Dear Editor:
In a letter printed in last week’s Reporter, Hoboken developer Frank Raia feared that disclosing political contributions at Zoning Board hearings, as would have been required by a recently introduced ordinance, might “influence the outcome of a variance request.” He should read the proposal. Drafted by one of the state’s pre-eminent land use attorneys for Common Cause, it specifically provides that its intent is “to inform the public and not serve as evidence relevant to decision criteria for variance applications.”
Mr. Raia makes much of the fact that he never contributed to zoning board members’ campaigns. Of course, not, since state law requires that they be appointed volunteers. Maybe he and his friends in and out of public office don’t want the public to know that most (if not all) developers respond generously to requests for campaign contributions, and are then looked upon favorably by both elected and appointed city officials. Meanwhile, ordinary Hobokenites are never asked to help finance our local candidates’ lavish campaigns.
Raia praises Hoboken Mayor David Roberts for his “stand” against the disclosure ordinance. Actually, Mr. Roberts has said only that he supports the city’s attorney, whose recommendation caused the ordinance to be scratched. If he ever takes a stand against the proposal’s merits, it might well be at the bidding of his patrons in Hudson County’s Democratic machine, who never ask us common people for campaign contributions, either.
If you ask me, we taxpayers would be better off financing elections with public funds and outlawing private donations — often called “legalized bribery” — altogether.
John Glasel