In a letter to the editor, Hoboken resident Nancy Colasurdo explains why she feel the “Independently Together” team are the best choices for city council-at-large.
Dear Editor,
We’re all exhausted, aren’t we?
From troubling news. From battles about how to protect ourselves and our families. From staying on top of what is happening around us while still living our lives.
How do we move forward? What is the answer to dealing with all of this?
I have one idea: electing people at the city level who will passionately make our communities better so we don’t have to think about it on a daily basis. Less fretting equals better quality of life.
If we’ve learned anything in the last year and a half, it’s that we want that.
Let me give you a real time example of this. In Hoboken our mayor, Ravi Bhalla, is running unopposed in next month’s election. His administration did an admirable job of getting us through the roughest moments of the pandemic and I am grateful for that.
But now I see that as a given. He’s not going anywhere. The health crisis will continue to be handled.
This means, for our sanity, it’s time to look ahead. It’s not just me wanting to get on with things, right?
During Hurricane Ida we saw places flood in Hoboken that have never flooded before. Our residents want representatives who will prioritize these dire issues.
As frequent pedestrians, we’re worried about crossing the street and getting hit by a bike or car. We want to know if development is going to crowd out some who have lived here for decades.
Will unrestricted greed cost us our homes and force us out of the community we love? And then there’s parking. While I’m supportive of the desire to be as green as possible in our efforts, is subtracting parking spaces the answer?
All of this is happening. Meanwhile, if we elect Mayor Bhalla’s entire slate to city council, our town will be run by one voice, a voice that has yet to address these issues. We need a shift, something that will not be achieved by the same policies.
Therefore, in this moment, the option provided by the Independently Together (IT4Hoboken) slate on the ballot is vital.
I don’t know a person in this town better acquainted with how the levers of city government work than Cheryl Fallick.
She is a relentless advocate, already well-known for stirring up “good trouble” to keep people from being displaced from their homes or finding them affordable options.
Her knowledge base is deeper and richer than one issue – i.e., development and our waterfront — but that one is her baby.
Sheila Brennan loves Hoboken so much she moved here from Manhattan and jumped right into community work. As a homeowner and landlord, she incurred 3 feet of water during Ida. Think she’s motivated to work on that issue?
Paul Presinzano, who along with his wife, Ritu, is raising a son here, loves where he lives but sees ways to bring the town forward, particularly when it comes to spending, technology, and transparency.
While there is commonality on the IT4Hoboken team, it also represents three distinct voices the city council desperately needs. There are people in our communities who are naturals for city government. They don’t need to get into the weeds – they’re already there.
With political parties not in the equation at the local election level, we get to look at people instead of a presumed set of beliefs. It’s back to basics. A government with a leader who sometimes gets it right, but who – like anyone else – needs to be held accountable.
One team on the ballot gets us that on Nov. 2. It will bring vigorous debate to our most pressing issues. The other puts us in a position to trust one person, one voice, to do right by our city.
So many feel we’ve had enough to contend with nationally the last five years and we’re ready to bring a more democracy-friendly leadership to our towns. Yes, plural.
Shouldn’t we all be opting for that checks-and-balances government structure we learned about in civics class? Hoboken is but one example.
Not to get all rosy eyed about it, but I crave that. Count me in for the less stressful option.
Let’s please – I beg you – move forward.
Nancy Colasurdo
Hoboken resident