Candidates running for the Hackensack council take part in eventFriday, March 29, 2013
BY JENNIFER VAZQUEZ
NEWS EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle
Candidates vying for a seat in the council, following the 2013 city elections, took part in a Meet the Candidates event held at The Whitehall luxury co-op on March 19.
Candidates running in the 2013 city council elections took part in a Meet the Candidates event at The Whitehall co-op on March 19. The event’s main topic was where the candidates stood regarding the possible Bergen Passaic Long-Term Care Hospital (LTACH) project. TOM HART/PHOTO
Buy or license this photo
Candidates running in the 2013 city council elections took part in a Meet the Candidates event at The Whitehall co-op on March 19. The event’s main topic was where the candidates stood regarding the possible Bergen Passaic Long-Term Care Hospital (LTACH) project.
The event, sponsored by the Prospect Avenue Coalition, brought dozens of local residents interested in the topic of discussion: the candidates’ stance on the Bergen Passaic Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH).
The company behind the proposed 19-story medical center sued the city in November over the denial of its application. The applicant wanted to demolish homes on Prospect and Summit avenues in order to construct LTACH which would have 10 patient room floors, a dialysis center and an adult medical day-care center.
Candidates for the Coalition for Open Government, Citizens for Change, and Victor Sasson — who is running as an independent — stated their opposition to the project, and promised continuing doing so, if elected to council.
Whitehall unit owner Murray Runin mediated the event.
Traffic flow, impact on the quality of life, the number of medical centers in the Hackensack area and excessive noise levels were some of the reasons, given by candidates, to their opposition of LTACH.
Candidates from opposing slates agreed that if it were to be built, LTACH should not be erected in a residential area but in a proper hospital zone.
"This building does not belong in this area," John Labrosse, current councilman and Citizens for Change candidate, said. "It belongs in a hospital zone area."
Coalition for Open Government slate candidate and current Board of Education member Jason Nunnermacker echoed Labrosse’s comment.
"I would approve the project only for the zone it is used for," Nunnermacker said.
The fact that Hackensack has sufficient hospitals was another motive behind the opposition of LTACH construction.
"Hackensack has enough hospitals," Sasson said.
Citizens for Change candidate Kathy Canestrino said that she, along with the rest of her slate, will "form a coalition to stop" the construction of the medical center.
"I am vehemently opposed to such development on this block," she said.
"I and [Citizens of Change candidates] are against this monstrosity," Citizens of Change candidate Rose Greenman said. "This project will have a negative impact on the property value and quality of life."
Both Citizens of Change and Coalition for Open Government candidates voiced their approval of seeking the best, equipped professionals specializing in matters of the sort to assist the city in fighting this litigation process.
"This issue concerns me because I live in this area," Coalition for Open Government candidate and current planning board member Joanne Mania Colon said. "We need a good, strong legal team to fight this battle."
David Sims, who is running under the Citizens for Change platform mentioned that the noise level from the construction, and afterwards by ambulances driving to and from the medical center, is of concern.
"This project will be too noisy and big for this area," he said. "We should protect the quality of life."
Residents in attendance echoed Sims’, and the rest of the panel’s, concerns regarding the quality of life and noise.
Coalition for Open Government candidate Joseph Barreto said the building can pose a safety risk for pedestrians, in particular young students walking to and from the surrounding schools.
When one attendee asked the panel if they would fight the legal proceedings with taxpayers’ money, opposing candidates Labrosse and Nunnermacker said yes.
"We would have to," Labrosse said. "Everyone pays their taxes so the city can fight your battles for you when the time comes. This is one of those times."
Sasson said that the last thing the city needs is another property they "cannot tax" — same as Hackensack University Medical Center.
Out of the 11 candidates vying for election, six said they lived within a close enough proximity to be effected by the project if it is constructed.
Email: vazquez@northjersey.com