Dear Editor:
I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Hoboken Master Plan meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7. The primary reason that I attended was to hear about plans for historic preservation. This changed once the meeting commenced. By way of background. I should state that I just recently became a property owner in Hoboken. I suppose many would lump me in the “Wall Street” crowd, though I do not work in banking nor do I draw a bonus greater than most people’s annual salary.
In addition to historic preservation, the agenda for this past Thursday’s meeting was comprised of discussions on zoning, building design, streetscape and affordable housing. I would like to address the issue of affordable housing in an effort to inform others that were unable to attend this meeting. Make no mistake, nobody should argue that there is not a valid need for affordable housing within a community. There are several different definitions of affordable housing that were identified for the attendees. This in no way, shape or form is an issue of aiding underprivileged or poverty stricken families only. There are municipal workers that are required to live within city limits, local school teachers that deserve to live amongst the community they so selflessly serve and handicapped individuals that should not be swept off to some other area. The list goes on.
My belief was reinforced not less than one minute after leaving the meeting. I had reason to speak with a uniformed police officer standing on the corner of Second and Grand. The officer was completely professional and courteous, and I would like to thank him again for his assistance. As part of his response to my question he mentioned that he is a life long resident of Hoboken. Surely, no one would argue the merit of doing anything in their power to allow for citizens such as this to remain part of the community.
According to data published by the State of New Jersey in the year 2000, Hoboken had in excess of 5,000 units (out of approximately 20,000) that were classified as affordable (meaning simply that they were subsidized.) Proponents for additional affordable housing will have you believe that the number is more like 20 percent rather than 25 percent published by the State of New Jersey merely two years ago. Either way this is well in excess of the 9 percent average throughout the rest of Hudson County. To me the main issue is not the number of units that exist, but the enforcement of who receives the privileges. To nobody’s surprise, according to people in attendance with many years more experience with this issue, there has been little or no constructive enforcement of who inhabits these dwellings. It was mentioned that many of the people who live in Hoboken’s affordable housing have homes at the shore or have sold their valuable Hoboken property and allowed the proceeds to be made in the names of their children so that they would still qualify for subsidy. Does this seem right? I say no. Is there a solution? Yes. And trust me I am not of the belief that there is some miracle worker that can make this age-old issue disappear.
My suggestion is that the City hire one or two individuals responsible for reviewing applications/renewals for affordable housing. This may cost the taxpayers, what, $125,000 per year, or $3 each. Sounds reasonable. Their task, simply speaking would be to demystify any “fuzzy math”, to use Presidential terms. Is it unreasonable that applicants submit tax returns with their applications in order to support their income claims? Maybe they already do. I know I had to in order to obtain housing in Hoboken. Please consider that living in Hoboken is not akin to living in a vacuum. The laws of supply and demand do apply. We are not somehow able to buck the trends of people who have inhabited this great land for hundreds of years. I grew up in what would be considered by most as a privileged town not 20 miles from Hoboken. Due to enormous housing cost increases (much higher than Hoboken as best as I can tell), I do not have the financial means to live in the town I grew up in. All I ask is that people please realize that this is not a given in our society and that we the citizens of Hoboken do support our fair share of affordable housing.
I recommend incorporating the citizens desires into the Master Plan and more importantly defining the mechanism by which we will enforce the will of everyone. Thank you.
Michael Bison