The years-long feud between Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher has again been exacerbated, this time over the proposed Western Edge settlement the council is expected to vote on tonight.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Hoboken is now at a crossroads because of decisions made by Mayor Bhalla that have placed our city in a difficult and costly position,” Fisher said in an email blast this morning.
“The choice before us tonight is not one we would ever want to make, but it is the result of unauthorized actions taken by Mayor Bhalla without City Council approval—actions that have led to a lawsuit threatening to burden taxpayers for years to come. This is a decision none of us take lightly, and I want to ensure you are fully informed before it happens.”
At the August 21st city council meeting, the governing body unanimously voted to table two partial settlements in the Western Edge case, a 5th Ward project brought forth by Pegasus Partners that has been in litigation for just under three years.
Before indicating she wouldn’t support the settlements, she said this all stemmed from Bhalla changing his mind on what the council approved in July 2020 after state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack subsequently threatened to run someone against him.
As a result, she called for Bhalla to be investigated, asserting in today’s email that all of the five counts remaining related to the mayor’s political maneuvering to protect his seat (he ended up running for re-election unopposed in November 2021).
Furthermore, she wrote on Wednesday morning that she has submitted letters to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the State Comptroller.
A spokeswoman for the comptroller said “the OSC never confirms or denies whether we’ve received a tip or complaint,” while a spokesman for the AG’s Office did not return an email seeking comment.
Nonetheless, Fisher believes that Bhalla must be held accountable for his actions here.
“Mayor Bhalla’s actions have not been in the best interest of Hoboken and his actions have created a terrible financial risk and burden for Hoboken taxpayers and residents. As I stated at our last meeting, this type of conduct not only warrants stepping aside from these negotiations but IMHO, also stepping down as mayor,” she wrote.
“It is that serious of an issue. The City Council must not only hold him accountable but ensure restitution for the harm he has caused to Hoboken residents and taxpayers.”
In a follow-up email to the full council forwarded to HCV, Bhalla pushed back hard on Fisher’s narrative, exclaiming her newsletter today is “political grandstanding, filled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations aimed at misleading Hoboken residents.”
He continued that the lawsuit stems from a Hoboken Planning Board’s decision on the Western Edge being overturned, with a judge remanding back to the planning board in April 2023 before they approved the measure the following month.
“The court overturned the board’s decision, and we are now working toward settling the remaining claims to begin transforming a blighted area of Hoboken into the next booming neighborhood in our Mile Square. This is the simple reality,” Bhalla declared.
“Councilwoman Fisher, however, continues to promote conspiracy theories, this time claiming there was a plot to appease a neighboring mayor. Let me be clear: while I always seek to collaborate and work cooperatively with my fellow mayors, my ultimate duty is to Hoboken. I tried in good faith to address Mayor Stack’s concerns where reasonable, but when we couldn’t agree, the matter was taken to court. This is a part of governance and dispute resolution, not a political game based in personal grievance.”
Bhalla also took offense to the notion that he engaged in criminal wrongdoing for political gain.
“This accusation is not only baseless but a malicious attempt to suggest I engaged in improper conduct. It is pure fiction and a blatant lie that I can only assume stems from Councilwoman Fisher’s racist (and demonstrably false) assertions from 2017 that I was ‘unelectable’ due to my turban and beard,” he wrote (Fisher has previously denied ever saying this).
“If Councilwoman Fisher truly believes there is criminal corruption at play, I urge her to bring evidence to law enforcement. If not, it’s time to stop the political stunts and govern. My focus is on running the city and delivering results for our residents, not in peddling misinformation and politically driven conspiracy theories.”
In response, Fisher appeared to be undeterred.
“Mayor Bhalla’s creative writing skills are on full display again—too bad fiction won’t help Hoboken taxpayers. And thank you for restarting the defamation clock. Maybe next time, he’ll address the real issue: his actions that have put Hoboken on the hook for millions.”
According to the settlement agreements, Pegasus Partners would be able to build a total of at least 1,658 units, with 10 percent of the Block 106 units allocated for affordable housing, along with permitting five additional stories, among other things, as HCV first reported.
Someone please find CP Fischer a hobby (other than being a political troll).
No other councilperson works as hard as does CP Fisher. If n9t for her, many more ppl would be in the dark about Bhalla admin antics which are so detrimental to Hoboken taxpayers. If you don’t want to learn from her, don’t read articles that include her.
She’s a political troll with too much time on her hands, and you can’t even see it.
All of Hoboken will continue to be significantly harmed by Mayor Bhalla’s tenure in office.
It is very sad but not very surprising that Ravi Bhalla tries again to play the race card.
Hey, when Ravi gets cornered out comes the race card (and the Ravi Terror Flier).
Like clockwork.
This is damn criminal and there’s a lot of victims direct and indirect in Hoboken.
Councilwoman Fisher is right to call out this terrible scam Ravi created and now hands the Hoboken taxpayers. She has integrity.
agreed. Bhalla has demonstrated in his personal law practice and as mayor that his ethical compass is broken.
if 1658 units gets approved in the blocks b/t 13th and 14th, adams to jeff… it will double the number of existing units b/t 12th & 14th, grand to adams, i.e., the same density in one block as exists in 3. where is cohen in looking out for his constituents. silent as usual. worthless worthless worthless cohen.
The sooner Hoboken gets rid of Bhalla the better! He has done nothing, all of his departments are inefficient, his decisions are based on what is best for him vs Hoboken residents, his mismanagement is choking Hoboken residents with excessivelly increasing costs and real estate taxes. Thankfully the $265 million high school go voted down much to Bhalla’s dislike. Our real estate taxes would have increased 35% . Now he is allowing a construction project to close the intersection of Park and 15th form3 months. That disbrurbs traffic flow for about 1500 cars a day. Not sure where that traffic is supposed to go. They only made alternate plans for school buses. Btw the traffic in this area is already a disaster in the mornings and afternoons. With a major interaction closed it will be impossible. Thank you Mayor Bhalla for once again refusing to protect your constituents. Can’t wait to vote for your replacement!
Winners win, losers complain in HCV comments.
Hi Jason- get certified yet?
Not Jason. Feel dumb? You should.
Mayor Bhalla you have delivered NOTHING! We have been begging you to fix the Shipyard/Pier 13 garbage consolidation issue that results in hours of sleep disruption SIX nights a week. You have done NOTHING in 2 years! after calling you out on your “karen rant because a major thunderstorm storm caused your flight to be cancelled ” , you suggested a meeting. You have multiple correspondence detailing the issue, you have department heads who refuse to address the issue, yet after 1 1/2 years of begging you to address the issue you want us to travel to your office to discuss. Why? You have all the info! It has been sent to you many times from many people. The 100”s of people every night who listen to 2 plus hours of garbage trucks. Tonight is a recycle night , which means multiple trucks thru out the night. Garage six nights a week. Most nights only 4 hours of undesterbted sleep. And after ignoring the issue for close to 2 years Mayor Bhalla thinks we should travel to his office to discuss. Not at all entitled.
I am glad she has the gumption to say what is on her mind. She is not always correct in her allocations. However she doesn’t fear her thoughts. That has to say something. Rhavi did run unopposed and there was a problem with Stack and Bhalla. If she is concerned about the Hoboken people good for her.