Honest and Efficient Government Parks, Recreation and Open Space Families and Children Public Safety Quality of Life

HONEST AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT

I was the sole vote against dissolving the Hoboken Parking Authority and appropriating their $10 million surplus into the City Budget as a one-time revenue enhancement. This year I've been joined by two other colleagues in opposing the current band-aid debacle of refinancing our current debt at higher interest rates to dig us $18,000,000.00 ($18 Million) further into the hole.

When I first joined government it had just been cut from nine (9) departments with duplicate functions to a streamlined organization with three (3) Directors overseeing all government functions. This was done without any cuts in City services. Hoboken enjoyed balanced budgets without huge increases each year.

In the last two years we've increased the departments again and about $1 Million was added to the payroll. Last Spring the City Council was asked to approve an additional ten (10) new administrative titles at a potential additional cost of between $70,000 and $110,000 per title - these increases were cleverly tied to a 2% increase for the rank and file city workers to force the council to vote yes. And with all of these additions, Hoboken has yet to see any improvement in the services offered to citizens.

I'm a small businesswoman and I work hard for every penny that comes into my house. I pride myself with watching the taxpayers money like I watch my own personal funds.

When I was first elected in 1995 I mailed a pledge card to every house in the First Ward promising I'd NEVER vote for a tax increase and would always fight for a balanced budget. If re-elected I pledge to the people of Hoboken again, I will NEVER VOTE for a tax increase and will always fight for a balanced budget and to reduce current government spending to reasonable and responsible levels.

PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE

I have been a fierce advocate for the Southwest Parks Plan, attending many meetings and have lent my support in the effort to garner funding.

Since I took office the face of the First Ward has changed dramatically. We were always home to Stevens Park at 4th and Hudson and home to the Little League field, but most of the rest of our open space was fenced off and given over to decaying piers. In the past 8 years we've reclaimed those piers and created over 7 acres of waterfront parks. We've got fishing piers at both Pier A and Castle Point Park. We've got a soccer field. And this year we will open a new 5-acre park at Pier C. This is slated to be dedicated to recreation. I'm on that steering committee and we'd be happy to have your input on what will be built there.

Email me at theresa@castellanoforhoboken.com

I also believe that all future projects in Hoboken have to contain green space, with backyards and places for people to enjoy the outdoors. Part of what makes a city vibrant is people. Open spaces invite people to spend time on our streets, making Hoboken the attractive and inviting place that we all call home.

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN:

Education

My oldest son John graduated from Hoboken High School and my son Jesse is attending Hudson Catholic Regional High School. As a parent I know how important education is to Hoboken's future.

As a parent and a resident, I've been a supporter of Hoboken's schools. While I take a tremendous interest in what affects our quality of education I believe in independence in Education. I fully support an elected Board of Education that reflects the will of the Parents and the People.

As a graduate of Hoboken High School I am conflicted about the plan to build a new high school. I know that technology moves fast and furiously and to provide the best possible future for our children our schools need to be as modern as possible. As chair of Hoboken's Historic Preservation Commission for the past 16 years and a member of the Commission for the past 29 years I AM ADAMANT that Demarest School be saved and fully endorse alternative use proposals that would preserve the building as a mixed use arts center for the City.

Safe Havens

An advocate for families and children, my legislative initiatives have encompassed statewide issues that also affect our mile square city. I was a primary advocate of the State's Safe Havens program to protect newborn babies who might have otherwise simply been abandoned by their birth mothers. The idea for Safe Haven's got it's real start when a New Jersey high school student grabbed headlines and was dubbed the "prom mom" after giving birth to a baby in a bathroom during her prom. Due to lobbying efforts with which I helped, New Jersey became the latest state to try to curb the problem. Assembly members approved a bill that allows parents to drop their infants off at a hospital or police station with no threat of prosecution. According to a report issued in February, New Jersey reported 10 safe haven infants since the law was enacted, a 63% reduction in infant abandonment, with no children abandoned outside of safe havens since the legislation was passed.

Child Safety and Amber Alert

A former member of the Council's Public Safety Committee, I was a driving force behind the City's cell phone ban; laws restricting use of motorized scooters; and children's helmet laws. I also lobbied for New Jersey's passage of the Amber Alert to help find missing children and sponsored a resolution by the Hoboken City Council in favor of support of the State law.

The Amber Alert is a critical missing child response program that utilizes the resources of law enforcement and media to notify the public when children are kidnapped by predators. Since it's inception the Amber Alert has been instituted twice in New Jersey. When 2-year-old Angela Rivera was kidnapped in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, the story had a happy ending; little Angela was returned home.