Dear Friend,

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season and are finding a way to keep warm with the recent cold weather. Please allow me the opportunity to update you with several community news items:

January 6th Hoboken City Council Meeting

2010-2011 Budget

At last night’s City Council meeting members of the public had the opportunity to comment on the 2010-2011 budget for the first time. The overall feelings of the residents who spoke was that the budget needs more cuts in order to provide more substantial tax relief and that taxpayers must have access to budget documents and details. When the budget was introduced by Finance Director Nicholas Trasente residents were assured that budget documents would be made available via the City of Hoboken’s website. It is imperative that this occurs so that we can continue to ensure that this will be an open, transparent and inclusive process for all the residents of Hoboken.

Also, last night 4th Ward Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman Michael Lenz announced a budget workshop that will take place on Saturday January 30th from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The City Council will hear from directors and department heads on their appropriation requests, as well as on their recommendations to reduce the budget through efficiencies and spending cuts. Although this workshop is open for public attendance, comments by the public will be heard at a separate meeting to follow at a later date. Should you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about the budget before or after the January 30th workshop please feel free to contact me for assistance.

Illegal Apartments

Last night I introduced a resolution regarding illegal apartments. Illegal apartments present both a safety and financial challenge for the people of Hoboken. Often these dwellings do not provide a suitable safety exit for tenants and in the event of a fire or other emergency, and are sometimes well behind on safety codes and regulations. Rescue workers are often unaware the apartment even exists, which makes it difficult for them to help anyone inside.

In addition, illegal apartments allow landlords to exploit tenants, fellow residents and the City of Hoboken. Because of the unlawful nature of the apartment, tenants are not protected by any rent control laws or safeguards. In addition, the landlords collect rent from tenants while not paying property taxes to the city on that unit, while consuming city services. In the current financial situation Hoboken is facing we must do everything possible to reduce the tax burden for Hoboken residents.

Many surrounding communities have passed illegal apartment legislation which has helped make the community safer and helped collect revenue through fines on offending landlords. My proposed resolution was sent to committee for further review and I will continue to provide updates as it moves closer to being enacted into law.

Citizen Service Act

On Tuesday, Governor Jon Corzine signed the “Citizen Service Act” into law. This groundbreaking legislation paves the way for a more open, transparent and inclusive process for appointment to local boards and agencies in every municipality throughout New Jersey.

As a result of this law, municipal clerks are required to maintain a record of all existing vacancies for public boards or commissions and provide this list to residents free of charge. Residents can then fill out an application to apply for a vacant position. If the resident is not selected for the board or commission their application is to be kept on file with the City Clerk for an opportunity to serve in the future.

In 2007, I sponsored an ordinance to adopt the Citizen Service Act that was approved unanimously by the Hoboken City Council. In a year where our city faced a state takeover and corruption in city hall, it is refreshing to see that Hoboken helped spearhead statewide change by passing real reform right here in our home town first.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor and my Council colleagues so we can make Hoboken the example of how open, honest and fair government should operate.

Dear Friend,

I have received numerous questions about my vote regarding a permanent change to the Hoboken’s I-1 zoning districts. I would like to take this opportunity to explain my position and my reason for voting against the zoning change.

At the last City Council meeting several of my colleagues on the council proposed a permanent change to I-1 zoning districts to allow animal daycare and boarding as a “conforming use”. If the change is enacted it allows an animal daycare and boarding facility to open anywhere in an I-1 zone and prohibits the city from regulating the business.

A designation of an I-1 zone is supposed to be reserved for “light industrial areas” and not included any residential neighborhoods, but with the proposed change it would in fact encompass many residential neighborhoods.

Currently there is a business owner who wishes to move his doggie daycare and boarding business to an area that is not zoned as an I-1. While this business would not be located in a residential area and would not be of any disturbance to residents in its new location, I do believe there is alternate relief available for the business owner.

The business owner can simply go before the Zoning Board of Adjustments to receive a use variance. I have always supported Hoboken business owners and would gladly support Mr. Stigliano’s application for a use variance before the zoning board and ask that residents join me in doing the same.

Many residents of our community are dog owners and Mr. Stigliano’s business allows them a place to bring their pet for quality care while they are out of town. As an animal lover myself, I know that peace of mind is important when you are away from a pet while traveling on vacation or on business trips. Mr. Stigliano’s business is of great service to the community in this regard and I whole heartedly support it.

For far too long city government has passed ordinances for a benefit today without thinking about how it will effect residents long term. It would be egregious for the City Council to continue this practice, which is why I believe a use variance is a better approach than a zoning change. I hope this helps you to better understand my vote.

Thank you for your time,

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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