Dear Editor:
It is wrong for the Hoboken City Website to direct visitors to dine at some restaurants while disregarding other restaurants in town.
The Hoboken City Website (http://www.hobokennj.org) has a section called “Visitors.” Under this section there is a subsection called “Where to Dine.” As of April 11, this subsection provides a list of 25 “notable establishments” where one can dine.
First, communicating to the public through the City Website that a business establishment is “notable” may unfairly cause the public to favor that establishment over others.
Second, collecting taxes from one business establishment and using that money to fund a website that promotes a competitor’s business establishment is wrong.
And third, allowing government officials to use city resources to promote certain businesses establishments enhances political favoritism risk.
To be fair, there are some really great places on this “notable establishment” list. I would like to encourage everyone to try to visit some of these places.
I would also like to encourage every restaurant owner in town who is not on the “notable establishment” list to contact the mayor’s office and request to be added to the list.
Sincerely,
Franz Paetzold
2nd Ward