"On a less heart felt topic, Hoboken taxes… I am the chair of the Finance, Administration and Infrastructure subcommittee for the third year in a row and we are amidst budget season.  I know that everyone would like to see their taxes go down as would I.  But I also know that people would like to see improved municipal services like cleaner streets, safer intersections, more policemen walking in busy areas, an improved recreation department and better management of our considerable public works projects...."  

We have seen an expansion of our ratable base (this means more people in the pool who pay taxes so everyone pays less) but we have also seen rising health care and labor costs as well that will absorb much of this benefit. So the Mayor and City Council will be focused on optimizing the improvement of city services at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers.  

In an ideal world where you could have any improvements with no concomitant increase in taxes, what would you like to see? 

For the 2nd ward I have submitted the following:

• Grass and fixed play surfaces at Elysian Park
• Speedhumps at 15^th and Garden
• Traffic light at 14^th and Garden
• All way stop at 13^th and Park
• Improved traffic light timing at 11^th and Hudson
• Cleaner streets (especially in the upper brownstone area)
• Safety improvements to the intersections of 14^th and Shipyard and 12^th and Shipyard
• Bump out at 9^th and Hudson (for trucks turning left onto 9^th)
• Repaired Cobblestone road on Castle Point Terrace

For the overall city management I have submitted the following:

• Economic Development Director 
• Director of Public Works / City Engineer to better manage our large city wide projects like Washington Street and the many water infrastructure improvements
• Additional police officers walking on Washington street to ensure bike and pedestrian safety and working with the homeless

What else do you think should be on my list?