The Power of the State against the People

The City Council meeting last week provided an odd 4-4 deadlock on one ordinance for introduction. The vote deadlock ensured failure with no second reading and public discussion.

The action showed the juxtaposition of what happens when the Power of the People goes up against the power of the State. Here, that power is Ravi Bhalla and his four Ravibot council votes. 

After the silent disappearance of benches on Washington Street, Kurt Gardiner, a long-time activist on many issues spanning the years, took up the cause of seeing them returned. 

A beach-style protest saw dozens of people join in the peaceful "power to the people" style response. Typically, in Hoboken over recent years, a park bench can't be painted without generating a voice somewhere crying out about the unfairness of it all. 

After the peaceful protest, some benches were quietly returned, but no comment came from Ravi Bhalla or the mayor's office. As Gardiner followed up, asking for the rest of the benches to be returned to their original places on Washington Street, a battle of wills emerged.

Ravi Bhalla may be a lame duck, but he wasn't about to allow the power of the people: the disabled, seniors, and pregnant women who might require those benches to safely navigate Washington Street to get in the way of his power.

So the ordinance to require public input on the matter, co-sponsored by Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher and Councilman Ruben Ramos, received no support from Ravi Bhalla, nor an initial vote permitting public discussion from Emily Jabbour, Joe Quintero, Phil Cohen, and Jim Doyle.

The 4-4 deadlock guaranteed the end of the effort for the people, by the people: at least until the November election.

With the late Jen Giattino gone and her chair empty, yet another cold-hearted calculus by Ravi Bhalla and co., the public never got a chance to air its view on the issue.

This is all too common for those who view their "public service" as power to the State, not the people. Kurt Gardiner aired his displeasure on Meta with one of Ravi's crew, who is a candidate this November for Hoboken mayor. 

Hoboken Election 2025 Note: Councilwoman Emily Jabbour is invited again to comment, but no formal request will be made after earlier requests were met with silence. Apparently, on matters of the State vs. the People, she doesn't like questions. That's the word on the street.