Dear Editor:
Who knew? Apparently Ron Simonicini, Executive Director of Mile Square Tax Payers Association, aka the One Percenters of Hoboken, is a socialist! What else can one think after his quote in last week’s edition of this newspaper: “…the new tenants of Hoboken, they’re all working in New York,” said Simoncini, “They are making 70, 80, to over $100,000 (a year), and the rent is so low. That’s not normal.”
Is Ron Simoncini suggesting that Hoboken rents be based on people’s income? It sure sounds like it. If you find an apartment you like in Hoboken, for the price of $3000, and the landlord finds out you earn $100K – well, your rent is going up. (No cares about your 4 kids, sick mother, or 6-figure student loans.) But what about the inverse of this? Ron Simoncini probably doesn’t know this (because he doesn’t live here) but there are still some people living in Hoboken who don’t have incomes of 100K plus. Probably more than he realizes. So, if we follow his pay-what-you-make theory – that same $3000 rent is going to be dropped for them – right? And by “them” I mean teachers, receptionists, medical technicians, retail workers, administrative assistants, home health care workers, restaurant workers, students, social workers, single parents, shop owners, all the artsy-types that real estate agents love to mention when they are showing their $3000-a-month apartments, and last but not least, the staffs of the Hoboken Library (who, for some reason, have to live in Hoboken to keep their jobs unlike other municipal workers.)
Mile Square “Tax-Payers” Association is known for twisting the truth to suit their needs. Don’t believe me? Ask Carmen Alayon, Migdalaia Torres and Walter Montalbo, three Hoboken residents who were cited in an NJ.com story. Apparently, they were decked out last Election Day in MSTA’s t-shirts while campaigning to get votes for MSTA’s cynical “vote no” – while under the impression (as were many others) that “vote no” was a pro-rent control vote. Why in the world would MSTA exploit these residents, and the residents of the Hoboken Housing Authority who were doing the same thing? Could it be that they place private, individual profit above all else.
It’s time to stand up to the hostage-taking tantrums and frivolous lawsuits that Simoncini threatens at every council meeting. Let your city council representative know this well-funded special interest group does not make Hoboken’s laws – they do. And we expect them to represent all of Hoboken – not just the interests of MSTA.
In November MSTA will be asking the citizens of Hoboken to again give them what they want by placing a question on the ballot that will change the demographic face of Hoboken forever. Of course, we can’t know at this point if it will be vote yes or vote no – MSTA hasn’t sued yet to get the exact wording they want. For the truth behind this ballot question and how it will hurt tenants check www.hobokenfairhousing.com for how you can help to keep Hoboken for all of us – not just the wealthy one-percenters of MSTA.
Eileen Lynch