Dear Editor:
I must reply to the partisan and divisive letter written by Shelly Miller on January 21.
In her enthusiasm to share her views on the importance of voting, she managed to divide Hoboken into two groups. In her words the new “young, affluent professionals living in expensive condos and the other born and raised Hobokenites who are “middle-aged empty nesters who don’t make huge salaries and live in subsidized housing.” Ms. Shelly, Hoboken obviously was attractive to many generations who came here and it was because of its diverse and wonderful community of people.
You continue to deride an entire community when you wrote “friends feared that someone would fit me for cement galoshes” because you expressed your views. Now what group would that be? Were they the “young, affluent professionals living in expensive condos” or a born and raised Hobokenite who would laugh heartily at such a suggestion.
Hoboken has seen many changes since its inception as a municipality in the nineteenth century. It thrives on diversity. We have always been active in community groups, whether it be social, religious or political. You should speak to Bob Foster of the Hoboken Historical Society and ask to see photos of election nights in this town. We have always been involved and interested in our community and government and your comment of “200 years of Tammany Hall politics” is an insult. Enjoy your involvement in community and government, but don’t do it at the expense of the very people who have made this city the reason you and thousands of others came here.
I suggest you calm down, Ms. Miller. You didn’t invent political activism, you did however reveal yourself as a slightly hysterical person with a very closed mind on the city in which you live.
C.D.