Former freeholder fined by state
Maurice Fitzgibbons, a former county freeholder representing Hoboken and parts of Jersey City Heights, was fined $2,625 by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) for late campaign finance report filing during the 2005 Freeholder election. The initial decision on the ELEC violations was first handed down in 2006, but Fitzgibbons was only recently given a final decision.
He will be responsible to make payments – his first of $420 was made on Feb. 27 – until 2010. ELEC will reduce the fine to $2,100 if the payments are timely.
According to ELEC, the 29-day and11-day preelection and 20-day postelection reports for the 2005 general election were 429, 412, and 381 days late, respectively.
Last week, the five-term freeholder called the fine “old news” and characterized it as an oversight on the part of his staff.
Fitzgibbons was a major supporter of former Mayor Peter Cammarano this year, before Cammarano’s arrest on extortion charges.
Cousin of ‘Big Pussy’ wants $25M entertainment complex in Hoboken
Film producers Garry Pastore and Deborah Mello, who used to be partners in Willowcreek Entertainment, started a company last year called the Hudson Film Group, and are focusing on filming in New Jersey.
Last week, a local newspaper noted that they would like to build a $25 million entertainment complex in Hoboken and expand it into Jersey City.
According to the story: “They are also ‘in talks’ to create a $25 million entertainment complex that will start in Hoboken and expand into Jersey City, with a legitimate theater, a film screening room, a film studio; maybe a restaurant. ‘It could create hundreds of jobs,’ Pastore said. The money, in Pastore’s vision, would come from the federal government and from private real estate developers.”
Pastore is a theater veteran and playwright who acted in “Goodfellas.” His cousin Vincent played “Big Pussy” on “The Sopranos.”
What do you think? Do you like the idea? Comment on our breaking news site, www.hudsonreporter.com.
Mystery of attack flyers has answer: Developers did it
Last spring, several attack mailers and phone messages were issued by two mysterious Washington, D.C.-based Political Action Committees against Hoboken mayoral candidates. The three major Hoboken mayoral candidates – Beth Mason, Dawn Zimmer, and Peter Cammarano – denied knowing where the attack ads came from.
Some of the ads linked Zimmer to the policies of predecessor David Roberts. Phone messages even included disturbing sound effects of a bomb and a screeching car.
As it turns out the oblique Washington, D.C.-based political action committees apparently got funding from a statewide carpenter’s union and a local developer.
The local daily newspaper wrote, “IRS filings released late last month show that Hoboken developer Tarragon/URSA and New Jersey unions contributed nearly $175,000 to the two PACs.”
The paper quoted URSA developer Michael Sciarra as saying, “People are tuning this into something that’s evil. But in the history of America you want people elected who share your views of the future. It’s not about greedy developers. It’s about building things in Hoboken that make the place better.”
Sciarra then said that Zimmer was seen as not being particularly developer friendly.
Waiters enters Nov. mayoral race
Patricia Waiters, a Hoboken resident who ran for City Council in May, announced her plans to run for mayor last week. So far, only Waiters and Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer have voiced their intention to run in the November special election.
Waiters was a staunch supporter of former Mayor Peter Cammarano, even after his arrest. She appeared in Newark the day of the arrest to help escort Cammarano out and appeared on several news reels defending him while protests called for his resignation.
Councilwoman Beth Mason, local businessman Frank Raia, and some other candidates are rumored to be considering a run at the mayor’s seat.
Major golf tourney in JC all week
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and a host of other golf greats will be playing this week at the $250 million Liberty National golf course along the Hudson River in Jersey City.
From Aug. 25 to Aug. 30, the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) is holding the Barclay’s Golf Tournament at the course.
In conjunction with the event, Art House Productions, one of Jersey City’s largest arts organizations, is presenting a “See What’s Hear Festival,” hosting concerts, art exhibits and more to welcome the hundreds of expected visitors.
In addition, local restaurants are offering discounts.
To learn more, check out our entertainment pages inside this week’s edition!
Memorial showing of ‘On the Waterfront’
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the city is organizing a tribute to recently-deceased screenwriter Budd Schulberg, who penned the Academy Award-winning film “On the Waterfront.”
The screening will be in Pier A Park at 7:30 p.m. and is free to all.
Schulberg died in early August, a week after visiting Hoboken to view a waterfront reading of his acclaimed screenplay.