The Hoboken City Council did not appoint a successor to the late Jen Giattino in the 6th Ward last night, meaning the seat will remain vacant for about a year to the chagrin of some residents.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Council Vice President Jim Doyle presided over the meeting as the acting president and John Bright lamented Giattino’s passing during public comment, exclaiming that the governing body didn’t do their due diligence Wednesday evening.
“Two weeks ago, I heard a lot of tributes and reminisces about Jen. While I could never expect anyone to fill her shoes, I would have expected someone to take her place representing the 6th Ward. Which apparently is not going to be the case,” he began.
“The most tangible thing that each of you could have done to honor Jen’s memory was to select her successor to serve her constituents. All eight of you have failed.”
Eric Volpe said it was an “unfortunate” decision not to appoint anyone since the seat would be vacant until after a special election that accompanies the November 4th mayoral race. He also lamented that housing advocate Cheryl Fallick would’ve been a good choice.
Alex Garcia also lamented the death of Giattino and praised her “for always being there for me.”
“I called you my wonder woman instead of my ward woman. You touched so many people’s hearts. Who do we go to for 6th Ward issues now?” he questioned.
Manny Rivera Soler also lamented the death of Giattino and was critical of the decision to leave the sat open.
“While no one could fill her shoes, someone has to step in the gap. I have asked all of you to give us an opportunity. It’s not so difficult to select someone that is just going to be there as a stopgap,” he asserted.
“I, for one, am horrified, horrified that in America in the United States, we can do this, taxation without representation. This is wrong. You should have selected someone … We cannot live this way: This side doesn’t like this person. That side doesn’t like the other person. Just pick the person that is knowledgeable.”
Patricia Waiters echoed that sentiment, noting that mayoral race politics shouldn’t have impacted this decision.
“I love you Jen. She was a good councilperson. You all know Jen and me didn’t see eye to eye. It’s a sad situation. But what’s even sadder is you using that seat as a political crutch! I waited to see if anyone of you had an ounce of integrity left,” she declared.
“It’s illegal! Y’all don’t care about our reputation here. You gotta fill this seat guys.”
Fallick also expressed frustration, calling it a “cowardly” move to not even nominate someone for a vote.
“The city council deserves to be spanked! Hard. Not because you didn’t fill the seat. Because you’re all too cowardly to let people know what your vote would be,” she asserted, noting that Giattino was a good friend.
“No one could rise to what Jen Giattino meant to all of us. But all of you are too cowardly to let them know and me. I would love to see how you vote. I would have loved to see the vote for me.”
It was also noteworthy that the Hoboken City Council approved a resolution authorizing a study of the lighting of Church Square Park after the recent attack there.
Second Ward Councilperson Tiffanie Fisher also noted that Hudson County is contributing money to improving the park.