Running in the Fourth Ward

After roughly six months on the Hoboken City Council, Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti is running again. 

After , Occhipinti said in a recent interview he has made improving the quality of life in the Fourth Ward one of his priorities. This time he is running for a full four-year term.

His first point on the agenda, Occhipinti said, is bringing a park to the Fourth Ward. The city recently to purchase park land.

Occhipinti said he'd prefer to see all the money go toward a park in the Fourth Ward. "I'm not voting ahead of any other ward," he said, sitting on the couch in this campaign headquarters recently.

"There's no open space over here," Occhipinti said about the ward. "There's been no movement for years." As far as properties are concerned, Occhipinti said there's a lot on Jackson and First Streets he would like to see turned into a park. He said also that there's a lot on Madison and First that—albeit not part of the city's master plan—could be a good spot for a park.

As Fourth Ward Councilman, Occhipinti said also that he wants to see taxes lowered.

"It's time to return the surplus," he said.

On the topic of a roughly $5 million lowering of the tax levy—roughly the amount of the total $25 million surplus that's available in cash—Occhipinti differs from Mayor Dawn Zimmer and his opponent Rami Pinchevsky. That would bring the tax levy to be raised on the proposed $101 million budget down to $49 million, Occhipinti said.

Occhipinti added that more can be cut in the budget, mostly personnel costs. "Directors get paid too much," Occhipinti said. Directors make roughly $103,000 a year. Occhipinti said he doesn't see the need for a Public Safety Director in the city of Hoboken, as laid out in the .

Occhipinti recently became Council Vice President, after Third Ward Councilman last month. On the major issues in town, Occhipinti mostly agrees—and votes in accordance—with the current council majority headed by Councilwoman Beth Mason.

Occhipinti, who works in the private sector in Manhattan during the day, said he loves interacting with his constituents, saying he gets a lot of e-mails from residents. As councilman he said also that he uses Facebook to promote accomplishments and engage with constituents.

Other issues around the ward, Occhipinti said, are the daily quality of life issues, such as potholes and stop signs. "We've made the Fourth Ward relevant," said Occhipinti. "We're focusing on what we have accomplished."

As far as looking further in the future beyond his term as a Fourth Ward Councilman, Occhipinti said he's focusing on May 10. But, he added, "you never know."