This next video clip is Mr. Cammarano at his scariest. I attended this council meeting and was sickened to hear Mr. Cammarano accuse critics of massive redevelopment project to be against children.
On July 18, 2007, the Hoboken City Council was considering an ordinance to approve a redevelopment zone on the western edge (between 9th and 14th Street; Monroe & Madison) of town. A redevelopment zone would give the city the ability to put together a redevelopment plan. A pro-developer plan for the area had previously been approved on behalf of large real estate developer URSA/Tarragaon, but was thrown out by a court for being approved illegal. This new process was an attempt to reinstate that plan.
Mr. Cammarano did vote yes for the redevelopment zone. A planner hired by the city put together a redevelopment plan and released it in August 2008. The plan ignored all public feedback and calls for 12, 14 and 16 story buildings on the western edge of town. Those buildings would contain 98% residential and over 1000 condos. The plan discusses giving us a long promised pool, but that would be the only community benefit for such a massive project. Unfortunately, the way the plan is written, it doesn’t guarantee the pool will actually be built. Mr. Cammarano supported the introduction of this plan earlier this year and didn’t express any desire to fix the flawed plan. Mr. Cammarano may say he believes in smart, pro-Hoboken, development, but his actions on the city council don’t match that rhetoric.
