Hackensack, NJ Community Message Boards
General Category => Hackensack Discussion => Topic started by: just watching on January 19, 2009, 09:10:57 AM
-
Time to start this string, the election is in May.
Who's running as incumbants ??? Who's running as challengers ???
-
I see in today's Record that Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa is sueing Deborah Labrosse for statements posted online against him on another website. The Record article reports that her husband is running for a city council position.
OK, I just re-read my post to make sure it is squeaky clean. Just the facts. There is nothing posted that I, or our editor, can be sued for. Please, everyone, make sure that nothing potentially inflammatory is posted.
Can anyone else post who is running for election, what challengers, what incumbants. Thanks.
-
The article:
Police chief sues over online posts (http://www.northjersey.com/news/crimeandcourts/Police_chief_sues_over_online_posts.html)
In the suit, Zisa says he is seeking punitive, compensatory damages and legal fees from Deborah Labrosse, a teacher whose husband is considering running for a City Council seat this year.
-
When will we know who will be challenging the current council. I voted for the current council, but after some things that have happened over the past 4 years I am hoping for some change. Can anyone provide me with information on the candidates.
On another note I think it is horrible that the Chief of Police is suing a first grade teacher over some comments that questioned him. I have read those comments and the were not derogatory whatsoever. I wish Mrs. Labrosse all the luck in the world.
-
A recent Record article says that the deadline to file petitions is this Thursday, 3/19. The article ended with an intriguing quote from LaBrosse's attorney, who is William Russiello. Here's what Russiello had to say:
"When someone as powerful as the police chief cannot take criticism from an ordinary citizen and resorts to the courts to stop the citizen from voicing criticism, then I think we have a problem,''.
-
Hackensack's leaders will face a challenge in upcoming city election (http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/41477492.html)
-
3 more join race for City Council (http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/41616467.html)
-
Otchy is running for city council !!! In the words of Charlie Brown.... good grief.
-
I have liked some of the changes in the city over the past 4 years. Honestly, most of the biggies were done by the Upper Main Alliance, but the administration was supportive. There have been some positive changes to the sanitation system, especially an increase in recycling. There have been alot of ratables brought into town.
BUT - I question some of the recent choices that seem as if the city is being sold to Hackensack University Medical Center piece by piece. First it was the strip on Essex Street between Prospect and Summit, but that ended up being what seems like an improvement, even if the process wasn't very graceful.
Then the hospital started gobbling up property near 2nd street and down to 1st street. Again, maybe they were "blighted" properties, maybe not.
There was, of course, the infamous EMT decision, where the hospital was given a contract to provide EMT service. I am not so concerned that the new EMTs are not qualified, since I would like to believe that those who were hired by the hospital are as dedicated to the health and safety of their patients as anyone, but I was concerned about the way it was handled, and the motivation behind it seems, well, suspect. The city insisted on going through with this to save each taxpayer, what, about $20 a year? Despite the fact that most taxpayers were quite vocal about not wanting it.
Now I'm hearing rumors (just rumors, I don't know for sure) that the city has been given some sum of money by the hospital and HUMC is now going to be buying the Sears building and property to build more hospital buildings. There is also a rumor about building an EMT training center at Foschini Park.
Can someone let me know if these rumors are true? If they are, they are worrisome, and if they're not, I'd like to set the record straight.
-
The people in office now get my vote for another 4 years.
Following these stories for some time now I think the incumbents were right to hold the line on taxes. The layoffs were hard but let's face it, times are tough. In this town, we lost 8 emergency medics and saved about $3 million over 5 years. That's huge. And when you look at the numbers below, it could have been so much worse. This is the worst economy in decades.
Citigroup - 59,000 layoffs
Bank of America - 35,000 layoffs (over 3 years - to 2011)
HP Electronic Data Systems - 24,500 layoffs (over 3 years - to 2011)
Linens 'n Things - 21,250 layoffs
General Motors - 19,000 layoffs
Lehman Brothers - 16,000 layoffs
Alcoa - 15,200 layoffs
Starbuck's - 12,000 layoffs
AT&T - 12,000 layoffs
Wachovia - 11,250 layoffs
BT (British TeleCom) - 10,000 layoffs
DHL (US Division) - 9,500 layoffs
Bennigan's Restaurants - 9,300 layoffs
JP Morgan/Washington Mutual Acquisition - 9,200 layoffs
JP Morgan/Bear Stearns Acquisition - 9,160 layoffs
Dell - 8,900 layoffs
Sony (USA) - 8,000 layoffs
Bank of America (Countrywide) - 7,500 layoffs
Circuit City - 7,305 layoffs
American Express - 7,000 layoffs
NASA - 7,000 layoffs
American Airlines - 7,000 layoffs
Google - 6,000 - 4,300 layoffs
Sun Microsystems - 6,000 layoffs
Credit Suisse - 5,300 layoffs
Merrill Lynch - 5,150 layoffs
Reliance Group - 5,000 layoffs
GMAC - 5,000 layoffs
Dow Chemical - 5,000 layoffs
Morgan Stanley - 4,100 layoffs
Fidelity Investments - 4,000 layoffs
Sprint Nextel - 4,000 layoffs
University of Texas Medical Branch - 3,800 layoffs
Siemens Enterprise Communications - 3,800 layoffs
PepesiCo - 3,300 layoffs
Goldman Sachs - 3,260 layoffs
Lehman Brothers - 2,900 layoffs
Nokia (Manufacturing division) - 2,300 layoffs
Daimler Trucks - 2,100
Nortel Networks - 2,100 layoffs
Chrysler - 1,825 layoffs
International Paper - 1,500 - 1,000 layoffs
Yahoo! - 1,500 - 1,000 layoffs
Goldman Sachs - 1,500 layoffs
HSBC North American Holdings - 1,350 layoffs
Lenovo - 1,250 layoffs
Nissan (UK) - 1,200 layoffs
HSBC - 1,100 layoffs
Hudson's Bay Company - 1,000 layoffs
Macy's - 960 layoffs
Bank of America - 928 layoffs (management)
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co - 850 layoffs
Boeing - 800 layoffs
Woolworths - 700 layoffs
Nokia (US Sales) - 650 layoffs
Texas Instruments - 650 layoffs
Adobe Systems - 600 layoffs
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - 500 layoffs
Merrill Lynch (Trading division) - 500 layoffs
Level 3 Communications - 450 layoffs
Barclay's - 400 layoffs
E-Trade Financial Corp. - 278 layoffs
Palm - 200 layoffs
Akamai - 110 layoffs
As for the hospital expansion, HUMC is about the only thing expanding these days. That means more jobs and opportunities for local business. And you are right- Main Street looks better than ever.
-
There was an article in the last County Seat that answers some of Hack72's questions.
-
Is that the April edition? I didn't get that one this time. I'll have to get a hold of one. Thanks.
-
The editor suggested that my last post on the topic of the Summit Ave highrise would be appropriate in the string on the election. He is correct. So I am copying it here:
----------------------
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.
-
I have say I agree with just watching about our chief of police - and will also not state why. However, I disagree with your position on Citizens for Change. Actually I have never heard them even suggest that the houses on Summit be used as homeless shelters. Stop by their headquarters at 193 Main on Thursday and you can ask them about that yourself. I have heard several good ideas from them. You could also ask them about ratables and taxes too. I understand that in the last year almost $120,000,00 came off the ratable base (you can check that with the tax assessor).
Further, after reading today's article in the Record, I am more convinced than ever that the current council must go. Citizens for Change are the best chance to make that happen.
Mr. Melfi and the council have the power of appointment for planning & zoning boards. You would think that the people they put on those boards have ideas similar to the mayor & council. But the boards do one thing and the mayor and council say something else. It makes me wonder.
As for connecting the political dots - I can't go into the details here of what I read on another forum - but there appears to be a very strong political connection between this mayor & council and BCDO. Maybe you should check it out.
-
if you choose to "cite" the garbage posted on that"other" site.you are either dishonest or naive.the same 4 or 5 people using multiple screen names just post the most vile crap about some pretty classy people,yes i mean the council and manager.disagree with them or their decisions all you like,thats america,but to state as has been done often"indictments re days away" they are corrupt" or"they take bribes" is far over the line of political discourse. it is defamatory and im glad the police chief took a stand.too may keyboard commandos lurking.
-
Joe
Calm down. I simply said I read something on another forum - did not say which one - and you went off the deep end. And I suggested that just watching check out any political connections for him/herself. He/she has already stated their awareness of the power behind the council. I believe it's that person and more. Entitled to my opinion.
Relax. This isn't any other forum. And I did not state any of those things that your are referring to in your reply.
-
As for connecting the political dots - I can't go into the details here of what I read on another forum - but there appears to be a very strong political connection between this mayor & council and BCDO. Maybe you should check it out.
Peanut, you are clearly citing "another forum" in support of your position. If you are not talking about NJ.com, what forum are you talking about?
-
Why does it matter what other forum? I did not suggest that anyone read another forum. I suggested that they check out the connections for themselves. I did - it's public information - and that is all I will say on the subject. You seem kind of touchy about this, so I'll drop it. Please do the same
-
Not so fast peanut. You are casting aspersions about reputable people, elected officials though they may be.
In support of your charges, you cited an online forum. If you were referring to NJ.com (and everyone knows it's a rumor mill) you should say so. If there is another Hackensack forum, we'd all love to know about it.
We'll leave it there.
-
If "political connections" is "casting aspersions", so be it. Didn't say anything that isn't true. And didn't say it was a Hackensack forum. You read too much into things.
-
Now I'm hearing rumors (just rumors, I don't know for sure) that the city has been given some sum of money by the hospital and HUMC is now going to be buying the Sears building and property to build more hospital buildings. There is also a rumor about building an EMT training center at Foschini Park.
Can someone let me know if these rumors are true? If they are, they are worrisome, and if they're not, I'd like to set the record straight.
Okay, I have since learned some new information that answers my own questions, so I thought it only fair to share that.
The Sears building is, apparently, not for sale. Even if it were for sale, that lot is not currently zoned for health services. The council has said they have no intention of rezoning for it.
The next bit, the rumor about an EMT training center is a little less clear to me.
First, as many people already knew, they were discussing the property behind Johnson Park that was used as a shooting range. They are considering rebuilding on that building site to create an emergency management training site and headquarters for responding to disasters. As to the flood zone, the property would be built to endure a 100 year flood.
Apparently, because the federal and state government are encouraging municipalities to have command centers as part of their disaster planning, there may be some funds available to absorb some of that cost.
I'm undecided on what parts of this I agree and disagree with, but I'm very glad to have more accurate information.
-
Hack72 - I'm not sure where you are getting your information. "Apparently, because the federal and state government are encouraging municipalities to have command centers as part of their disaster planning, there may be some funds available to absorb some of that cost."
According the the council (I was at the meeting last week), the estimated cost of this project is $1.2 million. Grant money anticipated $400,000 plus $575,000 from $1 million from HUMC. Since the $1.2 million is an ESTIMATE and since there is no definitive plan for the project, you can be sure that the cost is going to be more than that.
As far as municipal command centers, I've only heard of mobile command centers and most municipalities are consolidating services to save costs.
-
I am posting this information for my husband, a candidate running in the city council election, because he has not received confirmation of a screen name on this site. He applied monts ago and as yet has not been approved.
1. The Pension Holiday: Deferring the pensions is not in the interest of the citizens. This deferrment comes with 8 ½ % interest. The interest the first year alone will come to about $240,000. Add that to the interest for the remaining years and that pension deferral will cost almost double. Can’t for the life of me think of a reason why you think that is good for the taxpayers.
2. The Emergency Training facility = unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. We already have a state of the art facility in Mahwah. Why burden the taxpayers with a duplicate of something we use for free. If you were at the last council meeting you would have heard our city leaders state they will still be using the facility in Mahwah. Yes we pay county taxes for that facility but we will continue to pay those taxes after this facility is built. We also will pay heating and air conditioning costs, maintenance, instructors, and of course added insurance.
3. At the last council meeting, the city leaders claimed they are not sure what the emergency training building will be used for. They also stated the cost will be about 1.2 million. Add it up. $1 million dollars was appropriated for this facility in 2006 and a bond for $950,000 of the $1M was sold in 2007. We have been paying interest on this bond since then. As reported in the county seat, $575,000 of the $1M (from HUMC) is going towards this bldg. At the last council meeting $400,000 more was appropriated for this building. $950,000 plus $575,000 plus $400,000 comes to 1 million eight hundred seventy five thousand dollars. So far! All for a building the city leaders said they are not sure of what the use will be. Do you really believe this is in the best interest of the residents??
4. Don’t forget this building is in a flood zone and the City Manager stated they will raise the roads to get to the building. And, don’t forget there will be mandatory testing of the soil. If lead is found and the soil and needs to be remediated, the cost will skyrocket. Resident requests that the council hold off on this project until the soil testing was complete fell on deaf ears.
It would have been nice if the $575, 000 earmarked for the emergency training facility went to creating better recreation facilities for the children living in this city. If there is a true need for anothrer command post, why not utilize the Anderson Street property the city recently purchased or one of the many other properties the city owns?
-
Mrs. Labrosse: Welcome to the Hackensacknow Community Message Boards. Thank you for joining.
Your husband's screenname was not activated because I had activated another screenname for that same IP address. As I mentioned here (http://www.hackensacknow.org/index.php?topic=1052.msg3423#msg3423), multiple screennames are a no-no because they allow one person to anonymously post as multiple people. And again, when he registered, he used an email address that did not identify who he is,- so I could not tell he was associated with your slate.
I'll review your post and may reply later.
-
peanut wrote:I'm not sure where you are getting your information. "Apparently, because the federal and state government are encouraging municipalities to have command centers as part of their disaster planning, there may be some funds available to absorb some of that cost."
According the the council (I was at the meeting last week), the estimated cost of this project is $1.2 million. Grant money anticipated $400,000 plus $575,000 from $1 million from HUMC. Since the $1.2 million is an ESTIMATE and since there is no definitive plan for the project, you can be sure that the cost is going to be more than that.
That doesn't conflict with what I said at all. You talked about $400,000 in anticipated grant money. I said, "there may be funds available to absorb some of that cost."
I'm not for or against this council. I'm just trying to learn what each side plans and why they think it's beneficial. When you pick apart what someone says and become argumentative, the point gets lost.
I felt it was in the interest of fairness that I share the information I'd learned, since I had posted questions about the current council's intentions and motivations.
Please don't let this site become like NJ.com - principles before personalities works best.
-
I did not mean to pick apart your information. I just know that I heard the council say that they "estimate" the cost to be $1.2 million, but they don't have a firm plan for the project. I am not aware of any funding other than the $975,000 I mentioned ($400,000 is a county grant) and it is going to go quickly with plans, studies, etc.
I apologize if I came off too strong for you. I just don't believe we need this training center and I think the costs are going to be much more than the estimate. Also, I the council said that we would still be using the County training center after this is built - which makes no sense to me. It just doesn't seem like a good idea.
-
I just read Mrs. Labrosse's post on the split board. I did not include the $950,000 bond in the funding because the council stated that it was not sold. I just double checked - it has been sold. So add that to the total approved for the training center. And add the fact that the council said it was NOT SOLD to why I have questions.
-
In response to "regina", the Citizens for Change candidate for Mayor takes great pride in stating on his political resume' that he is an active participant in the city's homeless effort, and one of his running mates is a social worker. Because of her employment, it is virtually certain what her position would be on the homeless.
I am very disturbed by the thought that homeless ADVOCATES would control city hall. I hope the homeless issue is what this election comes down to, for it to be literally a vote on whether or not homeless advocates should control city hall. And I look forwards to a Record editorial or columnist commentary endorsing Citizens for Change, specifically for this reason. We all know what the Bergen Rag thinks about these issues, and they are probably re-evaluating their policy on not endorsing candidates in local municipal elections.
As I stated earlier, I was open to the idea of new faces on the council, but certainly not new faces that will take Hackensack in this direction.
I do want to make clear that I support the idea of government helping the homeless, and continue to advocate that the County do more for them at Bergen Regional Medical Center. My position is about fairness ---when there are 20 or 30 communities in Bergen County that each have one permanent facility to serve the homeless, then it's high time for Hackensack to have more than one. Actually we already have at least 5. In fairness, we're done for the next 100 years...let the rest of Bergen County do something for the homeless and other indigent segments of the County's population. Until such social justice is secured on a County-wide level, the homeless programs in Hackensack need to be kept in check, and most certainly kept from expanding out of the downtown area. The incumbant slate has the right perspective, I think they would generally agree with what I just said.
It might be a stretch to say that Citizens for Change would support converting the 3 houses on Summit Ave into homeless shelters, but if an applicant came in to open a social service operation on Summit Avenue, I bet they would be silent on it, and allow it to go through.
Let's not forget that another homeless organization still has plans to convert the Social Security building (Sussex Street across from Court Plaza) into another gigantic help-the-homless facility. I'm sure that Citizens for Change will support that, or any other application to expand homeless facilities in Hackensack.
-
just watching - Have you ever asked the Citizens for Change slate about their position? I do not believe this is a ONE issue election. There is so much more than that at stake. I hope you get first hand information from ALL of the candidates and make up your mind from there. And, nobody runs for mayor in our form of government. But, it would be nice to have ONE mayor for the next for years instead of the revolving chair. When they pass the baton something seems to get dropped (like the $1 mil in the developer's agreement).
-
Fair enough. Information is always good for the democratic process.
I would like a spokesman from Citizens for Change to log into this website and post their official position on the expansion of homeless facilities in Hackensack.
-
i wouldnt hold my breath justwatching.theyre not really up on important issues.but i think your pint that if it walks and quacks like a duck,it is likely a duck,is well taken.can it be that the prior "editions" of citizens for change,i.e. salvo,dunn.outclassed this one? mores the pity
-
I don't know this current cast of characters.
In 2005, I emailed everyone I knew, "if you vote for Citizens for Change, Hackensack is Dunn".
This time I still say they should change their name to "Citizens for Spare Change", because they are the pro-homeless slate. Isn't that what the homeless want, spare change ? Aren't they paying the homeless to distribute campaign literature ???
-
just watching - where do you get your misinformation?
Family Alliance is working with Citizens for Change.
Here's their site
http://www.njworkingfamilies.org/
-
how many homeless volunteers associated with the Family Alliance and ACORN are distributing campaign literature for Citizens for Spare Change.
-
Just watching,
Although I've enjoyed and or disagreed with some of your posts in the past... It appears that you're attempting to turn this site into another NJO.com. That's disappointing !
Gene " Skip "
-
Today's Record: Trio present case for a better Hackensack (http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/44512007.html) (First of three parts.)
-
Today's Record: 'Reformers' confront council on many issues (http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/44574467.html) (Second of three parts)
See also: All 13 candidates meet at Devonshire (http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/44574467.html) (Chronicle)
-
Today's Record: Hackensack incumbents vow to hold line on taxes (http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/44630617.html) (Third of three parts)
-
I don't have exact numbers yet but in order of votes received, highest to lowest, the winners are:
1. Michael Melfi
2. Jorge Meneses
3. Marlin Townes
4. Karen Sasso
5. John Labrosse
Congratulations to the winners.
Does anyone know the last time a ticket was split in Hackensack?
Record article:
Hackensack and Lyndhurst voters stick with incumbents (http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Hackensack_and_Lyndhurst_voters_stick_with_incumbents.html)
-
I have no idea when the last time a ticket was split in Hackensack, but I think it's a positive thing. Unanimity is not good for a democratic, representative government, in my opinion. I'd have liked to see the results a little more mixed. I think good, hard-working people would welcome some debate and compromise. I am hopeful that those who are in will govern with integrity.
Congratulations to the winners and those who did not win but put out a good effort and raised some awareness and interest in the happenings of this city.
-
From today's Record: http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/44853472.html
Michael Melfi* 1,813
Jorge Meneses* 1,798
Marlin Townes* 1,780
Karen Sasso* 1,745
John Labrosse 1,649
Larry Eisen 1,628
Kathleen Canestrino 1,612
Toni Williams Haverty 1,549
Ronda Wilson 1,537
Pablo Andrade 1,427
Rhonda Williams Bembry 579
*Incumbent
Guy Navarro 457
Margaret Otchy 445
-
Wow, I knew the vote would be closer than last time, but not expecting a split vote. I think if there wasn't a third ticket, all of the incumbants would have lost. These next four years is the time for the council majority to redefine themselves, and to continue the progress that is being made in Hackensack.
Let's all give Labrosse the benefit of the doubt. Let's see if he emerges as a team player, or if he'll be like a Richard Rankin, but sitting on the Council. If anyone was ever to a Freeholder meeting when there were both Democrats and Republicans elected, that could be a sample of things to come in Hackensack. God forbid.
The last time a ticket split was 1985, and it was accomplished by John Smith, an employee of PSE&G in Hackensack who lived in a house on South Prospect Avenue. Those on then-current Mayor Fred Cerbo's ticket were Thomas Della Torre, Conrad Francis, Barbara Elder, and a radical tenant activist named Cynthia Ryan. Ryan was the Shirley Maclaine of Hackensack. I strongly support tenant rights, but Ryan was so far out in left field, she was beyond the wall and someplace in the upper deck. Not being a homeowner didn't help her either. Rumor has it that her connections with Cerbo earned her a seat on the ticket, that's all I'll say on this website because to say more would be inappropriate.
John Smith ran on a ticket with Frank Zisa Sr (father of Jack Zisa), and he was the token African-American on the ticket. The rest of the ticket and most of their supporters were furious that he was the only one who made it. There was a lot of negative press against Ryan, and some behind-the-scenes bullet voting, which put Smith on top.
Smith quickly dissociated himself from the Zisa political machine that he was never really close with in the first place, and he became a more-on-less independant voice on the Council. He didn't fulfill the role of challenging and attacking and grandstanding against the council majority on every possible issue, and he voted for the Cerbo budgets. Let's see if Labrosse follows this model or not.