Thread by @CivicParent

1/The #HudsonCounty freeholder meeting is packed. Many here due to controversial #ICE contract. These are your freeholders:
Jerry Walker
Albert Cifelli
Anthony Romano
Anthony Vainieri
William O’Dea
Caridad Rodriguez
Kenneth Kopacz
Joel Torres
cc @StPaulsChurchJC @MigrantCenterJC

First time at one of these meetings. Space is large, each freeholder has designated seat similar to City Council. Like city/BOE meetings they are doing student awards and such upfront before ongoing business/votes. cc @TheLocalJC @JerseyTogether @NJ08forProgress @Mahmoud4Congres

FYI there are 21 counties in NJ.
566 municipalities roll up into those counties.
Hudson County has about 15 or so towns including #JerseyCity, Bayonne, Hoboken, more.

My sense of County is that it’s akin to government “middle management” in some respects in NJ. For example the County is supposed to help manage compliance re property tax. Long stalled JC Reval is partially a Hudson County fail...

...There is a lot of service at County level too. Roads parks schools & of course the jail.
County freeholders are paid (like city council reps). Not sure of salaries.

O’Dea making case for new meeting at PS11 that next meeting Thursday 9/13 should be at @jcps_district PS11 given size of expected crowds.
FYI PS11 is where BOE mtgs are held - on Bergen. Down street from @MigrantCenterJC.

Need to leave soon but great to see large crowd. @Terrencemcd is here following issue.
FYI i Will tweet about parking for future reference in a bit (I had to find street). One hurdle w these public meetings in JC is often transport!

This freeholder in the middle (Albert Cifelli) voting to not have next meeting 9/13 at PS11. Same w Kenneth Kopacz. 2nd photo. O’Dea saying they both “lack courage”. O’Dea criticizing his fellow freeholders currently.

Here’s pic of freeholders now. O’Dea basically scolding fellow freeholders. Oh boy now Cifelli is saying he feels insulted that his character was maligned.
Public gallery clapped for O’Dea.

Tilo Rivas voted to move the meeting

Caridad Rodriguez voted to not move meeting. Said she’s a refugee from Cuba in ‘62. Cited need to not get too emotional about this issue, her personal story. Again this is a vote to move meeting space to PS11. She said this is “not a political issue” (#ICE contract)

Anthony Romano says he’s never seen issue so contentious among freeholders themselves. Praising activists. Called them the “mouth of the lion”.
He said freeholders need chance to prep for any meeting. He said board needs a month.

@JT4Freeholder saying it’s “hypocritical” that freeholders are asking for more time give this board rushed #ICE renewal contract last meeting. Said public rightfully views freeholders as “a joke”. Said public should be looped in ASAP ca blocked out while freeholders plan

Jerry Walker said these meetings never have this many ppl, only last 1-2 hours. Says he’s new to board and still learning. Made plug for his district. Voted to not move the meeting.
Again: this is just a location change

Anthony Vainieri voted against moving meeting & said freeholders who want to share more w public should have separate meeting w fewer than 5 freeholders to avoid quorum. Basically said “if you guys are interested then work it forward but don’t make it official business pls”

Now Cifelli is rationalizing his vote & saying he and O’Dea are friendly despite fireworks at meeting. Said “we have to make best of bad situation.” Saying “this is politics”
Again: this is about **moving a meeting* & opening freeholders up to pubic

Romano now defending the Hudson County jail. Said public rhetoric about jail is misplaced.
BTW this letter from #JerseyCity religious leaders gives context re jail.

Ok I have to grab the kids from summer camp. @MigrantCenterJC @StPaulsChurchJC @HudCoDSA @JerseyTogether @Mahmoud4Congres

FYI I asked as I left since this is my first time here: parking situation at these meetings at 567 Pavonia:
paid parking lots or
street parking only.
No designated public parking other than those 2 options. JSQ PATH not far away.

FYI I asked as I left since this is my first time here: parking situation at these meetings at 567 Pavonia:
paid parking lots or
street parking only.
No designated public parking other than those 2 options. JSQ PATH not far away.

@threadreaderapp #unroll please TYIA