Dear Editor: Having taken a strong interest in what’s happening in my community (Weehawken) over the last 24 years of my residency, and being an active member of not only Friends of Weehawken Waterfront, but also the Weehawken Environment Committee and other civic organizations, it actually pains me to see what is now about to happen on our waterfront. Weehawken is a unique community with something very special, which is cherished not only by the residents, but by people from all over the world — the totally unobstructed view of the Hudson River. We are, however, now being faced with a tremendous development which will not only increase the population by more than 3,000 additional residents, but also by more than 8,000 people who will eventually come here to work. Thousands of people means thousands of cars. This, in and of itself, is a tough pill to swallow, since as anyone who has attempted to drive through Weehawken during any rush hour knows, the traffic situation here is already just about intolerable due to the Lincoln Tunnel and the Ferry Terminal and all those run away developments on the waterfront to our north. To add the loss of our precious river views, makes it even more unbearable to contemplate. We are in an area of the country where there is great overcrowding and a sore lack of open space and luckily Weehawken affords not only its residents, but also people from the entire region, an opportunity to stand atop the magnificent Palisades and at least enjoy some serenity and peacefulness of the majestic Hudson River. A weak argument being made by the developer is that we will still be able to see the skyline, but as a Weehawken resident once said, “to take away the frame (the river) from around the picture, would be like putting a hood over the Mona Lisa.” Many residents have sat for countless hours listening to testimony by the developer’s own hired experts regarding issues like the contamination of the soil on our waterfront and how it contains carcinogens, things like arsenic, etc., and yet the developer still plans to move forward with the creation, for example, of a public park (called a “gift”to the people of Weehawken and the region) right on top of the contaminants, by adding a “liner” and about 18 inches of new soil. I ask, “would you honestly like your children or grandchildren to be playing about 18 inches from known carcinogens?” I believe you would all agree that a much needed, safe and healthy public park, with contaminents removed from under our childrens” feet, could be called a “gift” one for which Weehawken and area residents would truly be grateful. Further, we are now listening to fiscal impact experts tell us that there will be a net financial benefit to our community upon completion of this development, approximately 10 years from now. How can we anticipate that the additional expenses to our town, for example, will be the same 10 years from now as they are today? Will our firemen, police force, sanitation workers, town hall employees and others be earning the same wages 10 years from now as they are today. I doubt it. Is this really a true picture being presented to the people of Weehawken? Being an area Realtor and understanding that often progress means change, I am not opposed to development. In fact, I look forward to the time when I can walk along the waterfront to enjoy it from that perspective as well as from above. I can only look forward, however, to development which will not impede views of the Hudson River; which will guarantee healthy, public-friendly and usable open space on our waterfront; which will be designed in such a way to alleviate additional traffic burdens on an already overburdened Weehawken; which will be of a scale that will not create an isolated and separate town from existing Weehawken, but will instead compliment our wonderful, historically rich and interesting community; and lastly, which will not wind up having to be supported by additional tax dollars levied upon the current residents of Weehawken. Therefore, I implore our township officials and planning board members to reject the development proposal, as it is presented to us today, and to insist that the developer go back to the drawing board and come up with a plan for our waterfront which will enhance our community, with not only public well being in mind, but also aesthetically and with more certain financial benefits to both our town, and which will be applauded instead of detested and strongly opposed by the residents of Weehawken. With more sensitivity, creativity and long-range vision, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this developer to not only profit handsomely, but to create a model community, which will be heralded throughout the country. Isn’t that what we should all want and insist upon! Barbara Tulko Friends of Weehawken Waterfront member Weehawken Environment Committee member