Presinzano running for Hoboken 1st Ward council seat, setting up matchup with DeFusco

By
John Heinis
-
22

Hoboken activist Paul Presinzano has announced that he is running for the 1st Ward council seat this fall, setting up a matchup with incumbent Mike DeFusco.

“I decided to run after speaking with numerous residents, hearing that the status quo is unacceptable and needs to change. Ward 1 deserves an available and present councilperson, which will be my top priority,” Presinzano, who unsuccessfully ran for an at-large council seat in 2021, said in a Twitter video this morning.

“The 1st Ward is one of the city’s oldest parts, having a distinctive makeup of renters, owners, and seniors. Those residents will face significant Quality of Life issues as redevelopment begins in our Ward. My leadership will ensure Ward 1 is represented, and your rights are protected.”

Since losing his first bid for public office in the Mile Square City, Presinzano has become a regular presence at public meetings and has become a regular critic of Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s administration.

He says that if elected in the non-partisan November 7th race, he will stress community involvement and transparent in government decisions.

“A robust process coupled with transparency are the pillars of good government. If elected, I will accomplish this with a focus on community building and working to make sure the voters are making the decisions, not the select few insiders.”

Presinzano appeared on the October 11th episode of HCV Live and Uncut and while he said he supported DeFusco, he hadn’t ruled out running for office this year.

“Listen, I’ve been a supporter of Michal DeFusco, he’s our councilperson for the 1st Ward. At this point, as far as I know, that’s the way it’s gonna be. I’ll entertain something that comes along, I can’t say that I’m not interested in it, but currently Mike DeFusco is the person that I back right now,” he said at the time.

DeFusco then appeared on the program a week later and said that he planned on seeking a third term in 2023 and said he doubted he’d run on Bhalla’s slate, though also explained why he didn’t want to be constantly trading punches with the administration any longer.

“Listen: I am not going anywhere, I’m the city councilman, I plan on running for re-election next November. Paul [Presinzano] is also my guy: I think he’s done an amazing job at bringing our neighborhood, our ward, together on issues,” the councilman stated on October 18th.

“ … There will always be that oppositional force that I exude, but it is going to continue to be in a very productive, apolitical way. I want things done, I want them done fast, and I want to see Hoboken continue to move forward.”

Today, DeFusco told HCV he has been proud to serve the 1st Ward for two terms, citing accomplishments such as bringing retail kiosks to Pier A, repairs to Court Street, and the $180 million restoration of the Lackawanna Terminal.

He also fired the first shot over Presinzano’s civic association.

“While I have been focused on delivering real results for my constituents, my opponent has been spreading misinformation by funneling questionable money through a ‘civic association’ targeting seniors and other vulnerable populations for political gain,” he asserted.

“Despite these distractions, I remain committed to continuing to deliver real results for my constituents and improving the quality of life in our community this year. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for our community and make the first ward a better place for all.”

For the time being, the only other candidate who has formally announced a re-election bid is 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, a close political ally of Bhalla.


Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /home/hcvcp/public_html/wp-content/themes/Hudson County View/includes/wp_booster/td_block.php on line 353

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

22 COMMENTS

  2. It’s a shame that DeFusco has sold his soul by refusing to punch Bhalla in exchange for him not running a candidate against him. The Bhalla machine would rather have DeFusco on the City Council than Presinzano, because Presinzano is a bigger threat to his agenda.

    • Bhalla’s deal with Presianno is he won’t officially fund and run a candidate in the First after his humiliating defeat last time he tried to oust DeFusco. Like the woman Ravi backed against Mike previously Paul is just a place holder on the ballot. It cost Bhalla a boatload of cash and he ended up looking weak, sleazy and petty.

      Much like Bhalla’s game plan in the the 3rd Ward where he will again not a candidate against Russo.

  5. Well of course his top priority can be “being available and present.” Don’t we have enough unemployed people on this council who spend wayy too much time engaging with TW trolls?

      • That’s what Jen, Tiffanie and Paul would like everyone to believe. And still they think time well spent is engaging with TW trolls. Perhaps if Tiff actually paid attention, we wouldn’t be dealing with the fiasco that is the Story Dispensary in the 2nd. #nomoreunemployeds

        • James Doyle admitted at a City Council meeting he saw the loophole in the cannabis regulations that Mrs Fulop slipped her store through on 14th Street and said nothing to the public or his non-Bhalla council members.

          He has forever shown himself to Hoboken voters be untrustworthy

          One has to wonder if Mayor Fulops is running for Governor had anything to do with his silence.

    • This is a great point. The last thing Hoboken needs is another unemployed, out of touch fool trying to dictate their hard R Republican beliefs, just like tiffanie fisher.

      Also, Paul, can you tell us more about how much you’re paying people on marineview and other buildings to do your bidding?

      • What’s up with this ridiculous Ravibot lies? Isn’t it cheaper and smarter to go with another Terror Flier.

        Show me one thing on the council putting up let alone to “dictate” anything “hard R Republican.”

        No one has even questioned child groomer freaks here.

          • Are you the last to know? Everyone in City Hall knows. Everyone!

            So do Ravi’s construction union pals. We’re stronger together when we lie together and you’re together with all the liars. Now live with it.

          • same old pathetic attempt to sound like a playa while illustrating you’re just a sad old man who saw nothing, knows nothing and does nothing.

          • In other words, it’s true and you hate the truth. It will NEVER go away.

            “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

  6. Usually a sign of worry, weakness and fear.
    DeFusco who took thousands from big developer / labor union PACs and vendors is the only one with suspicious fundraising

    DeFusco Knocking this former supporter only makes Mike look weaker and elevates Presinzano

  7. While the City continues to backfill and create high pay positions with out-of-town and political hires – “Who stood up, who laid down and who stands up now to this injustice committed during COVID-19?”

    https://news.yahoo.com/hoboken-says-lay-off-26-175356307.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJZEuAOQUvmTiRF_jaynoP9ZJ88i5LyyQG7HcrPjFYP3427aAtGUyg8M3Rf85GcPnNct_osv2b7a4gwBLUPiSJMa75Y0jn8HqcmbCx1VduGxMD8O6BNZQMs0mMCueHyVjR22fHkGZCc-9SIVpG3s4XMVzRLyTreurQWlV0_zL7dY

    http://hudsoncountyview.com/hoboken-workers-tee-off-on-the-administration-over-layoffs-who-say-theyll-save-2-5m-a-year/

    https://hudsonreporter.com/2020/04/29/hoboken-employees-seek-to-have-layoffs-revoked/

    https://hudsonreporter.com/2020/05/04/hoboken-layoffs-are-callous-and-exploitative/

LEAVE A REPLY