Letter to the Editor: Ramos and His Runningmates

To The Editor:

Today marks what would have been mayoral election day in Hoboken. While this election has been moved to November to streamline the municipal voting process, we would like to review the mayor’s progress as, unless reelected, her term would end on July 1.

Few of the promises to the city of Hoboken during her campaign in 2009 have come to fruition, and we would argue that the City has in fact suffered multiple setbacks under this mayor’s tenure in office. While the administration scrambles to get a few things done in the extra six months they have between now and November, take a moment to consider these unfulfilled promises from Zimmer’s 2009 campaign:

-Develop more parks, ball fields, restaurants and shops and fewer condos

-Fully-fund the city budget by 2010

-Decrease consulting costs and limit legal settlements

-Keep the budget under $89 million

-Hire competent directors and hold them accountable

-Create parks in neighborhoods that don’t have them

-Preserve existing and build new affordable housing

-Secure FEMA grants for stormwater management improvements

-Have more police officers and firefighters on duty

And the reality we are now facing on her would-be second election in 2013:

-With Sinatra Field, Sinatra Park, and Pier C Park all closed, there are fewer open public parks than when the Mayor took office. With progress on 1600 Park at a standstill, still no soccer field, either.

-The budget is not fully-funded, as highlighted by the recent City Council meeting where $700,000 for firefighter back-pay was bonded for in an emergency vote.

-Legal costs for the city of Hoboken now exceed $2 million, which is more than that of Newark, NJ’s largest city. In the first quarter of 2013 we have already spent $700k on legal fees - money that would have been available for our firefighters without a need for an emergency vote.

-The budget under Mayor Zimmer has never been less than $99 million, let alone the $89 maximum she promised.

-The Hoboken Parking Utility’s acting director sold the new parking meters to the City, none of which were insured and all of which had to be replaced after Sandy.

-There are still no parks in the 4th Ward - a promise Zimmer’s been running on since her first City Council election in 2007 - that’s almost six years!

-Mayor Zimmer blocked a vote on Phase I of Vision 20/20, which would have replaced 44 HHA units with modern, flood-resistant, environmentally-friendly affordable housing.

-The lack of a stormwater management plan was made painfully clear when Hoboken was devastated by Sandy, and each time there is a rain shower, like last Wednesday.

-Police and Fire patrols have been cut, leading to an increase in destructive fire and forcing the police to choose between fewer on-duty officers and longer hours.

Over the next six months, our team will put forth a comprehensive plan to get Hoboken back on the track toward progress and prosperity. We look forward to sharing our vision for Hoboken and hope you will join us in our mission to ensure a bright future for our great city.

Sincerely,

Vision for Hoboken
Ruben Ramos Jr. for Mayor

Joe Mindak for At-Large City Council
Laura Miani for At-Large City Council
Eduardo Gonzalez for At-Large City Council