'Don't Contact Me Anymore,' Hoboken Mayor Bhalla Told Ex-Mayor Zimmer
NORTH JERSEY, NJ — In the final weeks of the 8th District Congressional primary race — and with the election looming Tuesday — incumbent Rep. Rob Menendez has painted his chief opponent, Ravi Bhalla, the mayor of Hoboken, as a "hypocrite." The response came after Bhalla's attempts to tie Menendez Jr. to his indicted father, Sen. Bob Menendez. Menendez Jr., who was elected to Congress in 2022, has not been named in the recent indictments against his father and stepmother for bribery. This week, Menendez seized on accusations made against Bhalla by the city's former director of health and human services, Leo Pellegrini, who resigned abruptly from Hoboken City Hall a year ago.A lawsuit filed by Pellegrini this month ties Bhalla to an unusual series of events that led to a proposed cannabis dispensary coming to a dense residential corner of Hoboken, in a storefront co-owned by the wife of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. Many have asked if Fulop's wife got favorable treatment, especially as Hoboken's zoning was changed in 2022 in a way that allowed a dispensary to come to that area.A Bhalla spokesperson has said Pellegrini's allegations have no merit and are the result of a disgruntled employee.The circumstances surrounding the proposed dispensary, which still has not opened, have been hotly debated by residents and officials for over a year (read more here). However, another curious thread has emerged in the controversy: An argument between Bhalla and his predecessor, Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who until recently had publicly supported Bhalla — and who held a surprise press conference in 2017 to announce that she wouldn't seek another term, endorsing Bhalla to succeed her. Zimmer's display of faith played a large part in launching Bhalla's mayoral career.As part of Leo Pellegrini's recent lawsuit against the city, Pellegrini claimed that Bhalla urged Zimmer not to make a statement thanking Pellegrini for his service when he resigned in May 2023, as it could haunt Bhalla politically.This month, texts between Bhalla and Zimmer emerged that corroborate a growing rift between the current and past mayor, giving credence to at least one claim in the Pellegrini lawsuit.Zimmer was seen as a corruption fighter during her time in office, and recently began publicly criticizing Bhalla's actions related to anti-flooding initiatives in Hoboken. Zimmer's husband also has begun publicly criticizing Bhalla’s actions as mayor. READ MORE: Menendez-Bhalla Battle Gets A Twist From Hoboken's Former Mayor And Her HusbandWhen asked this week if Zimmer will make an endorsement in the race among Bhalla, Menendez, and Kyle Jasey for the Democratic nomination to 8th District Congress, Zimmer said Thursday that she won't endorse — but that she urges voters to look at the candidates' records.The series of texts from spring 2023 shows that the climate matter wasn't the only reason Zimmer began parting ways with Bhalla.Growing RiftAccording to newly released texts, Bhalla became so incensed a year ago over Zimmer's comments when Pellegrini resigned that Bhalla told her, "Never contact me again."The texts are below.While the texts do not confirm malfeasance on anyone's part, they may provide a glimpse into the change of heart Zimmer has had about her successor.In the texts below, Zimmer's comments are in blue. (Rob Horowitz, who's mentioned in the texts, is a Bhalla political adviser and spokesperson for his current congressional campaign. He does not work as a City Hall or city spokesperson.)Read more about the race, and when and where to vote, here. Voting in the Democratic and Republican primaries for the seat closes Tuesday.New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District includes most of Hudson County (including Hoboken and Jersey City), as well as Elizabeth in Union County, and Newark's north and east wards.The article 'Don't Contact Me Anymore,' Hoboken Mayor Bhalla Told Ex-Mayor Zimmer appeared first on Hoboken, NJ Patch.
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