HPU Permit Renewal Calamity
1/19/2011:
Hoboken Parking Utility drops ball
Hoboken Transportation Czar Ian Sacs spends taxpayer money like it’s going out of style these days – and claims all sorts of victories and improvements. A typical benchmark would be to ask any Hoboken driver: “Is parking getting easier?” Well, the answer 100% of the time would be “nope.” But we’ll save the comprehensive HPU analysis for another day – and instead share one of the countless emails Hoboken411 received regarding the massive screw-up for the annual permit renewals.
HPU blames others; asks residents to pick up slack
“I received my parking renewal letter last week via mail (even though renewal was due on 1/15 and I had signed up the year before to receive notifications electronically). Actually, it was originally addressed to one of my neighbors, but her name was crossed out and replaced, by hand, with mine. I thought this was rather informal, but being as it’s Hoboken figured that it probably wasn’t unusual. We have 2 cars registered to our unit, so I found it strange that one car’s renewal fee was $15 and the other was $90, since it’s supposed to be only $30 for the second. Upon further review of the documents it turns out my renewal fees totaled $315 because I had a total of 5 people on my renewal form: $15 for the first car, $30 for the second, and $90 for the 3 additional cars. The additional names on my renewal form are people who live in my building, but definitely do not live with me.
“Since I don’t work for the city of Hoboken, I’m pretty sure it’s not my responsibility to let the other people in my building know it’s time to renew…”
When I called HPU to inquire about this I was told not to worry, that it was a mistake made by the outside company used to send the renewal forms this year, and that I should just proceed as I have in the past. Okay, I can handle that. What was strange though was that they asked me to please let my neighbors who were listed on my renewal form know they needed to renew their parking permits since they wouldn’t be receiving letters. Since I don’t work for the city of Hoboken, I’m pretty sure it’s not my responsibility to let the other people in my building know it’s time to renew, but I’ll try since we’re a smaller building. Other people may not be as fortunate, so you might want to give them a heads up.”
The joys of Hoboken. Sigh.
Hoboken NJ
January 19th, 2011 |
HA! the same exact thing happened to me. I was told to come in as soon as possible and let the other residents in my building know the situation. I live in the basement and stuck a note upstairs on their mailboxes, but I dont really see many of them on a daily basis. When I finally got down to HPU to renew, the entire office was a mess–I’m talking papers everywhere, just complete disorganization. As I was waiting for my renewal to be processed, one of the women working there took a stack of papers about five or six inches high, all with personal checks paperclipped to each renewal form. they looked like they had to be individually processed. Anyway, there was no room on this woman’s desk because everything back there is so cluttered, and she yelled out, “don’t touch these forms! I’ll be right back!” to anyone that would listen. She then balanced the giant stack of forms in a messy pile on top of a stapler on the corner of her desk and left them teetering there for at least five minutes (and yes, I was at the window this whole time because the computer wasn’t working for me to get a few visitor’s hangtags–it never is. I’m not sure how the computer just decides not to work for that, but I guess thats another story for another day). So those renewals weren’t bundled together or anything like that. I was holding my breath and felt bad for the people who had to get their papers processed by this woman–it looked like a complete mess.
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January 19th, 2011 |
Why on earth did they hire an outside company to send the form? Whoa, there has to be atleast one employee there that can hit the print button and stuff envelopes!!!???. Who approved this expense? What a waster of money. So, this was outsourced to a company that could that can’t do the job correctly. Are the getting credits or refunds for all the incorrect ones?
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January 19th, 2011 |
David Roberts was the man – COME BACK MAYOR ROBERTS PLEASE
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January 19th, 2011 |
how do we get ian sacs fired? this guy is fucking terrible. i spoke with him on the phone last year, the guy is the biggest numbskull. i cant believe someone put him in charge.
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January 19th, 2011 |
Find out why he was let go from his previous job.
In response to paramecium who said:
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January 19th, 2011 |
paramecium…sac of potatos is part of the click klan etc..When joanne former director asked for two cushmans could not get them..This dupe gets two electric cars and take a look at what is behind a 27,000 bumping cars? The deadline for renuning permits was a mistake and people crowded in the crop hole basement..Didn’t this kid scan the form sent out to the people.the other dolt brownie wants the second in command job but it went by her.There are some dam good employees still working there.Mikey please don”t ask to bring back roberts for he rid the parking authority of the the commission and saw a golden cow..Lord help us all..
In response to paramecium who said:
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January 19th, 2011 |
I also encountered the same problem, recieving the renewal form on 1/15/11…the written in due date, written in name, and household total amount due of $405.00 for 5 residents of my building (yes the math is wrong as well). I called and left a message and no one has returned my call…shocker!
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January 19th, 2011 |
Paramecium, I’m assuming this answers your question.
In response to wiskeytango1 who said:
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January 19th, 2011 |
Of course you might have to drink a fifth (of anything) to understand it…
In response to Hoboken17 who said:
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January 20th, 2011 |
A mistake was made iin regard to the permits a year or two ago if one remembers.We overpaid and last year only paid five dolllars. If anyone recalls..This pertained to personal vehicles only. How can the council comment the last snow removel without reminding the inept directors of the december snow fall..Anthony had the cubes to close the town a few years back..He had a good crew in the dpw ,like him or not..This new kid was hand picked for reasons. .One should not call and be put on hold or ill get back to you.push one two three,How can you know extensions to push? Notice the new faces in the office…hummm Not roberts people ..This is a 55 or 60 thousand pop city,and not mayberry rfd..Where were the big mouth revolters after the first snow storm? Dare not go against their idol..Proof of the pudding is in the taste.Give time time ..Right now its like wally world,only this park is open.
In response to xxrjxx who said:
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