Hoboken discourse often has a penchant for operating about as cleanly as the fluid contents of a sewer, but things have recently taken an unusual turn over … rabbit risotto?
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Two weeks ago, Councilman Joe Quintero, now running on [Councilwoman-at-Large] Emily Jabbour’s slate – sent me a text that said ‘f— you Tiffanie,’ along with a photo of the meal he was eating, rabbit risotto,” 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, a mayoral candidate, said yesterday.
“I have two rabbits — and a dog — who are part of my family. Joe apologized, but not for what he said – just for sending it to me instead of someone else. And no one on his team has said a word.”
Her remarks came one day after Jabbour, another mayoral hopeful, unveiled her at-large slate, which is Quintero, Steve Firestone, and Caitlin Layson, as HCV first reported.
Quintero announced he’d be seeking re-election with Jabbour, who he ran with on Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s ticket in 2021, in June prior to is his running mates being made public. He was also re-elected chair of the Hoboken Democratic Committee last week.
“We’ve seen what happens when politics becomes cruel for sport. When decency gives way to spectacle, and personal attacks replace honest debate. We can’t let that become normal here. Hoboken is better than that. Emily and Joe, card carrying members of Team Bhalla, represent politics as usual,” Fisher added.
“The insider games, the silence, the toxic culture that’s taken hold in too many corners of public life. ’m running to raise the bar – to lead with integrity, focus on the work, and make sure City Hall reflects the values of the people it serves. We can disagree. But cruelty isn’t governing. And silence isn’t neutral. Hoboken deserves better, and this is our chance to prove it.”
In a phone interview this morning, Quintero said he did not think the private, accidental text message exchange had anything to do with politics and/or the non-partisan November 4th elections where he and Fisher are on opposing factions.
“In my mind, it’s really separate: This has nothing to do, from my perspective, with politics. I know Tiffanie from this space, but I also know her personally. I called her immediately to apologize, I took complete ownership of what happened and she accepted it and I thought it was pretty cool and big of her to do at that time,” he explained.
The situation made its way to Reddit on Monday via Fisher before she released a public statement yesterday, prompting Quintero to apologize again, reiterating he thought this was a personal interaction with a colleague and nothing more.
” … This isn’t in the political realm, it was a personal interaction, it was wrong, I felt bad, which is why I reached out and apologized. This his nothing to do with her business on the council like the budget. I also don’t understand where the Team Bhalla comments come from at all, the mayor has nothing to do with what I did that particular day and I haven’t spoken with him about this at all,” the councilman-at-large stated.
” … I have also apologized to Emily and our crew about this distraction, but really that’s where it ends between that unfortunate, rude statement between me and my colleague one-on-one, which I took complete ownership right away and she forgave me right away. I believe her accepting my apology was genuine and I was grateful for it and it’s unfortunate that it’s come back, but it is what it is. It’s what happens when you make an unfortunate mistake – I take full responsibility for that communication.”
Fisher has announced former Councilman-at-Large Dave Mello and Liz Urtecho as two of her at-large running mates, while 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo, 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, and former U.S. Treasury official Dini Ajmani are also running for mayor.
Those three other declared mayoral candidates are also fielding council tickets, which include the three at-large seats and a special election to fill the 6th Ward seat that is vacant due to the unexpected passing of late Council President Jen Giattino in November.
As Logan Roy in Succession woukd say:
“ You aren’t serious people “
What a pathetic toxic “ Stew”
Joe Q turns it on Tiffany – Tiffany takes her deserved advantage and throws ot back on Joe.
Who loses?
Hoboken Residents
Russo is on FBI surveillance videos and Bankrupt so cant vote for him.
Thankfully there’s Dini and Ramos.
Let these children squabble over none sense
Car Crusher Quintero is a mean dude who was floated in under the radar after the Ravi Terror Flier. Completely disqualifying.
Fisher is the most competent, qualified, best voting record and deserving for mayor. It’s not close.
Tiffany Fisher is a puppet of Public School, Old Hoboken and Housing Authority Hater
Donna A
if those who remember this nasty MAGA style activist- you would not want her anywhere near City Hall
An advocate group at one point suggesting we should let Hoboken go bankrupt
Not sure you can collect payment for that illiterate screed of fabrications. But good luck, I guess.
Takes you back to the bad old days of the Beth Mason – Russo Clan. That was quite destructive but Ravi’s clone Joe Quintero is aiming to shoot equally low.
Hey, Joe Quintero offered an apology “about this distraction.” That’s Mason-Russo level arrogance.
Ravi can you take Joe with you to the Assembly so you can condescend to NJ residents and loot the coffers there?
i mean dumb on joe’s part but good for him for apologizing right away
kind of a weird look for tiffanie to wait 3 weeks to release something that she accepted someone’s apology over.
tiffanie is hyper political. it is all she has in her life, therefore she thinks everything is political. kind of a sad state of affairs
It’s a weird angle for you, Emily people to be pitching that why did Tiffany wait?
E Gene Carol waited, lots of sexism is often left unreported- but thankfully, the loss has changed and there’s no longer a timeline.
I think it’s really smart on Tiffany’s part
Why go after the guy if he wasn’t gonna run if he was just going back to civilian life he could just be a sleaze bag as a civilian?
Now that he’s asking for four more years, which would be a total of 12 on the council he needs to be stopped in the public needs to know what kind of a piece of crappy is!
Trying to turn this into “Joe good Tiff bad” is a pretty odd approach at damage control.
This is a very real character issue – both the nasty childish image – and to be clear it’s seriously nasty given Tiff’s well know love of her pets – and the attempt twist reality to make himself the victim – raise very real questions about Joe’s lack of maturit and fitness for office.
Claiming it has nothing to do with politics is such a stupid claim that it also raises questions about his intelligence.
No it doesn’t, everyone in Hoboken knows this is exactly on par with Joe’s level of intelligence.
jim s gaslighting at its finest right here. I guess anyone who doesn’t report sexism and misogyny the day it occurs is somehow wrong? Joe said he’s sorry it makes it ok?? Give me a break you bum!
While I understand the need for some “clear the air” here – the upshot is that the city is kind of falling apart – and is in clear need of a financial overhaul. Most candidates (save Emily) are acknowledging that fact, however we have not heard or read any concrete proposals on how we will fix things. Fine to spar through the summer, but by Labor Day we will need to hear more….
Emily acknowledging it while being complicit in all Ravi’s done to cause it is comical
also who doesn’t love watching mike defuusco helicopter in on twitter like he does on every controversial issue. just move back ot hoboken already you clown. announce ur running with ruben and you guys can go back to being corrupt together. make sure you get that poopy raia money
Sean, you are creepy with your obsession with Mike
OK so outgoing Mayor Bhalla has nothing to do to do with Jabbour and Quinitero who are his hand picked City Council crew. LOL
Not even Bhalla’s wife believes that .
In a long line of electeds that like to harass women, Joe got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and needs to apologize. Cuomo and Trump welcome you to the club
Joe should take a social media etiquette class with Pete Hegseth – may do him some good. Even if the the mistake was innocent – this again illustrates how social media has dumbed down our politicians and the political culture in which they operate.
Joe lowIQuintero is one of the most incompetent people in Hudson Count politics which is really saying something. This guy can’t walk and chew gum and the same time let alone serve on Hoboken’s city council. Fortunately voters are seeing more and more of his incompetence every day as the light shines brighter and they will rightfully send him packing in November
Hilarious watching Tiffanie play the victim when all she does is play keyboard warrior to spread lies about others and fake news. Where was the outrage when she shared HobokenTroll’s X post that falsely reported that a criminal was back on our streets. She never apologized for that. She was more concerned with saying something than giving the Chief an opportunity to respond and correct the concern.
Joe messed up here, no doubt. Stupid, frankly. But Tiffanie is a much bigger danger to our City. More voices only better when they are aligned to hers.
LOL who is the keyboard warrior here?
Hoboken Troll is a superhero.
Tiffany isn’t “playing” the victim here. She IS the victim. What Joe did was not just stupid and unprofessional – it was vile and nasty – a window into his character that voters should and likely will consider.
The Bhalla administration’s fiscal mismanagement should be enough to disqualify rubber stamp Joe and Emily from continuing in office. But this will probably seal the deal for many voters.
Oh Donna, please … You don’t help.
Tiffany, Liz and B$tchy Resting Face Dave Mello have no shot
Remember when Tiffannie was raising money for the legal fees of a MAGA hate blogger who harrassed women he disagreed with? He lost. So should she.
people are shitty. when they aren’t doing shitty things they’re thinking shitty thoughts. tiff has shitty thoughts too. in fact this little stunt is one of them. she manages to dress hers up in social concern and pearl clutching. joe should work on that.