Dear Editor: Rent Control, as it presently exists in Hoboken, became a well-guarded treasure to all sides of the political spectrum at the last City Council meeting. This has always been the case for those of us who are Hoboken’s quickly dwindling working and middle class tenants. I went to the meeting intending to speak in support of the ordinance to repeal the questionable rent control reform measures which had been passed at a prior meeting by members of the City Council who support the current administration. I had contributed a few hours to encourage signatures from Hoboken residents on a petition to repeal these proposed rent control changes. Over 1800 persons signed the petition which explains why the administration changed its mind about the changes. From what I read, the changes did not protect the tenants from many loopholes and we are better off with the current Rent Control system. Councilman David Roberts, Ruben Ramos and Tony Soares were backing the Repeal Ordinance. However, the administration co-opted the lead and led the charge to repeal the changes that they had originally advocated. It’s a politician’s privilege to change his mind! As renters, we have no choice but to guard Rent Control and carefully weigh the advisability of making changes. Without rent control, any semblance of working families or people of modest means would disappear in Hoboken as has happened in New York City, the Hamptons, etc. Of course, there are those who would like to see this occur. Greed knows no bounds! During the last 10 years, no middle income housing has been developed amid the density of construction now surrounding us on all sides. There are lengthy waiting lists for any affordable housing and quite a number of persons presently living in subsidized housing are earning far above the guidelines for this housing (one hundred grand or more). Those of us who rent and prefer to remain in Hoboken, are automatically recruited to be Rent Control sentinels, guarding it with our lives. Jean Forest