YUPPIES INVADE

MY HOUSE AT
DINNERTIME
A tale of brunch, bombs, and gentrification in an
American city
Edited by J oseph Barry and J ohn Derevlany
Photos by Ken Clare
Big River Publishing, Hoboken, N.J .
All photos by Ken Clare except the following:
Page xvi: Poster courtesy of J im Hans and the Hoboken Historical
Museum; reproduction by Ken Clare
Page xix: Photo by Benedict J. Fernandez
Pages 20 and 34: Photo by Steve Rubin
Page 88: Photo by Bob Foster
Page 158: Photo by Benedict J. Fernandez
Cover shot inspired by a 1985 Hudson Reporter photo by Colette
Winters.
Book introduction and chapter introductions written by J oseph
Barry and J ohn Derevlany
Cover and book design by J ohn Derevlany
YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME, A tale of
brunch, bombs, and gentrification in an American city.
Copyright 1987 by Big River Publishing. Printed and bound in
the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this
book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means including information storage and retrieval sys
tems without permission in writing from the publisher. Reviewers
may quote brief passages in a review.
Published by:
Big River Publishing
1321 Washington Street
Hoboken, N.J ., 07030
(201)798-7800.
To order additional copies of this book, write to the above address.
ISBN 0-944421-01-6
Library of Congress Catalog Number: 87-82140
First printing, Sept. 1987.
Contents
Acknowledgements...vii
Prologue... vi l i
Introduction... xi v
Chapter One: A Landlord, a Tenant, and a Dead Butcher...2
Chapter Two: Who Are You Calling Hip?...8
Chapter Three: Here Come the Yorkies!...14
Chapter Four: Eggheads, Lesbians, and Punkrockers... 20
Chapter Five: Whats the Difference Between Ronald Reagan
and an Old Pair of Sneakers?... 34
Chapter Six: Politics: In Desperation, the People of
Hoboken Opt For Comic Relief...48
Chapter Seven: The Yuppies Strike Back...70
Chapter Eight: KABOOM! I ts the Feast!...88
Chapter Nine: Write Your Congressman about
those Italians... 106
Chapter Ten: Of Grape Squeezers and Urinal Cleaners...124
Chapter Eleven: Alls Fair in Love, War, and Letters...138
Chapter Twelve: If the Reebok Fits, Wear it...152
Chapter Thirteen: Another Rampage? It Must Be Labor Day
Again...158
Chapter Fourteen: Feast or Famine?...168
Epilogue...176
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the following people:
Everybody at The Hudson Reporter newspapers who helped in the
creation of this book, especially Lucha Lupinacci, Pat Spina,
Wendy Hester, Chris Mitchell, and Danny Altilio;
Leigh Ann Carr and Dave Unger, who have contributed greatly to
The Hudson Reporter newspapers;
Elizabeth Phillip, Linda Sokolski, Merry Hammer, and Karin
Adamietz for bringing their extraordinary editing skills to the por
tions of the book written by the authors;
J ulie Miller, Sheila Buff, Alden Prouty, and Michelle Gluckow
for their guidance through the unknown realms of the book publish
ing industry;
Michael Winerip of The New York Times for his encouragement
in this project, and his recognition of Hobokens plight;
Molly McNees of St. Marys Community Health Center,
Hoboken, for sharing her insights on the letters;
The librarians at the Hoboken Library, Samuel C. Williams
Library of Stevens Institute of Technology, J ersey City Library
(main branch), and New York Universitys Bobst Library, all of
whom go out of their way to assist in the research of any project,
large and small;
Gerry Donnelly, Tara OLeary, and Linda Sokolski who posed for
two photos used in the book;
Cathy Talvy and Arleen Portada who posed for photos that
werent used;
J oe Barrys wife, Gail, and children, David, Michael, and Lisa,
who always stood by him;
J ohn Derevlanys family, including his mother Pierrette, father
Michael, sister Louise, brother Michael, and brother-in-law Mark;
Everyone else who offered suggestions, encouragement, dis
couragement, sympathy, free food, or helped out in some way or
other during the creation of this book;
And to the residents of Hoboken, the best-humored and most
good-natured people in the world, who have never been afraid to
speak their minds.
The Hoboken Reporter (circ. 17,000), a weekly newspaper
Hoboken, N.J., receives some 1000 Letters to the Editor each year.
viii YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
Prologue
gentrify, -fied, -fyirtg: to convert (an aging area in a city) into a
more affluent middle-class neighborhood, as by remodeling dwell
ings, resulting in increased property values and in displacement of
the poorgentrification.
Websters New World Dictionary
of the American Language, 1986
"Whither Hoboken? The New York Times asked in 1967. "Are
there the makings of a Greenwich Village, Brooklyn Heights, or
Georgetown?"
Even then, some thought this hopeless, leftover orphan of the in
dustrial age could magically stumble into the path of the avant-
garde, the chic, the young and affluent. But to many people at the
time, Hoboken, N.J ., was not a cityit was a punchline, a place
synonymous with Nowheresville. In a 1971 survey, 70 percent of
the residents had lived in Hoboken 10 years or longer. More than
half expressed a desire to leave.
Over the next 15 years, an incredible real estate boom swept the
municipality. Developers converted nearly one fifth of the private
rental stock to condominiums, and boutiques, cafes, and frame
shops opened next door to the rundown "mom and pop" stores.
People werent making firn of "Ho-Ho-Hoboken" anymore. As The
Washington Post proclaimed in 1976, this born-again waterfront
town had become the "national model to Americas ugly cities."
But during the 1980s, an anxious cry of protest arose in the wake
of the "renaissance." Week after week, the victims of gentrification
attacked and bemoaned the "new" Hoboken, spilling their souls in
Letters to the Editor of The Hoboken Reporter, the local weekly
newspaper.
Yuppies invade my house at dinnertime
Dear Editor:
I m a Hoboken resident for 35 years, losing my home to Yuppies.
Seeing these weird people with sneakers and dresses every morning
dashing for a crosstown bus just turns my stomach. But please have
some compassion for my privacy. Realtors coming to show my
apartment at suppertime without notice is unpleasant. Again I have
to see sneakers and dresses and men with shoulder bags and
cameras only in my house at my special time. Give me a breakor
a little advanced notice.
Thank you.
Once lived on a tree-lined street
J uly 9, 1986
Response to " Once lived on a tree-lined street"
Dear Editor:
It is unfortunate that "Once lived on a tree-lined streetff,s stomach
turns on a daily basis when he sees Yuppies dashing for a
crosstown bus in the morning. Perhaps he should examine his break
fast more closely in the future.
As for interruptions during dinnertime, the problem appears to be
with the realtor rather than with the people who come to see his
apartment.
If he is really upset at losing his home, why doesnt he come out
and say so instead of clouding the issue with name calling and mud-
slinging? Hoboken has enough problems, both internal and exter
nal, without its citizens lashing out at each other. It is high time
that everyone in this town (the Mayor and ALL the council mem
bers included) realize that the rampant backstabbing that seems to
be the fashionable sport here is counterproductive and downright
self-destructive. The final upshot of this behavior is that Hoboken
will never realize its rightful potential and we will have no one to
blame but ourselves.
R. Nader
J uly 23, 1986
Right to live in Hoboken
Dear Editor:
In response to R. Naders letter to "Once lived on a tree-lined
street," I once lived in Hoboken.
My building was sold, my rent tripled, and after 18 years in my
apartment, I was forced out. My family helped to build Hoboken. I
have roots in Hoboken from the very early beginning. Too bad I
cant enjoy living there any more.
I am not welcome into the restaurants or old haunts that I used to
visit with my friends. (We are all professional people, not bums!)
We no longer "fit in".
Hoboken is now a cold city. What happened to my neighborhood?
My rights were ignored and so were so many others. Being dis
placed is a terrible thing to do to people.
There is and always will be resentment towards those who "took
over our neighborhoods." Yes, Yuppies didnt move in, they took
over.
Hoboken people were the hard working laborers. Now they, we,
us, and I cant afford to live in my town, our town.
Where do I and these others like me go when you take over my
new home? Out in the streets like so many other displaced people
are, or will I be "burned out" one night like so many other people
whose homes were gone as a result of "suspicious fires." I ts scary
facing those odds. So understand that we were scared for our lives
as well as our homes.
It hurts to lose everything.
Realize, we are people too. People you dont approve of! You
resent!
Until you can understand our plight, there will always be resent
ment. We cant live in peace together if you wont allow us to live
at all.
A.D. Emahs
Aug. 6, 1986
Yuppie apologizes
Dear Editor:
In response to "Once lived in Hoboken," we so-called "Yuppies"
are sorry for taking over your town, but what do you want from us?
We didnt know that the landlords in Hoboken were so desperate
for money that they would do anything to get you people out of the
city. We just want a place to live just like you. How do you think
we feel being treated like we are millionaires, having to pay such
high rents for a cheap run-down apartment in "Hoboken.
Palmer Monroe
A "Yuppie" Citizen
Aug. 31, 1986
Some thoughts on the venom-filled
conflict between newcomers and oldtimers
Dear Editor:
Once upon a time there was a real estate agent who managed to
lure some New York friends to the shores of Hoboken with
promises of everything New York had and more, except the
astronomical rents. This was equivalent to the shot heard round the
world. This shot started a Civil War right here in little ole Hoboken.
I have been reading venom-filled letters to the editor for years.
From the bom and bred and the newcomers. I must shamefully
admit that I too harbored some of the feelings as most of the B&Bs
(Bom and Breds). I was forced to move out of town due to the es
calating rents and prices of homes. At the time this made me very
bitter and I blamed the "Carpet Baggers" who used our hometown
to their own advantages and viewed the "local yokels as prehis
toric neanderthals who lucked out by cashing in their lottery ticket
from the instant real estate windfalls.
After living out of town for the past two years, I have begun to
look at this split in Hobokens citizenry a little more objectively.
For me the move out of Hoboken was a blessing in disguise as
things have been going wonderfully for my wife and me. I still
work in Hoboken and I see these hostilities in a different light. Per
sonally, I ve had my fill of all this in-house bickering if you will,
and no two bit letter to the editor is going to change these differing
opinions the two groups have for each other. If the energies we put
into these malicious letters were spent in a more constructive area
we may all be the better for it.
In closing, I would like to add the B&Bs feel one way and the
newer residents another and until we can come to understand each
others feelings and live and work in harmony, The Hoboken
Reporter will continue filling its pages with inane, redundant letters
like this one.
Hey Palmer, can I buy you a beer?
Matthew Buoncuoro
Sept. 21, 1986
Yuppies will also be displaced eventually
Dear Editor:
In response to "Once lived in Hoboken," I too once lived in
Hoboken, that was before I was forced out by a suspicious fire. I
lost everything I owned. If you yuppies wouldnt pay such high
rents, knowing that people before you were paying low rents, we
never would have lost our homes. I ts too late to do anything about
it now, but one day a new generation will want to move in and I
hope you people suffer as much as we did.
Sonia Rodriguez
Aug. 24, 1986
Hoboken, N.J., the Mile Square City (pop. 45,000).
xiv YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
Introduction
Armed with federally-financed loans, post-World War II America
fled the cities for Life on the Lawn. By 1970, more of the countrys
population lived in suburbs than anywhere else.
Manufacturers soon joined the exodus, leaving the dying urban
areas for cost-efficient single-story factories. By the end of the
70s, some 20,000 shopping malls had been built nationwide to
replace the downtown retail centers.
For the urban escapees, the metro center was a "concrete jungle,"
a violent wilderness harboring every social and economic ill im
aginablecrime, drugs, racial unrest, disease, and pollution.
But in the mid 70s, a generation of suburban youth began finding
their hometowns severely lacking in such city-type features as
desirable apartments, efficient public transportation, cultural and
entertainment centers, and other like-minded young people. At the
same time, white-collar financial and service industries blossomed
in the ruins of the post-industrial metropolises. For many college-
educated, middle-class baby boomers, the urban areas meant jobs,
money, culture and adventure-a lifestyle so much more dynamic
and exciting than many of them had known before.
As more young men and womenand moneypoured into the
cities, rents increased dramatically in the desirable areas, and new
comers sought apartments in less expensive, marginal locations. At
this time between two and three million people annually moved
into neighborhoods residents couldnt escape fast enough a decade
earlier.
When the affluent emigres first entered the "aging areas" of
American cities, the media dubbed them "pioneers," "urban homes
teaders," and "settlers" who would conquer the untamed wilderness
of the latest frontier.
According to Geography Professor Neil Smith of Columbia
University, this bold "frontier spirit" defines the American charac-
ter as much today as it did 100 years ago. The "pioneer" imagery
helps legitimize what he terms "the process of conquest."
"In the language of gentrification," Smith stated, "the appeal of
frontier imagery is exact: urban pioneers, urban homesteaders and
urban cowboys are the new folk heroes of the urban frontiers."
Whether it be the harsh prairies of the 19th-century American
West, or the concrete jungles of present-day urbana, a "frontier
wilderness" often includes natives as part of its "savage" landscape.
Neither the American Indians nor the longtime city residents wel
comed the "civilization" of their homeland without a fight.
Life and death of the Mile Square City
Once a backwater tidal swamp, Hoboken flourished throughout
the 19th century, fueled by the cheap labor of Dutch, German,
Irish, and, eventually, Italian immigrants. By 1910, some 70,000
people lived in this mile-square municipality, cramming into block
after block of sturdy brick and stone dwellings.
A bustling port across the Hudson River from New York City,
Hoboken hosted the worlds grandest vessels at its piers. Shipping
magnates and robber barons built turreted mansions on the hill over
looking "their" waterfront. From this vantage, called "Castle Point,"
the city spread out to the cliffs of the Palisades in the west, up
Like much of Hoboken* s once-thriving waterfront, this former
shipyard lies desolate and inactive in the 1980s.
north towards Weehawken, and south towards J ersey City. Smokes
tacks punctuated the industrial skyline, 270 saloons lined the
downtown streets, and railroad tracks cut through the city, bringing
the bounty from Hobokens docks to the rest of the world.
Soon after World War H, the citys economy started to wane. One
by one, the big manufacturers deserted the area for sprawling in
dustrial parks in southern and western J ersey. Formerly the
cornerstone of Hobokens commerce, the dormant factory buildings
became hollow, crumbling relics of another time. Among the many
major employers who left in the 60s were the engineering com
pany of Keuffler and Esser, American Sweets (makers of Tootsie
Rolls), and Lipton Tea.
Paying the price for its rapid, chaotic development in the 1800s,
Hoboken allowed little room for expansion. When containerized
shipping required more space than the citys docks could offer, the
waterfront economy collapsed. By 1971, the thriving port had
dwindled to a single cargo pier.
The daytime working population of Hoboken decreased from its
peak of 100,000 in World War II to 15,000 in 1975. Departing busi
nesses took with them about 1000 jobs a year during the 60s and
early 70s.
At this time, Hobokens unemployment rate was twice the nation
al average. It had the highest per capita welfare rate, the lowest
median educational achievement levels, and the lowest incomes in
the state. Ninety percent of those with jobs worked as unskilled
laborers for $2.50 an hour or less. One-fifth to one-quarter of the
residents collected welfare. About three-fourths of the population
never completed high school.
In addition, Hobokenites had significantly greater rates of heart
disease, respiratory disease, tuberculosis and diabetes than those
anywhere in the state. The city also boasted one of the largest birth
rates in New J ersey, accompanied by a correspondingly high il
legitimacy and infant mortality rate.
"Hoboken today is a city without wealth, with enormous backlogs
of capital improvements and service requirements and with few
prospects for correcting the situation," the citys community
development agency reported to the federal government in 1967.
State statistics claimed there were 1000 active heroin addicts in
Hoboken, and most people believed it. A 1971 survey found
Hobokenites greatest concerns were about drugs, crime, and final
ly, the poor condition of housing.
According to city records, some 49 percent of Hobokens build
ings were substandard in 1970. Nearly half lacked complete plumb
ing facilities, and 70 percent had no central heating. Hobokens
housing situation was ranked as the worst in the northeast and
fourth worst in the United States among comparably-sized cities.
More than a dozen people died in suspicious blazes during the
early 70s, while another 56 perished, mostly in alleged "arson-for-
profit" disasters, a few years later. The majority of the fire victims
were children.
Puerto Ricans, the latest immigrants, made up 40 percent of the
population by 1970. Like every previous new ethnic group in town,
they provided an abundance of cheap labor. Only this time there
was little demand for it. As the citys economic base collapsed, the
Puerto Ricans found themselves with a 40 percent unemployment
ratetwice as much as the rest of the city. Things were bad, and
doubly so for non-whites.
xviii YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
The remains of the "Barbary Coast" a rowdy, three-block strip of
several dozen bars on the Hoboken waterfront. A few years after its
demolition in the late 60s, 25-story towers were built on the site.
Fed up with the short end of the economic stick and recurring
police brutality, the Puerto Ricans held sit-ins, demonstrations, and
a few sorry marches dubbed the "Hoboken Riots." Taking their
cues from nearby Newark, the Hispanics hurled rocks, bottles and
firebombs. They broke store windows and stampeded through
downtown streets. In the summer of 1971, homemade incendiaries
and window-smashing caused $100,000 worth of damage in
blighted Hoboken.
The few remaining longshoremen counter-rioted, claiming the
mayor was going too easy on the Hispanics. Many of them
demanded to be deputized and issued guns to shoot the Puerto
Rican youths. Mayor Louis DePascale, in a moment of great prin
ciple and little politics, refused and had the dispute mediated. He
reached for immortality attempting a sensible solution to the racial
crisis. By the next election, he was history.
Alas, Hoboken was a melting pot whose contents never melted, a
lumpy ethnic stew that grew more bitter with age.
Rebirth: the Mile Square Miracle
Urban decay and social unrest notwithstanding, Hoboken had one
remaining virtue intactits proximity to New York City. Industry
may have died, but Hobokens newest businessreal estatewas
about to emerge. The city would never be the same again.
Around 1976-77, someone proclaimed a "renaissance" in punch-
drunk Hoboken. Articles began appearing in every paper from The
Wall Street Journal to The Washington Post to The Miami Herald
about the "Mile Square Miracle." "Hoboken, the target of bad
jokes, shows how to make good," and "Once dismal Hoboken
having last laugh," they announced to the nation.
Hoboken seemed to have it alltransportation that made it more
accessible to midtown Manhattan than most parts of New York
City, cheap rents, good food, small-town charm. Why, it even
looked like Manhattan, with its rows of 19th century brownstones.
And, as a local dentist once told The New York Times, "Living in
Hoboken is camp." The city was so unfashionable it was in style.
Slowly, the area moved out of its economic backwater, becoming
a mecca for punk rockers, suburban divorcees, and tri-state-area
A sign on the site of The Skyline, a highrise luxury condo proposal
boasting New York views and easy access to Manhattan.
xx YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
Graffiti on the door of a local Hoboken building.
kids calling themselves artistsmany of them children of parents
who had struggled to escape neighborhoods like Hoboken only a
few years before. Longtime inhabitants invited in the young,
sneakered pioneers, enticing them with cheap rents and the promise
of an easy commute.
More and more people ventured to this latest frontier" of the
New York area. They opened health clubs, gourmet shops, singles
bars, and art galleries. For the most part, the young settlers didnt
throw anyone overboardthey just kind of eased their way in slow
ly, gently, with kinds words and good thoughts...Then came the
condo.
Property speculation and development propelled real estate prices
through the roof.
Hoboken contained 41 condominium apartments in 1981. By the
end of 1986, one fifth, or nearly 2000 units of the private rental
stock in the city, had been converted to condos. Most cost between
$100,000 and $200,000. Only a few years earlier, entire
brownstones sold for $40,000 or $50,000.
Newly renovated buildings throughout the city bore a ubiquitous
lure: "Luxury Condos For Sale." Knee-high "Open House" signs
cluttered the sidewalks on weekends. Some 40 real estate offices
prospered, and it seemed anyone living in Hoboken long enough-
including teachers, laborers, professionals, politicians, artists, rich
and poor, young and oldpeddled property at one point or another.
Even the Hobokenites who high-tailed it out in the early 70s
returned to open realty firms.
All told, the development and redevelopment, sale and resale of
property, was about the only industry Hoboken had. In the early
1980s, it boomed.
Young professionals, most making $50,000 a year or more, filled
the condos, according to several surveys by The Hoboken Reporter.
The majority of them worked in New York, shopped in New York,
spent their leisure hours in New York, and read New York
newspapers. By and large, they led a New York-oriented lifestyle.
Most moved to Hoboken not because of anything inherently attrac
tive about the city but because it was convenient to somewhere
elseNew York.
Renovation of a brownstone in the early 1980s.
xxii YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
While many of the new breed were married, few had children.
Their average age was between 25 and 35. More than half planned
to relocate within five years, turning their condos over to other up-
wardly-mobile transients.
Much like their predecessors, Hobokens latest immigrants came
to the area because the New York metropolitan area was the vortex
of opportunity. But unlike the Irish, Italians, and Hispanics, they ar
rived wealthier and more educated than many of the locals.
Previously, the established residents were the first to climb the
socio-economic ladder, leaving the lower-paying jobs to be filled
by the latest ethnic group in town. At least this gave the appearance
of upward mobility for inhabitants.
But the cycle stopped when the suburban newcomers arrived, al
ready a financial notch or two above the rest. Suddenly, bom and
raised Hobokenites couldnt afford real estate in their own neighbor
hoods. A few even found themselves homeless.
The latest arrivalsmany from Long Island, rather than Ellis Is
landalso didnt bring an Old World with them. "This citys al
ways been a home of immigrants," a bom-and-raised Italian
Hobokenite once said. "First there was the Germans, then the Irish,
then the Italians and then the Puerto Ricans. Now, for the first
time, there are Americans in Hoboken. And no one knows how to
handle it."
Unlike the past, when the longtime residents viewed immigrants
as less than human ("One white man is as good as two or three
Italians," an Irish longshoreman said in the early part of the cen
tury), the natives found themselves the focus of condescending glan
ces from the newcomers.
Reaction: the letters page
of The Hoboken Reporter
In the 1980s, the threat of displacement, real or imagined, per
meated the Mile Square City. Under siege from inside and out, the
Hoboken natives resounded a war cry in letters to the local
newspaper. They howled and whined, groaned and scolded, and
screamed endlessly for mercy from the invasion. Scalping new
comers with words, the oldtimers channeled their fears into threats,
insults, and a few long-winded lamentations.
As the frontier got more crowded, some of the pioneers joined the
protest, themselves fearful of losing their own culture and identity
as discoverers. Sooner or later, everything made the letters page of
The Hoboken Reporter.
The weekly newspaper started September 23, 1983. A month and
a half later, it bought out the Hoboken Pictorial and six other
papers, a local chain on its last leg.
Nearly 17,000 copies of each Reporter issue are distributed free
door-to-door and in newspaper boxes, stores and City Hall. A 1986
survey showed more than 90 percent of Hobokens 45,000 people
read the tabloid. In March 1987, The Reporter went semi-weekly.
The paper receives between 10 and 50 letters a week, or about
1000 a yeara large amount for a publication of its size. An ever
growing number of people in Hoboken feel the need to bare their
soul in writinga medium used less and less by the average person.
Some employ big words and well-turned phrases, while others scrib
ble emotional tracts on everything from Hobokens lack of parking
to nuclear war.
While many of the letters are comments on local politics and com
munity affairs, most express an underlying insecurity and hostility
related to the recent influx of younger and higher-income residents
to this old city. Some of the submissions are point-blank diatribes
Brownstones on Hudson Street in Hoboken.
on the vast changes in Hoboken and the so-called "Great Divide"
between newcomers and oldtimers. Others mention the subject in a
totally irrelevant context. For instance, a letter writer may claim a
yuppie or native is directly responsible for inefficient trash
removal, poor public transportation, or any other disaster, large and
small, in the entire universe.
A published correspondence frequently prompts several replies,
which are then debated for the next few weeks (or months). The
dialogue of the letters usually follows this pattern: statement of
gripe; remarks on both sides of the original opinion with references
to oldtimers and newcomers; further statements articulating explicit
allusions to the gentrification issue; a call for peace; and finally, an
attempt to sum everything up and analyze the issue and the larger
problems facing the city.
The letters come m a variety of shapes, stationeries, and degrees
of legibility. All but a few are signed, though many writers request
anonymity because of Hobokens small size and the potentially
volatile issues addressed. The Reporter prints nearly every opinion
received with a minimum of editing to retain indigenous grammar
and slang.
The following letters were published in The Hoboken Reporter .
over the last four years. Several were shortened, but are otherwise
intact. Headlines, which were not used in the paper until late 1985,
have also been added to earlier correspondences. For the most part,
the letters are reprinted in chronological order, with the exception
of comments referring to specific issues. These are organized
together in order to preserve the letter-writers line of argument.
Here, in their own words, is what happened to the people of
Hoboken. It is a story of a community in transition, of new and old,
of discovery and displacement. It is about people never afraid to
speak their mind, no matter how outrageous or unsettling their
thoughts may be.
From families to real estate to politics to lifestylesnothing es
capes the opinions of Hobokenites or the claws of gentrification.
I ts a confrontation that is often funny, sometimes sad, frequently
offensive, but always revealing. And its not only happening in
Hoboken, but all over America, where once-dying cities face
rebirth, and a "renaissance" that obliterates as much as it
rejuvenates.
Hoboken tenants protest an impending rent hike.
2 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER ONE
A Landlord, a Tenant, and a
Dead Butcher
A letter to my landlord
Dear Editor:
Heres a letter I never mailed to my landlord:
Dear Mr. Landlord:
I know how difficult it was for you to dispossess me from the
reasonably priced Hoboken apartment I rented from you, and I
lived in happily, paying my rent on time, for over seven years. I
know you feel bad, because your wife told me so when she
promised to ask your lawyer if I could have more than thirty days
to get a place and move out.
I realize also the difficulty you must have to maintain your good-
guy image which you need to continue to make a lot of money on
the community. And so I am sorry that by asking my friends and
neighbors for help in finding an apartment, you were put in a bad
light. I know how bad you feel about that because my lawyer told
me that you might get your own lawyer because I m "bad-mouth
ing" you.
I ts also too bad I couldnt just leave, so you could establish
residence and free the whole house-because after all, many people
are "making a killing" in Hoboken. As one realtor put it, he came
from Boulder, Colorado to Hoboken fourteen months ago because
"This is the hottest little comer in the United States." So, why
shouldnt you start working on your first billion? {Fortune
magazine doesnt even list millionaires like you anymore.)
Unfortunately, I cant just fade away like lots of my neighbors
who found themselves in the same predicamentI m too young to
go to an old peoples home, too old to go back to my parents; I
cant afford to buy a houseand I have pets. (My neighbor told me
I should get rid of my cats, start dealing in cocaine, and then I d be
sure to pass muster and land the best condo in town.)
I wonder what ever became of that old man who owned the
butcher shop around the comer for about 40 years who had to get
out to make way for another antique shop? I m told he died a few
months after he gave up the store. I often wonder what he really
died ofbut no matter, he really wasnt the Hoboken imagehis
hair wasnt designer cut; he never owned an attache case, three-
piece suit, or Walkman head set. Besides that, he didnt even "act
Hoboken"he probably never consulted a lawyer in his entire life,
never built an extension on his house, bought a croissant or evicted
a tenant.
I know whats wrong with me! I spent too damned much time
trying to become a writer and make enough money to survive; and
too much money helping suffering animals and righting injustices. I
should have listened to my landlord, who once told me, "If you
dont have money, youd better beg, borrow or steal it." After all,
money is what its all about in the new Hoboken.
Repentant Ex-Hobokenite
Nov. 9, 1983
A letter to my tenant
Dear Editor:
Heres a letter I never mailed to my tenant:
Dear Tenant:
It was with regret that I asked for possession of an apartment in
my own building for my own use. I had the choice of paying $700
a month for a similar apartment in the house of a stranger or simp
ly occupying an apartment in my own property. We had a mutually
pleasant tenant-landlord relationship for seven years, even though
you were frequently delinquent in paying your rent on time. It is in
teresting that you, good tenant, retained an attorney and I, your
landlord, have not consulted legal representation.
It is truly difficult to maintain a good-guy image, but your
landlord did try by paying you the sum of $1,700 to help you relo
cate. This money was readily accepted by you and your attorney.
My father came to Hoboken in 1902, and established our business
in 1906. This family has continued said reputable business to this
day thanks to the patronage of good Hoboken people. During this
time Hoboken has given us, and we, in every way, have given to
Hoboken.
I wish that I could ease your burden, turn back the clock and
make you younger, see you prosperous. However, this is an impos
sibility. In the seven years you occupied your apartment in my
building, not once were you asked to remove your cats, which I un
derstand numbered up to twenty-five at times. I did not complain of
the odors emanating from your three-room apartment, odors which
permeated the house. I, too, love animals, but a three-room apart
ment is not meant to be a feline motel.
I know whats wrong with me! I spent too much time bringing
up a family, running a successful business, and caring for, with
pride, a small piece of property in a town I love called Hoboken.
All my life I have helped suffering animals and suffering human
beings. %
Your landlord did not advise you, as you have stated, "If you
dont have money, youd better beg, borrow or steal it." Money is
not what it is all about in the new Hoboken. A dead city has had a
rebirth brought about by concerned citizens, both tenants and
landlords, working to make their lives better in a better environ
ment. Thats what its all about! Isnt this what is truly the
American waythe American dream?
A Non-Repentant Hobokenite
Nov. 16, 1983
To the tenant: we did not kill the butcher
Dear editor:
As Hoboken residents and tenants of the antique shop referred to
in the letter appearing in your November 9 issue (from the "Repen
tant ex-HobokeniteM), we were outraged at the innuendo in the ar
ticle. As tenants, we are also concerned about the residential
problems in town, but the writer demeaned an otherwise valid point
by her gratuitous swipe at the owners in question. The writer,
having lived in the neighborhood for seven years, could not have
helped but know that the suggestions in her letter had no basis in
fact.
The most offensive portion of the letter insinuated that the butcher
was evicted to make way for the antique shop, and that the eviction
somehow killed him. First, the "eviction" was the result of a four-
year agreement between the landlords and the butcher. As for the
profit motive, the landlords passed up far more lucrative rental op
portunities in order to open up the antique store they had wanted
for years.
Second, and most significant, the butcher died of a serious illness,
from which he had been suffering for a long time. This fact is com
mon knowledge in Hoboken, and exploiting his death to add drama
to the letter was cruel.
We understand why the "Ex-Tenant" chose to remain anonymous.
Enid Waxier McDonough
Brian F. McDonough
Nov. 16, 1983
No more halcyon days
Dear Editor:
When I moved into an apartment on upper Hudson Street eight
years ago, it was hardly obvious that Hoboken was destined to be
come a sort of heaven for middle class urbanites. What Hoboken
had going for it in those days was its peoplea diverse collection
of musicians, working class people, Stevens Tech types, assorted
"crazies", etc.
Since those halcyon days, I have contributed to the "renaissance"
of Hoboken by maintaining my apartment, supporting local busi
nesses, and participating in our vaunted cultural activities. Over
that period, my rent has about doubled, within the bounds of the
rent control law. When I reflect on the fact that my current rent is
substantially below market value, I can't help but feel that I in
some sense deserve to profit thus, as do the property owners, who
have also contributed to the changes in Hoboken.
Hobokens renaissance was not caused solely by new plumbing
and such, but also, to a large extent, by the fact that it is perceived
to be safe and to offer a diversity of people and activities, which
perceptions have been created by those who have invested substan
tial portions of their lives here-owners and renters alike.
Perhaps it is unrealistic to hope for fairness in a matter involving
money; it can be argued that life is generally not fair. However, if
we dont try to make it fair, it never will be.
J ames C. Schneider
Nov. 16, 1983
" Renaissance" Is still a rip-off
Dear Editor:
I would first like to welcome The Hoboken Reporter to the rapid
ly diminishing family of the Free Press hoping it will be an impar
tial advocate of Hobokens "Forgotten" working middle-class. We
have the party of the first part, the live-in landlord, signing over his
highly-taxed property to the party of the second part, the rapacious
real estate sharpie, who in many cases doubles and, in some cases,
triples rents right off the bat without so much as replacing a worn-
out washer in a leaky sink. Then we have some argus-eyed state in
spector stimulating the confidence of the con-men by pinpointing
some absurd violation such as painting the front of ones abode. In
a nutshell, the "Renaissance" by any other name is still a rip-off,
conceived by a collection of well-connected cash-heavy caterpillars
who think they are capitalist butterflies. One does not like to stand
in the way of progress, but one must be practical at the same time.
Ralph Ruggiere
J an. 18, 1984
Two visitors to an art festival at the Hoboken train terminal.
8 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER TWO
Who Are You Calling Hip?
Up until the "Renaissance" of the late 70s and early 80s, most
Hobokenites were foreign-born or children of foreign-born parents.
Some 60 percent of the population claimed a language other than
English as their mother tongue in the 60s and 70s. They had old
customs, big families, and generations stretching back more than a
century. Locked in a bowl between the cliffs, the tunnels and the
river, the old world lived on. If anyone dared to shake it up, he
must be from out of town.
Hordes of hip househunters
plague Hoboken like biblical locusts
Dear Editor:
The Torquemada of tough credit, Paul Volcker, Chairman of the
Federal Reserve, has once again re-applied his tight-money tourni
quet thus resulting in another round of high interest rates and
another era of unemployment. Unfortunately, his policies have not
stopped the invasion of hordes of harried househunters from across
the Hudson and the hinterlands who have descended on our tiny
urban hamlet of Hoboken like a plague of biblical locusts. As
regards the tyro homeowner and the high interest rates and the vul
nerable rent-paying tenant, many of the so-called "hip" avant-garde
genre, supposedly wise to the ways of our wicked, wicked world,
they simply lend credence to the cretin philosophy of P.T. Bamum
who once remarked that there is a sucker bom every minute.
Yours truly,
Ralph Ruggiere
J uly, 4, 1984
Were not cretins or suckers,
just tired of suburbs
Dear Editor:
May I reply to a recent letter by Ralph Ruggiere by sayingCome
out of the dark ages, Mr. R.
My husband and I bought a condominium apartment here in
Hoboken a month ago. Nevertheless, we do not consider ourselves
"harried" or of a "cretin" mentality. And certainly, at our age, we
are not "tyro" homebuyers as, sad to say, do we qualify as part of
the "so-called hip, avant garde generation"-I dont think I ever
belonged to that "genre."
Dumb as it may seem to Mr. R., we left a home in suburbia be
cause we were tired of the toll (mental, physical and financial) of
four hours commuting each day, were tired of a big house we never
had time to care for or enjoy, and were tired of our lifestyle in
general.
Here in Hoboken, we think we have found again the urban atmos
phere we were seeking when we left Wisconsin 25 years ago. Our
apartment suits our new lifestyle and we dont feel we were "suck
ers" for buying it. Especially considering the cost of housing in the
suburbs. We like the multi-ethnic nature of the town and hope that
its deteriorating housing stock will continue to be restored by funds
both public and private.
We are productive people, work hard, pay taxes and dont want to
be relegated to the suburbs!
Thanks for your "welcome" Mr. R.
J anet Civalor
Aug. 1, 1984
Ech! The streets are stinky;
we need more garbage cans
Dear Editor:
I have lived in Hoboken for a little over a year. The route I take
to the PATH Station (to Manhattan) every day allows me to walk
down First Street. Last summer and fall, when they were putting in
the new, brick-inlayed sidewalks, I was excited for what spring
would bring. I envisioned leisurely walks down a tree-lined street,
the gentle sound of the breeze rustling the leaves as I walked to and
from work.
Well, the trees are in, and spring is almost over, but First Street
hasnt changed for the betterits changed for the worse. Stinking,
rotting garbage is strewn everywhere. The air is filled with the
stench. The level of filth has done nothing, however, to deter the
hordes of people who loiter on the street, consuming more and ad
ding their garbage to what is already there.
It is unfortunate that people can tolerate such disgusting condi
tions. You would think the residents and frequenters of this area
would take pride in this aesthetic improvement and make an effort
to keep it clean. This would attract businesses and improve the
whole standard of life in that end of town.
I ts a shame so much money, time, and energy were put into such
a worthy project, only to have it look worse than it did before. We
need more garbage cans and a greater, more conscious effort made
by all to turn the tide on what is becoming a flood of disgusting
garbage. Before we drown in it.
Sincerely,
Chris Scorpio
J uly 4, 1984
What garbage? Where?
You must be one of those elitists
Dear Editor:
As concerns the letter from Chris Scorpio of 7/4/84, first of all, if
you are walking along First Street to the PATH, you are walking
up First Street. Secondly, while laying bricked sidewalks and plant
ing trees has made a vast difference, First Street is no more perfect
than any other street in our city. But for you to claim stinking, rot
ting garbage is strewn everywhere, is a bloody lie! I have seen
three, perhaps five people at the most, who have stopped to talk to
each other, here and there. And, sometimes those groups are con
sisted of "outsiders." We are still permitted to stop and pass the
time of day! As for stench, the only "stench" I have ever en
countered is that of the fish store. Did you want to do away with
that, too?
You are obviously one of those who moved here, either for the
"sense of community" or because of the proximity to the PATH. It
seems once you elitists move in, you then set about to change
everything to your liking, including the names of our streets. Well,
I am here to tell you there is no stinking, rotting garbage strewn
anywhere along First Street. And, you really should not concern
yourself too much with the "hordes" of people who will shortly be
driven out by your ilk! In the meantime, I would suggest you take
another route to the PATH, so that you will no longer be offended
by something that isnt even there.
Terri Ratti
Aug. 22, 1984
We will soon be eating dog food for dinner
Dear Editor:
Rents in Hoboken have reached such absurd heights that I foresee
a day when future tenants will, after a hard day in front of a com
puter console or easel, come home and enjoy a repast of Alpo or
Gainesburger.
I must admit that the menage a trois of bankers, developers and
politicians has given the economy of Hoboken a temporary shot in
the arm. In retrospect, so did a similar group do the same thing for
Germany in 1933.
In an economy of words, I would say that Hoboken is being made
subject to a sting operation; Code name: "Renaissance."
Ralph Ruggiere
Oct. 10, 1984
I cant find a parking space nearby
Dear Editor:
In our house alone, there are three adults and three cars. Finding a
parking space close enough to drag in a weeks worth of groceries
is the least of our problems.
The first driver in our house is a man who drives to Newark daily
and leaves by 8 a.m. He not only can find an 8 a.m. parking space,
but can park in any part of town. The other two drivers are women
and are not only afraid to venture to the less populated areas, but
come home later at night. After the recent rape in town, we feel
much more vulnerable about walking alone at night. Some say the
victim should have driven the two blocks home, but we all know
she never would have found a spot to park.
Sincerely,
Kat Brennan
Dec. 19, 1984
P.S. I have no outstanding parking tickets.
Theres no parking because
you out-of-towners took all the spaces
Dear Editor:
In answer to the letter in the Dec. 19 paper about parking in
Hoboken.
First of all, why the hell is there three people living in one apart
ment, all with cars. That is one of the reasons there is no parking in
Hoboken.
Second, as far as the rape goes, you are right. The girl should not
have been walking home alone, and for another thing the man that
raped the girl is in jail; not that it cant happen again, but women
should learn how to protect themselves. Also, if you dont like the
way it is in Hoboken, go back where you came from...you are also
an out-of-towner.
Sincerely,
Pat
A Hoboken Resident all her life
Dec. 26, 1984
Printed as submitted.
Wall Street commuters enter the PATH, a 15-minute commuter
train between Hoboken and midtown and downtown Manhattan.
CHAPTER THREE
Here Come the Yorkies!
In 1784, Colonel J ohn Stevens paid $90,000 for 564 acres of J er
sey swampland the Indians called "Hopaghan Hackingh" (Land of
the Tobacco Pipe).
Decades before Frederick Law Olmstead designed Central Park,
Stevens transformed the marsh into a pleasure resort for well-to-do
New Yorkers. Thousands crossed the Hudson each weekend for its
flowing esplanades, groomed Riverwalk, and views of the burgeon
ing Manhattan skyline. After the Colonel died in 1838, his family
divided up the playing fields and auctioned off parcels to wealthy
out-of-towners for what would eventually become the City of
Hoboken.
Two centuries later, the Stevens spirit is very much alive in
Hoboken, albeit on a smaller scale. Nowadays developers buy build
ings instead of land, rehabilitate them, and mince the property into
as many luxury condo units as possible. Most of the apartments are
then sold to non-Hobokenites at seemingly unlimited profits. For
many, it appears the city is, and always has been, a place to be
plundered by affluent outsiders.
Condominiums were alien to Hoboken before 1981. To the locals,
they seemed like yet another invention of the "odious New
Yorker," who had been delving into such things for years. Obvious
ly, the only person who would buy something as ridiculous as a
condo ("Imagine, all that money and its only an apartment!") must
be a New Yorker, or "Yorkie," as resentful natives called them.
While the ranks of Hobokens gentrifiers boasted numerous ex-
Manhattanites, most of the newcomers hailed from J ersey suburbs,
or other parts of the Northeast. However, many of them worked in
the Big Apple and adopted more than one obnoxious New York
custom, the oldtime Hobokenites believed.
The view of downtown Manhattan from Castle Point, Hoboken.
But that was in 1983 and 1984, before "Yuppies" entered the
vernacular of the urban malcontent. In time, the Young, Upwardly -
mobile Professional, not necessarily the "Yorkie" would be the all-
around symbol and catchword for the scourge of gentrification.
Whats a " Yorkie" ?
Dear Editor:
This letter is a request to finding a missing person.
In the past several months your readers have written with great
derision of "Yorkies" and "New Yorkers" who are invading their lit
tle town. Who are these people?
I have lived in Hoboken for three years, and being an outgoing,
friendly person have a wide circle of friends and neighbors, and
have chatted with many people in Hobokens stores, clubs, res
taurants, bars, library, parks, etc.
The vast majority of new Hobokenites I have come into contact
with are from other areas of New J ersey.
Most of the other newcomers are young professionals and stu
dents who have relocated to the metropolitan area from another part
of the country (Delaware, California, Minnesota, Hawaii, Mas
sachusetts, for example).
If I have met a native New Yorker, he or she has yet to reveal it.
None of this surprises me. The youngsters moving to Hoboken
from other parts of the state are thrilled to be so close to Manhat
tan, and dont suffer from a New Yorkers disdain for living
"across the river." Those who have moved here from more distant
points havent yet experienced that disdain, and in any case, are
usually terrified of living in Manhattan. As for my friends who live
in Manhattan, its an effort to get them to venture out for a cocktail
party, let alone convincing anybody to live here.
Moral: if you are looking for a scapegoat, identify your target cor
rectly. None of the citys problems can be solved, or dealt with ef
fectively if one faction doesnt even know who the other faction is.
P.S. I hope someone will respond to this with a profile of a
"Yorkie." If they exist I d like to meet onemaybe theyll be
friendlier than the natives.
Dorothy Hull
Oct. 3, 1984
Ill tell you what a " Yorkie is
Dear Editor:
Re: Dorothy Hulls letter concerning the search for "Yorkies"
(10/3/84).
Based on some very elementary research, I am pleased to an
nounce the search is over, and "Yorkies" identifiable. They have
certain characteristics in common but place of birth is not one of
them; probably none are from "sidewalks of New York." The type
migrates to New York and brings with them these characteristics
which are so endearing.
They work in New York and live in Hoboken.
They are generally "flunkies" by New York standards.
They feel that the local provincials will be overwhelmed by a dis
play of undistilled sophistication.
They confuse a patronizing manner with charm.
They would engulf our public institutions as cultural saviors.
They seek special attention. Even in our small public library they
suggest certain books be stocked and reserved just for them.
They cause stoppages in shopping lines while they hold court.
They have been a disappointment to many of their greedy
landlords. And finally, Dorothy might fulfill her wish to meet a
"Yorkie" by consulting a mirror.
J oseph Trimcellita
Oct. 10, 1984
Being a New Yorker is a state of mind
Dear Editor:
Regarding Ms. Hulls amusing letter of October 3 warning
Hobokenites to identify the villains properly when looking for a
scapegoat, I d like to point out that being a New Yorker isnt really
a geographical classification. Many insufferable New Yorkers come
from places like Delaware, California, Minnesota, Hawaii, (especial
ly) Massachusetts, and East J abib for that matter. Even "natives"
grasp such obvious truths.
Being a New Yorker is, after all, a state of mind, something akin
to senility or permanent, rutting adolescencea near incurable
malady which manifests itself most notably in an ill-justified sense
of superiority and in an inability to distinguish reality from sham.
Witness the horde of Yuppies and Radical Chic Yahoos rushing to
the fore in the recent banning of Nukes from the confines of the
Mile Square Miracle. Holy Mackerel, imagine the military in
dustrial complex conspiring to erect nuclear silos on the ruins of
places like the Maxwell House factory, ONieals tavern, or Big
gies Clam Bar! (Admittedly, the loss of an institution like Biggies
genuinely smacks of tragedy. What clams!)
Ultimately, though, Ms. Hull is right. It is virtually impossible to
profile the quintessential New Yorker. But heres a start: "amiable
liberal wurst."
As for friendliness, if Ms. Hull wanted to bathe in the welcome
wagon scene, perhaps she should have settled nearer the mythical
environs of "Father Knows Best" or "The Brady Bunch." Besides,
any denizen of Hudson County should realize Hobokenites often ex
press affection best in terms of abuse. Felix Unger would under
stand.
William Keller
Oct. 17, 1984
Yorkies have flat heads .
Dear Editor:
A response to Dorothy Hulls letter regarding her request for a
profile of a "Yorkie." Briefly, one of the many varieties of Canis
familiaris bred in Yorkshire, England and prior to immigration a
favorite of the landed aristocracy. It has a small, flat head; small, v-
shaped ears, medium-sized dark eyes; a compact body and straight
legs that are covered with hair. They certainly do exist and most
are much friendlier than their fellow creature homo sapien, but to
classify a "Yorkie" as a person depends wholly upon ones dog
matic degree of devotion-after all, this is a dogma-eat-dogma
world.
Yours truly,
Ralph Ruggiere
Dec. 12, 1984
P.S. I just couldnt resist this one.
Im proud to be a Yorkie
Dear Editor:
Re: The "Yorkie" question. Shame on you Mr. Trimcellita for
your name calling! I am a "Yorkie and proud of it. Twenty-five
years ago I left a little mining town in the West to pursue a success
ful career in the "Big City." Now, after a stint in the suburbs, I am
here in Hoboken and enjoying every minute of it. Contrary to your
opinion, I really am rather charming and the only "patronizing" I
do is at the local businesses. I am nice to my neighbors, I never
double park and I even clean up after my dog.
I guess I do see a "Yorkie" when I look in the mirror and I like
what I seemaybe youd like me too, Mr. T., if you looked at me a
little more closely.
J an Ring
Dec. 26, 1984
One of Steve Rubins community photos, published July 1984.
20 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER FOUR
Eggheads, Lesbians, and
Punkrockers
Although the upwardly-mobile newcomers brought with them
new lifestyles, new money, and the threat of displacement, nothing
seemed to scare some of the oldtimers as much as the their open
mindedness. After all, traditions die hard in Hoboken, a city whose
history is one long ethnic/class conflict-a recurring tension be
tween the "old" immigrants and the "new" immigrants.
During the 19th century, Hobokens Protestant population fought
with the newly-arrived, free-thinking Germans and Catholic Irish
men.
The Gaelics helped send "the Huns" fleeing for the hills amid the
anti-German sentiment of World War I. Residents even went so far
as to change the names f hamburgers to "salisbury steak,"
frankfurters to "hot dogs," and sauerkraut to "liberty cabbage".
The Italians, though slower to assert themselves, brought over
enough relatives and friends from the old country to crack
Hobokens Irish political machine.
A few years later, the Puerto Ricans rioted because there was lit
tle else they could do in this dying, post-industrial city. The
Italians, knowing everything was wrong and the Puerto Ricans
were to blame, retaliated with a pent-up vengeance that took on the
vigor of a holy war.
Now, the latest immigrants had arrived, young and idealistic, and
were willing to buck the tradition. Many seemed determined to
respect everyone for what they were, regardless of race, color,
religious background, or sexual preference. This baffled a few
longtime residents.
The newcomers, though, were merely continuing their pioneer
role in this urban "wilderness." Like the early American frontier
missionaries, they attempted to "civilize" the hostile natives, and en
lighten their ignorant brethren-not with theology, however, but
with reason, rational thought, and egalitarian concepts. They
scolded the oldtimers for both their "backward," "simplistic," view
of the world, and the apparent disregard for their own city as it
rotted away a decade earlier. In the end, though, the newcomers
wound up challenging their own conceptions of such things as mar
riage and womanhood.
This missionary attitude, which first appeared in 1984, would
pave the way for greater battles for dominance. But for now, with
their economic superiority painfully obvious, the newcomers set out
to establish their moral primacy.
Why so many photos of ethnics?
Were insulted
Dear Editor:
Your Reporter is for the birds, or rather for the businessman. It is
nothing more than a classified supplement. You receive more
money than you spend on your editions. The town news is certainly
at a minimum and then you need a microscope to read it. The hell
with the waterfront. The "special" people (who just arrived and are
responsible for making it difficult to live in and chasing decent na
tives elsewhere) should take their screwed up life patterns and prac
tices.
You might also remind your photographer, Steven Rubin, that
there are people other than black and Spanish living in this town.
His photos rile us to no end. Are you obliged to take ethnic photos
to prove that they are still in town? We natives do not have to be
reminded. Were very much aware of their presence.
Give us the good old Hoboken Pictorial which told the truth
about the crooked politicians in town (the guilty ones objected),
legible church organization news, etc., etc.
The nerve of you writing up on a black and white and calling
them an average couple. We were insulted. Youre hard up for
material.
* Forget about it.
Augusta Schwartz and friends
J uly 11, 1984
We re not an average couple,
were better than average
Dear Editor:
Re: Letter To Editor By Augusta Schwartz.
I read with deep regret your letter to the editor, J uly 11, 1984.
It is true that the format of the paper has changed as far as what
we are accustomed to seeing but, if it will keep people like you
from reading The Hoboken Reporter, its a change for the better.
I would like to direct myself to a few, if not all, of the points you
made in your letter.
J ust because our races are different does not disqualify us from
being an average couple. But that was the only point you made that
I agree with. You see, we are not an average couple, we are better
than the average couple.
In reference to the pictures, I am sure the photographer is well
aware of the different nationalities in this city but isnt it possible
that natives like you do not frequent the parks or the playgrounds
or where ever hes taking the pictures? Also, I would like to sug
gest that you take another look at the pictures you have been
criticizing and I m sure you will see races and nationalities other
than Black and Hispanic. I ve also noticed that the spotlight isnt
usually focused on someone who is trying to run you out of town.
From the implications in your letter, I am sure someone would
think that of you.
While reading your letter I wondered why you would want to read
about crooked politicians rather than positive and good things
people are doing around town.
Although I am classified as a MINORITY, I thank God that
people like you are truly the minority in this city, because times are
difficult enough without having to constantly worry about the likes
of you and your friends.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Falco
Aug. 1, 1984
Were another " screwed up" couple,
Augusta, and youve embarrassed us
Dear Editor: 1
I ts obvious that you placed Augusta Schwartz cretinous letter at
the top of last weeks letters column in order to provoke a
response, so heres mine:
I guess I would qualify as one of Schwartz screwed up people,
having moved to Hoboken from Atlanta some four years ago. I
work in a Manhattan office, as does my wife (who is South
Americansorry, Augusta, another "mixed marriage). I pay nearly
$500 a month for a small one bedroom apartment in a Washington
Street building, complete with the occasional mouse, burglary, and
a couple of "surcharges which I think are illegalbut I m not com
plaining.
Why not? Because I like Hoboken. I ve lived in big cities and
small towns, north and south, and I feel that Hoboken combines a
lot of the best of both. Sure, its not Nirvana, but its comfortable,
friendly, and has a terrific and exhilarating mix of peopledespite
some crime, dirt, graffiti, and rent gouging.
As a white guy, I feel embarrassed to read comments such as an
Augusta Schwartz is capable of producing. I suppose that part of
my reason for writing this is to say to the non-lilywhite community
of Hoboken that hey, dont judge all whites by the asinine ravings
of some bigot. Amazingly, Schwartz managed to zap Hispanics,
blacks, photographers, Yuppies, interracial marriage, and jour
nalists, all in the space of four paragraphs!
Well, anyway, my message is: Hoboken, remain diverse, Steve
Rubin, keep snappin, and all you folks at the Liberal Rag, keep
writing what you feel is appropriate. I may not agree with every ar
ticle, but at least your layouts are clean and your grammar is cor
rect, which is far more than could be said for the late, unlamented
"Pictorial."
One last, merciless aside to Augusta Schwartz: if being a "decent
native" of Hoboken means developing attitudes such as yours, then
I m damn glad I wasnt bom here!
BUI J olly
Aug. 1, 1984
Bigots like Augusta kept Hoboken
at the bottom of the heap
Dear Editor:
This letter is being written in response to the J uly 11 letter from
Augusta Schwartz to The Hoboken Reporter.
The reason I m writing this letter is because I m sick of hearing
from ignorant bigots who have no tolerance for anything other than
their own selfish needs.
First, I would like to point out that I am one of the "new people
in Hoboken. I can assure you, Augusta, that I do not have a
screwed-up mind. My "life patterns and practices are also quite
normal. (Augusta, would your own practices stand up to moral
scrutiny?) Let us not cast stones!
Second, speaking as a photographer, I find Steve Rubins photos
exceptional for a small newspaper. His subject matter is obviously
what he sees in Hoboken. He is only doing his job. Besides, Augus
ta, are you not from some sort of ethnic background? Are you sug
gesting that your ethnic roots are more photogenic than blacks or
hispanics? Is it possible Augusta, that these photos rile" you simp
ly because they do prove that blacks and Hispanics live in the same
city as you?
Augusta I dont think even the "good old Pictorial" could open
your bigoted eyes to any truth. You wouldnt know the truth if it
hit you on the head!!
It is narrow minded attitudes of people like you Augusta, that
have kept Hoboken on the bottom of the heap for many years. Only
now with an infusion of positive thinking and money, is Hoboken
becoming the city it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a city of
which all residents, old and new, can be proud.
How dare you natives complain about having your city taken
from you. It is obvious that you people didnt give a hoot about
your city until you realized what you were losing. Well Augusta,
now its too late. You will have to learn to live with ali ethnic
groups, the so-called "new people and The Hoboken Reporter.
I think The Hoboken Reporter is a symbol of the change in
Hoboken. A change for the better. Augusta, you are going to have
to stop being so intolerant, and stop thinking of the world or even
Hoboken as your own!
To The Hoboken Reporter. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Brendan Poh
J uly 18, 1984
Im tired of being scorned
because I m young and ambitious
Dear Editor:
I m writing in response to a letter from Augusta Schwartz in the
J uly 11 Editorial column. I feel I am one of the "special people"
that Ms. Schwartz refers to, with "screwed-up" persona, who are
making it so "difficult" to survive in Hoboken.
I m tired of being scorned because I m young, ambitious and
making it in the New York metro area. If people are being dis
placed by a new wave of people, perhaps the fault lies with "na
tives" who didnt take the necessary steps to insure the stability of
their lifestyles.
The face of Hoboken is changing rapidly. Personally, I m ap
palled by some of the architectural abortions being erected. But
along with the facade, so are the guts of Hoboken transformed. I
think its safe to assume that most Hobokenites are working class,
regardless of their length of inhabitation. None of us will benefit if
we divide ourselves even further with racist and ethnic mud-sling
ing of the type found in the J uly 11 letter.
Edward Dolinger
Aug. 1, 1984
Theres too much transient traffic
in the pretentious fast lane
Dear Editor:
A belated reflection regarding the verbal feud between Augusta
Schwartz and Brendan Poh, representing both the old and new
people of Hoboken, respectively.
Firstly, I concur that Ms. Schwartzs rather reckless and tactless
rhetoric obviously reflected an innate inability to conceive of any
concepts other than her own.
Secondly, as a third generation Hobokenite, I must take umbrage
with regard to Mr. Pohs assertion that we oldies never gave a hoot
about Hoboken until we finally realized what we were losing. In
fact, we didnt realize that Hoboken was up for grabs until the new
people started forking over fabulous sums for rents to anonymous
landlords. I thoroughly agree that Hoboken is being renovated for
the good, but the question is the good of whom?
Thirdly, in the main I would say that most of us oldies prefer to
move in a well-beaten path rather than run in that pretentious fast
lane where there is so much transient traffic.
Lastly, we oldies also recognize the fact that most new people are
refugees escaping the economics of rent escalation elsewhere and
look to Hoboken as the light at the end of the tunnels. However,
what they do not realize is that light is not being held in the hand
of Diogenes; it is the light of the absentee landlord guiding them in
and signaling to them that they can run but they cant hide-to
quote the late J oe Louis.
Yours truly,
Ralph Ruggiere
Aug. 8, 1984
Have compassion for the oldtimer,
a homegrown yuppie says
Dear Editor:
In response to the Augusta Schwartz letter and subsequent replies,
I would also like to express my opinion. I am a Hoboken resident
and have been for all of my life. I live on Garden Street and have a
new car. I like to think of myself as a Yuppie, sort .of a
hometown boy who made out well. To Ms. Schwartz I would like
to reiterate some of the sentiment already touched upon. No matter
how you try to convince me otherwise, bigotry is wrong. I am per
fectly sure that the Schwartz family is not a descendent of the
Lenni Lenape Indians, the true first inhabitants of Hoboken. One
generation or another of your family has been newcomers to
Hoboken. I hope they were welcomed with open arms. Please af
ford the same grace extended your family when they were the new
faces on the block.
On the other hand, the new faces should remember that we Yup
pies are fortunate enough to be able to afford to live here in
Hoboken. Never before in this citys history has there been such a
rapid gentrification. The fact is people are being displaced. People
are fearful of what fate might deal them and they are angry about
being forced out of their homes. They are angry that some
speculators (and there are only a handful) are reaping a profit at the
oldtimers expense.
I beseech all the newcomers to first understand and have compas
sion for the oldtimer. The very charm that attracted you to
Hoboken is instilled in their hearts. Secondly, do not build up a hos
tility toward all of Hobokens natives because of one letter. Many,
many natives whom I am close to love what has happened and do
welcome you with open arms.
If I can help you with anything in your new home town, just stop
by.
Danny Altilio,
1009 Garden Street
Aug. 8, 1984
Id rather see photos of blacks
and Puerto Ricans than live with
eggheads, lesbians and punk rockers
Dear Editor:
I, for one, applaud Augusta Schwartzs comments in the J uly 11th
issue of your newspaper. Though my complaints with The Hoboken
Reporter are not as vehement as hers (I feel you get what you pay
forand we all know what The Hoboken Reporter costs!), I dont
feel that a town of the size and influence of Hoboken does deserve
some meatier journalism, if you catch my drift.
As a long time Hoboken resident of many odd years and all my
life, I have found Hoboken to be an agreeable place of many dif
ferent classes and colors. Young and old, black, white, and yellow,
when compared to many a comparable American city youll find
we all live pretty comfortably under Hobokens pleasant roof. We
all pitch in to make this a varied and amiable place to live, work,
and eat. Of course, we must not expect as much out of our more
recent immigrants, but I have no doubt that they will come along in
time and Hoboken welcomes them with loving open arms.
Though I agree with Augusta Schwartzs complaints about photog
rapher Steve Rubin, I must admit that while strolling down
Washington Street you will see a great many black and Puerto
Rican men, women and children. To not represent them in the
Around Town section (and in the rest of the paper, as well) would
give a grave misrepresentation of Hoboken. If Miss/Mrs./Ms.
Schwartz wants to see a white Hoboken, let her take up residence
within the ivy tower of Stevens Tech. Perhaps she would feel more
at home with the eggheads, lesbians and punk rockers she would
find up there. I applaud Steve Rubins choice of subjects; I think
they represent a fair cross-section of the Hoboken population.
Augusta Schwartz, you have some good ideas, but you forget
about it!
Mrs. Roger Fingerhut
Aug. 8, 1984
Im proud to be a lesbian and
free from pitiful male desires
Dear Editor:
I must vehemently object to "Mrs." Roger Fingerhuts letter in the
August 8th issue of your paper. I am referring specifically to her
derisive comments about "eggheads, lesbians, and punk rockers."
Gay and lesbian life is now a reality that we all must live with.
The fact that homosexuals can now comfortably integrate with the
community at large is an encouraging sign. As a homosexual
woman growing up in South J ersey the free expression of my
sexual identity was often confined to closets and washrooms. I
have been much more at ease since moving to Hoboken in 1981. In
terms of free expression of my sexual lifestyle, a lifestyle that
comes completely naturally to me, Hoboken has been a veritable
paradise. There are many lesbian women in Hoboken, some clandes:
tine and some (like myself) more overt. We function comfortably
amongst ourselves and the community at large, and we have ways
of identifying each other in order to bring the more repressed
woman "out of the closet," as it were.
This is a reality fierce bigots like "Mrs." Fingerhut will just have
to live with in this increasingly homosexual-conscious world.
Bigots often hide behind a mask of insecurity and repressed
desires. "Mrs." Fingerhut has chosen, in her blind obedience and ig
norance, to affix the moniker "Mrs." to the front of her name; this
connotes subservience to a male, and I assume shes probably spent
her whole life this way. She must be very jealous and envious in
deed of a woman like myself who has lived her life exactly as she
wants to. I make my own choices and determine my own role in
this world regardless of convention or centuries of male determina
tion. "Mrs." Fingerhut should be so enlightened, so lucky to express
herself in a self-determined manner. Instead, shes spent her life fol
lowing mens rules and meeting male expectations, and it manifests
itself in barely concealed bitterness and hate.
Womanhood means having a free mind and soul, a reaction to a
closed mind of male ignorance. Even though I dont and never
have or would shave my legs in concession to pitiful male desires,
I am more of a woman than "Mrs." Fingerhut will ever be.
Andrea Bucci
Stevens Tech Womans Alliance
Oct. 10, 1984
The lesbian is a slave of prejudice,
and the fungus of bigotry thrives in Hoboken
Dear Editor:
From reading your editorial page, one would gather that the fun
gus of Intolerance and Bigotry is thriving in Hoboken. While three
letters to the editor (Oct. 10) reeked of hysterical xenophobia
towards so-called "Yorkies" (shall we ever have an end to unen-
lightening labels?), it was Ms. Andrea Buccis letter, designed as
an objection to anti-homosexual bigotry, which ironically exuded
the most fetid whiff of stupid intolerance.
I am delighted that Ms. Bucci finds in Hoboken "a veritable
paradise" which allows "free expression of (her) sexual lifestyle."
The civil rights of all citizens, whatever their race, color, creed, or
sexual preference, must always be safeguarded.
But Ms. Buccis ad hominem attacks against Mrs. Fingerhut re
veal that she embraces bigotry towards heterosexual women (and, it
seems, all men) as her Weltanschauung She has the effrontery to as
sert, not to surmise, that Mrs. Fingerhut has "spent her life follow
ing mens rules and meeting male expectations, and it manifests it
self in barely concealed bitterness and hate." Were I to practice the
sort of amateur psychoanalysis Ms. Bucci imposes upon her target,
I might diagnose Ms. Bucci as a woman consumed by bitterness
and hate brought on by some unspeakable trauma.
Ms. Bucci defines womanhood as "having a free mind and soul, a
reaction to the closed mind of male ignorance." Far from exhibiting
a "free mind and soul," Ms. Bucci shows herself to be the slave of
Prejudice. She also proves that ignorance is not the sole domain of
males.
J ames Louis Gardner
Nov. 7, 1984
Now, now, not every little girl wants
to grow up to be a lesbian
Dear Editor:
Oh dear, now I have to object to Andrea Buccis October 10th ob
jection to Mrs. Fingerhuts letter of August 8th. What pains me is
that, Andrea hon, you were doing so good until you hit the home
stretch. How can anyone still pull out that old stale "Mrs." rhetoric
and pretend its the least bit revelatory? I m glad that you are
happy with your lifestyle, but not every little girl wants to grow up
to be a lesbian; I m sure a few exist that want nothing except to get
married and take care of the domestic front, and bully for them,
too. Hey, my mom was one of them, as well as being one of the
strongest, most independently willed persons I ve ever known; to
paraphrase, she made her own clothes and determined her own role
in this world regardless of convention or centuries of male deter
mination, and nowadays shes the head artist of an advertising agen
cy. Unlike you, shes not smug and self-righteous about the path in
life shes chosen. So "womanhood means having a free mind and
soul, a reaction to the closed mind of male ignorance," does it?
Well, my mother-in-law would find that statement to be a bunch of
separationist garbage, but why wouldnt she? After all, shes a les
bian feminist (not to mention political activist) with an intelligent,
open mind. Hey generalizations, you make me want to vomit.
Douglas Maxson
Dec. 5, 1984
Im glad I di dnt burn my bra
Dear Editor:
I hope you will print this letter in response to Andrea Buccis
derogatory definition of the married woman. I am a married woman
who can certainly say that being married does not make one subser
vient to a male in any way. J ust because you cant deal with men
doesnt mean a woman who can is a slave or a doormat submitting
to being walked over. When two people of the opposite sex fall in
love and marry, they enjoy doing things for each other. They dont
find it a put-down for the woman to cook or wash clothes or for the
man to do it for that matter.
As for you, 1find nothing for anyone to be jealous of. All per
sons, male or female, are bom with a free will to exercise as they
see fit, to live their lives as they wish. It all depends on the in
dividual and what they want from their life. I am all for feminism
and for womens lib, but if that means having your radically an
tagonistic views on how to live in this world, I m glad I didnt bum
my bra; obviously it realigns the brain to the southern posterior.
Mrs. Donna Hoyt
Dec. 12, 1984
The pseudo-esoterica of the "new" Hobokenite
Dear Editor:
Is the need for a professional librarian part of Hobokens
gentrification process? Is it an effort to satisfy the cultural demands
of Hobokens immigrant "uppity mobile"?
While browsing at the library recently I was momentarily dis
tracted by a young basso conversing in decibels equal to about ten
on the Richter scale who was inquiring about some obscure opera
and its equally obscure composer. Decades of osmosis led me to
believe that the young man was not a true Hobokenite because his
hands were out of sync with his mouth. Either the young man was
trying to impress his captive audience with his pseudo-esoterica or
else he was a victim of just one too many discos. However, he did
throw me an intellectual curve; I thought for sure he was going to
ask for Sartre, Proust, Proudhon or Marcuse.
As for gentrification, I would like a little pretentious leeway by
quoting the noted sociologist and city planner, Prof. Sir Patrick
Geddes who once remarked that metropolitan growth simply means
"more and more of worse and worse."
Yours truly,
Ralph Ruggiere
J an. 16, 1985
I love this town despite the feuding
Dear Editor:
After living in Hoboken for more than two years I m tired of read
ing the ongoing feud between the native Hobokenites and the new
comers. I love living in this town and as we begin 1985 I would
simply like to express my appreciation for the friendliness and
honesty I have found here.
1. For Hanks, the comer deli where I always get a hello, thank
you, and a smile.
2. For Lisas, where not only the cooking is authentic, so is the
friendliness.
3. For Willow Pharmacy, where you get service, not just a
product.
4. For my landlady, who treats me more like a friend than
a tenant.
I could go on but suffice to say its nice to live in a town where
people remember your name and where you can let your guard
down after a hard day at work. Thank you to all the people who
make Hoboken a nice place to live.
Sincerely,
Lisa Anguilla
J an. 16, 1985
Protestors at Reagans 1984 campaign stop in Hoboken.
34 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER FIVE
Whats the Difference
Between Ronald Reagan
and an Old Pair of
Sneakers?
In Hoboken, nothing is safe from the conflict between oldtimers
and newcomers, and the manifestations of the Great Divide. All it
takes is a simple, harmless commentwhether it be about Ronald
Reagan, ignored stop signs, or hanging sneakersto incite weeks of
debate.
In the summer of 1984, Ronald Reagan made a campaign stop at
the Feast of St. Anns, one of Hobokens Italian religious celebra
tions. Many viewed the visit as an effort to court the ethnic vote
and counter any gains made by Democratic presidential candidate
Walter Mondale, who had chosen Italian-American Geraldine Fer
raro as his running mate. Oldtime Hobokenites, however, seemed
proud to have the president visit their long-abused city.
Many newcomers and other younger, liberal residents were less
enthusiastic about the presidential appearance, and protested in
traditional fashion. They picketed, marched, and wrote letters to the
editor.
Reagan will make dancing bears out of us
Dear Editor:
On Thursday afternoon, Ronald Wilson Reagan plans to stand in
the shadows of the cupola of St. Anns Church on J efferson Street
in Hoboken. Surrounding him, insulating him from the pulsating
rhythms of an exuberant ethnic feast, tall men with their fingers
only inches from guns will watch the proceedings with the kind of
special stoicism that only the Secret Service can muster. Surround
ing the men with guns, hundreds of men and women with cameras
and tape decks will capture a manufactured moment, more or less
the way the Presidents campaign advisers believe that moment
should be captured. This is Reagans opportunity to make America
believe that he too has the support of ethnic America, that it is not
the sole province of Mrs. Ferraro and the Democratic party. To this
end, Ronald Wilson Reagan will do his utmost to manipulate the
press and to parade the people of Hoboken before it like dancing
bears.
Mr. Reagan will not visit the gutted shell of a ten-family tenement
where ten families at a time lost their homes in the name of
development. He will not point to the condominiums and say, "A
family once lived there. Instead, he will point to the condos for
the cameras and say, patronizingly enough, "See how well these
people maintain their homes." Mr. Reagan will not visit the empty
warehouses or the abandoned shipyard. Photographs of abandoned
shipyards do not best represent the wild imaginings of an elitist
president. Instead, he will eat calzones with the good sisters, never
acknowledging their slain sisters in Central America.
The Presidential trip, quite likely financed by taxpayers money,
will no doubt make many people clap their hands and shout, "Hes
here," while others of us sit in silence and wonder where hes been.
On Thursday, J uly 26, President Ronald Reagan, 40th President of
the United States, is scheduled to visit the St. Anns Festival in
Hoboken. Exact details of his visit are unknown at this time. A
coalition of various groups in Hoboken are planning to greet the
President and to demonstrate their opposition to foreign and domes
tic policies. The demonstration is expected to be dignified in
deference to a religious festival. All are invited.
Seamus McGraw
J uly 25, 1984
You pseudo-beautiful people
know nothing about respect
Dear Editor:
This letter is directed at whoever was outside St. Anns Church
protesting on J uly 26, 1984. There is a word called "respect" and
you pseudo-beautiful people seem to have no idea about what the
word means. The President came to St. Anns Parish on a visit; he
was a guest of St. Anns. You had no right to smear the event the
way you did. If it was a city or state affair, I would back you up to
tally, but it was not. It was an invitation for the Piesident to visit
the church and the feast.
You yelled and screamed at him, even burned the flag in front of
the church. This is going out to all you "yorkies" who were there.
Stay up on Hudson Street because what you did down here won't
be quickly forgotten.
You people just dont realize that this is a community we have
here in Hoboken. We were proud to have the President of the
United States visiting us. Maybe we do not agree 100% with what
he says, but we respect the position he holds. You people are just
weekend protesters, and I detest you using St. Ann's Church,
Parish and Feast Day as an opportunistic ploy for your issues.
You have no respect for the church, for the community, for the
neighborhood and most of all, for Hoboken.
Anthony Petrosino
Aug. 22, 1984
Reagan used church as a television studio
Dear Editor:
I was deeply disturbed by Anthony Petrosino's letter of August 22
in which he accuses those who protested Ronald Reagans "visit" to
the St. Anns Feast of "using" the feast as an "opportunistic ploy
for our issues." An act, which he felt displayed a complete lack of
respect to the religious nature of the feast, the church, its com
munity and Hoboken itself. He claims the event wasn't civic in na
ture, but simply a visit to the church. In all respect to you, Mr.
Petrosino and the parishioners at St. Anns, the church was used
that day, used as a television studio in which our thespian President
communicated to a nation of voters, many Catholic, that he honors
our church.
I join Mr. Petrosino in condemning any American who would
bum his own flag. My flag has been soiled enough by the likes of
Edwin Meese, Ray Donovan and Ronald Reagan. I don't care to
bum my flag, but to restore it to its former dignity. Advocacy and
opposition are the soul of our Republic. Whether I approve or op
pose is an act of citizenship, an act of patriotism. In my opposition,
I protested the madness of our current leadership and in so doing I
honored my flag, community, and yes, even St. Ann, the
grandmother of God.
J ames Ruggia
Oct. 10, 1984
Congratulations, Hoboken
Dear Editor:
We wish to extend our congratulations and compliments to all the
Departments in the City of Hoboken, the clergy, St. Ann Festival
Committee, the parishioners of St. Ann, all the citizens of Hoboken
for the dignified and well-done welcome given to President Reagan
and all the visiting dignitaries on J uly 26, 1984. It was indeed an
honor for the President of the United States to come to our city, a
memorable event, something we shall remember for a long time.
"Hoboken"stand up, take a bow. You did a fantastic job. Keep
up the good work.
Mary and Bill Perry and family
Aug. 8, 1984
Driving in Hoboken has its own rules and regulations, a code that
no motor vehicle department could ever interpret. Cars are always
double-parked on the citys narrow streets, creating an obstacle
course that makes the Le Mans look like a Texas highway. In addi
tion, intersections are a tribute to everything wrong with auto
travel. Stop signs, if there are any at all, mean nothing. Larger cars
usually have the right of way, but the rule of thumb is to yield to
the other driver only if it looks like hes going to make it through
the intersection before you. Newcomers, accustomed to realistic
rules of the road, found the situation abominable, especially when
the almighty stop sign was transgressed.
Lack of street signs and traffic control plague Hoboken.
They zoom through stop signs all day and night,
newcomer complains
Dear Editor:
I would like to make an announcement to drivers in Hoboken and
the Hoboken Police Department: There is a stop sign on the
northwest comer of Tenth Street and Garden Street.
I know all of you must be very surprised to hear about this. Yes!
You didnt notice but I d say its been there over three years at
least. In fact, it might be there much longer than that, but I
wouldnt know because I ve only lived in Hoboken for three years.
Drivers in all types of vehicles, at all times of the day and night,
just zoom right through that intersection and there never seems to
be a policeman giving tickets. Although, the police appear to make
rounds for plenty of parking violations in this area of town.
Well, its not really the fault of the police that no one notices this
stop sign. In fact, I d say from experience that the majority of
people driving in Hoboken dont stop at the signs.
Why dont we take down all the stop signs and sell them to a
more civilized place?
A Female Garp
Apr. 17, 1985
Stop sign problems? Leave, if you dont like it
Dear Editor:
Miss Female Garp, in reply to your remark about a policeman not
being there to catch the violators I can say our policemen do a
good job protecting the people of Hoboken. Even the people who
are living here for three years. There are a little over one hundred
policemen in our town assigned to protect around 50,000 citizens in
Hoboken.
Then you have only been in this town three years. You have no
idea how many calls are received by the police and fire depart
ments in one day. If you, Miss Garp, feel that Hoboken is uncivil
ized, I suggest you return to where you came from or learn to make
a citizens arrest at the stop sign intersections in Hoboken. Also, I
must feel that youve never driven a car in New York City because
I believe you would earn much more money taking down their stop
signs and selling them elsewhere.
J ack Turso
Apr. 24, 1985
No one stops at signs,
but that doesnt mean we re not civil
Dear Editor:
In response to "A Female Garp published in April 17th issue.
First of all, you are right about nobody stopping at stop signs,
cause I live on Third and J ackson Street and we also have a stop
sign posted there which nobody seems to see and we have a lot of
children crossing at the comer. And youre also right about the
police force not being able to be at the right place all the time. But
as a Hobokenite for the past 31 years, I dont think this town is not
civil. According to your last comment, "Why dont we take down
all the stop signs and sell them to a more civilized place?" you feel
that this town is not civilized. Well, if you feel that way then why
did you move here in the first place? Maybe to all you newcomers
we are not civilized but to the real Hobokenites we have been civil
longer than you have been living here.
Debra Morrissette
Apr. 24, 1985
Stop the silly bickering
Dear Editor:
Must someone be struck and killed before the seriousness of this
situation is acknowledged? Lets stop this silly bickering about
whether Hoboken is "civilized" or not, and demand that some effort
be made to ticket the offending drivers. Perhaps the threat of hefty
fines and points on their license would do some good.
It wouldnt hurt to try, right?
J anet Crooks
J une 5, 1985
Hoboken, like other older cities, has above-the-ground telephone
wires where local kids toss their "wasted" sneakers. Some of the
shoe-hurlers claim they do it as a tribute to footwear, others explain
its just another eccentric Hoboken tradition. At one point, so many
sneakers hung from the lines at a certain comer in the city the spot
became a tourist attraction. Passing motorists would even stop to
take pictures of the sight. "Its a symbol of the times," a local resi
dent once commented on the phenomenon. "You put your sneakers
up there and youll never die."
I am troubled by the dangling talismans
on the Hoboken utility lines
Dear Editor:
All too often, when I go walking late at night on the deserted
streets of Hoboken, my upward glance is greeted by a troubling
sight: a cluster of athletic shoes, hung by the laces from the utility
lines, revolving mutely in the breeze.
My question is, why?
Seventh Street and Park Avenue, Hoboken.
Are these dangling talismans the remainder of some local man
hood rite, in which a young Hobokener is stripped of his worn and
dated Pumas, which are then cast up on the wires for the com
munity to see? Are they the work of some fiendish artist? Can
shoelaces carry phone calls?
Any reader who can explain this small mysteryperhaps the party
or parties responsibleshould please do so in a subsequent letter to
the editor.
Thank you.
William W. Daniel
J une 19, 1985
If they really turn you off, then cut them down
Dear Hushpuppy-wearer:
Re: letter which appeared in Hoboken Reporter, J une 19, 1985.
I can just see you tapping your loafers in disgust as you stare up
at the horrific sight of sneakers hanging over telephone wires. As
the proud owner of a pair of Pro-Keds, it pains me to hear that you
dont appreciate my contribution to the sights of Hoboken.
In case you havent noticed (and I doubt you have), this is a city
you live in, young yuppie. Kids in places like Hoboken, Brooklyn,
and Manhattan do have rituals like tossing their old "rides" over
telephone wires. It is as much a part of being a kid in the city as
playing games like bottlecaps and stickball. I m sure those games
are also foreign to your wondrous cultural background and will one
day be the butt of your pseudo-wit.
If they really turn you off, then I suggest climbing a utility pole
(please dont get any splinters) and cutting them down. Only do us
all a favor while youre up there, dont come down!
Still in sneakers.
Paul M. Drexel
J une 26, 1985
Drexel seemed somewhat paranoid
Dear Editor:
I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Drexels witty, if somewhat paranoid
response in this space (Reporter, J une 26) to my earlier query about
Hobokens hanging basketball shoes (.Reporter, J une 19).
However, in his anti-yuppie haste, he failed to answer the question
at hand: why?
Will Daniel
J uly 3, 1986
P.S. I met some yuppies once. They were just regular folks who
dressed a little funny, but some of them spoke with their teeth tight
ly clenched, which made their words difficult to make out. Perhaps
this is one of the reasons they are so widely misunderstood.
Daniel is still tapping his loafers
Dear Editor:
Once again, I can see Mr. Daniel tapping his loafers, this time in
eager anticipation, as he reads my response to his query about hang
ing sneakers. I cant tell you how delighted I am that he enjoyed
my wit, however, I dont think he quite understood the letters con
tent. So, lets try one more time.
The question, at least according to his first diatribe, is at foot, not
at hand. Furthermore, I did try to offer some explanation as to why
kids hang their "rides"; however, Mr. Daniels query may be too
elusive for me to understand. I get the feeling hes the type of guy
who might ask why the Mona Lisa is smiling (clenched teeth and
all).
Finally, perhaps I am paranoid about people like him, who call
age-old traditions like hanging sneakers "troubling." His original let
ter set the tone for my response, not the inverse. If he was only as
king why, then why was he so flippant?
Mr. Daniel, arrogance and ignorance are never the same thing as
genuine curiosity!
Still in sneakers.
Paul M. Drexel
J uly 17, 1985
All public debate reflects the threat
of gentriflcation, sneakerman says
Dear Editor:
I d like to add another thought to the Suspended Pumas/Tapping
Loafers controversy (SPTL for short) I unwittingly ignited in this
space on J une 19.
After some initial confusion, I realized that perhaps all public
debate in Hoboken today eventually reflects the threat of gentrifica-
tion; that since the stakes are so high for so many, and the threat so
imminent, fear and loathing of yuppies intrudes into every discus
sion. I f we were discussing anything from particle physics to heavy
metal, one of us would soon have to defend the yuppie position, the
other, the Aboriginal Hobokener position (which might be backed
up with claims of up to 100 years residence).
In such a climate, SPTL was bound to be exchanged sooner or
later.
Finally, I am genuinely sorry that my approach to SPTL is too dry
for Mr. Drexel. After all, it is said that humor is one of only two ef
fective antidotes for venom.
Sincerely,
Wl Daniel
J uly 31, 1985
Stick to the Issue at " foot," Daniel
Dear Editor:
After not seeing a letter in the J uly 23 issue of your paper from
Mr. Daniel, I thought the discussion of hanging sneakers had final
ly been "hung" to rest. Unfortunately, after reading his reply two
weeks ago, I m afraid the issue has taken on a whole new meaning.
Frankly, I think Mr. Daniel must have been sitting on the mound
in the little league park when he wrote his reply. His logic is as
curved as some of the pitches kids throw in their games.
The issue of hanging sneakers has little to do with yuppies, dis
placement, or (this may come as a surprise) particle physics. Those
are important topics, but their connection to the overhead sight is
remote. The issue has more to do with accepting the cultural diver
sity that exists in our city. I could care less whether you are a
longtime resident, yuppie, newcomer, senior citizen or even Wil
liam Daniel, as long as you are not out to make this town into a
sterile bedroom community.
Many of my friends who are new to Hoboken are enamored with
the towns melting pot atmosphere. It is this atmosphere which is
the soul of our city.
I only ask that if Mr. Daniel plans on replying, that he stick to the
issue at "foot." Anytime he wants to discuss displacement, yuppies
or even particle physics, I will be happy to share my views.
And he can be as dry as a cracker or as wet as a babys bottom, it
makes no difference to me.
From behind home plate,
Paul M. Drexel
Aug. 14, 1985
There are primates among us
Dear Editor:
By dubbing Hobokens residential centenarians "Aboriginal,"
writer Will Daniel, who was recently deeply involved in a verbal
duel regarding the relative merits of SPTLhis term for the local
teenage sport of entangling wom-out shoes over telephone wires
seems also to think that it is his missionary duty to convert us na
tives to the new Yuppie real estate religion called "gentrification."
I think Mr. Daniel would be surprised to learn that there is a sub
merged clique of quiet aristocrats, who, I m sure, would qualify as
"primates" in Mr. Daniels articulate vernacular, as they would
make us "aborigines" look like relative newcomers.
Yours truly,
Ralph Ruggiere
Aug. 24, 1985
A modest proposal
Dear Editor:
I truly enjoy reading the letters to the editor column. Some letters
are so hilarious that I wonder if they were actually written by
readers or if they were written by the paper to entertain the readers.
I have especially enjoyed the letters about the hanging sneakers of
Hoboken. I too am tired of seeing the same old sneakers hanging
from the wires. How dullhow boringhow passe! Lets stop pus
syfooting around with sneakers and lets expand our horizons. After
all as Mr. Drexel said we dont want Hoboken to become a sterile
bedroom community, so my modest proposal is to get real diverse.
Lets start hanging bras and jock straps from the wires instead of
old sneakers.
The immediate benefits would be that Mr. Daniel and Mr. Drexel
would stop arguing about sneakers. This idea would make Hoboken
an interesting place in which to live and visit. The town would not
become a sterile bedroom community and it would show to the
world how culturally diverse Hoboken really is.
With tongue in cheek,
E. Golembeski
Sept. 4, 1985
Tom Vezzetti.
CHAPTER SIX
Politics: In Desperation,
the People of Hoboken Opt
for Comic Relief
In Hudson County politics, those who inherit the machine inherit
the earth.
These words were almost as true in the 1970s as they were in the
30s and 40s. For the first half of the 20th century, J ersey City
Mayor Frank "I am the law" Hague had such a grip on the elec
torate he could assure U.S. presidents of delivering the vote to a
projected number. His Hoboken lieutenant, Mayor Bernard
McFeely, ran the local government like a private business, leading
the National Municipal League to conclude in 1948, "The people of
Hoboken have been robbed...there is not a single service which is
not overmanned by 50 percent to 150 percent." McFeelys stron-
garm rule affected every aspect of life-from the prohibition era
speakeasies and brothels to jobs on the docks and in the factories.
Things havent changed all that much since that time, although
"honest graft" is no longer as blatant as it once was. Federal
prosecutors, freed by national administrations that no longer found
the old Hudson County machine as reliable or necessary as they
once did, began sending many of the full-time political bosses to
jail. Indeed, many were surprised to find that taking bribes was il
legal or that requiring a political payment from every government
worker for the party fund wasnt the same as collecting union dues.
The Hoboken governmentone of the largest employers in the
citycontinued to be laden with patronage positions and the type of
management that is better at getting votes and providing jobs and
favors than running a city. "Theres nothing wrong with the
patronage system," then-Mayor Steve Cappiello told a reporter
during his 1985 re-election campaign. "Its natural to reward your
own political supporters."
Disbursing the spoils of public office was an institutionalized part
of Hoboken life. Even if a persons job didnt depend on it, that of
his neighbor or relative probably did. It would take an extremely
cunning politician, a brilliant statesman and bom leader to conquer
anything as solid and established as the local political machine.
Tom Vezzetti was none of the above.
In his 50s, Vezzetti was a local character, a very large man who
supposedly played football without a helmet in the navy. His fami
ly owned a local flophouse/pool hall/bar known as the Madison.
After his fathers death, Vezzetti lived in the Madison, often sleep
ing at night on the pool table, or holding court with winos, shipyard
workers, and anyone else who came in to drink themselves stupid.
He still recalls with fondness his days as "the illegitimate father of
the drunks."
In the late 70s/early 80s, about the time Hobokens gentrifica-
tion began picking up steam, Vezzetti had a vision: he would be a
politician. He started tramping about town on his mission, first in
bermuda shorts, mismatched size-13 shoes, and dirty T-shirts; later
in loud, ill-fitting suits he picked up in a going-out-of-business sale
at a nearby clothing store.
Vezzetti, though, had two things many oldtime Hobokenites didnt
have~a college degree and a masters in history from New York
University. It took him 11 years to graduate college, but few
Hobokenites his age ever made it out of high school. In addition,
he claimed to be writing a dissertation on Hoboken politics for a
PhD in English literature. When asked about the connection be
tween the two subjects, he made analogies between feudal England
and Hobokens Board of Education.
Despite his wit and big words, many residents felt Vezzetti was
the village idiot. His brain, however, was perfect for the television
age. His concentration lasted about 15 seconds. Calling himself a
"psychological verbal therapist, Vezzetti could spout quick wit
ticisms and banter with ease. He eventually channelled his cam
paigns into pat sayings:
Steve Cappiello
"The administration has two types of people working for them
idiots and gangsters.
"Im not this good, theyre that bad."
"Theyre all sanctimonious hypocrites and jaded Machiavellians."
"Im not your normal guinea. I went to Bradley Beach with all the
J ews."
1 apologize for my improprieties, but politics is the art of im
proprieties."
And his classic, "Always a pleasure."
Vezzetti began to attract a following. At first his groupies were the
distraught, the homeless and near homelessthose who were most
upset by the changes rapidly taking place in Hoboken.
In addition, new people were on the streets, people who were
young, different and unfamiliar, not wedded to the omnipresent
machine. They were searching for urban utopia, a quest that encom
passed everything from good restaurants to good government.
They found Tom Vezzetti. Also not manacled to the machine, he
had little to lose. I f nothing else, he appeared too crazy to be any
thing but honest.
POLITICS: IN DESPERATION 51
In the early 80s, a rash of deadly fires hit Hoboken. Arson-for-
profit was the charge, the profit being either rehabilitation of build
ings for high rentpayers or condo conversion. All investigations
were inconclusive, but there was a panic in the tenements.
Vezzetti got himself a bullhorn and pounded up and down the
avenues in his neighborhood, charging that the greedy "secret ser
vice" in City Hall-meaning mafia-were profiting from the dis
placement of the oldtime residents. He began to promise that, if
elected, he would both stop rampant development and build addi
tional housing.
More people started listening to Vezzetti. With the help of Steve
Block, an educator and former 60s radical, and several other early
settlers, Vezzetti ran against Mayor Steve Cappiellos machine and
was elected to the city council in 1983.
For two years he disrupted council meetings, screaming and carry
ing on his attack against the administration.Not that the mayor was
above the renegade councilmans antics. When Vezzetti barged into
Cappiellos City Hall office one day in J uly, the mayor tossed a
firecracker at him from his desk. The small explosive popped harm
lessly at Vezzettis feet. Councilman Pat Pasculli, a machine young
turk and then Vezzetti supporter, later threatened to retaliate against
the mayor with water balloons.
Still unshaven, unkempt, and uncontrollable, Vezzetti remained
the sole howl of discontent. Meanwhile, the condo craze
heightened, and the panic spread. The "village idiot" began cam
paigning for mayor.
Gentrification is the central concern of politics
Dear Editor:
For decades Hoboken has been victimized by the politics of per
sonality, patronage and pressure. Serious problems in the city fester
and grow while politicians have been elected and reelected by re
quiring political loyalty from their families, recipients of municipal
services, and residents of publicly-owned housing.
It is my view that the major causes of high taxes and rents, poor
municipal services, inadequate public education, and a crumbling in
frastructure are twofold: first, the continued dominance of
patronage politics which controls public resources for private gain;
and second, redevelopment policies in housing and economic
development which effectively exclude most Hoboken residents.
The central concern for all of us in 1985, therefore, is who will
live in Hoboken. Those who favor Hoboken becoming more and
more gentrified will no doubt support either a traditional politician
or someone new who will continue the current development
policies. Those of us who want Hoboken to be affordable and at
tractive to a mixed community of different nationalities, races and
classes will have to find policies and politicians able to hold
economic forces in line, provide development which benefits all
people irrespective of family wealth or political connection, and
make government work effectively and efficiently.
I am convinced that an overwhelming majority of people in
Hoboken share the goals of reduced taxes, affordable housing,
decent schools, effective services, and an end to political extortion.
The trick will be to cut through the unnecessary antagonisms of
tenants and small homeowners, oldtimers and newcomers,
Hispanics and non-Hispanics, and produce a majority coalition by
the time we hold the runoff election in J une of 1985.
Steve Block
Sept. 28, 1983
Vezzetti: The mayor and his backroom deals
have ruined our city
Dear Editor:
I have been extremely happy to be working so hard to elect Roger
Dorian for Freeholder not because of his personal achievements
such as his career in the banking industry or his 30 years in the
marines but because he is running against Steve Cappiello.
Steve Cappiello has stood for everything thats wrong in Hoboken
and Hudson County politics. He has become wealthy as a result of
his political and economic maneuvering, while he has failed as
Freeholder and Mayor to address the serious problems we face. For
most of his political career he was in bed with county politicians,
and the high tax rate, the sorry state of county government, the in
competence of county institutions and the backroom political deals
are his legacy.
Tom Vezzetti
Oct. 24, 1985
Vezzetti: Political thugs are behind my arrest
Dear Editor:
On Friday, Feb. 24, 1984, Director of Public Safety J ames Gior
dano had me arrested because I wouldnt bow to his wish that I
leave a City Council committee meeting. As an elected Councilman
I had every right to be in the meeting so long as I wasnt the fifth
councilman in the room which would then violate the sunshine law.
I was the fourth. If J immy Giordano cannot discuss the Public
Safety budget in front of me, thats his problem. To have me ar
rested and to physically assault me because I wouldnt bow to his
whim represents the kind of two-bit thug behavior I grew up learn
ing about in Hoboken during the 40s and 50s. I will not tolerate
this kind of behavior in the 1980s.
I pledge to do everything in my power to rid city government of
the plague of J immy Giordano and all the sordid, corrupting influen
ces he represents.
Tom Vezzetti, Councilman
Feb. 29, 1984
Corruption plagues Hoboken government
Dear Editor:
When J immy Giordano (Hoboken Director of Public Safety) had
Tom Vezzetti arrested last Friday, he not only violated Councilman
Vezzettis rights as a citizen and an elected official, but he also
demonstrated the ultimate corruption that plagues Hobokens
government.
Tom Vezzetti for years has been Hobokens consummate public
citizen. Many have quarrelled with lois angry and sometimes erratic
style. But no one doubts his commitment to open and honest
government. When he was elected last year, he breathed new life
into Hobokens moribund political process. When it turned out that
newly elected sixth ward Councilman Pat Pasculli shared Vezzettis
desire to break with secretive, self-serving politics, many of us
began to see that 1985s mayoral election could give Hoboken the
opportunity to eliminate the stench of machine politics from our
schools and government once and for all.
Steve Block, member, Hoboken Board of Education
Feb. 29, 1984
Clarifying the circumstances of Vezzettls arrest
Dear Editor:
I hope to dispel the misplaced and erroneous allegations made by
Steve Block in his letter to your paper.
The Public Safety Committee had scheduled a meeting for 2 p.m.
on Feb. 24 to discuss budgetary questions with representatives of
the police and fire unions in light of the Citys current tax crisis.
In order to avoid a violation of the states "Sunshine Law," the
council cannot have more than four of its members present at any
committee meeting. Before Tom Vezzettis appearance on the
scene, the committee already had a maximum number of an
ticipated participants. Nevertheless, when Councilman Vezzetti ar
rived he was admitted since Councilman Romano had not yet ar
rived. This did not, however, satisfy Tom Vezzetti, who proceeded
to disrupt the meeting with his usual shouts and unfounded allega
tions of secret meetings.
As it became apparent that Mr. Vezzettis interest was more to dis
rupt than to participate in a fruitful meeting, Public Safety Director
Giordano, in exasperation, arose and told Mr. Vezzetti to leave. Mr.
Vezzettis response to this was a dash for Mr. Giordanos chair,
literally pushing Councilman Cemelli and Mr. Giordano to the side
in the attempt. It was at this point that Director Giordano ordered
Mr. Vezzettis arrest in order to resume an orderly meeting.
Mr. Vezzetti, in his usual style, sat firmly and defiantly with his
fingers grasping the arm of the Directors chair, until Captain
Totaro entered the room and performed the arrest. If anybody
should be charged with assault in this incident, its Mr. Vezzetti.
I agree with Mr. Block that the facts of this case are simple, but
unfortunately, he was not able to get his facts straight, since he
wasnt there.
I, for one, would certainly be appreciative of any fellow Council
member who could expend such time and energy in efforts benefi
cial to our community. I am, however, growing to resent the drain
Mr. Vezzetti is placing upon our Council during our time of tax
and budget crisis. In this regard, I would admonish Councilman
Vezzetti to stop running for office, and to start fulfilling the respon
sibilities of the office to which he was elected.
Helen Macri, Council President
Mar. 7, 1984
I love the garish magnificence
and zaniness of Hoboken politics
Dear Editor:
The cliche runs, Better late than never," and like most cliches,
this one contains a motherlode of truth. My tardiness concerns a let
ter which derided Mayor Cappiello and Councilman Vezzetti for
their "ridiculous antics" in the now notorious firecracker commedia
dellarte. What a shame!
I mean, with the rest of the country gurgling in the quicksand of
its own sincerity and responsibility, how can you hate a mayor who
tosses firecrackers at a councilman that drives him crazy, or, for
that matter, a candidate who, legend has it, taunted his "absentee"
opponent in the last election with the words, "Come on out, I know
youre in there!" Of such garish magnificence was the spirit of our
zany, plebeian city forged. I found the entire episode hilariously
refreshingthe perfect antidote to the tedium which envelops the
politics of most communities.
Sure, "civic-minded" perfectionists frown on such folderol; and
plenty of people are falling over each other trying to appear poised
and righteous in an attempt to please the newly arrived gentry. Me?
As long as they arent throwing grenades, I love a dash of nonsense.
William J . Keller
Sept. 19, 1984
Vezzetti is trying to divide
Hoboken into old and new
Dear Editor:
This outrageous slander of all those who served in the office from
Hoboken is typical of the tactics of Vezzetti and those who control
him. They are trying to divide the people of Hoboken into two
campsthe old and the new of Hoboken. The puppeteer (Steve
Block) behind Vezzetti is a self-proclaimed savior who has tried to
develop a power base in the school system and City Hall, but,
having failed in this regard, is using Vezzetti to label "old timers"
as evil, dirty, and dishonest.
The great majority of new arrivals in Hoboken of recent years do
not follow this divisive line of nonsense but enjoy and participate
positively in Hoboken life just as other new arrivals have
throughout Hobokens history. We are a community of all types of
people. To be a part of this community, it is enough to say, "Im
from Hoboken."
Mayor Steve Cappiello, as Mayor Louis DePascale, his predeces
sor, does not divide people. He joins them.
Sincerely
J oseph W. Hottendorf
Nov. 21, 1984
Vezzetti: Bye-bye to the
scoundrels and gangsters
Dear Editor:
You know, once in a blue moon even a scoundrel like J oe Hotten
dorf is right. In my determination to get rid of what Steve Cappiel
lo and his entourage of gangsters represent, I do sometimes get car
ried away and take a point too far. As a first term councilman who
has had my own unique way of fighting corruption for many years,
there are still some things for me to learn about being more
diplomatic as a public figure.
But I will stand my excess language against Steve Cappiellos
deeds any time. Hottendorf calls me greedy. Thats ridiculous!
When I owned the Madison I ran the first shelter for the homeless
in Hoboken. I ts Hottendorfs boss who has gone from rags to
riches through politics.
Everyone knows that wealth and greed dont drive me. No, J oe
Hottendorf, its the determination to get your kind out of power so
we can have a government that helps everyone instead of only
those who support it. And listen, I ve been in Hoboken longer than
J oe Hottendorf has been alive. My family helped build this city and
for Hottendorf, who along with his father plays political games
with the lives of kids on the line, to claim that I represent new
comers and not oldtimers shows how self-serving he really is. Pat
Pasculli and I represent the interests of everyone who wants politi
cal change. What you saw last J une and on November 6th is an in
dication of what I hope will happen next May; oldtimers and new
comers uniting to say "Bye bye Birdie" to J oe Hottendorfs kind of
politics.
Always a pleasure,
Tom Vezzetti
Nov. 28, 1984
Hoboken is divided, not between old
and new, but between good and bad
Dear Editor:
Hottendorf claims Hoboken is divided. Hes right-divided be
tween those who benefit the most from political corruption and the
great majority of citizens and public employees who suffer the con
sequences of inept management and second rate government educa
tion. Hottendorfs mayor, their friends on the city council, and
some unscrupulous developers are responsible for forcing oldtimers
and many first generation newcomers out of Hoboken while spread
ing fear and anger among many who remain. No J oe, it isnt those
of us seeking change who are dividing this community. It is you,
your political friends, and your brand of politics.
The Cappiello strategy for undermining opponents has begun to
unfold. They call Tom Vezzetti "crazy," Pat Pasculli "naive," Steve
Block a "puppeteer" or a "hypocrite," and no doubt theyll find
more names for the many other community leaders involved in the
growing reform movement. Hopefully, their name calling wont
work and after next Mays election, we can begin building respon
sible government.
Steve Block
Dec. 26, 1984
The City Council is a three-ring circus
Dear Editor:
Hear ye! Hear ye! The circus is in town! Best of all, the admis
sion is freecome to a City Council meeting on the first and third
Wednesday of every month...theres just one price youll have to
pay. Your reasoning and intelligence will be left at the door as you
enter the Council Chambers.
1was at the Nov. 7 three-ring circus. The main attraction was two
whining, vociferous councilmen, who dominated the center ring by
using the other Council members and the public audience as a
sounding board. The meeting last Wednesday can only be described
as chaotic, and I would like to know whos in charge?
P.S. Councilmen Vezzetti and Pasculli, its about time to quit
"show biz"the public wants quality and so far, "we aint seen noth
ing yet." I ts time to clean up your act and show some respect to
the audience.
Gratefully living in the Third Ward
Dec. 5, 1984
Mayor Cappiello turned this city around
Dear Editor:
In 1973, Steve Cappiello was elected mayor of Hoboken. At that
time, I was 16 years old. I remember a Hoboken that was the brunt
of many jokes. Many people laughed at our city. Yet, the condition
of our city wasnt funny. Much of the housing was deteriorated.
Prior to our present mayors election, riots in the streets were fre
quent. Today, Hoboken is a pretty safe, prosperous towna town
that we can be proud of.
Homeowners have prospered. Much of Hobokens revitalization is
due to the hard work and dedication of Steve Cappiello.
Mayor Cappiello is known to be a shrewd politician. I know him
as the youngest child of a family of 12 children who struggled from
poverty to decency through pride and hard work.
The mayors most boisterous critic, Tom Vezzetti slanders our
mayor with personal slurs and inaccurate accusations through his
bull horn and loud speaker. Tom Vezzetti shouts while the mayor
works many hours a day, rebuilding a city which was once the
slum of Hudson County. Tom Vezzetti wakes people up at 7 in the
morning shouting in the streets that the mayor should do something
about the snow around town (I know because I was awakened by
his screams), while the mayor helps plan the development of our
waterfront. Tom Vezzetti invades banks and businesses with his
"frantic behavior," while the mayor promotes the growth of our
avenue. (Does Mr. Vezzetti do anything except attack a decent,
family-oriented man who cared enough about his city and the
people in it to dedicate much of his adult life to our citys rebirth?)
Steve Cappiellos business-like approach to government brought
stability to our city, while Tom Vezzettis ineptness destroyed his
familys business on 14th and Washington.
Our mayor is the responsible parent of three fine children and the
grandparent of one (with another on the way). I personally know
that he cares about these issues. When he is reelected mayor I am
confident he will devote more time to them.
, I am also confident that the people of Hoboken, the "Hobo-
kenites" and the "New Yorkers," will realize that Steve Cappiello
has done his job well. I cannot seriously believe that they will hand
the responsibility of governing our city to Tom Vezzetti or any
other "anti-" candidate.
I am very proud of my uncle. I know that my father, who was the
oldest in the mayors family and who worked most of his life in a
factory (a factory which was the first in the nation to be converted
into apartments under the administration) would have been proud
of him too.
Terry LaBruno
Educator, Academy of the Sacred Heart
Dec. 12, 1984
Terry, you left some facts out about your uncle
Dear Editor:
Like just about all of us in public life, Steve Cappiello enjoys the
love and respect of his family. This only becomes an issue for the
community when a member of the Cappiello family, in her under
standable rush to support her uncle, leaves out some important his
torical and contemporary facts. Such was the case with Terry Cap
piello LaBrunos letter last week.
The programs responsible for where Hoboken is today were estab
lished not by Steve Cappiello but by his predecessor, Mayor
DePascale, through the Model Cities and CDA leadership of Mike
Coleman. Once such programs as home improvement and tenement
rehabilitation were started, factors like our geographical location,
the quality of our buildings, and the diversity of our community
were largely responsible for attracting outside money and people to
Hoboken. It is disrespectful to the memory of Mayor DePascale
that if credit is due, it is not appropriately given to his administra
tion.
It cannot be disputed that Steve Cappiello has benefited politically
from these earlier initiatives. He has failed, however, to offset the
bad effects of Hobokens development and has done little to im
prove other areas as well. Under Cappiello, displacement has been
rampant, taxes have soared, and services have deteriorated. As a
schoolteacher I know first hand that our education problems have
not simply been "overlooked as Ms. LaBruno suggests. Rather, the
Mayor, through his appointees on the Board of Education, has con
tributed to our problems by using the school system as a political
trading post.
I also strongly disagree that Cappiello has invested his life in
politics because he cared enough about his city and the people in
it. Like other political bosses before him, Cappiello has gotten
fame and fortune as a result of his career in politics. No one should
be confused about his motives for continuing to control Hoboken
politics.
I do agree that Tom Vezzetti is angry about what Cappiello has
done and not done. As a councilman for the past 18 months, I, too,
have become more and more angry at the way Cappiello runs
Hoboken. Fortunately for all of us, it now appears more and more
people agree with Tom and me. I hope and pray that the results in
May will also indicate that a majority of voters see through the Cap
piello smokescreen.
Sincerely,
Pat Pasculli
Dec. 18, 1984
He is my uncle and he has done
wonders for this town
Dear Editor:
I wrote an article to this newspaper on Nov. 6, praising the ac
complishments of Mayor Cappiello and his administration. That let
ter appeared on Dec. 11. Mr. Pasculli, in his rush to try to refute
the truth, had his letter appear on Dec. 18.
In that letter Mr. Pasculli said I left out some historical and con
temporary facts in my article. I am sure Mr. Pasculli knows that a
fact is a concrete statement of some reality. Patty, heres some HIS
TORICAL REALITY:
In the early 1970s, Hoboken was not a safe, prosperous town.
People wanted and chose to move out.
Heres some CONTEMPORARY REALITY:
Hoboken is a safe, prosperous town. People want to live here.
People are spending a lot of money here. The streets are indeed
safer.
FUTURE REALITY:
The waterfront is going to be developed and will generate more
money, jobs and living and recreational space.
OBVIOUS REALITY:
Steve Cappiello has been mayor for 12 years. To say that he had
nothing to do with "where Hoboken is today" is not only foolish
but ignorant of reality. Yet, I can understand how Mr. Pasculli can
be a little confused about reality. After all, I know who he has been
hanging around with lately.
Mr. Pasculli, look around the town. The image is not "smokey,"
its crystal clear. People are buying and building and are proud.
Ineffective leadership over the last 12 years would have deterred
and altered the progress you credit previous administrations with.
Steve Cappiellos sane, effective leadership did not deter the
progress, it enhanced it.
When the smoke clears from your eyes, Mr. Pasculli, I m sure
youll realize that, like it or not, Steve Cappiello has gotten the job
done.
As a citizen of Hoboken, I hope and pray that Steve Cappiello
decides to dedicate four more years to Hobokens rebirth. As a rela
tive, I know he doesnt need the aggravation. You see, Mr. Pascul
li, you were right on one account in your article. I do love and
respect my uncle. Not because of who he is or what hes done for
me, but because of what he has accomplished for the town that I
love and work and live in.
Terry Cappiello LaBruno
Educator, Academy of the Sacred Heart
Dec. 26, 1984
Vezzetti: Ill undergo psychological testing
if Cappiello takes a lie detector test
Dear Editor:
Now that Steve Cappiello has formally announced his intention to
seek a fourth term as mayor, I am re-issuing my call for a formal,
open debate between the two of us. Mayor Cappiello and his key
supporters have attempted to portray my unorthodox political be
havior as a clear indication of my so-called "mental instability" and
my inability to lead this city. I welcome the opportunity for the
Mayor to prove these allegations in public at Hoboken High School.
The Mayor has called for me to undergo psychological testing. I
have gladly accepted and have urged in return that he undergo both
psychological and lie-detector testing. The results of both sets of
tests, administered to both of us, should be made public at the
debate which I still feel should be held later this month.
The issues in Hoboken are so deep and our positions and respec
tive ability to deal with them so different that a debate between us,
whoever wins the most points, can only improve the chances that a
wise public decision will be made on May 14th. For the good of us
all, lets hope Steve Cappiello accepts my challenge as I have ac
cepted his and we can get on with the important job of going open
ly and honestly to the public.
Tom Vezzetti
J an. 6, 1985
Vezzetti is power-mad and incompetent
Dear Editor:
The "House of Cards" known as the Vezzetti campaign is crum
bling. Of course, any objective person who has observed Vezzetti
knows that he is a power-mad fool without competence or decency.
The latest fiasco was the fundraising packet mailed last week.
Vezzetti, a supposed proponent of ethics in government, used his
councilmans office and the Citys corporate seal for the purpose of
raising campaign monies. This gross abuse should be investigated
by the appropriate authorities who monitor election fundraising ac
tivities.
At last weeks council meeting, bully boy Vezzetti blew his top
when confronted with his misuse of public office and Councilman
Pasculli broke a microphone and ran out of the meeting. These two
screamers, who sanctimoniously expound on every occasion, were
caught with their pants down. They are hypocrites.
Edward Curtiss
Feb. 20, 1985
Im new, but I think Cappiello
must have done something right
Dear Editor:
Having moved to Hoboken early last year, I am one of perhaps
thousands of new residents who will be participating in the mayoral
election this spring. I enjoy life in Hoboken and plan on remaining
for the foreseeable future, and because of that I am taking a serious
interest in this campaign.
There seems to be some criticism directed toward Mayor Cappiel
lo and his administration, yet there seems to be an undercurrent of
vagueness about it all. I ts very, very easy to sling mud and hurl
idle insults, and its easy to make unsubstantiated accusations or
imply wrongdoing by innuendo. Any intelligent voter can recognize
a cheap shot. My initial impression is that the Mayor is being at
tacked for the very policies he should be praised forthe primary
gripe seems to be Hobokens rocketing urban revival.
What the critics of growth do not realize, or perhaps do not wish
to admit, is that this growth benefits everybody in the city regard
less of how long they have lived here or what their economic status
is at the present time. Rising property values result in increased tax
dollars, which in turn support the city services provided to all of us.
The many retail businesses which now thrive in Hoboken con
tribute their share of tax dollars as well, in addition to meeting the
needs of residents and providing plenty of employment. The city
now has the economic energy of a gold rush "boom-town" but still
has retained the warmth and civic pride of a small town. Few
places to live can offer more.
My point in making these observations is that changes like these
dont just happen spontaneously. Good government, like the kind
weve had under Mayor Cappiello, doesnt just happen by chance.
Hoboken wouldnt have experienced its resurgence without the
hard work, sound planning and active participation of its elected
leaders. I suppose there are a lot of people who would like to turn
back the clock, but theyre fooling themselves, and the voters, if
they think they can do that.
Many external factors (proximity to Manhattan, shifting popula
tion patterns, the high rate of crime and high rents in New York
City, lower New J ersey income taxes, etc.) have combined to as
sure Hobokens destiny, and that destiny is unquestionably one of
explosive growth.
The person who we will elect this spring has to have solid govern
ment experience, combined with a realistic vision of the future. We
just cant gamble on anyone who offers less. I ll vote for Steve Cap
piello.
Christopher Henry
Mar. 20, 1985
Henrys only been here a year; he doesnt
know the " renaissance" is like a neutron bomb
Dear Editor:
A comment on Christopher Henrys rather articulate tribute to the
political and economic acumen of Mayor Steve Cappiello.
Considering his length of residency (one year), Mr. Henrys eval
uation of the Hoboken environment leaves much to be desired. As
politics is not my cup of tea, Mayor Cappiellos re-election is
neither here nor there, but I do resent Mr. Henrys statement that
there are a lot of people in Hoboken who are trying to turn the
clock back and are fooling themselves in the attempt.
As for turning the clock back, apparently Mr. Henry isnt paying
too much attention to the machinations of the Reagan administra
tion, but many of the Hoboken "clock-tumers" are an instantaneous
lot, whose incomes, though slender, share an aesthetic satisfaction
that foregoes luxury but maintains dignity.
The swashbuckling philosophy bom of the "boom town"
phenomenon does not appeal to the Hoboken bom and bred,
whatever their occupation.
An oversimplified analogy perhaps, but the so-called "renais
sance" can be likened to the neutron bomb, destroying the human
environment but keeping the property intact. Redevelopment may
have increased property values, but it has created the prospect of ex
tinction for the "clock-tumers."
I find Mr. Henrys civic pride most admirable, but I think the
secret of the whole situation is locked in the old cynical saw, "the
more things change, the more they remain the same."
Yours truly,
Ralph Ruggiere
Mar. 27, 1985
The city has deteriorated under Cappiello
Dear Editor:
Since Christopher Henry has only been in town for less than a
year, his misinformed views about how life has improved in
Hoboken over the course of the Cappiello administration are per
haps understandable.
Both property taxes and rents have certainly skyrocketed during
my nine years in Hoboken. By contrast, public services have at best
stagnated and at worst seriously declined. Garbage was picked up
six times a week back then. Today, its three times. The public
school system cant provide supervision during the lunch hour, a
service the school I went to 30 years ago considered normal. At the
Wallace School, toilet paper is not available in the bathrooms. A
decent education which would enable Hoboken children to compete
with those in the rest of the state in educational attainment con
tinues to be beyond the systems grasp.
Parking problems have increased. Washington Street is increasing
ly impassable during business hours. Police response to crimes-in-
progress is inadequate by any objective standard. Our parks are
broken down and littered with glass. Animal waste and garbage con
tinue to fill our streets.
Rising property values are attractive to those who want to stay for
a while, make a fast profit, and move on. For those of us who
moved here to raise our families in a small, stable, multi-ethnic
community, where civic participation could result in a better life
for all of us, the Cappiello accomplishments are bleak indeed.
Sincerely,
J oan Vermeulen
Mar. 27, 1985
Vezzetti is the "Clown Prince of our City"
Dear editor:
While attending the political debate between the Mayoral can
didates held at the Hoboken High School on April 22, Mayoral can
didate Tom Vezzetti "The Clown Prince of our City Council," un
leashed a verbal attack upon my character, because I had the
audacity to ask that he answer the questions presented to him by
the audience instead of going on a political tirade.
Mr. Vezzetti stated that I as a Police Lieutenant in the City of
Hoboken, was solely responsible for allowing the children of our
city to run rampant in the streets. He further stated that this was
due to the fact that I supported Steve Cappiello for re-election to
the office of Mayor of our City.
To answer the first part of Mr. Vezzettis remarks, let me say that
I do not agree that our children are running rampant in the streets,
but if it were so, it is asinine to think that one member of the
Police Department could have such awesome control to be solely
responsible for it. This certainly does not lend much credibility to
the rationale of this man who is seeking the highest political office
our city has to offer.
To answer the second part of his remarks, he is most certainly cor
rect in the fact that I support Steve Cappiello for re-election to the
office of Mayor of our great city. As a lifelong resident of our
city...there is no doubt in my mind that we are now experiencing
some of the best times this city has ever seen, with an even brighter
future. We may all once again state with pride that we are
"Hobokenites." They no longer laugh at Hoboken but envy it.
This, Mr. Vezzetti, was accomplished throughout the Cappiello
years in office and you would do well to take a page from the Cap
piello political philosophy and THINK before you speak; this may
keep you from constantly putting your foot in your mouth.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Turso
May 1, 1985
Vezzetti is Mr. Frontal Assault
Dear Editor:
Tom Vezzetti is brash, honest, and dedicated. He is determined to
give Hoboken residents an open, honest direct government where
decisions can be reviewed upfront. There is nothing underhanded
about the way Tom Vezzetti approaches government. He is Mr.
Frontal Assault. Beneath his brusque exterior is a very intelligent
man who possesses a singular dedication to better government. He
uses a no frills approach which will clean up city hall.
Sincerely,
Roger J. Dorian
May 8, 1985
If Hoboken is at its high point,
why does Vezzetti criticize it?
Dear Editor:
I have lived in Hoboken all my life (over 50 years) and I have
seen the city at its worst and at its best. My observation of our com
munity is that it is currently at one of its highest points in history.
It is a proud moment for me when I am asked by someone, "Where
do you live?" "I live in Hoboken." The reaction is always the same.
People feel good for me that I live in this town because it is such a
desirable place to be.
Yetwhy do I hear Tom Vezzetti and Steve Block constantly find
ing fault with Hoboken. Never once have I heard any words of
praise for any part of our community. There seems to be something
wrong with this negative approach. Hoboken has turned the comer.
We have a wonderful city with nice people in residence and in busi
ness and if we maintain stability in our local government Hoboken
will continue to be the place to live. I would like to ask Mr. Vezzet
ti, "If Hoboken is in such bad shape as he says, why are people so
anxious to live and do business here?" Steve Cappiello must be
doing something right.
Sincerely,
J ohn M. Smith
May 8, 1985
Real estate boom, not mayor, is to blame
Dear Editor:
I have lived in Hoboken for 20 years and have seen the town with
its ups and downs. But we the people, or should I say, the tenants,
seem to forget that it is not the Mayor who is to blame for what is
happening in Hoboken. But it is the Real Estate Boom. Of course,
the Mayor is getting the blame for it, he is the mayor and he will al
ways get the blame. Who else?
We have forgotten all the good he has done for the town. If we
will only take the time to sit back and remember.
I know, we the tenants are angry of what is happening, but I hear
there is going to be a fund raising program to help the tenants.
We can do a lot if we vote for Mr. Cappiello (1A).
I f we can sit down and go speak to the Mayor I m sure he will lis-
ten and help us. Because if he does not know what is the problem
how can he help us. There is a saying. Ask, and you will receive.
Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.
Sincerely,
Helping Hand
May 29, 1985
I voted for Vezzetti because
I wanted to stay in Hoboken
Dear Editor:
Mr. Vezzetti won. I voted for the man in both the election and in
the runoff. Why? Because thanks to the old administration, I am
personally going to be ousted from my apartment in Hoboken. I am
one of the many middle class inhabitants here who could not afford
to purchase my apartment when the building went condo.
I do not object to landowners who live in part of the property they
rent out or at least live in the city where their property is located.
But I do object to housing laws that make it possible for
speculators to buy up property where they may never plan to live. I
object to laws that do not protect the rights of Hobokens citizens
before looking out for the rights of wealthy opportunists who have
come into our city to make a buck.
$165,000 for a simple one-bedroom apartment is insane! Who can
even begin to think of spending that kind of money? I make an
okay living, but six figure condo prices are out of the question. By
changing the housing legislation to say you must reside in the
house or the condo you buy, Hoboken could have thwarted
speculators and kept condo prices more realistic. With fair pricing,
some of us who currently make Hoboken our home would have had
a chance to keep Hoboken as our home.
I hope Mr. Vezzetti will change our housing regulationsnot just
look at them, but change them so that, unlike me in two years,
other residents will be able to say, "Yes, I still live in Hoboken."
Sincerely,
Charles G. Bolcik
J une 26, 1985
Washington Street, Hoboken.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Yuppies Strike Back
In J une 1985, the inconceivable happened. "Crazy" Tom Vezzetti
defeated Steve Cappiello, a 12-year machine mayor.
It was not something the people of Hoboken took lightly. Shatter
ing the machine in Hoboken was an event of such political mag
nitude the only thing comparable on a national level would be a
Marxist takeover of the presidency. And more than a few machine
Hobokenites referred to the new administration as communists. The
losers even tried a recall, especially after the New York Daily News
heralded Vezzetti as "The Wackiest Mayor in America," who
makes New York Citys boisterous Ed Koch "look like an intro
vert." Vezzetti, understandably, was proud of the article and had it
framed for his office.
A burgeoning cult-hero, the new mayor continued to pound the
pavement, campaigning for elections that are held as many as four
or five times a year (including primaries, school board, city coun
cil, etc.). His inveterate humor and celebrity status kept him
popular with the newcomers, while the oldtimers tried desperately
to rebuild their busted machine.
Vezzetti and his administration, however, had a lot to learn about
running a city. Despite a few disastrous attempts to ease the citys
housing crisis and impede its gentrification, the influx of young af
fluent people into Hoboken continued unabated.
There are several stages in the "revitalization" of a neighborhood,
according to urban theorist Rolf Goetze. First come the eccentrics
and artists looking for a cheap place to live. Theyre followed by
young childless couples and professional singles looking for adven-
tiire-to be on the vanguard of something deemed "hip." Then the
media takes notice and along come the more conventional
"mainstreamers," who are primarily concerned about low risk and
personal comfort. Finally the "stragglers" move in, undisturbed by
the preceding transformation. For them, the city is little more than
a place to live.
When these last two groups arrive, the "discovered" area is no
longer a "discovery." The "frontier" has been settled, and the run-
down-but-fimky neighborhood that attracted the pioneers is becom
ing another extension of a homogenous urban world.
By late 1985, the mainstreamers were piling into Hoboken and the
real estate market was peaking. There were about 1000 condos in
the city, and another 1000 on the way. Few sold for under $100,000.
The letters reached a turning point about this time. Though the
howl of discontent continued, a few residents bandied the boldest
declarations yet in support of gentrification, displacement, and the
yuppie invasion.
Displacement is not good or bad-i t s natural
Dear Editor:
H.L. Mencken said that half the sorrows of the world are caused
by making false assumptions. One assumption that seems to be
causing a furor in Hoboken is that displacement is bad. Politicians
use the subject as a focal point of campaigns, and the newspapers
are rife with articles discussing this most perplexing issue.
In Hoboken, displacement has come to mean "foreigners," "out
siders" who are moving into the city and displacing the natives. To
a disinterested observer, one with a modest understanding of his
tory, this shifting of ethnic groups within a city, would not seem so
unique. One can find numerous examples in the history of the
world where one group of people have displaced another. The
Spaniards displaced the native inhabitants of South America, the
Danes displaced the Saxons of England, or, if we do not want to
travel so far from our shores, the Dutch, French, British, and Anglo-
Americans displaced the whole of North America, the indigenous
Indian.
The point I want to make is that displacement has been going on
since man came down from the trees and began walking on two
legs. Displacement can be violent or peaceful, it can be the reason
or the result of other factors. The prime mover of displacement is,
and history will bear this out, economics. The economics of a par
ticular situation can be relatively simple. Take for example an Arab
tribe in Saudi Arabia who owns a certain amount of land and cul
tivates it. I f the rains do not fall and produce a sufficient crop for
his tribe, the hungry Arab will try to displace a neighboring tribe
and steal what food they have. These raids were common in times
past and were often bloody. I call this example simple because the
motivation for the raid was hunger, and in the late 20th century in
America though most of us have enough to eat, there are economic
forces at work that still inspire displacement.
Displacement, per se, is neither good or bad. Ones feelings are
based on where one stands in relation to it. One could without too
much fear of censure posit the theory that the expansion and
development of the United States of America is one long saga of
displacement. Any reader of American history is amazed at the
avaricious real estate transactions that continually expanded the bor
ders of the original 13 colonies.
But to return to Hoboken. Waves and waves of different im
migrants, in varying proportions, have populated Hoboken. To hear
some people talk today, one would be forced to believe that dis
placement is occurring here for the first time, that only one ethnic
group is being taken advantage of.
Most of the din and cry I hear these days is the lament of missed
opportunity. Most everyone loves to stand on the comers of
Hoboken and talk about the skyrocketing real estate prices. Is it not
ironic that as little as ten years ago you could hardly give away a
brownstone? Hoboken was a slum. A disaster area. Old families of
Hoboken deserted the city for the suburbs like rats off a ship.
Why? Because they were being displaced by another group, another
batch of foreign speaking people.
And because this group brought their culture with them, the city
decayed. There can be no argument to this. The dumpsters that line
the streets today are carrying away the rubble and garbage that
belonged to a culture that did not, for whatever reason one cares to
name, improve their home. My parents were displaced from
Czechoslovakia and came to the states every bit as poor and ig
norant as the waves of immigrants today, but unlike some of the im
migrants today, who wish to retain the "ways of the old country,"
my parents, in the midst of confusion and poverty, sought to im
prove their lot. In other words, in a country where "the business of
America is business" they learned the language and the rules of the
new game and adjusted. The Hoboken one sees being carried away
in the dumpsters is the Hoboken of people who said to hell with
their new home and let the brownstones rot; let the slate sidewalks
that were put into place so painstakingly by another earlier group
of immigrants fill up with bottles, garbage, in a word, the refuse of
a people who simply do not care.
And now, when the sounds of the big wheels of American
economics begin inexorably to grind and be heard, who is it that
cries, "Wolf, wolf!" Oh, irony of ironiesthe people who were so
willing to abandon Hoboken and the people who came and can
nibalized a once noble city.
All this talk of keeping Hoboken Hoboken, saving the ethnic
character, etc., is nonsense. Whose Hoboken do you want to
preserve? The original Hoboken of the Lenni Lenape Indians? The
Dutch Hoboken of the 17th and 18th centuries? The German
Hoboken of the 19th century? The Italian Hoboken? Everything
that grows changes. It is idealistic folly to try and preserve any
thing. Life does not take place in a vacuum.
Today in Hoboken one hears opprobrious remarks about New
York developers and yuppies storming the gates of "our" little
Hoboken. It seems like a lot of sour grapes to me. Cities all over
the globe, and throughout mans history, have changed.
These shouts of "Displacement" need to be examined with a little
more historical perspective and knowledge of American economics
instead of the rampant, narrow, and piteous lamentations of any one
particular group.
Sincerely,
Pedro Lamb
Sept. 18, 1985
Insights into Hitler and Pedro Lamb
Dear Editor:
On several occasions I have been asked by people in our com
munity why I did not respond to certain racist and inhuman words
which disgraced the pages of an otherwise fine publication such as
The Hoboken Reporter. The words were contained in a letter
published in your newspaper by a Pedro Lamb of 9/18/85.
My response to the people was that you do not qualify garbage by
giving it a semblance of importance. His callousness and complete
disregard for humanity, coupled with his lack of sensitivity toward
the human rights of others, only serve to give me some insight into
what Hitler must have felt for the J ewish people.
J uan R. Garcia
Executive Director, C.U.N.A.
Oct. 25, 1985
Bigotry breath has a twisted philosophy
Dear Editor:
The remarks of "Pedro Lamb" (The Reporter, 9/18/85) cannot go
unanswered because of his obvious racism, bigotry and bias against
the Hispanic people of Hoboken.
So displacement is not bad, eh, "Pedro"? So, its a part of life and
according to your twisted philosophy, a part of Americana shall we
say "as American as apple pie"? So what if entire families have lost
their lives? So what if an entire ethnic community is being rejected
and ejected from their homes and their city with total disregard for
their legal rights? This is the way things are done in America as
you see so let it continue, right, "Pedro"?
Wrong again, Bigotry Breath!! This is Hoboken, New J ersey, U.S.
of A. Not downtown Leningrad, East J ohannesburg or even Prague,
Czechoslovakia, the land of your forefathers from whence your
parents came to these shores. By the way, "Pedro," have you ever
asked them why they came to this country? Would you believe dis
placement? How about oppression? Hate? Racial prejudice?
Religious persecution? These are also forms of displacement, but
displacement is not bad according to you.
If more people in this country shared your narrow-minded and ig
norant way of thinking we would be living in the Fascist Germany
of the 30s and 40s. Then we could have pogroms galore and a
ghetto could really be called a GHETTO complete with barbed
wire. Or perhaps we would don our white hoods and sheets and
bum crosses and have a few old fashioned hangins every week.
Lets go fetch us a few foreigners, Pedro!! Wait a minute. "Pedro
Lamb"...Sounds phoney to me. What are you hiding, boy????
I have been reared on firsthand accounts of persecution by my
grandparents and my mother. Ever hear of Warsaw, Pedro? As an
American, I abide by the constitution of my country and I respect
the rights of my fellow Americans. You see, "Pedro," the foreigners
you are referring to are American by birth. They are not im
migrants from the old country. Alaskans and Hawaiians are not im
migrants or foreigners when they come to America. And guess
what, "Pedro"? So are Puerto Ricans.
So take your history, your logic, and your rhetoric and put it up
your racist anus along with your storm troopers boots.
Sincerely,
Rachel Berzich-Perez
Oct. 2, 1985
Thank you, Pedro, for expressing my feelings
Dear Editor:
I am surprised that The Hoboken Reporter printed the letter from
Rachel Berzich-Perez (10/2/85). The bulk of her message was a nar
row-minded cheap shot against Pedro Lamb, but specifically, her
closing remarks were in very poor taste.
By contrast, the letter from Pedro Lamb (9/18/85) on the subject
of displacement was an intelligent and provocative assessment of
the changes taking place in Hoboken. Thank you, Mr. Lamb, for
putting into words what so many of us are feeling. The decent, so
cially conscious people in townnewcomers and oldtimers alike
who are committing their finances, time and energy to a better,
cleaner Hoboken say, "Thats history, to those who did not care.
Marie Hunter
Nov. 27, 1985
Lamb chop
Dear Editor:
In response to Pedro Lambs letter on displacement, I would like
to present a different point of view. If one embraces the passive
philosophy that an attempt to preserve anything is mere idealistic
folly, one inevitably begins to view life with the jaded cynicism
Mr. Lamb displays in his letter. To balance the admittedly human
trait of greed (Mr. Lamb prefers the more antiseptic "American
economics") are other human traits: compassion and generosity. Per
haps, idealistically, I believe our society is sound only as long as
these forces remain in balance.
Therefore, in the interest of presenting an opposing view on the
issue of displacement, I d like to publicly thank those with the
"piteous lamentations." I want to thank the politicians and members
of my community who have the foresight to know when its time to
call for a slowdown in "progress," and the courage to speak out. I
want to thank the landlords (my own included) who are not indis
criminately raising rents. I want to thank all the peoples of
Hoboken who came before me and who helped to make this town
the special place it is. I want to thank those of the newcomers who
are trying to join the community instead of jumping on the
bandwagon. I want to express concern and support for the families
and the elderly who have lost their homes. I want to tell those who
have lost their businesses that their stores and cafes are missed and
that our neighborhood is poorer for their lack. Sour grapes? Not at
all. Everyone is not interested in power and money. A cup of cheap
(but terrific) cafe con leche with an old man whos got an interest
ing story is one example of what were trying to save.
Sorry, Mr. Lamb, but I care about this town and I consider it a
responsibility to preserve the things I care about. With the ad
vantages we have of historical perspective and our increased aware
ness of "American economics," we might not have to suffer the
same fate as those Lenni Lenape Indians.
Sincerely,
Christina DeVries
J an. 22, 1985
Hoboken has become a square mile of duplexes,
condos and camocondos
Dear Editor:
The Mile Square Saga
The Renaissance continues and the city is literally being ripped up
block by block.
Derricks, graders, booms, flatbed trucks, and construction trucks
over our street buckling under the weight.
Dumpsters occupy two or three parking locations all over town,
not for days or weeks, but now for months.
What type of permit is issued to permit contractors to tie up the
streets for this length of time?
You can hardly walk a few blocks on our city streets before you
are forced out into the street as sidewalks are blocked by construc
tion companies.
Hoboken has become a mile of duplexes, condos, and camocon-
dosa camouflaged condo is an old wooden tinder box house cos
metically done up with a stone-faced front.
These are the same apartments that my grandparents paid $23 per
month, six railroad rooms (which I used to rollerskate through til
I d get caught).
These same rooms have now been razed and split into two three
room exclusive apartments, $700 for you and $695 for me.
Some of the remodeling leaves only the front of the building, held
together with wooden beams for support; weve been lucky with
mild weather, but get a winter wind and we will have a house col
lapse.
The weight of construction trucks have increased Hobokens well-
known pothole streets, and the well-known fix for potholes, the
iron plate, can be heard all over town at all hours of the night as
vehicles run over the loose ends.
After chasing out a lot of old time Hobokenites we now have dis
turbed our oldest citizens, the Hoboken water rat. As kids we used
to practice to be baseball pitchers by throwing rocks at them in
empty lots on Newark Street.
With construction disturbing their nests, the furry ones are running
all over streets and gutters.
We should advertise hot and cold running condos with fur coats in
the lobbies at no extra price.
Displacement runs rampant there was a time when if rent on
First Street went up to $85 per month, youd look for an apartment
on Second Street. For $60.
Years ago the city used to publish a list of condemned houses, par
cels of land, lofts, factories, lost by taxes.
I dont really know if the city itself owns any more property, but
why give it to outside developers?
Have the city of Hoboken keep the land, have local contractors do
the workthe city as a landlord could get federal funds for rehab
and keep these locations for Hoboken people.
During World War I, the dough boys knew where they wanted to
go, if they lived or died.
As per General "Black J ack" Pershing quoted, "Heaven, Hell, or
Hoboken!"
J ack OBrien
Nov. 13, 1985
Id like to put in a good word for gentrification
Dear Editor:
As a New Yorker, I would like to put in a good word for
gentrification. It has made an amazing improvement in a stagnant
and dying Hoboken. When I first came here, in 1963, Hoboken was
a slum, choked by welfare recipients the way algae kills a lake.
Nostalgiacs pretend to lament the change, as if they really preferred
to see a bunch of winos in front of the American Hotel and on
every downtown comer, instead of pretty young women funneling
from all over Hoboken into the neck of the PATH station. What
really worries the nostalgiacs, however, is not that the town is be
coming less hospitable to the bums and slums, but to them. Theyre
afraid of losing their cheap apartments, but wont admit this. In
stead, they shake their heads and mutter sanctimoniously about
Hoboken losing its character. Where were they a few years ago,
when nobody gave a damn about Hoboken or its character?
Everybody expected it to go down the tubes any day. All the B&Rs
(Hoboken bom and raised) who owned houses were desperate to
sell them. Talk about character: where were they when, in an orgy
of destruction, three blocks of River Street and three blocks of Hud
son Street (the most traditional area in Hoboken, with its old
waterfront bars and sleazy hotels) were demolished to make way
for ugly highrises and parking lots? The B&Rs who were there
didnt lift a finger to stop the mayor and his cronies. The only thing
they were concerned about, naturally, was how that big money pie
cooked up by all the wholesale demolition and construction was
going to be divided: yummy, all those contracts and bribes and
kickbacks.
No, Hobokens renaissance, begun in the seventies, was not the
work of its B&Rs, but of outsiders. Its native sons and daughters
were too busy bad-mouthing Hoboken and trying to sell out and
move away to the suburbs to see its potential until it was too late;
then they bad-mouthed the successful "Noo Yawkuhs" who bought
and renovated the unwanted houses and made the rebirth possible.
Now the B&Rs with the loudest and most self-pitying voices ("I
been heah all my life, and I cant affowd a house because the Noo
Yawkuhs are coming ovah and pushing prices up"), those who had
missed the boat, in other words, boiled with resentment against
those who hadnt. It wasnt as if the Boat of Opportunity slipped in
at night and sailed at dawn; no, it was tied up at the pier for years,
in plain sight of everybody, the subject of endless conversation, and
when it did cast off its ropes it was in a kind of reluctant slow-mo
tion, with many a warning blast of its whistle. Only the village
idiots missed it.
Sincerely,
D.M. Weed
Nov. 20, 1985
The buffoon is talking out of his hat
Dear Editor:
I m sure that many longtime Hoboken residents were deeply in
sulted by the letter written by D.M. Weed. His condemnation of
those of us who are concerned about the extraordinary amount of
development, displacement of the poor and other problems facing
this city is filled with arrogance (some may say not surprising com
ing from a New Yorker) and ignorance.
I can only assure your readers that Mr. Weed is "talking out of his
hat." I grew up on 10th and Willow during the 60s and 70s in a
neighborhood that still has many of the people and stores that were
there when I was a child.
The audacity of this buffoon to say that many of the hard-working
families that have lived in Hoboken for generations were bad-
mouthing the city and dividing big money pies. Most of the bad-
mouthing of Hoboken usually came from big mouths like this
character who is more interested in "boats of opportunity" than
human beings.
Hoboken, like most cities, faced economic hardship during the
late 60s and early 70s (Im sure New Yorkers can recall the
problems across the river). The city did have a much larger seg
ment of the population that was poor. Of course, there is little room
on Mr. Weeds boat for the less fortunate, let alone, "welfare
recipients."
To say that Hoboken was just a city of crooks, slums, winos and
bums is absurd. This is a city that is changing, some of it is good
and some not so good. And people who think like Mr. Weed
should get on their "boat of opportunity" and set sail for other
shores.
P.M. Drexel
Nov. 27, 1985
Why dont you move back to " Noo Yawk" ?
Dear Editor:
Answering D.M. Weeds letter of November 20, 1985.
It sounds to me with all your complaints that your move to the
slum as you referred to Hoboken in 1963 has not been a happy one.
So why didnt you move back to "Noo Yawk" where you came
from? Why stay in a town that has winos and welfare recipients, or
better yet, why did you move here in the first place?
The B&Rs of Hoboken really never wanted you "Noo Yawkahs"
here anyway and still dont.
A Native of Hoboken Who Stayed
Nov. 27; 1985
Why did Weed move to a slum?
Dear Editor:
In an economy of words, I would like to reply to D.M. Weeds
recent rather loquacious letter of 11/20 referring to Hobokens bom-
and-raised class with their inarticulate grammatical (Noo Yawkuhs)
inflections as "the village idiots."
As a former Noo Yawk resident, D.M. Weed claimed that when
he first moved to Hoboken in 1963, it was more or less a slum. I
find it inconceivable that someone of Weeds obvious talents would
move to a slum, unless he felt psychologically at home, or perhaps
the Noo Yawk parvenus with their loose surplus bucks were in
filtrating his little niche.
As for the Hoboken "village idiots" who missed the boat of oppor
tunity, they were more likely than not loading them. These same
dese, dem and dose guys are easily recognizable by the telltale
slump of the shoulders created by lifting 100 lb. sacks on the docks
or hoisting hods at some construction site to earn the wherewithal
to send their progeny to some prestigious preppy school to learn
how to pronounce pretentious words.
J udging by D.M. Weeds letter, I find it reasonable to assume that
the reason Hoboken is losing its cultural character is because it
readily adopts these orphans from the Noo Yawk storm.
Ralph Ruggiere
Nov. 27, 1985
Weed, we know who you are!
Dear Editor:
About the letter of 11/20/85 signed by D.M. Weed: first of all,
sugah, you have ascribed a southern accent to we Hobokenites with
your inane spelling. Secondly, we know who you are! While you
actually used your own initials this time, you still do not have the
guts to sign your name to your so-called letters. Ashamed to? You
should be! Afraid to? Perhaps you should be! We village idiots are
well aware of what you missed, and one day you will come face to
face with that realization, too. By the way, you are also a liar, call
ing yourself a New Yorker! Have you forgotten playing on Hudson
Street as a child? But thats okay, we, too, would prefer to think of
you as an outsider. So, whether you call yourself Pedro Lamb or
D.M. Weed, the latter is more fitting in that the primary definition
of weed is, "a plant of no value, usually rank growth that tends to
choke out more desirable plants."
Terri Ratti
Nov. 27, 1985
Weed, how can you be so naive?
Dear Editor:
In answer to a letter printed in your paper and signed by a Mr.
Weed, I must react in the most negative way I can. Mr. Weed, you
may be only half right about your beliefs and ideas, and there you
may be half wrong. You wrote of the change for the better for
Hoboken with winos fading from sight in front of the American
Hotel, being replaced by pretty young women passing by to and
from the PATH station. Mr. Weed also wrote about the (Hoboken
bom and raised) who didnt seem to care about this town, and
many were desperate to sell their homes when they thought
Hoboken was going down the tubes. You also mention the
waterfront bars and sleazy hotels, which was referred to as "The
Barbary Coast," which was tom down to make way for highrises
and parking lots. You also state that Hobokens native sons and
daughters were too busy bad-mouthing Hoboken and running out or
selling out before they could realize its potential.
Mr. Weed, in honesty, how can one be so naive to think like you
do?
For your information, the American Hotel was converted into an
office building after a fire destroyed much of the building, killing
two winos. I believe that is how you referred to these poor souls. A
few years ago 22 more lives were lost uptown in another fire where
there now is converted apartment houses. A few years ago on
Columbus Day two little boys suffocated to death in a fire at 67
Park Avenue. On Washington Street and 11th Street, eleven more
lives were lost in another fire and a condo is now in that spot. On
April 14, 1983, 14 more lives were consumed in a horrible fire on
14th Street. I believe a vacant lot is all thats left there but you can
bet not for long. Now Mr. Weed, some of the welfare recipients
you wrote about as algae infesting a lake are gone to make way for
what you termed "gentrification." There has been an amazing im
provement but at what cost? As for the "Barbary Coast," located on
River and Hudson Streets, whether it be an eyesore to you or not,
this was as much a landmark for Hoboken as the East Village is to
New York, with all its weirdos and junkies and sweety pies. Many
of us B&Rs may have missed that Boat of Opportunity that you
speak of only because many of us couldnt afford to pay the fare.
In closing, this village idiot can only suggest to you "Noo Yaw-
kuhs" to pick up your jogging shoes and your backpacks and jog
out to Arizona. Theres a lot of room out there for gentrification.
While youre at it, you can take the developers and the builders
along with their blueprints with you. The Bom and Raised
Hoboken Natives like this town pretty much the way it is.
Respectfully,
Old B&R Native Son
Dec. 4, 1985
The truth hurts, says Weed
Dear Editor:
I m sorry I turned over such a big rock. Heaven knows, I never
meant to offend any innocent person. I like Hoboken and I like
most of its people, quaint accents and all. But what anger! Alas, it
must be proof of the saying, "Nothing hurts like the truth."
To forestall Terri Ratti and her gang (the "we" she refers to?)
from attacking some poor citizen (whose only offense was to grow
up on Hudson Street) in a tragic case of mistaken identity, I urgent
ly wish to assure everyone who may be involved in some local
feud that I am not a.k.a. Pedro Lamb, whoever he is, and I did not
grow up on Hudson Street.
As for Mr. Ruggiere (who should have deleted the very first
phrase of his letter and every other word thereafter if he was really
interested in "economy of words"), and P.M. Drexel, well, these
people were so hot to reply to the insult they imagined my letter
contained that they didnt read it. But this is the case with many in
veterate letter to the editor writers, most of whom are quarrelsome
cranks, has-beens, or would-bes with axes to grind.
Including, perhaps, yours truly.
D.M. Weed
Dec. 11, 1985
Hoboken was never a slum;
It was just a little poorer
Dear Editor:
Being a lifelong, bom and raised in Hoboken citizen, I d like to
comment on some of the articles in your paper during the past few
months.
First, I d like to say to Mr. and Mrs. D.M. Weed, "If you dont
like Hoboken, go back to New York." I ts only seventy-five cents
one way.
This town was never a slum. It was just a little poorer in the 60s.
As for people taking the money and running, they left because
they got tired of living so close together.
Hoboken may look better on the outside, but its not any better
than it was 20 years ago. The rents are way too high and we dont
need condos.
The only ones benefitting from the Hoboken Restoration are the
greedy landlords and the developers.
The previous administration let it get out of hand. How many of
them got displaced?
Lastly, I think they should stop the fireworks at the feasts or at
least limit them to just one time of the day when everyone knows
they are coming.
To begin with, theyre unnecessary. I respect their right to
celebrate, but its disturbing. Did you ever see how paranoid a dog
gets when these fireworks go off? I ts a shame animals have to suf
fer for the pleasure of a few people.
There are also some of us who work overnight and have to sleep
during the day. We dont want to be awakened by these fireworks.
I ts about time these people had some consideration for someone
else besides themselves.
Thomas Chickizola
J an. 22,1986
Poverty hurts
Dear Editor:
I was glad Mr. Weed wrote back and explained that he didnt
mean to hurt any innocent people, and that he did like most of the
Hobokenites.
I was an immigrant who came here a couple of years ago. My
kids were small and I felt very lonely and lost in a new country,
but not for long.
When the people came to know about my situation, they helped in
all the ways they could. They found me a job, and an apartment.
They gave us clothes. They even watched my kids when I was at
work. I had an accent, but in spite of that my first boss hired me as
a salesperson.
In spite of my job I had to take supplementary help because my
company didnt have medical insurance, and my little son got lead
poisoning and I needed medical coverage.
Well, years have passed. Some of my kids have moved out and
are doing well on their own. I am working but I still need that medi
cal coverage. What I am trying to point out is sometimes due to
their circumstances, people have to take help and not because they
like to. Nobody likes to be poor, and it is not nice to say things
about poverty. It hurts.
There is a lot of hate and war going on in this world. Let us with
our love and understanding of each others feelings make it a better
place to live.
A Hobokenite
J an. 22, 1986
P.S. People of Hoboken, me and my family love you and thank you
for all your help and kindness shown through the years to us.
Quarrelsome cranks, has-beens,
and would-be axe grinders
Dear Editor:
In response to D.M. Weeds letter of December 11 ("The truth
hurts, says Weed"), I would like to say that if the gentleman wants
to include himself in that category of inveterate writers whom he
classifies as quarrelsome cranks, has-beens, or would-be axe
grinders, thats his business, but to quote the famous film magnate
word-master Sam Goldwyn, "include me out."
I was under the impression that the primary purpose of writing let
ters to the editor was to express ones particular opinion and not to
be psychologically impaled on "someones pugnacious pen."
As most of us are more or less steerage passengers on lifes good
ship "Lollipop" and are forced to pay first class fares, I believe that
there are more important issues at stake than getting involved in
verbal fisticuffs. Those who just received their first winter fuel-oil
bill will understand.
OOPS! I m ending my commentary because my dog is barking up
a storm, which more likely than not means that there is a real estate
canvasser lurking about. My ancient pooch is totally blind and near
ly deaf, but fortunately he has an acute sense of smellif you catch
my drift.
Ralph Ruggiere
J an. 22, 1986
The Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri.
CHAPTER EIGHT
KABOOM! It s the Feast
They line the streets in their Sunday best, chattering in rapid-fire
Italian dialects with family and friends. The heavy smell of zep-
poles and sausages wafts through the air, as the crowds clutch their
disc cameras and anxiously await the moment when a life-size
statue of the Blessed Mother is carried out of the local church.
Adorned with gold, watches, wedding ringsevery type of jewelry
imaginablethe Madonna is paraded through the city to "oohs" and
"ahhs," cheers and applause, and a few impassioned fits of tears.
Meanwhile, the marching band starts up andKaboom!bombs
burst in the summer sky.
All told, the Feast of the Madonna dei Martin is a combination of
Midnight Mass and the Fourth of J uly. I ts religion with a kick and
a bang, starting with a nine-day novena, during which services are
highlighted by small explosions outside the church.
As most feast fans will tell you, the tradition goes back hundreds
of years. In the 11th century, a few men from Molfetta, Italy, found
a painting of the Blessed Mother in their fishing nets. They brought
the object to the shore of their village on the Adriatic Sea, and, a
few miracles later, proclaimed her patron saint of fishermen.
Soon, the painting inspired a seaside chapel, which lead to an an
nual celebrationthe Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri (Mother of
Martyrs). Hundreds of years later, the villagers still cram into boats
every September 8 and float the statue from its coastal "Sanctuario"
to the center of the town. On the way, worshippers celebrate and
pray, shout praise and shoot fireworks. The younger children dive
in and out of the clear, blue Adriatic.
In the early 1900s, many Molfettesi found fishing wasnt what it
used to be, and left their little town to join family and friends in
America. They brought the feast with them, from the white seaside
piazzas and Moorish domes of Molfetta, to the worn pavement and
gritty tenements of Hoboken.
A few concessions had to be made. Instead of floating the statue,
devotees carried it through the streets, rocking the idol back and
forth to simulate the waves of the sea. They also changed the day
of the feast to take advantage of the long Labor Day weekend.
Otherwise, the American Molfettesi approach the celebration with
the same fervor as those in the old country. As many as 20,000
peoplemany from out of townhave been participating in the
event each year since it started in 1927.
At one time, Hobokens Italians celebrated a dozen or so feasts
each summer. All honored different saints, or derived from tradi
tions of various European villages. They started disappearing in the
50s, as the Italians headed for the suburbs. Today, only three
remain: St. Anns, Marie SS Di Montevergine, and Madonna dei
Martiri, the largest of the three.
All the feasts involve novenas, processions, celebrations, Italian
food, musical entertainment and, of course, "feast bombs." The
loud, colorless fireworks are detonated in either block-long strips,
or aerial salutes propelled from ground-level cannons called
"maroons." Both the religious group sponsoring the feast and in
dividual devotees hire professional pyrotechnicians for an assort
ment of the ear-shattering blasts. Worshippers sometimes pay
hundreds of dollars to have their street lit up in a long, fiery burst
that sets off nearby car alarms and leaves clouds of blue smoke
hanging in the sticky summer air.
In 1986, there were about two dozen of these freelance feast bom
bers, according to one fireworks company hired for the festivities.
Each one paid for several salutes to their favorite saint.
Feast organizers claim the bombs are essential to announce the
beginning of the celebration. In addition, the blasts also play a role
in the religious aspect of the celebration, says Vincenzo DePinto,
70, who has helped the Society Madonna dei Martiri put on their
feast since 1934. "Fireworks are part of the devotion, he states.
"Without devotion, the feast is nothing. Theres more devotion with
the fireworks."
DePinto explains the Society shoots off about six aerial salutes for
each night of the novena, and several more on the day of the proces
sion. Combined with independent feast bombs, the Feast of the
Madonna dei Martiri is responsible for hundreds of deafening
A handicapped woman weeps at the base of a statue of the Blessed
Mother during the 1986 Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri.
booms in the last two weeks of summer. And that is only one of
three feasts.
Although smaller, the Feast of St. Anns prompts several hundred
explosions during its final procession on J uly 26. The Montever-
gine celebration, which takes place at the end of J uly/beginning of
August, involves nearly a week of nightly maroon blasts, and a full
weekend of block-busting booms. To the untrained ear, bombs
burst over Hoboken all summer long.
For many newcomers, the fireworks are bewildering, savage, or
just plain annoying. But to feast organizers, the "bombs" are the
soul of the celebration. When asked what the feast would be like
without fireworks, DePinto responds without hesitation.
"Dead," he murmurs, looking mournfully aside at the walls of his
kitchen, where the only two photographs hanging depict the Molfet-
ta feast and its Hoboken equivalent. "Its no feast. People wouldnt
enjoy it."
The Hoboken Reporter received one letter in 1984 complaining
about the feast bombs, and six criticizing or supporting the issue in
1985. But in 1986, the issue exploded louder than a stack of
maroons. Once a letter signed "Shaken up in Hoboken" appeared in
the September 7 issue, the newspaper received mail from readers
on the topic for the rest of the year. As many as 30 or 40 letters ar
rived each week, and by 1987 there was a two-month wait for publi
cation. In December, the paper started a special "Feast Letters" sec
tion on its editorial page.
Feast fireworks are a nuisance
Dear Editor:
I called police headquarters on Sunday, August 31, to complain
about the fireworks regarding a religious feast happening in
Hoboken.
I was told that the Society of this feast was given a permit to
shoot these fireworks. I am assuming that the people that issued
this permit were out of town away from the noise, the barking
dogs, the crying children, and the people in St. Mary Hospital and
the people in this town who were jumping out of their skins with
this noise at 11 p.m. at night.
TRADITION? TRADITION MY FOOT!
I am writing this letter to vent my spleen. To celebrate a feast is
beautifulbut why the noise, does the Saint hear the patrons more?
This type of celebration has always been beyond my comprehen
sion. What is more incredible is that people make contributions to
pay for this noise.
I am a religious person who prays in the quiet of the church or in
my home. I do not throw a molotov cocktail for the Gods to hear
me.
If people wish to contribute in honor of this Saint why not con
tribute to the American Cancer Fund, American Heart Fund, to the
starving children of the world or to some organization that would
make their Saint smile?
Remember, after these bombs explode all you get is the shakes
and a lot of litter to clean up. If these contributions were given to a
charity we may get results that may benefit our families.
Change the tradition for the better, stop the fireworks and give the
money to the needy.
Shaken Up In Hoboken
Sept. 7, 1986
" Shaken In Hoboken" should take
his " spleen" and go back where he came from
Dear Editor:
How would you like your "spleen" sauteed in some good Italian
oil and garlic?
This feast is a tradition! I ll my foot your BUTT!
How dare you insult something you dont understand! If you
dont like it, take your "spleen" and go back where you came from!
I ts people like you that cause the "Great Hoboken Divide" be
tween the old-timers and newcomers. In my 52 years in this town
no one ever made such asinine remarks as yours.
Vito DePinto
Sept. 21, 1986
" Shaken In Hoboken" Is self-centered
Dear Editor:
Did your "spleen" ever hear the old saying "Tis better to keep
your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and be a
fool."
Anna Lanza
Sept. 21, 1986
If yuppies dont like feast, they can leave
Dear Editor:
Obviously, you must be a New Yorker, because no one else
would complain.
This feast has been celebrated in this manner for generations, and
then people like you move in and think you can take over. Who the
h do you think you are! I f you cant put up with one day of
Beautiful Noise, maybe you should pack up your briefcase and go
back where you came from, yuppie!
If you dont like the sound of fireworks, maybe we should also
stop celebrating the Fourth of J uly, because I m sure that is also a
nuisance to you!
As far as tradition, I bet you dont even celebrate Christmas or
Easter!
People from all over the state drive up on Labor Day weekend for
this feast which you think is a nuisance.
I ts bad enough you yuppies took away our St. Anns Feast. Yes,
that used to be blocks long, now they have to have it in a parking
lot.
The money from the feast went to a good cause. It supported the
church and school of St. Ann. We have to support our Catholic
schools, as well as public, before they turn them into con
dominiums. So more people like you can move in.
Mrs. R. Porta
A Hoboken Native
Sept. 14, 1986
Dont take away our tradition
Dear Editor:
For more than two hundred years, the feast has been celebrated
with fireworks. J ust because you have no tradition does not mean
that we dont! You took our town, and now youre taking our last
foothold, our religious freedom!
What gives you the right to condemn our religious practices? Do I
go to where you practice your faith (if you have one) and damn
you? Once a year is all we have to celebrate. You should be
ashamed of yourself.
L. Ortizio
Sept. 14, 1986
How dare "Shaken in Hoboken" insult feast!
To "Shaken in Hoboken"
Tradition, isnt that what life is about?
These feasts are a blessing for the town and their people.
Maybe you dont believe in God, but many do. A little respect is
in order, wouldnt you say?
Maria DePinto
Sept. 21, 1986
" Shaken in Hoboken" made
uncalled for attack on feast
Dear Editor:
Your attack on the feast was uncalled for! How could you as an
outsider understand tradition? Whats wrong, dont you like Italians
or Catholics? I ts a damn shame that your kind has taken over our
town. What next, are you going to close our churches!
Vito Mezzini
Sept. 21, 1986
Why is " Shaken in Hoboken"
trying to kill our town?
To Shaken In Hoboken:
I am not a well woman, at 81 years and have seen many things
change. Why do you people come and take our homes, our town,
and our traditions and dare to take them apart? We dont hurt you.
I am a lonely old woman who has many good memories of the hap
piness I spent with my family and friends at this feast. Why are
you people trying to kill this town? This is Hoboken, not New
York. Leave the few that are left alone, well die out soon, but
once a year make an old lady happy. Let me celebrate my belief as
I have for 81 years.
Luciana DeGennaro
Sept. 21, 1986
Feast proponents were vindictive
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank you for publishing all those informative
editorials on "Shaken in Hoboken." I want to particularly thank
Vito Mezzini for pointing out that "its a damn shame that your
kind (Shaken) has taken over our town." Also thanks to Maria
DePinto, who enlightened us with the comment, "Maybe you
(Shaken) dont believe in God, but many do." Special thanks to
Vito DePinto for asking the eternal question, "How would you like
your spleen sauteed in some good Italian oil and garlic?"
I would like to thank all these people and others who also
responded in such a favorable way, for explaining to me the
religious significance of loud explosions and what it means to be a
"good Catholic" in Hoboken.
I still dont understand a couple of things, though, and would ap
preciate some more deep insight. For example, how come Luciana
DeGennaro, an 81 year old woman, was the only one able to
defend the Feast intelligently without vindictiveness or insults?
Also, how come Hobokens school system is the worst in the state
with all these community-minded individuals ready and willing to
stand up for what they believe in? Why is our tax rate so high?
Why are our sidewalks and streets so littered? Why are these
people missing the forest for the trees?
Name withheld by request
Oct. 5, 1986
Stop insulting yuppies; longtime residents
ought to be grateful they exist
Dear Editor:
I d like to register my displeasure at all the letters by longtime
residents making slurs on the so-called "yuppies." If being a "yup
pie" means being a hard-working professional who pays exorbitant
rents to longtime Hoboken resident property owners, supports
Hobokens businesses with a fresh supply of capital, and pays
draconian tax rates to a bloated city government whose singular
notable aspect is its system of favors and nepotism to longtime
Hoboken residents, then perhaps the longtime Hoboken resident
ought to be grateful that the "yuppie" exists.
I ve never seen a "yuppie" pollute the streets with noise from a
boom box, vandalize the city parks, or double-park a boat-like car
and honk the horn incessantly.
"Yuppies" dont set up gambling booths, greasy food stands, and
music platforms featuring obscene comics and second-rate disco
music on Adams Street for a religious festival two weeks of the
summer. Neither do "yuppies" set off hundreds of nerve-shattering
bombs during that period to celebrate the pacific virtues of Christ.
"Yuppies" moved to Hoboken because your elected officials in
cahoots with longtime Hoboken landlords set up the town for in
vasion. Dont blame "yuppies" for coming to town when they were
courted to do so. Hard-working, law-abiding citizens who only
want peace should not be insulted and abused in this manner. Who
are the true hooligans?
Name withheld
Sept. 21, 1986
Why should we be grateful?
Dear Editor:
I am a longtime resident of this town. As a matter of fact, I was
raised here, and I didnt understand your comment--"that longtime
residents should be grateful that the Yuppies are here." The Yup
pies arent doing anything for me or my family. When they start
putting food on my table, pay my rent and bills, then I ll be grate
ful. You said that Yuppies were hard-working professionals. Well, I
have some news for you. I am a hard-working professional also. I
believe that all the people in this town are hard-working people.
This town survived long before the Yuppies arrived here, and it
will survive long after theyre gone. If the Yuppies dont like the
traditions that have been a part of this town for a number of years,
thats too bad. There is an old saying, "If you cant stand the heat,
get out of the kitchen."
Name withheld
Sept. 28, 1986
" Yuppie Drome is unavoidable
Dear Mr. or Mrs. "Name Withheld"
Obviously you havent had a taste of "yuppie drome." What good
have they done, is what I d like to know. They come here and dis
rupt this city. This is not New York, where the town never sleeps. I
have to put up with the nonsense that goes on at the Gold Coast (a
popular hangout for newcomers) every night, while the yups enjoy
their "yuppie chow." I ts unavoidable.
Since yuppies came to take over, you never find a parking space.
Before them, this was never a problem. And yuppies dont "throw
bombs to celebrate a feast" or the Fourth of J uly because they have
no spirit. Maybe you dont either.
And what about the vandalized park. Thats in every city, baby.
Besides, what does that have to do with "yuppie drome?"
Mr. or Mrs. Name Withheld, are you a yuppie? Citizens of
Hoboken are very upset and have every right to speak their minds.
Remember this is still our town.
In time you will see for yourself just exactly what we all mean.
Look at our schools! Theyre all becoming condos. One by one.
Hoboken is a small town. We used to live comfortably, now why
should we all be forced out of our homes?
Sincerely,
Pat Tucker
Oct. 5, 1986
Yuppies are culturally inept
Dear Editor:
This is written in response to "Dont Insult Yuppies."
Hey Yuppie! Did you ever wonder why New York City is made
up of several small areas, not just one? (Ex. Little Italy, China
Town, etc.)
You yuppies are culturally inept! Whats wrong, dont you like
Hispanics?
My culture is a strong proud one. My food is not greasy and
there are no "greasy food stands" or "gambling booths" except for
McDonalds or Lotto.
As far as double parking, three out of four cars double parked are
"Yuppie Cars." Come by the Gold Coast or Clam Broth House and
see all the Yuppie cars double parked every night. Better yet, check
out the avenue. There isnt a car from a native Hobokener double
parked.
And we didnt elect the Officials. Your people were here and the
majority during the election. Dont blame us for your stupidity!
As far as Yuppies existing, thats all you do is exist! You dont
live, you take over and letch the life out of a town.
Antonio Rodriguez
Oct. 5, 1986
Shaking the hand of Shaken Up In Hoboken
Dear Editor:
Now! Now! To those who replied to the article by Shaken Up In
Hoboken, you are not sticking to the issue. I re-read this article,
being a newspaper hoarder, and I cannot believe what I am reading
from the responses that your paper has printed.
I personally wish that I could Shake the Hand of Shaken Up in
Hoboken. You have accused a Yuppie of writing this inspiring ar
ticle. He or she was given a sentence without any of us knowing
who this person is. It could be your next door neighbor, it could be
a-close friend, so why mention Yuppie?
A Yuppie was accused without factual identity. Now That is
Throwing Stones.
From what I understood from Skaken Up in Hoboken, there were
fireworks at 11 at night and that waste of money could have helped
charity.
1. A feast is a beautiful thing.
2. Fireworks at 11 at night were horrifying and I agree.
3. Instead of wasting contributions on fire and ashes, give the
money to Cancer or the Heart Fund or poor children of the world.
I would personally like to add another charity that was on
television the weekend of the big noise. J erry Lewis was begging
the entire country for money for his kids, which are also our kids.
If all of you that have answered to The Reporter had the ability to
ask your patron saint, "What would she choose out of a choice of
two to Honor Her:
a. Contribute to a needy charity.
b. To blow the contributions in the Air to ashes.
I know what her answer would be. Do You?
And for all you Young Professional People, I Say Welcome, Keep
Coming and We Do Need You. I am Italian-American and have
lived in Hoboken all of my life. I also have Yuppie Children who
graduated Catholic schools and colleges and Yuppie grandchildren.
Name withheld
Sept. 28, 1986
Feast is a disturbing mockery of religion and
an embarrassment to the rest of us Italians
Dear Editor:
I, too, am of Italian descent and I, too, am a Catholic. I come
from a good Hoboken family which has been in the city for over 50
years.
Thus stated, I will continue by saying that jolting, disturbing
fireworks the entire last week of August have nothing whatever to
do with the Catholic religion.
Constant, disturbing bomb-like sounds, day and night for seven
days, not only jolt us out of our wits, but they are of eternal embar
rassment to those of us of Italian descent.
They portray us as provincial, clannish, and downright ridiculous!
It is a pity that these "fervent" Catholics do not realize how they
look to the world outside their narrow, ethnic existence.
They stubbornly refuse to accept the fact that the world has
progressed since the days when it was acceptable to make loud
noises day and night for a week, and parade around town with a
statue of the Blessed Virgin upon the shoulders of the faithful. This
was fine in the small provincial towns of 18th century Italy, but is
not fine in 20th century America!
Another embarrassing exhibition is to see the Blessed Virgin
covered from head to foot with gold bracelets, chains, rings and
whats worse, dollar bills pinned to her cape! How gross this must
seem to non-Italians. This is not religion, but a mockery of religion!
Not only do my fellow countrymen adamantly refuse to accept the
fact that their fireworks are passe, but they have the nerve to insult
and abuse the so-called yuppies who have had the courage to object
to this yearly nonsense.
These young people are the sole reason for Hoboken finally com
ing into its own. I am proud to be Italian, proud to be Catholic, and
proud to live in Hoboken.
However, I and my family as well are ashamed of the yearly
idiocy which shatters everyones consciousness the last week in
August in the holy name of religion.
Name withheld
Oct. 12, 1986
If the feast money should go to charity,
then the bucks yuppies spend on partying
should go there too
Dear Editor:
I was surprised that an American-Italian wants to shake hands
with "shaken up in Hoboken." I f that person is so proud to say, I m
an American-Italian, why then isnt he or she proud of his Italian
half tradition. Shame on you, now whos throwing stones.
Now if the money spent on the fireworks could have gone to
charity, then the money that the yuppies spend on liquor should
also go to charity.
I know for a fact most yuppies, not all, but most of them, stay up
five out of seven nights a week and party until two or three a.m.
Then when theyre drunk enough, then and only then, do they turn
their music off, then and only then do they go to sleep.
We old time Hoboken residents have to put up with the yuppies
and their parties for a whole year. Yet these hard working, law-abid-
iiig, loyal and honorable professional citizens find a week-long fes
tive tradition too rude for their sensitive ears.
If the yuppies want respect they must learn to compromise and ac
cept things the way they are. Now, since the yuppies were wrong,
we Italians all hereby petition the yuppies. We Italians order the
yuppies to be cool or be cast out, and we Italians demand that the
St. Anns feast be brought back to light next year. And for you yup
pies, I suggest that you come down next year and join in the fun
and experience a taste of Italy. The way it is still today.
Giuseppe M.
Nov. 9. 1986
If those idiots like feast bombs so much,
why dont they join Khadafys hit squads?
Dear Editor:
If you all like the bombs so much, why dont you go to Libya and
join Khadafys hit squads? You all can have a great time and blast
until your hearts are content.
The idiots who responded in such a negative manner are either il
literate, blind, unable to comprehend a paragraph, or in the 50-70
years that they have lived in the U.S.A. have not yet learned to
read the English language.
Please note that I have an 83-year old grandmother who came
over from Italy when she was three years old. My grandmother
hates those bombs more than "Shaken Up" does. They make her ex
tremely nervous, stop her from sleeping, and scare her great
grandchildren out of their wits. My grandfather, years ago, used to
be one of the oldtimers who set those bombs off. My grandmother
hated those bombs then and despises them now.
You people embarrass yourselves by just opening up your
mouths, or in this case picking up your crayons. How come
everyone who disagrees with you is a Yuppie from New York?
Well, guess what!!! People who were bom and raised in Hoboken
can be Yuppies too. I m one. I have lived in Hoboken all of my
life. I have gone to Our Lady of Grace Grammar School and the
Academy of the Sacred Heart High School (good religious upbring
ing) and St. Peters College. No one gave me a handout and paid
for my education. I had no government grants. My parents and I
sacrificed and worked very hard so that I could make a success out
of the life they gave me.
I did not want to leave this wonderful little town, so I bought a
house in Hoboken from much hard-earned money, unlike all of you
who bought your houses for a song and a dance. Like you, I am
paying extremely high taxes. But who do you blame??? Us Yuppies
of course.
If it were not for us Yuppies, would you be proud to live in
Hoboken and feel safe to walk the streets? Think of the Hoboken
15 years ago. Did you like living like slobs?
We have to work 10 long hours a day to support our homes and
school our children (yes, private schoolswe pay taxes for public
schools, but unlike years ago, the quality of public school education
in this town stinks). We want to come home and spend time relax
ing and enjoying our families. But you make sure that you set off
your silly bombs and upset our sleeping children. But what do you
care? Your children are all grown up, living in suburbia, your
houses are all paid for, and you sit around all day on your soap
boxes living off the fat of the land.
My advice to you OTERS (oldtimers abbreviated) is think before
you speak and understand what others are saying before you judge.
The community is divided between the OTERS and Yuppies be
cause it is how you want it.
An Italian-American woman
who has lived in and loved
Hoboken all of her life
Oct. 26, 1986
Yes, Ill join Khadafys hit squad and bomb you
Dear Editor:
In response to "Italian-American Yuppie Woman" I would love to
join Khadafys hit squad and bomb you.
For a person who thinks shes so educated you sure are an a~
hole! How dare you call me illiterate, blind and unable to com
prehend a paragraph. J ust because you are so educated (do you
think anyone in Hoboken really cares what schools you attended?)
doesnt make you so smart.
For your information, I am 35 years old, have a home and busi
ness of my own, and yes, I can read and write English perfectly. I
didnt have a college education like you didin fact, I had to quit
school to help support my family, and I just received my diploma
five years ago after many years of hard work trying to keep up with
my business and attend night school.
J ust because you dont agree with me doesnt give you the right
to call me ignorant.
My grandfather, like yours, is also an oldtimer who set off those
so-called bombs.
Does that make your grandfather an illiterate, ignorant old man?
Where I come from it is an honor to be chosen to set off those
bombs.
Vito Menzzini
Nov. 2, 1986
You are a disgrace to Italian yuppies
Dear Editor:
In response to the Italian-American yuppie woman, I am a "yup
pie" and am proud just like you, to be one. But I felt really
ashamed and embarrassed, not only for you but for myself and
other yuppies.
Speaking your mind is one thing, but to put someone down the
way you did was totally uncalled for. I hope that you are a damn
shame that you had to express your feelings in that manner. Lady,
you are a disgrace to the Italian yuppies.
Paula Henderson
Nov. 23, 1986
Let the feast issue die
Dear Editor:
Enough is enough! For a three-day event, people are dragging
things out a little too far. Come on, let "The Feast Issue" die once
and for all.
If all the people who attacked each other over this issue got
together and used their tempers to fight for one better issue such as
better education, tax reform, better parking and such, there would
have been so many great things accomplished!
Come on people, relax, go out and enjoy what Hoboken has to
offer. Lets get together and fight for each other and not against
each other.
Feast Issue, R.I.P.(?)
Sue Avery
Nov. 9, 1986
Pro-yuppies/antl-yupples,
wheres your sense of humor?
Dear Editor:
To begin, my family has been in Hoboken since the late 1800s.
My grandfather was a lighter captain on the river.
I ve been following the pro-yuppie, anti-yuppie, pro-feast, anti
feast letters with growing concern. Whats happened to our sense
of humor, the essential element for survival in any city?
To gain insight into the life of Hoboken, it would be helpful if, as
I do, one went to the tennis courts on a Saturday or Sunday. One
side of the court is next to the high school field. Other sides are
bounded by a volleyball court, a basketball court, and a handball
court.
On a typical day there will be four teenagers with big boxes, one
at each end of the field, tuned, of course, to different stations.
On the running track, there will be the freshman football team, 30
joggers, 10 kids on dirt bikes, a dozen dogs, a biker on a Harley
from the Hoboken Motorcycle Club trying to find his way home
from last nights party, a beautiful braless girl running backwards,
and a bag lady looking for the train station.
In one comer of the field there is a girls softball game, in another
a semi-pro game between two Hispanic teams, one of which has a
Dominican kid who keeps hitting the ball 300 feet into the tennis
courts.
In another comer of the field there are 18 red-faced, potbellied
guys playing softball in a tavern league. One guy with a belly so
big that he cant see his feet. He can, however, hit a softball 300
fet into, of course, the tennis court.
In the last comer, theres a touch football game, five people
flying kites, six people playing with frisbees, the junior varsity
cheerleaders and one guy with a radio-controlled plane the size of a
747.
In the center of the field there are 10 dazed and bleeding Italians
playing soccer with 10 dazed and bleeding Yugoslavians. Theyre
bleeding because the high school field has an artificial surface,
ground glass, rocks the size of cantaloupes, and Schaeffer bottle
caps jagged side up. I f you slide into second in Hoboken, you get
the Croix de Guerre, a blood transfusion and a rabies shot. In the
midst of this chaos, there is also a yuppie chipping golf balls in the
direction of, you guessed it, the tennis court.
On the volleyball court there are a dozen five-foot-tall Puerto
Rican guys playing volleyball with a 15-foot homemade net and a
ball that looks like a two-month-old pumpkin.
On the basketball court, therere a bunch of black kids leaping
five feet into the air, slam-dunking to a chorus of shake and bake,"
"In yo face, bro!"
On the handball court some young guys are alternating playing
with drinking beer and smoking funny cigarettes that always make
me light headed when I m at that end of the court.
At this point, I usually find myself in a close game and its my
serve. I hesitate to throw a ball up because I know that when I do
the Dominican kid will hit one over the fence, the yuppie is going
to hit me with a golf ball, the fat guys going to hit a 350-foot shot
into the court, following which hell have a coronary around third,
which will bring the Hoboken ambulance squad screaming around
the track scattering kids, dogs, bikes and causing the bag lady to
begin screaming "Praise, J esus," and the braless girl to start jump
ing up and down.
At that point the guys on the handball court light up another
cigarette. The model airplane crashes into the volleyball net, allow
ing a five-foot Puerto Rican guy to spike the ball, causing shouts of
fuego, ole, and andelo. A six-foot black kid will tear down the back
board and-just as I swing at the ball the feast opens up with a
round of howitzers. Think McEnroe could play tennis here? With a
frontal lobotomy, maybe.
Seriously, the field is a kind of microcosm of the city where a lot
of different people are doing a lot of different things and not get
ting too upset about getting in each others hair. Live and let live.
Leo Genese
Nov. 16, 1986
An usher in the 1986 Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri.
106 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER NINE
Write Your Congressman
About Those Italians
The feast letters arrived in torrents throughout the fall of 1986.
Most continued the xenophobic tirades and the pro-yuppie/anti-yup
pie assaults, but towards the end of November, the letter-writers ad
vocated a noticeably more pragmatic approach to the issue. They
called for petitions, laws, and legislative lobbying on the feast
bombs controversy. At the same time, however, the debate
developed a nasty racist streak as Hobokenites bawled over alleged
imperfections in the Italian character. Those claiming to be Italian,
or rather, Italian-American (the distinction between the two was of
the utmost importance), voiced some of the most bitter sentiments.
In many ways, the anti-Italian comments were merely a different
expression of oldtimer/newcomer antagonism. But several residents
blamed the Italian race for all the problems of the communityboth
before, during, and after the citys gentrification.
Hoboken residents grew more and more disturbed by the "hate
mail" and The Reporter's insistence on publishing it. Many wrote
letters castigating the paper for its actions, while others contacted
staff members personally to register their disapproval. Yet, the let
ters kept coming in.
Psychologist plans petition drive
for federal law against feast bombs
Dear Editor:
This is directed at the "Italian bom and raised in Hoboken and
proud of it."
I am an Italian-American, 26 years old, and I ve lived in Hoboken
all my life.
I hold a B.A. and a M.A. degree in Psychology which I received
at Columbia University in New York City.
I mention this only because it shows that young intelligent Italian-
Americans are just as annoyed with the bombs as the Yuppies and
other equally intelligent citizens.
In my estimation, a federal law should be passed to prevent the
use of explosives merely for the ridiculous reason of celebrating a
religious feast.
I, together with some friends, will soon be promoting a petition
for the enactment of such a law.
I m sure well get the number of signatures we need to achieve
this purpose.
I ts a great pity to say that, unfortunately, since I am also Italian,
but have the intelligence and insight to see them as they really are,
that bold, belligerent attitudes predominate in the Italian people.
Among them for the most part, are the most inflated egos in the
world, giving them a feeling of superiority even when there is no
call for feeling superior.
Among them exist one of the most racist and prejudiced groups
one would ever hope to findnot only prejudiced against other
races but people who dare not share their lifestyle.
For the most part, they are always dictatorial, rude, arrogant, and
presumptuous.
My studies in psychology have truly permitted me to see what the
warmhearted" Italians are really like, and the writer of that par
ticular letter runs true to form.
Hoboken is moving forward at a very fast rate.
There is no room for people who are as ignorant, dictatorial, and
as backward thinking as that personnot in the new Hoboken
which is slowly emerging from the shadow of ignorance.
Name withheld
Nov. 23, 1986
Feast psychologist is immature
Dear Editor:
(To the Psychologist)
I m not impressed with your B.A. or M.A., pieces of paper are
not the issue here.
Somehow we have gotten off die issue of feast bombs and onto
immature name calling.
For someone to call myself and my family, whom I love and care
for, names really hurts because then you turn around and say,
Hoboken is new and improved."
I dont consider a city being new and improved with such im
maturity.
In my opinion Hoboken will only be new and improved if the
educational system, and the recreational programs for us, the
younger generation, are improved.
An Italian bom and raised in Hoboken
and proud of it!
Nov. 20, 1986
Is it responsible to print fascist letters
about the feast that antagonize us?
Dear Editor:
First, while there are many instances where we do not agree in
theory with the opinions of the older citizens in Hoboken, it in no
way allows us to judge them as being ignorant or their ideas as
being "stupid." This is a condescending attitude which not only
makes these citizens feel more disenfranchised but widens the hor
rible gap between "old" and "new" that regrettably exists in
Hoboken today. One would believe a self-proclaimed "intelligent"
person, especially trained in psychology, would appreciate this fact.
Secondly, this persons references to Italians as being bold, bel
ligerent, dictatorial, rude, arrogant, presumptuous and the most
racist and prejudiced group "one would ever hope to find" is not
only unsubstantiated by fact other than his own questionable ex
perience, but at the very least a stereotyping of a whole nationality.
This thinking is so very dangerous.
Thirdly, the last paragraph of that letter states, "there is no room
for people who are ignorant, dictatorial, and backwards think
ing...not in the new Hoboken." This is clearly Fascist thought
which sadly echoes those words heard in Europe in the late 1930s
and early 1940s. My only source of hope is the knowledge that
these words will not motivate the good people of Hoboken, both
old and new, to such extremes as this person wishes.
Finally, I must mention that while I do enjoy The Hoboken
Reporter every week, I find the publishing of such an irresponsible
letter which bears no name quite questionable. The "Letters" sec
tion of The Reporter, like any good newspaper, is a forum for
responsible, thought-provoking and topically current issues. I must
wonder in good consciousness if the printing of such a letter as you
did on November 23, 1986, only serves as a medium for an
tagonism between the old and new citizens of Hoboken.
Anthony Petrosino Jr.
Nov. 30, 1986
Wants to sign anti-feast petition
Dear Editor:
Yeah! for the Hoboken psychologist and Paula Henderson ("You
are a disgrace to Italian yuppies" 11/13/86) in their open letters to
the Serpent Tongue, self-named Italian Yuppie who is trying to
right a wrong, USING CHILDREN TO COLLECT MONEY TO
PAY FOR BOMBS!!! I do declare, what is this world coming to?
It is so wrong that it is funny.
I can understand why this person needs the bombs so muchshe
has to compliment her violent personality.
Dont forget upper Bloomfield Street when you get those petitions
ready.
Name withheld
Dec. 7, 1986
There are a lot better things
to sign petitions for than feast
Dear Mr. Psychologist:
While you and your friends are busy signing petitions to prevent
the use of bombs, why dont you also start one to prevent the use
of fireworks on the Fourth of J uly? If you can put up with them,
then you could put up with these for one weekend out of the year.
Come on, live a little. They are not hurting anyone and what
damage have they caused?
You say that we should send our donations to help the schools. In
the future there will be no schools. They will all become condos.
If you really want to do something constructive for this town,
why dont you and your friends sign petitions to stop the closings
of our schools. Where are our children supposed to go to learn?
Sign petitions to make more parking spaces available. Where are
we supposed to park our cars?
Sign petitions to stop the closing of our ShopRite supermarket.
Where are we supposed to shop?
Sign petitions to fix up our parks. Where are our children sup
posed to play?
Face it, there are so many other problems with our city, so why
pick on the small percentage of citizens who look forward to these
fireworks every year.
If we could all get together and do something constructive for
everyone, not just ourselves, this town would be a much better
place to live.
Patricia J ames
Dec. 7, 1986
Hey, psychologist, go back into your cave
Dear Editor:
In response to the petition driven psychologist.
Stop trying to be bitter and persecuting all of us Catholic Italians
who still believe. Next, you will want all of us citizens who wrote
in to be put into a gas chamber for still believing.
J oseph Lisa
Dec. 14, 1986
Psychologist should have done his homework
Dear Editor:
We should try to end the "Big Boom" issue as adults, not nitpick
ing children.
Not to throw any degrees around, but I have my Masters in Sociol
ogy and two of my associates are teaching psychology at local col
leges for the past six years.
T.J . Roberts
Dec. 14, 1986
There are some dirty politics behind the feast
Dear Editor:
I lived and worked in Italy for three years and while in Europe
also visited several other countries. Unfortunately, I must say that
everything the psychologist says about Italians is true.
Yes, they are as a general rule, arrogant and rude. I am sorry if
the truth hurts, but I have found this to be true as have several of
my associates. Have you ever spoken to an Italian telephone
operator? They are the rudest in all of Europe! This is just a small
example. ,
It is with that very same arrogance that the Italian-Americans in
this town persist in continuing these bombings year after year even
though they are fully aware that those offensive sounds are a
nuisance and a tremendous disturbance to the rest of us.
1for one say, HOORAY FOR THE PSYCHOLOGIST!
I cant wait to sign that petition.
L.M. Gable
Dec. 21, 1986
Enough is enough
Dear Editor:
For the past few months the letters concerning the feast controver
sy have dominated the pages of your newspaper. (Enough to war
rant its own opinion section.) It is obvious that this issue has been
allowed to develop into Hobokens number one problem.
We, as citizens of Hoboken, have polarized our community over
this issue and have forgotten that Hoboken needs its citizens to
work cooperatively for political, economic and social reforms.
In recent weeks the letters concerning the feast have strayed from
this point and have become an anonymous forum to insult and
degrade various community groups.
Tony Andriola, Anne Marie Andriola,
Mary Romano, Anthony Lombardi,
Staela Keegan and Phyllis Keegan
Dec. 14, 1986
Regarding the feast bomb situation and
the general " us vs. them" controversy
Dear Editor:
4 I suppose that the only way to solve this problem is to put it to a
vote on the next election ballot. (While theyre at it, how about a
fine for anyone with a loud, blasting radio?)
As far as this hateful fighting back and forth between the various
groups, lets get some things straight. Nearly everyone is at fault. A
number of "yuppies" think theyve got the right to move into
Hoboken, buy a condo, and start demanding that they have the right
to tell their neighbors what they can and cant do. Since we live in
a country where theres one vote per person, they better get over
themselves. I also suggest that if some of them want to be involved
in whats to be decided in Hoboken, they better roll their sleeves
up and get involved in local politics. It would also help if they
started shopping here more! Hoboken was never built to be simply
a "bedroom community."
Those in the "older" Italian, Irish and German community should
finally realize that Hoboken changed long before the first "yuppie"
ever moved in. In many ways, Hoboken has become a more stable
town because of it. We all hate the higher taxes, and the fact that
some stores have closed, but WORKING TOGETHER, for the com
mon good of the city would go a long way to solve these problems.
Lets get on the ball and try to make Hoboken a cleaner, quieter,
more happy town with people who take the time to get to know
their neighbor and their customs, and try to solve the financial/tax
situation, rather than all this infighting Lets all respect tradition,
but not be afraid to change for the good of the future.
Barry Margolis
Dec. 21, 1986
if feast is so important to Italians,
why dont they go back to Italy?
Dear Editor:
I have just about had it with all these stupid, ignorant comments
from idiots who continue to defend the "bombs" in the St. Ann
Feast!
What is wrong with you? I too would like to shake the hand of
the Italian American who agrees with "Shaken Up in Hoboken."
I am an Italian-American Catholic and have lived in this city for
40 years. My family, longtime residents of Hoboken, are also fed
up to the teeth with all the "bombs" which shake us up out of bed,
and continue to wake us up day and night for an entire week.
Enough talk already with the dumb expression, "experiencing a
taste of Italy."
If thats what Italy is like, well, they can all keep it!
Yes, these narrow-minded sickening ethnic people are indeed an
embarrassment to the rest of us intelligent, forward thinking, Italian-
Americans.
They are, and always will be, stuck in 17th Century Italian towns
rather than in the 20th Century.
Why in Heavens name dont they all pack up and move to Italy
if they think its so great there!
The so-named Yuppies have my vote every time! They are intel
ligent, glib, and truly interested in helping Hoboken to become the
classy, metropolitan town it has become since their arrival.
Do the "oldtimers" remember what Hoboken was like, say, even
15 years ago? It was nothing like it is today, and that is meant as
the highest of compliments.
Frankly, the "wonderful oldtimers" were themselves ashamed to
say that they came from Hoboken!
In my estimation, the "dear old oldtimers" are just jealous of the
Yuppies. Theyve got it all over them, and one of the things they
have is the courage and intelligence to stand up and fight for their
rights to have a peaceful town in the last week of August.
The level of intelligence demonstrated by all of the "bomb"
defenders is just as backward thinking and ignorant as the "beloved
bombs" and statue marching they all so adore.
I say, do away with marching a statue through the streets.
Religious statues belong in church, not being marched in the streets.
And mainly, do away with those awful and disturbing "bombs."
Hoboken is a city in renaissance, not a city drenched in medieval
times.
Name withheld
Dec. 7, 1986
Agnostic pig-heads are jealous
they cant participate in feast
Dear Mr. Withheld
I fund your letter of December 7 ("Go back to Italy") to be one of
the most blasphemous letters I have ever read in my life.
You have the audacity to call those who celebrate jealous, when
you are the one who is jealous because you, being an agnostic, can
not participate in the festive celebration.
You dont want to put up with one week of noise, but yet we
have to put up with your rude and immature behavior. We have to
put up with the noise that comes out of the local bars all hours of
the night. We have to put up with that damn chamber music that is
played in the park all summer long. That is more annoying than put
ting up with one week of bombings. I ts a shame we have to listen
to that hideous music while we are praying in the church across
from the park. How would you like to hear that music while you
are praying, if you do?
Maybe those Italians could move back to Italy, but at least they
have a place to go. No country would want you with your shrewd,
senseless and heinous attitude.
Roger Busch
Dec. 21, 1986
Oldtimer says Hoboken has become
cold and cruel
Dear Editor:
In response to "Forward Thinking Italian/American who lived
here for 40 years." ("Go back to Italy" 12/7/86)
Yes, I remember what Hoboken was like 15 years ago, having
been bom and raised here in Hoboken.
Fifteen years ago it was a wonderful town filled with children and
teenagers. There was lots of love in this town. People all cared and
helped their neighborhood during the difficult times. The streets
were safe from traffic and crime.
Now Hoboken is a cold and cruel town. There arent that many
children around anymore and very few teenagers. All the good-
hearted people are gone. The city is overcrowded and there is a lot
of crime because of the rich newcomers. All that is left is the cold-
hearted, insensitive people, like you, who wont allow the few
remaining Hobokenites to live.
When I walk into a restaurant or supermarket, I can feel the cold-
shoulder towards me because I am an oldtimer.
Those people killed our town, and now they are taking what little
is left to remind us of the old Hoboken. If you were a true
Hobokenite as you say (which I do not believe, because true
Hobokenites would not stab their fellow citizens in the back), how
could you let them take over? Instead of thinking of a solution to
this problem, you are just making matters worse with your insults.
Havent you noticed how overcrowded our city has gotten? There
is no place to park our cars because of all the newcomers cars. All
our local businesses are closing because the newcomers do not
shop in this town. You act as if you are one of them.
I cannot believe how you can go against us oldtimers, when you
say you are one yourself. These newcomers have not done one
good thing to this town. Oh sure, you are probably saying that if it
wasnt for them we would still be living in a dump. Well, because
of them, we lost all our friends and neighbors who were forced to
move out. They turned our landlords into greedy conniving people.
You say you care about the elderly, sick and dying, but did you
ever stop to think that maybe these people would like to live to see
one more feast or hear one more "bomb?" You dont have to be
Italian to have a good time and to some people that is all it is, a
good time. You dont care about them or anyone else, you are just
thinking about yourself.
Cornelius Van Pelt
Dec. 21, 1986
Write your congressman for anti-feast law
Dear Editor:
Maybe we can, with the stroke of a pen, put an end to this cease
less bickering about the Feast.
To those who oppose, know ye: The indiscriminate detonation of
high explosives in densely populated areas is so insanely hazardous
to goldfish, hamsters, doggies, catsies, moms, pops, kids and the oc
casional automobile gas tank that a considerable body of law has
arisen upon the subject. Projectile explosives are especially
frowned upon; at airports they have been known to cause a panic.
Therefore, if the bombs annoy you, do not write this paper. Write
your Congressperson, and have the satisfaction of seeing a federal
marshal lock the whole show up and kick it out of town.
To those who favor, I can offer little comfort. But you can always
bum me in effigy, if not in actuality.
Respectfully,
Ralph Hodges
Dec. 21, 1986
What are you, a moron?
Dear Editor:
In response to Ralph Hodges anti-feast letter, Write your con
gressman for anti-feast law, I would love to bum you to a crisp for
your inane letter.
Fireworks have nothing to do with bombs in airports. They are
not hurting anyone except you and your family of goldfish,
hamsters, doggies and catsies. What are you, a moron?
The only place that is densely populated is your dense
head, mister!!
Why should we get rid of the feast entirely because you dont
want to hear the bombs? Why dont you walk around for a week
with your Walkman blasting in your ears, then you wont hear the
bombs.
Michael Pietroponto
J an. 18, 1987
This column is for idiots
Dear Editor:
This feast took place in August and there are still people writing
about it. Before you know it, it will be August again and what have
you people done but sat on your behinds and wrote those vicious
letters insulting each other.
If you people enjoy writing letters so much, why dont you send
each other your names and addresses and write to each other so we
dont have to read about your problems. There are so many other
important things going on in our city we other citizens would like
to read about.
Every week I read the paper and I hesitate to read the editorial
page because I know there is going to be another one of those feast
letters.
Please, please, lets put an end to this feast issue and get in some
real letters.
J anet OBrien
Dec. 21, 1986
Its time for a feast letter moratorium
Dear Editor:
Enough is enough with the weekly diatribes about the Italian
Feast. The letters regarding this matter have appeared with revolt
ing redundancy.
A subject of such a trivial, insignificant nature, in comparison to
the substantive problems which face Hoboken and truly merit ex
tended dialogue, has generated into blatant anti-Italian slurs and
hateful name calling.
I am also beginning to suspect that "Name Withheld" is the pen
name of a member of your staff.
I would like to remind you and your readers that this group which
is now being vilified and maligned as stupid, ignorant and racist,
stood fast in Hoboken and preserved the core of the City by the
devoted care and maintenance of its property and surroundings,
when the City was in danger of becoming an extension of the
South Bronxnot Greenwich Village. It was the areas mainly in
habited by the Italians and the Italianate flavor of the town which
attracted the first wave of "New Yorkers" who moved to Hoboken
and were instnimental in sparking the resurgence of the City. A
resurgence, which despite its many improvements, has also created
problemsproblems which should properly be the focus of atten
tion and concern of the citizenry.
The time has come to declare a moratorium on the Feast letters
and to devote more space to matters of genuine worth and impor
tance.
Yours is the only forum in Hoboken; it should be more meaning
ful and enlightening, not a repository of animosity and vileness.
J oseph S. Versaci
Dec. 21, 1986
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Feast letters to stay
(Front page story in The Hoboken Reporter, Jan. 11,1987)
Some hate them, some love them, but theres no question the
feast letters have become as big an issue as the annual Madonna
dei Martiri Feast itself. Since September, the colorful but noisy
religious tradition has prompted more than 60 people to write to
The Hoboken Reporter.
In the past month or so, several readers have complained to us
about the feast letters. They said printing the letters was irrespon
sible, boring, repetitive, and basically counterproductive to society
as a whole.
On the other hand, the feast letters kept pouring in, sometimes 15
or 30 in one week. Other readers lauded the weekly exchange of
comments, no matter how vicious they sometimes appeared. These
people called the feast letters a candid expression of community
feelings, an issue of significant importance, and something that is
always a real blast to read. As one letter writer commented, the
feast letters were the best thing in the paper after Police Beat.
The Hoboken Reporter normally runs 99 percent of the signed,
legible, non-libelous letters sent to us. We are one of the only
Some of the responses to the Feast Letters 87 coupon.
newspapers where everyone has the chance to publicly state their
opinion, no matter how obnoxious or ridiculous it may seem at the
time. Printing a readers comments may take some time (up to two
months), but sooner or later, almost ever}* letter makes it in.
We are reluctant to cease publication of any community correspon
dence, especially when there seems to be a continued interest in the
subject. So last month we decided to let our readers decide what we
should do.
In the December 21, 1986 issue, we dumped almost all the remain
ing feast letters in a special expanded Feast Letters section, and
asked our readers to fill out a coupon telling us whether we should
continue printing the letters or not. With that issue, we had run 42
feast-related letters. 17 were pro-feast/anti-yuppie, 14 were anti
feast/pro-yuppie and 11 wanted the fighting to end.
By J anuary 9, we received 25 coupons. 13 wanted more feast let
ters, 12 wanted to be spared.
In that same period, we received 7 more feast letters. Even some
of the people who requested an end to the issue sent along a letter
with their coupon. Some of the comments people wrote with their
coupons included:
(From those wanting to be spared)
"Thanks for asking. I m sick of it."
"Two, maybe three weeks were okay, but its been reading
like frantic and terminal masturbation. There are lots of other
tilings to hash out."
"Somewhere in Hoboken there is someone or someones who give
unselfishly of themselves. I would like to get to know these heroes
through your paper."
"Start a new paper devoted to crank letters about the Feast,
sneakers on the wires, UFOs, and other burning issues of the day.
There are more important issues for The Reporter to deal with."
(From those wanting more feast letters)
"The county Board of Health should intervene. I ts their jurisdic
tion to enforce noise regulations. The bombing is obviously a
breach of the law."
"Maybe someone important will notice and put an end to those
idiotic, noisy and money-wasting bombs."
"If we stop the bombs, stop the yuppies who party from Friday to
Sunday."
My sick aunt is uplifted whenever
she reads the feast letters
Dear Editor:
I ve flown out from California to spend Christmas with my aunt. I
have discovered many characteristics that typify Hoboken but none
so entertaining as the Feast Bomb letters.
Unfortunately, my aunt succumbed to the flu and has been in bed
for the last couple of days. She was immediately uplifted when she
saw The Hoboken Reporter and knew that she had the Feast Bomb
letters to look forward to. Being that she was so ill and couldnt
wait, she insisted that I read them to her aloud. The delight that
showed on her sickly face was heartwarming when I announced
that there was an entire page and a half of letters. This is obviously
a highlight in my aunts life; some people have sports, others T.V.
(maybe a soap opera), my aunt has Feast Bomb letters.
I know that the letters are going to contribute greatly to my
memories of Hoboken. I even went back to past issues to catch up
on the cast and the continuing saga. It has given me something to
look forward to on my next visit. So it would be a terrible disap
pointment to me, and especially my aunt, if the letters were to
cease.
Most Sincerely,
Theresa Bui
J an. 11, 1987
The feast letter-reading sick aunt
must also enjoy the feast Itself
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the wonderful letter written by There
sa Bui ("My sick aunt is uplifted when she reads feast letters"
1/11/87).
If your aunt enjoys reading those letters so much, then I am sure
she also enjoys going to the feast and having a good time.
I hope your aunt is better now and reading this article, because I
would like to wish her good health for the new year and many
more years to come.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Wagner-Rom ano
Feb. 8, 1987
Sunday brunch at a local Hoboken restaurant.
CHAPTER TEN
Of Grape Squeezers and
Urinal Cleaners
With the feast issue boiling over, all-out warfare broke on the let
ters page of The Hoboken Reporter. This time the anti-yuppie bar
rage targeted specific lifestyle and cultural preferences of the new
comers as the root of the citys problems. But as the battle wore
on, the debate got more philosophical, even preachy, as the letter-
writers discussed the merits of traditional family-living versus that
of "Dinks," yuppie couples with a double income, no kids.
What do you get when you put
yuppies into a grape squeezer?
Dear Editor:
Renaissance in Hoboken?
A revival of Arts and Letters?
Hardly!
Yuppie hordes trail each morning to the Big City trough for their
parasitic feed.
To monotonous clerkdoms at the stock market, advertising agen
cies and other shills of the capitalistic con game.
At days end they trail back to Hoboken to their co-signed
cubicles to await the next exciting morning.
However, on weekends they break out and "brunch it up."
Whee!!!!!
This entire yuppie population crowded into a giant Italian style
grape squeezer wouldnt yield one drop of talent.
J oseph Trincellita
Dec. 21, 1986
Lets put his brain in a grape squeezer
Deax Editor:
In response to J oseph Trincellitas December 21 letter. What do
you get if Mr. Trincellitas brains were put into a grape squeezer?
Fermented grape pulp, thats what! His claim that the entire
Hoboken Yuppie population would not yield one drop of talent
makes him blind to the fact that there are many people in this town
who have well respected jobs and have talents far beyond his
capabilities. It would not surprise me one bit if Mr. Trincellitas oc
cupation was that of urinal cleaner because his knowledge of intel
ligence are the equivalent of the small disk that lies on the bottom
of each urinal: Mr. Trincellita can gripe all he wants. I ts his own
fault if he never made it big in life. The Yuppies are here to stay.
Better learn to live with them.
The Lurker Group, Inc.
J an. 11, 1987
Hey, whats wrong with cleaning urinals?
Dear Editor:
I am a janitor for a large firm on Wall Street. I was very insulted
when I read your letter insulting Mr. Trincellita by calling him a
urinal cleaner ("Lets put his brain in a grape squeezer" 1/11/87).
For your information, I am a urinal cleaner and damn proud of it. If
it wasnt for me and the other urinal cleaners, there would be a
world full of people with AIDs, Herpes, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea.
You folks work in nice clean offices and use the nice clean
restrooms. Who do you think cleans those toilets and makes sure
the bathroom is sanitized, or do you folks hold it in until you get to
your own filthy bathrooms? A janitor is like a doctor, he or she
must clean and sanitize everything for the next person to use. How
would you like it if all the restrooms where you worked were filthy
and full of disease, if there was no toilet paper or napkins to wipe
yourselves? You wouldnt like it one bit.
So next time you use a toilet, think about the people who have to
clean up your crap!
Lawrence Donnelly
A J anitor and Damn Proud of It! ! !! !
J an. 25, 1987
You DINKS dont know what REAL work Is
Dear Editor:
In response to the Lurker Groups letter, "Lets put his brain in a
grape squeezer" (1/11/87).
You DAMN DINKS! You think you are Gods gift to this earth.
How dare you "think" you are so superior because you have a high-
paying job! We true citizens are all hard-working people who
didnt have the same opportunities that you have now.
We all have families to support, but what would you DINKS
know about having a family. You are all greedy bastards who only
think about how big your paycheck is and who has a better condo.
Shame on you for thinking like that, so what if Mr. Trincellita is
not as intelligent as you ASSUME yourselves to be. Maybe he
never had an opportunity to better himself.
You "Yuppies" have your parents support you and send you to col
lege, then when you get a good job you put others who arent as
fortunate as you down.
Ask your grandparents and parents what it was like when they
were young. Maybe you will learn something from them.
You DINKS dont know what hard work is. You sit at your desks
all day reading your Times and planning brunch for the next day,
while we work our butts off trying to save for our childrens future.
So, if you dont have anything intelligent to say, keep your damn
mouths shut!
David Sullivan
J an. 25, 1987
There Is nothing wrong with brunch
Dear Editor:
I was shocked and revolted by the unbelievably crude and rude
remarks in a letter in your Letters column dated December 21, 1986.
In it, a Mr. J oseph Trincellita remarks that "so many Yup
pies together put through an ITALIAN grape squeezer could yield
not a drop of talent."
How dare that gentleman make such an insulting comment? And
then, why did he choose to use the word Italian in describing the
grape squeezer?
That letter is a terrible embarrassment to the rest of us Italian
citizens of Hoboken, and I apologize to the Yuppies who that
writer so vilely depreciates.
It is people such as that writer, with ideas just as petty and small,
who keep Hoboken from really growing into the sophisticated, cul
tured city it should be.
That gentlemans outburst unfortunately gives credence to the
people who chide us Italians for being rude and arrogant.
And in further reply to that writers letter, I must hasten to ask,
what is wrong with BRUNCH?
Brunch, along with art galleries, book stores, a magnificent cham
ber orchestra and classical music in the park, all bring wonderful,
much needed touches of class and true culture to a city which has
been far too many years completely saturated in the mundane,
workday world of sameness and dullness!
Sincerely,
J ames T. Alessandrini
J an. 11, 1987
Theres nothing wrong with brunch,
but how about some rock n roll
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to "Nothing wrong with brunch" (Jan.
11, 1987).
Nothing is wrong with brunch or classical or chamber music in
the park.
But, why cant we also have rock, rap, country, jazz and reggae
playing in our park.
Do the people who plan these events have something against this
type of music or are they just a bunch of Yuppies who only care
about themselves and their friends?
Not everyone wants to listen to Chamber or Classical music! So
why must us residents who live near the park or those who like to
hang out in the park be forced to listen to that cultural music!
That is a public park for everyone to enjoy, not just the cultured
people. Every week there should be different types of music play
ing, so everyone could have a good time, not just a few.
Sara Morgan
J an. 25, 1987
This yuppie chamber music irritates us
Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to "How about some rock and roll (J an.
25, 1987).
We the teenagers of Hoboken would like to hear some rock and
roll and rap music playing in the park. What is it with this chamber
music every week? A park is built mainly for children and
teenagers, but yet there are always yuppies in the park chasing the
kids away from the band shelter.
Why must we have to put up with that irritating music? There are
hundreds of local bands trying to make it. Why cant we have a
talent night instead of yuppie night, then everyone can have a good
time.
Double Trouble and our Followers
Feb. 15, 1987
We ll sign our own petition against yups
Dear Editor:
You people think it was the yuppies who made this town better,
when it was the yuppies who started the great divide. They move
into this town and think they could start demanding that they have
the right to tell us what to do. Well, we have rights to.
So sign your petitions, because we will sign petitions to keep yup
pie joggers who block traffic off our streets, and against all those
noisy yuppie hangouts with that loud music that keeps up till all
hours of the night and the drunks who stumble out. And also, that
damn chamber music we are forced to listen to as we sit in the park
on hot summer nights. There should be a federal law against play
ing that in public!
Michael, Christa and
Angela Pietropaulo
Feb. 8, 1987
P.S. What do you get when you put yuppies into a grape squeezer?
A bunch of guppies!
Rock music in park is a good idea
Dear Editor:
I would like to follow up on a request submitted to this page by
"Double Trouble" and its followers ("This yuppie chamber music ir
ritates us" 2/15/87). They asked, on the behalf of "the teenagers of
Hoboken," for rock and roll and rap music to be played in the park
in lieu of Chamber music every week.
This sounds like a good idea. If there are any readers who would
like to follow up on this concept, or know how the Chamber group
does it, please let me know. My phone number is in the phone book.
Stephen King
Mar. 22, 1987.
P.S. Isnt it nice to see a letter without the word "Yuppie" in it
(oops, sorry).
Ban New Years ruckus
Dear Editor:
So, now Hoboken has a new "Yuppie" tradition. Banging pots
from the window for one solid hour while screaming Happy New
Year to everyone that passes by.
I happen to have a sick elderly mother living above the condo
from where this ruckus was coming from. I called the police only
to be told, "But lady, its New Years Eve Day."
There should be a law against noise in public after 12, no matter
what holiday it is. I could see making noise a few minutes, but one
hour! Come on, dont you people (you know who you are) have
anything better to do, or were you too drunk to realize what you
were doing?
I am not trying to be a scrooge, but not everyone celebrates New
Y ears Day, so have some consideration for the sick, elderly folks
next year before you bring out your Farberware.
Andrea Taylor
J an. 18, 1987
New Years yuppie ruckus
bothered another elderly woman
In response to "New Years ruckus," I, too, heard the noise com
ing from that condo next door to my house. I, too, also am a sick
elderly woman who does not celebrate New Y ears as my family
lives out of state and I am alone. I was forced out of my bed from
a deep sleep to listen to that ruckus.
I would also have called the police, but I dont have a phone. I ts
a shame that yuppies can be so inconsiderate and insensitive.
Mrs. M.W.
J an. 25, 1987
I was humiliated by New Years Eve drunks
Dear Editor:
To the drunken fools who made that horrible racket on New
Years Eve.
I live in that building and was so humiliated. I happened to be up
entertaining my boss and some friends when the bang, bang, bang
started.
That noise was more annoying than any bomb blasting. For once,
I was really ashamed to be living there. Those condos are made so
cheaply you can hear everything going on next door.
There definitely should be laws for drunks like them who disturb
the peace.
Fm sorry, Miss Taylor, you had to listen to the ruckus. Maybe
next year they will know better.
Carolyn Masters
Feb. 15, 1987
So-called " renaissance" is a shallow lie
for yuppies and real estate sharks
Dear Editor:
In the gentrifiers lexicon an abortion is a renaissance. An old
dockside city of character undergoes a two-decade long, misery-
filled transformation into a Yuppie bedroom and for the duration of
the metamorphosis local real estate sharks tout the change as a
renaissance. Such advertising is a desecration of language but, what
the hell, it helps sell condos and provides a rationalization for the
impossible rents, displacement, and homelessness that the "renais
sance" has visited upon the citys native population. Yuppies who
feel they have reincarnated Hoboken as 16th century Florence dont
feel at all bad about having cleared out families whose roots in the
city go back for generations before its so-called revival.
A sub-division of the "Hoboken Renaissance" is the alleged renais
sance of the arts in the city. How Babbitty the notion that
Hobokens sparse, New York imitative cultural activities constitute
a renaissance! Compare the "Hoboken Renaissance" to the Harlem
Renaissance of the 20s. In that brilliant phase of Black history a
people rediscovered itself through its literature and music. Major
novels and poems were produced and jazz took a giant step towards
becoming our national music. Now as far as I know the "Hoboken
Renaissance" has yet to produce a poet of the stature of Langston
Hughes while Maxwells, the yuppie dive on 11th Street, certainly
is no Cotton Club.
What we have in the "Hoboken Renaissance" is not culture in any
substantial sense but rather the leisure activities of the Yuppie set.
The cultural shallowness of their "Hoboken Renaissance" is reflec
tive of working lives spent meaninglessly on Madison Avenue writ
ing jingles for inessential products and on Wall Street reshuffling
the loot of a declining capitalism.
Sincerely
Clara Buchanan
J an. 18, 1987
Yuppies and the meaning of life
Dear Editor:
What we have here in Hoboken is a growing confrontation of
divergent philosophies concerning LIFE.
The Yuppie philosophy of "making it big" in life (at any cost) ver
sus the more traditional family-oriented philosophy. Family is an
important difference between these two philosophies, the hedonistic
Yuppies having forsaken such considerations as cumbersome in
their quest for gold and position. Since a strong family has histori
cally been the cornerstone of successful societies at large one can
make a strong argument that Hoboken, as a community, is dying.
More on this later.
Recently in your column, my father, (J oseph Trincellita, "What do
you get when you put yuppies into a grape squeezer" 12/21/86) ac
curately portrayed the Yuppie influx as a pseudo-intellectual and
relatively talentless group, and so I shall continue.
Yuppies toil at obscure jobs and so-called careers (obscure in that
the only tangible fruits of their labor is money). Yuppies equate
their acquisition of wealth and possessions as a paramount ac
complishment of their narrow lives. This is in contrast to traditional
views that hold family and rearing of loving caring offspring as a
true meaning of life. Also Yuppies would probably frown upon
such "dead end" (courtesy LURKER Group) blue collar occupa
tions as carpenters, brick layers, civil servants, farmers, etc. Never
theless, people who work at such occupations have enduring con
tributions to make to society (or at least more enduring than you-
know-who). They and their descendents and community can take
"pride" in their efforts.
Yuppies also equate wealth and possessions as prerequisites to the
appreciation of the arts when in reality these people have only the
shallow appreciation of labels (whats expensive is good)it per
meates their lives.
In case the Yuppies were unaware (it seems unlikely) some of the
most intelligent and creative people of all time departed this world
penniless (alas, no stock portfolio, condo, high tech toys); but are
today revered for their greatness and enduring contributions they
made to humanity. I m sure it was their own fault that they never
"made it big" by Yuppie standards during their lifetime.
Now a word about the "native" Hobokenites who boast of loving
this city and hail the Yuppie invasion as a Renaissance. Such folk
have had their traditional values and priorities twisted by Greed
(maybe they are Yuppie failures who envision Yuppie success for
their offspring). They love the gentrification of Hoboken because
they benefit from it financially. They are no doubt landlords greedi
ly collecting bloated rents from Yuppies. And no matter what be
comes of Hoboken, these people can sell off their overpriced
properties and run away from the mess they leave behind.
And finally, what a mess it is, "The Requiem of a City." A city of
transients, strangers, and homeless. A city of greed, closing schools
and fear. Yes, Hoboken has a new face of wealth and prosperity,
but it has lost its soul. From the time the first lives were lost to the
arsonist torch of displacement, the death bell knelled for Hoboken
as a true city.
Nick Trincellita
J an. 25, 1987
Yuppie-baiting is getting boring
Dear Editor:
I dont want to blow this out of proportion, but I ll bet papers in
Germany received lots of letters similar to "Yuppies and the mean
ing of life" (J an. 25 edition, page 39) during the 1930s. Go ahead,
close your eyes, while someone reads that letter aloud, replacing
the word "Yuppie" with "J ew." You can almost hear those hob
nailed boots marching down Court Street.
I moved here six years ago from another middle class community
across a river from Manhattan: Astoria, Queens. Growing up there,
my neighbors were Irish, Italian, and German. Now when I return
to visit my mother, I enter an area with the second largest con
centration of Greeks in the world. Only Athens has more. Believe
me, its not the same as when I was growing up. But its not bad,
either. I ts just different. I ts changed. Theres no guarantee your
hometowns gonna stay the same forever.
What is constantly referred to as a "Yuppie" in countless editions
of The Hoboken Reporter is simply a young person, not much dif
ferent than most of us, middle class, in debt, trying to make ends
meet. Many young people are just starting out and need a couple of
roommates to cover the rent. Hows that any different than past
generations? These days, that overall-clad blue collar worker
waving to the young couple in Reeboks is probably saying "hi" to
his tenants.
This "Yuppie" baiting is getting boring. Reading past editions of
this paper, one gets the impression that only young commuters to
Manhattan hold loud New Years Eve parties, that classical music
is being forced down our throats just so these newcomers can have
a good time. We find other unflattering references to the new in
habitants amidst pages of ads for condos, trendy establishments,
and lists of clubs. I wonder if your advertisers target audience
bothers to read The Reporter after a few tries.
Hobokens got problems, but to blame them on something called
a "Yuppie" misses the point. The schools, sewers, water mains,
taxes and the old neighborhood are no longer what they used to be.
Stopping new folks at the border isnt going to bring back that old
neighborhood. Blaming them for the rest of Hobokens ills ac
complishes nothing and distracts us from the real causes of our
problems.
Kevin Kennedy
Feb. 15, 1987
Who are you hating?
Dear Editor:
I have a few questions for Nick Trincellita (1/25/87, "Yuppies and
the Meaning of Life") and the other numerous yuppie-haters out
there.
Mr. Trincellita, how many of these so-called yuppies do you
know personally? How did you find out that they "want to make it
in life at any cost," theyre "hedonistic," "shallow," "whats expen
sive is good," etc. etc.? Did you do a few months of extensive
market research going door to door or did you just come across
some juicy articles on yuppies in Time or Newsweek and copy
down some of the sentences?
First, I ll admit that those who put down any hard-working person
because theyre "blue collar" deserve some of your nasty labels.
The letters from Mr. Sullivan ("You DINKS dont know what real
work is" 1/29/87) and the hard-working, proud janitor ("Hey,
whats wrong with cleaning urinals?" 1/29/87) were justified. But
you, Mr. Trincellita, claim to know that all yuppies share so many
evil characteristics even when you probably dont know any of
them! I ts very convenient to have a group to hate and blame all
the towns problems on.
How do you decide whos a yuppie? How do you decide who to
hate when you walk down the street? Is it anyone who wears a suit
and works in NYC? Is it anyone who is between the ages 25-35? Is
it anyone who has a college degree? You probably would say no to
all of these, but you must have some way of spotting these very
wicked people.
You call others narrow-minded, yet you pass judgement on those
who you dont even know. You would certainly hate me at first
sight because I look like a yuppie.
Well, I ll tell you a bit about myself because I dont deserve your
evil stereotyping. I am 25, work in NYC, am a part-time student,
make $22,000/year, pay $600 monthly to a wealthy Hoboken
landlord, and I m of German-Irish descent. My grandparents came
off the boat in Hoboken and worked their fingers to the bone trying
to make a living. My grandmother was a maid and cook and my
grandfather became a skilled machinist who made precision
airplane parts. They saved enough money to send my mother to
college. I respect my parents and grandparents a great deal for the
work they did and for the sacrifices they made. I ll never forget
what they did and couldnt be prouder of them.
So what do I have to apologize to you for? Why am I such a ter
rible person? For being grateful I could go to college? Because I
dont have five kids at my age that so beautifully "fill the schools."
Because I like living in Hoboken and want to help make it better?
I am a decent person who is not rich and who also works hard for
her money. Yet several times I ve had high school kids jeering at
me when I ve walked by them"Youre a fing yuppie!" I ve
even had snow and ice thrown at me with the same chorus of
words sung at me. You probably chuckle at this and think its real
amusing, but if you got to know me youd know I didnt deserve it.
I ts people like you, Mr. Trincellita, who teach their kids to hate
others by deciding J UST BY LOOKING AT THEM that they fall
into a stereotype.
Why dont you admit that youve never met one of us evil yup
pies so you cant make 100 accusations of us and our "family-
hating, money-loving" ways.
Saying that all newcomers to the town who look a certain way are
disgusting yuppies is like saying all Italians are in the Mafia. I
wouldnt say it because thats STEREOTYPING.
Please give me and all the other young newcomers to this town
the same courtesy. Stop spreading this ugly, unjustified hatred. Stop
judging books by their covers.
Sincerely,
Name withheld
Mar. 22, 1987
Signs of the times on a Jackson Street building in Hoboken.
138 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Alls Fair in Love, War, and
Letters
Opinions about noisy religious celebrations were now not nearly
as important as whether yuppies ate brunch, postponed parenthood,
or enjoyed chamber music in the park. Before long, everything
from the "messy apartments of newcomers to their behavior in
grocery stores and choice of footwear would provide fuel for the
feud. However, as the conflict unfolded, the letter-writers dis
covered that the distinctions between oldtimers and newcomers,
yuppies and non-yuppies, benefactors and despoilers, were no
longer clear.
Who, after all, was everybody complaining about? Who were the
oldtimers? Who were the newcomers? Both were still struggling
with the basic question-whats a yuppie?
The letters became a struggle by the society to define itself and its
members.
"Theyre attempting to understand the communitywho the social
groups are, whats the right way to live your life, whether its put
ting curtains on your window, or where to work," says Hoboken
anthropologist Molly McNees. She compares the letters to rituals
that allow communities to accommodate for change. For instance,
in some primitive cultures, circumcision rites are symbolic acts ena
bling youth to make the transition from one phase of life to
another. Likewise, in Hoboken, the letters help citizens adapt their
old world to a new one through a process of published affronts and
humor.
The letters permit a ritualized insulting, she explains, in which
residents are allowed to escape social conventions prohibiting such
behavior. I ts okay to call someone a urinal cleaner on the letters
page, but you usually wont hear a person scream that in a
Hoboken deli. The ritual serves as both an outlet and container for
such feelings.
"Its a way of stepping out of the restraints of culture and
society," McNees states. "To be able to say impolite, nasty, mean
things in a safe way...it kind of bleeds off some of the stress."
What is wrong with you?
Dear Editor:
If the yuppies have so much class, why cant they afford to live
alone instead of sharing an apartment with two or three other yup
pies who sleep on floors and dont even iron their clothes, or cant
present a decent pair of curtains on their dirty windows if any at
all. So if thats class, we would hate to see how you live.
As for you and your yuppie pals, why dont you all leave. At least
we Italians have a country to go to.
D.M., R.H., M.S.
J an. 18, 1987
Yuppies are slobs and they dont put
curtains on thei r windows
Dear Editor:
Slobs you bet. Yuppies are rude, vile, loud, tasteless, and have no
class at all.
Everything that was written in the "What Is Wrong With You"
(1/18/87) letter is true.
I see what goes on in the condos where I am a superintendent.
The apartments are horrendous. I havent seen one with curtains.
Even the poorest people in Hoboken have something on their win
dows, even if it is a towel or sheet. At least it is something. The
Yuppies also have very little furniture, if any. But then why should
they, theyre always eating out and they dont have clothes to
wash. I see them, once a month, going to the laundromat to wash
their clothes. They keep their cars cleaner than themselves and their
apartments.
Name Withheld.
Feb. 1, 1987
Not only do yuppies not hang curtains,
they push at bus stops, joyride in streets,
and complain at grocery stores
Dear Editor:
"What is Wrong with You?" I will tell you.
You Yuppies are not only low-class slobs, but are also rude and
have no manners. For example:
1. In the morning, Yuppies must be the first on and off the bus no
matter how many people they have to push out of the way.
2. In supermarkets, Yuppies must always complain about the
prices of groceries and give the cashiers a hard time.
3. No matter how small a parking space, Yuppies must squeeze
their cars in, not caring about the car behind or in front.
4. Yuppies dont put curtains on their windows, forcing neighbors
to look into their filthy apartments when putting on clothes or wash
ing windows.
5. Yuppies also give people hard times at laundromats, gas sta
tions, and subways.
J osie Spring
Feb. 1,1987
Yuppies live and dress like slobs
so they can save for brunch
Dear Editor:
In response to "What is wrong with you" (1/18/87).
So true, so true. Yuppies are slobs who do share apartments and
sleep on floors. I know because my ex-neighbors are yuppies.
Three couples sharing one apartment. I ts disgusting.
They sleep on mattresses on the floor, no furniture, no curtains on
the window. The neighbors used to talk about them. Their clothes
are atrocious, socks and sneakers and suits, cant you ladies afford
shoes? Dressed to your ankles, and those suits, you people look
like you shop at the Salvation Army or Goodwill! What the hell do
you do with your money, spend it on booze and brunch?
J oseph and Madeline Brennan
Feb. 1, 1987
Fed up with holding doors for yuppies
Dear Editor:
I am writing to all the yuppies who complain when a door is not
held open for them.
I am sick and tired of holding doors for yuppies who demand that
we hold doors for them and if we dont they sarcastically say,
"thank you! I am not your servant!
Cant you people realize that if we have heavy bags we cannot
hold doors for you.
Yet, when I hold a door, I never hear someone say thank you.
You people have no manners. No one ever holds a door for me.
This problem not only occurs in stores or restaurants, but also on
buses.
Many times I have ridden the Washington Street bus, and when I
get off at the back door I hold it open for the person behind me,
but they refuse to take the door, and being the polite person that I
am, I have to hold it for everyone.
Next time I will let go and let it hit someone in the face and if
they say "thank you" I will say "Youre welcome," and walk away.
Evelyn Russo
Fed up with holding doors
Feb. 15, 1987
In defense of good, clean, decent yuppies
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to "What is Wrong With You" (1/18/87).
Not all Yuppies are as you described in your letter. What you are
trying to say is that all Yuppies from New York are like that.
At first, I thought that was a really insulting letter toward Yup
pies, but I understand now what you meant. Yuppies who were
bom and bred here are not like that at all. We are clean, decent
people, not slobs like those New Yorkers. We are not the ones who
took this city like a bunch of crude, primitive fools forcing the
oldtimers out of town.
Please dont get us good Yuppies confused with the ignorant.
Thank you.
Sarah J ane Webster
Proud to be a Yuppie
Feb. 1, 1987
A repentant realtor claims yuppies live like pigs
Dear Editor:
This letter is in response to "What is Wrong with You" (1/18/87).
I am a well-known Realtor for a large Real Estate Corporation in
New J ersey.
Five years ago when the people of New York started moving into
New J ersey, I thought it was fantastic. I was making a fortune on
commissions and was very happy.
Now five years later, I see all the trouble they have caused and
would gladly give every cent of my commissions back if these
people would just leave the city and go back to where they all
came from.
I find these people to be very obnoxious, repugnant, abhorrent, in
vidious, and repellent, to say the least.
I admit it was a big mistake letting these New Yorkers move in,
forcing all those innocent families out of their homes, just so we
could make money, and for what, to let this trash live in our town.
I showed many apartments to clients and some were very nicely
decorated with curtains and blinds on the windows, then after they
moved in it was turned into a stye.
I dont know how such educated people could live like pigs. You
people are a disgrace.
Name withheld
Feb. 1, 1987
Repentant realtor is full of B.S.
Dear Editor:
I d like to comment on the "Repentant Realtor" letter in the
2/1/87 edition.
The truly touching part of this letter is the line "gladly give back
the commission money." Those of us who have been through the
renaissance rhetoric period in Hoboken might view this letter of
repentance for exactly what it is: 100 percent B.S.
Should this realtor try this repent approach in order to turn a
profit, it may be of some use to realtors to remember that repenting
requires HONESTY, and HONESTY is definitely alien to realtors.
Go for a different sales pitch this time guys. The sympathy route
stinks all the way around.
Carol Kelly
Mar. I, 1987
Who are you kidding?
A realtor never gives back commissions
Dear Editor:
I would like to address this letter to the "Name Withheld" sup
posed realtor who wrote this preposterous letter, "A repentant real
tor claims yuppies live like pigs" (2/1/87).
Mister or Ms., whatever the case may be, I think youre as phony
as a three dollar bill.
I am visiting friends here in Hoboken and the other day I picked
up The Reporter and in going through the paper happened upon
your letter.
I am a realtor from Pennsylvania and I almost choked when I read
your comment, "(I) would gladly give every cent of my commis
sions back if these people (Yuppies) would just leave the city and
go back to where they all came from."
As a realtor, I say either youre an angry old time Italian or just a
bitter jackass mad as hell that your town is finally at long last start
ing to look halfway decent, and that the Yuppies and others are
responsible for it.
No real realtor would ever even dream of giving back a single red
cent of his hard earned commission. Besides this, he wouldnt even
CARE who moves in where, and least of all would he be concerned
with how people live.
Hoboken will never change. It is and always was a stupid, petty
place in which to live, too full of nosy, narrow-minded individuals
still mentally living in the 15th century and forever hanging onto
outrageous so-called traditions. The Feast controversy proves my
point.
I dont know why Yuppies or anyone for that matter would ever
want to come to live here.
I left 15 years ago and have never been happier.
So confess, you so-called Hoboken "realtor." You know youre
not a genuine real estate agent. You are about as transparent as
glass!
If you were, you would have signed your name. Who do you
think youre fooling.
Stop griping and face the 20th century. Yuppies and many other
groups are here to stay!
Sincerely,
Paul R. Richards
Mar. 1, 1987
Yuppie-slobs give landlords a hard time
Dear Editor:
This is in response to everyone who wrote about the yuppies
being slobs. You forgot to mention:
1. Yuppies give us landlords a hard time by demanding repairs
when they, by their carelessness and stupidity, destroy something in
the apartment.
2. They complain about the noisy children who hang out in
the playground.
3. They complain about the food being radioactive (E. Salem
Kriegers 2/7/87 letter).
4. They dont shop in the local shops.
5. Our air isnt good enough for them either. (I often see a yup
pie couple wearing surgical masks, dont laugh, its true!)
6. They jog in front of cars and give them a dirty look when you
honk a horn at them.
7. Our schools arent good enough for their children, so they
send them to an Evangelical school.
If you people cant live like normal people, how the hell do you
get decent high-paying jobs. I suppose your bosses are either just
like you, or you are all urinal cleaners down on Wall Street.
Mark Collins
Mar. 1, 1987
Landlords and merchants, not yuppies,
benefit most from " renaissance"
Dear Editor:
Lets set "Yuppie-ism" straight.
It seems that every week there is at least one letter pointing a
finger at "Yuppies" for the changes in Hoboken. Obviously, by the
derogatory tone, "Yuppies" are being blamed for the New Years
Eve noise, the raised rents and the false prejudices against religious
feasts. What will be next?
The fact that rents in Hoboken are lower than those in Manhattan
has attracted a class of young people who work in NYC and who
seek comparable housing. It has also allowed the landlords to raise
the rents "sky-high." Who really takes "advantage" of the oppor
tunitythe landlords with the lack of rent stabilization or the "Yup
pies" contributing to the substantial increases? Someone is profiting
by this influx of money, but it is certainly not the "Yuppies." I ts
these proceeds that the local merchants and landlords are only too
happy to take in.
As far as the "renaissance" is concerned, this is not Harlem in the
1920s nor does it pretend to be. This is Hoboken in the 80s.
Hoboken is a progressive place, not unlike any other city that has
evolved over the course of time.
If thats what most of you cant accept, I would suggest that you
draw the blinds and let the world pass you by.
Understandably
Nina Flanagan
Mar. 1, 1987
Down and out In Hoboken
Dear Editor:
Hey, who are you all calling yuppies? To some of us, moving to
Hoboken is not a step up. Many of us alleged yuppies are actually
YODAs--Young, Downwardly Mobile Amateurs. But to the people
of Hoboken, we all look the same.
J ust getting by but well-dressed in Hoboken
Feb. 8, 1987
The life of a yuppie
is not all brunch and parties
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the barrage of attacks against "Yup
pies" in the Letters section of the past several issues of The
Hoboken Reporter. I would like to dispel a few of the myths that I
have noted in some of these letters.
Mr. David Sullivan ("You DINKS dont know what real work is")
in the J anuary 25 issue seems to be under the impression that we
Yuppies had our education handed to us on a silver platter and that
at these hoity-toity jobs that just fell into our laps, all we do is read
the Times and plan brunch.
I would like to say that I have worked ever since I was 14. I ve
had every back breaking job there is. I ve cleaned a few urinals in
my day also. So I know what manual labor is. It was with this
money, not my parents, that I put myself through school. I know
many people had help from their parents. However, you dont get
to be a NY metropolitan area Yuppie just by schlepping it through
school. You had to be the best. Nobodys parents can help them
there.
As for my "kushy" job, it is not uncommon for me to work a ten
or 11 hour day and work through lunch. I dont get any overtime
for this; its expected of me. I know many Yuppies work more nor
mal hours at a more leisurely pace, but they dont pay profes
sionals salary to people who sit around planning brunch. You
wouldnt last very long if you tried it. The professional work world
is a very demanding and grueling place.
I ts true, Yuppies can be rowdy and irresponsible at times. Thats
not because we are Yuppies, though, thats because we are young.
Young is the first word in Yuppie in more ways than one. Dont
single out Yuppies when you are talking about youth in general.
In my little hometown there is no such thing as a Yuppie, but we
sure have a lot of people in that same age bracket. They dont have
parties in their condo that disturb the people next door; they have
parties with a couple of hundred people in large fields with rock
and roll bands that disturb the entire town. Kids will be kids.
That brings me to the "Yuppies arent family oriented, as
evidenced by that fact that so many of them are DINKS (Double In
come No Kids)" issue. The key letter in Yuppie here again is Y for
young. The choice is not to not have children, its to wait to have
children. Many Yuppie couples, including my husband and myself,
cant wait until they can start their families. Thats going to take
quite a few more years of saving up that double income, until we
can afford to move out of Hoboken and buy a house to raise a fami
ly in. It will take even longer to save enough to put aside money
for what it takes to raise kids these days.
Something in that previous paragraph may have surprised you.
Was it the fact that we cant wait to get out of Hoboken? Then it
may be news to you that a lot of us dont want to be here any more
than you want us to be here.
I am in a highly specialized field and I can only find work in the
metropolitan area. In other words, I m in the same boat as just
about everyone else in New York City, but I cant afford to live
there and dislike city living anyway. I cant find too much to like
about Hoboken either. All this pavement and brownstone leaves me
a bit cold. I cant say I d give anything for a backyard with some
trees though; because I wouldnt give my job. Thats why I m
stuck here. If I want my job, I have to be within commuting dis
tance of it. The only affordable place within commuting distance
for me right now is Hoboken.
If I were bom and raised in Hoboken and got displaced because I
could no longer afford to live here, I d be mad too. Go ahead, be
mad. Dont be mad at Yuppies though. If you want to blame some
thing, blame the law of economics.
You can tell how much hostility there is toward the Yuppies just
by the way Hobokenites look at you. I feel like I m being judged
by total strangers who know nothing about me. I m a nice person.
J ust give me a chance. I ts not just Yuppies who push people on
buses, give people a hard time and dont stop for others. There are
people from every race, creed, color, gender, and socio-economic
group who are guilty of these things. Lets not be prejudiced. J udge
someone after you get to know them, not before.
I was going to stop here, but the February 1, 1987 issue of The
Hoboken Reporter just arrived and I see there is one little matter I
would like to comment on. This is the fact that a lot of people are
confusing Yuppies with Puppies.
A Puppie is a poor upwardly mobile professional. Almost all Yup
pies start out as Puppies, and it takes quite awhile to grow up to be
a Yuppie.
I used to be a Puppie. Let me explain why Puppies are poor. We
spent all our money on school, and if we didnt save up to go to
school, poverty lasted a lot longer because paying off school loans
became a further burden. A professional job may not start out
paying so hot. Thats where the U in Yuppies comes from (upward
ly mobile). If you put a lot of sweat into it and prove yourself, you
may move up in salary. This takes awhile. Meanwhile, we pay
Hoboken rents, eat generic peanut butter on generic bread and save
up to be able to buy a frame to get the bed off the floor, and put
curtains in the windows (we had tablecloths in our windows for six
months).
These people (the Puppies) are not the people you see eating
brunch at the Madison on Sunday or even walking down
Washington Street in Brooks Brothers suits. Those are the Yuppies.
The Yuppies arent the ones with no curtains and holes in their
jeans. Those are the Puppies. (I confess I made up "Puppie," but I
didnt make up what it stands for.)
I know Hobokenites have a lot of misconceptions about Yuppies
and, concomitantly, Yuppies have a lot of misconceptions about
Hobokenites. Maybe if we both tried to understand each other, we
could alleviate a lot of tension between us amicably.
Ms. C.V.B.
Feb. 22, 1987
Yuppies? Yeechhh!
Dear Editor:
I ts about time someone speaks up about those damn yuppies.
Theyre nothing but low life, riff-raff running our city.
They think they are helping. Huh! Helping my foot! In what way
are they helping? That is what we all would like to know.
Instead of bringing this town forward like they say, they are going
backwards with their old-fashioned values and ways of life.
I always knew what slobs you yuppies were. Sharing apartments
with strangers. God knows if these strangers have diseases and you
share your bathroom and utensils. Yuck!! No furniture, you sleep
on floors, and no curtains.
Yuppies have nerve to make fun of Italians. We Italians take
pride in our homes. We provide nothing but the best for our
families. Yes, families! That is spouse and children.
We spend time with our families, not out partying and getting
drunk in the local clubs or out working 16 hours a day just to get a
huge paycheck.
We are good, clean, hard-working people, and you insult us!
What kind of people are you?
Michael Pietropoulo
Mar. 22, 1987
Im having an Identity crisis
Dear Editor:
Week after week, I read your paper with a growing sense of
anxiety. I am forty-one years old, too old to be a yuppie. I have
lived here for seven years, not long enough to be a B&R (Bom and
Raised). I am married, but choose not to have children and live in a
collective. I am an artist who can only pay the mortgage if I work
in New York City. I am a feminist and a socialist, but I always
vote Democratic. I pay huge taxes only to be pelted with raw eggs
by parochial school boys.
My problem here is my identity. I dont fit any of the above
labels, yet I hate the feast bombs, reminiscent of Vietnam and the
soon to be Nicaraguan War, thanks to Sen. Bill Bradley. I also
dont like the yuppies, who only seem to function for self-interest,
but I wont give up my Reeboks! The old guard in town who are
renowned as the most corrupt county in the country are no bargain.
So where do I fit in? Dont bother to tell me to love it or leave it.
I tried, and cant afford to move.
Sincerely,
The Egg Lady,
Mar. 29, 1987
The Abbey, a condominium, formerly St. Pauls, an Episcopal
Church. Built in 1870, it was converted to 22 luxury units in 1986.
CHAPTER TWELVE
If the Reebok Fits, Wear It
Why Im jealous of yuppies
Dear Editor:
Yuppies, yuppies. How I hate yuppies!
Maybe its because I am jealous of them and their high-paying
jobs, degrees, and intelligence.
Nah! That cant be it.
It must be because I dont own a briefcase, Walkman, my wife
doesnt wear ankle socks or Reeboks, I dont shop at second hand
stores, I dont jog or indulge in any healthy foods such as alfalfa
sprouts and yogurt, I dont live in a condo or own a BMW. I have
furniture and curtains on my window. I dont eat brunch. I despise
chamber and classical music. My childrens names are not Muffy,
Buffy, Skip or Biff, I dont party all hours of the night, bang pots
from my window waking the sick, elderly and dead. I only have
one family living in my home. I dont drink wine coolers or Per
rier. I dont put down anyone for their beliefs and traditions. I dont
interfere in peoples lives by starting petitions. I dont wear grease
in my hair and my wife doesnt wear a page-boy hairdo which
went out in the 70s along with the wet look. My children dont go
to Christian schools. I dont read the Times or Wall Street Journal,
and I dont curse people out when I cant have my own way.
There, that must be it, that is why I am jealous of yuppies.
After all, I am only a hard-working high school graduate trying to
raise a family.
Michael P.
May 28, 1987
Why I am fed up with bigots
Dear Editor:
Bigots, bigots, how I hate bigots!
Maybe its because I am a Yuppie and have a high-paying job, de
gree, and intelligence and the bigots decided to hate me.
They hate me even though I dont own a Walkman, my husband
doesnt wear ankle socks or Reeboks, I dont shop at second hand
stores, I dont jog or indulge in any healthy food such as alfalfa
sprouts and yogurt, I dont live in a condo or own a BMW. I have
furniture and curtains on my window. I dont eat brunch. I despise
chamber and classical music. My childrens names are not Muffy,
Buffy, Skip or Biff, I dont party all hours of the night, bang pots
from the window waking the sick, elderly and dead. I only have
one family living in my home. I dont drink wine coolers or Per
rier. I dont put down anyone for their beliefs and traditions. I dont
interfere in peoples lives by starting petitions. I dont wear grease
in my hair and I dont wear a page-boy hairdo which went out in
the 70s along with the wet look. My children dont go to Christian
schools. I dont read the Times or Wall Street Journal and I dont
curse people out when I cant have my own way.
Actually, the only thing I indulge in from your list, Michael P., is
that I carry a briefcase. That must be it then, thats why you hate
me. I agree though, I think that anyone who dares do something as
heinous as carry a briefcase should be summarily shot.
Please, Mr. Bigot, leave me and my briefcase alone.
Mary Ellen McDaniel
J une 7, 1987
I am not a yuppie
but I m appalled at these letters
Dear Editor:
I am appalled at the letters that appear in your newspaper. I cer
tainly dont qualify as a yuppiea little too old and a little too
poor, but I have absolutely no gripes with them. Sure, I wish I had
their advantages when I was younger so that I could have had a
more upwardly mobile lifestyle but I certainly dont begrudge
them, especially those young women in their sneakers who are
learning how to support themselves in fulfilling careers. My genera
tion typed. I dont wish that for my daughter so why should I be
angry at the yuppies. This attitude only belittles Hoboken residents
who should be proud of the lives they established with less educa
tion and a poorer start in the world. J ust last week a child yelled at
me as I got off the bus, "You yuppie b 11Needless to say, at my
age, I figured I was being complimented.
Claudette Cobum
J une 4, 1987
Reeboks and briefcases have practical value
Dear Editor:
I have been following the interchange between newcomers and
oldtimers in Hoboken, or yuppies and non-yuppies, or whatever
you want to call them, and have noticed with some dismay that
very few of your correspondentseven those in the pro-yup contin
gentadmit to actually being yuppies. "Im too old," they say, "Im
too poor. I have no condo. I dont carry a briefcase. I dont wear
Reeboks." I sense in all this protesting a feeling of guilt among
those who do indulge in these things, and a loathing among those
who dont. So, for the record, let us clarify exactly what a yuppie
is, and what all these heinous objects such as Condos, Perrier,
BMWs, and other dubiously regarded possessions of the yuppie
generation are.
A yuppie is, of course, a Young Urban Professional. Period.
Notice there are no prerequisites for material possessions or level
of income. All you have to be is say, under forty, residing in an
urban area (Hoboken, for example) and having a job that requires
some level of skill or education. There are lots of these people
around. Now for the things most commonly regarded as "yuppie
trends."
Reeboks. I m pretty sure the problem is not the shoe itself, since
I ve seen it on everyone from breakdancers to tennis stars, but with
the fact that young women insist on wearing them with business
suits. This is not done to be chic. We all know how dreadful they
look. They are worn to prevent damaging wear on good work shoes
and ones legs. If you walk any distance at all to get to work, youd
understand. The good shoes are in the briefcase. Which brings us to
the next subject.
Briefcases. A briefcase is a briefcase. Weve all seen them. Men
have been toting them to and from work for decades with nary a
peep from the general public. So simmer down.
Brunch. A return to the habit, still practiced in parts of Scotland,
Italy, and South America, of having a huge breakfast late in the
morning. A fine idea, and better for your metabolism.
Perrier. A sadly maligned beverage. Far from being a quaff for
snobs, Perrier is the drink of the people in France, enjoyed by
everyone from dockworkers to diplomats. It is very refreshingsort
of like Coca-Cola without the sugar and caffeineand the best
thing about it is that you can leave an open bottle for days and it
will neither spoil nor loose its fizz. Try it sometime.
BMW. A very nice car if you can afford it. I cant.
Condos and Co-ops. Shorter words for "owning the place you live
in." Also nice if you can afford it. Again, I cant.
Classical music. The cheapest of the yuppie vices. I was appalled
recently to read a letter from a woman who said she "despises clas
sical music," dismissing in one breath seven centuries of music as
diverse as that of Brahms and Philip Glass. One might as well say
that one despises books. Some of it requires quite particular train
ing to enjoy it.
So there they are. Most of these things have real practical value,
and they are not nearly as exclusive as some would have us
believe, nor so repellent as would others, for being thus exposed to
the light of reason. Now lets all act like grownups and turn our at
tention to more important things.
Elizabeth Nicolais
J une 18, 1987
Two ships that passed in the Hoboken night
Dear Editor:
Hoboken is a small town. This has its advantagesand disad
vantages, which became obvious to me the other evening when, on
an after-dinner stroll, I happened to meet a womans eyes and a
message of sympathy spontaneously passed between us. Ordinarily,
one walks along careful not to make eye contact with strangers; it
might be misinterpreted as an invitation to start a conversation, and
the chances are good that someone you meet in this way will turn
out to be a bore or a crank or worse. (I must admit, though, that I
was recently surprised in this regard when a B&R struck up a con
versation with me in a supermarket checkout line. This character
was a Hoboken original: first he blamed the yuppies for the rising
prices, then he blamed Ronald Reagan for the recent devastating
earthquakes and volcanos all over the world. The disturbances were
due, the man said, to Reagans underground nuclear testing out in
Nevada. Dont laugh. At least this guy was on the right track, and
way ahead of his brainwashed brothers out in the vast middle of 7-
Eleven land. The last time I ventured west of the Hudson, a Moral
Majorit with a low forehead and simian slouch buttonholed me in
a bar and proceeded to blame all of the ills of the world on the
teaching of evolution and the Sandanistas in Nicaragua.)
When I chanced to meet the eyes of that middle-aged woman on
Washington Street, there happened to be passing the stoop where
she was sitting a couple of loose-limbed youths, the pride of
Hoboken High. Their combined IQs couldnt have matched that of
a toilet-trained chimpanzee, and one of them was carrying a ghetto-
blaster that was emitting as much noise per second as a square
block of London emits over a whole year. She raised her shoulders
slightly, as if to say, "Whatta yuh gonna do," and I saluted a
kindred soul by lifting an ironic eyebrow before walking on.
The next evening I passed the stoop again. She noticed me ap
proaching, and seemed to grow nervous. When I came abreast of
her I nodded to acknowledge our glancing intimacy of the day
before; but she would not meet my eyes this time. She looked
through me. The next day when I approached we both grew self
conscious. She bent down and pretended to tie her shoelace to
avoid my glance. The next evening she was not there.
Now, to be neighborly, I avoid that block on my after-dinner
peregrinations, and I hope the woman has noticed and goes back
outside. After all, I have the whole world to walk around in.
T. Weed
May 14, 1987
Hoboken Hispanics protesting police brutality in the early 1970s.
158 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Another Rampage? It Must
Be Labor Day Again
In 1955, a riot erupted during the final night festivities of the
Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri. "For the better part of an hour,
Hoboken resembled a city under a siege," a local newspaper
reported. "Within minutes the thud of fists and the screams of
women and children on-lookers drowned out the concert band."
The bloody melee tumbled across several city blocks, as hundreds
of residents battled beneath the colorful, arched decorations of the
feast. Some 50 firemen prepared to hose down the mob, while
more than 100 cops tackled the fray.
Law enforcers arrested five youths (four were Puerto Rican), and
the local hospital treated 13 people for injuries, including eight of
ficers. The police chief concluded the Labor Day weekend incident
was "merely a teenage fight between young hoodlums." But talk on
the street was that the hostilities came in response to the fatal stab
bing of a 24-year-old white man during a recent gang fight with
Puerto Ricans in a neighboring town.
Sixteen years later, almost to the day, the city again broke out in
riots. Saturday of Labor Day weekend, 1971, two smoldering sum
mers of racial strain burst in a blood-spattering, brick-chucking
rampage through the citys main retail district. Angry at recurring
police brutality and the alleged beating of two Puerto Rican men ar
rested for threatening a storeowner with a knife, 300 Hispanics
roared up First Street. They smashed some 50 store windows,
looted businesses, and tossed bottles at police and passing motorists
until the early hours of the next morning.
About 75 cops confronted the rabble-rousers with shotguns and
tear gas bombs. In the eerie streetlamp glow, they scraped rioters
off the pavement and dragged them into the station. Blood stained
the floor outside the detective bureau a dark red.
A few blocks away, the annual Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri
proceeded undisturbed. Zeppoles and calzones sizzled in cauldrons
of bubbling golden oil, Vito and the Italokings played a romantic
rendition of "Spanish Eyes," and children grasped for brightly
colored balloons bobbing in the summer night. The statue of the
Madonna, embraced by bouquets of gladiolus, carnations and roses,
rested peacefully in St. Francis Church on Third Street.
The next day, devotees paraded the Madonna statue through the
streets, amidst the buzzsawing and hammering of merchants build
ing a "Plywood Plaza" around the ruins of their ransacked shops. A
fife and drum band lead the feast procession, followed by a group
of small boys in white stockings, knickers, and blue-velvet jackets.
Some shirtless urchins joined the march and beat imaginary drums,
alongside young girls in powder blue capes.
Again, 16 years later, a year of often bitter confrontations be
tween the two main groups in Hobokenthe oldtimers and the new
comerspreceded Labor Day weekend 1987. More than a few resi
dents feared the citys cycle of urban violence would come around
with a vengeance. For some reason or another, they felt the senti
ments expressed in The Hoboken Reporter letters would materialize
in mass hysteria, even bloodshed, as the summer feasts approached.
Feasts, hatred, and a shameless,
irresponsible newspaper
Dear Editor:
I didnt vote in the last presidential election. I have never written
to my congressman or my senator. I have never felt the need to con
tact Ann Landers, Dear Abby, Dr. Ruth, or Howard Stem.
However, today I am writing a feast letter.
The infamous letters that have been running in The Hoboken
Reporter regarding the celebration of the Madonna Dei Martiri
Feast with exploding bombs are both amusing and disturbing. The
fun side is the moronic desperation of both sides of the fence to
take the offense and hurl the crudest of labels at one another, labels
that never appear in a responsible newspaper. The disturbing side is
that such venom actually resides in the hearts of so many of my fel
low Hobokenites.
This is a very long introduction to a Feast Letter. It needs to be
because the feast controversy has two levels. First, How to Deal
with the Bombs and second, Who Do We Blame for the Problem?
My solution to the first issue is a compromise. The celebration
should keep the bombs but limit their use to only one night during
the feast and only up to a reasonable hour. The Hoboken Reporter
can inform all Hoboken residents of "Bomb Night." I f you want to
get bombed, go ahead. If youre sensitive to loud noises, make
plans to stay with a friend or stick a lot of cotton in your ears. I ts
that simple.
The second issue is what really keeps those cards and letters com
ing in, folks. It is hatred. In the guise of caring about a religious
feast, citizens are using The Hoboken Reporter to badmouth "yup
pies," oldtimers, and ethnic groups. The language is abominable.
The talk is irrational. Nothing constructive is said. The point of
these hate letters is to put somebody else down without any regard
to the feast.
There is no way to totally end this antagonism. People who relate
to the old Hoboken will continue to resent the upstarts. And the
upstarts will continue to smugly respond to the insults.
I am ashamed that The Hoboken Reporter has printed so many
derogatory letters about our fellow citizens. The contents of some
are clearly not suitable for a family newspaper. The letters section
should represent the voice of the people, that is true, but it also ser
ves as an example. Regularly publishing crude, irresponsible
remarks in a newspaper gives them an aura of legitimacy. Is it okay
to degrade Italians? Is it alright to call people urinals? This is the
type of mentality you are fostering. It is not the kind of material
that I want my children to read.
If a member of this community wants to be heard, then that per
son should present his or her views in a respectable way.
There are some writers who have dealt with this subject without
hurting the feelings of other people. Their ideas have been fair and
well thought out. I find them thought-provoking and newsworthy,
not just a rehash of the same prejudices that will get our com
munity nowhere.
I am sure that a lot of people read The Hoboken Reporter just be-
cause of the Feast Letters and this looks very good to advertisers.
But look at the bigger picture.
Thank you.
Dan DErrico
Feb. 1, 1987
This newspaper has failed its community
Dear Editor:
While I have voted in the last presidential election and have writ
ten to my senator and congressmanin all other respects, I agree
with Dan DErrico, whose letter you published in the February 1
issue of The Hoboken Reporter.
The feast letters and your publication of them are linked; the let
ters themselves have long ago gone beyond expression of opinion
and have degenerated into name-calling and xenophobia. By offer
ing a forum to these mostly irrational views of a situation that no
longer is focused on the event that prompted it, your newspaper
fails to uphold the trust placed in it by readersThe Hoboken
Reporter has become an easy mark for publication of all sorts of
half-baked insults, its a dumping ground for the kneejerk opinions
of those who would not take the time to better their community if it
were offered. The sheer momentum of publishing the feast letters
keeps them coming. May I suggest that soap operas are better kept
on television and that a responsible community newspaper should
know better when to draw the line on sensationalism.
J uanita Slade
Feb. 8, 1987
For those who thought theyve heard everything
Dear Editor:
After reading letters upon letters concerning what the Yuppies
think about old-timers and feast bombs, and how lifelong
Hobokenites feel about Yuppies and chamber music in the park, I
thought everyone would enjoy hearing what someone who is
neither thinks about all of the above.
I am 15, a sophomore at Hoboken High, and one who is inter
ested in a career in journalism. I couldnt think of a more fun way
to get my interests off the ground than writing to your paper. To
put it mildly, I love the way you go at each others throats over an
issue like feast bombs. You make me feel old and wise. After all,
whats the big deal? So what if a bunch of people get together and
decide to throw bombs in all directions for a week. Do they com
plain when River Fair people blast rock music so loud that it makes
waves in the river? Why cant we all learn to accept each others
beliefs?
Also, I cant understand how people can stereotype so pitifully.
The opinions expressed in letters are the opinion of one person, not
of everyone who happens to fall into the same category. There is
nothing more cruel and heartless than condemning an entire group
of people just because one had the guts to speak his piece. If only
these individuals had a chance to meet some of the people they are
verbally slaughtering mercilessly because of the hatred they feel
toward one:
Only to the editor: Can you please tell me who decided to set
aside an entire page and devote it to cutthroat feast letters? By all
means, print them. J ust dont get carried away and give them their
own section. I f they move you so much, clip them and plaster them
on your bedroom walls. Dont punish the rest of us (including the
fools who wrote them) by throwing them at us when we open the
page to our favorite section, the LETTERS page! What happens
when the feast issue blows over? (WHOOPS!)
To everyone: The last time a teenager bothered to write to your
paper nobody seemed to pay much attention. I m sure you will be
dying to send in your opinion of my opinions. I wish I was capable
of writing a real tearjerker so that I would be sure to get my point
across. Incidentally, my point is: The people of Hoboken, ALL of
us, have to learn to accept each other for our beliefs and for our
opinions of each other. I have a feeling the battle will rage on long
after my letter is forgotten. But please, for yourselves, for your
neighbors, and even for the people who dont share your beliefs, no
matter how much it hurts, no matter how many nights it will cause
you to lie awake wishing you hadnt given up, give up the Yuppie-
oldtimer war. Make peace and try to accept the fact that neither
side is planning to pack up and move out. We all have to live
together, no matter who writes the best letters.
In closing, I would like to remind everyone else that nobody is
better than anybody else. We are all equal. Also, I need to say that
I have no opinion of feasts or feast bombs or the people who run
feasts. My opinions are only of what the feast letters have been
doing to everyone in the town. They are all sick of hearing about it.
Give us all a break and surrender your pens. Well be happy you
did. (Not bad, eh?) Another word to the editor: Please dont print
my letter under the heading Feast Letters. I ll be happy you didnt.
Thank you very much,
Angel DeRue
Feb. 8,1987
These letters are a lot better than they used to be
Dear editor:
I am a 21-year old student who has been studying abroad for the
past year.
I just returned last week and to my surprise found a stack of
Reporters waiting for me to read.
I was an avid reader of The Reporter since it first came out and
missed it very much while I was away.
I noticed the editorial page, or I say pages, finally have some
spunk to them. I cant believe some of those letters I read. But I
have to admit they were very funny considering the boring letters
that used to be published.
I ts great that the people of Hoboken can speak their minds and
be heard.
Keep up the good work, Hoboken residents, and keep us informed
and entertained for the coming year.
Veronica Montana
Feb. 8, 1987
These letters arent funny, theyre sad
Dear Editor:
I ts heartbreaking to witness how The Hoboken Reporter letters
column has degenerated into a flow of cheap name-calling and
gross generalizations. At first reading, these vitriolic letters may
seem funny, but when digested the true sadness in them could
make you sick.
We like to hope that the venomous opinions expressed arent real
ly representative of what the majority of people in this town think.
If they are anything more than the miserable rantings of a select
few, Hoboken is in serious trouble.
Sure the Feast bombs are noisy, but arent the zeppoles
scrumptious? Maybe the yuppies dont buy curtains, but surely they
buy enough other things to help the towns merchants. Lets look at
the bright side for a change.
Lisa Vickery
Bud Proctor
Eight-year residents
Feb. 15, 1987
Newspaper promotes prejudice
Dear Editor:
The Hoboken Reporter should exercise its journalistic perogative
and not publish such narrow-minded, irresponsible letters. They
serve no purpose other than to help polarize the community. To un
derscore this, I noticed a flyer in a store window that said: "Room
mate wanted: NO YUPPIES." I would hope The Hoboken
Reporter's goal is to serve the community rather than becoming a
forum for hate mail. The Hoboken Reporter should be responsible,
not sensational.
J ohn Andrews
Feb. 15, 1987
No longer laughing at letters
Dear Editor:
I must admit that I was amused the first few times I read an anti
Yuppie letter and an anti-Feast Bomb letter. I guessed the editors of
The Reporter were having a laugh. However, these letters soon be
came the focus of the editorial pages. I wondered how our only
community newspaper could be so irresponsible. What ever hap
pened to editors who combed through the weekly mail looking for
letters of value and intelligence? I can only assume that the editors
of The Hoboken Reporter believe that the thoughts of the lowest
common denominator represent its readership.
What possible good can come of publishing letters that force
people to be defensive about their ethnic background or the way
they dress? The weekly mudslinging and name calling in the
editorial pages can only increase those tensions and divide our com
munity further. Prejudice is an unfortunate fact of life, but promot
ing it is not.
David G. Grimshaw
Feb. 15, 1987
P.S. Publishing four letters in a row about Yuppies being slobs, as
you did last week (2/1/87), must be an all-time low in journalistic
judgement. What group of people are we going to attack next????
EDITORIAL
(The newspaper's response to its critics; published Feb. 22,1987.)
There has been great concern and debate on the subject of the
feast letters, and now, the anti-yuppie, anti-oldtimer Letters to the
Editor. The issue has become so charged that we feel some com
ment is in order.
Principle of access to print
The Hoboken Reporter does not publish letters as a joke, as a sen
sationalist gimmick, or for any cynical reason. It has been the prin
ciple of The Hoboken Reporter that every letter or opinion written
by a known, accountable person be published. (Names can be with
held from print but the editors have to know the name and ad
dress.) A community newspaper should reflect the thoughts and
concerns of its readers.
Public examination is the best treatment for all manner of
thought, including gripes, prejudices and biases. We are sure the
best cure for irrational prejudice is to hold it up to the light. All
citizens of Hobokenoldtimers, newcomers, Hispanics, blacks, and
everyone elseare forced to come to grips with their own beliefs
and sensibilities when they read the various letters we have printed.
The onslaught of the most provocative letters, which some consider
hate mail, will cause those of greater thought and balance to
respond. This is already happening.
It is not irresponsible journalism to publish the beliefs and reac
tions of people who are in the middle of economic and social
change which unsettles them. It would be a form of censorship to
either cull or quash these expressions. Some people in this com
munity are afraid of change. Some believe they are being harmed
by it. Actually, we are all a part of it. Better to have fears ex
pressed and addressed than to leave them smoldering.
We believe it is our duty to continue publishing all letters. We
believe, in the long run, the issues should and will be examined in
a rational and studied manner leading to a stronger community.
Get your valium out for the feast
Dear Editor:
Assimilation is a noble goal in democratic society, but it is still an
embryo in Americas wombtoo late to abort yet too early for
birth, as testified by the new influx of immigrants who in years to
come will still be chained to the chariot of tradition.
Although I believe that compromise rarely solves a problem, I am
willing to concede that setting off the "bombs" at the feasts should
be pre-arranged so our nervous neo-residents can prepare their
Valium.
Yours truly
Ralph Ruggiere
Mar. 1, 1987
Crowds await the start of the 1986 Madonna dei Martiri feast.
168 YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Feast or Famine?
Write your congressman, stop the letters,
ban the editorial page, and fire the editor
Dear Editor:
I know yuppies dont like being insulted, but neither do Italians,
Catholics, or the church. So if everyone would agree to stop answer
ing the letters printed, in a few weeks there will be no more insult
ing letters to print and we can start fresh with only letters about
real problems that are going on in our city.
If that doesnt work, then we should all write our congressman
and have the Editorial Page banned from The Reporter.
Lets all try to get together and learn to live with each other. We
can all make this town a better place to live in if we would just
stop insulting each other.
R.G. Carpenter
A Concerned Citizen
Mar. 8, 1987
P.S. Sorry I didnt print my address, but I feel it is none of your
business where I live. I f this letter is not printed, I will start a peti
tion to have you fired.
Someone might take these letters seriously
and do something crazy
Dear Editor
You people seem to think this is all a joke. Well, its not funny
anymore. Someone might really take those letters seriously and do
something crazy.
If The Reporter has any sense of humanity, you would stop print
ing those letters.
J anine Newmann
Mar. 8, 1987
Yuppies are not that bad
Dear Editor:
I am writing to say that I am sorry there is bad feeling stirred up
in Hoboken because of the feast. I have lived in Hoboken for many
years and I hope we can all learn to get along together. The Feast is
very loud, and maybe no one paid any attention to the complaints
until now. And the yuppies are not all bad. Everybody who has
lived in Hoboken a long time was a newcomer when they first ar
rived. They should remember that.
Donna Ferrara
Mar. 15, 1987
The feast letters opened my eyes
about yuppies
Dear Editor:
I cannot believe how many letters I read about yuppies. I thought
they were decent people trying to help our town, but I guess I was
wrong. Reading those feast letters also opened my eyes.
Cecilia Pizza
Mar. 22, 1987
Looking forward to first feast
Dear Editor:
I have recently moved to Hoboken and I guess I have my first
"feast" to look forward to. I have been reading The Hoboken
Reporter for a few months now, and I wonder if people in town
just dont like me because I havent lived here very long? Do I
have nothing to contribute to the community simply because some
people would call me a "yuppie"? Or is there something else be
sides a pro-feast or anti-feast resident of Hoboken?
I will write again with my comments on my first "feast." Until
then, I will walk around in Hoboken hoping that I can live here in
peace.
Sincerely,
Allison Lucas
Mar. 29, 1987
Im a newcomer and I dont have an opinion
on the feast yet
Dear Editor:
I would like to comment on Allison Lucas letter ("Looking for
ward to first feast" 3/29/87). I, too, am newly arrived in town, and
I m beginning to wonder what I got myself into. Be assured that I
am going to experience my first feast this year as a (I hope) disin
terested observer; I dont have an opinion yet (but NEXT
year!!???) I enjoy reading the feast letters, but I hope that the senti
ments expressed are meant with a light vein; I ll find out after I ve
been in town a while longer.
George Demner
Apr. 16, 1987
California man has a dream about Hoboken
Dear Editor:
I was a student at Stevens Institute in the early 1940s and living
in Hoboken, the town must have changed. In my day the only con
flict was between the Irish Democrats and the Italian Democrats.
A couple of years ago I had a dream about Hoboken. In the morn
ing I tried to draw a map of Hoboken as I remembered it. No yup
pies but lots of good food and beer in those days.
Charles Bittmann
Los Altos Hills, California
Apr. 12, 1987
Dump the semi-Sinatras and quasi-Carusos
of feast for a " Hands Across Hoboken"
Dear Editor:
What bothers me about the feasts are not necessarily the bombs,
which last only a short while, anyway, but the semi-Sinatras and
quasi-Carusos crooning and wailing, respectively, until the wee
hours at earthshaking volumes. And is yet another chorus of "Push,
Push in the Bush" really necessary? I think not.
I am neither an Old Time Italian nor a Block-headed Ivy Leaguer.
As an "other" Hobokenite, I propose a solution to this feast con
troversy, something I call "Hands Across Hoboken." Should I
receive the Nobel Prize for the idea, I promise to display the medal
at the Hoboken Library. Can you imagine the ham-handed Italians
linking arms with the horn-rimmed Yuppies down Washington
Street from Observer Highway clear up to 14th Street. And
everybody maybe singing, "Cmon people now/everybody get
together/etc." Yeah, and we could maybe even set off some really
loud bombs to mark the beginning of the festivities. Yeah!
A former near-Yuppie
Apr. 16, 1987
If we vote on the Feast,
will the Italians rig the voting booths?
Dear Editor:
The impression I get is that if these articulate anti-feast (bomb) ac
tivists were to win their cause, they will, if you will excuse the
favorite American opprobrium, simply find something new to bitch
about. However, in true democratic "tradition," why not put the
whole silly issue to bed by voting on it the next time around?
The only problem is that if the anti-feast (bomb) contingent were
to take the count, some sore loser will invariably claim collusion be
tween the Croesusean Catholic Colossus and those rude, arrogant
and clannish Italians who more likely than not rigged all the voting
booths.
Ralph Ruggiere
Apr. 9, 1987
Ralph Ruggiere needs a wife
or else he will end up in a nuthouse
Dear Editor:
I m SICK and TIRED of this idiot Ralph Ruggiere writing every
day to complain about silly things. This man could not spell CAT
if you gave him two letters to spell it. This gentleman must stay up
all night to write and bitch about something. Give us all a break.
Go and get married so you'll have something to occupy your mind,
or they are going to put you in a nuthouse where you belong.
Big J oe Longshoreman
Apr. 9, 1987
Rugglere says hes SICK and TIRED
Dear Editor:
Personally, I am SICK and TERED of reading letters written by
pretentious boors who are SICK and TIRED of reading letters writ
ten by me.
One boor in particular is Big J oe Longshoreman who apparently
imbibed a wee too much of that good Irish whiskey while working
on the docks.
I humbly suggest that Big J oe adapt his literary tastes to some
thing a little more compatible to his rather limited comprehension,
needless to say the FIJ NTSTONES.
Ralph Ruggiere
Apr. 26, 1987
Start a special section for Ralph
Dear Editor:
Why doesnt The Reporter eliminate the Feast section and put in a
special section for Ralph Ruggiere? Perhaps you could even hire
him as a writer for your paper. It seems to me that this man is un
employed anyway. How else would he have all that free time to
write to all the local papers.
Annie Murphy
Apr. 26, 1987
Maybe Ralph already has a wife
.Dear Editor:
This is in response to the Big J oe Longshoremans letter, "Rug
giere Needs A Wife" (4/9/87). Perhaps Ralph is already married but
just dissatisfied with his life and needs to take his frustrations out
on others. Why else would he continue to write to all the editorial
pages of all the local papers? Yes, I ve seen his letters in the Jour
nal, Dispatch, Post, etc.
Paul Murphy
Apr. 26, 1987
I ll marry you, Ralph
Dear Mr. Ruggiere:
I am a single woman, tall with blond hair and blue eyes. I am a
graduate of Montclair State College and have a Masters in Sociol
ogy. I am looking for a single intelligent man like you for dating
and possibly marriage.
If you are lonely and are looking for someone, please get in touch
with me through this paper.
Desiree B.
Apr. 26, 1987
Editor's note: Sorry, but Ralph Ruggiere tells us he has been mar
ried for 27 years.
Ralph responds to the local ostriches
Dear Editor:
Recent responses to Ralphs rather prolific opinions suggests that
yours truly may very well wind up acting as a sort of literary om
budsman (if not facetiously an obstetrician) to the local ostriches.
However, I would like to tie up a few loose endsnotablywriter
Annie Murphy (presupposing no relation to the famous Bridey)
who implied in her letter of 4/26 that Americas legion of un
employed are parasites and ineligible to participate in partisan
politics.
Writer Paul Murphy (presupposing a relation to Annie and
Bridey) intimated that Ralph, by virtue of occasional vitriol, is
more or less a victim of unrequited love. In this context may I
remind the meretricious Mr. Murphy that most humanity, including
himself, live lives of "quiet desperation."
The delectable Desiree B. who wrote the delightful marriage
proposal to me, all I can do is offer this poetic description:
Who looks at beauty with glad eyes
And finds in it surcease from care,
Who marks some small and lovely thing
Is praising God all unaware.
Ralph Ruggiere
Apr. 30, 1987
Must we longtime residents look like fools
to the newcomers with these pitiful,
third-rate carnivals?
Dear Editor:
As summer approaches let us keep in mind that it has been nearly
a year since the "Feast Bomb Controversy" began. As of this date
nothing has been resolved.
Are we to be subjected to another series of these absurd medieval
spectacles with their attendant filth, noise, traffic, disruption, etc.?
Why do we allow these adherents to a foreign religion (Roman
Catholicism), these agents of a reactionary, authoritarian govern
ment (the Vatican), to wreak havoc in our streets under the guise of
religious freedom?
Must we longtime residents of Hoboken once again be made to
look ridiculous in the eyes of the many newcomers to our town by
allowing these pitiful third-rate carnivals to take place this summer?
Or will our heretofore spineless public officials somehow sum
mon up the nerve to refuse the necessary permits allowing these
events, for once acting in the public good, carrying out the wishes
of the vast majority of Hoboken citizens, rather than catering to or
ganized special interests?
B.F.
J une 4, 1987
Bombs light up a Hoboken street during the 1987 Feast of St. Ann.
Epilogue
The sun always shines when the saint comes out.
At least thats what the parishioners of St. Anns believe. Yet on
the annual feast daythe first in the summer of 1987the heavens
darkened and lightning ripped across the rooftops. Out in the street,
the faithful opened their umbrellas.
"Cmon St. Ann, they beseeched at the foot of the church steps.
Some 1000 devotees, many of them mothers and grandmothers,
braved the blustery winds for this patron saint of women. Soggy
gusts mussed their hair-sprayed coifs and soaked their Sunday
clothes.
Shes coming out! they screamed in anticipation every so often,
as the six-foot, 600-pound statue stood inside the church vestibule,
its upper half hidden behind the top of the doorway.
"Bring her face out, Nicky, one woman yelped. "Her face!
At times these people seemed more like groupies than worship
pers of the Lord as they hollered for the saint in the rain.
Within half an hour, the weather cleared slightly, and the march
ing band bellowed an old Italian folk song. St. Ann emerged from
the church, riding the shoulders of men, and then women,
parishioners. Onlookers grasped at the statues cape for good luck,
and stuffed money into a hanging satchel. The drizzle slowed to
light mist, as patches of blue sky peeked through the stone-gray
clouds. Oldtime residents gathered with friends on stoops, in weed-
covered backyards, and in social clubs, sipping homemade wine or
eating free roast beef sandwiches from the San Giacomo
Democratic Club (established 1935), a haven for St. Ann devotees.
Soon, warm sunshine poured over the feast gatherings. The proces
sion paused in front of one old tenement where an elderly man, his
movements slow and shaky, blessed himself and wept uncon
trollably. The skies resounded with man-made thunder.
Feast bombs--the kindling for the greatest public debate in recent
Devotees line the streets for the 1987 Feast of Madonna dei Martiri.
Hoboken historyexploded on the ground and in the air all day
long.
The next Sunday, and one Sunday a month later, the roadways
again rumbled with fireworks during the 62nd annual Feast of the
Marie SS Di Montevergine, and the 70th annual Madonna dei Mar
tiri Feast.
After a year of feuding, the bombs were back, although on a
much smaller scale. Both the Madonna dei Martiri and Montever
gine feasts sponsored only one day of fireworks each, rather than
their normal nine and six days, respectively.
But it wasnt because of the feast letters, the petition-threats, or
even the changing cityscape. Alas, insurance, not yuppies, forced a
cutback in the blasts.
"For me to have fireworks every night at $750 a day, I just cant
swing it," J oe Lotito, an organizer of the Montevergine feast, said
of the threefold increase in 1987 fireworks insurance.
"If they dont hear as many bombs as last year, it is not because
were giving in because of the feast letters. I ts because we cant af
ford the price of the insurance," Vincenzo DePinto, President of the
Society Madonna dei Martiri, said emphatically a few weeks before
his groups feast on Labor Day weekend. "Its not because were
giving into these people, these hippies..."
With the decrease in the blasts, the feast letters controversy flick
ered and burned out, like the smoky mess of ashes left on the pave
ment following a fireworks display. A mere three Sundays of incen
diaries did not irritate the "yuppie hordes" enough to spark another
battle of the pens, especially since most residents missed the ex
plosions. Feast or no feast, new and old Hobokenites usually flee
the humid city on weekends in J uly and August for the beaches of
the J ersey shore, leaving those behind to blow off their bombs and
sweat on their stoops.
Meanwhile, many local commentators were distracted by Ralph
Ruggiere, a third generation Hobokenite and perennial letter-writer
who submits an average of three letters a week to The Reporter and
other newspapers, including The New York Times, Washington
Post, New York Daily News, The Record of Hackensack, N.J ., Jer
sey Journal of J ersey City, and The Dispatch of Union City. The
53-year old traffic analyst states, "If I had to read every paper I
write to...oh my gosh!"
With less than 10 years of formal education, Ralph is "a voracious
reader" with a penchant for Boolean algebra, a discipline involving
the simplification of mathematical expressions to their most basic
elements. "I adapted that principal to letter writing," he explains.
"My wife sees me walking around the house talking to myself.
She asks me what I m doing. I say, I m composing a letter," he
states. "Ive got more opinions than you can shake a stick at. I ts
all a lot of fun."
In the spring and summer of 1987, Ralph struck a nerve with such
remarks as: "Ive come to the conclusion that the decline of the
West began not with the womens vote, but by allowing females to
drive a carvoilawomens lib"; and "teenagers are beginning to
believe their own press that everyone else are responsible while
their ilk are invinciblea product of the visual medium controlled
by juvenile-minded masters who try to justify their own profligate
proclivities..."
Rebuttals to Ralph filled each issue for the next few months, over
shadowing the faint afterglow of the feast feud. "Madonna mi,"
Ruggiere wrote in J uly. "With all the anti-Ralph sentiment, I now
know what Custer felt at Little Big Horn."
Local women cany the statue during the 1987 Feast of St. Anns.
One of the only feast-related letters published by The Hoboken
Reporter in the summer of 1987 was a grateful, elated comment
about the "return" of the St. Anns festivities.
Formerly among the largest summer events in Hoboken, it used to
fill the streets around the church and two empty lots nearby. But by
the summer of 1986, developers had built townhouses on one of the
vacant comers and converted an unused school across the street
into condos. For the first time, the sprawling celebration confined it
self to a parking lot behind the rectory.
The church claimed they voluntarily reduced the celebration in
deference to their new neighbors, but rumors spread about the al
leged efforts of the condo and townhouse owners to ruin the sacred
jamboree.
In J uly 1987, however, the feast returned to its previous stature, a
triumph not just for the devotees, but for the entire community.
Traditions, it appeared, could survive in the "new" Hoboken,
weathering the unremitting transformation of both the immediate
neighborhood and the city at large. e ,
to* i_ .k
Joseph Barry (left) is Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of
The Hoboken Reporter and five other weekly newspapers. He has
been developing subsidized housing in Hoboken and other areas of
Hudson County, N.J ., since 1970. His columns on Hoboken
politics, real estate, and social trends are widely read.
John Derevlany (right) edited The Hoboken Reporter from April
1986 to J une 1987. He has written about the vast changes occurring
in Hoboken since moving to the city from Queens in 1985. Derev
lany is the winner of several first place feature writing honors, in
cluding the 1987 Truth is Stranger than Fiction Award from the
North J ersey Press Association.
Ken Clare has been the The Hoboken Reporter's staff photog
rapher since 1984. In addition to The Reporter, his photos have ap
peared in House Beautiful, The New York Times, Popular
Mechanics, and on "Eye on New York," a news show narrated by
Edwin Newman. His work has been exhibited in several galleries in
the area, and he is currently working on a project concerning color
photographs of England.
It is war out there in
Hoboken, New J ersey...
WOR Radio personality John Gambling
commenting on TheHobokenReporter letters
YUPPIES INVADE MY HOUSE AT DINNERTIME is
a collection of letters printed in The Hoboken Reporter
newspaper over the past four years. Here, in their own
words, is what happens to the people in a city undergo
ing several years of intense gentrification. It is a'story
of Reeboks, real estate, Radical Chic yahoos, yorkies,
yokels, urinal cleaners, feast bombers, brunch eaters,
" weird people with sneakers and dresses," condos,
cafes, lack of parking, "the wackiest mayor in
America," and joyriding yuppie slobs versus "good
clean decent yuppies." But most of all, it is a moving
account of a community in transition, of new and old,
of discovery and displacement. Through their letters,
recent and longtime inhabitants of Hoboken portray
both sides of urban revival in the United States, where
once-dying cities face a " renaissance" that obliterates
as much as it renews.
"When historians tabulate Ronald Reagans failings, hous
ing will be right at the top. More than anything else, Yup
pies Invade is the story of what happens when Reagans
free market is permitted to rein; housing goes to the
highest bidder and to hell with everything else. The
medium for telling this important tale is one of our most
democratic of institutions, the letter to the editor. The
writers, ordinary people of Hoboken, are touching, funny,
sweet, and sometimes angry as hell. What emerges is a
delightfully detailed portrait of
Hobokens soul, a story being
repeated all over America in
the 1980s."
Michael Winerip
The New York Times