Dear Neighbors:
During my two terms as a Commissioner on Hoboken’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, I’ve been honored to represent you on land use projects that impact all aspects of our community. I’ve voted on applications that maintain our city’s scale and charm while ensuring our neighborhoods move forward responsibly. However, over the past few years, I’ve observed serious issues facing my home district, the first ward. Many of these problems have largely gone unaddressed by our long-time councilwoman, Terry Castellano, who in November will ask voters to extend her time on the council past 25 years.
I like Terry, but if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. Our neighborhoods need an attentive and proactive councilperson that will work with the City to improve them. Potholes, crumbling curbs and trash have proliferated and there’s been no movement by our councilwoman to address the situation. Seniors have asked for better lighting on Washington Street, but have gotten no response. Pedestrian safety issues plague our streets, yet Councilwoman Castellano has done little to implement transportation infrastructure, which is essential to fixing the problem. She has sat idly by as county taxes have increased — 45 percent over the past five years and hasn’t spoken up against PATH service cuts, which directly impact her constituents and our downtown businesses.
Fiscally, Councilwoman Castellano’s record isn’t any better. In 2011, she obstructed the sale of the hospital and nearly forced taxpayers to cover a $52 million bond guarantee. She risked losing a critical care facility that provides almost 1,200 jobs and contributes $500,000 in taxes annually. Thankfully, calmer heads prevailed and the success of the hospital over the last few years points to her politically motivated misstep.
In my private sector career, I’m paid to get the job done. But, if I responded “no” to everything without offering a solution, I’d be fired. We should apply that same standard to our local officials. Though I like Terry personally, I question her ability to work with the City to get things done.
For all of these reasons, and with a sense of duty to the city I love, I’ve decided to challenge her this November and run to represent my neighbors on the City Council.
The first ward needs a representative who will work with everybody, especially the administration, to address constituent concerns and actualize quality of life issues that have fallen to the wayside. We must advocate for innovative land use that further advances commerce, art and entertainment downtown. We must also demand more out of our county tax dollars to ease the burden on the city and improve quality of life for all Hoboken residents.
Over the next three months, I look forward to speaking with all neighbors about my candidacy. From Marineview Plaza to Grand Street, engaging those who were born here, those who just arrived and everyone in-between. It’s time to start a community dialogue, one that puts the first ward, first!
Sincerely,
Michael DeFusco
Candidate for Hoboken City Council, First Ward
Commissioner, Zoning Board of Adjustment