How ConVENient!

by: carolh

Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 12:45:51 PM EST

Well, in Englewood, a Planning Board assembled by the Mayor himself, Michael Wildes, made sure the City found out what the "Or Else" meant.  You see, the City Council made sure they sent their COAH plan to the Planning Board in time to meet the deadline. ( In Tenafly we realized our plan wouldn't be perfect either, but we had to meet the unrealistic deadline - we would definitely have to revise and amend the plan later due to the extremely unreasonable pressure placed on us by the incompetent Keystone Cops of COAH in Trenton.) Well, because the Planning Board decided not to hurry, the City missed the COAH deadline.  And so, guess who was waiting in the wings to profit from the "apparent" oversight and late filing?

Hekemian.  Business partner of one Mike Kasparian former President of the company.

http://www.northjersey.com/new...  

Before you could blink, they hit Englewood with a lawsuit - a builder's remedy lawsuit, about not having a COAH plan.  Now remember, TRENTON dictated the unrealistic deadline and Englewood missed it by mere days. "How ConVENient!" the church lady would say.

The reason why this is SO infuriating to Englewood Dems and the reason they voted to REJECT the election of Kasparian to the BCDO Chairman is that they have a history with these guys. HKT attempted to take over downtown with emininent domain.  The K in HKT stands for Kasparian.

Here is a little story about Englewood and emminent domain from 1999, just ten years ago:

Englewood
In 1999, the City of Englewood designated a 60-acre redevelopment zone, and began working with developer Hekemian Kasparian Troast LLC (HKT) on a plan to replace an industrial area with an office/retail/residential development. Under the $500-million proposal, HKT would cover all of the City's costs in condemning properties and relocating the displaced businesses. Also, the developer would own and manage the development. In order to accommodate HKT, City officials claimed that the properties targeted for condemnation were blighted and had caused a steady erosion of Englewood's tax base. However, the City's own study of the area found that active businesses occupied, or had plans to develop in the near future, more than 97 percent of the properties within the redevelopment area. The study also determined that only three of the 37 properties were poorly maintained, and only one building was not occupied and productive. Furthermore, most of the disputed land was located within one single office-industrial park that generated 1.2 million per year in property taxes. In June 2001, 19 of the targeted property owners sued Englewood, seeking to reverse its 1999 designation and stop HKT's attempt to steal their land. The owners argued that the City's own findings contradicted the claim that there was 'lack of proper utilization of land, which was necessary to justify eminent domain.  Those issues never got decided, however, because the owners discovered that the City had failed to publish a proper notice of its 1999 hearings. The lack of notice was a "fatal defect," ruled Judge Jonathan N. Harris, a New Jersey Superior Court judge. The judge dismissed the condemnation actions.
At first, City officials retaliated with a smear campaign in which they distributed fliers portraying the challenging property owners as greedy individuals willing to use "scare tactics" to preserve their "tax haven." David Ulrich, one of the owners, explained why he brought the lawsuit: "I don't think anybody down here is against the concept of redevelopment. Our concern from the beginning is, "Do not threaten to take away our properties."  City leaders implied that they would simply approve another plan, without making any technical mistakes this time. In the end, however, HKT came up with a modified development proposal, one that won't require condemning property. This project features 350 apartments, an 11-story office building, three retail structures and a parking garage, and can be accomplished without the City resorting to eminent domain.

It was just a technicality that saved Englewood property owners temporarily from condemnation of their properties for the private gain of Mr. Kasparian.  Some Democrat.

You also may remember why Hekemian was in the news recently in Englewood:

http://www.northjersey.com/new...

Michael Wildes got to help dispense "gifts" from Hekemian to his favorite charities in Englewood just a month or two before these same "humanitarians" slapped the very same city with a COAH builder's remedy lawsuit they apparently had in the works BEFORE the City even missed the Dec 31 deadline. For land located in a COMMERCIAL zone.

Like I said - "How ConVENient!"

So, how is Joe Ferriero related to this story?  He was HKT's land use attorney.

What is really sad and infuriating about this whole saga for Englewood is that they have actually built affordable housing there.  They were acting in good faith to submit their plan on time.  But the Mayor's minions saw fit to leave the door wide open for the fox to get into the henhouse.

I don't care if Kasparian supported Obama.  I hardly think Obama, who was a community organizer in Chicago, would approve of the way, Mr. Kasparian and his friends treat a City's residents and business owners so cavilierly for profit. It shows to me a willingness to profit off of others backs, to twist government for that aim and to take from those who have less than you.  That is not a Democrat, my friend.  THAT is a Republican.  

If the Rs were in control right now, how much would you bet, Kasparian would be one?

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?

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.

Bad news day for FOJ (Friends of Joe Ferriero)

by: carolh

Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 09:52:24 PM EDT

First Headline smack on Page 1:

http://www.northjersey.com/new...

A great story about how Michael Wildes  - Joe Ferriero's pick for LD37 State Senator last year, stacked Englewood's Planning Board with political donors.  One of the guys put on the Board by Wildes is Joe Ferriero's handpicked BCDO Freeholder Vernon Walton.

It is such a good article, with charts and everything, I'm thinking about sending links to everyone on the Tenafly Council.  It appears that the only folks our Mayor wants on our Boards have enough money to wipe out the national debt.  Knowledge of planning is NOT required, being a YES man IS - and an EXTREMELY wealthy one at that.  I wonder who donated to his expensive re-election campaign..........

Then on page 1 of the Local section is an article about how Joe Ferriero may just lose his re-election at the BCDO if we elect enough Real Bergen Dems on Tuesday.:

http://www.northjersey.com/pol...  The print edition has a subtitle:

County Committee vote holds key.  

Boy do they have that right.  This is going to be a bare knuckled fight right down to the wire.  Tyrants never give up the throne easily and those County Committee seats are key to this Party Boss holding onto his power.  The key thing is that an official Primary is less likely to be tampered with than Joe's re-election vote (that happens with flimsy cardboard boxes and glowering goons in the room and NO PRESS) only a week after the Primary. So getting out the vote and having Democrats vote our column instead of Joe's is crucial for ending Pay to Play and Joe Ferriero's reign of terror.  As we know from bitter experience, an election carried out by Ferriero's people is NOT a democratic affair.

Thank you Karen for explaining why this Tuesday is so vital to our Party cleaning up corruption!

As if Joe could stand to turn a few more pages, Page 1 of the Opinion section (It was a true blue Triple Front Page Tri-Fecta!):

http://www.northjersey.com/opi...

This Mike Kelly column ( I love that man) reminds everyone that the FEDS had to serve those subpoenas, because, just like in the Sopranos episode where all the boys go to Italy together, Bergen County Prosecutor Molinelli, (whose appointment had been held up by Senator Loretta Weinberg - for damn good reasons) travels to Italy every year with best buds Dennis Oury (remember him?) and Joe Coniglio (disgraced former State Senator).  Molinelli is also best buds with Joe Ferriero himself.  The really sad part is that this guy - a prosecutor - couldn't even tell it MIGHT BE a conflict of interest to go on vacation with the guys he should be INVESTIGATING.  

(Being from Tenafly, I need to acknowledge that the Prosecutor's STAFF worked well and quickly with our Tenafly detectives to bring Mr. Choi to justice within 36 hours of the 9-11 call for the Tenafly Rd homicides.  However, our Tenafly Police Chief had to call Mr. Molinelli with the news the bad guy had been caught while Mr. Molinelli was already in Florida.  Probably on vacation with Mr. Oury at his asset-protected dwelling.   Molinelli wanted the spotlight that Friday night - which was fine - it kept him busy while the REAL cops were busy catching the bad guy.

For comic relief in the whole extremely sad story I need to tell you that the only elected official in our town who felt the need to duck under the Police tape was our Mayor - of course.  He went under the tape and was collared by an officer who asked what he was doing there.  He started with "I'm the Mayor..."  and was abruptly told to be the Mayor on the OTHER side of the tape.  (I love our Police dept.))

Molinelli DID drop the ball.  I doubt if he ever had it in his hands in the first place.  Too bad we could not get more information about him while folks were skewering Loretta Weinberg for using senatorial courtesy to prevent the travesty of justice in the appointment of this fox to guard the henhouse.  I think we all owe Senator Weinberg an apology.  She was right all along.  Molinelli is not going to clean up corruption in Bergen County.  How can he? He doesn't even know it when he sees it.

so discuss.......

Rothman Raises, Ferriero Folds

by: Scott Weingart

Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 09:55:30 AM EDT

According to PolitickerNJ, on Tuesday morning, Ferriero was about to endorse Rob Andrews for US Senate against incumbent Frank Lautenberg. Congressman Rothman, who has made no secret of his desire to eventually ascend to Lautenberg's seat, raised Ferriero's bet big time. Rothman reportedly threatened to run for re-election to his House seat off of the county line and alongside Lautenberg, three reformer freeholder candidates, and a field of county committee candidates recruited by State Senator Loretta Weinberg. Needless to say, Ferriero did not follow through with an Andrews endorsement on Tuesday.

Rothman's aggressive move presents Ferriero with a dilemma. Ferriero can cautiously preserve his political power and patronage machine in Bergen County by folding to Rothman.  If Ferriero gives his line to Lautenberg and Rothman, he will almost surely stymie the challengers to his county committee members and freeholders. However, should Ferriero call Rothman's raise, he will provoke a nine week civil war in the Bergen County party that he may not survive.

Ferriero's history suggest that he will take the cautious route. In 2007, he tried to eliminate the progressive faction by supporting challengers to the Loretta Weinberg-led 37th district delegation in the Democratic primary. When a poll showed his slate of candidates running far behind the incumbents, he withdrew his support. Ferriero ultimately favored protecting his loyalists on the county committee, over eliminating a political rival.

Yesterday evening, the ambitious Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes tried to change the political calculus for Ferriero by offering to run for Congress against Rothman on an Andrews-led county line. But Wildes's announcement simply reinforces Ferriero's dilemma. Wildes merely offered Ferriero his allegiance and his money in any Ferriero-Rothman civil war.

I bet Ferriero still says no.

Campaign Roundup for Wednesday, April 2, 2008

by: Scott Weingart

Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 08:52:33 AM EDT

NJ-Sen: The Republicans

NJ-Sen: The Democrats

NJ-02: Van Drew staying out

NJ-09: Wildes wants in

Atlantic City Mayor: Conflicts of interest?

Wildes Star No Longer Rising

by: The Englewood Report

Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 11:28:24 PM EDT

Until recently, Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes was seen as a rising star in Bergen County Democratic politics. However, a series of political setbacks in recent months has hurt his chances for political advancement. Following his reelection as Mayor last November, Wildes was announced as the Bergen County Democratic Organization's official candidate for the District 37 State Senate seat held by Loretta Weinberg. However, as a result of a deal brokered by Governor Corzine, County Democratic Chair Joseph Ferriero withdrew his support from Wildes, leaving Weinberg unopposed in the June 5 primary.

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

Picture of the Day

by: Scott Weingart

Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 10:34:58 PM EDT

Joe Blinked

by: carolh

Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:46:27 PM EDT

Well, the Governor was going to be there, so there was probably going to be a lot of folks there. I had a rare free day to go.  It was fate - I had to go because I actually could.  So I put on my lucky yellow raincoat - the one I wore to my very first Howard Dean meetup - and the very last one I found for sale on Cape May during Hurricane Floyd.

Surprisingly, the room was half empty, but all the key players from each camp were present - and the full press.  Star Ledger, Record, TV.  This was historic.  The Democratic Machine-backed candidates for State Senate and Assembly were actually withdrawing after the BCDO convention that elected them.  The Bergen County Democratic Boss was admitting defeat before a single vote in the Primary had even been cast.  The reason given was Party Unity.  Uniting to run against the Republicans. (Who?) Making up, avoiding a rift, all that stuff.  It was explained as a family fight that was being resolved.  Governor Corzine and Congressman Rothman were apparently brokering peace between the Weinberg and Ferriero camps like we were in the Middle East.  Governor Corzine explained how he made many phone calls to ease the tension between the camps.  While Governor Corzine was remarking on the current "angst" in the Bergen Democratic Party, a whole stack of chairs fell over on the side of the room with a crash. The Governor did make a clear point of explaining how he is STILL against pay-to-play and dual office holding, and that he differs from Joe Ferriero on that important point.  He mentioned that this race is also going to be a Clean Elections race.

The real moments of humor were of course Joe joking as usual.  I don't know if anyone realizes just how FUNNY these BCDO things are.  When we are all in the same room together, it is not all glaring and tight-lipped silence.  We actually bust on each other.  It is usually quite entertaining. Joe usually can be quite charming when he needs to be.  And boy did he need to be today.  But the best moments were actually provided by Michael Wildes and Ken Zisa.  Ken mentioning that he was still out campaigning that morning when he got the phonecall. (Poor Ken - he was always the last to know.)  Wildes at first seemed unusually humble and then managed to say that "we would've won" in his speech.  That was funny in itself, but the uncontained laughter of a few folks on the left side of the room after he said it was just priceless. 

During and after the speeches, everybody hugged, it was a feel good, photo-op moment to show our Governor we were all making the effort to get along nice like. (I secretly suspect that this was all a ruse so Michael Wildes could get the one most valuable photo-op that has eluded him all these years - he and Loretta in the same picture). I had the hardest time keeping a straight face during the speeches though, I kept seeing the Englewood Report's photoshop images in my head of Senator Coniglio and Ferriero and Wildes, Zisa and Wilson.  I just could not get those images out of my head. 

My take:  We were in the middle of a big family fight and Governor Corzine had invited Senator Clinton to dinner.  He would be horrified if we all started throwing dinner rolls at each other across the table with Presidential Candidate company there and all.  It would be quite embarassing.  I don't blame him for being concerned.  Bergen County is a big necessary chunk of the NJ electorate to win over.  But the thing is, the Weinberg camp would have won handily.  Joe just couldn't stand to lose the Primary.  It saved face for the BCDO organization - temporarily. But there is still the matter of Pay-To-Play though.  I'd have to say that is still the biggest division between the Ferriero supporters and the Weinberg supporters. 

This early concession could be due to Michael wanting to save up for his race against Rothman next year.  Or maybe the Ferriero camp gave in so we would stop digging?  Digging for answers? Digging into Ken Zisa's ELEC reports?  Digging to locate Dennis Ourey's undisclosed bunker?  Digging to see who gave what to whom or where the BCDO money really goes?  I found it very interesting that several speeches mentioned the 39th and 40th districts and how we need to elect Dems in those districts.  The money from those districts last year went to the Borgata - remember? 

Like my favorite fortune cookie said - "Love all.  Trust a few."  Lots of love flowing at 50 Main Street in Hackensack today.  Trust? well, that takes a little more time.

Ferrierocrat Follies: The Contest

by: The Englewood Report

Fri Apr 06, 2007 at 06:08:06 PM EDT

  "Who's on first, what's on second?"
  - Abbott and Costello

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"
  - Ferriero and Coniglio

We've had a hard time keeping a straight face as Party Boss Joe Ferriero and his fumbling threesome (Zisa, Wildes and Wilson) trip on their clown shoes while trying to walk like Karl Rove. Only a few weeks into the campaign and already we have seen some howlers. So, to keep it entertaining, The Englewood Report is having a contest.

We have divided Ferrierocrat antics into three scorable categories.  The first person to reach 10 points in each antic category will be awarded a CD of the classic Abbott and Costello routine, "Who's on First".

We supply you with some examples and points to get you started.

Should Hillary Venture Into Bergen County Before the Primary?

by: mikeshapiro

Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 11:18:59 PM EDT

In March 2003, at the invitation of then-Councilman Michael Wildes (D-Englewood), Senator Hillary Clinton attended and spoke at a free reception that was open to the public at the Radisson Hotel in Englewood.  Councilman Wildes also organized a private reception before the event that netted approximately $50,000 for the Senator from New York.  Given the contentious Bergen County primary between State Senator Loretta Weinberg and Mayor Wildes and their respective Assembly slates in the 37th District, will Senator Clinton repay the previous support of Mr. Wildes with a public boost to Wildes and his team during the Primary campaign? 

Michael Wildes' New York State of Mind

by: Joshua Henne

Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 06:01:24 PM EDT

Now, I was never that great at geography when they broke out the maps and globes in 4th grade.  But, if I'm not mistaken, Englewood is located in New Jersey. Which means that their phone number ought to fall in the "201" area code (or at the very least "973" or "862").

Imagine my confusion upon stumbling across this masthead found on the Mayor's very own Michael Wildes for Senate website.

347? Hmmmm... Did New Jersey get yet another area code for new cell phone numbers? I know Bergen County is no longer just limited to 201, but 347? I only know one person with a 347 area code... and she lives in New York City.

And sure enough, at least according to their advertised phone number, the Wildes for Senate campaign is apparently based out-of-state.

By comparison, the Real Democratic Team of Loretta Weinberg, Gordon M. Johnson and Valerie Huttle is most definitely running their campaign 100% out of New Jersey. It's hard to claim to represent Real Democratic values in the 37th District when you advertise a New York City phone number for your campaign.

BCDO Gay-Bashing

by: Juan Melli

Sat Mar 17, 2007 at 11:50:27 PM EDT

According to the Teaneck Progress blog, the BCDO-backed legislative candidates are already push-polling in the 37th:

She then read a series of statements about Loretta Weinberg that went something like this (paraphrased):

"What if I told you that Loretta Weinberg gave a job to a lawyer who had done pro bono work for her, would that influence my likelihood to vote for her?"

"...and how about if I told you that Loretta Weinberg is just another a tax and spend liberal...?"

"...and how about that she failed to bring the homeland security bacon home to the district...?"

"...and what if I told you that Loretta Weinberg favored civil unions between men and box turtles...?"

When the caller began the same line of questioning about Valerie Huttle, I cut her off. [...]

So I have a question for the BCDO-backed candidates who either paid for this or allowed it to happen on their behalf: are you opposed to civil unions? Why would you use the gay community to divide voters? If you hate gays as much as this push-polling suggests, you should have the balls to say so directly. Otherwise, you should strongly and immediately denounce these cowardly, hateful tactics.

And Now, Your Michael Wildes Moment of Zen

by: Scott Shields

Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:08:48 PM EDT

Anything To Get Elected

by: Juan Melli

Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 12:21:48 AM EDT

The article [pg 1, 2] points out that their press release is factually wrong, but that's not the shocker. The interesting stuff is near the end where it gets pretty funny and yet dizzying. Try to follow along.

First, Wildes plays the ignorance card, saying he knew nothing about it.

When asked about the news release, Wildes first denied having seen it [...]

then said he had been "confused," that he had seen it but explained that third-party staff writers had the authority to use his quotes. "I only verify my factual statements."

Wildes said if there was a question as to validity of the other information contained in the release, it would have to be taken up with the person who wrote the release.

Open Letter to Michael Wildes

by: carolh

Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 01:44:06 PM EDT

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your letter addressed to District 37 leaders.  Welcome to the primary election.  My hope was that our differences would be confined to the issues, but I am saddened that you have chosen to begin your campaign on a note of personal negativity.

My priorities are well expressed in the kinds of legislation I have sponsored and have been signed into law by various Governors. My priorities have been those of working families, organized labor and progressive organizations - that is why I have earned the support of that broad coalition in this campaign.

My priorities are requiring insurance companies to pay for at least 48 hours of after care for new moms and their babies, signed into law right at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck...$20 million for Autism research, signed into law in our own Jewish Community Center in Tenafly...government grants for the Bergen Family Center located in Englewood... extra state aid Assemblymembers Gordon Johnson and Valerie Huttle and I got for the Academies@Englewood...the long fight to finally get the blood alcohol level lowered to .08 to be considered DWI, a fight espoused by the late Florence Nass of Teaneck... the Clean Indoor Air Act, a 10-year fight that I led...getting coverage for women under 40 who need mammograms is another priority with my name attached to it.
My priorities are embodied in the law I sponsored, Independence and Dignity in Long Term Care Act, espoused by AARP.  Perhaps you don't know about my priority to pass legislation protecting victims of domestic violence.  Or maybe you are unaware of the several laws I sponsored so that all residents of our state are guaranteed equal access to the law.  If you need more information on my many priorities, please consult my web page at www.lorettaweinberg.com

Michael, unlike you, I worked with all three legislators you mentioned in your letter.  Matty Feldman was the Mayor of Teaneck who brought people to understanding each other.  Ben Mazur, my predecessor in the Assembly and Senator Byron Baer fought for transparency in government; I am a sponsor of the recent law that named the Open Public Meetings Law after him.

What those distinguished legislators had in common was a dedication to public service rather than personal political ambition.  Sadly Mr. Wildes you fail to meet that same high standard.
As a matter of fact Mr. Wildes, you have abandoned your previous opposition to the heavy handed political intimidations of the BCDO and now you embrace them as the lead candidate on their ticket of back room deals and voter intimidation.  You flip flopped simply because they dangled the chance to run for another office in front of you.  Voters have a right to know if there is any principle you wouldn't abandon if the price were right.

Matty, Byron, and Ben would never have challenged duly elected County Committee members to keep them from voting in a convention as you did to Teaneck.  None of these legislators would have failed to speak out against the illegal forgery which tried to disenfranchise World War II veteran and Bergenfield County Committee member, Timothy J. Driscoll

Michael, you say the real difference between us isn't on the issues, but rather on our priorities.  Frankly, I think we disagree on a number of important issues.  But more than that, we do disagree on priorities - I believe that your priorities don't change when the political winds shift and the fights you take on don't go away simply because someone on the other side makes you an offer you can't refuse.

So Michael, let's really stick to the issues.  Let's honestly measure our priorities against one another and bring them directly to our primary voters.  I'm up for that!

Sincerely,

Loretta Weinberg

And so you understand why - as a Bergen County Committee woman - I am boycotting the BCDO sham election and am again wholeheartedly endorsing the Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Huttle team in the Primary here in the 37th.  They simply care more about us.

Priceless, Part 2

by: Juan Melli

Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 10:41:38 AM EST

You're known by the company you keep," said Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, who is running for the Senate.

"In my opinion, it's anyone who misused the public trust and monies for personal and political purposes...

Priceless

by: Juan Melli

Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 10:06:51 PM EST

"This is a quid pro quo," Wildes said of Thurber's nomination. "You do this, I get that. That's what it's about for [Weinberg] ... and that's not what public service is about."

Wide Lead For Weinberg

by: Juan Melli

Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 08:56:15 PM EST

We have no independent corroboration, but if anyone from Loretta's camp wants to confirm or deny this we are happy to alter the story in any way to get it right.

Update: These numbers are accurate (64% - 20%), and the Assembly candidates on Weinberg's slate also have a healthy lead. Also, EMILY's list is now involved in the campaign. They have sent a campaign coordinator to help organize.