The Fighting 32nd

by: ModerateObserver

Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 09:41:35 AM EST

This district has a high population of Latino and foreign-born voters, each representing four out of ten constituents.

This district is also among the bluest in New Jersey, at least by registration. 42% of voters affiliate with the Democrats here, a nearly 5-1 advantage over the GOP. In a good Democratic year like 2005, the district votes more than 75% for Democratic candidates.

Senator Nicholas Sacco leads the delegation. He is North Bergen's Mayor and School Superintendent. In the Senate since 1994, he has faced little opposition since. He has been an advocate for urban enterprise zones as well as law and order on drugs and prisoner issues. Assemblywoman Joan Quigley of Jersey City Heights, also in since 1994. is a known advocate for health issues. Vincent Prieto, a Cuban-American, was selected in 2004 to replace the ethically challenged Anthony Impreveduto. Prieto, a building code inspector in Secaucus, serves as Deputy Majority Whip, and having met him a great addition to the Legislature.

Issues of land use, particularly with the Sports and Exposition Authority, affect the district. The heavily Democratic nature of the 32nd makes general elections a formality, but a primary challenge to Quigley from Jersey City Councilman William Gaughan in December 2006 was deftly avoided by some work between the Hudson County Democrats and Governor Jon Corzine.

Development Deja Vu in HudCo

by: City Belt

Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:22:29 AM EDT

As one housing activist told City Belt, “I don’t even use low-income’ anymore, because it’s just as bad as saying ‘terrorist’ to someone. I say mixed-income. Once you say low-income, that shuts down the meetings.”

If you're in the area, you should come check out the screening, Saturday night at 6 pm. It is a fundraiser for two great community groups, and features an excellent panel for discussion.

You can find more details, read more about the state of affordable housing in Jersey City today, and check out an accompanying photo essay at City Belt.

Hudson Horse Trades

by: Thurman Hart

Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 12:20:12 PM EDT

Under the heat and smoke of primary elections, members of the Jersey City Democratic Organization have been secretly meeting and trying to come up with solutions and agreements to issues that have divided them. What they came up with will have a big impact on the Hudson County Democratic Organization, according to various sources in both groups.

The focus was on the perceived friction between the Hudson County administration, Executive Tom DeGise and Chief of Staff Bill Gaughan, a Jersey City councilman, and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. Both sides always say they are good buddies, but despite their protests, there are differences.

More under the fold.

The Mansion On The Hill

by: Steven Hart

Sun Jun 11, 2006 at 10:55:29 AM EDT

Like many of Hague's contributions to Jersey City, the medical center was a combination of charity and mendacity.

Political Infighting Serves No One

by: Thurman Hart

Mon May 15, 2006 at 08:22:30 AM EDT

From the Jersey Journal's Political Insider:

Many at Thursday evening's meeting of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders attended the session to watch the start of a civil war within the county Democratic Party.

It was to be the county government boys, headed by Executive Tom DeGise and his chief of staff Bill Gaughan, who is also a Jersey City councilman, against Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and his backers. All other county elected officials would have to pick sides.

Cue the banjos. 

If At First You Don't Succeed

by: Thurman Hart

Thu Apr 20, 2006 at 08:49:57 AM EDT

If you're Jeremiah Healy, Mayor of Jersey City, you pick an end run and reward your buddy by giving him a job that only requires the approval of several of your friends.

By JARRETT RENSHAW
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy's choice to head the city's powerful Redevelopment Agency has been unanimously approved by the agency's board.

The board, stacked with Healy appointees, approved Robert Antonicello Tuesday night to become executive director of the JCRA, an autonomous government agency responsible for designating developers in the city's blighted areas.

News Round-up for Wednesday, April 5

by: Sharon GR

Wed Apr 05, 2006 at 10:26:02 AM EDT

• There is concern about the rapid pace of reforms in the child welfare system, according to information given to the Assembly Budget Committee yesterday. The governor's plan is to form a separate department for children's welfare, away from the Dept. of Human Services. Lawmakers are also being urged not to cut programs for the disabled. Committe Chairman Louis Greenwald commented that his challenge was to "to balance special needs against the rising costs of living in New Jersey."
• Senators Lautenberg and Menendez plan to lift their hold on Bush's FHA nominee Richard Capka, in exchange for reversing a decision that would have blocked millions in funds for highway projects.
• In the wake of the UMDNJ investigation, other schools across Our Fair State, including Rowan University, Ramapo College and NJCU are asserting they were not pressured to hire applicants for political reasons.
• The State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is expected to begin deliberations today on yet another proposal to privatize the state's toll roads. The current proposal by State Sen. William Gormley is to lease out the AC Expressway. 
• Be careful out there, part 1: The number of traffic fatalities rose last year, to the highest level since 2002. The majority of these are attributed to reckless driving and to speeding; rural and suburban counties had the highest rates of fatalities due to these. Hudson County is the most dangerous for pedestrians.
• Be careful out there, part 2: A person was struck and killed on train tracks near the Hamilton station early this morning, causing serious delays of the Northeast Corridor trains.
• Some may say that a lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math, but that's not stopping the ticket buyers. No top-prize winning ticket was sold for yesterday's drawing, so the MegaMillions lottery is up to $162 million for Friday.

News Roundup Friday March 17

by: Media In Trouble

Fri Mar 17, 2006 at 09:25:16 AM EST

• AG Farber goes on the record saying she is against state sponsored murder. Good for her.


• I'm no fan of "cutting the school budget," but as a populist, I can't stand when the bosses make 5 times what their subordinates make. This is Hudson county so maybe "$1,000 housing allowances" shouldn't be a surprise, but something should definitely be done about this.


• Speaking of Hudson County, looks like Jersey City will be plastered in campaign posters this year!


• After being allowed to raise tolls as it pleased for 76 years, the Assembly voted unanimously to reign in the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.


• Yesterday, Paul Mulshine suggested ending the rebate program. Today, Governor Corzine is actually considering it.


• Corzine picked a Homeland Security guy. Presumeably, this is not a case where politics makes strange "bedfellows" (ouch-I just had to get that on in though).


• National News. The Republican Senate bumped the debt ceiling by almost $800 billion (with a B), to bring the grand total to $9 trillion (with a T). They then spent themselves right over that limit with a $2.8 trillion (with a T) budget. The House passed their own budget. Things that didn't make it included Democratic measures such as funding port security. Things that did, another $92 billion for the war. Only $19 billion for Katrina recovery. Republican priorities.


• This weekend (March 19th) marks the third year we are in Iraq. Over 2,000 Americans, 120,000 innocent Iraqis have died, Countless have been injured. Pick a protest to show your disdain.

Jersey City Tries to Help Poor - Hudson Republicans Scream in Protest

by: Thurman Hart

Fri Feb 10, 2006 at 09:07:57 AM EST

The Jersey City Housing Authority is considering entering into a deal with Citgo, the oil company owned by the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Citgo recently announced it would sell heating oil at low cost to U.S. cities for use by low-income residents. Several cities -- including Philadelphia and Boston -- are taking advantage of it.

But several conservative groups are calling on Americans to boycott Citgo products because of Chavez, a socialist and outspoken critic of the Bush administration.

Mas Vas, por favor

by: Steven Hart

Thu Feb 09, 2006 at 09:40:43 AM EST

Nevertheless, Sires is the clear favorite straight out of the gate because the district lies mostly within his Hudson County home base, as this Bergen Record story lays out quite capably. He has also kissed all the right rings, played ball with the right cronies and gained the benediction of Menendez. He is also pocketing the endorsements of various unions whose leaders have apparently concluded that he's going to be the new congressman, so why not bend with the wind?

What the story doesn't make clear, however, is that Joseph Vas, Perth Amboy mayor and assemblyman, is an independent-minded, progressively inclined Democrat who would be a superb addition to Congress -- as opposed to Sires, who would be a Republican if he hadn't sussed early on that playing Democrat was the way to get ahead in Hudson County.

Vas has spent close to two decades being his own man in John Lynch territory, and under his stewardship Perth Amboy has started to realize its potential as a jewel on Raritan Bay. Contrast this with West New York, a chunk of pyrite embedded in New Jersey's Gold Coast, run by a guy whose idea of constituent service is to work on his golf game whenever possible. Vas is clearly the better man.

Jake Stuiver, one of the new bloggers on the block, delves into the matter himself. I'd say Vas is a good candidate for netroots support. Can I get a witness?

****

Cross-posted at The Opinion Mill.

A Bit of Bright News

by: Thurman Hart

Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 10:38:46 AM EST