Hoboken City Councilmembers Phil Cohen and Emily Jabbour issued the following statement in response to Councilmember Vanessa Falco’s Statement and response and reaction to the City’s legal opinion that found Mayor Bhalla was well within his legal authority to conditionally hire Vanessa to run City Hall’s affordable housing department after her term on the City Council ends:

“The manner with which Councilmembers Giattino and Fisher viciously attacked Councilwoman Falco’s integrity, regarding her decision to work in City Hall is stunningly disrespectful and unprofessional.

To level thoroughly baseless accusations of unethical and even criminal behavior by our Council colleague, when she has made a decision to give back to the residents of Hoboken through another mode of public service is, frankly, a new low for Hoboken.

The decision by Councilwoman Falco to seek a new employment opportunity, doing what she loves on behalf of our residents, is a personal decision.  Vanessa deserves the same respect afforded any independent individual when making decisions about their professional life.  We call on Councilmembers Giattino and Fisher to issue an immediate and public apology to Councilwoman Falco.”