Dear Friend,

I am writing to you today with a recap of Monday night’s City Council meeting, which lasted over seven hours. Below are a few of the major issues covered at the meeting.

Hoboken University Medical Center

During the meeting we were given the opportunity to question representatives of Hoboken University Medical Center. As many of you are aware I have always expressed great concern over the hospital’s finances. I am even more concerned after Monday’s meeting.

Last year the hospital lost $22.3 million and is projected to lose another $11 million this year. When I questioned CEO Spiros Hatiras about how he plans to keep the hospital running with such a disastrous financial picture, he explained that he expects the hospital to receive $10.7 million is “stabilization funding” from the state. Unfortunately, Mr. Hatiras said the hospital does not have a contingency plan in the event the state does not provide the hospital with that amount of funding.

I truly believe the only way to save the hospital is to make serious budget cuts and start at the top.

4th Ward Council Seat

When Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer was elected Mayor she resigned her 4th Ward Council seat. Last night the City Council appointed Michael Lenz to be the new 4th Ward Councilman by a vote of 4-3-1.

I abstained last night from voting for Councilman Lenz and would like to take this opportunity to explain my vote. First and foremost, my vote was not against Mr. Lenz, but rather a vote against the process in which he was appointed. I do not believe the selection process was as open, transparent and inclusive as it could have been.

I truly do believe that the residents of the 4th Ward deserve a representative on the City Council, which is why I proposed holding a Special Meeting in their ward, and allowing residents who were interested in the position to be able to submit their resumes and have the opportunity to speak to City Council and their fellow residents. This also would have allowed many of the residents who are too busy to attend City Council meetings at City Hall to attend one right in their own ward. Several residents who spoke also felt this way.

However, Mayor Zimmer and the Council majority rejected this idea and called for a vote instead and unanimously supported Michael Lenz. I look forward to working with him on the City Council.

Salary Cuts

Also on the agenda was an ordinance, which I sponsored, that would cut the salaries of the Mayor, City Council, and City Directors by 15%. However, the ordinance was voted down by my City Council colleagues.

The residents of our city were hit last year with the biggest tax increase in Hoboken’s history. The only way to provide serious tax relief is to make budget cuts and start at the top. Currently many of our City Directors are paid salaries that are scaled for Manhattan rather than Hoboken.

In a few weeks the Mayor is expected to present her budget to the City Council and I will continue to fight for more cuts, so taxpayers get the relief they deserve.

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