Hoboken's Council Members Say They Don't Trust Each Other

There seems to be a deep distrust between the two factions of the non-partisan Hoboken City Council. 

The bi-monthly council meeting on Wednesday took a bit of a Shakespearian turn when council members started discussing Peter Cunningham's and Carol Marsh's—both of whom are allies of Mayor Dawn Zimmer—sudden departure from City Hall, effectively canceling a meeting about a few minutes before it was supposed to start. 

Cunningham and Marsh were the only members of the council majority present, leaving the power for that meeting in the hands of the minority. (Councilman David Mello was sick that day, Councilman Ravi Bhalla was stuck at work and Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino was in Indianapolis). 

"I was just like, I do not trust these people," Cunningham said on Wednesday night. Adding to his council colleagues, "and I will never trust you. It’s unfortunate, I will never trust you." 

Cunningham said he believed that the minority would have filled the open zoning board seats. 

"There was just no way," Cunningham said, "that I was going to take that chance."

Councilman Michael Russo criticized Cunningham and Marsh, saying they were afraid to vote on a resolution introduced by Councilwoman Theresa Castellano right before that meeting, to put the question of moving school board elections on the ballot in November. 

"You can try to spin it every way you want," Russo said, "you were scared of a vote." 

A special meeting had to be held a week later. Russo said he wants Marsh and Cunningham to personally pay for the cost—overtime for several city employees—of that meeting. 

Council President Bhalla said he supported Marsh and Cunningham and said he would have done the same. 

Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti said he was disappointed to hear about the deep distrust between the two sides of the council. 

"I am really insulted actually," Occhipinti said, "that you would think that harm would come to the city of Hoboken If the four of us would run one meeting."