Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Email Message from Mayor Dawn Zimmer

Here is a message from Mayor Dawn Zimmer sent yesterday on a variety of topics including today's BOE election and other happenings....

Dear Friends,

The School Board Election is today

Please remember to vote 3-4-5!!
Polls are open
from 7 am - 9 pm.

Election season is upon us again, and as always the stakes are high! Today is the School Board election (Wednesday, April 27) and I urge you to vote for the Kids First Team of Clifford Godfrey (3A), Jean Marie Mitchell (4A), and Steven Feinstein (5A).

Our schools are finally headed in the right direction and we must keep the progress going. 1/3 of our property taxes are for our schools and good schools mean higher property values, so even if you don't have children in the system you have an enormous stake in the outcome of this election.

City Council Election May 10th


In just 2 weeks we will choose all 6 of our Ward council members.

This election is critical because it will determine whether the City Council majority remains with those who want to obstruct progress and believe, as Mike Russo said that "subsidizing things is what government does," or shifts to  those who will work with me to Move Hoboken Ahead (link http://hobokenahead.com/).

Please support Eric Kurta, Tom Greaney, Greg Lincoln, Rami Pinchevsky, Peter Cunningham and Jen Giattino and remind your friends to get out and vote.

Hoboken University Medical Center

Last week, the Hoboken University Medical Center entered into a formal agreement to sell our hospital to an entity with common ownership with Bayonne Medical Center.

Under the Agreement, the hospital would continue to operate as a full service acute care facility for at least
7 years, and Hoboken would be relieved of the enormous financial risks related to the $52 million  bond guaranty incurred when the hospital was purchased almost 5 years ago.

Under the Agreement entered into last week,
 the hospital would continue to operate as a full
service acute care facility for at least 7 years,
and Hoboken would be relieved of the
 enormous financial risks related to the
 $52 million bond guaranty
incurred when the hospital was
 purchased almost 5 years ago.
There is still much work to be done to complete this transaction, but this is a major achievement for all Hoboken residents and taxpayers.

I’d like to thank all of the members of the Hospital Authority Board who worked so hard, on a volunteer basis, to make this enormous success possible.

Under the Agreement entered into last week, the hospital would continue to operate as a full service acute care facility for at least 7 years, and  Hoboken would be relieved of the enormous financial risks related to the $52 million bond guaranty incurred  when the hospital was purchased almost 5 years ago.

TELE TOWN HALL
TEXT the word "Reform" to 41411

Sign up to participate in a tele-townhall meeting with me to discuss the issues facing our City by texting the word "REFORM" to 41411.

We will text you the details when the scheduling is finalized.

Just by signing up you can show your support for 6 great candidates and get a chance to win 2 tickets to a Red Bulls game, lunch with the Mayor (Ok - that's not such a great prize) or an autographed copy of the Jersey Sting.

Move Hoboken Ahead Vintage t-shirts
Support the City-wide effort to restore a reform majority on the City Council by donating to Move Hoboken Ahead and receive a limited edition vintage Move Hoboken Ahead t-shirt.

Starting today and until we run out of supplies, if you donate $100 or more to Move Hoboken Ahead by clicking  Here and you'll receive a free vintage shirt.

Quantities and sizes are limited so make your donation now!!

Wednesday's City Council Meeting: The Grandstanding Continues!

Last Wednesday's City Council meeting highlighted the importance of the upcoming elections.

My proposal to authorize class II police officers to supplement our force of sworn police officers was voted down, without any serious consideration.

Class II officers are used throughout the State to increase police effectiveness during special events and to meet seasonal demands, cost effectively increasing public safety. It seems as though the Council majority would prefer to have a political issue by drumming up fear of increased crime, than a solution.

For the record, while there have been several widely reported incidents over the past several weeks, I have
not been provided with any data indicating that crime in Hoboken is actually on the rise. I have asked Chief Falco to provide the necessary data to determine the actual facts, and based on that information will take all necessary steps to maintain the highest possible level of public safety.

Instead of focusing on the real issues facing Hoboken, Councilwoman Mason, without any advance notice to anyone except perhaps her allies on the City Council, introducedlegislation intended to slash my salary and that of the City's directors by an additional 15% - 30%, well below the levels needed to attract qualified people for these positions.

Please recall that immediately after taking office as Acting Mayor, I myself cut my own salary and that
of the directors by 10%.

Apparently Mrs. Mason's commitment to government transparency takes a back seat to her urgent need to grandstand and create another false issue for her next mailer.

She explained that normal procedures should be suspended and an immediate vote be taken due to the "urgency" involved in getting Council Members “on the record” on this issue.

Fortunately, more responsible heads prevailed and the  legislation failed by a 5-3 vote.

Dirty Tricks

Last week, Matt Calicchio, the Russo/Mason political operative who 4 years ago falsely accused me of assaulting him while I was walking my dog, was caught on videotape removing Jen Giattino’s signs from a business establishment.

It has been reported that the business owner has stated that Mr. Calicchio falsely claimed that he was doing so at Jen’s request to prevent a $100 fine.

There have been reports that similar incidents occurred involving Eric Kurta signs in the 1st Ward. Apparently Mr. Calicchio is providing his unsavory services to Councilman Giacchi and Councilwoman Castellano, as well as to the rest of the Russo/Mason team.

All this highlights the importance of the upcoming elections, both School Board today and City Council on May 10.

Please spread the word and get out and vote.

Thanks for listening.

Dawn ◦
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