Dear Editor:
It is wrong for the Hoboken City Website to direct visitors to dine at some restaurants while disregarding other restaurants in town.
The Hoboken City Website (http://www.hobokennj.org) has a section called “Visitors.” Under this section there is a subsection called “Where to Dine.” As of April 11, this subsection provides a list of 25 “notable establishments” where one can dine.
First, communicating to the public through the City Website that a business establishment is “notable” may unfairly cause the public to favor that establishment over others.
Second, collecting taxes from one business establishment and using that money to fund a website that promotes a competitor’s business establishment is wrong.
And third, allowing government officials to use city resources to promote certain businesses establishments enhances political favoritism risk.
To be fair, there are some really great places on this “notable establishment” list. I would like to encourage everyone to try to visit some of these places.
I would also like to encourage every restaurant owner in town who is not on the “notable establishment” list to contact the mayor’s office and request to be added to the list.
Sincerely,
Franz Paetzold
2nd Ward
Franz has a notable interest in the City Hall website and has offered interesting insights previously such as his vehement complaint the FBI surveillance tape of Councilman Michael Russo should not be discussed there by the mayor.
He also thinks it's quite unfair the mayor took a position on the City Hall website against the obvious corrupt behavior of Michael Russo in full view to all of Hoboken in the video.
In a town fighting to overcome corruption, Franz is more concerned with keeping accountability on the matter from reaching the public.
The corrupt Old Guard has embraced Franz.
Now you know why.
The Hoboken website notes 25 Hoboken establishments.