As a new Hoboken resident at the time (a Fourth Ward homeowner now), I voted for you when you ran for your first term on the City Council. I remember receiving a piece of campaign literature from your team that depicted a cartoon of your opponent floating on an inner tube in the flooded streets of the Fourth Ward. To paraphrase, the mailing stated that the only public swimming going on in the Fourth Ward was in the flooded streets after a rainfall rather than in a public swimming pool which was apparently promised for years by your opponent.
Well, years later, the Russo administration seems to be planning a public pool for the town (on the Hudson River) while residents can still do the backstroke across many intersections of the Fourth Ward, even during the lightest of rainfalls. I realize that Hoboken naturally lies in a flood zone but this is a recurring and somewhat isolated problem at certain intersections. The flooding is apparently due to blocked sewers, whether from trash or natural debris. It may also be due to bad sewage design, but I am not an engineer.
While I cannot do much about litterbugs blocking the sewers, I have complained to the town several times but have never seen a single work crew address this persistent problem. I have also called your office during business hours repeatedly but nobody has answered the phone and there was no voice mail available.
Last Friday (3/23), after a heavy but not overwhelming amount of rain, I had to wade through the completely or partially flooded intersections of Fourth and Jackson, First and Madison, First and Adams, Second and Jefferson, Second and Adams, and Second and Grand. There may have been several others that were flooded as usual, but those are the ones I observed in that one day.
I think you are a valuable voice of opposition on the Council, along with Tony Soares and Dave Roberts, and I would hate to see your next campaign come up "all wet" due to mundane -- but obvious, annoying and serious -- problems such as this. Bottom line, please make a call to the appropriate city office and help clear the sewers of your ward! Thank you.
Jamie Orlando
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