In a letter to the editor, Tara Mullins, a Hoboken Democratic committeewoman and the fiance of council candidate John Allen, says Ravi Bhalla’s team is the best choice for the Mile Square City. 
Dear Editor,
Coaching legend Dean Smith once said, “There comes a point in every contest when
sitting on sidelines is not an option.â€
For my fiancé John Allen, that point was Tuesday, November 8, 2016 and like many others, John anticipated a different result but instead of just being angry, he raised his hand and joined Ravi Bhalla.
However, John has never been one to sit on the sidelines. At the age of 23, John was
elected President of the Old Bridge Board of Education in central New Jersey, responsible for managing a $100+ million budget and ensuring a quality education for just over 9,000 students.
It is important for our municipal government and board of education to work together to meet the growing demands of Hoboken’s young population.
John will dedicate his efforts to making Hoboken more than a stopover in route to the suburbs for young couples – like ourselves – who are planting their roots here.
It was John’s experience working with public schools that inspired him to continue
advancing education through a career as an attorney representing and advising
school districts throughout New Jersey.
His expertise in education and municipal law will be an asset for our local government and his fresh perspective is not tainted by old grudges and animosity. John’s unique talent of fostering dialogue and compromise will serve our city well.
In addition to his professional and civic work, John serves on the Board of Directors
for Easterseals New Jersey, one of the state’s oldest and largest charities that helps
individuals and families with disabilities have an active role in their communities.
More than ten years ago, my future mother-in- law was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis and unfortunately was not able to continue living in her Hoboken walkup.
According to the UN, about 6.25 billion people are predicted to be living in cities by
2050 and an estimated 15 percent of those people will be affected by disabilities.
John believes that responsible urbanization in Hoboken will be vital to achieving
sustainable and inclusive development. John will work to ensure a vibrant Hoboken
will remain accessible to all.
For John, smart development also means fighting to protect Hoboken’s unique charm and character. He doesn’t want to see Hoboken turn into a square mile of skyscrapers and it is crucial for our leaders to preserve a quality of life complete with open spaces, parks and businesses for all to enjoy.
Smart development is addressing Hoboken’s infrastructure issues, specifically flooding. As residents of 9th and Monroe, flooding personally impacts John and me but while there is more work to do, we have noticed improvements as a result of flood pump installations. John is committed to making Hoboken more resilient and prepared for the increasingly
frequent heavy rain events.
But most importantly, John believes in a fair, honest and transparent government that will implement fiscal responsibility, putting the welfare of our Hoboken neighbors first and not swayed by special interests.
What I admire most about John is his energy, optimism, dedication and drive to
stand up for what he believes in. It was all these traits that inspired me to join John
in a run for our Democratic County Committee seats.
We had the opportunity to hear first hand from our neighbors about the issues that matter most to them. With every encounter, John gave his undivided attention, listened to every concern and acted as voice to ensure those concerns were heard by our current leaders.
John’s decision to run with Councilman Ravi Bhalla is based on a simple fact: Ravi’s
experience, skills, and vision set him apart from all of the other candidates.
This is demonstrated by #TeamBhalla being the only campaign that has offered detailed,
thorough, and realistic policy proposals on issues including education, transportation, and open space.
I have no question that alongside Councilman Ravi Bhalla, Councilman Jim Doyle and Emily Jabbour, John possesses the leadership qualities to bring fresh perspective to the City Council and keep Hoboken moving forward.
So on Tuesday, November 7, I encourage my neighbors get off the sidelines and vote for the team that will take a stand. Vote for #TeamBhalla.
Sincerely,
Tara Mullins, Hoboken Democratic Committee Woman (Ward 3, District 5), and 10+
year resident of Hoboken