Ferriero Outbossed! (and other frustrated musings)

by: lsanchez490

Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 02:29:08 AM EST

I don't even know where to begin. I think I've erased about ten different sentences before getting started. The Democratic Committee of Bergen County overwhelmingly voted NO to Dear Leader Joey Joe's effort to amend the By-Laws of the County Organization. In the end Joe Ferriero walked through the doors of Hackensack Middle School smiling dejectedly. Why was he smiling? I don't know, he's a megalomaniac. I think even Boss Joe could not possibly believe that this had actually happened. I could not believe this had happened. Boss Ferriero summoned his legions in full force and failed to have his way. The "small man with small feet" (he was described as such; he is small, I don't know about his feet, but she seemed to trust her sources)was clearly not at the top of his game tonight. Remember, this is the first time in my life that I have ever attended a County Committee Reunion. I still don't know if it was a Convention or a Meeting. Someone with more knowledge on the subject should comment on the signficance of that. Anyways, all the characters were there. Charles "Ken" Zisa, Michael Wildes and Cid Wilson were there. Petitions were being signed. Wildes threw everyone a curveball by having TWO petitions. One for Senate candidacy and the other for Assembly. Michael even approached me and commented on my posts on bluejersey, so now I'm really full of myself and the Maker isn't even flowing. What follows is some of the literature that Committee members were treated to before they voted and a play by play account of my impressions as I learn more and more about what it is that we call democracy in Bergen County.

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The 37th has a great team

by: carolh

Wed Jan 31, 2007 at 02:51:13 PM EST

(Ferriero's $70K+ party was paid for mostly by 39th ($20K) and 40th ($22K) district Dems who are pushing for the bylaws changes to take power away from the 37th. The BCDO spent $30K, which just happens to be the same amount the 39th district Dems gave to the BCDO. - promoted by jmelli)

Senator Loretta Weinberg, Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson ARE the best hope of our NJ state Government. That is why the grassroots is fighting so hard to keep these INCUMBENTS in Trenton. They do not adhere to the Joe Ferriero school of pay-to-play. They are UNBOUGHT and UNBOSSED. Why else would Joe Ferriero play games like he is doing tonite at 5 pm at the Hackensack Middle School to change the bylaws to throw INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS that YOU voted for in the general election OFF the ballot. He did not ASK me or my fellow county committee members for my vote. He all but demanded we vote for Ken Zisa and Michael Wildes in 2005 - our constituents be damned. Talk about chutzpah. He had the nerve to basically tell Jon Corzine - see if you can get elected without my help - when the Governor suggested Loretta Weinberg for the State Senate. That is chutzpah.

He spent over $70,000 on ONE party he basically threw for himself at the most expensive club in the newest Atlantic City casino and spent millions on the County Executive race that he needed to keep our County Employees held hostage to his whims, and spent NOTHING on the race for the Congress in the 5th district. We are dealing with guys who would be considered local warlords if we were in Afganistan. I for one refuse to appease Mr. Ferriero. I want to keep my honest legislators where they belong.

I hope you will join me at the Hackensack Middle school tonite. Ferriero's goons will be there, intimidating our County Committee folks, but the votes should be secret, and even though Mr. Ferriero has twisted arms to get signatures on the propaganda he sent out this week, the consciences of individual committee members I hope should be enough to shoot down this ill conceived attack on our very democracy.

Think about this folks. Part of your property taxes go to pay for professional services. In a Ferriero town, you can bet you are paying much more for a Borough attorney or engineer than you would be in a non-Ferriero controlled town. How else can money get funneled back to the BCDO and Ferriero's machine?

This huge problem affects so many more things in your local government than you realize. If we stop the pay-to play nonsense, then maybe our County employees can breathe easier and not be beholden to one man who can destroy their careers in a heartbeat. Our civil servants in Bergen county are hostage to Boss Ferriero. Lets free them. Come to the Hackensack Middle School and send a message to the local warlord. WE will choose our own government. Not you, sir.

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Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle (and Englewood) speak to the County!

by: lsanchez490

Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 05:03:48 PM EST

Dear Fellow Democrat,

The new year has barely begun yet the political season- for better or worse- is already in full swing.

As a Bergen County Democratic County Committeeperson you've already been bombarded by numerous letters regarding changes in our bylaws, followed by letters stating those are now being changed along with even more confusing and contradictory assertions.

We'd like to get the campaign focus back to basics, back to what unites us as Democrats, back to our core values. Issues such as making health care more affordable and accessible, fighting for social justice, demanding tax fairness and fiscal responsibility, protecting our environment, educating our children and reforming government to put people ahead of special interests matter far more to us than the inside baseball of manipulating a convention.

We were honored and humbled by the recent outpouring of support for our candidacies. The people and organizations that have come together to be there for our team are - like you - the heart, soul and backbone of the Democratic Party and progressive politics. Organized labor, environmentalists, pro-consumer groups, health care reformers, GLBT advocates and advocates for seniors, women and people of color, netroots and grassroots Democrats are all part of our broad and deep coalition. Together they add up to an unprecedented show of support at this early date.

While we love a vigorous debate as much as anyone-maybe more, the current back and forth coming from the Chairman does little to advance a progressive agenda and only distracts attention from solving the real problems that face our state. Rather than pressuring and dividing grass roots Democrats on votes regarding arcane by-laws, we believe the Chairman should be working to unify Bergen County Democrats.

Frankly, the conduct of our party must mirror the values of our party. We have worked to make our party more open, inclusive and fair. Yet the sad facts of the last few contested conventions and the special election for Senate last year, betray the very core of our Democratic ideals and traditions. The Chairman's last minute flip-flop on changing the nominating rules does nothing to restore the credibility and legitimacy of our county convention.

We look forward to a continued and respectful conversation with you about how to make our party better so that we can make our lives and our state better.

Loretta Weinberg
Gordon M. Johnson
Valerie Vainieri Huttle

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