Dear Editor: For many years the Hoboken Housing Authority has been treated like nothing more than a voting bloc by the current administration or used to advance the political agenda of the mayor which is pretty obvious considering his appointees. I’m sure the mayor will say that he is responsible for appointing a HHA resident to the Board of Commissioners. However, I severely doubt that would have taken place had I not made that an issue during the 1999 election. Now recently the public has witnessed projects such as the garage on Garden Street and the complex being built alongside a children’s playground. This raises some serious questions such as who approved these plans? Or how is the developer allowed to get away with this? Well, the answer to that is simple; all of the members of the Zoning Board are appointees of the mayor and votes that he influences. Just like the six votes the mayor controls on the City Council. With that said I will go back to my original point and a recent appointment the mayor has made to the HHA Commissioners. Upon the resignation of Mary Knapp from the board, the mayor appointed City Council President Nellie Moyeno as her replacement. Why didn’t the mayor appoint another resident to the board or someone from the community that volunteers his or her time at the HHA? Another simple answer, control. Another vote the mayor could influence in an area he views as a voting bloc he has lost and want to regain. No member of the City Council including myself should be appointed to the HHA board. For seven years he ignored the HHA and allowed it to rot; now he wants to come in on a white horse and save the day. When and what should be taking place are public forums such as the one held April 13 with a HUD representative informing the residents of their rights as tenants. His tactics are obvious and insulting to those people who have fought to address the concerns of the residents from day one. Such as his one week before an election, community meetings and press conferences. What happened to the recreation center he spoke of last May right before the election? What happened to the late fee reimbursement to HHA residents he spoke of right before the School Board election? I haven’t heard a mention of them since. Have you? I’m sure we will be seeing more resignations from the HHA board due to their unpopularity with the residents. However, I am also sure that their replacements will still be votes which the mayor can influence; guess is George Ortiz or Angel Alicea. Since being elected one year ago, I have published newsletters and held community meetings on various issues from Millennium Towers to the HHA lease, without having a press conference or cameras present. Simply because it’s part of our job as public servants. Ruben Ramos, Jr. 4th Ward Councilman