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Multiple sources both inside and outside the hospital indicate the parking agreement will be made effective today paving the way for the sale of the hospital on Tuesday.

One independent source in City Hall stated “the wheeling and dealing has been struck.”

The Council Chambers is packed with Hoboken residents and hospital employees. A strong turnout is in attendance from Reform as called by the de facto leader, Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

– Posted at full gallop

It’s all been said.  The stakes are clear.  Let the People be heard.

From the desk of Hoboken’s superheroes:

In an interview with Hoboken Patch reporter Amanda Staub released just earlier, a member of MORTe finally has spoken publicly on the mayor’s call to allow the hospital sale to close this week by allowing the immediate approval of the previously passed parking agreement.

The parking agreement requires 20 days to become effective unless six votes roll it back in the council.

“I am considering everything,” Occhipinti said in the interview on tonight’s meeting.  He added the mayor was scaring people and said the hospital’s closure could be paid off in $4.5 million annual payments. Read More...

From the desk of Councilman Dave Mello:

Dear Friends and Neighbors, This evening, at 6:00 PM, the Hoboken City Council will be holding a Special Meeting, called by Mayor Zimmer.  I am requesting your attendance at and participation in this emergency meeting – WE SINCERELY NEED YOUR HELP!  During this meeting, we will be voting on a parking agreement that needs to be passed in order for the City of Hoboken to sell our hospital: Hoboken University Medical Center.  This sale will have a number of beneficial effects on your families, your community, and your wallet, including:

• A “yes” vote means ==> The HOSPITAL will REMAIN OPEN and in business.
• A “yes” vote means ==> We tax payers will not have to pay off the $52 million bond guarantee that was entered into under Mayor Roberts’ administration – AVOIDING A POTENTIALLY MASSIVE TAX HIKE.

Please understand, the parking garage that we wish to enter into an agreement with the hospital purchasers regarding only exists because the old hospital owners deeded land to the City of Hoboken over a decade ago to construct it.  This garage was a win-win for the City of Hoboken and the then St. Mary’s Hospital because it:

• Created sufficient parking for the hospital employees and patients.
• Allowed the hospitals then surface parking lot property to be used for the construction of the hospital’s new emergency room.
• Allowed Hoboken to build and OWN a centrally located garage, massive in size, with the majority of its spots serving residents of Hoboken.

Please read this quoted section from an August 23, 2002 article printed in the Hoboken Reporter for more on this history of this garage: =&11=& The other large-scale construction project that the HPA is currently undertaking is the St. Mary Midtown Garage. The new 740-space garage is being built adjacent to the St. Mary Hospital between Third and Fourth streets on Clinton Street. The garage is scheduled to open as early as October. The lease signing, which was held last =&12=& is a public-private partnership in which =&13=&

The vote to allow HUMC its independence will be held at the City Council later today.  In a previous story on Hoboken Patch, Mike Russo says he needs to look at the short and long term of what’s best for Hoboken.  Beth Mason in the same story says she is not standing in the way of the sale of the hospital.

They are both wrong.  As part of MORTe, they voted no to the hospital’s freedom.

Today another vote will take place in City Council after 6:00 pm.  That vote should be unanimous 9-0 to allow Hoboken to get out of the hospital business and allow HUMC to move forward as an independent entity with an opportunity to build a new future. Read More...

HUMC Employees and Hoboken residents’ message to MORTe

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A rally led by the employees of Hoboken University Medical Center, first reported yesterday on MSV has been confirmed for 5:00 pm from the hospital to City Hall today.

The march is unlike any in recent memory – it’s not a group asking for financial support, higher wages, or benefits – it’s a group of employees merely asking a parking agreement already passed and essential to the hospital’s commerce be made immediate. Read More...

If you’re having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online. Share This:  Please attend the Council Meeting tomorrow at 6pm.  Email and call your councilperson and ask that they support making Ordinance  Z-139 immediately effective. Tomorrow night is our chance to close the transaction of the sale of the Hospital.  There has been much talk about the great deal HUMC OPCO,LLC is getting. The Facts the cost for a monthly residential parking at the midtown garage is $185 a month HUMC OPCO,LLC will have access to 400 transponders NOT SPOTS at the midtown garage for $45 a month for the first 3 years HUMC OPCO,LLC will have access to 400 transponders NOT SPOTS at the midtown garage for $65 a month after that. The real breakdown Cost per hour of a monthly residential spot 26 cents Cost per hour of a HUMC OPCO,LLC spot during the first 3 years  26 cents Cost per hour of a HUMC OPCO,LLC spot after the first 3 years  37 cents If the Hospital no longer operates as a Hospital or healthcare facility the rates of the transponders become whatever the current market rate of a monthly parking is and all 400 transponders must be paid for. Even if they only want 100 transponders they must pay for 400. This is a great deal for the City of Hoboken and its’ taxpayers.  A YES VOTE TOMORROW saves The Hospital and over 1000 jobs there saves the taxpayers from another tax increase saves city employees jobs. Please attend the Council meeting. Please urge your council person to VOTE YES! Thank You, Jen Giattino