Dear Editor:
After speaking with several of my neighbors this week and Police Chief Carmen LaBruno about gang related activity, I felt it was time to openly address the issue. There is some truth and a lot of rumor being discussed and regardless of the validity, the talk is causing the public to feel uneasy in their own neighborhoods.
A young dishwasher was killed in Jersey City on his way home from Hoboken by a Hoboken youth. The suspect is in custody for what the prosecutor describes as a “robbery gone bad”. Additionally, three people in Jersey City were shot, with wounds that were not life threatening. Those are the facts.
With these events the rumor mill began. There was a false rumor, with it being Natl. Gang Initiation week in the US fueling the fire, that two Hoboken people were murdered in revenge. This is just not true at all.
As Halloween approached no one wanted to take any additional risks for more than the expected amount of mischief that normally occurs with the young crowd… Throwing eggs etc..This accounts for all the excess emails and phone calls related to this matter that many of us have received. Police Chief Carmen LaBruno took appropriate steps and had assigned extra men in uniform and undercover to patrol the streets, and presently, the Mayor and City Council are looking at hiring additional police with grant moneys that have recently become available.
I am sure the residents of Jersey City felt safe in their community prior to the shootings. It is always best to exercise caution, however especially when it comes to the safety of our children. The point is, and I feel that I should stress this, that people should exercise caution living in any community. Classic example, in Hoboken we have citizens leaving bars intoxicated at 3 a.m. and walking home alone. This is inappropriate. It is a welcome mat for trouble to occur. A cab would be a sensible alternative.
Prudence is preferred especially when potential for mischief is high. For that reason I addressed the emails I received. I would feel great remorse if something were to happen and I neglected to remind people to exercise caution.
Please pass this information on to your friends as it may allow the rumors to subside. I will do the same. We do live in a safe community and we will continue to work hard to keep it safe.
If anyone wishes to discuss this matter further with me you can always email me at MCricco@aol.com or call me at 795-9717. If anyone wishes to be included on my email distribution list to keep informed with Hoboken concerns, please email me with your name and address.
Writers note: Since the time that this letter was originally written, the following events have taken place: The Reporter provided extensive coverage to quell the rumor mill and release the facts to the public, the Police Dept. may be hiring new patrolmen.
Regards,
Michael T Cricco
5th Ward Councilman