MASON VOWS TO FIGHT TRANSIT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DESTROY HOBOKEN'S QUALITY OF LIFE
Calls Out Zimmer Over Naïve and Misleading Statements
Hoboken, NJ-- Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason said she will mobilize statewide opposition to state legislation that will give NJ Transit the power to supersede municipal zoning laws.
Mason said the bill, if approved in the lame duck session of the legislature - after Election Day and before the new year - would pave the way for massive, high density, high rise development in Hoboken and other communities in which NJ Transit owns property.
The bill, S2972, is sponsored by State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-36), who today issued a statement saying that he fully intends to push his bill through by the end of the year.
"This bill must be stopped. I am calling on the state senators in Hudson County to join with me and the people of Hoboken to defeat this legislation that has the power to destroy the quality of life of our city and many other cities and towns in this state," said Mason.
"I will rally legislators, mayors and open government activists from throughout the state and I will go to Trenton to stop the greedy developers and the politicians who continually enable them to make millions at the expense of our communities. I will not stand for it," said Mason.
The councilwoman called the legislation "an early Christmas gift to every big developer in the state who contributes money to Trenton politicians."
NJ Transit owns considerable property in the city, including an area along Observer Highway.The bill also gives the transit agency the power to "acquire property " it does not yet own - which Mason said could give added impetus to the agency to condemn private property through eminent domain.
The transit agency last year presented a plan to build a massive commercial and residential development near its train station. Mason and many others oppose that development.
ZIMMER'S MISLEADING STATEMENT
Mason added that reports last week by Acting Mayor and Council President Dawn Zimmer had succeeded in getting Sen. Sarlo to withdraw the bill were: "either purposely misleading or are a demonstration of Ms. Zimmer's naïveté when it comes to dealing with Trenton powerbrokers."
"If Dawn Zimmer thinks she can derail a bill of this magnitude by simply talking to a state Senator, she probably also believes in the Tooth Fairy," said Mason.
"She clearly has no understanding of how Trenton power politics works and what's at stake when legislation such as this comes along," said Mason.
Mason, an open government advocate, said: "Ms Zimmer should know that any bill like this -- that has a powerful constituency behind it -- that comes up in the lame duck session of the legislature is likely to be rammed through without the public even being aware of it."
"The most dangerous time for New Jersey citizens is the lame duck session of the legislature. That's when the lawmakers are safely beyond Election Day and they know people are preoccupied by the holidays," said Mason. "Ms. Zimmer obviously doesn't understand that."
Mason said Zimmer should immediately withdraw her statements that misled the public into thinking she killed the transit legislation.
"It is clear from Sen. Sarlo's statement today that he never had any intention of withdrawing his bill or allowing it to languish while cities like Hoboken are satisfied with it," said Mason. "Dawn Zimmer misled the public. She needs to explain why she was trying to take credit for something she didn't do."
My Comments:
The appropriate title for this press release should be:
Tit-for-Tat: Mason Provides Misleading Press Release Claiming Zimmer was Misleading in her Press Release
I suppose we can expect more such propaganda coming from 311 Monroe Street (Mason's current campaign HQ).
Below is the second part of the Hoboken City Council Meeting on September 2nd, 2009.
Mason Flip-Flops
At about 1 Minute and ten seconds into this Beth Mason speaks out against protesting this legislation. Watch further and you can watch Dawn taking a strong position on this while Beth once again obstructs. Don't take my word for it. See it for yourself!
Now, Beth Mason wants to fight legislation when it becomes politically expedient for her to do so. The reason for her press release is that I believe she is jealous of Dawn taking the lead on this issue so she has to once again blame Dawn for doing the right thing because Beth would always do it better. Perhaps Beth Mason believes her own rhetoric but we shall see how voters but into that come election time.
Additionally Beth's press release is misleading because Dawn's press release did not use the word killed or even imply it with respect to the legislation.
http://thehobokenjournal.blogspot.com/2009/10/dawn-zimmer-press-release-hoboken.html
From Dawn Zimmer's press release:
"Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced today that she has won an agreement to halt state legislation that would have allowed NJ Transit to go forward with their plan to build skyscrapers over the rail yards in South Hoboken over any objections raised by the City and its residents. Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36), the sponsor of this legislation, S-2972 has agreed that the bill will not go forward unless and until Hoboken is satisfied with its content."
“I believe it is important that the concerns of Hoboken be addressed,” Senator Sarlo said. “I pledge to consult with Mayor Zimmer and ensure that she is satisfied before proceeding with legislation in this area."
Looking at these two sections it appears that Dawn's statement never said the bill was killed just that that it would not go forward unless Dawn approved it. Now the question is, if the Bill is being amended does Dawn approve of the changes? If so this is a non-issue brought up by an increasingly desperate campaign. If not, Beth might have a point.
There is a long war that will have to be waged to prevent over-development. This is just a preliminary step in that war. Wait, didn't Beth Mason say "develop or die" ?
Such inconvenient truths are rarely heard on another well trafficked blog. ◦
