Balance Of Power In Hoboken Could Shift After City Council Election Tuesday

HOBOKEN, NJ — It was 2017, and six candidates were running for mayor, including then-Councilman Ravi Bhalla, then-Councilwoman Jen Giattino, and County Freeholder Anthony Romano. In a debate at a local newspaper office, Giattino and Romano suggested that Hoboken's director of human services and environmental services, Leo Pellegrini, shouldn't be in charge of both departments with all of the work they entail. Bhalla responded that this was a cost-cutting measure and that the comments were an "insult," and said so in a followup letter as well.

Within the next few years, Bhalla hired both an environmental services director and a recreation director to split up the work. And in the past year, after Pellegrini resigned suddenly, Bhalla's administration and supporters alluded to investigations and years-long issues with vendors and contracts under his watch, apparently discovered only recently.

There's an old saying in Hoboken politics, and politics in general: "You're either with us, or against us." But often, the voices "against" may actually be helpful to the person in charge, if they bring relevant questions to light.

In Hoboken, not listening to independent voices and critics has proven expensive.

Between the last Hoboken ward council race in 2019 and the current one, several high-profile officials who ran against candidates backed by Mayor Ravi Bhalla have either decided not to run for office again or taken city jobs. (Romano is now a part-time advisor for the city, in addition to countywide duties.) The club of officials who sometimes oppose the mayor appears to be dwindling, which often happens with a long-term leader.

After next week's election, the balance of power on the nine-member City Council may shift in Bhalla's favor.

Currently, the council has four members that almost always vote for Bhalla's initiatives, and five who sometimes support them and sometimes vote against them. But one of the critics, Michael DeFusco — who has criticized the "toxic" nature of Hoboken politics before — is not running again.

That means Bhalla may finally have a majority on the City Council after the election.

However, Bhalla chose not to run a candidate against two sometime administration critics — 3rd Ward Councilman Michael Russo, and 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos — which means they'll likely stay on the council. (Russo is faced by political newcomer Ed Reep, while Ramos has no opposition).

This week, Giattino said there's a need to keep prominent independent voices in Hoboken government.

"In a democratic system, it is essential to have diversity of voices and perspectives in government to ensure checks and balances, transparency, and representation of the entire community," Giattino said this week. "When council members are exclusively backed by a single authority figure, such as the mayor, there is a risk that these elected officials may feel beholden to the mayor and may be less likely to speak out or vote independently on issues."

"It is important for a functioning democracy to have elected officials who are not unduly influenced by a single individual or entity," she added.

Opponents not reappointed

Several of those who have opposed Bhalla have found themselves on the political sidelines. Last year, Bhalla's team failed to reappoint two volunteers, longtime tenant advocates, to the city's rent board. They had both run for council against his candidates. When one of those advocates complained at a January 2022 council meeting (24:40), arguing that refusing to reappoint two experienced advocates was "cruel," Councilman Phil Cohen — a staunch Bhalla ally — responded that speaking up for herself in that way might result in her not getting appointed again.

"Calling the person who’s appointing you as vindictive, selfish, ruthless and cruel is not a formula for having that person decide to appoint you," Cohen said.

The audio shows that the speaker, Sheila Brennan, hadn't said that about a person, but urged the council to "Do the right thing and take a stand for doing what's right over doing what's selfish, ruthless, and cruel."

Rob Horowitz, the campaign spokesperson for Bhalla — as well as for Bhalla-supported candidates Marla Decker and Lauren Myers, who are running against incumbents Giattino and Tiffanie Fisher in Tuesday's election — responded to questions about the possible changes on the council.

"Mayor Bhalla respects and appreciates independence in council members and a constructive exchange of views which can often result in a principled compromise that moves the city forward," he said Thursday. "There is a difference, however, between independence and reflexive opposition, punctuated by constant and often baseless accusations and negative attacks."

He added, "Generally speaking, candidate endorsement decisions are made on a combination of factors, including the performance of any incumbents and the merits of any challengers."

Decker said that if she's victorious over Fisher, she will still be independent.

"When I disagree with the mayor I will not hesitate to voice those disagreements," she said. "I will hold City Hall accountable for addressing quality of life issues in the 2nd Ward, standing up for my constituents. That is an area where I don't feel the administration has done a good job. But I believe one can disagree without being an antagonist or simply
obstructionist and that we should work hard to get to Yes and reach common ground for those who disagree ... I think having a representative who can influence the administration will be of great value to the 2nd ward."

Fisher recently made a point of addressing the issue of rats around town. Three Bhalla-backed candidates said in Patch Q&A's that they believe the administration could have done a better job addressing that issue.

Want to learn more about the candidates running in your ward, before voting Tuesday? See our election guide and the candidates' bios and Q&A by scrolling down the list of recent political stories here.