Dear Editor:
In your March 17, 2009 edition you included your two most interesting letters juxtaposed in sequence. The first was from Jonathan R. Gordon (we miss you, your common sense and your dry wit, Jon.) It challenges candidates for this year’s version of May Madness also known as Mayor/Council elections to eschew what Mr. Gordon calls “vague nonsense,” – if they have nay hope of gaining our votes that is.
The second letter, from Councilwoman Beth Mason, purports to offer an explanation for her recent vote in favor of extending the PILOT program in effect for many years at Church Towers. I believe that Ms. Mason has a well-earned reputation as someone willing to fight for causes in which she believes. Her letter touts her having “fought for management practices to make our city government accountable equitable and transparent.” Having read her letter I wonder why she checked her toughness and transparency at the door when addressing the PILOT issue at Church Towers.
The Councilwoman describes her PILOT program extension vote as “supporting affordable housing.” Affordable housing for whom? She says that she wants to see that “the City and taxpayers were getting something in return for the PILOT.” Yes…we are waiting. What are the taxpayers getting? Ms. Mason goes on to say that “The overwhelming majority of Church Towers residents are, in fact, low and moderate-income families, fixed-income seniors and the handicapped that deserve our support.” Yes…but what about those who are less than the overwhelming majority? How many are there? Who are they? Why should those individuals be afforded our support when they are undeserving of it even if they are in the minority of the residents.
Ms. Mason says that she has no knowledge of affordable-housing programs allowing “summary eviction of tenants who have been fortunate enough to improve their livelihoods.” To my knowledge there are few such programs, if any at all, that allow water-boarding either. Hoboken simply can’t afford to do business as it might have been done before. Councilwoman Mason and those others running for office, solving our City’s financial problems will require more than vague nonsense, and unpopular decisions will have to be made if we have any hope of solving these problems.
A. Siss