Dear Editor:
I am writing to express my strong concern regarding the recent road collapse along Sinatra Drive between 12th and 14th streets. Engineers working with Hudson County have stated publicly that it may take up to a month to fix the street and alleviate the problem. Needless to say, it is essential that this be done in an efficient and timely manner. In the meantime, both motorists and residents of the neighborhood will be inconvenienced by what occurred last weekend.
While Hoboken faces many infrastructure challenges, our City has been focused primarily on the development taking place above the ground, rather than paying sufficient attention to what is happening below the surface. This situation must change. The future of sound development in our community demands it, and the safety of our citizens require it.
Over the past several years, Hoboken has experienced three such “sinkholes,” including the erosion incident at the soccer field near Sinatra Park. Thank goodness that no one has been hurt by any of these unfortunate occurrences. Taken together, these incidents are a clear signal that some of our past development may not have been built to the standard that our citizens had a right to expect.
Hoboken must work together with county and state officials to ensure that the infrastructure at the waterfront and throughout our fine city – both above and below ground – is safe, and can sustain the extent and kind of development that we need and want, now and in the future. To the extent possible, we need to ascertain whether corners were cut in the past, and if they were, take immediate steps to both remediate the problems and to hold people accountable where appropriate.
I heartedly applaud Mayor Zimmer and all those in our municipal emergency services who reacted quickly to last week’s road collapse on Sinatra Drive. The diligence shown by our city workers ensured that no one was injured, for they moved decisively to minimize the commotion and dislocation that this event caused.
I know I speak for many by saying that I greatly appreciate their commitment to the public welfare and their sense of professionalism. I also know that many join me in expressing my genuine concern that viable solutions be implemented so as to prevent such dangers from occurring in the future.
Tom Greaney