The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
An open letter to all members of Hoboken Revolt:
I was excited when Hoboken Revolt first hit the scene. It was all about getting property taxes down. I attended a rally at city hall and voiced support whenever I could.
But to my consternation the group seems to have lost its way. We ought to be storming city hall with torches and pitchforks over the fact that the promised a 25% reduction in city taxes has instead turned into an increase. Yes, the mayor and council have limited powers under the fiscal monitor. But that is no excuse for failing to take a stand on what they campaigned for, a substantial tax cut.
Hoboken Revolt should be demanding the administration write its own budget that delivers what was promised, present it to the council, pass it and dare the monitor to reject it. But Hoboken Revolt is doing nothing of the sort.
For this reason I have no interest in remaining a member and want my name removed from the roster immediately. I urge others to do the same.
James Vance
But to my consternation the group seems to have lost its way. We ought to be storming city hall with torches and pitchforks over the fact that the promised a 25% reduction in city taxes has instead turned into an increase. Yes, the mayor and council have limited powers under the fiscal monitor. But that is no excuse for failing to take a stand on what they campaigned for, a substantial tax cut.
Hoboken Revolt should be demanding the administration write its own budget that delivers what was promised, present it to the council, pass it and dare the monitor to reject it. But Hoboken Revolt is doing nothing of the sort.
For this reason I have no interest in remaining a member and want my name removed from the roster immediately. I urge others to do the same.
James Vance
Comment
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Comment by Donna Antonucci on February 6, 2010 at 3:34pm - I will also say that I think they have taken a stand on the contracts which is why Judy v the Mayor and Council are having this face off. Again, you strike me as an intelligent man and I would have expected you to see this. But then again, I feel that you are just too hurt to listen to the logical part of your brain.
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Comment by Donna Antonucci on February 6, 2010 at 1:07pm
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Jim, I find you to be a reasonably intelligent man. It is the same subject. The Fiscal Monitor and/or the State is holding the audits. I believe the audits will show that the deal that Judy negotiated is meager. I suspect this is why she is holding them. If the administration and the public get Judy to release them, I believe it will show this and free the administration to negotiate a better deal.
Why am I referring to the Police and Fire contracts in the context of a discussion about 25% in cuts? We will never get there if we don't hold the line and/or cut total compensation for the Police and Fire Dept. Personnel = ~55% of the budget. Police and Fire = ~70% of personnel. That's 38.5% of the budget.
4 Departments presented. Police, Fire, Health and Human Service and Environmental services. The police and fire showed the largest operating income increase. Mayor Zimmer replaced the Environmental Services Director and I think the new Director will sharpen her pencil. Do you recognize that Pope was a holdover? Health and Human Services showed a decrease.
Just give in. You lost. Stop being negative for being negative. Where is your plan? Why won't you give one idea about what should be cut? What is the point of this article?
Judy was against furloughs. Mayor Zimmer even before the June and November elections brought up furloughs and Judy has said no. Mayor Zimmer wanted fees for the rec program and Judy hasn't focused on it. As per the budget workshop, Director Pelligrini is working up a fee schedule now.
We know all about the one offs - $4.2MM Kleinman screw up, the soccer field.
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Comment by James Vance on February 5, 2010 at 9:10pm - And on you go with more blah.. Don't change the subject. The issue is the promised 25% tax cut. Those who ran on it said they had a 'plan," and it is now time for them to deliver. It is not up to the citizens to tell them how, it is up to them to produce. James Vance
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Comment by Donna Antonucci on February 5, 2010 at 2:56pm
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Guess the editors at the Jersey Journal are also wrong Jim? The paper just endorsed Mayor Zimmer's to the state for the audits. Will you ever give credit where credit is due or is that just too painful for you?
I like to see the right thing happen no matter who deserves credit for leading it. I am like that at work and I like there here. Join the fight....
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Comment by Donna Antonucci on February 5, 2010 at 8:27am
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Jim, Enough. I still want the 25% and I and many others are taking actions that we feel are appropriate to push through the road blocks preventing us from getting there.
Is Beth Mason paying you? It seems this is about pointing out how a campaign promise cannot be met. I guess you are prepping for the next election. It's so gross. I feel you are grandstanding and being negative for the sake of being negative. Join the fight or go away. You have a serious case of sour grapes.
Let's here it. What do you think should be cut? How do we get there? What steps are you taking?
If you don't make an articulate answers to what exactly should be cut and how we get there, then this conversation is over.
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Comment by James Vance on February 4, 2010 at 10:49pm
- An on she goes. Bur where is the promised a 25% reduction in city taxes?
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Comment by Donna Antonucci on February 4, 2010 at 1:03pm
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http://hobokenhorse.blogspot.com/
Tremediti joins the chorus that the state is not cooperating. Hoboken Horse gives the addresses and phone of the Governor, Chief of Staff, Jacobucci's office and asks all to write and call demanding the audits.
You going there Jim to complain that he has the wrong idea too. What are you doing? Are you going to say Blah, blah, blah or Whah, whah whah ?
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Comment by David on February 4, 2010 at 11:29am
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Dang it James! Donna is right you have to have a plan before you can complain. Maybe free coffee is breaking the bank or maybe the town should replace garbage pickup with roving bands of pigs. If you can't articulate where the waste is, where to investigate for possible savings (at a minimum), or suggest new revenue streams you are just yelling to yell.
Blah blah blah is not a coherent argument.
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Comment by James Vance on February 4, 2010 at 9:54am
- Even more Blah, Blah, Blah
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Comment by Donna Antonucci on February 4, 2010 at 1:05am
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Whatever Jim. Ok. And who holds Judy's feet to the fire?
And again, what have you done? It's easy to complain but what are you doing?
Again, I think you have a serious case of sour grapes. Are you ever going to get over it and join the cause or you going to never give credit where credit is due? Did you see David's comment below? It's the lack of giving credit where credit is obvious that really discredits you (IMO). Again, it's this lack of giving credit where credit is due that makes me think you just can't get over being on the losing side.
Join the cause and participate.
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