Below is a press release from Kathy Stack, Union City Mayor and State Senator Brian Stack's wife and Kim Glatt's campaign manager. This press release represents the opinions of her campaign and not this blog and is published for the sake of inclusion and discussion in the comments below....
Kimberly Glatt Condemns Zimmer’s Failure on Alleviating Hoboken’s Flooding Issue
Incompetence, lack of leadership and lack of transparency is costing Hoboken’s taxpayers
HOBOKEN, NJ – Below is a statement from Mayoral candidate Kimberly Glatt regarding Acting-Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s failure to take action to alleviate flooding in Hoboken. Months ago, Zimmer requested a flooding update from the North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA) and was given a packet that laid out ways for Hoboken to secure funding. Included in this packet was information on how Hoboken could secure a $6 million pump that would help solve Hoboken’s historic flooding problem by pursuing FEMA mitigation grants and NJ DEP grants. All Dawn Zimmer had to do was submit a letter of submittal supporting the project and agreeing to have Hoboken fund $2 million by September 30th. Unfortunately, Dawn Zimmer missed the deadline and failed to file this letter. Her inaction – whether due to incompetence or a lack of leadership - squandered $4 millions in available grants. Now, Hoboken taxpayers are left footing the full $6 million bill for her failure.
“For years, Dawn Zimmer has never missed an opportunity to exploit Hoboken's flooding problem as a political issue. However, when given the opportunity to actually do something to fix the issues facing our families, Dawn Zimmer failed to act. Her inaction not only postponed a solution to flooding, it will also cost Hoboken’s taxpayers millions of dollars. Moreover, this is a prime example of the lack of transparency and accountability we’ve seen for far too long in City Hall.”
“It’s time to turn the page on the problems of the past that continue to hobble Hoboken’s taxpayers. We need leadership in City Hall, not mere rhetoric and certainly not more of the same old political grandstanding. When Zimmer had a chance start a project that would alleviate flooding for scores of Hoboken residents – while saving the taxpayers their hard-earned money – she failed to even respond to the Sewerage Authority. This is unacceptable. Perhaps even worse than her incompetence and lack of leadership is the fact that Dawn Zimmer is trying to hide this issue from the public.”
My comment: There is more than meets the eye here and I do expect a statement from the Dawn Zimmer campaign to explain this allegation and will publish once I receive it. The gist of the anticipated rebuttal will be that putting in for the additional pump(s) now would require Hoboken to pony up a share of the total cost which could be up to 5 million dollars this fiscal year. If that is the case, how many Hoboken taxpayers would be willing to foot the bill? ◦
