Dear Editor:
We have deep concerns about the newly formed Weehawken Chamber of Commerce and its ability to promote Weehawken business.
We attended their meeting in November and December 2002, at which time we expressed concern that they intended to invite anyone to join, specifically businesses from out of town. We could not understand how a Weehawken Chamber of Commerce could best represent Weehawken business if it also represented businesses in other cities. It was oblivious that we were the only true businesses located in Weehawken with storefronts and paying business rent and taxes.
We also were denied access to the group’s by-laws, which might have shed some light on their business plan and given us some answers to our questions.
Since that time we have not been invited to another meeting. What kind of Chamber excludes some business people? Was it because we raised questions? What kind of Chamber is afraid of questions from potential members? What kind of Chamber holds what appears to have been secret meetings? Why did so many business people have to read about their card swap in the newspaper?
A true Weehawken Chamber of Commerce is an open forum, accessible to all local based merchants. This is not what we have seen from this group. As a result, it is our intention to form a typical Chamber of Commerce, one that will promote all Weehawken based businesses and only Weehawken businesses.
Ernesto Garcia, Empire State Mortgage
Walid Abdelzazi, Pizza Villa
Ray Feliciano, United Refrigeration
Robert Falco, Chiropractor
Diane Barsa, Sky-Line Realty, Inc.