Hoboken Council Fails To Reappoint 10-Year Volunteer To Housing Board

HOBOKEN, NJ — While saying he's done a good job, the City Council decided Wednesday night not to reappoint the unpaid chairman of the Hoboken Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, David Mello, to a third five-year term.

The Hoboken Housing Authority is an agency that manages the 21 low-income housing buildings on the west side of town. While the HHA is run by a paid staff, they are also overseen by a seven-member unpaid Board of Commissioners, over which Mello had presided.

At Wednesday night's City Council meeting, resident Sheila Brennan spoke in favor of Mello. She said it appeared that the failure to reappoint Mello was political retribution because he had supported council candidates in November who ran against Mayor Ravi Bhalla's candidates.

"I was disappointed although not surprised to see Dave not get re-noninated," said Brennan, who was one of the council candidates running against Bhalla's slate in November. "It's clear to me that this was his punishment for having endorsed the 'Independently Together' slate in last November's at-large council race ... Shame on the mayor for that and shame on the council for not stepping up for Dave. We shouldn't even be here talking about this. There should be two spots."

Brennan noted that a year ago, Council President Michael Russo was appointed to the housing board, despite the fact that Russo already has spots on other boards in town, and despite the council's call for diversity on boards.

"Does anyone else think it's a bit much?" Brennan asked. "I call upon Council President Russo to step down from the HHA board and I call upon the City Council to reinstate Dave Mello."

At the meeting, the council chose Rev. Anthony Forbes to fill Mello's spot. Brennan and others who supported Mello said Forbes was a great candidate for the spot because of his experience working for the Hoboken homeless shelter. However, they said Forbes had applied for the spot a year ago, and could be appointed instead of Russo, rather than removing a man with Mello's experience.

Resident Manny Rivera noted that Mello had helped shepherd along a recently approved plan to rehabilitate all of the city's public housing, and that the public housing tenants had been worried about displacement. The residents had grown to trust Mello, Rivera said. READ MORE: Massive Plan Proposed To Rehab Hoboken's Public Housing

Housing advocate Cheryl Fallick said the removal of Mello "Causes me to have greater concern for future displacement of HHA residents as we begin redeveloping the Housing Authority."

Fallick noted that past promises to protect Hoboken's low-income population from displacement had failed. In fact, Hoboken became known years ago for its tragic displacements of its lower income population, and there was even a documentary on the subject, "Delivered Vacant."

The average post-pandemic rent in Hoboken has risen past $3,500 a month, says RentCafe. This means that someone who had to leave affordable housing in Hoboken would have few options to choose from.

More Spots Opening Up?

Mello himself spoke at the meeting (see minute 21), saying he supports Forbes, but that several things about his failure to be reappointed were curious.

"I'm immensely proud of the things our board [of commissioners] has accomplished over the years," Mello said.

Council members allied with Mayor Bhalla praised Mello's work.

Councilwoman Emily Jabbour said, "I know it can be oftentimes thankless to be in those positions as a volunteer. I'm very thankful for your time and dedication."

Councilman Phil Cohen noted that Mello had also brought aboard current HHA Executive Director Mark Recko, besides shepherding and passing the rehabilitation plan. "There is a template there that will serve the Housing Authority for decades," Cohen said.

Jabbour then nominated Forbes, saying that his experience with the city's homeless shelter, and growing up in the HHA, would serve him well.

Council members Tiffanie Fisher and Jennifer Giattino asked why Russo needed so many positions. They and others suggested that if the council was interested in diversity, he might step aside from some of the boards he's on, so the spots could be open to others.

Besides being council president and serving on the HHA, Russo is a member of the three-person Cannabis Review Board, which the council tried and failed to expand Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Mello — who was a councilman under Mayor Dawn Zimmer before serving on the HHA board — Tweeted, "It’s official folks. After 14 years of #Hoboken public service, I’ll be full-on John Q Public next week. That’s okay - I’ve always considered myself a #ForeverAdvocate !
You’ll be hearing a lot more from me soon #Hoboken."

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