Hoboken Reporter, June 16, 2002

Dear Editor:

After reading about the on-going controversy between Stevens Tech and Coalition for a Better Waterfront (CBW), I finally decided to weigh in.

First let me explain that I haven't seen either party's proposal for the Stevens or Maxwell House waterfront properties. However, I do know that Stevens Tech has been a proud anchor in the Hoboken community, and on the other hand, we would have a very different waterfront today if not for the tireless efforts of CBW (e.g., one defeated referendum proposed erecting a building one-quarter the size of the World Trade Center on Pier A).

Having been formerly involved with CBW, I know that Ron Hine (the driving force of CBW) has probably offended every person who has ever disagreed with him (and there are plenty of those people). I also know that Ron possesses an almost maniacal single-minded vision of what Hoboken's waterfront can be. With some reservations, there should be more Ron Hines in the world.

Stevens has recently busied itself with blasting asbestos-laden rock to build a parking garage on the waterfront. While I can think of better uses for waterfront property than building parking lots, that is Stevens' business. However, what is my business is the fact that my kids were playing in the neighboring Little League field and soccer field while Stevens was busy broadcasting hazardous substances into the air we breathe.

In a recent letter to the editor, one writer reasoned that Stevens did not use a water spray to keep down the asbestos dust because of the State-imposed drought-related water restrictions. At first, this struck me as extremely odd because, given the choice between contaminating the air with asbestos dust and waiting to build a parking garage, I would simply wait to build the garage.

Then it dawned on me that Stevens doesn't need potable water (i.e. tap water) to keep down the asbesos dust and therefore, it is not subject to the State's drought-related water restrictions. Moreover, if the geniuses running Stevens ever cast their gaze eastward, they would see the same huge body of water that Henry Hudson sailed on 400 years ago. As one of the nation's preeminent engineering schools whose curriculum includes more than just Rock Blasting 101, there must be at least one tenured Stevens professor who can figure out a way to pump river water 200 feet to keep asbestos fibers out of the panting lungs of my soccer and baseball playing children.

In my mind, Stevens has fallen from grace. Quite simply, I just don't trust them anymore. And since I don't trust Stevens, I don't trust their plans to build a lab where the waterfront walkway is supposed to be, and I don't trust their plans to build on the Maxwell House property.

Respectfully, I suggest that Stevens and all its supporters go back to the drawing board and write "I will not poison the community" one hundred times. After this debacle, I throw my lot in with the community activists at CBW.

Peter Rozano
Hoboken