Dear Editor:
Tenants and most small building owners aren’t the ones putting money in Dave Roberts and the city council’s pockets. Their vote in favor of an ill-conceived amendment limiting the rights of tenants to receive compensation for illegally high rents shows that this administration has been a solid investment for realtors. I would like to know if Dave Roberts’ assertion about lawyers combing through the rent records has any basis in reality. Could the mayor give us a few examples? On the off chance that there might be a case of this happening, so what?
To highlight the absurdity of the Roberts’ marionette administration and his city council rubber stamps, imagine if the same amendment they made was for some other crime such as embezzlement or consumer fraud? They would put a two-year limit on how much the lawbreaker was liable for, with no other punishment, and argue that these limitations are necessary to protect the lawbreaker from overzealous lawyers seeking compensation for victims, and that paying back illegally gotten gains is too onerous a punishment for the perpetrators. Typical Hudson County thinking.
My feeling at the city council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19 was that, as is often the case, the outcome was a foregone conclusion, and the meeting was merely a formality. Or as Dave Roberts likes to say, “This is democracy inaction.” It was heartening to see that at least one council member, Chris Campos, was actually listening and taking notes. I’m sure he’ll be punished for his diligence. Ruben Ramos and some of the others looked like they could barely stifle their yawns.
By the way, on another slightly related subject, what’s happening with the investigation by ACORN that showed widespread racial discrimination by Hoboken Realtors? I’d like to know more about this. Otherwise, the innocent will be tarred with the same brush as the guilty.
Greg Ribot