Dear Editor:

I wanted to give you some prospective of how my wife and I feel. I am a 10-year Hoboken resident and my wife is a four-year Hoboken resident, transplanted from NYC, so we are considered “New Hoboken” residents and I believe I can speak for some of us.

Rest assured if this city is unsafe...many of us will move and quickly! What will that do to the community, the economy, the budget, and the already depressed housing market?

We want to raise our family here and our number one priority is a safe town. Hoboken is that for us now. If that changes, we will have to leave. Safety for my family is my priority.

Some facts about Hoboken…

Hoboken is a popular destination. There is drug paraphernalia on some streets. My friend was held up at gun point and robbed in the middle of the town. We are next to NY on the Hudson River. A plane went down in front of us. What happened in Hoboken on 9/11 is still in our memories.

Layoffs cannot happen. We don't need less police; we need more. You are going in the wrong direction.

I was asleep for nine years in Hoboken. This last year, I woke up and decided to get involved and speak out. As a resident and local business owner, I feel, on this one issue, City Hall is going in the wrong direction! During this political storm, City Council should not stand with Mayor Zimmer on this issue. I respect her intentions to make cuts to the budget. I repeat, I respect Mayor’s Zimmer’s intentions to make cuts.

But this is the wrong line item. This is our safety. Who declared that Hoboken was SAFE ENOUGH? Our town needs to be safer, not less safe. Less police = less safe.

If it truly will only cost $60 per person in Hoboken to stop layoffs, please tell my wife and me where to send our $120. We don't need less police.

Go back to the table.

Keep Hoboken safe.

David A Liebler