The Hudson County Board of Commissioners voted 8-1 to replace North Bergen Commissioner Hugo Cabrera on the volunteer county schools of technology board after his term expired.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Secaucus is still waiting for a commissioner appointment back as a host community of the High Tech High School. Again, Denise [D’Alessandro] I know very well. There’s no issue in regards to Denise,” began Commissioner Bob Baselice (D-8), who represents North Bergen and Secaucus.
“It’s just this is about getting someone back on the board at High Tech, in the community that hosts the High Tech High School. We were also hoping to allow for a swap of one of the commissioners – he’s [Cabrera] one of the longest serving commissioners and he’s in the education system – for another appointee and that didn’t happen. So I just have to vote no for those two reasons.”
Sources familiar with the situation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to speak on the matter, said that Trustee Hector Zulueta had offered to resign in exchange for Cabrera to be reappointed, but Hudson County Executive Craig Guy rejected that offer.
Cabrera, the board secretary at the North Bergen Board of Education, had most recently served as the vice president of the nine-member HCST board.
His successor will be D’Alessandro, the director of the Hudson County Department of Roads and Public Property who had also served as the interim director of the parks department.
As far as Secaucus goes, Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association President Joe Cossolini was appointed to the HCST board in January, replacing Secaucus Town Attorney Kerri Ann Eglentowicz.
She resigned in light of pursuing a Hudson County Superior Court judgeship.
Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), a candidate for Jersey City mayor, said he shared Baselice’s concerns, but also indicated he’d known D’Alessandro for 40 years and couldn’t vote against her in good conscience.
“I would hope that cooler minds can sit down and resolve things, we don’t knee jerk react when one thing happens and think that something else has to happen,” he added.
O’Dea alluded to the fact that this could ignite a full fledged civil war among Hudson County Democrats, with many believing that state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack wanted Cabrera, a close ally of North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, out in light of what some viewed as unsavory actions that took place at the Hispanic State Parade.
Additionally, many politicos felt this was a message being sent since tonight is Sacco’s annual mayor’s ball at The Venetian in Garfield.
Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-3) voted yes, though also indicated he would like to see some Black trustees on the HCST board in the future (they are currently all white or Hispanic).
The other commissioners voted yes without commentary, meaning the measure was approved 8-1.
Stack and Sacco of course have been at odds for the better part of the past two decades and are already on opposing sides politically.
Sacco is backing Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop for governor and has hinted he may back O’Dea to succeed him, while Stack has endorsed U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) for governor and former Gov. Jim McGreevey for Jersey City mayor.
