HOBOKEN -- Development, infrastructure, property taxes and recreation were the hot topics Wednesday night when the six candidates for mayor of the Mile Square City participated in a forum.

The candidates in the nonpartisan race are vying to succeed Dawn Zimmer, who isn't seeking re-election. The top vote-getter in the crowded race on Nov. 7 will win the office outright as, unlike Jersey City, there is no runoff provision for Hoboken.

The forum, organized by the Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition and the Stevens' Student Government Association, took place at the DeBaun Auditorium at Stevens Institiute of Technology.

Running are: Council members Ravi Bhalla, Michael DeFusco and Jennifer Giattino; business owner Karen Nason; Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano; and local activist Ronald Bautista.

DEVELOPMENT

Many of the night's questions pertained to development, and what each candidate's top priorities were.

The candidates cited the need to diversify development in the city and concentrate on commercial development.

DeFusco, who has spent seven years as a city councilman and as a zoning board commissioner, said the city has let "unbridled residential development take over," which is not benefiting residents.

He, and others such as Councilwoman Giattino, stressed the need to get back to holistic land use by forcing developers to contribute to the city.

DeFusco suggested creating an infrastructure trust fund that developers would pay into to pay for "long overdue" repairs on the city sewer system, while Giattino said the city should focus on commercial development.

Citing the fact Hoboken is the fourth most densely populated city in the country, Councilman Bhalla stated his concern about over-development and said he feared Hoboken would be "the next Newport and Manhattan."

He pointed to the hotel project behind the Sinatra Post Office as "Exhibit A of overdevelopment" with no community givebacks -- which he voted against.

"We need to have small, practical development that the people of this city want, and that's what the leadership needs to provide," Freehold Romano said, adding that developers need to give back to the community.

He said he would strive for 80/20 affordable housing programs, where 20 percent of a new project would be set aside for affordable units, and also said the city needs to buy properties to make into affordable housing.

Bautista, a local activist, stressed the need for mixed-use development to stir job creation and cited a "displacement crisis" in the city. If elected, he said he would be proactive in protecting renters' rights and establishing a mixed-income community.

THE ARTS



Nason, owner of the Hoboken Hot House Cafe and Hot House Pizza, told the audience the city was "sorely lacking" in what kind of arts and theater the city was bringing in. She also described the school systems as lacking in the arts.

She described her vision for an amphitheater that would bring art and musical performances over from Manhattan.

PROPERTY TAXES



Giattino described Hoboken as "the victim of our own success" with high county taxes because of high assessed values. She suggested the city start asking more of the county, such as help paving streets and maintaining city parks.

Bautista and Romano, meanwhile, called for new sources of revenue, more commercial development and the establishment of more public-private partnerships to reduce the tax burden on home owners.

Bhalla, who has been endorsed by Zimmer, cited his time with the administration in "holding the line" on taxes.

"We had audits of our municipal departments, and made tough decisions .. but the mayor and I had to make those decisions and that's what brought us property tax relief," he said.

DeFusco, however, criticized Bhalla, saying he did not take into account rising budgets.

Nason, meanwhile, attacked the rest of the dais, saying they are not business savvy and have a track record of shutting down small businesses. She said she would help business flourish in the city.

RECREATION

If elected, Romano said he intends to bringing in professionals for recreational instruction and also said the local YMCA needs to be "looked at it, because it is in shambles."

He suggested establishing a trust fund that businesses would contribute to for equipment and transportation for children's sports.

Nason repeated her belief that the city was lacking in the arts and entertainment and pushed the idea of an amphitheater and jazz club.

Bhalla referred to his proposal to redevelop the city's multipurpose center and add a community pool and an indoor ice skating rink.

DeFusco, however, said the city needs to "walk before we run" and modernize the recreation department, pointing to the fact that the department has no computers.

Giattino added a similar sentiment and said the department could be better, and could be more organized.

Bautista said there is a need to better utilize the space currently existing.

INFRASTRUCTURE

A hot issue in the city is water provider Suez, frequent water main breaks and frequent flooding.

"I want to be Hoboken's infrastructure mayor," Bhalla said. "I think there is nothing more important right now than upgrading our aging infrastructure."

DeFusco used his time to attack Bhalla, citing a complaint he issued saying that he works for "one of the most politically connected law firms in the state," that accepted monies in lobbying fees from Suez during the two year's the city was in negotiations with the water company.

A number of candidates cited the need for additional flood pumps, investments in the sewage system and the need to hold developers accountable for repairing sewer systems

Nason suggested that if Suez is not getting the job done, the city should consider finding a new agreement.

"If we don't do a good job where we work, we get replaced. I'm just saying," she said.

If elected mayor, Giattino said she would work with Suez to create a 10-year upgrade plan, pledged to implement an assessment of high risk flooding areas, and said she would bring on a city engineer to oversee large project upgrades such as the Washington Street construction.

Romano added that the key is to get additional flood pumps completed and also to bring the North Hudson Sewage Authority to the table.