HOBOKEN — Just because the “reformers” in Hoboken elected Dawn Zimmer as mayor last fall, doesn’t mean everyone’s happy. As noted in a Hoboken Reporter article two springs ago, the town’s “reformer” movement split open during a school board election in 2008 and hasn’t come together since. (It was, of course, festering before that, with several people wanting to be the leader.)
One side of the current debate tends to support Councilwoman and former mayoral candidate Beth Mason, and tends to point out any perceived missteps of the Zimmer administration. Zimmer’s supporters don’t like some of their comments, and as a result, numerous battles have ensued on local blogs. (See the “most commented” stories in the lower right-hand column of www.hudsonreporter.com for an example or two.)
With the April 20 school board election less than two weeks away, the Zimmer and Mason fans and foes are at it again, blasting each other’s school board slate (“Kids First” seems to be the choice of Zimmer fans, and they are opposing the “Real Results” slate favored by school board member Maureen Sullivan) and criticizing each other’s — well, breed of criticism.
The Hoboken Tax Revolt board’s forum (scroll down) is filled today with both sides firing away at each other, and some discussion of the school board issues. In addition, an apparent Zimmer supporter has launched severe criticism of the anti-Zimmer folks on a new blog, the GrafixAvenger. Someone claimed the author is a Zimmer appointee to the Zoning Board.
Do you think the prevailing administration need loyal opposition? Are both sides getting out of hand in their comments, or does it continue the dialogue and heighten interest? Comment below!