Dear Editor:
Teamwork: it leads to amazing accomplishments that no individual could make on his or her own. Anyone who has ever argued that Lennon and McCartney were better together than apart or watched John Elway finally win an elusive Super Bowl once he had Terrell Davis to hand the ball off to understands this. Teams accomplish things far greater than their individual members could ever accomplish alone. Lately, I fear we in Hoboken are losing sight of the benefits of team and of teamwork.
I’ve had the honor of serving as a member of a team for over a year now: The Zimmer Team. Our team consists of six members: Mayor Zimmer, Council members Bhalla, Cunningham, Marsh, Michael Lenz, and myself; and further consists of the thousands of supporters and constituents for whom we work.
Our team has been striving, together, to bring the people of Hoboken a level of service that none of us could have delivered individually. The cross-town bus has returned, but with three routes instead of one. Hertz corner cars have added a popular transportation option throughout Hoboken. Highly competent, professional, and law-abiding directors have been hired to lead City Hall. Work has sped forward on much needed new open space at 1600 Park. A Zoning Board that understands that developer variances should be given frugally, if at all, has been appointed. The numbers of police on patrol has increased, while the numbers of officers on our City payroll decreases. Most importantly, our municipal taxes have been lowered by five percent.
Make no mistake; it took a team to accomplish these things. It took a Mayor with a progressive agenda and a Council with five allies to cast majority votes in her favor to move these reforms forward and prevent them from dying at the hands of obstructionists.
Mike Lenz, as 4thWard Councilman, is a key member of our team. My family lives in the 4th Ward. We pay property taxes in the 4th Ward. We love this Ward. We want nothing more than to continue to see positive changes in the 4th. To see a redevelopment plan proposed that looks to solve the Ward’s open space shortage and flooding problems. To ensure that the pumping station at the PATH is completed and that the technology necessary to understand our sewerage system is installed, so that we can finally begin winning the battle against flooding in the 4th. To move implementation of a tax revaluation forward, so that the tax burden in our City isn’t born unfairly by too many 4th Warders. And, finally, to bring further tax relief to our entire City by making tough choices regarding our workforce, which is paid such a large portion of our tax dollars.
None of these reforms will happen without a full team to champion them. None of these changes will happen without Mike Lenz. Please join me in voting for Mike on Election Day.
David Mello
Hoboken City Councilman At-Large
4th Ward Resident and Homeowner