12/22/2021
VOTE NO on January 25th.
The Hoboken School Board introduced a proposal for a $241 million dollar new high school without mentioning anything during the run up to the November school board elections... nothing would have precluded them from mentioning this. They are holding the 2 required public comment meetings during the holidays. One on Dec 14th. The second on Jan 6th with a public vote for a $241 million dollar bond Jan 25th. Members of the board met with parents and other supportive parties prior to public meetings. Why would they do this.... to get a small group of supportive people to pass the bond while you weren't looking!!!!
We moved our elections to November because of really low turn-out. The board is counting on low voter turn-out to tip toe a $241MM bond passed the goal post. VOTE NO so the Board has to listen to the public.
The proposal appears to be substantially more expensive than other urban schools adjusting for population size differences. It appears to be excessively focused on sports. I say it "appears" because the presentation was cursory at best. The school board owes the public real hearings, real public input which takes months not just a couple of weeks. This is just not the way we do things in Hoboken. Mayor Zimmer changed that and it seems that we are reverting back to secrecy and back room deals.
This will drive up taxes on everyone as we are not getting any money from the state. We have a number of other projects going on in town that will also drive up taxes.... renovation of the Hoboken Housing Projects and flood remediation projects. Renters should know that their landlord can pass all of that immediately on to the tenants.
VOTE NO on January 25th and force the Board to be acceptable to the public.
