Dear Editor:
As a member of the Weehawken Planning Board, I am compelled to write this letter in response to the many fictional accounts of our waterfront development process being disseminated by “Friends of the Weehawken Waterfront” (FWW).
The members of the Weehawken Planning Board are, truly, the only people who have sat through all of the meetings pertaining to waterfront development. We know fact from fiction.
Using distortions and fear tactics to solicit funds from residents is bad enough, but for FWW to attack Mayor Turner on waterfront development issues is the height of hypocrisy. The Mayor has met time and time again with FWW, the Weehawken Environmental Committee, the developer, etc. He has listened to every suggestion and attempted to reach a compromise to make this the best possible development for the Town. He even cut short his vacation to come home to address concerns expressed by FWW. Mayor Turner has bent over backwards to be accommodating, only to be sandbagged time and time again by FWW.
It is time for everyone to know what FWW is really all about. It is not about the waterfront, it is about politics. They are soliciting money not just for their frivolous lawsuits, but I believe to fund a run for political office in 2002.
That’s fine if they want to run. But they should come out and tell everyone that is what they are doing. (By the way, the members of this administration and the other 99.9 percent of our residents are looking forward to the challenge).
We have an opportunity, finally, to be able to utilize our waterfront and realize the eleven-acre park that comes with the development. The ratables definitely will stabilize our taxes. I, for one, refuse to let FWW deny us this wonderful chance to ensure Weehawken’s future.
It is time for everyone to see the “Friends” of the Weehawken Waterfront for what they are-arrogant, political obstructionists who have only their own personal interests in mind.
Richard Barsa