Jersey Journal, February 13, 2004

Dear Editor:

One of the goals of the Quality of Life Coalition is to provide information to the public about critical issues facing Hoboken. In keeping with that goal, the QLC - joined by the Mile Square Taxpayers Association - initiated requests to Stevens Institute and the Fund for a Better Waterfront to attend a forum that would explore the plans and the benefits or disadvantages of the Stevens waterfront garage proposed for Sinatra Drive between Fifth and Sixth streets.

In mid-December we had obtained enthusiastic acceptance of the offer from both Stevens and the Fund. In early January, Stevens asked to have the date changed, and the Fund as well as QLC and MSTA set a new date. About two weeks before the scheduled date, Stevens withdrew from the forum.

The rationale was that the matter was before the Zoning Board and that Stevens lawyers felt the procedure before the board was at a critical stage. The matter appeared to be too sensitive for a public meeting.

Most of us citizens do not have the time to sit through lengthy, technical Zoning Board hearings. Most developers welcome the opportunity to appear at a QLC meeting in order to explain in layman's terms the benefits that their projects could provide, especially when faced with opposition. A forum offers a rare chance to explain and win support.

Obviously, Stevens did not view the offer as an opportunity but as a hazard. The rejection of this offer leaves in its wake many questions about the efficacy for Hoboken of the proposed garage.

The only recourse that the public now has to get some minimal facts about the garage proposal is to contact Stevens directly and to attend the next Zoning Board meeting on Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the basement meeting room at City Hall. Sorry to put the onus on the public to learn the facts the hard way, but there it is.

Helen Manogue, Doris China, Alice Crozier, Ken Geraghty, Paul Neshamkin, and Bill Tobias