Quote:

To get votes, of course.

Why do we need rent control?

HOBOKEN's Rent control was lax for years, judge rules

Friday, September 25, 2009
By JAMIE SCHUH
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

HOBOKEN - A Hudson County Superior Court judge ruled this week that the city's Rent Leveling Office has acted in a arbitrary manner in its administration of the rent control ordinance, a property owners group announced yesterday.

Judge Shirley Tolentino sided Tuesday with the owner of a Bloomfield Street property owner who three years ago was forced to rescind rent hikes allowable under the city's "Legal Rent Calculation" process because he didn't file a "vacancy decontrol form" in keeping with the city's ordinance, said Ron Simoncini, executive director of the Mile Square Taxpayers Association.

After it was explained to Tolentino that city officials for several years never even had a form - and even refused homemade forms - the judge ruled that to penalize the owner would be unacceptable, Simoncini said.

It wasn't clear yesterday what the remedy for this property owner would be. His attorney did not return phone calls to comment.

But Simoncini estimated that as a result of the errant ruling in 2006, landlords in Hoboken have been denied upwards of $10 million in rent hikes they were legitimately entitled to.
"Our attorneys are still analyzing the ramifications of this decision," Simoncini said. "I sure think the owners have a bone to pick with the town."

Suzanne Hetman, the city's rent leveling officer, couldn't be reached to comment last night.

A spokesman for Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer said city attorneys are analyzing the decision.