HCDO War: Is it For the People, By the People, or For the Power, By the Power?

The question must be asked—where is the civility in politics? Has public service, once the noble aspiration of those seeking to improve the lives of their communities, been overshadowed by a political game where power, patronage, and self-interest reign supreme? 

Locally, in Hudson County, a public Democratic civil war is brewing within the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO). But is this war driven by principled disagreements on policy, or is it merely a struggle for control between a handful of power brokers who have lost sight of their responsibility to the people?

This public sparring match between political titans calls to mind that iconic scene from *The Godfather*, when Clemenza says, “War is good every 20 years.” The difference here is that this isn’t a scripted drama—it’s real life, and the stakes aren’t just pride or territory; they’re the futures of thousands of Hudson County residents. What, if anything, will the public gain when this clash is finally resolved? Will it lead to better policies, or simply result in a reshuffling of who gets to sit at the table of power?

Hudson County, arguably the most diverse county in America, is being held hostage by a political battle led by a few influential white men who seem more focused on personal vendettas and consolidating power than addressing the real issues affecting our communities. We’re talking about a county where affordability is spiraling out of control, housing inventory is dwindling, and the challenges of everyday life are getting steeper by the day. Yet, instead of solving these problems, we’re getting Twitter wars and carefully orchestrated leaks to the press.

Supporters of both factions have been reduced to pawns in this game. What’s worse is that this power struggle doesn’t even try to masquerade as public service, it’s clearly  politics over people. The public deserves better than the same tired soundbites about stopping the MAGA agenda like its threatening the outcome to local issues. We deserve leadership that’s genuinely committed to the public interest, not caught up in ego-driven battles over who gets the biggest piece of the pie.

So, what will actually make Hudson great? It starts with elected officials who remember that their job is to serve the people, not obsess over power. The current direction isn’t about moving our communities forward; it’s about maintaining a status quo that benefits a select few. Hudson County powerbrokers need to recommit themselves to the public good, not their personal ambitions.

As Progressives, as Black and Brown communities, as working-class families trying to make ends meet, we have to hold our leaders accountable. We need to demand that they stop wasting time on these petty power plays and start focusing on what really matters—affordability, housing, and creating a county that’s livable and prosperous for all, not just the politically connected.

The people of Hudson County deserve more than the distraction of power politics. They deserve a government  that’s truly for the people, by the people, and not for the power, by the power. The time for real leadership is now, and anything less is a betrayal of public trust.