Dear Editor:
Despite agreeing with a number of his points, I have to take exception to a particular feature of Jake Stuiver’s letter concerning the Housing Authority’s Vision 20/20 plan – a feature which I found to be quite offensive.
In addition Vision 20/20’s unfortunate name – which makes me think of eye charts – I too am concerned with the possible displacement of individuals who might be forced to leave Hoboken because they are unable to find affordable housing. Personally, I don’t want to live in Short Hills-on-Hudson. But that’s simply an expression of personal preference.
And, as a taxpayer, I also am concerned about the obvious danger of this becoming a financial boondoggle – Hoboken’s own Solyndra, as it were.
However, Mr. Stuiver’s principal line of argument is to suggest that certain people are associated with this project – people whom he apparently suggests are inherently evil in some way – and that this constitutes sufficient justification for condemning the initiative.
Notably, almost all of the “evil parties” cited are – unlike me and Mr. Stuiver – born and bred Hobokenites. Hmm.
It is precisely this kind of unjustified attitude of moral superiority displayed by “newcomers” that causes more than half the rancor in local affairs.
And this is such an old, recurring issue, that I am stunned that a (former) public official would make such a crude, prejudicial statement – let alone do so in public, in writing.
I think you owe some people an apology, Mr. Stuiver, for your crude, ignorant behavior.
Michael Evers