Community backlash grows regarding arrested Hoboken Mayor Cammarano

Out on $100,000 bail, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano said in a press conference Friday that he will not resign from office and will fight the extortion charge against him. Critics and even some former supporters began making themselves heard through various protests that day.
Hoboken residents are now circulating a petition for his resignation, which has received more than 100 anonymous responses in a few hours. The petition is HERE.
In addition, some residents said they planned to protest at the mayor’s house on Saturday and Monday.
Two people have started a Facebook group called “I want my vote back, Peter Cammarano” and there are 46 members of “Impeach Peter Cammarano.” In the latter group, a man named Kevin wrote: “I am so tired of working hard and trying to make Hoboken a better place. Not only do I live in Hoboken but I also work here too and if there is one thing I wish I could change it would be the corruption.”
The dialogue on a pro-Cammarano site has become much more fiesty, with people leaving comments in the last few days deriding Cammarano supporters. Those supporters, in turn, have responded that Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer is still not qualified to be mayor. One of those members of the group “I’m voting for Peter Cammarano” wrote:

You think dawn is qualified? she’s an out of work photographer!!! she also happens to be married to one of the Beatles… i’ll take a corrupt cammarano over a know-nothing zimmer any day. she can’t even run a council meeting, let alone a city. here’s a question for you einstein? name me one politician that is not corrupt!

To which he received the response: “What the hell qualifications did your criminal candidate have?”
Meanwhile, community activist Scott Delea sent along word that he is resigning from Cammarano’s transition team.
Here is the letter he sent to the mayor.

Mayor Cammarano:
I am writing this note to inform you that I am resigning from the Mayoral Transition Committees for Economic Development and Community Relations, effective immediately. In light of the recent allegations against you I find it impossible for me to continue to invest my time, energy, or hope in working on a committee that is supportive of your administration under these conditions.
When I was asked to become part of the transition team I was hopeful we could move beyond the divisiveness of the campaign and truly work towards your campaign slogan of creating “One Hoboken”. Unfortunately, your alleged statements in the criminal complaint indicate otherwise when you say there are actually three categories of Hobokenites… “people who were with us…people who climbed on board in the runoff…and people against us… get ground into powder”.
Resigning from the transition committees is bittersweet. I have been thoroughly impressed with the dedication and knowledge of those serving on the transition committees and hope they continue to serve our community.
I truly hope these allegations against you prove to be false and I empathize with the pain and suffering your family and supporters must be feeling.
Sincerely,
Scott Delea

Return to our coverage at www.hudsonreporter.com by clicking “Home” at upper left. Feel free to comment below.

© 2000, Newspaper Media Group