But first.... In these challenging times, it is often adversity that unites us.
The recent attack on an American President is a somber reminder of our shared vulnerabilities. I am sure you join me in extending our deepest prayers to the family of the innocent bystander whose life was tragically cut short, and to those still fighting for their lives and their loved ones. I am also relieved to hear that President Trump is recovering well, having sustained only a mild laceration.
There is a lot of ground covered in this newsletter, IT'S A LONG ONE so grab a coffee or beer and find your reading corner.
There is not just one, but three places your input is needed - Curb Study Survey (closes TODAY); July 4th – Ideas for Next Year and 2 Question E-Bikes Survey. Here are the Hoboken topics covered:
- Curb Management – Make Your Voice Heard TODAY!
- Taxes – Where We Stand
- July 4th Debrief – Ideas & Input Requested
- Waterfront Barricades – When Do They Come Down?
- Rebuild By Design Updates
- Perilous E-Bikes – Updates & 2 Question Survey
- Common Tern - Hoboken's New Honorary Bird
- New 2nd Ward Businesses
- Urban Market - Update
- 15th Between Park & Willow Update
- 14th & Hudson - Another Update
Let's do this...
CURB MOBILITY & PARKING PLAN – MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TODAY!
I believe this survey may be the most critical one you'll ever complete in Hoboken, as it pertains to our curbs: how you use them and what we should do with them in the future. You can learn more about the process and plan being run by Kimley Horn here: The Curb Reimagined | Kimley-Horn
This scope of this project was originally designed by the Administration in a way that could only be a 'visioning' project - to consider how else we could use our curbs other than for parking, without actually looking at parking. It could never have been actionable without a full understanding of existing conditions and how our curbs are currently used - in particular on-street parking. Parking is too important in Hoboken, and understanding what our community’s parking needs is critical to a curb management plan. So I pushed and worked with HPU director Ryan Sharp to amend the contract with KH and expand the scope to include a full inventory and analysis of parking… and that is exactly what we did.
And at the Community Meeting last week, we got to see the early results of this:
- a detailed map and summary of our City, showing how every single foot of our city's curb space is currently utilized
- an account of all parking spaces across the city, and
- an insightful comparison of residential permit addresses to the number of parking spaces on the same block. For example, on one block may have 30 spots with 20 resident permit holders, while another block may have the same number of spots and 100 resident permit holders, clearly indicating the challenge of finding parking. .
Ryan and KH agree that the data gathered is already proving to be valuable in these early stages and will be critical as we move forward with understanding how to best use our curbs.
So please make your voices heard in this important process:
- Survey – Click Here (top of page). A great example of a question you will see:
- Interactive Map – Click Here (top of page). Contribute your insights on specific problem areas.
As of now, I understand only approximately 300 people have participated in the survey. Let's ensure that the views of just a few don't disproportionately influence our city's direction. Be a part of shaping Hoboken's future.
TAXES – WHERE WE STAND
Liam Simonelli, nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist, came to the City Council meeting last week and witnessed Hoboken’s politics first hand as the City Council debated taxes. As a result, he created this illustration exclusively for the Jersey Journal yesterday, which many have said seems pretty accurate. What do you think?
Going into the City Council meeting, I was optimistic about securing support for our 2.9% compromise tax amendment proposal, having confirmed at least five supporting votes beforehand. I consulted with CM Russo and CM Presinzano, who, despite preferring a lower tax rate, acknowledged the proposed 2.9% as a favorable compromise from the previous 4.5% approved a week earlier. I also spoke with CW Jabbour and walked her through our minor adjustments in the amendment, and addressed her misunderstandings of how PILOT agreements work and impact our taxes. While she did not commit to supporting the amendment, I was hopeful she would consider it, and encourage her Team Bhalla colleagues to do so as well, not only because it was a better amendment for taxpayers, but also to finally expedite the budget's approval. After a detailed discussion with Council President Giattino, she too felt confident in the amendment’s sustainability and supportability.
Despite these efforts:
- the 2.9% compromise amendment passed with only a narrow 5-4 vote.
- And, the actual budget finalizing the 2.9% tax rate increase actually failed with a 7-2 vote against.
Thus, the reason for Simonelli’s cartoon…
How / why did this happen? Although there were seven ‘no’ votes on the 2.9% budget, these votes were for different reasons. Here is a summary of the votes:
Team Bhalla (Jabbour, Quintero, Cohen and Doyle) actually voted for HIGHER taxes and used threats of future layoffs and false “Chicken Little” claims to try to bully the rest of us to vote against the 2.9% amendment.
Russo, Ramos and Presinzano all supported the 2.9% amendment giving us enough votes to pass it. But because Russo was always a ‘no’ vote on the actual budget itself, as soon Cohen voted against (we vote alphabetically) and it became clear the budget would fail (Team Bhalla + Russo = 5 votes against), Ramos and Presinzano used their protest vote to advocate for an even LOWER rate than the 2.9%. Russo is pushing for a 0% rate increase but I question whether it is sustainable.
This outcome leaves us in a state of limbo and underscores the complexities of managing municipal finances and the critical nature of each council member's vote. If we fail to secure five votes for the budget, the state may need to intervene. However, I remain hopeful that we will achieve the necessary support at our upcoming meeting to resolve this and am committed to navigating these challenges and securing a fiscal plan that benefits all Hoboken residents. I am encouraged to see that our starting point now, for these next negotiations, is the “taxpayer dollars matter” 2.9%.
JULY 4TH DEBRIEF – IDEAS & INPUT REQUESTED
Feedback from residents who stayed in town for the Fourth of July was overwhelmingly positive. They reported that the fireworks were spectacular, and effective crowd management along the waterfront ensured everyone had a great time. A huge thank you to our local public safety teams—Police, Fire, EMS, OEM, and CERT—as well as the teams from nearby towns like North Bergen and Secaucus, and statewide representatives including the NJ State Police and the FBI.
While it's not yet confirmed, there's talk that Macy's plans to host the fireworks in the Hudson again at least next year. And next year July 4th falls on a FRIDAY bringing with it more challenges, but even more opportunities.
Feedback received, and what I personally observed, about the traffic leaving the event, however, was less positive.
Here are some examples:
- An 85-year-old downtown resident boarded the 126 bus at 14th Street at 10:30 PM and didn’t get home until 1:00 AM.
- Building workers finishing their shift at 11:00 PM in Hoboken, didn't arrive home in Secaucus until 2:00 AM.
- Visitors parked on the west side of Hoboken didn’t try leaving until 1:00 AM due to heavy traffic. They ended up returning to their friends' place and didn’t leave again until 3:00 AM.
- Buses on the 126 route were at a standstill on Washington Street for hours, with over 100 people waiting at each of the uptown bus stops.
As someone aptly described, in terms of traffic circulation in this area, Hoboken is 'at the bottom of the belly'. We can't access major highways like 1&9/78 or 495 until after Jersey City, Weehawken, and Union City do, which exacerbates our traffic problems. Since the last fireworks display in 2013, the residential developments in Jersey City and Weehawken along Hoboken’s borders have only increased. We already feel the effect of this everyday in our commutes in and out of Hoboken.
I would like to hear your thoughts on what you think we can do in preparation for next year. USE THIS FORM (CLICK) so that I can keep the responses in one place. Two questions:
- Event experience was overall a success! But with a little more time for advance planning, what could we do in 2025 to make the event even better in Hoboken.
- Transportation and traffic circulation was a mess on July 4th. What ideas to you have to make it better in 2025?
Here are some thoughts that I had that CM Presinzano and I plan to share with the Administration and other stakeholders involved in the event planning.
2025 JULY 4th (FRIDAY) FIREWORKS EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS PLAN
1. Enhanced Public Transportation Strategy:
- Debrief and collaborate with NJ Transit, PANYNJ and NYWW to assess ridership pre- and post fireworks in and out of Hoboken and adjust services accordingly.
- NJ Transit – promote parking at Secaucus station with special pricing; enhance train frequencies from Hoboken post-event.
- PANYNJ – Promote parking at Harrison and taking PATH to Hoboken; enhance train frequencies from Hoboken post-event..
- NY Waterway – Provide special frequent Ferry Service immediately following the fireworks until midnight.
- Sinatra Drive – Maintain closure for public safety, but also have NJ Transit buses that ONLY go from Terminal to 14th Street and back shuttling people between uptown and downtown after the fireworks to better facilitate access to public transit.
- Designate Clinton / Willow Ave for outbound buses only.
2. Parking & Traffic Management
- Secure clear routes for public safety vehicles to circulate in, out and within Hoboken.
- Launch a comprehensive webpage detailing all public parking facilities (municipal and private) in Hoboken in collaboration with the Hoboken Business Alliance (HBA).
- Deploy NYC Traffic Enforcement agents to streamline traffic before and after the event.
- Utilize AI technology to help create traffic plan for region.
3. July 4th in Hoboken Event Enjoyment
- Reserve priority viewing areas for Hoboken residents, especially seniors and individuals with different abilities.
- Create a combined (Hoboken / HBA) promotional webpage for local businesses and parking information.
- Install free water stations and additional porta-potties.
- Organize post-event activities to encourage staggered departures and extend visitor stays.
- Expedite ALL waterfront walkway repair work needed to ensure completion by July 4th next year so we have more real estate for people to spread out.
I welcome any other ideas you may have to help refine our event management and enhance the overall experience for Hoboken residents and all attending the fireworks. USE THIS FORM (CLICK) to provide your ideas.
WATERFRONT BARRICADES – WHEN DO THEY COME DOWN?
Many residents have asked when the waterfront barriers, installed just before July 4th, will be removed. As I mentioned in my #25 July 4th prep newsletter, following a sinkhole incident on Sinatra Drive near the skate park, divers assessed the entire waterfront from Newark Street to the north end of Sinatra Drive. Barricades were placed as a precaution, especially considering the large crowds expected for the fireworks. Starting today, divers are conducting a detailed reassessment. Barricades will be removed where no longer needed, and plans will be made to address any areas requiring further safety enhancements. We should see this begin over the next week or so.
PERILOUS E-BIKES – UPDATES & 2 QUESTION SURVEY
This topic has become the foremost quality of life issue in Hoboken - something I, and my City Council colleagues, hear about daily.
In February, an overwhelming 78% of respondents to my "One Question" survey expressed a desire for the City Council and Mayor to pass the "Tests and Vests" ordinance, aimed at curbing the hazardous behaviors of e-bike commercial delivery riders. Despite its significance, the legislation passed with a narrow 5-3 vote, with Team Bhalla (Jabbour, Quintero, and Cohen) putting politics before people and voting ‘no’. Mayor Bhalla, balancing his political positioning during the congressional race, signed the legislation but simultaneously released a statement criticizing it as flawed and since law took effect on June 1st, his Administration's efforts in rolling out and enforcing this important legislation have been minimal.
On the other hand, Councilman Presinzano, the main sponsor of the "Tests and Vests" ordinance, has demonstrated amazing leadership on this from day one. He registered as a delivery rider to gain firsthand insight, donned his vest, and even created multilingual information cards and distributed them to fellow riders. He also developed an FAQ page on his website, filling the information void left by the Administration. His proactive efforts led to an additional ~30 riders registering. It wasn’t until GrubHub notified its delivery personnel last week about the new Hoboken rules, directing them to Paul’s website, that we saw the Administration finally began to take notice and increase their involvement.
The question remains: Is the Bhalla Administration doing enough to address what is now Hoboken's top quality of life issue? Many residents report having had near-miss incidents, and I've heard several reports of crashes leading to serious injuries, including broken bones, and even the tragic death of a dog.
Please take my #MORE VOICES 2 Question Survey:
- What additional measures do you think should be taken to address this pressing quality of life issue? Please select all that apply.
- How would you rate the administration and public safety's response to these dangerous operators on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating?
COMMON TERN - HOBOKEN'S NEW HONORARY BIRD
Source: Our Tern website
The Common Tern is anything but common. And at our last City Council meeting I co-sponsored with CW Jabbour a resolution making the Common Tern Hoboken’s Honorary bird. Amidst all we have going on in Hoboken, this designation is a little bright spot and helps to bring attention to biodiversity and wildlife conservation in Hoboken.
Jeff Train, local “bird nerd” (that is what his shirt said when he spoke at the City Council meeting!), created the Our Tern website that is a wealth of information about the Tern:
“In 2013, the Common Tern chose a waterfront pier in Hoboken as its nesting site. Considered a species of special concern in New Jersey and threatened in New York, this bird’s return to our shores signaled a triumphant moment for biodiversity in the Hudson River.”
Jeff shared a story with us about how Honolulu, HI made a similar designation and how it had a positive impact on the city. According to a representative, the initiative has significantly boosted public awareness about sustainability. This focus has led to habitat restoration, educational partnerships with local schools and research initiatives that support the city's sustainability goals. Additionally, the presence of these birds has attracted birdwatchers and tourists, while inspiring local artists to create works that promote conservation awareness. I think Hoboken should have all of this.
Because the current nesting site for the Common Tern sits on private property (at the end of the pier with the new Gateway Tunnel offices on it) and the birds can be aggressive when protecting their nests, local advocates, the DEP and the City of Hoboken are in early days of potentially creating a floating island for these birds to move their nesting area to potentially be in the middle of the Weehawken Cove. There is a lot of support within the community for this and I think it would be a great complement to the living shoreline and new RBD Cove Park planned for our area. Check out the website, join the FB Group, and sign up for their newsletter to stay informed. And click here to learn where you can see them on Hoboken’s northern waterfront.
REBUILD BY DESIGN – UPDATES
Next Phase Started
The second phase of the Rebuild By Design project started about two weeks ago. This involves the portion of the structure on Garden St, that runs along the west side of the Hudson Tea garage, and then along the alley between Garden and Bloomfield.
Barriers to the area are up, and I am told that this section will take between 4-5 months to complete. EE Cruz (the contractor) has coordinated directly with the management of Park & Garden (residential building) to address their operational and safety needs (moves, deliveries, EMS calls, etc.). The same with Elysian Charter - they are currently trying to expedite work in a way that will reduce the impact when kids return to school in September – including the school drop off needs. More to come.
Not surprising, the most frequent question I received about this phase related to the mature trees that were removed. Yes, it is heartbreaking. But I confirmed with the DEP project manager that all trees that have been removed will be replaced. And in this area, they only removed the trees that were in conflict with the project (those within 15’ of the structure) – so, for example, not the trees in the cobbled area.
Adjacent Walkway Protected
Thank you to a neighbor who informed me about the cars parked on the walkway adjacent to the site. His advocacy directly led to the placement of cones and stanchions along the street side of the walkway to allow safe passage for pedestrians.
If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times #IfYouSeeSomethingSaySomething and #MoreVoicesAreAlwaysBetter. This solution works for now, but we still need a longer term solution before September.
Moving Project Trailers Temporarily to Monarch Site
I mentioned in my newsletter I sent from Australia that I am frustrated with the Administration's decision to use a coveted waterfront site, which our community has fought for since 2011, as a construction staging area. Unfortunately, due to our land-constrained city, there are few alternatives available. I have discussed this with the DEP and the administration, and they have assured me that the project will use the smallest possible area of the site, will only include mobile offices and a tool storage container, and will initially be approved for only one year, with a re-evaluation before any extension.
Two positives - one, the big dirt pile was cleared! But importantly, the Administration has committed to advancing the public planning process for the Monarch site that was originally scheduled to start in a year or two. Our Director of Climate Action & Innovation has already initiated an RFP for a design engineer, and we hope to include this on the City Council agenda in August or September.
Rest assured, I will closely monitor this issue, continue to seek alternative locations, and ensure your involvement in every step of the Monarch site’s planning.
Future Show and Tell Event
Finally, I have asked the project team if we could schedule some afternoon / evening this summer an RBD North “Show and Tell” event at the site so people could see and learn more about the specifics of the project. More to come on this…
NEW 2ND WARD BUSINESSES
Please join me in welcoming two new businesses, and two new places to get coffee in the neighborhood!
- Paris Baguette at 1000 Maxwell, facing Elysian Park
- Koocheh Coffee at corner of 14th and Bloomfield
The pastries and cakes at Paris Baguette look, and I am told are, incredible! I have very much enjoyed coffee at both, and have already included them in my daily, morning rotation. Remember, that the only way these businesses stay open is if you buy from them. #ShopLocal
URBAN MARKET – UPDATE
We still do not have a specific opening date, but we are getting closer. The interior drywall looks almost finished which means flooring and final fixtures are next so my guess is they will open in August. In the coming weeks, the city will be restriping the parking on the east side of Washington on that block, moving the loading zone from the north corner, to center on the block where it was always supposed to go, adjacent to the ramp and directly in front of the entrance to the market. More to come…
15th BETWEEN PARK AND WILLOW
Two updates: After far too long, the property owner repaired the sidewalk on the south side of this block and it looks amazing!
Second, I have spoken with the Hudson County engineer again about the synching of the traffic lights on both ends of this block. He is not only going to have it fixed, but will have a technician look into why the lights keep unsynching so quickly. Hopefully this is an easy fix to what is a traffic pain in the neck.
14th & HUDSON - UPDATE
We are at month 26 since this Hudson County led project started. As you have seen, PSE&G are getting ready to finally repair the surrounding pavement and have removed the prior utility box. But those weeds…. Oy.
I have let the County engineer know but do not yet have an update when this will be addressed. I will follow up again this week.
Speaking of weed... A quick update on the proposed Story cannabis dispensary. Currently, I believe it is at best, in limbo with the state CRC. The last I heard from a representative from their office, they were referring the application to the Attorney General to investigate what we all believe was a corrupted local approval process given the recent "quid pro quo" allegations between Mayor Bhalla and Mayor Fulop. We will be submitting a parallel, more lengthy complaint to law state and federal law enforcement officials soon, with all of the detail that we learned along the way about the perceived corruption. More to come.
As always, please share this with everyone you know who may be interested and reach out any time on any issue important to you: 201-208-1764 or [email protected].
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