Every council candidate running in the Hoboken election on May 12 answered the same three issue-oriented questions we asked the mayors. While there wasn’t room in the print version for all their responses, we are publishing them below, in alphabetical order.
Voters can choose any three council-at-large candidates to represent three seats on the nine-member council. Nine of the candidates are running on slates, and three are independent.
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Vincent Addeo
Personal: 49 years old; married, two children; Hoboken resident for 40 years
Professional: Director of Organizing for District 15 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO
Civic: Volunteer baseball, basketball and softball coach
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I believe that my years of experience and dedication in representing the interests of working families and standing up for their rights is synonymous with serving the citizens of our community. My daily tasks as the Director of Organizing for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO and the President of the New Jersey State Council of Machinists are not in line with traditional 9-to-5 jobs. My every day responsibilities require my availability to be 24 hours a day and seven days a week. If not for the true passion that I have for giving of myself in order to help others in need, my goals could never be met. Also, I have spent the majority of my life in the city that I love volunteering my time to our community’s greatest asset, our children. I have spent countless hours in various programs teaching and coaching our children.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
I believe that the city’s most pressing issue is the current budget and economic instability of the city’s future which was created by years of mismanagement and lack of oversight. The recent tax burden that has been bestowed on our residents is directly related to this lack of responsibility. Going forward, we must re-evaluate each department of our city and create more efficient means of conducting ourselves because “business as usual” is no longer an option.
What makes Hoboken great?
Even with its close proximity to New York City, Hoboken has established its own personality, but what really makes Hoboken great are its people. I have been blessed to grow up in Hoboken in its ethnically diverse neighborhoods, which has taught me valuable lessons that are not taught in books.
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Angel Alicea
Personal: 48 years old; married, three children; lifelong Hoboken resident
Professional: Internal Affairs and ABC Investigator with Union City Police; business owner of two day care centers in Hoboken
Civic: Former Hoboken Housing Authority chairman; former Board of Education trustee
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I have 25 years of law enforcement experience. Presently I am an Internal Affairs Investigator. As such I am trained to perform extensive research regarding all complaints to get to the truth. I was born and raised in Hoboken, served on the Board of Education and most recently, served on the Housing Authority for nearly 20 years with seven years as chairman. My experience in law enforcement, community involvement and relationships with Hoboken families contribute to my overall understanding of the needs of our community.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
Lack of leadership and direction has caused our beloved city of Hoboken to face many unnecessary challenges such as the state takeover and extremely high tax levy.
Our local government has failed us which is the main reason I am seeking a seat on the City Council.
We must work hard to put our city back in the right direction. A top to bottom reorganization of our government is probably the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now. Making our government work as efficiently as possible will be my main focus as your city councilman.
What makes Hoboken great?
Hoboken’s old world charm and the fact that its people are friendly and care for each other is one of the things that make Hoboken great. The fact that many of our newer residents and natives have a deep sense of community is another thing that makes Hoboken great.
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Ravi S. Bhalla
Personal: 35 years old; married with a daughter; Hoboken resident for 10 years
Professional: Attorney with own law firm with offices in downtown Hoboken and Newark
Civic: 2nd Ward Democratic committeeman; worked to reform voting process by making polling location more efficient; Successfully went to court in 2005 to defend the right of Councilwoman Carol Marsh and others to refuse to let the city borrow to pay for current operating expenses.
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I am an attorney in the area of local government law with a graduate degree in Public Administration from the London School of Economics. I have represented municipalities, public officials, police and fire chiefs, uniformed superior police officers, business owners, local boards, community groups, tenants and municipal defendants in a wide range of contexts and before numerous municipal bodies and courts. This background, along with my education in public administration, makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a councilman in Hoboken.
I have also truly enjoyed serving as a local committeeperson. In this capacity, I have helped residents with local problems, worked with my ward councilwoman, arranged a neighborhood meeting for residents to meet their councilwoman and state senator, and set up a website designed to better serve the residents of my district. I have enjoyed serving the public and would be honored to extend my public service to councilman.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The most pressing issue in Hoboken right now is restoring fiscal responsibility in Hoboken and reducing the tax burden that is crushing residents. We need leaders who are singularly committed to advancing the public interest and courageous enough to make the tough decisions that are necessary to bring our fiscal house back in order. This must be done through a combination of measures, including reducing personnel costs across the board, committing ourselves to balanced and responsible development, ending the abuse of PILOT agreements, exploring energy efficient and green technology that results in cost savings, and by holding public officials accountable by providing greater transparency so citizens know exactly how our hard earned tax dollars are being spent.
What makes Hoboken great?
Hoboken is a compact, dynamic and energetic city. Most essential activities are within walking distance, such as picking up groceries, shopping, dining, or recreational activities. Hoboken also has a unique and diverse cultural character with charming neighborhoods, historic brownstones and row houses, and a beautiful waterfront.
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Christopher Carbine
Personal: 32 years old; Hoboken resident for 9 years
Professional: Systems Engineer (Chelsea Technologies, New York, NY); financial services industry for 10 years
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I bring to the citizens of Hoboken, an opportunity to vote for a true independent. The independent voice, unburdened with loyalties to Hoboken’s traditional power structure that have put us in the position we are in today: over taxed and under the receivership of a state monitor who is doing the work our elected officials should have been doing, if they were doing their job. An “anything goes” attitude has permeated City Hall for far too long.
I will analyze Hoboken’s budget responsibly and rationally determining where changes, improvements & cuts can be made. I will carefully consider development, seeking cooperation with developers willing to work for the betterment of Hoboken and not just for their own personal gains.
My extensive experience in the financial industry, combined with my education in government, makes me uniquely qualified to understand the complexities and challenges facing Hoboken today and to offer viable solutions.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
Many agree, the most important issue facing Hoboken is our financial situation. Overspending, or not spending responsibly, has resulted in increased taxes.
We risk the very real possibility of eroding our tax base; people moving out and others hesitant to move in.
To responsibly cut taxes we must cut our budget; 80 percent of the budget comes from personnel. It is incumbent upon us to look at the possibility of renegotiating salaries, benefit packages, vacation time, and force size without compromising services and safety to our town.
While gradual reductions need to be implemented, I refuse to support any of the state monitor’s recent layoffs. No one can possibly know whether attrition or layoffs will provide the best answer without the necessary data. The answer lies in the completed audits performed by the state monitor. I renew my call on the state monitor to release the audits to the public.
What makes Hoboken great?
Hoboken’s charming small city character is what continues to draw people in. Many come for just a day to enjoy our parks and patronize our businesses. Others like me have come to live and stay. We must zealously protect this small city tradition in order to thrive and prosper.
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Carol Marsh
Personal: Married with a son and two step-children; Hoboken resident for 25 years
Professional: Former Vice President in Technology at Goldman Sachs; pursuing a Masters degree in Library Science
Civic: Councilwoman at-large (2001 to 2005); ran for mayor (2005); volunteered on the referendum which resulted on Pier A Park , the community action which stopped a high rise at 1600 Park, and the ‘Vote Yes for Parks’ referendum
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I think it’s important for citizens to take an active part in shaping our government at the local level. I am convinced that positive change can only come through the efforts of active citizens working inside and outside the government, and I have years of experience in both. I was a community activist for many years before I served on the city council. While I was on the council I made it my business to learn how well run municipalities operate and I took a strong stand in favor of implementing those practices. I appreciate a challenge and there are plenty challenges ahead. We have to address the budget issues, flooding and infrastructure problems, and we can’t forget the everyday operation of the city where we could be providing far better services to our residents. I’m looking forward to getting to work. There’s a lot to do.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The number one priority in Hoboken is getting our fiscal house in order. It affects everyone, not just our taxpayers. Every dollar we waste on unnecessary lawsuits, overblown salaries and poorly negotiated PILOTs is a dollar we could leave in the hands of our residents or spend on books for our library or a new ball field. When I was on the council I took a training course for CFOs. Hoboken’s per capita salary spending was 30% higher than that of any other town represented in the class, and that was years ago, before the budget grew to the size it is now. We can, and we must do better than that.
What makes Hoboken great?
For me, the best part of Hoboken is our sense of community. The first day my son walked to school alone five people called to tell me they saw him. We argue in this square mile, but we also look out for each other and that’s important to preserve.
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David Mello
Personal: 38 years old; married with a daughter; Hoboken resident for 11 years
Professional: Middle school Social Studies teacher in the South Bronx.
Civic: Spoken out for park space and smart development as a former member of the Southwest Parks Coalition and a current core member of Save Block 11
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
As a South Bronx public school teacher, I have demonstrated my commitment to making our greater community a better place. I’ve shown similar commitment in Hoboken, advocating for park space creation and smart growth. I deeply love the unique quality of life that Hoboken offers its residents, and have fought to replicate that quality of life while fighting against Hoboken’s Southwest Redevelopment Zone effort, fighting for improved representation in the Fourth Ward by volunteering for Dawn Zimmer’s successful 2007 council run, and by contributing as a core member of Save Block 11 and that group’s fight against an ill-conceived building on a block that should be part of a Southwest Park. As a Rutgers law student, I focused on land use law, and will ensure that the City Council, Hoboken’s redevelopment agency, breaks from its history of incorrectly using redevelopment zones to try to fix a run-away city budget.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The most pressing issue facing Hoboken is our out-of-control municipal budget and the unconscionable tax increase that accompanied it. Under Mayor Roberts’ administration and the leadership of his 2005 Council At-Large running mates, Hoboken’s budget has grown dramatically, while transparency surrounding the budget has been minimal. Our Council representatives must fight to ensure that the public is well informed about how their tax dollars are spent, and that patronage ends in Hoboken. Spending data must be made available via our City website. Lastly, this data must facilitate a twenty five percent cut in our tax burden, with tough cuts being made to the personnel expenses that make up eighty percent of Hoboken’s operating budget. Cuts must include demotions, pay freezes, increased union benefit contributions and, if necessary, layoffs. We are one family in Hoboken, and must all share in the sacrifices necessary to bring fiscal sanity to our City.
What makes Hoboken great?
Hoboken’s greatest asset is its citizenry. Our Council must always serve its citizens justly by ensuring that our budget is spent wisely, that patronage and nepotism never waste tax-payer dollars, and that all of Hoboken; renters, owners, lifelong residents and newcomers, are represented fairly and impartially by its legislature.
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Raul Morales
Personal: 28 years old; single; lifelong Hoboken resident
Professional: Attorney
Civic: Co-chair, Puerto Rican Culture Committee scholarship committee
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
Hoboken is a town that has seen its fair share of political corruption and abuse of power. In contrast, my youth, enthusiasm and strong moral sense have not been jaded by the usual politics of old. I am not beholden to any person or any organization. I am running to bring Hoboken back to its rightful place as the premier city of New Jersey. I will be the voice that represents all the people of Hoboken, and I will work to provide Hobokenites with open access to their government. I feel a sense of responsibility to bring back a respect to city government that has been lost due to a lack of leadership. Together with my team, I know that we will work tirelessly and diligently to bring pride back into our city and municipal government.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The most pressing issue before the city is the ever-expanding budget and unfairly high taxes. We address this issue by making sure our government does more with less, by eliminating wasteful spending, and by instituting sound business practices and exploring opportunities for smart economic growth. I will work toward implementing a total quality management review of all city departments, programs, and services to eliminate duplicative services and, where possible, maximize efficiency. In becoming more efficient, we can reduce the time and cost it takes to run our city, while providing prompt and professional service to the residents of Hoboken.
What makes Hoboken great?
I love Hoboken’s rich diversity of its people and cultures. They serve to create a community that, along with improving our quality of life, serves to educate our children on living in a global community. We have a responsibility to maintain this diversity by making Hoboken affordable for everybody.
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Michael Novak
Personal: 43 years old; married; Hoboken resident for 15 years
Professional: Industrial engineer; Owner of Atlantic Environmental Solutions, Inc. (Hoboken)
Civic: Hoboken City Zoning Board; Hoboken YMCA Board of Directors vice president; Hoboken Rotary; Stevens Cooperative School, Board of Trustees; First Ward Block Association
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I have 22 years of regulatory experience, and 12 years of experience owning a profitable environmental engineering and remediation firm here in Hoboken. I have leadership roles in many Hoboken business and nonprofit organizations, including the Rotary, YMCA, Stevens Cooperative School, 200 Club of Hudson County, and the Chamber of Commerce. In addition to managing a multimillion dollar company budget, I manage more than 200 projects per year, each with their own budget. In addition to my technical expertise in brownfield redevelopment, I am familiar with all aspects of running a successful business ranging from business development, to human resource issues, negotiating insurance premiums, and collections. At several nonprofit organizations, I direct large projects, such as commercial space lease negotiations, construction of schools, renovations of housing facilities and fundraising. These experiences provide a broad frame of reference that will help me serve our diverse community.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The most pressing issue is the budget and the extreme tax increase. I believe this has resulted from: a lack of qualified personnel on our City Council, decades of cronyism and patronage at City Hall, and agenda-driven politicking between factions on the council. With appropriate, long term planning, fiscal prudence and good governance, our city will not look to short term cures, such as sales of city assets, to plug budget gaps, nor will it award contracts to vendors without following appropriate due diligence and bidding processes. Spending and hiring freezes, along with a line-item analysis of our budget, will produce major budgetary reductions. However, this should be accompanied by a transformation of City Hall’s culture from that of a bureaucracy to a productive and efficient organization that readily serves its community. This transformation will only occur with appropriate leadership and long hours of work by the mayor and council.
What makes Hoboken great?
Within blocks of my home, I drop off my kids at school, operate a successful business, and work with many volunteers at a diverse set of charitable organizations. Hoboken has an amazing, qualified pool of people, and getting to know more of them each year makes it invigorating.
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Timothy S. Occhipinti
Personal: 31 years old; single; Hoboken resident for 2 years
Professional: Information technology at AllianceBernstein; Bachelor of Arts in Government, University of Virginia
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I believe I can offer something truly unique to the residents of Hoboken. I am an independent candidate that is not beholden to the agenda of any political party or any incumbent officials. I have not nor intend to accept any contributions from any political organizations. I want my vote to be truly independent and representative of this community. I want to do what is right for all residents, keeping their best interests at heart. If elected, I intend to hold regular evening office hours so that residents will have an opportunity to share their issues and concerns with me. I am a candidate who is ready to listen.
I will also rely on my project management skills and commitment to excellence in every issue we encounter. I intend to help streamline our city government and improve constituent services. Providing effective communication to the community will greatly enhance our city.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
I believe the most pressing issue facing Hoboken today is the overwhelming increase in property taxes currently being placed on residents. I feel we can lower Hoboken’s taxes by lowering the municipal budget, creating and broadening economic development, spending tax dollars more efficiently, and collecting all outstanding debts owed to the city. We need fair and just concessions from our municipal unions, create a long-term strategic economic plan, and increase the use of technology to reduce everyday costs.
The heavy tax burden that has been placed on residents is a result of politics not by any injustices of the residents. Make no mistake about it – Hoboken is at a crossroads; your vote will determine the fate of Hoboken for years to come. Isn’t it time we elected citizens who want to restore honesty and integrity to our city? It would be an honor and privilege to represent you.
What makes Hoboken great?
Hoboken has the potential to be one of the best cities in America. However, we are not there yet; a massive tax increase, loss in community services, suitable parking, flooding, brown water, and the breakdown of our roads have hurt this city. We owe it to you to do better.
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Anthony Pasquale
Personal: 62 years old; married with two children; Hoboken resident for 42 years
Professional: Retired executive, AXA Equitable
Civic: Maxwell Place Finance Committee; former Housing Authority chairman
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
The most pressing job for the upcoming city council will be making Hoboken fiscally responsible again. As a retired senior executive at AXA Equitable, I will work to bring the efficiency and knowledge of the private sector into public service. Throughout my years at AXA, I have gained thorough and extensive fiscal experience. I have been responsible for the compensation and benefit packages for a number of subsidiaries, and I have worked on the management discussions and analysis of SEC filings. Having been in the private sector for so long, I have gained vast experience working on boards, having served on many and executed countless presentations. With these skills, I feel that I am uniquely qualified to bring a sober financial presence to a city, my hometown, that for so long as been the victim of careless spending.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
Everything in this city is affected by taxes. After the type of wasteful spending this administration has practiced, it will take hard work and cooperation to get Hoboken financially viable. First, we must analyze the failures of the current administration’s budget process. How can the budget go from $52 million in 2000 to the current bloated figure of $121 million? To make sure this never happens again, we will work together with the directors and department heads to find reasonable solutions. There will be no layoffs until the analysis is done. As councilman, I will work to project the budget three years out. Shortsightedness has cost us a 47 percent increase in property taxes. The principle on our bonds are currently back-ended, and we have only paid half of our pension cost this year. I will make sure that the era of irresponsible spending will end with the current administration.
What makes Hoboken great?
Hoboken is made great by its location, community, and most of all, its people. The proximity to New York City, coupled with the city’s walking nature and various storefronts and eateries make Hoboken a community in which one can truly get to know their neighbors, both professionally and culturally.
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Frances Rhodes Kearns
Personal: 55 years old; married with two children; lifelong Hoboken resident
Professional: School security supervisor at High Tech High School; opinion research study recruiter at Consumer Centers of NY and NJ.
Civic: Member of Hoboken Elks; Board of Education trustee; Legislative delegate for N.J. School Boards Association
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
Having been born and raised in Hoboken, a community that I love, I have deep ties to our city. I have served on the Board of Education and have always been committed to doing what is in the best interest of the people. In all of the positions that I have held, I never shirked my responsibilities and will work just as hard for you as your councilwoman.
My ability to build bridges rather than burn them is a quality that is sorely needed on the City Council. We as a community must come together to find solutions to the many problems we face in this chapter of our history. I consider myself a problem solver – part of the solution – not the problem.
I have a deep and genuine desire to do whatever it takes to get Hoboken back on the right track as your representative on the City Council.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The most pressing issue facing Hoboken is the deep fiscal mess that we find ourselves in due to the inability or refusal of the council majority (including Beth Mason and Dawn Zimmer) to pass a budget last year. Fixing this travesty and restoring trust in our government is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now.
If elected I will push for fiscal reform in the operation of our government. Sound fiscal policies such as accountability, transparency and scrutinizing every expenditure are long overdue and I will work diligently to reach that goal.
We can no longer allow City Hall to be run with a business as usual attitude. I’m prepared to meet the challenge of making real and positive change in our government operations. Once we take back control of our city from the fiscal monitor we must immediately put policies in place to prevent this from happening again.
What makes Hoboken great?
So many factors make Hoboken great. Our diverse population, proximity to New York, great restaurants and entertainment venues to name a few. But the people living here, from all walks of life make Hoboken great. All of these things make Hoboken a place that other communities envy.
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Patricia Waiters
Personal: 46 years old; divorced mother of three children
Professional: Former Hudson County Correction Officer (claims wrongful termination); certified nursing assistant
Civic: Former office manager to the Jersey City Councilwoman Willie Flood; 2007 Woman of Action award; Criminal Justice student at Hudson County Community College
Please tell us why you are more qualified than your opponents.
I am more qualified than my opponents due to my honesty, fairness and my strong moral fiber, all of which make me a very distinctive person. My choice of running as an Independent allows me a voice of my own. Therefore, I can effectively demonstrate my eagerness to better my community. I have focused my campaign on equal opportunities for all residents of Hoboken.
The people of Hoboken, not the politics of Hoboken, will be my top priority. I am a strong independent leader and a great public servant.
I have a strong compassion for helping the people of my community.
My job will entail making sure my constituents know and understand what is going in the city government. I will deal only with facts and not be swayed by high-priced opinionated attorneys. My vote will be decided by what is most beneficial for the people.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing Hoboken right now, and how do you propose to solve it?
The most pressing issue is the budget. Because of the budgeting issues, the less fortunate citizens suffer the most. The soaring costs of childcare, housing, the scarcity of senior citizen services, and the lack of city recreational facilities for our youth and summer programs and employment are all of concern.
I propose to solve some of the budget problem by streamlining the personnel rolls of our city. It is imperative that we do away with dual job holding, as well as high paid political appointments to positions created by elected officials.
Affordable housing will be for those who meet the eligibility requirements.
Developers will not only promise to hire our residents, they’ll be made to do so in order to get the tax abatements they’ve enjoyed at our expense for so long.
What makes Hoboken great?
We are situated directly across The Hudson River from New York City and public transportation is within walking distance.
Our schools are great, both public and private. Stevens Institute of Technology is world renowned. Hoboken also possesses some of the greatest historical sites in the country.