More Waterfront Repairs

Below are a few pictures I took of the significant repairs that are taking place on the walkway north of the Tea Building. There is also a picture of the new walkway between Hoboken and Weehawken.

Paddling the Center

When Kayaking the Hudson River, you always get pulled to the center channel. It’s not a bad thing. In fact, on a calm day, it can be quite nice to just float to the middle of the river and have a good look around.

Unfortunately, in the river of Hoboken politics, it is almost impossible to navigate the center channel.

The blogosphere is a wave of vitriol and a reminder of just how divided Hoboken politics are – on both sides.

On one side, you have the so-called “corrupt old guard” – Beth Mason, Mike Russo, Lane Bijardi, Frank Raia, Hoboken411, the “Born and Raised”. On the other you have the so-called “Zimmer Zombies” – Dawn Zimmer, Ravi Bhalla, Michael Lenz, Kid’s First, MileSquareView, 2/3rds of those who comment on HobokenPatch, Grafix Avenger, “the yuppies”.

This river gets narrower, shallower, and more polluted each day.

So here’s what I've seen while paddling the political center channel - and what I've learned from it.

Hoboken City Council – I know, and have had long conversations with, many people who serve on the current Hoboken City Council. And, I should add, there are many bright people on both banks of Hoboken’s political river. But, I am convinced that this city council cannot be fixed – so I have made a decision of how I will, in a small way, help change things. Plain and simple, I will not vote for anyone with direct ties to the blogs listed above. Further, I will only vote for those who do their best to distance themselves from those blogs. I suggest you join me.

Hoboken Schools – Let’s all say it together… “My kid will go to Hoboken’s Public Schools”. See, don’t you, as a young Hoboken parent, feel better. If we - all the parents at the playground - say it, and then follow through, our public schools will improve, and, one day, be great. And best of all, it will not matter who is elected to the school board. I know many of the teachers at these schools – and the ones I know are excellent. It is time to start supporting them. Let me start the movement… my daughter will attend Hoboken Public Schools. Again, I hope you join me.

See, it can be calm out here in the middle. Even peaceful. Happy paddling.