Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher
I am writing today to fully endorse Paul Presinzano’s candidacy in the 1st Ward City Council Runoff Election on December 5th and to share why I believe Paul is the right choice for Hoboken.
I want to start by saying what I like best about Paul is that he is grounded in good. Like me, he grew up without a lot of money, but was taught to work hard, know the difference between right and wrong, be gracious with others and give back to his community. These basic principles are what defines him.
I got to know Paul and his family in 2021 when he decided to run for City Council upon realizing that the Team Bhalla slate might go unopposed. Motivated by his belief in democratic elections and a desire for greater involvement, he saw this as his opportunity. Although he didn't secure victory that year, Paul demonstrated immense dedication, knocking on thousands of doors, engaging with residents, and shaping a platform focused on essential issues such as pedestrian safety, parking, affordability, transparent government, and fiscal responsibility. The election results reflected a significant impact, with independent candidates, including Paul, garnering nearly 50% of the vote on Election Day. These same issues are the foundation of his platform today, with the added issue of tackling the rat crisis which is most pervasive in the 1st Ward.
Rather than being disheartened by the loss, Paul channeled the experience into renewed energy. He promptly established a civic foundation dedicated to supporting seniors and children. An effort, if you can believe, his opponent criticizes. Through this foundation, he offers scholarships to Hoboken High graduates, provides essential household items to seniors with fixed incomes, and actively volunteers at various senior centers and buildings across Hoboken. Paul's community commitment extended to addressing critical needs, such as distributing thousands of reusable water bags to the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA) and HOPES. This contribution proved vital during a two-day water outage in the city. As a CERT volunteer, I personally witnessed Paul's hands-on involvement, distributing water bags to seniors across the city and personally delivering filled bags to their homes.
Paul also felt strongly that our community needed to be informed on important issues so he took to social media and posted Every. Single. Day. since to help raise awareness. And he is not afraid to push back on the status quo or be critical of the administration in hopes of seeing positive change. His commitment to informing our community is one of our many shared values. An example was Saturday, day 724, when he commended the city and the HBA for cleaning the filthy garbage cans on Washington Street.
Another attractive quality in Paul is his sharp mind that operates at lightning speed—sometimes even faster than I can keep up with! When he encounters an issue worth exploring or improving, he doesn't just scratch the surface; he dives deep, comprehending all facets before resurfacing with innovative ideas. A couple of examples relate to concerns over e-bikes and parking:
Paul’s solution to tackle the issue of delivery e-bikes recklessly navigating our streets and sidewalks is fairly straightforward. Start by requiring a small license fee and mandating riders to wear fluorescent vests with assigned numbers. By making these delivery individuals easily identifiable for careless riding, this proposal aims to enhance their visibility and foster a greater sense of accountability to local laws (and easier to enforce).
To address the shortage of on street parking spaces for 1st Ward residents, he proposes grant those with resident parking stickers the option to park overnight for free or at a nominal cost. Paul lives across from a city municipal garage and sees the nightly display of hundreds of available parking spots. Imagine the relief for residents, knowing they can easily find an affordable spot in a nearby garage, reducing the daily scramble for on-street parking. Moreover, this initiative could contribute additional revenues to the city. And by taking cars off the streets at night this has a rippling effect to all streets in Hoboken. Love this idea!
Paul not only identifies community challenges, but he also shapes practical and thoughtful solutions that address them effectively.
So to recap…Paul is a good person, who listens and works collaboratively with others, who prioritizes quality of life concerns and in particular those of our seniors and children, and who digs deep to find the best solutions for our problems, big and small. What more could you want in a representative? Oh, that he is independent, will support all good policies regardless of the source, and is not afraid to push back and challenge the status quo? Yep, that too. And… that by voting for him you get to keep democracy in Hoboken. For. The. Win.
Paul is the right person to lead the 1st Ward going forward and having won the highest number of votes in the first ward (just shy of the 50%+1 needed), it looks like 1st Ward voters feel the same. I am looking forward to getting to work with him in January once he is elected. If you still need to be convinced, just read Paul’s posts yesterday Day 726 and today Day 727 for Councilwoman Jen Giattino’s and Councilman Ruben Ramos’s endorsements.
We need to help Paul get elected. As you know, elections are expensive especially when you have to fight against Team Bhalla's mudslinging based on falsehoods. Yesterday, they employed the "anything to win" strategy they typically use, spreading lies, deceit, and defamatory statements about Paul and his campaign both at the door, and now more publicly: a calculated smear campaign, timed with the arrival of "Vote-by-Mail" ballots, aims to tarnish Paul's reputation and family. I know, I have been there.
Paul needs about $15,000 in total for this campaign and volunteers to make calls, stuff envelopes, and work for a few hours on December 5th. I am asking – if you support me - then do me a favor and please help me support Paul. You can go to Paul's website to donate and volunteer.
It is expected to be a low turnout election, making 1st Ward voters THE MOST POWERFUL in Hoboken today. Please vote, or tell your friends and family to Vote Column A for Paul Presinzano in the Runoff Election on December 5th. Every vote counts, and every vote matters. Let’s help bring this home for Paul, for the 1st Ward and for Hoboken.
Thank you,
Tiffanie Fisher
Hoboken City Council, 2nd Ward
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