The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
Why Real Results lost
Its time for an honest evaluation of why real results lost so badly when the message the message of fiscal responsibility was playing so well throughout the State of New Jersey.
In my opinion, the reason is that Hoboken was ahead of the curve - the battle here was fought and won last year. The "Old Guard" had already been turned out by honest fiscally responsible reformers, both at the School Board and at City Hall.
The Real Results platform consisted of claiming that nothing had changed, when the vast majority of voters on both sides of the aisle know that it has.
The honest message - that things have changed for the better but in their opinion not deeply enough or fast enough - didn't justify a divisive candidacy that potentially could have re-empowered the old guard.
Real Results needed a more incendiary platform that would generate anger and turnout, and "change is happening but not fast enough" just doesn't get people all that riled up.
So Real Results was left to try to market Theresa Minitulo = Pupie Raia, Dawn Zimmer = Dave Roberts, a foolish, dishonest and failed electoral strategy worthy of Beth Mason.
Real Results lost because while many agree that change should happen faster, that honest message didn't justify their divisive challenge, and their alternative dishonest message couldn't pass the smell test.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by scott m siegel on
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Agreed.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Brennan on -
The RR challenge was clearly not successful but the other side of the coin from their supposed 'dishonesty' is a large element of 'reform' in Hoboken that in my view is basically satisfied with non-corrupt officer holders (Zimmer types, not Cammarano types) and isn't really that focused on lowering taxes. I won't call it 'dishonest' not to recognize the fault line in the Zimmer coalition between those people (who might include the mayor herself) and people laser focused on lower property taxes, but rather urge giving it more consideration if anyone doubts the split exists, because I think it's clear it does and the RR defeat isn't the end of it.
'You'll just bring the old guard' for anyone who was shocked by the 'Zimmer wasn't elected to reduce taxes' quote...that argument is not going to work forever with a lot of people. If there aren't *deep* cuts in another year or two the outcome could well be different in a challenge of Zimmer allies in BOE or council elections. And surely by the time Zimmer herself runs again taxes will have to be a lot lower or she will have to shift of a composite coalition of the status quo and 'reform but high taxes' types, which we saw signs of in KF's coalition already. If the old guard were really unitied against KF the pure OG would have won some of those seats. For someone looking for *serous property tax cuts* it's too soon to be 'fed up' with Zimmer, but skepticism is now in order IMO. The RR defeat won't be the end but the beginning of a split in those who voted for Zimmer if real results (small r's), as in significantly lower taxes, don't show up fairly soon.
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Permalink Reply by khoboken on
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One word - Revaluation. Hoboken is long over due for a revaluatuion of property values and it would go a long way to even out the tax burden that is being born disproportionately by anyone who bought in the last 7-10 years. I dont't think that you can talk meaningful tax reductions in Hoboken unless a revaluation is also in the mix.
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Permalink Reply by Overtaxed on
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At least 30% of the voters did not show up, and that's how KF won. Also, a lot of people are busy making plans to move out of town!
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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A win is a win and to have an electoral sweep two years in a row is no small feat. Last year KF won with higher voter turnout and this year they won again (perhaps more impressive for with the vote splitting factor amongst "reform" candidates and with a field of 12 candidates).
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Permalink Reply by Tony Soares on -
Even more impressive is the fact that voters did not agree with the call to turn the BOE into a Partisan Political forum for Red Elephants or Blue Donkeys.
ditto said:A win is a win and to have an electoral sweep two years in a row is no small feat. Last year KF won with higher voter turnout and this year they won again (perhaps more impressive for with the vote splitting factor amongst "reform" candidates and with a field of 12 candidates).
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Permalink Reply by ditto on
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Agreed.
Tony Soares said:Even more impressive is the fact that voters did not agree with the call to turn the BOE into a Partisan Political forum for Red Elephants or Blue Donkeys.
ditto said:A win is a win and to have an electoral sweep two years in a row is no small feat. Last year KF won with higher voter turnout and this year they won again (perhaps more impressive for with the vote splitting factor amongst "reform" candidates and with a field of 12 candidates).
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