Hey SackResident,
Whatever you do, don't say one negative thing about Ken Zisa on this website. That's when the real trouble starts. Of course, I am completely muzzled in my ability to say anything specifically negative about him, or I could be sued. That's the whole idea of the lawsuit, and it is definately working. But I can say that I don't like him and I don't support him politically. I'm just "not allowed" to say why.
I like this council, especially Melfi. Melfi's personal committment to Summit Avenue, to preserving the integrity of the city's zoning ordinance, and to property Maintenance matters citywide cannot be understated. The amount of time and effort he's put in on these issues is amazing, just ask Zoning Officer Joe Mellone. My biggest issue with the City Council is their relationship with Ken Zisa. Frankly, I would be open to the idea of new faces on the council, just to help diminish the political power base of Ken Zisa. I openly support taking measures to weaken the power base of Ken Zisa. This has to be done within the Democratic Party, and I advocate that all Democrats vote for any Republican opposing him in any future election for ANY office. (Hey, I still haven't say anything specifically about him, so I can't be sued.)
However, that being said, it is clear to me that these Citizens For Change challengers absolutely do not fit the shoes of a Mayor and Council. I don't think that Citizens for Change knows the relationship between ratables and taxes, or how homeless facilities lower property values and destroy the tax base as well as the economic climate of our downtown. I cannot support them. Who knows, they might be happy with these 3 houses on Summit Avenue being used as homeless shelters, just as long as the Nursing home is built elsewhere.
The real Hackensack insiders know there is an on-again, off-again rift between Ken Zisa and Lynne Hurwitz. (One of Lynne's closest political cronies is Loretta Weinberg....just connect the dots). If you recall, Lynne Hurwitz's group interviewed and ran candidates for City Council in the Spring of 2005, and there was tremendous behind-the-scenes dispute over this whole matter. Jack Zisa and his running mates retired undefeated, and the new council ran and became the new administration. I recall that all the Zisa's were upset with the change. Councilman Roger Mattei was besides himself with frustration, that he was just pushed aside after 16 years of total loyalty. Loyalty is something he values the highest. He thought it was a total stab in the back, and to some extent he was right. Mark Stein thought it would be a 4-year intermission, that the new council would be discredited by tax increases, and he'd come back to run again either for Mayor or for City Council. He's not getting that opportunity (yet), and that's probably why he's running now for the School Board. Whether he wins or loses, we haven't seen the last of Mark Stein.
In my humble opinion, Ken Zisa is supporting this current council just to maintain a political base in his home town, out of political expediency. I suspect that Ken Zisa would have been much happier with his brother still as Mayor. It is well known that his great loyalty is to Joe Ferreiro, and vis versa. The current council is happy to have his support, because the Hackensack Police have a substantial political influence in Hackensack and throughout Bergen County. But I don't think the council ever took any orders from Ferreiro. And they certainly aren't beholden to Joe Basralian just because he gave a donation. All the big-shot lawyers donate to candidates.
As for the Summit Ave project, I'm unsure if the Council's action in opposing the project carries the legal burden it's been alleged to. If anything, they may open themselves to being personally sued. Historically, incumbant elected officials are usually fearful of taking a stand on Zoning and Planning Board cases.