? What I do...What our/my goals are...

by: lsanchez490

Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 12:53:24 AM EST

¡Unase a nuestro movimiento! Join our movement!

by: lsanchez490

Wed Jan 10, 2007 at 10:46:46 PM EST

January 10, 2007

Dear friends,

It is our pleasure and honor to invite you to join a new movement in progressive politics. The community of the Americas has transcended traditional borders and is redefining these United States. The Latin American Society of New Jersey will strive to be emblematic of this uniquely historical phenomenon.

LASO-NJ recognizes and honors our current leaders in public office and the many fine organizations throughout our community that have spoken and continue to speak on our behalf. LASO-NJ will look to build upon the strong foundation that these trailblazers have fought to establish. However, it is our belief that the Latin American community must reject the political conformity that is hindering our progress. Our demographics demand that we establish a unique identity outside the traditional political status quo.

LASO-NJ will work to identify and support leaders from within and outside our community that will advocate and engage in meaningful discussion of local issues, public policy and legislative initiatives.

We hope that you will give this request serious consideration. Your participation would help to ensure LASO-NJ's success and relevance. Our first meeting will take place at the following location:

Technology Resource Center in the City of Englewood (27 South Van Brunt Street) on January 24, 2007 from 6-7p.m.

Please RSVP by January 22 at LASONJ2007@gmail.com or (201) 673 - 0749.

We look forward to working with you on behalf of the community.

Sincerely,

Lucas Sánchez 
Co-Chair
Bermarí Roig-Eichler
Co-Chair 

Fighting Scare Tactics - With Video

by: Robert Stern For Englewood

Sun Oct 08, 2006 at 06:45:29 PM EDT

It's been a busy month since my last update!  We've hit the ground running.  I've been going door-to-door throughout the city, and the reception has been exceptional in all four wards. The people of Englewood are ready for a change. Business as usual just isn't going to cut it anymore.

The residents of Englewood are tired of Big Money having its way with our city. We're tired of developers gone wild. We're tired of politicians, like our Mayor Michael Wildes, welcoming overdevelopment with open arms. Most of all, we're tired of political scare tactics.

Last Saturday, an anonymous flyer was sent out to black neighborhoods throughout Englewood, labeling me and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson "sharks" and claiming we want to "eliminate affordable housing."  These lies were clearly intended to scare voters.  Even worse, the shady characters behind these flyers paid children to hand out these attack pieces and told the children not to say where they got the flyers from!

Well, at the following city council meeting, one mother stood up and spoke out.  Watch a Video of an Englewood mother telling Mayor Michael Wildes that she's tired of these SCARE TACTICS.

Voter Intimidation in Englewood

by: Robert Stern For Englewood

Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 03:02:48 PM EDT

Visit The Campaign Website.
Make An Online Contribution.

My son recently brought BlueJersey.net to my attention.  I am enthusiastic to see that New Jersey has its very own progressive blogging community.  I thought you might find this story compelling.  I look forward to hearing from you!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Who would have thought a Democratic mayor in the Northeast would attempt to disenfranchise African-American voters in the year 2006?  I certainly didn't and I'm the one running against him!  Sure, I knew the election was going to turn ugly when the Mayor called my campaign "a terroristic threat" only days after I submitted my petitions.  I just didn't know he would attack the very citizens whose churches he visits every Sunday.