Dear Mayor Roberts:

I have been a resident of Hoboken for three years and I consider it a privilege to be living in this city. My grandfather worked on the piers over forty years ago. Before I moved here, he told me stories of the Clam Broth House, the corruption at the waterfront, wild dogs that once roamed this city, and the fire that destroyed Frank Sinatra’s birthplace. He did not understand why I would choose to live in Hoboken nor why anyone would pay over $3,000 per month for a small three-bedroom apartment on Jackson Street. I am grateful that the city has rebounded and I am able to experience the livelihood of this city. Over the last three years, I have thoroughly enjoyed living here and I have encountered nearly no inconveniences or problems.

As someone who takes pride in this city, I cannot help to notice the overwhelming fire problem in Hoboken. In the last 18 months, there have been at least thirteen fires in Hoboken and seven of these fires were major fires where entire buildings were destroyed. This does not include the garbage fires set by the homeless underneath the Willow Street Bridge, the recent PATH fires, and other minor fires that I may not be aware of. Here is a listing of the recent fires that I remember occurring in Hoboken:

I grew up in a neighborhood on Long Island with 50,000 people that is very similar to Hoboken. In the eighteen years that I lived in this neighborhood, I remember one major fire that gutted an apartment building and displaced 4 families. After leaving Long Island, I spent the next 7 years living in Philadelphia and Buffalo for college and the early part of my career. I do not remember any major fires during those seven years. This prior experience makes me question why Hoboken experienced seven major fires and at least thirteen total fires in the last eighteen months. I am not an expert in fire science but this spurt of recent fires cannot be caused by bad luck.

Since it is obvious that this city has a problem, I believe the City government has a responsibility to review the causes of these fires and to determine if there are ways to prevent future fires in this city through more thorough building inspections, stricter building codes, etc.

Luckily, none of these fires have caused any deaths. However, if the frequency of fires continues, it is highly likely that a death or serious injury will occur. By being proactive now to prevent future fires, we can save lives, prevent the destruction of homes and businesses, and preserve the safety of our firemen.

Thank you in advance for reading this letter. As a resident of this city, it is my responsibility to seek ways to improve my home, neighborhood, and safety. Unfortunately, I am not in an elected position of leadership, such as yourself, to be politically effective in resolving this major problem. I call upon you and the rest of Hoboken city government to research this problem (at the very least) and to take whatever steps necessary to prevent future fires in this City. Have a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Daniel Parente
Hoboken, NJ

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