Dear Editor:
Hoboken is a city that is increasingly and obviously being threatened by its decaying and failing infrastructure.
Recently, we suffered from three serious water main breaks: one in midtown, and two on upper Washington Street. Each of these seriously inconvenienced residents and damaged property. These events serve as stark reminders of the infrastructure challenges that Hoboken faces now, and will continue to face over the next few years. Coupled with the waterfront collapses and the “sinkhole” on Sinatra Drive, they are ample evidence that our city must give priority to, and address in earnest, its systemic infrastructure problems.
We cannot allow either poor and/or aged construction, nor a bureaucratic and political zoning approval process, to endanger the safety of our citizens and the quality of life in our town.
I commend the mayor and the City Council for moving forward to inspect the entirety of our waterfront, including the portions that are privately owned. We should expand the process to include an immediate and thorough review of our entire City’s infrastructure status (the waterfront, roads, parks, etc.)
Needless to say, the input of our city’s concerned citizens should be solicited and heeded each step of the way so that all residents of our community – tenants, homeowners, business owners, and seniors – are all on board and realize the gravity of this situation to our future.
New development creates additional strain on our infrastructure, and recent events must be considered when development decisions are made. It is imperative that we make sure that the three upcoming vacancies on the Hoboken Zoning Board are filled with individuals committed to scrupulously following the law, granting variances only when a clear public benefit exists. This is not the time to return to the past practice of choosing individuals who suffer from a “develop at any cost” mentality, and who lack any appreciation for the safety of our citizens, or the quality of life that makes Hoboken unique.
Tom Greaney