Video: Zimmer hiding the budget
27
October
10/27/2009 Update:
Reader Reaction and Mason Release
There’s been a lot of reaction to the video from last week’s council meeting where the Acting Mayor/Council President squirms under questioning about her refusal to share information about the city budget. First, an open letter to Dawn Zimmer from a Hoboken411 reader:
“Dear Dawn,
You’ve lost my vote.
As a Hoboken Mom, I have been an enthusiastic supporter of yours in the past, but in your three months as Acting Mayor you have shown you are not ready for the job. The most important responsibility for a mayor is the budget. Unfortunately, you’ve shown you do not have a grasp of even basic budget issues. You were given a chance to prove you would keep at least a few of your campaign promises regarding the budget and you have failed.
I’ve met you & know you are a nice person. David Roberts is a nice person, but he failed miserably as our mayor bringing us national embarrassment and a budget crisis. We cannot have another four years of a mayor who is a great ribbon-cutter but can’t manage the city.
After this election, you will still be the Council President and can work to pass legislation you promised to address as a councilperson. Right now it is critical for our city to elect someone who is a competent executive to reform our city. As with many of my neighbors, I’ll now be choosing the candidate who best fits that description.
Sincerely,
A Hoboken Mom“
Meanwhile, another Hoboken Mom is weighing in on the budget controversy. Mother-of-two Beth Mason sent out a press release entitled “Mason Demands that Zimmer Stop Hiding Budget and Tax Increase, Budget is late and spending continues on Record Pace” that you can click to read.
See the video of Zimmer’s refusal to answer direct questions on the budget before the election below.
10/23/2009:
Zimmer deflects important budget questions
Chances are, you’re one of the tens of thousands of people that didn’t see this weeks City Council meeting. Towards the end of the marathon meeting, a resident challenges Zimmer about the campaign promises she proudly made in the spring. Citing it’s been three months that she’s been in office, we’re one third of the way through the fiscal year, and she hasn’t even introduced a budget yet.
See the video below, as well as the campaign promises mentioned.
Zimmer budget promises
- Introduce a Budget with a 25% TAX CUT by August 10, 2009.
- Hold comprehensive PUBLIC BUDGET HEARINGS in the fall. It’s long past time that Hoboken started holding workshops – open to the public – Where the line items that make up the city budget are explained, examined, and if appropriate, modified.
- Budget Workshops – take advantage of Hobokenites who want to help. The budget document that results from these comprehensive workshops will become a living document, guiding the city’s actions in accordance with law, which accurately and clearly represents the personnel and programs the city intends to employ throughout the fiscal year.
- ADOPT A FULLY FUNDED CITY BUDGET by 11/30/2009. Adopting a budget has long been a political drama in Hoboken . By acquiring needed facts, and working cooperatively with all stakeholders, the process will work somewhat better. But Dawn Zimmer understands passing Hoboken’s first fully funded budget in a generation won’t be easy. Dawn will make adopting this budget and restoring home rule a top priority, and will get it done.
(Note that Zimmer was sworn in on July 23rd – so adjust dates accordingly)
November 2nd 2009 - 12:56:52 |
Actually, I thought that experiment on merging departments was deemed a failure b/c the towns that did that DIDN’T CUT JOBS. Consolidation is a great idea, but it only works if you cut the dead weight.
But I am all for merging as many of Hoboken’s services w/ other towns as possible if they can come up w/ a way to consolidate services that cuts expenses AND doesn’t stick us w/ the bill and give our neighbor a free ride on our dime (which would be my #1 fear).
Of course, that sort of thinking will never take hold in city hall until folks who the unions & city workers are deathly afraid of get elected.
In response to hobokenj who said:
Neighboring towns have also consolidated the fire departments saving millions. But how can you have 35 chiefs then…my bad its a stupid idea for Hoboken.
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November 2nd 2009 - 15:00:11 |
No it is my understanding that North Hudson fire has saved a ton of money. my parents live in NB and the NB firemen were against it because it cuts titles (not employees) and titles is how they get paid. But the town went through it anyway and has saved millions Both in costs for equipment and personnel.
NB taxes have stayed the same for like 12 years under Nick Sacco. 3 bedroom house in NB, taxes are 4k. I have 1 bedroom condo and pay 6k. Something is wrong there. I know NB has a lot more room for businesses along1 and 9 and west side and that helps but still. Compare there budgets by line item and comparable jobs and what the pay diffs are and you see that this town is f’ed up.
In response to matt_72 who said:
But I am all for merging as many of Hoboken’s services w/ other towns as possible if they can come up w/ a way to consolidate services that cuts expenses AND doesn’t stick us w/ the bill and give our neighbor a free ride on our dime (which would be my #1 fear).
Of course, that sort of thinking will never take hold in city hall until folks who the unions & city workers are deathly afraid of get elected.
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