HOBOKEN - Councilman Michael Russo has taken the Zimmer administration to task for planning to move the Hoboken Parking Utility from offices at City Hall to offices at the midtown garage near the Hoboken University Medical Center.
In a press statement, Russo said,“Ian Sacs, Director of Transportation and Parking for the City of Hoboken, has already proceeded with blueprints and everything except picking out the drapes on moving the Hoboken Parking Utility from its centrally located offices at City Hall to the residentially located offices at the mid-town garage near the Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC) at 330 Clinton Street..
“The mid-town garage offices are presently leased by the HUMC, providing services to the public and revenue to the City. The move, orchestrated by Director Sacs, who is supposed to be providing parking solutions, will force residents to compete [for parking] with individuals doing business at the HPU. In addition, there is no public transportation in the area, causing significant inconveniences for residents and visitors needing access to the HPU.
“In a meeting last week with Hoboken Business Administrator Arch Liston, 3rd Ward Councilman Michael Russo, asked him if he was aware that the relocation move was proceeding without any public input or notification. Liston indicated he was aware of the move but was surprised to hear that the HUMC leases the offices in questions and pays rent to the city. The offices at the mid-town garage were originally designed to lease spaces for doctors and businesses such as a flower shop and other mixed-use retail that would not only serve the hospital, but area residents as well.
“Once again, the lack of transparency being displayed by this administration is extraordinary,” indicated former Finance Committee Chairman, Councilman Russo. “The lack of respect being shown to residents of our city is unfortunate and I question whether appointed Councilman [Michael] Lenz who is head of the Finance Committee is aware of this move and how much loss in revenue it will directly cause the taxpayers of Hoboken.”
Russo has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the midtown garage to amplify his concerns.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2010/10/us-americans-and-mike-russo-need-maps.html
“Do I think Tim’s going to get a couple hundred absentees? Yeah,” Councilman Russo said. “Do I think he’s going to get 600? I hope so.”
http://www.politickernj.com/absentee-campaign-hoboken-not-myth
First of all, the revenues generated by the lease to HUMC can't be generating that much money. That and we're on the hook for HUMC anyway, so any time we can help HUMC stop spending/wasting money is a good thing.
If the office space would serve Hoboken so well, why hasn't anyone done it before? Because it's a poor location for businesses, that's why. It's probably better utilized as the HPU offices.
Regarding the "forcing" of residents to compete with people doing business at the HPU:
1) Clinton street, between 3rd-4th is metered parking. Residents aren't using that anyway until after 9 pm
2) It's part of the PARKING GARAGE. People dealing with the HPU usually have VEHICLES, and likely wouldn't use public transportation.
3) If they wanted to use transportation, there are options:
-The 126 bus stops at 3rd and Clinton (northbound), and on Willow (southbound) during morning and evening commuting times.
- All three lines of The HOP will stop within 2 blocks of the office.
As a member of the third ward, Councilman Russo is a continual disappointment, and apparently is only serving himself, not the members of his ward by grandstanding on non-issues like this.