Hackensack, NJ Community Message Boards

Sorry Victor, I did not say you did anything. The Record left out one whole candidate Q&A when article was posted online. I said tsk, tsk to them, not you.

Excuse me, but your tone could be dialed down a notch or two. You act like I am crashing some private party. My tax dollars, my home, my child's future are on the line here too. I care about Hackensack. That is why I go to council meetings. I never saw any member of Open Government at a council meeting before they decided to run for office. Have I seen you?

My statement "of 2 minds" is in reference to the difference of opinion posted in this thread with regard to the "suggestion" for whom votes should be cast. There is not a unified coalition if we have read two suggestions, so far.

People should vote based on accurate information. It is inaccurate to state that one slate is negative when the other slate is perceived as negative by the majority of people who have seen their mailers. I find it interesting that you do not find the Open Government mailings (car & court) to be negative. They are full of half-truths, innuendo & personal attacks.

The Hackensack Citizen contained REAL stories reprinted from the Record newspaper. If you have a problem with the TRUTH of those stories take it up with the reporter. Facts are facts. The negative campaign is being run by Open Government. That is a fact that anyone can see. Who is accused of stealing signs? Who used a confidential Board of Education list for a political mailing? Who did not give the residents of Hackensack enough consideration to even answer the Record's questions themselves? Open Government did it. Nobody made any of that up. Sometimes the TRUTH is ugly.

I do not know how my caution as to who is giving an endorsement can be taken as negative campaigning. I am not running for office. Nor am I getting paid to represent any party. And I am not holding any appointed or elected position within the city. Endorsements from anyone in any of those circumstances ought to be looked at in that light.

Finally, your thinly veiled threat that my posts "will only cause an increase in calls asking if a more unflattering picture could be found" is more negative than any comment I have made and absolutely inappropriate.

Battle lines drawn in Hackensack City Council campaigns
WEDNESDAY MAY 8, 2013, 8:11 PM
BY  HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

HACKENSACK – The campaigns vying for City Council have reached a near-frenzied pace with days to go to the election, phoning voters, visiting door-to-door and mailing fliers, even as the discussion between opposing camps has turned sharp and negative.

Battle lines are drawn between two slates – one vowing to fight corruption the other touting community experience and open government – and one candidate running on his own calling for lower taxes and better quality of life. Candidates are making every effort to woo voters in a high-stakes election that could determine who holds power in the city for the next four years.

Tuesday’s election comes at a pivotal time for the city as it embarks on a major downtown rehabilitation project. And the city still is rebounding from a tumultuous time that saw allegations of cronyism, numerous lawsuits against the police and the city, and the conviction of former police chief Ken Zisa for criminal misconduct and insurance fraud.

The 11 candidates vying for five council seats each say they are the ones who can bring the city stability and progress.

The Open Government slate presents several likable candidates with deep community experience, but critics say it also is politically tied to a regime associated with Zisa and his family.

The candidates are Kenneth Martin, a retired, long-time school resource officer with the Hackensack Police Department; Jason Nunnermacker, a school board member and lawyer; Joseph Barreto, a guidance counselor and youth basketball coach; Joanne Mania Colon, a businesswoman and planning board member; and Scott Young, an information technology specialist who volunteers as a special police officer.

They’ve campaigned on promises of transparency: to put more information online, televise meetings and to establish boards to review ethics and civil litigation. The candidates, however, declined to respond individually to a questionnaire sent by The Record on issues of redevelopment, corruption and transparency. One joint response was sent by campaign manager Roger Mattei, who said the slate chose to answer as a team.

Opponents say the candidates have troublesome connections to the powerful Zisa family that has dominated the city during a troubled time.

Critics charge that the same political power brokers behind the Zisa family rule also pull the strings for Open Government.

 “They assembled a slate of Zisa yes men that will only continue the corruption and intimidation that has saddled Hackensack for decades,” said Councilman John Labrosse, a candidate with the slate Citizens for Change and the only incumbent in the race.

Some candidates and their supporters are connected by association because they are active in a city where “everybody knows everybody,” said Mattei, a former councilman and running mate of ex-mayor Jack Zisa.

The candidates say they are independent and unaffiliated with a political machine and don’t intend to do anyone else’s bidding.

“I would never compromise my beliefs for someone else’s wishes. Absolutely not,” said Barreto, saying he entered the race because of a longtime interest in politics and a desire to help the city.

Citizens for Change four years ago ran a ticket that propelled Labrosse into office, while his running mates lost. But their strong showings against four incumbents showed them as a real challenge against the political establishment.

The ticket includes a group of local activists who also have acted as government watchdogs and critics. The candidates are Kathleen Canestrino, a retired aerospace engineer; lawyer Rose Greenman; David Sims, a school paraprofessional; retired businessman Leo Battaglia; and Labrosse, who works in plant operation at Hackensack University Medical Center. Labrosse, Battaglia and Sims also volunteer in youth recreation programs.

The slate’s candidates present themselves as reformers who want to “clean up” government, scrutinize contracts and make sure city employees and contractors are there on merit, not because of who they know.

“We will sweep the slate clean of those long-time political usurpers who held on to power and profited handsomely on the misery of many,” Greenman said.

They also have called for a more citizen-friendly government where people can easily get information and air their concerns and they note they’ve been asking for televised meetings for years to no avail.

Victor E. Sasson, a former reporter and copy editor for The Record, is running on the Vote for Peace and Quiet line. He said he will work to reduce noise, repave streets, and crack down on stop-sign violators and speeders. He wants to save money by selling some employee take-home cars and by asking the Hackensack University Medical Center to pay more to the city in lieu of taxes.

Campaign rhetoric has turned harsh in recent days. Citizens for Change slammed their opponents over what they claim are ties to the old political order, while Open Government has spun Labrosse’s record in ways that some observers say are far fetched or false.

There also have been missteps. Martin was allegedly caught on video stealing opponents’ campaign signs and will go on trial in June for theft. The Open Government campaign used a school staff directory to get teacher addresses and send them campaign mail, in apparent violation of school district policy.

What’s clear is that the campaigns are fighting with fervor. The majority, if they vote as a bloc, will play a key role in the city’s rehabilitation plan and will have say over who works in the city and for the city.

The Record asked candidates for Hackensack City Council to tell readers about their backgrounds and answer questions about pressing issues in the city. Six candidates responded, while five from the Coalition for Open Government candidates provided a group response. All five council seats are up for grabs in the Tuesday election.

Leo Battaglia

Profession: Retired business owner, managed over 200 people, background in electronics.

Other relevant experience: Founder of the soccer program in the city. Sent 40 kids on to college on  soccer scholarships. One went on to play tin three World Cups. Supporter of recreation.

Q. What steps will you take to improve openness and transparency in government?

A. Transparency starts with the willingness of the administration to be cooperative and open with the public. We will instill that willingness throughout the administration. Every department head will be required to make reports at council meetings and to be cooperative with the public

We will make it easy for people to get information but putting more documents on the city website and we will end the stonewalling that occurs with OPRA requests.

Q. The city is dogged by the perception that favoritism and cronyism are prominent in government. How will you ensure fairness and restore the public’s trust?

A. The perception is reality. A small group of people control who gets work and contracts with this city.  We will open up the hiring process by making greater use of requests for proposals (RFP’s)  and will post them on the city web site. We will also put public contracts on the city website once awarded

Q. What can and should the council do to improve the city’s downtown?

A. We have to start with adding parking. We need three parking towers on the north , south and middle of Main Street. Midrise parking garages have been a  boom to towns such as Montclair and Hoboken. You can’t attract shopper or visitors without adequate parking. Secondly,  we need to attract a diversity of  business that people from the region want to patronize as well as people who live in the city

Kathleen Canestrino

Profession: retired aerospace engineer with 20 years at Honeywell International, Teterboro, NJ

Other relevant experience: A big part of my job was developing and maintaining multi-million budgets and securing government contracts at Honeywell.  Managing our city budget and enabling us to secure federal/state grant money is an integral part of running our city - I am up for the challenge. I am a 39 year resident of Hackensack. When I retired, I started attending council meetings on a regular basis. I began to realize that things had to change and I could be part of it.

Q. What steps will you take to improve openness and transparency in government?

A.  We will give our citizens a voice by putting citizen advisory boards in place with representation in each of our five wards. These boards will be headed up by ward leaders who will have bi-monthly communication with the council. We will televise all council meetings so more residents can be part of the decisions being made by our council.  Many times requests are made to our council with little to no follow-up.  We plan to record all citizen requests in an action item database, with required follow-ups and closure. Our website will be up to date with information from the city in an easy-to-read format. 

Q. The city is dogged by the perception that favoritism and cronyism are prominent in government. How will you ensure fairness and restore the public’s trust?

A. There will be zero tolerance for secret back room deals, special breaks for the politically connected, or threats and intimidation of our residents.

We are committed to creating an open and honest community. Citizens will be encouraged to bring their concerns and criticisms to the council or to department heads. There will be no reprisals for speaking your mind.

To help ensure that corruption and intimidation are stamped out, we will form an ethics commission that will hear citizen complaints against their government. The commission will be composed of at least one city council member, a member of the police department and several representatives of the community.

Q. What can and should the council do to improve the city’s downtown?

A. We support the development of Main St. I believe lower Main St should be a primary concern, because of the courthouse complex and the influx of visitors to that area during business hours.

We will lead the way to structuring a fair and well-designed redevelopment plan that will create hundreds of construction and permanent jobs for residents and increase tax revenue to the city, which will help lower property taxes and stabilize rents. We will institute a redevelopment commission, which will include Hackensack citizens, elected officials and development experts. The commission will evaluate development opportunities in the community, negotiate with prospective developers, gather public comments about redevelopment projects, and monitor projects to ensure that development standards are met. The Commission will also oversee the actions of the zoning and planning boards to ensure that all applications before the boards meet legal and ethical guidelines.

John P. Labrosse Jr.

Profession: mechanic in the plant operations dept. at Hackensack University Medical Center

Experience: Council member since 2009, youth wrestling coach

Q. What steps will you take to improve openness and transparency in government?

A. I have and would continue to work at making our City Government more open and transparent. I have fought for years to have our meetings televised. The people deserve this and it is not as hard as my opponents  have made it out to be. Many other towns and the County of Bergen do it, why can’t Hackensack.

 I would make more information available on our city website. This would free up employees to focus on other business. I would increase the time limit people are allowed to speak at council meetings and generally provide more answers for people in non-confrontational manner.

Q.  The city is dogged by the perception that favoritism and cronyism are prominent in government. How will you ensure fairness and restore the public’s trust?

A. It’s not a perception of favoritism and cronyism, its reality. Look at where the money goes and who benefits. Zisa the police chief, Zisa the town attorney, Zisa the insurance broker for the city. Malagiere the attorney for the Zoning board. On and on it goes. The small band of political insiders benefitting from public dollars .

For too long in Hackensack it’s been a matter of who you know or how much you contribute to campaigns  - not  your qualifications that matter. The taxpayers of Hackensack have not been getting their money’s  worth from many of our vendors. When you look at the political donations to the past administrations you see the same people donating and getting rewarded with lucrative contracts or jobs. That has to end.

Q.  What can and should the council do to improve the city’s downtown?

A. I am a big proponent of the rehabilitation of Main St. However, progress is very slow. There needs to be a broader approach to increasing parking and attracting new shops and restaurants. If done properly, the amount of tax revenue from a revitalized Main Street would increase tremendously -- which means lowering taxes and more money to invest in our roads and recreation. I believe it will have a catalytic effect and will spread to other areas over time.

Victor E. Sasson

Profession: Blogger; retired reporter, copy editor and food writer for The Record

Other relevant experience: Many years of municipal reporting experience and investigative journalism.

Q. What steps will you take to improve openness and transparency in government?

A.  Openness is a big issue, but voter apathy is bigger.

Nevertheless, I would make the budget process public and hold hearings at which city department heads will be asked to defend their budget requests. The goal would be to hold the line on the size of the budget in the first year, then cut it in the next three years, along with property taxes.

City Council agendas will be far more detailed than now and will not hide important information from the public.

City Council meetings will last a minimum of 2 hours, and residents will get twice as long to comment, 10 minutes instead of the current 5 minutes.

If there is sufficient demand, council meetings could be televised, but its far better for residents to attend meetings and bring problems in their neighborhoods to the attention of officials.

Routine record requests would be granted without asking residents to fill out forms or hire lawyers.

Q. The city is dogged by the perception that favoritism and cronyism are prominent in government. How will you ensure fairness and restore the publics trust?

A. I would end the city’s relationship with politically connected City Attorney Joseph C. Zisa Jr.; attorneys Richard Salkin, who is the school boards lawyer and municipal prosecutor; and Richard Malagiere; as well as the DiCotiis firm.

All other professionals doing business with the city would be reviewed with goal of replacing those who were not selected on merit, and that goes for city department heads and employees, as well.

Department heads and most other city employees will be required to live in Hackensack or own property in the city, and no city employee will drive home a city car unless they are on 24-hour call (a select few).

The city cant afford to offer tax breaks to developers, and the 30-year tax deal with the developer of a luxury apartment building on State Street would be rescinded.

Tax-exempt entities, such as the non-profit Hackensack University Medical Center, would be required to give back to the city by purchasing police cars, paving streets or planting vegetable gardens at the schools to fight the child obesity epidemic.

The city would return the HUMC ambulance service and EMTs to the Fire Department.

Q. What can and should the council do to improve the city’s downtown?

A. I would dismantle the Hackensack Main Street Business Alliance, and replace it with a city economic development office that would promote the entire city, not just part of Main Street.

Property owners now are assessed $360,000 a year to operate the alliance, which has accomplished little since it was formed in 2004. Instead, the city should use its own funds to sponsor free-parking days, Restaurant Weeks with discount meals and other promotions.

I would return Main and State streets to two-way traffic immediately, not wait for redevelopment, and the cost of traffic improvements would be reimbursed by developers.

One merchant wants to set up tables outside his Main Street hookah shop in the evenings for smokers, but has been prevented from doing so.

All building and zoning ordinances would be reviewed to liberalize policies on outdoor seating and dining with the goal of attracting new businesses and customers.

Dave Sims

Background: I’m a lifelong resident of Hackensack; a graduate of the Hackensack school system, where he lettered in  baseball and basketball.  I have a strong interest in helping young people and started the Hackensack Jr. Basketball Summer League program and became the Director of the Jr. Basketball and the All-Star program. Degree in Automotive Technology from Lincoln Technical Institute. I work as a para-professional for the Hackensack Board of Education.

Q. What steps will you take to improve openness and transparency in government?

A. I’ve always believed that if you have nothing to hide, why wouldn’t you want to share information. Obviously, the current administration which is backing our opponents, have a lot to hide and are determined to set up as many roadblocks as possible to stop the public from getting information they are entitled to.  I would be very pro-active in delivering information to the community, using the internet, not just our city web page, but perhaps an e-newsletter.  Televised meetings will help, but so would allowing the media to have more access to the council . I would like to host regular press briefings as well as meetings with people in the various wards and invite the press to attend those. 

Q. The city is dogged by the perception that favoritism and cronyism are prominent in government. How will you ensure fairness and restore the publics trust?

A. The only way to build public trust is to do everything open and above board. When a contract is let, it is important that people know why the contract is necessary and why the person or firm was chosen.  I would let it be known to the professional community that the old days or cronyism are gone and if they want to submit proposals they are welcome to do so; and that all proposals will be treated fairly. The days of people with “special connections” getting contracts will be over.

Q. What can and should the council do to improve the city’s downtown

A. Downtowns in the area are all struggling to battle the shopping malls and stay relevant. The key, I think is to provide plenty of inexpensive parking and attract businesses and services that people can’t get at the malls. Ridgewood is one of those towns that remade its downtown by becoming a restaurant hot spot. Hackensack can do the same thing. Fixing sidewalks and adding brick pavers and trees are nice, but they’re not going to revive downtown or bring jobs to the city.

Plus we need to do more to generate more nightlife downtown. We have to give a reason for  the people who work in the county building and the courts to stay for a couple of hours after work; and we need to generate investments in business that people want to come to from surrounding towns. And I think a police presence on the streets, cops walking the street -- would give people added comfort when visiting downtown. That’s something I would like to discuss with the new police director.

Hackensack Coalition for Open Government

Joseph Barreto: bilingual school counselor and former teacher in New York City public schools; Hackensack volunteer basketball coach

Joanne Mania Colon: account receivables manager and computer coordinator; Hackensack Planning Board member for 23 years; member of the New Jersey Cemetery Association and chairwoman of its annual convention; member of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

Kenneth Martin: retired Hackensack police officer/school resource officer; served on the volunteer ambulance corps, the Hackensack Auxiliary Police and the Red Cross; has been involved with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Johnson Public Library, New Jersey School Resource Officers as well as the National Association for School Resource Officers, North Jersey Regional Crime Prevention and the Hackensack Education Foundation.

Jason Nunnermacker: member of the Hackensack Board of Education Trustee and a practicing attorney; executive board member of the Hackensack Blue & Gold Scholarship Fund and the Hackensack Athletic Alumni Association.

Scott Young: information technology leader for compliance controls for GE Capital; special police officer (H-COP) in Hackensack; volunteer with anti-hunger organization Table to Table.

Q. What steps will you take to improve openness and transparency in government?

A. As the Hackensack Coalition for Open Government, we feel strongly about improving transparency and openness in government. We have developed a 10-Point plan that follows the direction of President Barack Obama’s Open Government Initiative.

1. Establish a local Ethics Board to monitor and review actions of city officials and employees in regard to conflicts of interest and other ethical violations.

2. Establish a Citizen Complaint Review Board to offer residents an alternate route in reporting unsatisfactory dealings with City departments.

3. Establish a Civil Litigation Review Board to assess the validity of claims against the city and review the related city policies and procedures.

4. Televise City Council meetings.

5. Publish proposed ordinances on our City Web site along with the opportunity for online public comment.

6. Create a process on our City Web site to allow for online petitions concerning local issues of interest and concern.

7. Require representatives of city departments to attend public council meetings to report on activities and answer questions from residents.

8. Issue monthly reports to residents describing the significant issues and activities for that month.

9. Reestablish and promote City Hall office hours for residents to seek the help and services of their City Council.

10. Formally Adopt the Local Open Government Principles.

Q. The city is dogged by the perception that favoritism and cronyism are prominent in government. How will you ensure fairness and restore the public’s trust?

A. We are committed to the maintenance of being a civil service community where hiring and promotions are done exclusively pursuant to the competitive exams promulgated by the State Civil Service Commission.

As to those instances where we are hiring or appointing professionals or other specialists such as engineers, attorneys, architects, accountants etc., we will work under a transparent fair and open process where interested applicants will have to submit responses to formal and public Requests for Qualifications. All such contracts awarded will be subject to the City's ability to cancel the contract at any time. If we find that a firm or individual is over billing our taxpayers, we can "pull the plug" and take the City's business elsewhere.

Q. What can and should the council do to improve the city’s downtown?

A. The Main Street corridor was once the place to go in Bergen County for shopping and dining. The Upper Main Alliance and the City Council have worked tirelessly over the last few years to improve the downtown district. They have created an entire rehabilitation zone and changed zoning requirements to make it easier for businesses to make Hackensack their home.

It will be our job to move this plan forward by supporting the mission of the alliance, possibly expanding the zone, and continuing to find ways to make the district more accessible. We will look at the parking studies, which have suggested two-way traffic and opening other one-way streets throughout the district. We will also assist the alliance in bringing developers to the area as well as premier retailers and eateries while enhancing shopper traffic for the many small businesses that keep the district alive.

Email: adely@northjersey.com

A piece on a recent endorsement that may be of interest with regard to the election

http://hackensackscoop.blogspot.com/2013/05/hitler-had-mein-kampf-communists-had.html

I am not sure what manner you believe I addressed you in. I asked if Prospect Avenue residents are aware that there are other issues in the election. You did answer that by stating that for some Prospect Avenue residents there are no other issues in this election. Thank you.

I did request that post by 07601bergen be posted in the election thread. At first the editor did not think it needed to be and then he decided to put it in both places. I think he made the right call. It belongs in the other thread because it is related to the election and the election affects ALL city residents, not just Prospect Avenue. Most residents of this city are concerned with what happens on Prospect Avenue. It is not an island, it is part of the city. What happens in any one part of the city most certainly has an effect on other parts. I too think voters should be informed. I also think voters should vote with their heads based on all the facts and with regard to the city as a whole.

As I am not a member of the coalition, I was not privy to the information gleaned at the Prospect Avenue candidates nights. Since a recommendation was made that would affect those who are not part of the coalition, I thought other residents would be interested in an explanation as to why those candidates would be the best choice. Maybe there is something you know that the rest of us do not.

I did not speak with Joe Zisa one on one. I do not call him because he usually charges the city for telephone calls. He stated at the April 23 council meeting that he is in the process of transcribing the minutes of those zoning meetings. Maybe I wrongly assumed that in this digital age it would not be on paper. His statement was in response to a resident's question and seemingly in order to make a smooth transition on this issue. Of course ALL taxpayers are paying the bill for that.

Prospect Avenue residents have retained their own counsel for this issue. A resident of Prospect Ave has ties to that firm. I think the LTACH concerns are pretty well represented on this issue, both by the city and on their own. The rest of Hackensack should also be concerned as it affects us. The Prospect Avenue residents should also be concerned about the rest of the city, as it affects them too. The audience for this thread is the entire city, as well as some non-residents.

I do not believe that my post was misleading and erroneous. I hope I clarified that here. Most of the residents of Hackensack have been behind you in your fight. I simply thought, as it will have an effect on the rest of us, an explanation as to the recommendation would better inform those who are not part of the coalition. I guess you disagree.

Again, voters should vote with their heads. It is their vote, their voice.

Are Prospect Avenue residents aware that there are other issues in this election? NOBODY wants the LTACH. The Prospect Avenue group has hired their own attorney to represent their interests and I believe the motion to intervene has been granted. Any good zoning attorney could step in and get up to speed in a heartbeat. Right now Joe Zisa is making preparations (at taxpayer expense) for a smooth transition on this issue.

I'd like to know if your suggested candidates were by consensus, or if this is your own opinion. I ask this because you wrote:

"After much introspection and thought, digging deeper than most, each of us present has a strong opinion as to which candidates may best serve our needs. The option detailed below is one you may wish to consider"

It is not clear to me who is endorsing these candidates, or why.

RN There is a response posted on Citizens for Change Facebook page

"Kathy Canestrino Regina - The administrator of this page is one of our campaign managers. We are trying to get as much information out to the public as possible and this seemed the most efficient way to do it. If a candidate is making the post either it is in their name (as this one is) or the administrator states that the comment comes from the candidate. From what you have written, it appears that you found our website. Hopefully you can find the answers to your questions there. If you have additional questions, please ask - I will try to answer them for you (or have another candidate answer at your request) Unfortunately negative comments are out there from all sides, I hope you are open to our positive commitment to Hackensack as well.
Like · about an hour ago"

And like the other person wrote the "Open Government" does not even allow discussion on their page. The information you were looking for is there but you should contact Mrs Canestrino, as she says in the post, if you have any questions. I am not administrator on that page and I hope you do not take a workers' "bad day" out on the candidates, because that was not posted by any of them.