Dear Editor:
I want to warn fellow “newcomers” about two errors they might make when voting in the upcoming mayoral election.
For the sake of honest disclosure, this letter is an unsolicited thank you to both Mr. and Mrs. Russo for help they’ve given to two projects I’m involved with: a charter school I helped found and a social service project at my parish.
In fact, with regards to the charter school, they helped us when pretty much no one else would. I believe this showed courage.
Error No. 1: The myth of reform
Dave Roberts has been an elected official longer than Anthony Russo. His mentor, Senator Kenny, whom I greatly admire for his leadership in education, comes from a family long prominent in Hudson County politics.
The Hudson County Political Machine backs the Roberts slate.
Anyone who thinks voting for the Hoboken United slate represents “reform” or a “breath of fresh air” is simply mistaken.
Vote for Mr. Tumpson if you want to vote for “new faces” and “reform.” His chances of winning are slim to none, but at least you’d signal that you can’t be fooled by long-entrenched politicians masquerading as “reformers.”
Error No. 2: Highly competent government is normal
Highly competent city government like we’ve currently got is not all that common. It is an error to assume that change will bring improvement.
If you’re concerned about “development” I’d suggest you drive up and down this side of the Hudson River. Compare what you see to Hoboken. The level of planning and restraint achieved here is really quite impressive.
This is not simply a function of good economic times. Similar things did not happen in the boom of 1980s. Or, compare Hoboken’s fiscal health with that of Jersey City and Union City if you prefer.
All in all, the Russo Administration seems to know how to run a city rather well. If they sometimes play very hard hardball, well, I think we need to remember that Hudson County is a very tough place politically, the market forces at play are enormous and municipal authority is not absolute; property owners, for example, have recourse to the courts if they don’t like a zoningg or planning board decision, and they frequently use it.
Now, I don’t know Dave Roberts and I wish him well if he succeeds. But there is no basis for assuming he and his team will be as good, better, or worse than the Russo Administration at running the City of Hoboken.
Why replace a mayor we already know to be highly competent with a new mayor whose abilities are untried and unknown?
Do you make decisions like this in your personal or business lives? I don’t.
There’s just no reason to change and lots of reasons to stay with the Russo Team. I intend to vote for them, and I’d encourage you to do the same.
Michael Evers
Hoboken resident since 1993