Dear Editor:
Congratulations to Mayor Zimmer and my City Council colleagues for immediately enacting the final ordinance that allowed the sale of the Hoboken hospital to be completed and the taxpayers to be relieved of $52 million in bonds. This is an example of Hoboken’s government coming together to do what’s right for the city.
Members of the public and the council had expressed serious concerns about the sale contract originally negotiated by the administration. However, the mayor repeatedly told us that the council had no role in the transaction and the buyer would make absolutely no changes.
But when Councilpersons Castellano, Russo, Occhipinti and I stuck to our positions, the buyer, HUMC Holdco, responded constructively. Throughout the night last Saturday night and into Sunday, we were able to negotiate significant concessions from HUMC Holdco for the benefit of the community. These include additional community participation on the new hospital board, a commitment by the buyer to spend $12 million for community health initiatives such as a women’s healthcare program, and a closing of the contractual loophole that I believe would have allowed HUMC Holdco to walk away from its promise to maintain the hospital for seven years. The result of these efforts was to strengthen HUMC Holdco’s commitment to the community. In a vibrant democracy, this is how strong advocacy and good government are supposed to work.
I congratulate HUMC Holdco and the council for achieving a win-win for Hoboken. I look forward to working with HUMC Holdco, the doctors, nurses and other staff, and members of the community on the new healthcare programs.
My husband Ricky’s mother was a registered nurse where we grew up, and I have been a member of the hospital auxiliary for many years. Being able to work with great people in the community to preserve Hoboken’s hospital made me feel especially fortunate and proud.
Sincerely,
Beth Mason
Councilperson, 2nd Ward