Dear Editor
At one of the last City Council meetings of the year, I witnessed the Administration proposing to City Council a resolution that should have been at the very least parceled into two resolutions. The controversial resolution was to 1) provide an increase in municipal wages and 2) redefine municipal titles in administration along with expanded salary ranges for those official positions. I want us to take a look at the issues and how they were presented.
I am for salary increases provided that they are appropriate. Thus must we need to remind the Administration of a poor economy and reduced municipal budgets, where many of their corporate brethren are not giving increases, and reducing its work force all in an effort to make budget. Let’s look at it this way. If the Administration were a corporation, then we the people are its shareholders. Wouldn’t it be prudent for the Administration to demonstrate to us good fiscal judgment? While these actions of no increases, cut backs and layoffs are not popular, we look across the river and to the south where NYC has demonstrated that it’s tried to hold the line on expenses, and JC has done the same. What has Hoboken done to reduce its burden and effectively close the gap?
Furthermore, why must this municipal increase have coattails? Expanded salary ranges for municipal professionals should have nothing to do with employee increases. They are apples to oranges deserving of being treated separately. Why should the Administration have the right to increase salary ranges anyway? Show the people of Hoboken why you are deserving of potentially rewarding yourselves for a job that has yet to show merit for increases now or in the future.
In my humble opinion, the Administration tied these two issues together to hold City Council (and the people of Hoboken) hostage to have to vote “yes” for increases; that if they were to otherwise vote the unpopular “no” for, would probably be used as a political dagger against them with less than six months before municipal elections.
Therefore, aside from independent analysis of the issues, and its presentation, it is the ultimate disappointment that the majority of City Council did not vote to separate this resolution. Our neighboring cities having exercised strength and leadership in implementing unpopular acts that may unfortunately hurt few, but have the drive to benefit the general public (renters and homeowners alike) and we should applaud them.
Wall Street this year let go 75,000 employees, and next year probably more with an improving economy. This will continue to exert pressure on our municipal budget. And what are we going to do?
The future success of Hoboken depends on all of us. This spring vote for council members that demonstrate strength and leadership for what we the people truly believe in such as open space, open government, reasonable development and prudent fiscal management.
Peter H. Cunningham
Proud father of 14 month old son
Concerned Hoboken Citizen
HDA Member
HFA Member