Dear Editor:
I want to go on record that at the January 20th City Council meeting, I did ask for Port-A-Potties to be placed uptown at or around 9th Street. It is coming and you know what I am talking about. On Saturday, March 6, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will go down Washington Street amidst all the partying that will have started around 10:00 in the morning and continuing until everyone passes out sometime in the wee hours of the night.
Last year was the largest group of people imbibing and every year the event draws more participants. They said possibly 20,000 people descended upon our little town and if that number was correct, it will only be larger and quite overwhelming to the townsfolk and quite a bit of liquor will be going in and out of all those people.
I remember how outraged the City Council members were last year over the disruptions and damages that our town sustained and how they were not going to let this happen again, but I truly believe it is out of their control since they are keeping the parade on a Saturday.
SO….every man and woman for themselves. To protect yourself and your home please consider doing the following:
1. Don’t leave town. You need to stay to protect your home especially if you live on the first floor.
2. Remove all planters and pots from the front of your house or apartment.
3. Cover with plastic the ones that are too large to move.
4. ‘Lock’ your gate with a piece of rope with a square knot. (The drunks won’t bother trying to untie it to get into your front yard to urinate.)
5. Post a sign on your gate that says ‘Port-a-Potty’ with an arrow pointing in any direction from your home. (The point is to keep them moving away from your front door.)
6. Do any shopping you need from Washington St. days before the parade day to avoid the lines of people that will block you.
7. Don’t antagonize the drunks but smile at them. You have a better chance of not getting slugged.
8. Avoid walking past upstairs windows overflowing with people in green T-shirts.
9. If you have a backyard that abuts a house party going on that throws trash and bottles and cans into your yard, throw it all back and then some.
10. If you live in one of those mult-unit buildings, you are screwed. Your hallways will be a battleground and you will just have to deal with the garbage, urine, and possible destruction. I suggest you talk to your neighbors about trying to control the damage collectively.
Finally, “Stay Calm and Carry On,” as the old British saying goes. Remember it is your town and don’t let anyone push you around. Besides, our new Hoboken Emergency Room will be getting a lot of new business that day from people falling down. Just stay out of their way and you will be fine.
Mary Ondrejka