wu-su

This is Kearny, this is Hudson County and the issues are irrelevant; I'm certain over 85% of the voters will blindly vote Democrat. The sheep always follow because it is easier that way; and one doesn't have to think, let alone make an informed decision.

You're doing the moaning and crying once more; so obviously a great deal more than you are.

It's the area that Kearny falls within, not the Mayor that attracts development. Wal-Mart was about the property owner leasing his property for a profit and Wal-Mart finding a location to get a return on investment; this had nothing to do with the Mayor, except perhaps that it was in a UEZ zone that was created before he came into office. The Pepsi building, same thing, the property owner needed to build and lease a second building to make his investment profitable; had nothing to do with the Mayor. The Saprano condos? What else are you going to do with an old auto parts store, make a profit by building condos. Yes, and for 10 years this Mayor's been sitting, waiting for the bat factory cleanup, the redevelopment of the buildings near Kmart, etc. This Mayor seems to be virtually ignoring South Kearny.

Read the local papers, just sit back and observe, attend a Town Council meeting, attend other board meetings that the Mayor sits on, and you will get a sense of how he reacts. We are not talking about steamrolling, being reckless or careless, we are talking about the attributes of one who should be a leader.

Yes, your remarks/response certainly demonstrate that.

Take a look at the proposed redevelopment on Passaic Avenue; in ten years how many times and in how may guises has this been visited and revisited. And why does this Mayor defer to his business administrator so often, to keep his hands clean and avoid the tough decisions?

Can Mayor Santos be a leader in tough times? This Mayor can never be a leader because he can’t make quick, decisive, resolute decisions; he over analyses, over studies, attempts to gather too many opinions and viewpoints, and inevitably a judgment becomes paralyzed. This Mayor can never be a leader because he’s too concerned about the political ramifications of a decision or he is overly worried with what others will think of him, therefore prolonging or avoiding a result. This Mayor can never be a leader because he is the one who is led by the Hudson County political machine and must kowtow to their beckoning to remain in power. This Mayor can never be a leader because he is apprehensive when evaluating a person or group or he lets his personal views of a individual or individual’s character interfere with the decision-making process and consequently become a deal-breaker. This Mayor is too skeptical, too judgmental, becomes too nervous, and needlessly frets over every detail of a situation requiring leadership and judgment. The positive developments that could result from a timely and sound decision are loss to his indecisiveness, his listening to the opinions of others around him and an overall lack of resolve.

Initially thought some of the references concerned family members of a certain sitting Town Council member. If the information given to me is accurate, this particular Council member has a daughter, son-in-law, son, and who knows who working in the Kearny school system. The son-in-law was considered for what can be viewed as fast track promotions? I may be mistaken, but if true, this is another example of the "First Family of the Kearny School District".

Went looking for the results; obviously there was nothing in The Observer (expected), there was no reference on the Kearny Schools (BOE) web site, which isn't surprising, and of course, nothing appeared on the Kearny Town web site. I did find the results here; thank you.

Too often it’s said that no one has solutions, so let’s open up a dialogue that may lead to ideas that may lead to possible solutions. Let's talk. The outcome could be of interest to a new administration to consider, because we pretty much know that the current Mayor and Council would take years to implement anything they are not pressured to act upon. Solving financial problems in any municipality, Kearny included, is going to be painful, and there is a definite need to rethink how government actually works. Sacrifices are going to have to be made and sacrifice is expected. We can't put off this type of discussion any longer. In Kearny, one of the first things that should to be addressed is a revaluation. Property owners have to be prepared for this; it is my understanding that Kearny is long overdue for a property revaluation, so it’s a matter of time before one is mandated. In the end, this will level the playing field and put property values “in line” with market values. I am certain Mayor Santos wants to avoid any type of revaluation because it is politically explosive, and it always certainly appears that this man only acts in politically appropriate ways, he is more concerned about positive political consequences for himself rather than what’s actually good for the community. Sorry for the occasional editorializing, but my frustration with this administration pushes me to offer a comment or two. Realistically, any reduction in taxes equates to a cut or an elimination of services. So, if we want to reduce the tax burden, we as residents are going to have to get use to doing without. We can’t have both, lower taxes and high levels of services. This means that choices have to be made, what services have to be cut or eliminated to lessen the tax burden have to be identified. The same mindset has to be adopted by the School District. The other side of the coin is sharing services with other neighboring municipalities such as Harrison, East Newark and possibly North Arlington as well as entities such as the Kearny Board of Ed and/or the Kearny MUA. In addition to shared services there can be moves between municipalities and public entities towards co-op purchasing and bulk buying. This avenue requires innovation, strong leadership, political will, and creative approaches to governance, which may be too much to expect from or it may be well beyond the capabilities of the present Kearny administration. At any rate, to start some form of dialogue, I’ll propose some examples of things that could be done to lower taxes – don’t kill me for the ideas. We can look into eliminating the town paying for garbage collection and have each property owner, business or tenant pay for the pick-up. We can explore levying an added tax assessment on property owners within a given district over a specified period of time to cover the expenses related to infrastructure improvements. We can charge fees for home and business inspections by any town department that realistically cover the time and expense of the employee conducting the inspection. We can have property owners be responsible for the maintenance of trees in front of their houses; they are liable for sidewalks so extend the onus of responsibility to trees. We can see that water and sewer usage expenses are consistent with existing market prices and charge property owners accordingly without government subsidizing any of these costs. With the taxpayer taking “hits” town employees as well as the town should also share in the solution. Town workers take a great deal of criticism, most of which is unwarranted, yet employees should contribute towards the cost of health insurance benefits and be expected to work 8-hours days despite their years of service. An expansion of job duties and the sharing of tasks resulting in increases in productivity should be expected of employees. Residents have to realize that cutting employees from the payroll, and not replacing them, results in lower service levels and a lower quality of service, so expect less from the town. The town should also strive to cut costs, especially in the area of professional services. I understand that attorney costs are running rampant and costs associated with accountants were going over the edge. In fact, I was told that despite hiring a CFO for a dollar last year the municipality was paying over $14,000 a month (a conservative estimate) to a firm that was performing its finance functions? Again, the Board of Education, which accounts for over 50% of the tax rate, should also be expected to take an initiative to cut costs and streamline operations. I’m throwing out thoughts and ideas to start a dialogue, to start a discussion. It’s time the residents and taxpayers of this town share their views and opinions about how to save money and lower the tax rate. Let’s show the administration that the people of this town know how to make government better and more efficient. And if we’re lucky, someone may be listening, someone just may be sensitive to the plight of Kearny’s hard-working population.

What is going on with the Board of Ed and its enactment of the Kearny Residency Policy? Obviously nothing, because there is a case that has come to my attention, and it allegedly has been pending for months even though there are facts to prove that the child attending Roosevelt School does not reside in Kearny. This particular matter has yet to be settled, despite the proof that the child has been attending school illegally since September (I hear it may be much longer than this, two to four years, but I’ll give the benefit of the doubt). At any rate, at a cost of about $12,500 per student why are identified illegal students permitted to remain within the district? If this one case is allowed to languish, how many more exist and how many more non-resident students are in the district? It’s an honor that families chose the Kearny school system, but what is the cost? Why is the Residency Policy so ineffective and why is it not being enforced? Why don't Kearny’s Board members and the Board of Ed administrators do anything about this problem? I don’t really want to go there, but he does control the Board (not directly because he doesn’t appoint, but members he’s supported for election to the Board are in the majority), so is the Mayor aware of this problem, and if so, is he taking a lax approach to it because to do otherwise is not politically expedient? But what really needs to be considered is, what is the accumulative cost of non-residency to the Kearny taxpayer? After all, the taxpayer pays for every non-resident in the district.

John Leadbeater would be a wonderful choice as Mayor; he demonstrates a sincere concern for his community unlike the current Mayor who appears aloof and above his constituency. The first step though is to rebuild the opposition, whether it’s the Republican Party or within the Democratic Party. To be effective, you not only have to rid the town of the present Mayor but also purge the town of his “puppets”. With the control and grip Mayor Santos has on Kearny, why haven’t residents seen more creative, progressive, innovative solutions to the problems confronting the town, especially since he has been around since 2000? Is it because it takes this Mayor “years” to make a decision, forever thinking of the political implications of a decision rather than the need or urgency or is it because this Mayor is completely out-of-touch with the needs of the working person, condescending and haughty or is it because there is a high degree of indifference, incompetence, and apathy within the administration and town departments? Perhaps to advance and secure his career, Mayor Santos is compelled to “tow the line” and bow to the whims of his fellow despots, his Hudson County Democrats? How ironic, the puppet master is himself a puppet. Whatever the reasons for the progressive disintegration and decline of Kearny, and the odds are in favor it has to do with the inaction and iron hand of the Mayor, his Administration and Council, the time has come to oust this Mayor and his “stooges” and see if another administration can make some degree of difference and effect positive change throughout our community. Anything is better than the dictatorship and autocracy that exists today.

After such an overwhelming endorsement of the Hudson County Democratic Party’s Political Machine, Kearny’s illustrious and “do-right” Mayor now must be called, “Bubba” Santos. It’s obvious he’s become, and is accepted as, one of the good ol’ boys within the Hudson County Democratic Political Machine that churns out whatever they believe to be appropriate to ensure their own interests rather than that of the people, and which surely can be pulled over the eyes of the electorate. “Bubba” doesn’t seem to be as independent minded as he most times professes, how can he when he offers such tremendous approval of a rather suspect organization that he allegedly tries to distance himself from while running up into a part of their anatomy where the sun don’t shine? Somewhere in the power dynamic of Hudson County “Bubba” lost his independence. Congratulations, you’re now a real “man” Mayor, of Hudson County politics! Proud to be NJ! What’s the difference between Kearny on a local level and the County on its level? Nothing, because there are never any major challenges, no real opposition, opponents are “smashed”, and therefore, no one generally, has the “guts” or courage to confront or contest another member of the same ruling “party”, particularly since those individuals’ chances of a political future with a prosperous political career would be immediately squashed and terminated. This year is a bit different; however, there are a select, bold, gutsy and spirited few in a rather unusual year, who are staging a challenge within their own party. These brave hearts deserve a vote; deserve support, if only because of “Bubba’s” and the County’s fight to maintain the status quo. Change can’t come through the other (nonexistent) party in Hudson County; change has to come from within the party of Hudson County, the Democratic Party. So, vote your party, but vote for the other representatives of your party, for a change, to make a statement that you, the voter are, indeed, in control, and that we can’t take any more of the status quo. Give someone else a chance, they can’t do any worst than what we have now! Forget about the rhetoric coming from Kearny's Democratic elite, from "Bubba", take a moment to look around, see what's happening to you, to your pocketbook, to your finances and family, and make a decision. In my opinion, this whole situation underlies the true character of “Bubba”, his concerns appear to be centered more on what the future means to his political life, and this in turn, lies in the hands of his Hudson County Political Machine allies, and certainly not what he or his lackey Council can necessarily do for their constituents. It is about time those in the party stand up against those who maintain an iron-fist, iron-clad, control of the party, all of its activities, and even its members views and opinions. “Bubba” is as powerful as the votes he can generate for his Hudson County cronies, and of course, his State brethren of the Democratic Machine. To dampen the power of the “Bubba” and his puppets on the Council, it is now time to be responsible, independent and concerned Democrats, and vote against the slate he endorses. Vote for the other column and demonstrate that the voter is still in control of government! The Political Machine can only be stopped in the Primary, this Tuesday, June 5, since the Democratic winners of the primary will not be beat in the November election; there is no other real opposition in November. I’m not endorsing any candidate here; I am only suggesting that since there is no challenge to the unchecked and unrivaled power of “Bubba” and his Council as well as the Hudson County power base, this primary presents an opportunity to bring some representation and grass roots management back to local government, which we lost in Kearny with “Bubba” around 2000.

Voice of Reason States, “drop this Mr. P., Matt & Paul circus and move on?” Only if we will more closely scrutinize, monitor, document, and comment on the workings of the Santos Government. So many less important matters seem to overshadow the heart of what goes on around us daily, particularly the decisions, legislation and overall influence of the Sheriff himself, aka Mr. Clean, (the Mayor), the seemingly alarming wicked and decadent actions of his henchman and crony, Sir Guy of Gisborne (his faithful servant and Business Administrator), and of course, the “rubber stamp” approach of his merry band of Molly Maids. We live in a town devoid of checks and balances, and controlled by one man whose machine controls the School District, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, the Economic Development Board, this Environmental Committee, and every other “Town” appointed group in Kearny. His appointments, that became anointments, then becomes the prestige and honor of serving on one of his boards, and results in a loyalty that means he goes unchallenged. Don’t tell me that someone would jeopardize his or her appointment on one of the Sheriff’s Boards by challenging his authority? They talk about pay-to-play, what about anointed-to-vote on behalf of a demigod? Or was that appointed-to-vote on behalf of the demigod? So drop this whole Mr. P, Matt, and Paul circus, and focus on regaining control of your destinies, your government, in Kearny.

Only if we will more closely scrutinize, monitor, document, and comment on the workings of the Santos Government. So many less important matters seem to overshadow the heart of what goes on around us daily, particularly the decisions, legislation and overall influence of the Sheriff himself, aka Mr. Clean, (the Mayor), the seemingly alarming wicked and decadent actions of his henchman and crony, Sir Guy of Gisborne (his faithful servant and Business Administrator), and of course, the “rubber stamp” approach of his merry band of Molly Maids. We live in a town devoid of checks and balances, and controlled by one man whose machine controls the School District, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, the Economic Development Board, this Environmental Committee, and every other “Town” appointed group in Kearny. His appointments, that became anointments, then becomes the prestige and honor of serving on one of his boards, and results in a loyalty that means he goes unchallenged. Don’t tell me that someone would jeopardize his or her appointment on one of the Sheriff’s Boards by challenging his authority? They talk about pay-to-play, what about anointed-to-vote on behalf of a demigod? Or was that appointed-to-vote on behalf of the demigod? So drop this whole Mr. P, Matt, and Paul circus, and focus on regaining control of your destinies, your government, in Kearny.

Does it matter? Santos and his machine control the School Board, even though they deny culpability for its increases and excesses. He can hide behind the smoke and mirror that spells the separation of municipal government and school districts, on this one. Wasn't an Aide to the Mayor, who has influence in and from his office, also a former Board of Education President? Doesn't this allude to something? Perhaps the Mayor's slate, oh of course there will the be the usual non-endorsement of candidates, the "impartial" road in this election, therefore, no slate. But really, who is the Sheriff and his merry band of Molly Maids endorsing (off the record, discretely, clandestinely)? You should be a concerned mother. This should concern us all, not just the mother's of Kearny.

At the alleged prodding of the Sheriff of Kearnyham, aka Mr. Clean, (the Mayor, let us now bow), his very own Sir Guy of Gisborne (the Business Administrator, let us kiss the ring) has decided to take no prisoners. Of course, tagging along and sucking on the underbelly is the merry band of Molly Maids (the Town Council, let us witness true parasites in action). It is my understanding that Kearny’s Clean Machine no longer has much faith or confidence in their employees, let alone in its leadership and heads of departments; primarily because they want them dumped for cheaper, part-time labor, devoid of benefits. And, there is certainly no longer any respect or regard for the intent or purpose of the town’s various unions, the Sheriff and Gisborne appear to despise them, except of course, when Sir Guy, in tandem with the Sheriff lose law suits in Court or in arbitration (after spending a considerable sum of taxpayers’ money on high-priced attorneys, who may actually it is said, be friends of one or both of them, to defend their interests, of course). Is the reason the Sheriff is pushing Sir Guy, who truly relishes the role of the henchman for the Sheriff (who wouldn’t at the Administrator’s salary?), to virtually dismantle the current employee structure, and work hard to replace most full-time employees with part-time help, without benefits, even though the part-timers’ competency levels are lower and talents much more inferior? Despite the fact that this part-time help will never be able to deliver the same services, let alone, the same quality of services as existing help, it doesn’t matter to Kearny’s Ruling Class. Fool us all into believing that we are getting what’s best, when in fact we never will. I would venture that taxes will still go up, that they will never decrease, and that they will rarely even remain stable. Its smoke and mirrors, it’s not really a matter of saving taxpayers’ money, is it Gisborne, Sheriff, Molly Maids? It’s about appearances, which is most important to the Mayor, and for Sir Guy of Gisborne, it’s about bowing to the whims of the Sheriff and the Molly Maids, who pay his way. OK, so the entire Kearny Clean Machine wants us to believe that it has the interests of each and very one of us at heart. If we are fools enough to believe it, so be it. An awful lot of rhetoric, to lure us into their trap, can be effective and go a long way. The Sheriff and Guy of Gisborne act more like Republicans than Republicans, no regard for unions, for the worker, only their own self-preservation. And it’s said Kearny is a Democratic Town? Now we know, if the Sheriff can be compared to a Republican, so can his Molly Maids. The Republican Party does exist in Kearny, just in sheep's clothing. We can’t fight City Hall, no one person can dispute what the Governing Body does when the Governing Body is nothing more than a solid, coherent, and monolithic sledgehammer. No checks, no balances – Kearny Elected Officials and Anointed Ones 100 – Kearny Citizens 0.

Well, the Sheriff of Kearnyham, aka Mr. Clean, (the Mayor), with his very own Sir Guy of Gisborne (the Business Administrator), and naturally, tagging along on the underside is his merry band of Molly Maids (the Town Council), make every effort to disrupt the social order of their underlings and serfs (town employees), especially those who do not necessarily fit into their schemes or things, usually translated into politics. The Sheriff and Sir Guy know that it is much better to get part time help to work the mines, no benefits and lower wages, so they can fool most of the people most of the time into believing that these sacrifices are for the good of the Kearnyham community. Or is Sir Guy justifying and subsidizing his lowly income of 110,000 or more dollars with the consent of the Sheriff? Lo and behold, they use the savings and gold taken from the serfs to pay higher wages to their band of faithful pay-to-play loyalists, those attorneys, accounts and engineers, who profit from the politically-minded and devious strategies of the Sheriff, Sir Guy, and the merry Molly Maids. What has happened to the real pence allegedly trickling down to Mr. Clean’s cherished Kearnyham taxpayer, have the coins been diverted or did they exist at all? Oh, how sanctioned malevolence abounds in Kearnyham, in this corner of Hudsonshire as the kingdom sings praise to the leaders of the "ham". What the Sheriff of Kearnyham, his merry band of Molly Maids, and his grappling Sir Guy needs, are a group of misfits to challenge their authority, without fear or threat of reprisal. Perhaps, Hood and a newly conceived band of misfits will begin to emerge as outlaws to the established order of the Sheriff and Sir Guy, and start to bring stability and reality back to Kearnyham. Competition is needed to bring back a system of checks and balances to this forest.

Our eternal Mayor controls the School Board, the School District, so why wouldn't he downplay any increases? Property taxes are up because of consistent and perennial increases in the school budget. Now, he also controls the Planning and Zoning Boards, the Economic Development Board, and he is a great public servant because he also controls the Town Council and can do whatever he pleases, and make things look so great as he pleases. To challenge this wonderful public servant is to take on the wrath of his henchman, the Town Administrator. Let's be real and not naive. By the way, wasn't his present aide (from day 1) the former President of the Board of Ed; no connection there I would take it? Yes, want to save money, cut legal services. Why did the Mayor allow all town attorneys to take an increase in billing rates this year? Including his town attorney, and I understand other board attorneys? Mayor not tough on the professionals, since he's one himself; sympathetic to their plight but willing to throw town employees to the sharks as an example of his “toughness”; and what about that increase to his henchman, the Town Administrator? Fraternize with his fellow colleagues, protect their interests, after all why should the lawyers have to suffer at $125 an hour, give them $140, they deserve to bill more at the taxpayers expense, but the workers who provide services have to be penalized, except for the hangman, the business administrator, who gets his increase. Award who you may, who you want, to your direct benefit, Mr. Mayor, after all they are your kind, not the rest of the populace.

Loved the photo in The Observer with Santos, Booker, and Fitzgibbons. Looks like Santos is asking Booker for trade secrets about keeping his dome sparkling clean. As Fitzgibbons looks on, I can’t only be reminded of the talk I’ve heard that Santos didn’t particularly, or doesn't particularly, care for Fitzgibbons; guess that “strange bedfellows” thing applies here, we know it especially applies in politics, and if it's politics, it doesn't miss any politician making a play in Hudson County. But thinking of Kearny’s Mr. Clean, our very own Mayor Santos, and his merry band of Molly Maids, his very own Council, pardon me, there is one Marvin Maid in the mix, where are the checks and balances in this government? As Mr. Clean and his merry band clean, or clean-up in their own special ways, why isn’t there any opposition or challenge to this Mayor and Council’s authority and law-making? From the meeting tapes I’ve seen on TV, Santos doesn’t appear to like to be challenged, and when confronted, he does get rather prissy, and becomes obsessed with a driving desire to have to win his point, at the expense of, without regard to, and with a lack for respect for, anyone’s position or opinion. At Council meetings it does seem to be that it’s his way or the highway. Of course his merry bands of maids, nod, smile and agree with his every thought. If there is a display of resistance, it looks as if it were staged, rehearsed, and presented for the benefit of the public. Strangely enough, Santos’ whole act is rather reminiscent of President Bush and his band of merry men, women, evangelists, and whoever can be pulled together to steamroll the populace. Why does Santos profess to be a Democratic when so many of his actions are reminiscent of a true and faithful Republican – if he can’t deal in blue, let him change colors, come out of the closet, and admit to the wearing of the red? He does not seem to have any regard or respect for the employees of his own town, he appears to think they are replaceable if they don’t respond to his every whim made through his town administrator's demands, it reminds me of a Republican named Regan. Maybe his admission of republican tendencies would lead to the resurrection of the Republican Party in Kearny, and he can assume his rightful role as its true leader. The Council backs up everything he wants, his town administrator does his dirty work and enacts every sordid thing he wants done so he looks like Mr. Clean. Santos keeps his hands clean, the administrator builds on his $120,000 salary because he is so accommodating, and the Council gets the benefit of the Santos political machine when election time comes around. It’s a win-win for the Town Administration, it’s the shaft for Town employees, and an increased burden for Kearny’s taxpayers. Hey, your taxes are increased, but you’ve made some best to live in list, isn’t that just compensation from Mr. Clean, his P.R. Staff, his town administrator, and the merry band of Molly Maids, pardon me, including the Marvin Maid?

Since there is no accountability or oversight in Kearny because there is no opposition within the controlling party, let alone opposition from an opposing party, who’s watching the town? Is anyone being held accountable for the store? Let’s be real, with no opposition, the leader of Kearny’s dominant political party, who also serves as its Mayor, has final say over all matters, internal and external. Every decision in a municipality takes a majority of votes from its Governing Body, so in Kearny any decision that its leader, the Mayor, has to make, and which must be put before the Town Council will certainly gain automatic approval since “he” has not opposition. There is a Town Administrator for appearances, to make things look like there is oversight, but let’s be pragmatic, the administrator, like it or not, serves at the whim of the Mayor and his Council, so that person must be receptive to what the ultimate power, the Mayor, wants or says. This makes me think, where is the democracy in Kearny, is there democracy in Kearny, does Kearny even want democracy or nothing more than absolute power for the power that is, the Mayor? Shall we now discuss the term, “Democrat” in the political sense?

This certainly cannot appear on the very Democratic controlled NAtoday.net web site, so here it goes here. What is it with the NA Democratic Party these past months not only abandoning one of its own, but also the one it used over time to attain power in NA? How could its alleged leader, Nick, suddenly have the Democrats in NA discard Pittman as soon as they get a whiff of public opinion on eminent domain? I certainly wouldn’t want this guy Nick watching my back or leading me into battle! I’d be disposed of in no time given his and his Party’s lack of allegiance and support. Nick and his local Bergen County Democratic machine or cronies, which also rely on Hudson County support, make me embarrassed to be a Democrat. Where’s loyalty, endorsement, support in tough time, concern for the “every” man? Pitman was deeply concerned and sincere about the plight of NA, regretfully, and I hope he learns a lesson; he became too dependent upon his “Party” and “Party Leader” at the expense of his own beliefs and opinions. He kowtowed to the “Party Leader’s” flavored message of the day, week or month, rather than standing his own ground, in my view because he was given assurances by the “Party” that all is well. The ignorance of the electorate, in general, is bliss, and it’s this ignorance that people like Nick and Massa take advantage of, and capitalized on yesterday. Didn’t Massa and “his team” initially support Pittman, sign agreements and the like? Massa had a goal when he was elected, and that was to achieve the victory he did yesterday, with his old friend and acquaintance from the Board of Ed days at his side. Let’s be real, the money that EnCap and the Meadowlands Commission are negotiating, which benefits NA, transcends NA and its local political base. Let’s be real, if eminent domain is coming, the State will take the lead in this through the Meadowlands Commission. NA has no real say in this “play”, but to take the advice and take the money and run…. It’s a done deal because too much has been allowed to be at stake. There’s also the issue of the approval of municipal funding or extraordinary funds from the Department of Community Affairs; the direct tie between the Meadowlands Commission and the Department of Community Affairs is very blatant and obvious.

I am fascinated by the similarities between Mayor Santos and our own President, George Bush. The fact that both are obsessed with full and total control of their respective governments, the fact that both are consumed by this concept of absolute power and that they both seem to yield this power to their own advantage and at the expense of others, is remarkable. They both seemingly do not have any regard and respect for people that they see as being beneath them. Who would imagine that Kearny’s democratic leader could be more akin to his republican rivals? The recent Supreme Court decision, Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld, sends a clear message reaffirming our republic while it strives to put President Bush’s omnipotent executive branch in check. Yet in Kearny, with Mayor Santos in complete control of his legislative branch, a legislative group that refuses to uphold its own powers and obligations, and then yes, the Mayor’s rule over his own administrators, and with no Court to rein him in, he lavishly has full domination of the city. He can, at will, manipulate, influence or oppress any aspect of his administration. And now, as a spiritual advisor to County government and power brokers in Hudson County, his power is even more so. There are no checks and balances in place, no opposition, no opposing party, no one who disputes his rule at a city meeting, so the Mayor can stage-manage every card in every deck at his disposal. He can pontificate all he wants, he can argue all he can, and no one will ever really challenge him or really win because he has control of his kingdom. wu-su