As historic preservationists who live in Hoboken, we urge voters to go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and vote "yes" on Public Question #4. Passage of Public Question #4 would aid historic preservation in Hudson County by authorizing our county government to create an "Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Trust Fund." Among other objectives, the Fund would pay for the acquisition and upgrade of qualified historic preservation facilities.
An annual levy of up to one penny per $100 of property valuation would fund the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund would be a dedicated fund government by an independent public advisory committee representing all regions of the county. At a maximum, property owners would contribute $10 annually to the Trust Fund per $100,000 of equalized property value. With "yes" vote, all of Hudson County's 12 municipalities would be eligible for funds from the Trust Fund.
Hudson County enjoys a long history - a history tangibly represented by dozens of structures significant because of their history, architecture, setting or engineering. For a list of historic properties within Hudson County, go to the official Hudson County website at www.hudsoncountynj.org and click on "Master Plan" to see specifically Appendix B of the county's historic preservation plan (Chapter 11).
Preserving structures so that future generations can enjoy their uniqueness, beauty, historical importance, design, construction and contribution to surrounding neighborhood cohesiveness requires not only respectful stewardship by owners who are responsible for their care but also public financial support. As taxpayers, we believe that a "yes" vote on Public Question #4 is a worthwhile investment toward preserving our county's heritage for generations to come.
Allen Kratz
Michele Boyd
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