Friends family and neighbors,
The events over the last two weeks as you would agree have been extraordinary. While there continues to be rumor that more local officials may fall, it is only just that - rumor. We must move on and overcome, and continue the healing process so we can accomplish our goals.
With Mayor Zimmer at the helm, and having had the pleasure of being very close to the action recently, support for Dawn Zimmer through various cross sections of our City is very strong. Though nothing is ever a given in Hoboken, I will be working very hard to support Dawn Zimmer for the permanent mayoral position in November, and hope that you will too. In my opinion, anyone else that decides to run is excercising their political ego, and truly has little regard for the greater good of Hoboken.
We are still healing from the June election, and with last week's resignation, another contentious election would not help Hoboken move forward from all these events. We have important work to accomplish for the people of Hoboken who deserve our undivided attention now. Our goals of a substantially reducing the budget, managing challenging redevelopment projects and addressing serious quality of life issues need to be addressed now with no distractions. And Mayor Zimmer is off to a good start in providing necessary "hands on" leadership at City Hall.
Wednesday's City Council Meeting saw two important measures passed. The zoning ordinance, first introduced July 1, 2009, passed its second and final reading. This was a contentious measure which aimed to restore the City Council's appointing authority of members to the Zoning Board of Adjustments (Mayor was previously the sole appointing authority) AND reaffirmed the City Council as the Redevelopement Agency of the City. The second ordinance was a salary ordinance which set the salaries for the Mayor, Directors and City Council. While I still believe these positions are over paid, we finally moved to contain unnecessary employment/pension costs. For instance, we reduced (reinstate) the Mayor's salary from 129,894 to 116,904; and eliminated "longevity" payments for all those positions; and capped Public Safety at $27,500. This second ordinance passed on first reading, and is a step in the right direction in reducing salary costs. Second and final reading will be September 5th.
Around the community, expect to see more of Hoboken's Finest. I am pleased to report that the Police Department's community policing and traffic group will be more visible in addressing our on going problem with pedestrian safety versus vehicular traffic, especially as we move closer to the new school year. While I will not disclose specific locations, next week we will start to see a series of measures to educate, data collect and enforce motor vehicle laws within our neighborhood streets. I am excited about the program and confident of it's expected success in educating motor vehicle users, pedestrians and the public in general that we will not tolerate unsafe streets. However, mutual respect among, pedestrians, motor vehicles and bikes is necessary to be successful.
With that in mind, a community meeting is being planned for the week of August 17. I am working with Chief Falco and Lt. Ferrante to form a evening program tailored around our community's public safety needs. Let's consider it a "cop"tail party/meet and greet, where we will have an opportunity to meet members of the Hoboken Police Department to discuss parking, traffic, pedestrian and burglary issues. It is intended to be an informative and mutually respectful evening. Any thoughts in advance are welcome.
That's it for now. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer, and as usual, feel free to send this note around and reach out should you have any questions.
Peter Cunningham
PS...Also, please do not forget about the Uptown Farmers' Market on Thursday's from 3pm to 7:30pm at 13th and Hudson. It has been very successful with New Jersey purveyors/farmers with lots of great fruits, vegetables and baked goods from New Jersey (and Hoboken).
Cunningham's point is simple and obviously correct, if he'd just gone the next step of directing it against Mason by name.
By the way, I am not a Mason supporter, just looking for some balance.
Zimmer and her Council majority may move the city in a direction you oppose, but they certainly won't run the city into "grodlock."
Anonymous - precisely what are the changes that you fear Zimmer and her Council majority will make, that a Mayor Mason would keep from happening?
This is much the same thing the Mason people said about Zimmer in the last race. In my view, the Mason people were wrong to try to intimidate Zimmer out of running, and the strategy blew up in their faces. The indignation of both sides now that the tables are turned reeks of hypocrisy. Mason has every right to decide to run in November, just as Zimmer had the right to run in May. Nobody is entitled to a coronation rather than an election.
That said, I personally can think of no reason to vote for Mason over Zimmer and I hope she decides not to run. The increased turnout in November is not her friend, and I would hate to see her exploited once again by her greedy campaign "professionals" whose main motivation is a payday for themselves.
Mr. Cunningham is right when he offers the notion that elections are expensive wastes of time. Why should we have multiple candidates discuss and debate the issues when Mr. Cunningham and Ms. Zimmer offer the only righteous path?
Anyone who dares to offer an opposing opinion will be smote!
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2009/08/peter_cunningham_anyone_who_ru.html
The arrogance of this man Cunningham is galling. I'm glad he is not my councilman, though I might move to his neighborhood just to have the honor of voting against this pompous excuse for a politician.
Thanks to the Hoboken Reporter for uncovering this.
The arrogance of this man Cunningham is galling. I'm glad he is not my councilman, though I might move to his neighborhood just to have the honor of voting against this pompous excuse for a politician.
Thanks to the Hoboken Reporter for uncovering this.
Besides, not only is she NOT taking bribes, who else has more experience then her?
Don't make me laugh.
Zimmer lost the last election, remember, and people may still want somebody else.
The only ego problem here is with those who think Zimmer ought to become mayor without any opposition.