Hoboken Public School District to offer summer enrichment program

BOE Slate Kids First and Superintendent Mark Toback continue to take the taxpayer money and put it back in the class room to enrich the children's education in Hoboken's District Schools. No wonder why the Old Guard behind Frank Pupie Raia and Michelle Russo want control of the School Board back. They want that cheddar back outside the classroom where they think it belongs. In their pockets. BOE elections are this November.

Here is yet another program to benefit children and not some patronage job mill that the "Old Guard" envisions...

Hoboken Public School District to offer summer enrichment program

Please see the attached form if you are interested in registering your child for the free summer program, which will run from June 25th through July 27th. Classes will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Extracurricular courses will be offered based on students' interest. It will help us to plan for the program if interested parents complete and return the attached form, indicating the specific programs in which they are interested.

Link to pdf form: http://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us/files/Summer%20Enrichment%20Program.pdf

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Hoboken Public School District to offer summer enrichment program

Updates from Hoboken Residents For A Public Waterfront

Updates from Hoboken Residents For A Public Waterfront

Good evening,

Here are some quick updates from Hoboken Residents for a Public Waterfront:

1. Shipyard Associates has again requested to re-schedule their hearing in front of the Hoboken Planning Board.  The hearing is now scheduled for:

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 – 7:00PM

Wallace School gymnasium

1100 Willow Avenue (intersection of 11th and Willow Ave.)



2. As expected, Shipyard Associates has appealed the Hudson County Planning Board's decision to deny their application.  They will now have to present their entire application to the Board of Chosen Freeholders (the legislative branch of the county government).  We are expecting a public hearing to be scheduled in May and will keep you updated on the timing.  Freeholder Anthony Romano is Hoboken's representative on the Board of Chosen Freeholders.  Correspondence reiterating the importance of this matter can be sent to him at the following address:

Freeholder Anthony Romano
567 Pavonia Avenue
Jersey City NJ 07306
aromano@hcnj.us

3. These update emails now reach 519 concerned residents of Hoboken, and the list continues to grow every day.  We are honored to receive emails of well wishes and support, but we cannot get complacent.  Please spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors.  Our electronic petition is still open for signatures (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/hoboken-public-waterfront/) and our inbox is always open for suggestions or questions.  Attendance at public hearings still remains the MOST IMPORTANT way to fight this project!

4. Thank you to everyone who attended the Fund for a Better Waterfront comedy night. It was a great success and everyone had a great time.  They have been great friends to our cause since day one and we were thrilled to see them throw a successful fund raiser.

Hoboken Residents for a Public Waterfront

www.facebook.com/HobokenRPW

www.ipetitions.com/petition/hoboken-public-waterfront/

@HobokenRPW on Twitter


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Updates from Hoboken Residents For A Public Waterfront

Open Letter to the City of Hoboken from 300 Washington Street Residents and Owners

The residents and owners of 300 Washington Street would like to extend their thanks to the many people of Hoboken who helped them in time of need with respect to the fire that took place there on 2/19/2012 that destroyed the landmark building….

An Open Letter to the City of Hoboken:

The residents and owners of the 300 Washington Street fire would like to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to all for your love, support, and generosity during this most difficult time.  The outpouring we have received has been overwhelming. While we may have lost our belongings and our beloved historical building, we have witnessed the kindness, beauty and generosity that embodies Hoboken.  You have come to our aid with donations, kind words, and a loving hand.  For that you will always be in our hearts.

Artwork by Ricardo Roig

We especially want to thank the first responders, including: Chief Richard Blohm and the Hoboken Fire Department, Chief Anthony P. Falco, Sr. and the Hoboken Police Department, Director of Public Safety John Tooke, Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and The Hoboken Office of Emergency Management. In addition, we extend our gratitude to Mayor Dawn Zimmer and her staff, the Hoboken Rotary Club, and St. Peter and Paul’s Church, who all worked tirelessly to ensure that the displaced residents had food, shelter, and comfort. The support continued well after the fire. Many of these groups and individuals have helped us as we work towards the rebuilding process. Without such support, this process would have otherwise been a daunting task.

We would very much like to thank everyone who made donations of clothing, household items, and money to help us get back on our feet. Thank you to the local businesses that hosted events for us or donated gift certificates to raise funds. We send our appreciation to all of the Hoboken residents, volunteers, local business owners, charity and social group organizers, website owners, bloggers, newspapers, and other media outlets who helped spread the word and raise awareness of our situation and the efforts to raise funds. The list of supporters spans pages. While we can’t name them all here, we are eternally grateful for each and everyone’s help.

As numerous Hoboken residents have mentioned to us, our building was one of beauty that embodied the life blood of Hoboken.  We hope to rebuild and bring back the splendor of it for everyone to enjoy again, as we once did.

Sincerely and with the utmost thanks and appreciation,

The residents and owners of 300 Washington St:

Paola Buendia, Mark Donovan, Ralph Russo, Tiffany Shenman, Fred Volze, Michael Sinensky, Kevin Rose, Bethany Rose, Leigh Treiling, Eric Treiling, Kate Lopez, Kathy Griffin, Monica Yang, Billy Woods, Daniel Woods, Ricky Palmer, Caroline Madrak, Stacey Molski, Stephanie Garman, Collin Kamm, Chris Ludgate, Anthony Rea, Kee Seymore, Shedrick Pelt, Joe Giletti, Carrie DePetris, Michael Donohue  and Derrick Hicks

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Open Letter to the City of Hoboken from 300 Washington Street Residents and Owners

No More Jabberwocky! Time For The Good Governance Movement to Coalesce

There is a one man/woman show going on over at Hobokenpatch.com with a poster named Jabberwock who is running off at the keyboard with divide and conquer animus reminiscent of paid for political operatives or Machiavellian masterminds. He/she, while identity still unknown is advocating for another reform/good governance alternative to Mayor Zimmer and for lack of better term lets call it "The Third Way". In one of his/her posts after being a bit flushed out and cajoled by yours truly they state:

"If Michael Lenz were to run, he'd get my vote. If Carol Marsh were to run, she'd get my vote. If someone other than the long list of thieves runs, I'd give them strong consideration. If Dawn Zimmer can address some of, what I view, as disappointments or failures, I'll give her strong consideration. If she can't and if no one else steps forward, I'll probably vote for Patricia Waiters. It's just that simple." 

Folks this commenter loves Mike Lenz and Carol Marsh as shown in this comment in the thread:

Regarding Lenz: "I thought he talked a bit too much when he was on the council, but that aside, IMO he was one of the best council persons this town has ever seen...he actually was the best. Do you share such a low opinion of Carol? (i.e., she's better than a subway rat?) She seems to have the most "lenz-like" positions of those currently serving on the council and perhaps the best serving council member right now. (that Jen girl ain't bad, but just for the sake of experience, my pick is Carol.)"

It should be noted that if Dawn Zimmer was not running for re-election of course Carol Marsh would get my strong consideration for Mayor in 2013, I supported her back in 2005. But the fact is Dawn Zimmer will run for re-election by all accounts so to me the discussion is moot. 

Editorial Note: I am only responding to the commenting nonsense of Jabberwocky.

Folks whats going on around here Lenzbianism on Hoboken Patch? Or is it Just a Political Operative Prank? Probably a prank.

Jabberwocky from Wikipedia Commons

Of course Patch commenters are a limited bunch but I am sure the thread has more readers than commenters so this operative or true believer seems to be pushing for either Carol Marsh or Mike Lenz and seems to hope to gain traction. Now this is either a legitimate attempt to push some agenda or split reform/good  governance with a fake persona. Some feel it is the former and some the latter. What makes this poster absurd is that they would actually vote for Patricia Waiters over Dawn Zimmer who I actually like as a person but has switched sides so many times I truly don't know where she stands today.

I think that although Dawn Zimmer started out inexperienced she has the right temperament and has made many good moves for Hoboken including her greatest accomplishment, privatizing the HUMC and saving Hoboken from bankruptcy. She fought back against a City Council Minority that wanted to see that deal go down to destroy Zimmer politically Hoboken be damned, and it would have if they had succeeded. Council minority members Terry Castellano, Mike Russo, Tim Occhipiniti and Beth Mason have no sense of decency or doing the right thing. Just about everything that minority does as for political reasons and not for the betterment of the City of Hoboken.

Dawn Zimmer should be the choice in 2013 to be re-elected for Mayor. You don't have to agree with her 100% to give her your support. The opposing side seems to be coalescing around Ruben Ramos for Mayor in 2013. Beth Mason and Frank Raia still may jump in but judging by the turnout for Ruben Ramos this week at the Elysian Cafe he seems to be the most likely choice against Zimmer in 2013 although things can change. Many of the usual Old Guard Cammarano supporters, developers and suck ups were there at Ruben's event. The opposition is already working out their differences and all I am suggesting in that we do the same on the side of good governance.

Dawn Zimmer and her husband Stan Grossbard have made tremendous sacrifices in time, money, and personal efforts for Dawn to be elected Mayor of Hoboken. It is preposterous, ludicrous and downright f*cking arrogant to the core for some in reform or even outside it to think that they can call the shots and make executive decisions out of some sense of entitlement because they plowed the road. They did plow the road but it was Dawn who got elected and quite frankly she earned the right to call the shots. Read up on the Faulkner act babies and grow up. As the Rolling Stones sang "You can't always get what you want". Learn to deal with the fact and understand that the power goes to the electable.

Editorial Clarification: Again, this is a response to Jabberwocky whoever they are and no one else. 

With that said I don't always agree with minutia of every one of the Mayor's decision but I urge all on the side of good governance and set aside your petty or real differences and get behind re-electing Dawn Zimmer for Mayor in 2013.  When you look at the viable opposition, you should realize that there is so much more at stake.

Below is a link to the thread on Path and an ode to Jabberwock who is free to blather on to his or her hearts content.

Link: http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/initial-renovations-at-legion-park-done#comments

"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Caroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe. ◦

No More Jabberwocky! Time For The Good Governance Movement to Coalesce

5th Ward City Councilman Peter Cunningham weighs in on the passage of Hoboken's 2012 Municipal Budget

5th Ward City Councilman Peter Cunningham weighs in on the passage of Hoboken's 2012 Municipal Budget in his latest email to constituents......

Dear neighbors, friends and family,

Dawn Zimmer and I have been working to control Hoboken’s budget since before we were elected to the council. We join a long line of citizen activists who understood that the only sustainable way to cut taxes was to reduce spending. This week, years of effort continued to bear fruit, as we again made historic progress with Hoboken's 2012 budget. New Jersey’s ”paper of record,” The Star Ledger recognized that achievement when it wrote: “In a 5 to 4 vote, the Hoboken City Council passed its calendar budget that drops the tax levy 17 percent from last year's [actually prior year’s] figures, putting the mile square city on top of the state for reducing taxes.”

We are proud of our record in cutting taxes. But we are just as proud of the way we did it. Honestly. Sustainably. No tricks or gimmicks. We cut taxes while preserving needed services and continuing to reserve 3.6% of the budget for unexpected costs. All achieved in the face of unrelenting obstructionism by minority council members Mason, Occhipinti, Russo and Castellano.

Minority members understand that the city’s fiscal success is their political catastrophe. That’s why they worked so hard to kill the HUMC hospital privatization which would have cost the City dearly in reduced services, loss of jobs, and financial and economic disaster. These four obstructionists failed in blocking the sale, but did manage to block a refinancing of Parking Utility bonds to the tune of $4 million which would have further shored up our reserves and provided additional tax relief in a responsible manner.

We persevered through the budget process in accordance with state statutes. We conducted open and transparent budget workshops. We made well thought out amendments to the introduced budget. And we passed a responsible budget which will provide for sound regeneration of surplus savings in future years, while preserving needed services and providing the most tax relief in the state.

Many thanks to Mayor Zimmer and her team, to my council colleagues, and to our many supporters. Working together we stayed the course and got the job done. Hoboken has a lot to be proud of.

- Peter Cunningham
5th Ward City Councilman
201-562-7071 ◦

5th Ward City Councilman Peter Cunningham weighs in on the passage of Hoboken's 2012 Municipal Budget

Mayor Dawn Zimmer Announces New Leadership Team

Office of the Mayor announces:

MAYOR ZIMMER ANNOUNCES 

NEW ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP TEAM

Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced the hiring of Quentin Wiest as Business Administrator and Stephen Marks as Assistant Business Administrator.

“I am very excited about this team and the strong backgrounds they bring,” said Mayor Zimmer. “They will be a great asset to the City of Hoboken.”

Mr. Wiest has served as Business Administrator of the Borough of Closter, Executive Director of the Bergen County Improvement Authority, Director of Public Works for Bergen County, and Mayor of Ridgewood. He brings extensive finance, construction and facilities management experience.

Mr. Marks was most recently the Planning Director for the Hudson County Division of Planning and has broad project management experience from nearly 20 years in County government. He is a licensed professional planner, member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and certified LEED Green Associate. Along with assisting the Business Administrator, Mr. Marks will manage several important projects including acquisition of land for new parks, the $2 million grant for converting Observer Highway into “Observer Boulevard,” and waterfront repairs at Pier A, among other projects.

Mr. Wiest will begin on a transition schedule through April, while Mr. Marks will begin full time on April 10th. Their resumes are available on the City website:

http://www.hobokennj.org/docs/mayor/Resume-Wiest.pdf

http://www.hobokennj.org/docs/mayor/Resume-Marks.pdf

My Comment: I had once mentioned to someone close to the Mayor that they really need some project management expertise to handle all the projects in the City. The hire for the assistant Administrator fills that need.  My comment in this case was followed through on and I believe this skill set will help the City move more projects along at the same time. ◦

Mayor Dawn Zimmer Announces New Leadership Team

City of Hoboken Playground Improvements Begin this Spring City Wide

The latest update on playground improvements from the City of Hoboken. These playgrounds are are scheduled for renovation this spring....

CITY-WIDE PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS BEGIN IN HOBOKEN

Jefferson Street Park

New playground equipment and safety surfacing is being installed at three Hoboken parks. Construction is currently in progress at Jefferson Street Park and Jackson Street Park. Work is scheduled to begin next week at Legion Park on Willow Avenue. Parks will be temporarily closed while construction is in progress. The scheduled completion date is April 15, however the City and contractor are working aggressively, including working on weekends, to complete construction sooner.

Jackson Street Park

Legion Park

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City of Hoboken Playground Improvements Begin this Spring City Wide

Letter to the Editor on the 2nd Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act - from Ruben Ramos

From the desk of Assemblyman Ruben Ramos:


To the Editor:

In 1999, I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thankfully, I was able to navigate the system and am in my eleventh year of remission. Unfortunately, millions of Americans are not as lucky. The federal government spends an extraordinary amount of money on healthcare. Individuals and families were often left without coverage due to “pre-existing conditions,” administrative errors, and clauses that allowed companies to suddenly discontinue coverage. The system was broken.

In 2010, the federal government finally took action to solve this growing crisis. On March 23, America will mark the second anniversary of the signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. The protections established in this law represent the fundamental obligation of our government to ensure fair treatment of all of its citizens. For too long, corporate healthcare profits have outweighed the medical needs of those they covered, and the Affordable Care Act has already started to resolve these problems.

In 2000, I delivered a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention that addressed our country’s dire need for healthcare reform. While I acknowledge some criticisms of the Affordable Care Act, a reform of this scope represents one of the single most important advances in healthcare reform in fifty years. The provisions enacted through this law will create an environment that expands accessibility to healthcare, provides basic patient protections, and penalizes abusive corporate practices.

Since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act has already expanded and enhanced coverage for millions of Americans; just last year the ACA restored coverage to nearly 800 New Jersey residents who had been dropped due to pre-existing conditions. The days of dropping coverage for the terminally ill and denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions are behind us. Greater shares of premiums will be reinvested into providing better care instead of corporate bonuses and lobbying efforts. These measures are helping us fulfill our moral duty to help our fellow citizens when they are most in need.

Over the next two years, as more provisions of the Affordable Care Act go into effect, the reforms will benefit each American in a variety of ways. There will be a reduction in overall out-of-pocket healthcare costs to individuals, and new bans on lifetime dollar limits on benefits - freeing cancer patients and survivors like myself from having to worry about rationing health care. At least 3 million individuals have already been freed of lifetime limits on their health care. Fewer patients will need to rely on emergency rooms for primary care and millions of previously uninsured citizens will gain access to comprehensive and affordable care via a benefits exchange.

In fact, I am proud to have joined my colleagues as a primary sponsor of Assembly Bill 1081, New Jersey’s Health Benefit Exchange Act, which will allow individuals, families and small employers to browse and purchase coverage plans that best suits their own individual health needs. It is critically important that state and local government bolster and enhance the federal government’s efforts to reform our healthcare system.

The ability of every citizen to see a doctor, receive quality treatment, and overcome illnesses are fundamental American rights. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is designed to ensure that these rights are preserved for us and for all future generations of Americans.

Very Truly Yours,

Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.
Deputy Majority Whip
Assemblyman, 33rd District ◦

Letter to the Editor on the 2nd Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act - from Ruben Ramos

Peter Schweizer at Hoboken Republicans Dinner March 28th, 2012

Peter Schweizer is the featured guest speaker at the
Republicans of Hoboken Lincoln Day

Annual Speaker Series Event
Wednesday , March 28, 2012

Throw Them All Out paints a very ugly picture of legislators enriching themselves through earmarks and unpunished insider trading, politically connected companies being shoveled billions of dollars in stimulus funds and public money intended to help the environment, plus all manner of kickbacks and favors. “This book may put a damper on his Washington cocktail party invites this holiday season, but Mr. Schweizer has performed a valuable service to his country.” - W. James Antle III Special to The Washington Times

Details:

• Amanda’s Restaurant 908 Washington Street Hoboken, NJ
• Welcome Reception 6:00-7:00 Dinner—7:00 PM March 28th, 2012
• After dinner—Presentation by Peter Schweizer followed by book-signing
• Price: $65 per person
• Includes: Hors d’oeuvres, three-course dinner, presentation, book will be available for purchase signing "THROW THEM ALL OUT".
• Advanced reservations required as space is limited

Peter Schweizer is the William J. Casey Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and a best-selling author. Three of his books have been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.. He is a partner in the Washington, D.C. firm Oval Office Writers providing speechwriting and communication services for corporate executives and political figures. Mr. Schweizer also served as a member of the Ultraterrorism Study Group at the Sandia National Laboratory. He has appeared on ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, BBC.

Please make check payable and mail to:
Republicans of Hoboken
P.O. Box 5041
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
201.927.8395
republicansofhoboken@gmail.com
include form with check

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Peter Schweizer at Hoboken Republicans Dinner March 28th, 2012

Video and Photo Highlights of New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade 3-17-2012 (Extensive)

I covered this year's NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade for TheBoken.com this Saturday. The weather was near perfect and the parade was quite majestic. The bands were all top notch and the shear amount of service men, police and fire officials in the parade was amazing.



The Boken.com went into New York City to cover the Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Below is an extensive set of video and photos from the parade. Weather wise it was a perfect day and the crowd was reportedly close to 3 million people. The majority of footage that I took was from 60th and 5th Avenue in the City. For those who could not make the parade perhaps this video and photo slideshow will give you an idea of the extensiveness of the shear pageantry. Again, What a great day!

Video and Photo Highlights of New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on YouTube and Flickr:

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Video and Photo Highlights of New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade 3-17-2012 (Extensive)