Hoboken Reporter, May 23, 2004

Dear Editor,

Last week, Mayor Roberts stood shoulder to shoulder with the developer of the proposed 800 Jackson Street high rise. This announcement promised to crop the building anywhere from 1 to 4 stories.

Sorry, not good enough fellas!

Then, after receiving a letter from NJ Transit that debunked the developer's theory that this project would somehow make it the 9th Street Light Rail stop safer, Roberts, thankfully changed his public stance.

Now stating he "prefers open space there" and would like to comply with the master plan that he spent $250,000 on and two years to prepare. However, to this date not a single resolution or communication has come before the City Council. Actions to obtain Green Acres money, re-claim the property, un-designate the developer, a land swap or even properly zoning the land to match the Master Plan are non-existent. Just more press statements from Roberts that he prefers a park. But it will cost the city money.

If Mayor Roberts, Freeholder Fitzgibbons and County Executive Tom DeGise can't find local, state or federal funds to grab this small parcel of land back for Hoboken (land that should have never been doled out by the Mayor and Council in the first place), then what are Hoboken's chances it will see any acquisition of larger open spaces now or in the future with Roberts leading the charge?

In November citizens of Hudson County overwhelmingly approved a County open space acquisition tax, and lord knows Hobokenites pay a good share to that fund.

How about starting there Mayor, then Green Acres and maybe even ask a developer or two to give something back to Hoboken in exchange for all the variances and added height you keep granting them.

Anthony Soares, Councilman at Large