Assemblyman Ramos Opposes Police Lay Offs In Letter to City Officials

Assemblyman and former Councilman-at-Large Ruben Ramos Jr. is officially opposing the proposed police lay offs that are scheduled to happen on Sept. 24, in a letter, addressed to Mayor Dawn Zimmer, that was delivered to City Hall on Friday morning.The mayor was in trenton and did not accept the letter herself.

The Administration's plan calls for the laying off of 18 police officers and the demotion of 19 others.

"I wish to convey my opposition to the proposed lay offs in hopes of achieving a result that will better serve our residents," Ramos wrote. "I fear this decision has been made in haste."

Ramos is the first elected official outside of Hoboken's city council to publicly oppose the lay offs.

The Police Benevolence Association recently started its "Stop the Zimmer Police Lay Offs" campaign, which is spearheaded by Secaucus-based PR-firm Visionmedia. According to Nick Calicchio, who serves as Ramos' deputy chief of staff, the assemblyman will be joining in on any future protests.

Ramos further states that, since the city is operating with a surplus, "these cuts to the police force (are) completely unnecessary. These lay offs can not be justified by a fiscal emergency."

According to the 2010 Financial Statement the city has a $19.9 million surplus. Roughly $8 million of that surplus is unavailable, which leaves the city with a cash surplus of a little less than $12 million.

"The surplus has already been spent," said Fourth Ward Councilman Michael Lenz during Wednesday night's council meeting.  

Zimmer proposed the 2010 transitional year budget earlier this month, which has a $10 million surplus. She said it's crucial to keep that surplus, "for a rainy day."

Ramos also contends that the lay offs should not have been put in action until after the completion of the 2010 U.S. census.

PBA President Vince Lombardi met with city officials on Wednesday afternoon, before a scheduled protest in front of city hall to oppose the plan. Although he did not release many specifics about that meeting, Lombardi said that Mayor Dawn Zimmer had not changed her mind about the lay offs. During the City Council meeting following the protest, Corporation Counsel Mark Tabakin said that retirements in the police department would lower the number of lay offs.

Besides the cops, the city is also laying off 18 municipal workers.

Ramos used to serve as the chairman of the Democratic Committee in Hoboken. This position has since been given to Councilman-at-Large Ravi Bhalla.