Yesterday was a HUGE day for Hoboken- in particular, those folks in the ass-end of town (KIDDING!) who have suffered forever without the most essential amenity of urban living- a public park.
Yesterday, officials broke ground on the 1-acre Southwest Park and underground detention system beneath it, a $7 million project to provide open space and mitigate flooding in the city's southwest corner.
Thanks to Jeanette Josue of Hudson County View we have the excellent live report above.
Thanks to a GA Earwitness, we have the excellent not-live report below:
The ceremony was wonderful. It was a great testament to Reform and the changes that have been brought to Hoboken under Mayor Zimmer and a reform majority of sane and rational council members. I don’t miss the Axis of No, Bet Mazin, the purple pillow fluffer, that sour faced and nasty Castellano or the two previous mayors who wound up in federal pin stripes. There was an easy and upbeat mood in the air and the assembled dignitaries looked relaxed and were smiling, all except Romano. He stood there shifting his weight like he was about to dump a load in his pants, shifting back and forth with a look on his face like he had just sucked on a lemon.Wow, what a scene! Thank you Earwitness.
By the way, Russo was a no-show and Ramos had his father stand in for him. Tim O. was there. I guess that it was just too much for Romano to face, alone, the fact that the Mayor is popular, and was being roundly praised as setting the bar for every municipality regarding design for parks and making good on her promise to bring a park to the SW part of Hoboken.
The guy from DEP was especially effusive with his praise about the Mayor’s intelligence and skill in surrounding herself with great people, her ability to work well with others and to get results. Even the guy from the NHSA gave her props. But she also spread around the credit and the praise, taking a trip down memory lane and talked about John G.who knocked on her door and got her involved in the SW Park coalition. No mention of Mr. Sara. And Mr. Sara and the Toxic Twins were no shows, after all of Mr. Sara’s howling about the SW Parks coalition that was supposed to be her legacy and all of the efforts of the noxious duo to undermine the Mayor and her efforts to get the park. No one missed them.
The only off note, besides Romano’s palpable discomfort, came at the end of the speakers, when everyone left the tent and walked over to the mound of dirt and the shovels for the photo op. Stick walked up to the microphone and started talking some kind of nonsense about the police department having to now patrol and protect the park, as if the park was going to be a scene straight out of Panic in Needle Park or something. It was just plain weird. No one was really paying attention, and all I saw was a bunch of quizzical looks on the few folk who were still under the tent. It was as if he could just not let people enjoy the celebration without cocking his leg like a junkyard dog and pissing on the moment. I don’t think that even he knew what the hell he was saying, but he just HAD to say something. It was like a fart in church. The guy has issues.
Folks, what a great day for our city. GA thanks all those who worked to make it happen
Personally, I cannot imagine life in Hoboken, which included raising a child, without nearby Church Square and Columbus parks.
To those who wait, come great things. This new Hoboken park is going to be very special.
Hudson County View has more on that:
“This was a team effort, we are standing here today, we are together going to be transforming this parking lot into the first phase of the Southwest Park,” explained the mayor.The new Southwest park is going to be great! Can 6th Ward folks use it, too?
“This is going to become a green space, a green plaza with kid friendly amenities, and dog friendly amenities. And an amphitheater for community to come together for performances and pop up market spaces.” (WOW!)
The park will also feature café tables, interactive park features, restrooms and free WiFi. (WOW!)
The green infrastructure includes “rain gardens, shade tree pits, porous pavers, a cistern for rainwater harvesting and reuse” and there will also be a detention system to reduce stormwater and localized flooding. (Double WOW!)
In area where there is not a lot of green space, David Zimmer, the executive director of the NJEIT Trust, referred to the park as a “very valuable community asset.”
David Zimmer (no relation to the Hoboken mayor) also highlighted another environment benefit.
“In additional, all of this covered area and the historic landfill underneath it, are going to be removed. Over 6,000 cubic feet. That can be pretty harsh stuff and all of that is going to be gone. It will no longer be part of your community.” (Hooray!)
WOW !
ReplyDeleteGreat day for Hoboken and the Zimmer Team.
DeleteBINGO
DeleteThe other odd moment was when Stick gave credit to Mayor Roberts... and none to Zimmer. Funny. He has no self-awareness.
ReplyDeleteStick's trademark smoothness deserted him. I expect to see this as an ongoing theme. He's used to things falling in his lap and getting over because he's a nice guy.
ReplyDeleteRamos' dad was there and happy to represent the fourth ward too. But some people take the politics really hard and can't deal with the positive changes in Hoboken.
ReplyDeleteGuess Mr. Sara and the round friend are pretty angry and making lots of excuses how this happened. The Mr. Sara SW park group did everything it could to sabotage the SW park and keep Zimmer from seeing it done. My friend was on that email list and they were working with Tim who voted against the eminent domain. Should have killed it right there.
Jen Giattino stepped in and saved the day for that park. Thanks Jen!
After the Masons turned off cash flow to Occhipinti he voted for the use of eminent domain to negotiate for the park property.
DeleteThe stone cold silence between Tim and Stick at the ceremony spoke volumes about the growing rift in the old guard.
Thank you, Jen Giattino!
DeleteNope, Tim voted against eminent domain for the SW park. If Jen Giattino didn't vote yes, it dies right there.
DeleteTim to his credit did vote in support of the park on a later vote.
Without the Jen Giattino vote, we wouldn't be celebrating this today.
Better late than never.
DeleteA true OG through and through. Stick really only feels comfortable when he's playing the old HudCo games with his HudCo cronies. The modern world, being surrounded by good government types, gives him the heebie jeebies.
ReplyDeleteStick will never be mayor of Hoboken. He will never give up his cushy crib in Marine View, despite all of the dough that he rakes in from his pension as a retired cop, his freeloader salary and the revenue from his bar on Washington Street (and the building in which it is located). Stick is all about Stick. That is not going to fly in Hoboken politics anymore.
DeleteStick-in-the mud Romano is having a baby-needs-his-bottle moment again. It is slowly sinking in that his merry band of thumb-heads, and his wafer-thin congenialities are not going to carry him over the dam to being Mayor of Hoboken. He will remain a get-over-scum in public housing, widely hated, and every accomplishment by Reform might as well be a thorn in his side. So pathetic, so transparent as a spoiled brat with a sense of entitlement which will never be fulfilled. You're about 20 years too late for that scam, Schtick. Get back to winking at the girls and pouring beers in your dive on Washington.
DeleteWait until it gets out that he demands FREE HAIRCUTS at SuperCuts .... for years now
ReplyDeletePlease tell me that he is not that big of a pig. Does he at least tip?
DeleteNo, he's big pig...
DeleteThat is how the Old Guard rolls.
DeleteHe just entered the Hoboken Grifters Hall of Shame.
DeleteI was there at the event was very well attended. Mayor Zimmer and the City Council deserve a lot of credit for knowing how to use government programs like the NJEIT and other open space funds. This was rarely or never utilized in past administrations.
ReplyDeleteDawn Zimmer ran on a promise to deliver a fourth Ward park and she has delivered. The renovations to Elysian Park, Church Square park plus many more have been a benefit rtomHoboken quality of life. All of this has taken longer than anyone would have liked but that's reality.
A good day for Hoboken except perhaps Stick Romano. He seemed very uncomfortable and I can confirm his pandering remarks to the police.
and building out 1600 Park playing field, rebuilding the playing filed on Sinatra Drive, working with the HHA to open up Mama Johnson Field, and the County for the recreational space under the 14th Street Viaduct ...
DeleteActually you are very wrong GFF, 1600 Park was acquired with Trust for Public Land Grant, County Open Space fund and Green Acres Under the last Mayor
DeletePier C with PA money, Private and Green Acres.
@9:33pm. Consider reading the post which you are calling "very wrong" concerning the acquisition of 1600 Park and Pier C. Neither acquisition is mentioned.
DeleteThe Zimmer Administration has successfully leveraged all available funding sources to making open space a priority for Hoboken.
ReplyDeleteI was there too. Sucking up to anyone I could even after I took money from reform and funneled it to Russo Syndicate member Beth Mason. I have balls and no shame. Did I tell everyone I am a close associate of Lane Bajardi and supported the abuse of the court system in an attempt to file a fraudulent SLAPP to silence Beth Mason's political critics?
ReplyDeleteDo you know I am a fascist scum sucking pig? I am crooked Jimbo Vance. I am one duplicitous piece of shit.
The City Council when giving out new PILOTS to Church Towers, Marineview Towers, etc needed to include net worth as well as income be included in the calculations to get and stay tax payer subsidized housing in Hoboken
ReplyDeleteAs it stands now you can own a shore house, a bar on Washington Street, millions in real-estate and still squat on the taxpayer dole.
Don't forget about the chief of police and the assemblywoman. GA will give them a pass, she doesn't have the balls!
DeleteI'm not passing judgment on GA, but I agree that if the Assemblywoman and Chief of Police are still living in subsidized housing together, they're no better than Stick.
DeleteAs it stands now all of the public officials and many others playing the system and profiting handsomely.
DeleteThe PILOT programs for these taxpayer subsidized buildings will soon be up for review and when they are they must have the loopholes that allow for high income and hidden wealth removed.
I full expect all the Russo's, Romano and their cronies to put up a huge stink and try to hide behind those who actually need the help but this taxpayer giveaway must end.
Freeholder Romano if he actually tries to run for mayor next November will have his personal finances placed under a very public microscope and he will serve as a poster boy for what is wrong and broken with the current system.
An anon questioning GA's balls. I bet the irony escapes you.
DeleteThe extension of the PILOT at Church Towers should be revoked as they have not complied with the terms of the agreement.
DeleteWe can fault Russo for living there, but there is no excuse for the current administration to not enforce the agreement.
1:16 I would love to see that agreement yanked but what exactly was not lived up to on their end?
DeleteIt is 4:17 and no facts supplied. I call Bullshit.
DeleteHey "Anon" @ 9:10, who the fuck are you to say I have no "balls" when you don't have the balls to sign your name, "Anon." Your balls are smaller than craisins, and not as sweet.
DeleteAnon @ 4:18, for starters, the infamous waiting list was supposed to be made transparent to the applicants.
DeleteIt is simple, if they cannot reform the PILOT to only help people who deserve help, you kill the PILOT. Personally, I think the city should stop passing out PILOTs entirely. All they do is drive up everyone's taxes. No more PILOTs.
DeleteOnce a person surpasses an income level they should not be allowed to live in affordable housing any longer. Stick is to cheap to realize that living in affordable housing is only "1" of the things that will never allow him to become the Mayor. Zimmer for a 3rd term is a done deal. The anti-reformers do not have the same drive, support and financial resources to put together a cohesive campaign against Zimmer. They would rather kill themselves, back stab and outright lie to one another then let they other be more successful then themselves. #Sad
ReplyDeleteSo this is really not a election...it will be a Zimmer blow out in 17'.
Never underestimate you opponent.
ReplyDeleteRemember Peter Cammarano's statement that the people who will vote for him would do so even if he were indicted.
While we know about those public officials who appear to be scamming the system we must remember that their are likely hundreds more in these buildings who would see massive increase if the loopholes on income and wealth were closed. Remember that old guard have been milking the system they created for generations.
everyone deserves time off, especially great bloggers, but boy do i miss reading new daily posts here on GA. enjoy the time off, i look forward to more scintillating SLAPP emails and other exclusive reporting soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks darlin'. Stay tuned.
DeleteA dream dies. Those who tried to have Block 11, the narrow triangular property directly opposite SkyClub between First Street and Paterson Avenue , Harrison Street and Marshall Drive (Car Wash, Indian head Taxi, etc..) included as part of the South West Park will be saddened to know that it is being cleared to put up new five story plus, 100% lot coverage buildings.
ReplyDeleteIt was once hoped that the property could be used to integrate and bridge Paterson Avenue.