Delivered Vacant

Like many other working-class cities and neighborhoods, Hoboken, New Jersey came to the attention of avaricious developers and landlords, who wanted to transform its previously affordable neighborhoods and houses into upscale housing for yuppies and commuters. When it became clear to residents that "development" would likely result in the homelessness of many of them, they fought back by electing an anti-development mayor, Tom Vezetti, in 1985. With their active help, after his election, alternatives to development were found. In the middle of his fight to help the working people of the city, the mayor died suddenly, to be replaced by a pro-development interim mayor. Once again, the residents of the city were spared, as an economic downturn slowed pressure to convert ordinary housing into yuppie housing. Some critics complained that the documentary didn't even-handedly present the developers' side of the story, though that was clearly never the intent of this film, which raises many questions about the costs of living in a profit-driven society.