HOBOKEN - A controversial blog written by a member of the Hoboken Zoning Board has ignited a debate over hate speech and free speech.
Monday evening’s City Council meeting featured an emotional moment for some City Council members when Lane Bajardi, a frequent critic of the administration of Mayor Dawn Zimmer, displayed an image put forth on the personal blog of Zoning Board member Nancy Pincus, a Zimmer ally. Pincus, whose controversial blog often takes aim at Zimmer foes, posted an image of Councilwoman Beth Mason superimposed on an altered poster of the 1935 Nazi propaganda film Triumph des Willens, or Triumph of the Will. Mason is Jewish, and so is Pincus. The picture was altered to read: Triumph des Shillens, or "Triumph of the Shill." The post was related to a recent heated council election in the 4th Ward.
While the Hoboken blog scene during election season can be less than civil at times, some feel the image crossed a line.
“There are certain topics which should never be used for ammunition,” Bajardi said on Monday. “Nazi Germany and the Holocaust should be among them.”
Five members of the council, including the four Zimmer allies, vocally expressed their disapproval of the use of the image.
Councilman Michael Russo asked during the meeting for instructions on how the council can remove a member of the Zoning Board. Corporation Counsel Mark Tabakin said the image is “disturbing on many, many levels” but the council needs to be “cognizant of this person’s First Amendment rights.”
And there may be a political motive for the council comments, as some would like to see Zimmer lose her majority on the Zoning Board.
Pincus said on Tuesday that her blog has nothing to do with Zoning Board issues and it does not affect her work with the city. Pincus believes what is going on now is a political operation to have her removed from the board.
Russo, in a phone interview on Tuesday, said, “This isn’t just some political commentary,” Russo said. “This is hate we’re talking about. For anyone to try and mask it as anything other than hate is disgusting.”
Pincus, for her part, posted a followup on her "Grafix Avenger" blog, noting that she is a descendant of Holocaust victims.
“There’s nothing advocating fascism or Nazism,” Pincus said in an interview. “There’s no relationship other than the title of the piece which is a pun of a propaganda film.”
Pincus also said she is “outraged” that she is being targeted and called an anti-Semite when she is Jewish.
Also in the photo was newly elected Councilman Tim Occhipinti, who was featured on the necklace of Mason in the photo.
When asked if she would take the post down, Pincus said no.
“I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Pincus said. “It’s satirical.”
Some blogs and commenters have reached out in support of Pincus, while others see this as something that crosses the line.
What do you think? Comment below. And read more in this weekend’s Hoboken Reporter, available in print on Sunday or here at www.hudsonreporter.com.
http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com/2010/11/beth-mason-supporter-mike-novak-attacks.html
Wake up and smell the coffee hullabaloo. Pincus only has about 5 demented malcontents (including you) still supporting her Nazi posters. The more people who see what she did, the more people condemn her!
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2010/11/beth-mason-hit-job.html
The National Jewish Democratic Council agrees:
http://www.njdc.org/blog/post/njdccondemnspincus111710
NJDC Condemns Hoboken Zoning Board Member Nancy Pincus for Nazi Graphic
The National Jewish Democratic Council condemns Hoboken, NJ Zoning Board Member Nancy Pincus (D-NJ) for her graphic that compares Hoboken City Councilmember Beth Mason (D-NJ) to the Nazis.
Sadly, this is another example of an office holder invoking the Holocaust to attack their political opponent. While the vast majority of such examples have stemmed from today’s conservative movement and from Republican candidates, elected officials and activists, it is always wrong to engage in such rhetoric.
As we have said repeatedly, comparing elected officials to the Nazis, whether perpetrated by a Republican or a Democrat, elected official or activist, is never acceptable.
Particularly striking though, is that Pincus does not seem to understand the significance of her actions. The Hoboken Patch reported:
Pincus, in a phone interview on Tuesday morning, said that the anger ... expressed on Monday night wasn’t sincere, but merely politics.
‘I know there’s a political operation underway to get me off the Zoning Board,’ said Pincus, whose term is up in 2013.
The Hoboken Patch also reported that Pincus appears to not consider Nazi comparisons offensive:
‘It’s satire,’ said Pincus. ‘The only people who are offended, are those who want to be offended.’
Pincus’ graphic is not mere satire, and such comparisons are always wrong. Period.
HEAR HEAR! How long will Mayor Zimmer stay SILENT?
Bajardi wants the 1st amendment right to say whatever he wants and attack whomever he wants (in this case Pincus for the second or third time this year) but he would deny Pincus her 1st amendment rights because he disagrees with her opinion and politics. Bajardi defines double standard.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2010/11/lane-wants-my-job.html
At least we can agree on one thing, hobokenitis, this is all about politics. . .
This is a politcally motivated attack. Plain and simple. Silence and intimidate. It's the Russo way.
As a previous editor and chief and publisher of a national magazine, she is entitled to do what she is doing.
With that being said......I would hold her to a higher standard and request a formal apology.
David