Dear Editor:
On the agenda at the July 13, 2010 Hoboken council meeting was a communication from Mayor Dawn Zimmer appointing Councilman Ravi Bhalla’s brother, Amardeep Bhalla to the Hoboken Library Board.
First of all, with all the controversy surrounding Councilman Bhalla’s recent behavior, with regard to voting to renew the contract of a friend, Paul Condon, pay to play issues and virtually a myriad of suspicious activities, one would think the Councilman would shy away from the limelight, quite the contrary. He ran for the Chairmanship of the Hoboken Democratic Committee and was elected by the Zimmer majority. Councilman Bhalla is now the Vice-President of the Hoboken City Council, he was voted in unanimously, as his seat was a foregone conclusion. And now has the arrogance to have his brother appointed to the Library Board.
Councilman Bhalla could explain he knew nothing of his brother’s submitting his resume and I guess the Councilman deems the general public naïve enough to believe his claim of ignorance. After all, another claim is that it is a non-paying position, that makes it all okay. Many Board positions in this City are non-paying, but one thing they are, is appointments of influence.
Let’s take a hypothetical situation, if I had a brother appointed to a City board, it would be called NEPOTISM. My question to councilman Bhalla is “What is it called now under the banner of “reform?” It has been said the “reformers” need to go to “reform school.”
Remember the Zimmer Campaign ads “Change That Works,” Yes, change that works just for them, they left that part out. Remember the cries, elect us we will be different. Remember the promises, I’ll point out one “TRANSPARENCY.” Yes, Dawn and Company you’re transparent alright, I can see right thru all of you.
How could a Mayor let a Councilman put her in a position to be criticized and jeopardize the integrity of her administration? How in turn could Mayor Zimmer have no problem appointing the brother of a Councilmember? If you have heard Councilman Bhalla praise Mayor Zimmer every chance he gets, then it makes sense. The ends justifies the means, in this case.
I write this letter in full knowledge and anticipation of a scathing rebuttal. Peppered with all sorts of claims against me and my tenure as a Councilperson. I have been the Independent/Minority member for the past 10 years, prior to that I was part of a majority. I enjoy the independent status, I fund my own campaigns, I get help from a few good friends and I have been elected to this position four times. I just could not let this latest display of arrogance and hypocrisy, among many, stay out of the public eye.
Theresa Costellano
First Ward Councilwoman