The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
Integrity: A letter from Helen Hirsch
Helen Hirsch, an icon of the Hoboken reform movement, is endorsing the Real Results slate of Markevitch, Lin, Tucker and Forsman in today's school board election. She sent this letter to the Hoboken Reporter but the editor chose not to run it over the weekend. Helen asked me to disseminate it, so I have posted it here on Revolt.
To the Editor:
I goofed. But one cannot have been around as long as I have without making a few mistakes. Sadly, I actively campaigned for, and persuaded others to join me in electing Dawn Zimmer Mayor of Hoboken.
I supported Dawn because she promised to open discussion about changing Hoboken's form of government to that of Council-Manager; she has yet to follow through. The form of government under which we now live must share part of the blame for countless years of expensive mismanagement. Individuals run for office for a variety of reasons, most involving some flavor of vanity. Recent candidates, and subsequently mayors, have not proved to be prepared by education or experience to manage a population of thousands, and a budget in the millions of dollars. A Council-Manager form of government could fill that need. It would transfer the operation of the city to an individual hired by the council because of qualifications and expertise, an individual specifically trained to manage a city; it would place this management above politics.
Dawn also reneged on her promise to remain apolitical and to function in the interest of all of Hoboken's citizens rather than a few. This failure was, for me, crystallized in the brazenness with which she lobbied on behalf of one slate for the Board of Education. She is repeating the behavior of mayors before her, endorsing the status quo for political reasons. One of the most important functions of a city is the education of its children. Hoboken is failing to live up to that responsibility. It spends more tax dollars per pupil than any other city in the state except one, yet does not produce results reflective of this expenditure. Many parents flee to charter schools, private schools or home schooling.
Finally, Mayor Zimmer has yet to denounce the disgusting cartoon published by one of her recent appointees to public office. But a simple denunciation would be inadequate. the mayor should demand the immediate resignation of the author of this obscenity.
Helen Hirsch
Views: 13
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ditto on -
Where does it say in the letter than she is endorsing Real Results? The Hoboken Reporter has a policy of not running negative letters the week before an election. Hirsch is clearly unhappy with Zimmer but that doesn't translate into an endorsement of your slate; at least not in this letter.
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Permalink Reply by SmartyJones on -
I see Helen advocating for a Senate style Council led government. I do not see her endorsing Real Results.
Helen asked Maureen Sullivan to "disseminate" her letter and then lie about an endorsement?
Gosh thought last night was the low point with publishing private emails and trying to twist that into political gain.
Now Maureen Sullivan is trying to exploit a little old lady.
Wow. Just horrible. This is beyond ugly.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Kaplan on
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I have no problem with Mayor Zimmer choosing to endorse a slate, and similarly thought that it was a positive that she did so last year.
I may not agree with the Mayor's choice in candidates, but that is a separate issue.
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Permalink Reply by Maureen Sullivan on
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It's Helen's letter. I merely posted it on her behalf because her infirmaties prevent her from doing it herself. I mentioned her endorsement because she asked me to do that too. Perhaps it upsets you that she no longer endorses Kids First. If you have a problem with Helen Hirsch, who has been trying to get this town on a path to good government probably since before you knew how to spell the word troll, I suggest you take it up with her. She will be sitting in the front row at tomorrow's city council meeting.
ditto said:Where does it say in the letter than she is endorsing Real Results? The Hoboken Reporter has a policy of not running negative letters the week before an election. Hirsch is clearly unhappy with Zimmer but that doesn't translate into an endorsement of your slate; at least not in this letter.
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Permalink Reply by SmartyJones on
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If we are going to silence free speech of elected officials, there should be a law in place first.
This is just sad. Poor Helen.
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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I have no issue with Hirsch's letter, its timing or its message. I take issue with you posting it in connection to her alleged endorsement of your slate; this letter is not an endorsement of your slate. If she endorsed your slate why doesn't she mention it or you by name when she discusses school politics? It is a most curious omission. Your posting of this letter is yet another example of your shameless opportunism.
Maureen Sullivan said:It's Helen's letter. I merely posted it on her behalf because her infirmaties prevent her from doing it herself. I mentioned her endorsement because she asked me to do that too. Perhaps it upsets you that she no longer endorses Kids First. If you have a problem with Helen Hirsch, who has been trying to get this town on a path to good government probably since before you knew how to spell the word troll, I suggest you take it up with her. She will be sitting in the front row at tomorrow's city council meeting.
ditto said:Where does it say in the letter than she is endorsing Real Results? The Hoboken Reporter has a policy of not running negative letters the week before an election. Hirsch is clearly unhappy with Zimmer but that doesn't translate into an endorsement of your slate; at least not in this letter.
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Permalink Reply by khoboken on
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Bizarre - where in the letter is there any mention or RR or an endorsement? Saying it is an endorsment when it clearly is not is like, well, saying the theatre program is in under threat, when it is not. There seems to be some cognition problems going on here. The credibility issue has long left the barn.
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Permalink Reply by rosethorn on
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Helen Hirsch held a meet-and-greet for the Real Results slate two weeks ago and endorsed the slate then. And stop being in denial--the theater program is under threat. Any program would be under threat when suddenly the person running it gets a ton more work to do.
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Permalink Reply by SmartyJones on
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Helen Hirsch endorsed RR two weeks ago? An 89 year old woman well known in town endorsed a group of candidates who had never before attended a BoE meeting?
And it's announced today by Maureen Sullivan? Sorry, that one doesn't pass the smell test. If it was announced earlier it would at least seem plausible.
Attaching an endorsement to a letter from Helen Hirsch proposing a different system of local governance and stating it's an endorsement is pretty fishy. This is no way to treat Helen or any 89 year old Hoboken resident.
Yes, we saw the RR flyers saying the BoE threatened the theater program. Can someone ask Maureen Sullivan to stop doing that?
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Permalink Reply by InfotainMe on
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Can't tell you how surprised I was to see this letter in 411. Every council meeting they insult Helen during the live blog on 411 and Perry the moderator never says anything.
On 4/7:
Guest: C'mon, Helen. You complain about ANYTHING.
Philphil: helen needs to go to a nursing home
GuestGuest: Helen, go back to your penthouses on Park Avenue.
GuestGuest: and the bubble gum on the sidewalk is slowing my walker down!!!!
GuestGuest: Go home to your penthouses, where u displaced artists
IM MADIM MAD: SHE CANT EVEN WALK
I have been telling you people that your reliance on that site dooms your every effort. It's pure mean-spiritedness. They only endorse Ms. Hirsch when her opinion happens to coincide. Let me know when the light comes on. 411=vindictive adolescents. If that's the demographic you're after, you're home free.
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Permalink Reply by khoboken on
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So I ask yet again - where in this letter, which is posted as proof that Ms. Hirsch endroses RR, is there ANY MENTION OF RR? Who sadid anything about a meet and greet two weeks ago in the original post? This letter, according to Ms. Sullivan, signifies such support - it doesn't. That is all. And the theatre program under threat is just way too played out to be credible anymore. Give it up.
rosethorn said:Helen Hirsch held a meet-and-greet for the Real Results slate two weeks ago and endorsed the slate then. And stop being in denial--the theater program is under threat. Any program would be under threat when suddenly the person running it gets a ton more work to do.
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Permalink Reply by robert randall on
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Helen Hirsch did, in fact endorse Real Results and even donated $750 to their cause. Maureen should not be criticized for saying that because it's true.
However, this letter is not an endorsement letter unless Helen's only reason for supporting Real Results is the fact that she strongly doesn't like Dawn Zimmer. This is likely true. The fact that she says nothing positive about Real Results in a letter written days before the election certainly makes it seem like it is.
This hardly makes for a compelling endorsement and it's more sad than anything else.
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