Dear Editor:
I was not surprised to read Mayor Zimmer’s endorsement letter for my opponent, Michael Lenz, the councilman she had appointed. I can understand that she wants to keep her rubber stamp on the City Council. But when the mayor perpetuates the same cynical and divisive themes of the Lenz campaign, she diminishes her office and serves to distract voters from important issues facing the 4th Ward.
Once again, Mayor Zimmer makes reference to former Mayor Cammarano and tries to smear anyone who opposes her hand-picked candidate for City Council as corrupt. Make no mistake; this is a coordinated effort on the part of the mayor, Michael Lenz, and a handful of vicious “anonymous” bloggers in their political pocket. These cyber bullies incite homophobia and ethnic intolerance targeted personally at opponents of the Lenz campaign. I call on Mayor Zimmer and Michael Lenz to denounce them and to apologize for allowing these types of blogs to be used in their political service.
As for actual issues, Michael Lenz supported the $150,000 contract for “flood sensors” that engineers say will be of no use in Hoboken and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority would not fund. My public comments on the contract were contained in a video, which was heavily edited to distort my position, and then distributed through the Michael Lenz blog squads. I’ll state my position again. I opposed that contract then, and I oppose it now. It is a cynical waste of taxpayer money.
Mayor Zimmer served two years as 4th Ward councilwoman before she vacated to run for mayor. Her appointed successor, Michael Lenz, has been sitting since then. In that time, the administration has done nothing for the 4th Ward. The pump plan they trumpet started long before Michael Lenz and Mayor Zimmer began taking credit for it. Meanwhile, what has been done to alleviate conditions in the 4th Ward? Storm drains overrun with weeds. Not even a sign to let someone know their car is parked in a flood zone. No southwest park. Higher taxes. More crime. They distract voters by name-calling because they have no accomplishments of which to speak.
It’s ironic that Mayor Zimmer mentions that I haven’t been in town as long as Michael Lenz. When Zimmer ran for City Council, she said the fact that she was a newcomer to town was a virtue. Well, you don’t have to be in town for 20 years to know that it takes all of us – newcomers and born and raised – to make this city great. What has Michael Lenz ever done for the 4th Ward in his 13 years here?
I will continue to press the issues in this race, while my opponent can continue with his cynical, divisive, and bullying campaign. In light of the recent collapse of our waterfront, another round of flooding, water main breaks, and deteriorating parks, many residents are right to ask whether the mayor should be spending less time on partisan politics and more time on running the city.
Tim Occhipinti
4th Ward City Council Candidate