Dear Editor:
On Sunday September 11, I attended the Hoboken remembrance ceremony on Pier A. Among the many speakers was a rabbi who talked about how 19 people were responsible for killing close to 3,000. He also spoke about the power of 19 people doing 3,000 acts of kindness. The point is if 19 people can harness that much destruction imagine how much good could come out of channeling the same level of energy in a positive way. Sitting in the front rows were many of our local, county and state political officials. The actions taken by some of our local officials in last week’s council meeting and in the days to follow tell me the officials present at the ceremony missed the rabbi’s message. Until we lose the us versus them mentality and putting politics before the people in Hoboken we will not move forward. Our city expends so much time battling selfish egotistical political jockeying. Imagine where we would be today if we all worked together channeling the finger pointing energy in a positive direction for the benefit of all.
There are three key facts in regards to Hoboken University Hospital. 1. It is losing money hand over fist every day and has been losing money for years; and it is due to close if it is not sold. (It has already filed for bankruptcy.) 2. If the hospital closes without being sold the taxpayers are on the hook for a $52M bond. Plus, over 1,000 jobs will be lost. 3. The only option to save the hospital while also protecting the taxpayer and thousands of jobs is to sell it. I watched many elected officials go to the microphone at the state board hospital meeting and agree the hospital is in danger and must be sold. For that reason I am disgusted that our local elected officials chose to harness the power of negative energy in voting down the $5M bond resolution needed to execute the sale for the sake of their own ego and agendas. When their plan fell apart they had the audacity to criticize the Mayor for coming up with a solution by getting the state to support. I do not agree with everything Mayor Zimmer does but her actions last week represent what true leadership is about. Councilwoman Mason as a resident of the 2nd Ward, I expect more of my representation. I suggest you put your obstructionist personal vendetta against those trying to move the city forward aside and focus on things that improve our ward like replacing the speed bump on Hudson St by Elysian Park, cleaning up the drug paraphernalia found daily in Maxwell Place Park and initiating a project to beautify the concrete Maxwell Pier. Enough is enough; it’s time for Hoboken to stop fighting and work together to make our city a better place for all its citizens.
Sincerely,
Tina Hahn
The opinions in this letter are solely mine and not associated with any group I am a member of