Dear Editor:
The website that your newspaper runs picked up a discussion that I started at the “Hoboken Revolt” forum in an effort to clarify my position on a proposed ordinance to change the method used to appoint members of Hoboken’s Zoning Board. My post triggered a spirited exchange on the value of the council having an advice and consent role on mayoral appointments or sole appointment authority. It came as no surprise that after the resignation of Mayor Cammarano in the wake of a criminal complaint against him, our council representatives worked to reach consensus and the ordinance passed with minimal changes on second reading on August 5.
The Hudson Reporter website, however, appeared to be more interested in my “telling all…” about my support for the election of Peter Cammarano in the runoff election. Indeed, some posters on the “Revolt” discussion asked what I perceived to be honest and well-intentioned questions about my decision to publicly support him. I wanted to answer their questions on the online forum, but was turned off by the insulting and demeaning tone of some posters. “Hoboken Revolt” maintains the anonymity of their posters, and I do not disagree with this policy. I support “Open Source” campaigns and as a candidate was also an administrator of the online forum on the Marsh for Mayor website in 2005. What I found lacking in the “Revolt” website was the self or administrator-driven monitoring (but not censorship of dissenting opinions) that keep discussions civil and productive. Since my post and in its aftermath, the blog administrators announced that they are in the process of drafting policy standards. I applaud them for taking this step.
In the meantime, I would like to answer “Revolt” blogger “TJ” and others questions on this page and in my own words: TJ, if you read my letter that I wrote in June in support of Peter, it stated my reasons for supporting him. They had nothing to do with any “personal feud” with any of Dawn Zimmer’s supporters. I supported Dawn’s campaign for council in 2007, but in this year’s runoff thought Peter was a better choice for mayor, although I did not agree with him on every issue. Many people whom I know and respect reached out to me on Peter’s behalf, as did he. I am a separate person from my friend Beth Mason, whom I also respect and who was certainly disappointed in my choice. Today, so am I.
I believe it is important for all of us who are active in Hoboken’s civic life to continue our work, especially now when our city looks for new leadership.
Acting Mayor Zimmer has shown her political skills as a campaigner and is now in a unique position to show how she can govern. I wish her well, and will keep an open mind.
Ines Garcia Keim