In December, we faced the difficult decision of how to address the vacancy left by the tragic passing of Jen Giattino.
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, state law requires the City Council to fill such a vacancy within 30 days. If the Council couldn't do so, the seat would remain vacant until the next general election in November which is exactly what happened.
Let me assure you, the City Council did not take this responsibility lightly. The residents of the 6th Ward were front and center in our discussions at every step of the process. Ultimately, we faced three potential paths forward:
- Appoint someone who would uphold Jen’s legacy—her values, her commitment to the 6th Ward, and the platform she was elected on, time and again, by a significant majority of 6th Ward residents.
- Appoint someone whose views did not align with Jen’s, and by extension, the wishes of the 6th Ward voters.
- Leave the seat vacant and rely on her City Council colleagues to step in and support 6th Ward residents while continuing her legacy.
Our first choice was to find someone who could carry on Jen’s work. Unfortunately, in such a short time frame, we could not identify a candidate who met that bar. Faced with the other two options, I—and many of my colleagues—felt strongly that leaving the seat vacant was the better choice for the 6th Ward and for Hoboken as a whole.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
For now, we have an eight-person Council, split between independent members and Team Bhalla members as shown above. Legislation requires at least five votes to pass, six for bond ordinances; any 4-4 tie will fail. While this structure presents challenges, I believe it also offers an opportunity for thoughtful, collaborative policymaking. With this dynamic, we can expect good legislation to move forward and less contentious proposals to dominate the agenda—a positive outcome for Hoboken.
6TH WARD REPRESENTATION
To my neighbors in the 6th Ward: while the seat may be vacant, you are not without representation. In addition to the 6th Ward seat, your votes helped directly elect three At-Large Council Members—Council Vice President Jim Doyle, Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, and Councilman Joe Quintero—to serve your interests and those citywide. Additionally, all eight sitting Council Members, myself included, are committed to supporting the 6th Ward during this interim period.
I have already begun stepping into some of the initiatives Jen was leading, including addressing safety concerns at Church Square Park and Castle Point Terrace and Court Street improvements. My colleagues have also stepped up to ensure the needs of the 6th Ward are met. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us—we’re here for you.
LOOKING AHEAD
The next milestone is the special election in November to fill the 6th Ward seat. If you’re interested in running, I’d love to connect—let’s have coffee and discuss what’s involved. Additionally, I plan to work with our state legislators to address a flaw in the current law. When a vacancy occurs due to the passing of an elected official, 30 days is simply not enough time—especially when those closest to the situation are grieving, as we are with Jen’s loss. I will advocate for an extension to 90 days in such cases and will keep you updated on this effort.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement during this difficult time. Together, we’ll ensure the 6th Ward remains well-represented and that Jen’s legacy lives on.
Do you like this post?
Showing 1 reaction
Sign in with
Facebook Twitter