Hoboken Spotlight: Elysian Park Mike
15
January
1/15/2008:
Ever notice a city employee who stands above the rest?
Well Mike, one of the individuals responsible for maintaining Elysian Park is one of them. (Oh, and to the dog run folks, sorry I forgot to post the Xmas donation email last month!)
Mike is responsible for the park from Wednesday to Saturday, covering everything from the leaves, grass and even the dog park. I noticed him during the fall in particular, as he was very careful and methodical when operating the leave blowing apparatus. In other words, he gave a crap about what kind of job he was doing, and it was very admirable.
In the photo above, taken last weekend, he was tending to the dog run, evening out the rocks. “I love dogs,” he said “and this part of the park is always filling up with puddles of water when it rains.” I asked him about the rocks that were promised to be re-filled in the park weeks ago, and he didn’t know for sure, but recalled some kind of delivery notice of some sort.
He said he’d like to get a more regular shift at the park (like M-F) so he can spend more time coaching sports in Hoboken as well.
Hat’s off to Mike for the good job he does, and the dedication he has for his work.
Hoboken, park maintenance, Elysian Park
1. HomeTeam | January 15th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Good feature 411! There are so many useless employees in town, some of us forget there are a very small number of good ones in the mix. Good job calling out the good ones…when they can be found.
2. kal-el | January 15th, 2008 at 10:34 am
YOU KNOW WHY HE’S GOOD ! CAUSE HE LIVES HERE ALL HIS LIFE AND HE CARE’S ABOUT THIS TOWN ! TELL THAT TO THE COUNCIL PEOPLE AND ALL THE OTHER PRICK’S THAT WANNA PRIVATIZE EVERYTHING…YOU THINK AN OUTSIDE COMPANY WOULD GIVE A CHIT ABOUT HOW NICE EVERYTHING IS COMING ???? I DON’T THINK SO ! CUTO’S TO MIKE HE’S A GOOD KID……HE TAKES RIGHT AFTER HIS DAD (PORKY) GOD REST HIS SOUL ! ANOTHER GREAT GUY THAT CARED ABOUT THIS TOWN AND THE KIDS ! {AND EVEN THE DOGS}
3. rag246 | January 15th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Kal-el, we get it. Unfortunately, Mike is the exception to the rule. And as soon as his peers in the HPA see this they’re going to ridicule him for screwing up the curve in class.
As for privatization: do you think Toll Brothers (or any other developer) is going to give a rat’s ass about Hoboken once MP (or other mega-condo) is sold out?
4. manolo | January 15th, 2008 at 10:49 am
The employee of the month should go to Mike. I wish they wore uniforms tho so we would know if they were employees and not a concerned resident doing cleanup duty.
Kal el is right…. live here/work here makes better employees.
5. Stabone130 | January 15th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I go to Elysian Park & it’s definitely one of the cleanest, best-maintained parks in Hoboken. The employee, Mike, is very good & the park shows it. I’ve been going there about four years now & really, most of the employees who have maintained that park have been pretty good: cleaning up leaves every morning, mowing grass, moving the blowers away from playgrounds, people, etc. - but absolutely, the dog park has never looked so good.
6. Furey | January 15th, 2008 at 11:22 am
This is an exception to the rule. Too many BnR’s that feel like their sh1t don’t stink because they were born here, even if they are a 1st Generation American.
Oh, lets go over the “Hoboken Importance Scales”, which define your importance on a scale on how long you have been here (a typical BnR activity) while we are at it:
1. You have lived here for “X” number of years. Typically said, “Well I lived in Hoboken for 10 years, so…”
2. You were born here. Doesn’t matter if you are 10 or 100, the fact you were born in the city limits somehow gives you a right to everything Hoboken. Typically said, “Well I was born here cumpy…”
3. You were born, raised and still live in the city. Lots of people were born in Hoboken and jetted to Union City/Jersey City/etc but still talk like they are everything Hoboken. But quickly trumped by someone who still lives in town. Typically said, “I have been living in Church Square towers for years now…”
4. You were born, raised and do something active in the community or city government. Typically said by council people, city cops, firemen, etc: “I was born here, and I work on the city council, you don’t know what it was like in 1983 when people lived in homes that were on fire and we still loved it! Blah blah blah…”
5. Your parents were born and raised, along with other generations of your family. This is the Queen Bee of everything Hoboken, and you don’t run into a lot of these kind of people, but they act like they just got internet access about 2 years ago, on average. They demand to be heard. Typically say, “My family was here since 1842, when we lived in the swamp filled streets of Madison. We didn’t have cars…we used to get around using canoes! And we loved Hoboken then, why did they have to add these crazy PAVED ROADS?!”
7. uptown girl | January 15th, 2008 at 11:33 am
If there is going to be a discussion about wonderful park employees, we must not forget Al and his supervisior Tony, at Columbus Park. Al has been there for many years and takes great care of and pride in the park. If you ever saw what a mess the park is everyday after lunch you would really appreciate the job that Al does. During the school year the high school kids leave their trash everywhere, sometimes on or under the benches just feet from the trash cans. In the summer, it is the nannies and grandmothers that do the same thing. Al has even said that he has found dirty diapers in the tot park. (People are so inconsiderate.) I have also seen him step in when there have been fights among the kids. He is truly an asset to the park. His supervisior, Tony, who is relatively new to this park, is very approachable and seem eager get problems resolved in the park. They are great, and I really appreciate everything they do. There are those that do the bare minimum and those who do more. Unfortunately, there are too many in muncipal and county jobs who fall into the former category. Thankfully we have Mike, Al and Tony who fall into the latter.
8. Katie_Scarlett | January 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Well done Mike!! It’s wonderful to see someone doing their job with gusto! Give that man a raise.
9. Naf | January 15th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Mike is a great kid. Thanks for highlighting his good work, 411.
10. homeworld | January 15th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Furey wrote:
unless their last name is Stevens, I don’t give a rat’s ass
11. Lady Maya | January 15th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
If we could only clone Mike then Hoboken would be a clean city. Sadly, he is the exception. Go Mike!
12. YOCKDACOP | January 15th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
There are plenty of good workers in each dept..A lot of people choose to judge all the city workers because of a few bad seeds..
13. elainetyger | January 15th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
15. skateparkmom | January 15th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Go Mike! Thank you for all your hard work.
16. manolo | January 16th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Have to say that the guys in Columbus park do a great job too, its a county park and I don’t know the man’s name but he will clean up the toddler playground and wash off the slides and swings when I come in with the grandkids after a rain or a chalk fest.
Elysian is my fav as I played there as a child so I love the consideration that has been taken with this park.
Little league park is very clean, the worst is the most over used Church Square park. This section of town needs more playspace.
Furey you’re still a newbie so relax!
17. jdross19 | January 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Mike P. is a great kid - he’s helped me out over the years with officiating softball games. He’s responsible and he cares. Way to go MP! You the man.
18. honcho | January 19th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Mike’s doing a great job!!!
Too bad the City doesn’t have more guys like him!!!!
How much do you think Mike makes compared to Carm LaBruno or Meathead Ex Swat Team Head Adreotti????
I say give Mike a bonus and fire the other 2!!!!
Chop!Chop!