Jeff Bachner for New York Daily News
Hoboken residents ripped the Christie administration over Mayor Dawn Zimmer's claims she was pressured to back a local development deal in exchange for hurricane relief funds. Craig Smith says elected officials should 'serve in the best interests of their constituents.'
Angry Hoboken residents blasted the Christie administration Saturday amid charges the governor left their waterlogged city high and dry when it came to hurricane relief cash.
"Obviously, political payback is wrong," said Craig Smith, standing in the supermarket parking lot where Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer claims she was squeezed to boost a local development deal.
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"We elect people," he continued. "They should obviously serve in the best interests of their constituents. It bothers me that strong-arming occurs like that."
Joann Catalano, 55, was annoyed but not surprised by the latest accusations against Gov. Chris Christie and his inner circle.
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"Politics as usual," she said outside the ShopRite. "It's getting worse. Retribution doesn't make sense. It should be done fairly."
The mayor claimed her storm-battered city received less than 1% of its requested $127 million in Hurricane Sandy aid, with two administration officials saying the money would come when the plan was approved.
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Smith and fellow resident Peter Keeling both felt the allegations from Zimmer, coupled with the Bridgegate scandal, sounded a death knell for Christie's presidential aspirations.
"I like Christie, but he's getting a lot of bad press lately," said Keeling, 25. "I don't think he stands a chance now."
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Smith said the arm-twisting was typical Jersey politics, but added that Christie's act wouldn't play from coast to coast.
"I don't think on a national stage he would have succeeded," said Smith.
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Rich Sgaramella, 58, was outraged by the idea that Hoboken was denied its rightful piece of the rebuilding money.
"It's not appropriate to hold Sandy aid hostage," said Sgaramella. "There should be no conditions."
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John Martinovich had a more pointed response: "Where is the rest of the money? Where is the $126 million?"
Brendan McCall and wife Katherine, both 32, recalled the arrest of Zimmer's predecessor Peter Cammarano for arranging a $10,000 cash bribe at the local Malibu Diner.
Brendan thought the new charges sounded like politics as usual, while Katherine took a more philosophical view.
"Hoboken and politics," she said, "is not pretty."
lmcshane@nydailynews.com
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