Councilman Peter Cunningham Response to Revolt

Hoboken Revolt Questionnaire

• What do you think were your individual major accomplishments in 2010? 

The year 2010 was a continuation of 2009.  These are rebuilding years for the new administration.  In fiscal year 2010, we helped stabilize the city’s finances.  We are still identifying challenges, however. While continuing to focus on the city’s finances--such as negotiating fair contracts with the unions, auditing city departments, and further developing of shared services agreements and public private partnerships to reduce the cost of government--we are poised for additional tax relief and a more efficient government.  The 2010 Transition Year budget yielded a 5% reduction in the municipal tax levy, and we are currently finishing up the fire department audit. 

As chairman of the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Subcommittee of the Council, for the first time in the city’s history we required the establishment of an escrow account funded by the redevelopers to cover the redevelopment costs of professionals to evaluate redevelopment projects.

• What are your top three objectives for 2011 as it relates to:  your ward, your subcommittee, and specific cuts to the city budget. 

5th Ward

The first couple of years of our tenure, we focused on straightening out the City’s finances so we could understand them and create a foundation from which to build.  The following years focused on recovering from past administrations overspending of the budget by $12 million and authorizing $4 million in unapproved and illegal retirements.  These costs had an enormous impact on 5^th Ward residents.

Given these challenges, we were able to accomplish many good things in a difficult economy, which we expect will continue into 2011 with the support of our communities dedicated to change, innovation and commitment to excellence.

1)      Lower Taxes:  Controlling spending and labor costs is job number one.  This must be done carefully in a way that respects both the contributions of city employees and the burden on the taxpayer.  Creative solutions must be sought like development of public-private partnerships like the Discount Healthcare Prescription Card issued in conjunction with the Heinz Family Foundation to lower the cost of healthcare services, and Hertz Connect Cars which bring transportation alternatives and economic value to our constituents.  Interlocal agreements with neighboring towns and authorities such as with Secaucus for use of their community pool, and the Hoboken Housing Authority to share the use of their fields for recreational play.

2)     Continued Street Improvements:  safety and security on our streets with more effective deployment of HPD and increased use of Crossing Guards.  With the pending 14^th street Viaduct redevelopment, long awaited “countdown” signs are expected at 14^th & Willow Avenue and 14^th & Park Avenue at the expense of federal grant funding.

3)     More Parks for our Constituents:  We almost lost significant grant funding for the clean-up of 1600 Park (on the border of the 5^th ward), if it had not been for the quick work of the Zimmer Administration.  The 14^th Street Viaduct Park (underbridge) has been planned, and the much anticipated “Henkle Site” is in the hands of new owners. Their policy is to clean the site before sale.  As we are in the negotiating stages for the Western Edge Redevelopment Plan, there’s a distinct possibility that an additional recreational field can be developed. 

Council Subcommittee

I served on the three subcommittees of the Council:  Quality of Life, chaired by Councilman Giacchi; Revenue and Finance, chaired by Mike Lenz; and Planning, Zoning and Economic Development, chaired by me.  I no long serve on QLC, and Planning and Zoning. However, since we have been thoroughly involved in selecting a planner for the NJ Transit Redevelopment Plan, I am staying on to finish out the selection process.

With the reorganization of the Council, I will serve on Revenue and Finance chaired by Councilman Russo, and Public Safety chaired by Councilman Bhalla.

Revenue and Finance:  I am proud to have helped author two balanced budgets and play a key role in the ending of State Monitoring.  It is the cornerstone of my tenure to continue to be focused on ensuring that the City stays on course to adopt and follow sound fiscal practices.  So far so good, as we continue to audit city departments for efficiencies, maintain industry standards with regards to cash surplus for stable local governments and quality bond ratings (reduce the cost of borrowing), and reduce personnel costs.

Public Safety:  I believe that having a continuing dialog with the police and fire departments is paramount.  I am proud to have had direct contact with both chiefs when critical issues require direct communication.  Most pressing in the near term will be the results of the fire audit, which has been under way since the fall.  Its findings will be important in the City’s efforts to reduce personnel cost, while improving efficiencies of the department, if possible.  Relations with the Police Department were strained in 2010 given the implementation of recommendations of the police audit.  There were no layoffs in the HPD -- unlike in many other urban communities throughout the state – and significant savings were realized by retirements before year-end through the implementation this effort.  A redeployment plan is currently under way that is expected to increase police presence at a reduced cost to the taxpayer.  As a member of this committee, I am anxious to oversee the implementation of the plan.  Since street safety continues to be a cornerstone of my tenure, through the Public Safety Subcommittee, I am anxious to see the implementation of Class 2 officers to continue to help reduce the cost of public safety and provide greater effectiveness in patrolling our streets by supporting Community Policing and the Traffic Division of the HPD.

Planning, Zoning and Economic Development:  I have served on this committee, and have invested more time in this committee than any other in the last six months.  There are numerous projects ongoing throughout Hoboken from large to small, and from complicated to extremely complicated.  Development is important to Hoboken and needs to be done right.  Many projects in the last 10 years yielded extraordinary returns to the developer community with little (or zero) known benefits to Hoboken’s growing communities.  In my opinion, we are in a period of rebuilding trust with the developer community.  Working with Director Forbes and the City’s Redevelopment Counsel, we could not be in better hands to support the Council’s responsibility as the Redevelopment Authority of the City.  I am proud of our efforts to legislate policy that finally requires Developers to fund Escrow accounts for the City’s professional support for Redevelopment plans.  I am equally proud of the City’s ongoing efforts to negotiate terms of an interlocal agreement with NJ Transit to ensure that Hoboken takes the lead in the redevelopment process over the railyards.  It has been a long but very productive process which will result in the City Council choosing an excellent Planner to support the City and Community’s desires on how we will develop this important area of the City.  Western Edge Redevelopment is another large scale project of considerable impact.  It will be challenging, but not impossible to expect development that’s economically diverse for Hoboken.  I supported the City’s RFP process to hire a market analyst which will determine the economic viability of a plan that includes incubator space, Class B office space, affordable housing, student housing, retail and other community benefits such as a community center, possibly a pool and open space. 

It is disappointing that I will no longer serve on this important subcommittee of the Council.  However, my intentions are clear.  Hoboken’s long term sustainability rests in diverse redevelopment plans that take into account many things:  (1) growing families, an aged population, and affordable housing opportunities, (2) commercial development which supports our tax base, benefits our local merchants and provides sustainable local job opportunities, (3) community benefits for the public at large, and (4) balanced economic benefits for the City and developer community.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your questionnaire and please advise if there are any additional questions you might have as a result of my answers.

Peter Cunningham

5^th Ward City Councilman