Introduction
I have put forth the following issues for the voter to digest for my candidacy for Freeholder in November of 2011 to represent District 5 which includes all of Hoboken and parts of Jersey City Heights. My opponent Anthony "Stick" Romano is albeit an affable fellow, but he is an entrenched County Machine politician and locally aligned with the "Loyal Opposition" to Mayor Dawn Zimmer. His allies are in the process of trying to stop bringing in effect many of the good government issues to Hoboken. More impotantly and unfortunately with my opponent, it is Hudson County patronage politics as usual at the next level.
My opponent may have the advantage of the incumbency but I believe I have the advantage of the better ideas reflected in this platform below and it is high time these concepts were extended to the county level. Hoboken and Jersey City Heights need better representation that does not look to appease county bosses and put our district first. That is why I am running for Freeholder. We need to stop getting the short end of the "Stick".
Lowering County Taxes
Hoboken’s taxes went up in each of the three years that my opponent was Freeholder of District 5 in Hudson County. My opponent voted yes on the budget in each of his three years as Freeholder. In one year alone taxes for Hoboken went up 10%! Clearly the expenditures could use some trimming for both Hoboken and JC Heights residents. In any organization there is at least 5-10% waste if it is a well run private entity. For Hudson County a level of waste of 20% is a modest estimate. The Hudson County Budget is rapidly approaching 1/2 of a billion dollars!
Here is some great irony for you. This is from Tim Occhipinti's Campaign Website for Hoboken City Council 4th Ward:
"Recently the state introduced a new funding formula to calculate a municipality’s county tax rate. This formula caused Hoboken to take a tremendous hit in County taxes and resulted in a $6 million county tax increase. [Thanks Anthony Romano]
Hoboken pays nearly $46 million dollars to Hudson County. Our city is only one square mile. We are one of 12 municipalities in Hudson County and represent 6% the County’s 600,000-plus total population. Yet, we pay 17% of the overall county tax levy!"Tim, who along with Anthony "Stick" Romano is aligned against Mayor Dawn Zimmer as part of the loyal opposition to governmental efficiencies, hit the nail on the head with this one and that is the main reason while I am running for Freeholder. Again, The County budget is almost 1/2 billion dollars and Hoboken doesn't get even close to its fair share of services for the $46 million it paid in 2010! That's an outrage but rather than just complain I have some real remedies.
I propose the following approaches and actions to being to lower the Hudson County Patronage Leviathan which results in such high taxes for our district for so little service...
1) Immediate hiring freeze. All non-essential positions will be thinned out over time through attrition which at least initially is the least painful way to trim operating expenses.
2) Conduct Operational Audits. This has been done by the City of Hoboken and acted on to produce savings by ensuring areas are properly staffed but not overstaffed. Overstaffed or top-heavy areas will be restructured at the conclusion of those audits and a period of review.
3) Eliminate the Department of Constituent Services. This department is not necessary with the implementation of a 311 system to track the progress of each and every constituent issue. The system itself can route the calls to the appropriate division and metrics can be monitored by Division Heads and the County Executive. Having metrics and utilizing them will result in better services for our constituents and provide accountability.
4) Outsource Cleaning Services and other non-civil service related areas. These jobs are notorious for their use as political patronage. The county should not be funding pensions and medical benefits for these positions that can easily be handled by a non-governmental agency.
5) Completely Re-examine the Table of Organization. After the audits are completed this is the next logical step. Create an action plan and implement. I am not opposed to using attrition as the main tool where possible. I am a fiscal conservative on local issues, not a heartless person. In fact, by increasing operational efficiencies it will leave more money for capital improvements to even better improve the lives of Hudson County residents.
6) Vote No on Budget Increases. Even though if elected I would likely be a minority member on the Board of Freeholders, I think it is important to vote no loudly until the County Executive shows he is serious about providing essential services as efficiently as possible within the context of government and thus show respect for the Hoboken/JC Heights taxpayer in these tough economic times.
7) Service based philosophy. Jobs should only exist to provide essential services. Jobs created to just create jobs are not productive and foster an environment of legalized corruption through the graft of patronage. The culture of entitlement must be put on notice that change must happen. Put simply, a service based model of governance provides more service, patronage model, more patronage.
8) Institute Best practices model where possible. Now you can’t always mimic the private sector in the best way to systematize processes. However through the use of technology and the concepts of Enterprise Resource Planning standard procedures can be automated making current employees tasks easier and therefore requiring fewer employees.
9) Advocate for Professionally Negotiating Union Contracts. If elected I will vote yes on any contract that goes to the best bidder through an RFP process to help with union negotiations when they come up.
10) Advocate for 10% salary cut for all Freeholders and the County Executive. As elected leaders Freeholders should share in the financial austerity.
11) Fair Tax Formula. Ensure that the county tax formula isn't adjusted to screw Hoboken even more than it has already. Other County Freeholders appear to view Hoboken as some kind of ATM machine where the withdrawals never get credited to their own accounts. This piracy simply has to stop.
12) No Budget Gimmicks: I will not zero out a budget surplus as some other power hungry, foolish, and shameless Hoboken politician tried to do just to play political games. That is an irresponsible way to help taxpayers and I won't go that route if elected.
Parks- Current
Hudson County has 9 parks in total. Two parks, Columbus and Washington Park, serve Hoboken and JC Heights respectively. Here are my observations on those parks as of July 2011:
Positive Observations of Columbus Park:
- The people I have been able to talk to really like the park overall and some even say they take their kids there every day.
- It has really nice old trees that give great shade in the summertime heat.
- The rectangular building is historic and can be used for certain events like dance classes, special events.
- There are tennis courts and a basketball half-court.
- There is a nice jungle gym for the kids.
- There is a sprinkler/shower the kids can use to cool off in the summer.
- People seem to really enjoy relaxing there based on my observations.
- Of course, being a Mile Square City, you can walk to it from Hoboken.
- The flowerbeds are really in bad shape with flowers dying. The soil needs to be improved and new sustainable planting need to be put in their stead.
- This is not my idea as several people mentioned this: Put a bid out to vendors to have a small café in the rectangular building. It would add a nice dynamic to the park. There is storage in the basement that makes this feasible.
- Several bushes are way overgrown and need to be pruned.
- Some other plantings need to be weeded.
- There is an old rusty payphone stand that has no phone. This can be removed.
- The lights in the park could be replaced with something nicer. They are quite utilitarian at best or ugly at worst. Maybe a Green Acres grant is in order.
- There are leaves that appear to be from last fall that need to be raked up.
- Some areas need to be re-sodded where there is dirt.
Conclusion : Overall, Columbus Park is a great asset to Hoboken but I am concerned about some simple maintenance issues that should be addressed. This park is in Current Freeholder Anthony Romano’s backyard and yet these issues persist. It seems that a lot of money went into Washington Park for Jersey City Heights although the multi-sport field proposal seems at this point to lack a proper planning process and public input. Where is the love for Hoboken’s only Park?
I feel my opponent should put some attention into his home town and deliver some bacon here and Columbus Park could use a little more TLC. What has Anthony Romano really done to improve Columbus Park in his three year term? The silence that results could be due to County politics or some level of apathy. After all he was not planning on being challenged this year. Hoboken and Jersey City Heights need an advocate that cares about both parks that service District 5. I care.
2) Washington Park
Overall, Washington Park comprises 22 acres and has the following, baseball fields, basketball courts, volley ball courts, tennis courts, picnic area, chess area, gazebo, gardening, jungle gyms, and so much more. As a Hoboken resident I left with a sense of park envy. We in Hoboken only have one small county park in Hoboken and we pay about $50 million a year to the County. What does Hoboken get from the County again? What has my opponent done for Hoboken's one small park?
I hope to reach out to as many groups as possible to get a better understanding of the needs of the residents and how they can be incorporated into proper park planning. At the very least any substantial changes to any of the Hudson County's parks should involve the following at a minimum to ensure the end product meets the constituents true needs:
- Need engineering study
- Need traffic study
- Need public process
- Need community input
- Need overall visioning plan for park as whole
- Need to consider sustainable plantings wherever possible
- Old trees should be preserved wherever possible
New County Park for Hoboken
The County should seriously consider buying the Henkel site and turn that site into as many recreation fields as possible. Hoboken is under-served with respect to County Parks and this would be one way to make our tax dollars work for us. It will take years to develop but the process should start as soon as possible. If "Stick" is ok with $12 million dollars for an elitist County Golf Course project than he can lobby for Hoboken to get capital funds for recreational lands for the middle class and underserved in Hoboken.
Transparency and Accessibility of Government
- All Freeholder meetings should be moved to preferably to 7pm but at least to 6pm to accommodate those who work during the day. This move will simply increase turnout at public meetings and public participation.
- All Freeholder meetings should by taped and aired on local Cable Channels to allow seniors and other citizens who have busy schedules to see what transpires during all open portions of them.
- All Freeholder meetings should be broadcast live using UStream or some other relatively inexpensive/free streaming technology.
- The Hudson County website should make a page that archives all past agendas as well as post future agendas for Freeholder meetings. Currently only the latest meeting is easily found.
- I will demand an investigation into the alleged patronage hire of Michele Russo to determine:
- Was the job she was offered properly noticed?
- If so many many candidates were interviewed?
- Compare a copy of the job requirements with her actual resume to determine if she is in fact qualified as a janitorial service supervisor?
- If elected I will recuse myself from any votes where there is either a clear conflict of interest or even the appearance of one if applicable.
I personally don't view government by what it can do for me but what I can do for it and its constituents. As such I believe in giving back and not so much for the taking aspect but public officials should be justly compensated for their efforts. My opponent who still lives in a subsidized housing when he no longer needs it, is taking up a spot for someone of lower income who could use it instead differs from me in that aspect.
- If elected I will donate 1/3 of my Freeholder salary after taxes to the following local organizations:
- Hoboken Homeless Shelter.
- Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
- Jubilee Center.
- Some other worthwhile charities in Jersey City Heights.
- If elected, I will not make use of the county car provided for each Freeholder. I will use Corner Cars,Zip Car or Mass Transit when necessary. This will save the county money. A county car? Are they serious?
- If elected, I will use the part of Freeholder allowance to hire a part time grant writer to see if the County can get more State or Federal grant money specifically for our district. I will not hire Carmelo Garcia to deliver cakes. He makes enough money already as the head of HHA.
- Advocate for a 10% salary cut for all Freeholders and the County Executive. Again, the burden of austerity must be shared.
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| Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps: just one of many worthy organizations to donate to in Hoboken and Jersey City Heights. |
Communication
Citizens have heard very little formally from Anthony Romano in his three year reign as Freeholder other than to glad-hand people and pony up to county bosses like at his fundraiser and at various functions. To me that is not enough for effective policy communication but simply "politricking"and displaying the veneer of caring for the constituents' issues. Now mind you I believe Anthony Romano cares about people, I have no doubt in my mind about that but the citizens need to be informed of the issues on a consistent basis. That is one area where my opponent has fallen flat.
- I will provide monthly recaps of Freeholder meetings to my constituents though my expertise in websites, writing, and social media.
- I will also provide a periodic newsletter to keep constituents informed.
- I will also call town hall meetings seasonally to get constituent feedback as required.
- I will also provide communications in a timely manner for issues that are important and can't wait.
Reducing operating expenses through attrition of employees and other cost measures is part of the goal to help fix up Hudson County infrastructure. If elected I will:
- Seek to get more grants for parks, roads, and other infrastructure improvements.
- Seek to get Washington Street back to being a County Road. It was a county road before former Hoboken Mayor David Roberts took it back and it desperately needs to be completely repaved and get new traffic signals. It is a road heavily used by vehicles outside of Hoboken but my opponent fails to understand how making this a County Road would really help the Hoboken taxpayer. I get it. It is about getting more services for under served Hoboken.
- Advocate that the North Hudson Sewerage Authority do more to fix Hoboken's 100 plus year old wooden sewer lines. While this is not my jurisdiction I will use the stature of the office to see if more can be done and report back to the people.
- With the savings from operational cuts, use those savings for capital projects that improve our infrastructure for county assets.
- If elected I plan to work with the county sheriff to ensure that patrols of county roads in our district meet the needs of our constituents.
- Green technology should bused where ever possible as long as it is cost effective. In many cases green technology can save money.
- More Public Transportation for District 5. Public Transportation options in Hoboken have been cut since I have moved here in 2003. NJ Transit has cut weekend 126 route bus service. The PATH cut the weekend direct line from Hoboken. NJ Transit cut the weekend express that goes to the Jersey Shore. The light Rail schedule to Hoboken got cut. Hoboken should not be getting the short end of the "Stick" when it comes to public transport. The City of Hoboken is a walking city and a transportation hub and that needs to be supported by all local office holders.
Hoboken Resident, Taxpayer and Independent Candidate for Freeholder District 5
Vote Row C for Change on November 8th!
Email: kurt.gardiner@gmail.com
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