Tim Calligy, the former head of public works under Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo, has been hired for an $80,000 Board of Education position under the administration of Mayor David Roberts, overseeing future maintenance and construction projects. The hiring was discussed the day before at a private meeting at the mayor’s home, a meeting that 14 officials attended after reportedly getting phone calls inviting them.
Roberts’ administration promised open government when they ran, and the state’s Open Public Meetings Act says that a political gathering – which this was claimed to be by Roberts folks defending themselves – is acceptable. But board members discussing a private personnel matter in advance of a vote may be another issue.
As the article was being written and assiduously researched by Hoboken beat reporter Tom Jennemann, one city councilman called to complain that by tracking down the story, as we would do with all verifiable leads, the newspaper was holding them to a "higher standard" than the previous mayoral administration.
We weren’t, of course, but even if we had been – didn’t they run on one?
Stack is not Garcia?
Just as politically-connected attorney Donald Scarinci was hired by the Hoboken Board of Education on Tuesday, rumors surfaced of his impending firing in Union City.
Scarinci, who served Rep. Robert Menendez (D-13th Dist.) in numerous political roles, became the target of former Union City Mayor Raul Garcia in 1999, a move that eventually led to all-out political war between Garcia and Menendez, and to Garcia’s political ruin.
Rumors claim that Union City Mayor Brian Stack will appoint Luis Diaz – another Union City attorney – to replace Scarinci on July 1.
Stack refuted the claim last week, saying he intended to make no move against Scarinci.
Scarinci said he had no concerns, noting that rumors also named Ron Dario Jr. as his replacement.
"Brian Stack is NOT Rudy Garcia," Scarinci said. "He is a personal friend as well as a political friend and I trust him completely. I know that he feels the very same way about me. I have absolutely no insecurity here. Brian’s a good guy."
Meanwhile, the Hoboken Board of Ed is now using four law firms.
Just like the good old days?
Recognize the scenario? A federal probe has named a top elected official in Hudson County, and the new county executive has just allegedly given lucrative raises and promotions to loyal supporters.
Would it surprise you to learn the year was not 2002, but 1988, and that David Friedland had been named in a kickback scheme for his election to the state assembly and Robert Janiszewski had just become the new county executive?
Friedland was charged and later convicted in taking $300,000 in kickbacks for arranging a $4 million loan from the Teamster pension fund.
Janiszewski at the time believed that his transition team needed large raises, some ranging as high as $15,000 to $20,000 (in 1988?) as freeholders screamed about the disparity between what upper brass made as opposed to "the little people." Unlike the 2002 freeholders, however, the 1988 variety voted to support their county executive’s alleged excesses.
Janiszewski’s master of ceremonies for the swearing in was none other than Raymond Lesniak, who until then was a relative stranger in Hudson County.
Also happening back in 1988:
Then ex-Mayor Gerald McCann was making a comeback, gearing up to make another run at becoming Jersey City’s mayor.
Hoboken was warning residents about the implementation of a tough new residential parking program, Jersey City then-assembly candidate Arnold Bettinger was proposing ways of fixing up Journal Square, and owners of the Newport Centre Mall promised no fee would ever be charged for parking in their lots.
In 1988, Peter DiNardo and Jimmy King did not support conflicting political sides but seemed dedicated to reviving the political career of former Jersey City Mayor Thomas F.X. Smith. As in 2002, rumors also suggested Janiszewski, the new county executive, wanted to get DiNardo off the county payroll. Janiszewski failed just the way current County Executive Bernard Hartnett did – DiNardo still works for the county.
As in 2002, Lefrak, a local development company, clashed with Jersey City over details of one of its projects. In Hoboken, the seeds of future discord may have been planted when the City Council voted to fill the council seat of newly appointed Mayor Pat Pasculli with Frank Raia rather than Maurice Fitzgibbons.
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