From the Inside Looking Out

How quickly perspectives change. Yesterday I was on a ferry looking at kayakers, today I'll be a kayaker looking out for ferries.

Yesterday I took the ferry from 14th street to Wall Street to see friends who recently transplanted from Jersey to the financial district. My wife and I had a beautiful 30 minute trip traveling around southern Manhattan on a perfect evening. On the trip, we saw a group of kayakers crossing the Hudson. It is great seeing fellow boaters taking advantage of our underused waterfront.

Peter Cammarano has learned a thing or two about perspective changes as well. Just a few days ago, he was Hoboken's new young mayor. This morning, I walked past a hundred or so protesters in front of his Bloomfield Street home carrying signs demanding his resignation. Although I personally think these protests should be taking place at city hall, I cannot blame the citizens of our city for being angry and disappointed. For the record, he has stated he will not step down as mayor. How can he? He would be walking away from a six figure income- which will help pay much needed lawyer fees- and benefits for himself, his wife, and young daughter. What a mess.

I am waiting for the tides to shift before I head out again. I would suggest our mayor do the same.

Ho-broken

Today's weather forecast called for storms. Unable to paddle, I turned on the TV to some disheartening news.

It was only days ago I congratulated my new mayor, our city's youngest, on this site. And although it usually takes years before Hoboken mayors are caught for corruption, it took Peter Cammarano less than two months. Sadly, our mayor has been charged with taking bribes from a government witness posing as a real estate developer. Pathetic.

Hopefully, tomorrow's weather, and our next mayor, will be brighter.

Hoboken is the Birthplace of Baseball

Although this fact is often disputed, it doesn't stop me from telling non-Hobokenite friends and relatives that Hoboken IS the birthplace of baseball. And it isn't stopping Hoboken councilwoman Beth Mason from trying to bring baseball back to the mile square city. Recently, she hired architects to re-imagine the northwest corner of Hoboken and envisioned, among other things, a minor league baseball field and greater park space (the above picture is what it currently looks like). Although I am not sure if all of her plans seem realistic in the current economy, I applaud her thinking outside the box. Or in this case, thinking outside the boxes that make up blocks and blocks of square condos to the south of this site.

While I am on the issue of local politics, I want to wish Peter Cammarano, Hoboken's youngest mayor in history, and Dawn Zimmer, our new Council President, all the best. I hope they all can put politics aside and do what is best for our waterfront and the residents of our great town.