Soares acting like Grinch

December 21, 2006 JJ
Letters to the Editor
 
In this holiday season of peace on earth and good will to man, it is disappointing that Tony Soares would choose to write a scathing personal and public attack on Hoboken Mayor David Roberts.

Mr. Soares whines about issues that have been hashed and rehashed for months without offering an inkling of wisdom as how to solve them. Why does Mr. Soares pry into the mayor's finances or investments? It is true, with no fanfare, Mr. Roberts chose to forego his annual salary with the intention of funding programs for the public benefit, ranging from helping the homeless to historic preservation initiatives.

Mayor Roberts is entitled to receive his pension for his years of public service as a firefighter, City Council member and mayor. The mayor is a devoted family man who deserves to be compensated for his public service and deserves to operate his own private enterprise.

As for efforts to save St. Mary Hospital, the state's oldest, the mayor quickly realized the need for its survival and that of the thousand or so employees. Working with a creative public and private sector team, a workable plan was devised. Mr. Soares and his cronies have yet to unveil theirs.

Being a leader requires building coalitions, quick thinking and offering concrete solutions to municipal issues, whether saving the hospital or creating new public spaces. That is why Hoboken is one of the greatest communities in New Jersey.

BILL CAMPBELL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER CITY OF HOBOKEN