Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to respond to the frustrations expressed to me by residents over the recent flooding in the Fourth Ward. Although the Mayor's Office and City Council has tried to work directly with the North Hudson Sewage Authority our problems cannot be solved by relying on that authority alone. I believe the time has come for us to move from crises intervention to a more preventative strategy.

Although I do understand that most of Hoboken is in a flood zone and specifically the Southwest end of town is potentially the lowest point below sea level in the entire city, I find it unacceptable that we as a community cannot create a viable alternative. With all of the advances in technology and all of the new construction that has occurred in Hoboken, I am convinced with the proper public/private partnerships and enough public good will we could work toward ameliorating this serious situation.

Therefore, my desire is to appeal to both the public and private sectors of our great city to help enact a plan of action for this area. Together I believe that this community has the talent, resources, and ability to grapple with this very complex problem in a sound sustainable way. I would like to engage this community in a serious dialogue regarding this problem and put the city's resources toward achieving an attainable goal. Whether it's the creation of additional catch basins or the purchase of pumping equipment that would redirect the water, I have learned that residents of Hoboken once engaged have a wealth of information to share.

Please contact me at Campos323@hotmail.com with your suggestions. I hope that you would only send a serious response to this letter. Over the next few weeks, I intend to discuss some of your suggestions with the Mayor's Office, the City Council and with members of the interested public. I am also prepared to work with any County or State Officials and look forward to working with our next Governor, Jon Corzine, a Hoboken resident who has witnessed the flooding firsthand. I think it is about time that we all work together on a problem that plagues us all.

Very truly yours,
Christopher Campos
City Council President