Dear Editor:
Mayor Dawn Zimmer is leaving after two terms in office, and we must choose who will lead the next chapter in Hoboken’s future. Over the past 8 years there have been some good changes, but there have also been many avoidable mistakes that have hurt our residents. A large part of the reason for these has been a lack of vision and poor communication from city hall.
In the coming election, there is only one candidate who is an independent voice with genuine ideas to help everyone in Hoboken, and that is Councilman Mike DeFusco. In my work as a community activist for more than 20 years in Hoboken, I have met many people running for office who claimed to stand for unity in our community and a desire to work for a better future for everyone, but most have brought only empty promises. Mike DeFusco is different – he is the real deal.
It’s been clear during his time on city council that he is a smart and independent thinker. He is the ONLY candidate for Mayor who has had the integrity to stand up to Mayor Zimmer in advocating for more accountable government and getting our dollars’ worth out of city spending. It has often fallen on Mike to be the voice of reason on the city council. He has called out conflicts of interests that other council members sought to conceal, advocated for accountability on the poorly managed construction on Washington Street, and demanded transparency when the Mayor and her inner circle tried to sweep an $8 million debt under the rug with a hastily planned restructuring of the city’s contract with Suez Water.
While other candidates stood by and said nothing, Mike DeFusco has constantly stood up for good government, even though it has made him the target of political and personal attacks by allies of our Mayor and our Freeholder. He’s already shown the resolve to keep fighting despite these attacks, and that is the kind of independent leader we need in city hall.
Please join me in supporting Councilman Mike DeFusco on Tuesday, November 7th so Hoboken can move on from pointless politics that divide our community and start getting things done together.
Sincerely,
Patricia Waiters
