Fellow POGgers (and Hoboken Residents),
Twenty years ago, Hoboken citizens availed themselves of the right to present or challenge ordinances by presentation to the city council or before the voters. They successfully challenged a redevelopment plan for the southern waterfront that would have built a high-rise tower where Pier A park is located today. Soon thereafter, state law was changed to disallow citizens from utilizing the I&R process in matters of land use (presumably in reaction to the defeat of the 1990 and 1992 Port Authority redevelopment agreements).
In 2004 and again in 2007, the citizens of Hoboken utilized the initiative and referendum process to enact a number of good-government initiatives, most notably the pay-to-play reform laws that have dramatically reduced the level of influence of campaign contributions on the granting of no-bid professional contracts and redevelopment agreements, while having great effect in leveling the playing field in local elections.
The right of New Jersey citizens to present I&R ordinances to municipal councils and to fellow voters is at risk of being seriously curtailed. The right to petition our local government to change the length of term of office for elected officials or to change our form of government may be severely limited if Bill S3157/A4264 is passed on Monday. Please read the forwarded letter below and contact our two representatives to the state Assembly and ask them to vote NO on this bill.
AsmRamos@njleg.org
AswRodriguez@njleg.org
Thank you for your attention,
Eric Kurta
Here is the referenced letter below:
