Dear Editor:
I’ve now lived in Hoboken for over 2 years… moving from the Upper West Side to Hoboken…and I love it!! Love the people, love the community, don’t want to live anywhere but here… But the recent allegations against Mayor Cammarano and the subsequent outrage and protests have really led me to question where my fellow citizen’s priorities lie.
I understand there has been a history of corruption in both Hoboken and Hudson County and people are tired of it. I couldn’t agree more. The implication that our Mayor could have been party to any of this is damning enough, regardless of guilt or innocence. He should resign and we should be given the opportunity as a community to move forward. BUT… and this is a big but… Where was the outrage and protests last year when the City Council passed a budget that was $10 million dollars short and six months late? It was such a problem that we now have Judy Tripodi from the state as a fiscal monitor, pretty much running the city!! Last time I checked $10 million is quite a bit more than the $25,000 our Mayor is alleged to have taken. I would remind you though, this $10 million is just the tip of the iceberg on mistakes made, and why all homeowners’ taxes are going up!! In fact, Hoboken’s tax levy almost DOUBLED in 2009 from $34 million in 2008 to $65 million in 2009, due to mismanagement. This $31 million dollar addition is made up of $10 million added to make sure we’re not short again, $8 million dollars because tax bills were sent out late due to the latest of the budget, so people paid them after the fiscal year ended, $16 million in “one shot” revenues not expected to return in 2009, $1 million against people who improved their homes and buildings last year. Those bills had to be sent out by Oct. 1 but Hoboken didn’t have Tripodi yet, so it missed the window. However, those people will pay roughly double this year to make up for it – $4 million for anticipated cost reductions this year (NJ.com October 16, 2008).
When I first read about this deficit, like many I was shocked that this could happen. I was even more shocked that this seems to be legal. I can’t imagine any other business where I could get a loan that I KNOW I can’t pay for… But I don’t remember any protests outside of City Council person’s homes? Or angry protests at City Hall calling for the resignations of the council members. WHY??? So my questions for all of you who have lived here and been much more involved then me: Why is there more outrage now? Is this politically motivated? Why shouldn’t everyone on the City Council be bounced for putting Hoboken in deeper debt and in the hands of the state? Each of is affected every day by this lack of oversight in Hoboken spending… are any of you affected TODAY by Mayor Cammarano’s situation? While the outrage with the Mayor is understandable, I just don’t get why this is a bigger issue then the doubling of our tax levy due to infighting and incompetence. The state, not our elected officials are now in essence running our city!! If you’re going to protest at City Hall and in front of the Mayor’s house, maybe you should consider who is really messing up Hoboken, instead of who is messing up their own life and career.
John Karpinski