HOBOKEN - Last week, The Hudson Reporter hosted an election forum for Hoboken, attended by almost all of the candidates for the six ward council seats up for election on May 10.
The Hoboken City Council has nine members, three of whom are at-large and represent the whole town, and six who represent wards. Only the ward seats are up for election this year. (The at-large seats are up at the time of the next mayoral election in 2013.)
The first debate involved candidates from Wards 1 & 2, on the southern and northern waterfront respectively.
The candidates were asked some serious questions and one wildcard one to see how they think on their feet. One 1st Ward candidate did not appreciate the wildcard question. Watch the debates and find out why!
The main questions included taxes, corruption, parking, and rent control changes. Wildcard questions included "What song would represent your campaign," "What's a serious personal challenge you have faced?" and "Where would you bring out-of-town guests first if they visited Hoboken?"
All of the debates will be posted on the right-hand side of this page shortly. To view the first set, click HERE.
Contrary to what the candidates say the only reason we are talking about rent control is because that is what the landlords want. Renters have no problems with the way the ordinance was written. Professional landlords (landlords who own multiple properties or who own purely as investments and, in many cases, do not even live here) and developers want it changed because they are greedy. The city is selling out the tenants by not going to court to defend itself from what one judge already deemed the "frivolous" class action lawsuits repeatedly brought by these landlords. Notice how all candidates say they are in favor of RC. I don't believe ANY of them. It is all campaign BS. The back and forth between Rami vs Timmy and Lincoln vs Russo is nothing but a power-pissing contest. And who cares what Russo has to say about rent control - he will be elected again by the tenants of the greatest rent controlled building in Hoboken - Church Towers. You wish you lived there. And you can - if you can get an envelope stuffed with $$$ to a certain person who will then pass it along to Mikey.
Yet Russo, his cousin Castellano, and their allies Mason, Giacchi, and Occhipinti still control City Council with an IRON FIST. They OPPOSE the growing REFORM MOVEMENT at every step.
More common sense at: commonsensehoboken.blogspot.com