The Star-Ledger is reporting that our young Mayor Cammarano will announce his resignation tomorrow. Looks like the Dawn of Zimmer is upon us...
The Star-Ledger: Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano will resign after N.J. corruption sting arrest
Tomorrow evening the grassroots organization Hoboken Revolt is holding a rally outside city hall to protest for change. Literally. We need some more loose change in our pockets. If you too are feeling the tax pinch, please come down and voice your support. We're all in this together, and the fastest way to progress is to get involved. Tomorrow, Wednesday March 4th @ 6:30pm outside city hall on the corner of Washington and 1st Street.
Click here for more information, or if you would like to become a member of Hoboken Revolt.
Click below to view / right click / and save the poster graphics for the rally:
Hoboken Revolt Poster 11 x 17
Hoboken Revolt Poster 8.5 x 11
Force Change Rally Flyer
Tomorrow at 7pm in the ground floor conference room at City Hall (94 Washington Street) there is a very important Planning Board meeting to vote on a new ordinance that essentially creates a new 'Park' category for zoning in Hoboken. If approved, it would pave the way for our City Council to designate the so-called SW6 site along First Street for a future park. A proposed mock-up of said park appears below:
Click here for a larger version that you can zoom in on, courtesy of Hoboken Now.
Now how does this apply to our dear northwest area of Hoboken? Well if this passes, than that same zoning ordinance can and will be applied to our giant abandoned square on 12th and Adams, seen below in a handy little Google map.
So the moral of this story is - if you want a park on 12th and Adams, then you better get your booty over to City Hall tomorrow (Tuesday 8/5) and show your support for for SW6.
This is the only way to voice your opinion. Otherwise a very small group of people will continue to make all the important decisions that directly affect your quality of life. Why not break off a piece of that power for yourself?
What would I ask for? An installation of super tall Redwoods in the shape of the letters 'HH' and of course a giant sculpture of my head that houses a small burger stand and beer hall. You know, for when the weather's nice.
"Still, most indications are that Mr. Roberts is the biggest loser so far in a process certain to include sizable tax increases next year."
Click below to read more!
The New York Times: Hoboken, an Economic Success That Can’t Pass a Budget
Click the below image to enlarge!
Do you like to give your opinion? Yes, of course you do! Well stop by City Council Chambers at 94 Washington Street at 7pm this Wednesday to discuss the future of the Western Edge Redevelopment plan. Now's your chance to have your voice heard.
Do you want good restaurants? Quality retail? Open space covered with real grass? Perhaps a bicycle fast lane along Monroe Street? Community pool? Do you want to make sure that future retail spaces are larger than what's currently zoned in our Upper Grand buildings, which sit empty because they are not large enough for businesses other than nail salons and dry cleaners? Thought so. Come and hang out on Wednesday evening!
Afterwards, we can do a conga line together back to our neighborhood.
No, you are not reading the above flyer all the way from the moon, nor are you a 95 year old who forgot their glasses. This itty bitty super tiny teensy weensy pretty much unreadable listing (taken directly from the official Hoboken website) is actually a public meeting announcement to invite local citizens and people with strong opinions to come to the next City Council Meeting and discuss the future redevelopment plan for the western edge of Hoboken. Clearly they do not want any of us showing up. Why don't we prove them wrong and show up en mass? Bring your noise groggers and megaphones and confetti and make tell 'em what you want in your neighborhood.
For example, if I was there I'd say - any future retail spaces must be at least twice as large as the ones currently existing in the Upper Grand buildings - because those retail spaces are so small no businesses can actually use them - other than nail salons and dry cleaners. This is a problem that should be corrected on all future developments. Why keep making the same mistake? Have you noticed how many unrented retail spots there are in the Upper Grand buildings? It's because the square footage of the spaces availalbe are TOO SMALL. Kind of the like the flyer above.
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 @ 7pm
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY HALL
94 Washington Street
Unfortunately HH is not in town tomorrow night - so if any diligent and caring NW Hobokeners would like to file an official report with HH on what went down at the meeting, I will publish your report and make you a local honorary junior celebrity. You may not be as popular as Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, but you'll feel good about being one of the few who care enough to improve your own community. Please email me by clicking here..jpg)
Thanks Eddie, for the tip!
I am very happy that I moved to Hoboken. The space, the peace, the proximity to NYC - love it all. I really have no complaints. Except for one major one. Late at night, when I'm in the city and JUST WANT TO GO HOME, it pains me to no end to hop into a cab (if they let me in, of course) and then pay $50 - $60 to get home, even though it only takes 5 minutes to get there. This makes no sense. Really, it's my only major complaint since my move out of Manhattan that I really care about.
Purely and simply - if we had a more economical taxi option home at night, Hoboken would be a much more desirable 'borough' to reside in. But because we are not part of New York state, we get the shaft by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. Well, to open a discussion on this problem, our Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, sent off a letter to the TLC Commissioner/Chair to see if we can improve things. Letter is posted below for you to read. If you would like to add your two cents, click here to send an email to Commisioner Daus yourself. It's quick and painless. And as we know from experience - the only way to affect change is to speak up yourself. Thanks Ruben for reaching out, now let's see if we can get somewhere. I know there are thousands of you who feel exactly like I do. So go ahead and send the TLC an email.
To read related posts on this subject from Hoboken Now (hi Carly!) and New York's Sixth, click the links below. I also encourage Hoboken411 to write about this too - I'm sure his readers would LOVE to chime in on the subject...(ahem, cough, cough)...
Hoboken Now: Ramos calls for cheaper taxis from NYC
New York's Sixth: Just a Cab Ride Away
***************************
March 27, 2008
Mr. Matthew W. Daus
Commissioner/Chair
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission
40 Rector Street
New York, NY 10006
Commissioner/Chair Daus:
I write hoping to work in conjunction with your office, to address an issue that affects a multitude of residents who reside in the New York City metro area. Specifically, my office has received numerous calls regarding exorbitant fees for taxi rides from Manhattan to New Jersey municipalities that rest immediately outside of both the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, such as Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and Jersey City.
In many instances, New York City taxi drivers charge $50 for rides that are only a few short miles and minutes away from destinations within very close proximity to the New Jersey side of the tunnels. Clearly, these fees surpass what a metered ride would cost.
Moreover, the fee for a ride to New Jersey far exceeds the cost for a longer trip within the five boroughs of New York City. Therefore, it is evident that riders to New Jersey are charged rates that are not commensurate with that of riders who stay in New York City, creating an unfair circumstance.
Furthermore, a reduction in taxi fare for riders from New York City to New Jersey makes rides more accessible, offering many benefits such as increased commerce in New York City, reduced driving while intoxicated and raised revenue through toll collection to New Jersey. Also, drivers would not lose money, as additional riders would utilize this service, thereby allowing for more income.
In closing, please note that this issue is one of importance to my constituents, as we continue to share an economy with New York City.
I look forward to your response. Thank you for your attention to this mater.
Sincerely,
Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.
Assemblyman
Cc: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, The City of New York
Our little city council / not-so-open government snafu has made it into the New York Times today!
Once again there's some shady business going on in Hoboken. And when local officials are hesitant in being honest, it usually means they are hiding something.
Click the link below to read an article in today's Star Ledger outlining the current battle between Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason, and our City Counsel, over full access and disclosure of public documentation that our local government is apparently refusing to hand over, even though they are required to do so. These documents have to do with developer agreements, conditions, and promises, tied to tax abatements and other redevelopment activities. Additional paperwork on our police department and other financial documents were requested. These records, and the overall argument at hand, affects every single person living in our neighborhood, and the future of northwestern redevelopment.
Case in point: Tarragon recently disclosing they were never obligated to build a community center and town pool, even though they had a sweetheart construction deal with the city to redevelop large swathes of the northwest portion of our neighborhood, a job that was tied to the center / pool / obligation. These were two items, along with our movie theater, that were highly publicized deals by both the developer, and our photo-op-loving Mayor David Roberts.
The only way to change the sad state of affairs of our local government is for us, the ordinary citizens, to get involved. Talk, email, write, and be vocal with those that make the decisions. This town is full of people who love to share their opinions on just about anything, but unless your words turn into action, nothing gets improved. HH may not agree with everything Beth Mason does, but we sure stand behind her fight for full disclosure, and for making sure our government works FOR US, not behind our back while simultaneously sucking our wallets dry.
The Star Ledger: Jersey court to decide how open public records are
See also:
Hoboken Now: Beth Mason's Fight for Transparency at City Hall
Hoboken 411: Mason on Public Records in Hoboken
If you live in the 3rd ward like HH - your voting place is inside Columbus Gardens. It's absurdly hard to find - so just in case you need a little help today, I've posted some visual aids. Below, the view of Columbus Gardens from Jefferson Street between 8th and 9th Streets:
Just walk up the path, then hang a left, then it's down through a basement entrance past the American flag, through a corridor and into a little room with tons of water pipes running along the ceiling and bad lighting. There are a bunch of pleasant women helping voters sign in and cast their ballot. My favorite was the one pushing everyones tickets through a pinhead, and onto a piece of string tied to the voting booth. Low tech, of course, but gets the job done when you need a place to keep everyones receipt.
If you still need clarification - the voting location entrance is directly across the street from The Nail Bar Salon:
I'm sure if our voting place offered a 10% discount for mani/pedi's at The Nail Bar, there would be an instant stampede to cast votes this afternoon. Ahhhh the democratic process!
If you are planning on voting in the upcoming primary elections on Feb 5th - you must be a registered voter! The deadline to register is tomorrow. It's easy, just click here and scroll down to download the form - then mail it in! Simple as pie.
Don't forget to vote today. I did and it only took 30 seconds. I even had a chance to flirt with the ladies behind the official polling desk.
Click here to find your local polling place. Just type in your info and it clearly lists where you should go.
Polls are open till 8pm tonight!
Here's an article from today's Journal regarding the vote last night to deem the western edge of Hoboken (9th to 14th Street) a redevelopment zone, paving the way (literally) for new construction. Whether that means we're losing our proposed park land along the light rail remains to be seen:
Western Hoboken redevelop zone gets 6-3 approval
Friday, July 20, 2007
By LYSA CHEN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
An 11-acre area along Hoboken's western boundary between Ninth and 14th streets was deemed a redevelopment zone by the Hoboken City Council Wednesday night, a maneuver some council members said will virtually guarantee a pool and recreation center for the city.
Planner Paul Phillips, of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, said three of the four properties included in his study of Hoboken's western edge are vacant and have fallen into various stages of disrepair. The fourth lot, he said, would be necessary to redevelop the entire area and was included, although it does not necessarily need redevelopment itself.
By designating the city's western edge as a redevelopment zone, the council retained more control over plans for the area, said Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo. Although plans are not set in stone, Russo said developers have promised a swimming pool and recreation center, two items long on the city's wish list.
"A vote against this redevelopment zone is a vote against the pool," he said.
But some members of the public were skeptical of such promises, accusing some council members of using "the same old carrot." They said the owner of the properties included in the study, Tarragon/URSA, has broken similar promises to the city.
Fifth Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham said the council should consider other options before making any decisions.
"It's not that I don't want that pool, that community center," he said. "I want the best pool, the biggest pool, the most outdoor space."
Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason said the council needs to consider the redevelopment areas in their entirety.
The council designated the western edge as a redevelopment zone by a 6-to-3 vote.
Voting for the redevelopment zone were Council President Theresa Castellano, Angelo "Nino" Giacchi, Terry LaBruno, Ruben Ramos, Peter Cammarano and Russo. Voting against it were Mason, Dawn Zimmer and Cunningham.
Mayor David Roberts said he is "very pleased" with the result of the vote and is excited by the prospects of a municipal swimming pool and recreation center.
