Regarding Saint Pats and Snooki

I told myself I wouldn’t get involved in the St. Patrick’s Day / Snooki debates, but it seems that these two topics have been the talk-of-the-town, so to speak.  And since it's too warm to ski, and too cold to kayak, here goes…

Let me start with a bit of background.  My wife is a retail business owner here in Hoboken.  I work in town.  We raise our daughter, own a condo, and pay loads of taxes here.  Together, we have lived in Hoboken happily for over twelve years.

Unlike most people in the blogosphere, I do not have a crystal ball that allows me to see into the future and know for sure whether or not the decision by Mayor Zimmer to ban the likes of Snooki and her ilk is a good idea. 

On one hand, I have the fear that many Hobokenites have: people will think less of Hoboken.  I know that Hoboken is more than its bar culture.  After many years, Hoboken has succeeded in building a reputation as a great place for families, high quality restaurants, and reputable businesses.  You could say that Hoboken has finally grown up.  We do not want to see that reputation destroyed with “wait, doesn't Snooki live in your town?”

On the other hand, the Mayor just turned away what could potentially be an estimated 7.8 million viewers.  That’s 7.8 million people who will not get to see the New York skyline from our side of the river; 7.8 million people who will not get to see the numerous restaurants, bars, and businesses that make this city thrive.

Is it too much to expect that people who do not watch these shows won’t know or care that they are filmed here?  Or that people who do watch these shows might actually get to see Hoboken as a good place to visit? 

Personally, I don’t watch Jersey Shore, but I do have friends who do.  And before you rush to judgment, many of these friends are older, smart, college educated, and wealthy – go figure.  And, if my MTV-watching-memory serves me, MTV is very good at making the places they send their “stars” look cool, youthful, and nice - even when their “stars” look like buffoons.

Here is what I do know.  Mayor Zimmer – who recently unilaterally moved the much hyped, much celebrated, and extremely controversial Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade to a Wednesday (which the parade committee sited as its sole reason to cancel this year’s parade) - is the same mayor who granted the Cake Boss a permit to film during last year’s St. Patrick's Day Parade: the same parade that shows our city in such a bad light, according to our mayor. 

I’m not sure whether Mayor Zimmer’s decision is a good one or a bad one – only time will tell.  But I am sure that she shouldn’t make decisions like these without consulting her constituents – including both the tax paying residents and tax paying businesses (of which, I am both).  Shouldn't my wife decide whether or not she wants Snooki in her shop?  Not that my wife would want Snooki there, but now the choice has been made for her.

Let me be clear – although I may ultimately agree with the mayor regarding this decision, I do not agree with her rush to judgment to protect the “quality of life” of this town.  

Shouldn’t the businesses of this town get a say when potentially turning away free publicity to 7.8 million people?  I’m curious, what does the W Hotel think about this decision?  What about the trendy Hoboken boutiques?  Or any other business that will provide the tax base to actually improve our “quality of life”?  

Further, how does the mayor defend her “Cake Boss: yes, Snooki: no” logic?  Has the Cake Boss contributed to the overall “quality of life” of this town?  How does a business like First Street Barber feel telling every person walking to stand in line for a cannoli that they can not use their restroom?  How has their “quality of life” improved? 

Frankly, both shows to me are ridiculous – and I can’t understand why anyone would watch either one.  But make no mistake - people do watch these shows.  

For many local businesses, the difference between a good year and a great year is as few as 100 sales.  A parade or silly reality show can make that difference.  And in a microeconomy like Hoboken, those profits then make their way back to the restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, and boutiques that keep our town vibrant.

I’m also surprised at many of my Hoboken friends who now, when discussing these matters, seem like parents from the 1950’s, “we only want wholesome, decent enterprises in our town.”  Since when did we all become the decency police?  Personally, I like the youthful side of Hoboken. I still enjoy the bar culture – and the fact that young people want to move to this town.  I love it when I tell young people I live in Hoboken and they look at me like, “cool”.  Will that change with Snooki?  Possibly, but that's why she wants to come here.  That’s also why bus-loads of college students will drive here from out-of-state for Hoboken’s Saint Patrick’s Day.  Hell, that’s the reason many of us wound up here in the first place.  Maybe even you, Mayor Zimmer.

I know Hoboken has grown up, but I have to ask, when did we all go and get so… old?