Dear Editor:
The recent story (Star Ledger, April 26) about Hoboken Councilman-at-Large Ravinder Bhalla’s contribution to the PAC Empower Newark, allegedly in exchange for a lucrative city contract there, is extremely distressing. Bhalla, like his colleagues on the Hoboken City Council, Carol Marsh and David Mello, ran only last fall on campaign promises of reform and clean government. All three are allies of Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who also campaigned on a reform platform. Since 2004, Hoboken has adopted three ordinances that restrict pay-to-play practices. Bhalla’s apparent evasion of Newark’s pay-to-play laws by making his contribution to a PAC rather than to a candidate demonstrates exactly the cynical sort of political dealing that Hoboken is committed to ban from its public life.
Unfortunately, Bhalla was also involved in an alleged conflict of interest issue in Hoboken only two months ago, when he voted on the City Council to award a legal contract with the City of Hoboken to Paul Condon, with whom he shares an office and a secretary. At that time POG requested clarification by the City’s Corporation Counsel of the grounds for his advice to Bhalla that there was no conflict. Mr. Kates submitted his rationale to the Council several weeks ago and said there was no conflict of interest.
Hoboken People for Open Government (POG) expects more than a public apology from Mayor Zimmer and Councilman Bhalla; we expect action.
Alice Crozier
President, People for Open Government