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February 17, 2010The Honorable Chris ChristieOffice of the GovernorPO Box 001Trenton, NJ 08625Dear Governor Christie,Hoboken needs help.? It needs your help and it needs it immediately! ?Our city is in dire financial straits. We have too many citizens who have given up, left our town and our State for financial relief.? The problem, at its root, is that we have collectively bargained our future and our children’s future, spending far beyond our means not only now in these difficult times, but in the future.?? As you recognized in your speech to the State Legislature, Hoboken, is not unlike other towns across New Jersey.?But today, right now, we have an opportunity to fix Hoboken.? We can and must do it today.?Hoboken is in the midst of contract negotiations with our police union.? And, it appears the State-appointed Fiscal Monitor is about to sign-off on expensive public safety contracts.? These negotiations must come to an end immediately.?? We call upon you to intervene.?Hoboken is unique because we have a State Monitor guiding our finances. ?She is intent on signing a contract without local government input and citizens support.? When asked recently if she thought it would be prudent to wait for the outcome of current legislation regarding union pensions and health care benefits and the release of a police audit before completing the current contract negotiations in Hoboken, she replied,“What happens in the State has absolutely nothing to do with the City's current contract negotiations. ?The proposals made by the governor for The State employees relate to all new hires, not current employees or retirees.”When asked if the city council, those elected to represent the citizens of Hoboken, would be able to vote on the contract and the vote be binding she responded,"Council may not ratify the contracts because they wanted additional give backs.? In that case, I am prepared to sign off on the contracts and move forward."Hoboken?cannot abide the total disregard for fiscal austerity and the will of the people.? We have, as you know, requested the release of an audit of our police department, completed nearly one year ago.? The results of the audit remain a secret to our citizens and to our elected government.? This information is necessary to gauge a proper budget going forward.? We don’t want to benchmark simply from the status quo of the past, which has led us to the abyss, but what is reasonable and right for our city going forward.?We ask you to please place an immediate moratorium on approval of all collective bargaining agreements in Hoboken and consider issuing that moratorium statewide, until your fiscal austerity policy is firmly in place.? We and all of New Jersey need you to make clear that you will not tolerate continued uncontrolled growth of government costs and property taxes. ?Start by making Hoboken the "poster city" for transparency, austerity, fiscal responsibility and a bright and prosperous future for our State.In giving your help you are seizing this as an opportunity to fulfill your campaign statements.Sincerely, The Hoboken Revolt Steering Committee ................
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