How dire is Hoboken hospital? Beth Mason concerned about council meeting
Hospital counting on $10.7M from state, with no contingency plan; Mason wants 'serious cuts'; criticizes 4th Ward council process
3 months ago | 532 views | 7 7 comments | 10 10 recommendations | email to a friend | print

HOBOKEN -- Hoboken 2nd Ward councilwoman Beth Mason is not quieting down even though she lost the mayoral election earlier this month to Dawn Zimmer. She sent around a newsletter Tuesday reviewing the seven-hour Hoboken City Council meeting that took place on Monday, and giving her opinions and concerns. Below are some of the highlights.

Read this weekend's Hoboken Reporter for more on the meeting, and for letters from readers.

Mason says:

"As many of you are aware I have always expressed great concern over the hospital's finances. I am even more concerned after Monday's meeting.

Last year the hospital lost $22.3 million and is projected to lose another $11 million this year. When I questioned CEO Spiros Hatiras about how he plans to keep the hospital running ... he expects the hospital to receive $10.7 million is "stabilization funding" from the state. Unfortunately, Mr. Hatiras said the hospital does not have a contingency plan...

"I truly believe the only way to save the hospital is to make serious budget cuts and start at the top.

On the 4th Ward council seat

"When Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer was elected Mayor she resigned her 4th Ward Council seat. Last night the City Council appointed Michael Lenz to be the new 4th Ward Councilman by a vote of 4-3-1.

"I abstained last night from voting for Councilman Lenz ... my vote was not against Mr. Lenz, but rather a vote against the process in which he was appointed. I do not believe the selection process was as open, transparent and inclusive as it could have been.

"I truly do believe that the residents of the 4th Ward deserve a representative on the City Council, which is why I proposed holding a Special Meeting in their ward...

"However, Mayor Zimmer and the Council majority rejected this idea and called for a vote instead and unanimously supported Michael Lenz. I look forward to working with him on the City Council.

Salary cuts

"Also on the agenda was an ordinance, which I sponsored, that would cut the salaries of the Mayor, City Council, and City Directors by 15 percent. However, the ordinance was voted down by my City Council colleagues.

"The only way to provide serious tax relief is to make budget cuts and start at the top. Currently many of our City Directors are paid salaries that are scaled for Manhattan rather than Hoboken.

"In a few weeks the Mayor is expected to present her budget to the City Council and I will continue to fight for more cuts, so taxpayers get the relief they deserve."

But will Mason again say she is forgoing her council salary, then change her mind, like she did at the beginning of the year? Stay tuned!

Comment below!
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comments (7)
« anonymous wrote on Friday, Nov 20 at 12:08 PM »
Lighten up on the criticism of Beth. She serves an important role as a check against government run amok. She has made important contributions to the discourse for reform in town, although she seems to be a candidate hell bent on self destructing. I think she is an important voice on the council.
« redraven wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 12:25 PM »
Serious issues deserve to be handled seriously. Mrs. Mason's press release illustrates clearly why she was so resoundingly rejected twice by the people of Hoboken.

Mrs. Mason, obsessed with creating a gotcha moment, declined the oferred opportunity to submit any questions in advance - clear proof that she was not interested in actually finding anything out.

She asked no questions about the hospital's business plan for the future - all she seemed to care about was pinning blame for the past. While accountability is important, job 1 is finding the best solution - a task Mrs. Mason does not even seem interested in accomplishing.

As for the 4th Ward seat who is she kidding? Perhaps if she wanted people to think she was abstaining for any reason other than obstructing the process, she should have avoiding leaking her plan to obstruct to the press in advance.

And the salary cuts? Seriously, can she look any more hypocritical? Isn't there anyone in her room who can save her from herself? I think even those who dislike her are starting to feel sorry for her.
« WESTY wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 10:45 AM »
Councilwoman Mason with the exception of your Council allies Castellano, Russo and Giachi everyone has expresssed serious concerns over the City's deal with the Hospital from the very start.

The Mayor's salary's were cut by 10% and the option was given in response to your spur of the moment objection at the City Council that they could be cut further. This is the city Council not your house staff at the Mason Castle Point mansion you have to work with people to get things done not just order them around.

As for the Mike Lenz it is very clear that you have long been the nexus of hate attacks on the man in the past. I frankly don't buy your concern for process or your concern for the residents of the Fourth Ward.

Mrs. Mason, if you want to help, then work with people and get something done. To have you repeatedly say I was against something but never really do anything is getting old.

« lincolnlogger wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 09:51 AM »
Absolutely agree. Until Beth learns how to behave, perhaps she should refrain from speaking. Her problem is that no matter what she does, she always tries to maximize any attention she can, much like a three-year-old.

I agree with her, I'm very concerned about the hospital. But being rude, condescending, and irrational will NOT fix the problem.

Regarding the salary cuts, she has completely lost everyone on this. First, the salaries have ALREADY BEEN CUT once. Second, if she was so concerned about it, she could give up her own salary. Oh wait, she already did that for political purposes, and then DEMANDED BACK PAY when things didn't go her way. Hypocrisy, thy name is Mason.
« InfotainMe wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 09:43 AM »
Anonymous, I actually agree. Very good chance we need to fire those guys. Which is exactly why a performance like Mason's is totally the wrong thing to do. The key to firing someone without getting sued is to set the conditions whereby they effectively fire themselves. However financially dire things look, we need cool, rational analyis and performance benchmarks, not petulance and narcissism .

The appearance that people were removed from office as a hostile act for political advancement is not what we need and will definitely blow up in our face. Our track record with removing high-salaried staff speaks for itself.
« anonymous wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 09:28 AM »
Info- While I agree with your grandstanding comment, Beth's concern about the hospital is on the money(pun intended). We have been sold a bill of goods by the Roberts administration and those put in charge of the hospital. You have to wonder if fraud was not committed. This is without a doubt Hoboken's most immediate and biggest problem. My judgment is that based on the performance at the council meeting, Spiros and staff do not have what it takes to get us out of this mess. We need a new plan.
« InfotainMe wrote on Thursday, Nov 19 at 09:13 AM »
When Mason learns the difference between grandstanding and leading let me know. Her rude and unprofessional handling of the hospital executives accomplished nothing, save for lengthening the meeting. Smart people figure out what they need from a meeting and how to get it and check their ego at the door. Will Mason EVER do that?