Protest outside Hoboken City Hall reveals anger, frustration

New Jersey dot com ^ | 3/4/09 | "carly"

[Timeout]

Were Hoboken City Council people scared to walk into City Hall tonight?

They would have had to walk past the 100+ irate and frustrated residents who rallied outside the building as part of a protest organized by Hoboken Revolt and LowerHobokenTaxes. You can watch some of the rally above, as resident Richard Pasquarelli and others lead the charge against City Hall.

Protestors held signs demanding lower Hoboken taxes, shouted for a recall of elected officials and someone even held a tarred-and-feathered effigy of Mayor Dave Roberts. (No, they didn't set it on fire.)

[Timeout]

"When I moved here four years ago, my taxes were $7,200. This past December they jumped to $12,000. I'll say it again: $12,000," said Wagner tonight. "That's for a 1,000 square-foot one-bedroom."

Can that possible be right?! $12k annual tax on a thousand sq ft home? Heck, I would have been burning down city hall when it was $7,200!

[Doogle]

(No, they didn't set it on fire.)

yet

[ninonitti]

I would have been burning down city hall when it was $7,200!

They should start burning these tax crazed despots out. It's coming.

Taxes in NJ are way off the charts with the LCN surtax.

[Incorrigible]

Yes that tax rate seems right.

Hoboken is the home of the Governor as well as a couple of his dalliances. The state took over the city finances last year after the council couldn’t pass a budget.

Hoboken is an Abbott district which means us suburban residents pick up 95% of it’s school costs. This despite the fact that Hoboken wouldn’t qualify as a distressed city using the same criteria today.

Most of my property taxes go to pay for the schools in my NJ town. Since Hoboken residents don’t pay for their schools, where are all their tax dollars going?

[RU88]

As someone who lived in New Jersey most of my life I can tell you that this has reached the point of utter insanity. The problem goes way beyond Hoboken. The system is completely broke and dysfunctional. If you want to see what sustained unabashed liberalism gets you you don't have to look any further than the “garden state.”

[conservativeharleyguy]

"...Since Hoboken residents don’t pay for their schools, where are all their tax dollars going?..."

Simple. To pay the salaries of the people who collect them. Then when they raise taxes again, they'll need yet more people to collect them, then of course, they need to rasie taxes to pay for them, then they need to hire more people to..... Awww, forget it. It keeps going circular on me.....

[mick]

You’re damn right it’s coming.

How about $10,900 R.E.Taxes per yr for a 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath Alum. siding Rancher in south jersey valued at $195,000. A fact people. I’ve seen the bill.

[silverleaf]

OMG- I’d be renting or living in a travel trailer- assuming I was somehow tied to having to stay in Jersey.

[conductor john]

I walk the streets daily, a let me tell you. After only snowstorm of the season, streets and walks are still clogged with slush days later. Geesh! Where’s the beef?

[Clemenza]

FWIW, it is believed that the median income in Hoboken is now up to near six figures. Were it not for the kids in the projects, there would be ZERO need for public schools.