It’s always remarkable how, overnight, the day after Labor Day, the weather cools, and the scent of autumn fills the air.
I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. As we all transition from the summer vibe to the back-to-school and back-to-work rhythm, take a moment to reflect on the many benefits we enjoy from work—vacation and sick days, health benefit requirements, an eight-hour workday, minimum wage, overtime pay, safety standards, and child labor laws.
These rights weren’t simply handed to us by generous employers; they were hard-won by labor unions fighting since the late 1800's. They are rights we should never take for granted and why we celebrate Labor Day.
A few things to discuss with you:
- Important Update: 15th Street & Garden Closure - Join the 9/5 Zoom Meeting
- 2024 Budget: Compromise Finally Achieved
- Possible End to Free Parking Sundays in “Business Areas” & Other Parking Changes
- Next Community and Public Safety ("CAPS") Forum in 6th Ward
- Innovating for Pedestrian Safety at 13th & Park: Temporary Solutions to Slow Traffic
- Learn How to Save a Life - Free CPR Training
- Vetoed Ordinance Keeps Unnecessary Fees on Non-Profits
- Addressing Rat Sightings in the 2nd Ward: How You Can Help
- Transactional Politics: What It Means For Hoboken
IMPORTANT UPDATE: 15TH STREET & GARDEN CLOSURE - JOIN THE 9/5 ZOOM MEETING
Beginning on or about September 16th, the intersection of 15th Street and Garden Street will be closed to vehicular traffic 24/7 for approximately three months to facilitate construction as part of the ongoing Rebuild By Design project. While the closure is necessary for the project's success, I understand the challenges this will create, especially for those who rely on 15th Street as a main artery in and out of Hoboken, me included.
To help manage these disruptions:
- Parking will be restricted on Bloomfield between 14th and 15th mainly to accommodate drop-offs for Elysian Charter and Hoboken Montessori. The existing loading zones will remain.
- Access to 15th Street between Bloomfield and Garden will remain open for local traffic only: entry and exit from the parking garage, as well as the parking area in front of 1500 Garden.
- Access to 15th Street between Park and Garden will be accessible for local traffic only: those needing access to the garage at Park and Garden.
- Deliveries for buildings in the area will be managed on 14th Street.
- Bollards near the Garden Street mews (at 14th) will be removed to allow safety vehicles access, while the trees will be retained, with trimming as necessary to accommodate fire trucks.
- Accommodations for garbage removal access for 1500 Garden are being finalized.
Since construction began, my top priority has been to safeguard passage and minimize disruptions for my neighbors and ensure your voices are heard. However, I honestly do not believe that those involved in running the project have a full understanding of the real impact of this intersection closure during this timeframe. Just a few weeks ago, when 15th and Park was closed for two days, traffic in the area became gridlocked. An example, although Bloomfield Street is being used as a drop-off area for the schools, if traffic on 15th Street doesn't move during the morning commute—when school drop-off occurs—what will Bloomfield St. look like and will the expected gridlock prevent kids from getting to school on time?
To address these concerns and improve safety and traffic flow in the area, I took the following steps:
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I strongly advocated for the work to have been scheduled at a different time - not while schools were in session and during the busiest traffic season of the year. When I asked "why now?", the reason given was the cost and timing impact to keep the micropiling equipment on-site, avoiding the need to bring it back later. From my professional experience, I suspect the delay would have been minimal and the cost negligible relative to the total project. While the contractor has been accommodating overall, this decision seemed driven more by their efficiency than by what would work best for the neighborhood.
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I introduced the possibility of making Bloomfield Street temporarily two-way in this area, but this was unfortunately denied due to cost and potential traffic disruptions in other areas.
- I called for extra traffic and safety support for the already dangerous intersection of 15th and Washington given the added traffic, the school at the corner, and the new grocery store opening within weeks. In response to my concerns, the city / DEP are making traffic officers available as needed to help ensure safe passage and assist with traffic flow.
- I have also requested all traffic lights in the vicinity be reviewed to optimize their synchronization and timing for all areas.
I encourage all residents to join the virtual community meeting on September 5th at 6 p.m., where representatives from the NJDEP will provide updates on the project, including the closure of 15th Street and Garden, and address any questions you may have. This is an important opportunity to ensure our community’s concerns are directly communicated to those managing the project.
Zoom Meeting Registration: http://tinyurl.com/rbdhoboken
I know how frustrating this is. I share your concerns and will continue to push for measures that reduce the impact on our daily lives.
2024 BUDGET: COMPROMISE FINALLY ACHIEVED
On August 21st, the City Council approved the 2024 Municipal Budget with a 3.3% year-over-year municipal tax increase. This was a compromise amongst City Council members and was reached after a lengthy budget process that began in April when Mayor Bhalla introduced a budget with a 5.8% tax increase. In July, I introduced and the City Council passed a budget amendment to cut the tax increase in half to 2.9%. The amendment itself passed 5-4 despite opposition from my Team Bhalla colleagues, however, when it came to the vote on the budget with this amendment, it failed 4-5 because Councilman Russo wanted even further reductions (which I supported, but felt it was unlikely to get 5 votes). The City Council ultimately were able to compromise at a 3.3% increase, which allowed the budget to pass with a 6-3 vote. Of the three 'no' votes: CM Russo & Presinzano said it wasn't low enough. CM Quintero said it wasnt high enough (#truth).
Our combined efforts included several key amendments:
- We redirected more excess revenues generated from parking and water utilities to offset spending increases, instead of allowing unnecessary reserve accumulation.
- We made prudent reductions in the budgets of the business administrator, tax assessor, central garage, and excess allocations for group health insurance.
- We cut the salary budget in the Corporation Counsel’s office, avoiding the addition of yet another in-house lawyer.
- We reduced salaries in the mayor’s office to limit funding for his chief of staff, who has faced serious allegations.
These measures allowed us to offset increases in essential services such as:
- Increased funding for our rent control office for an additional hire in what has been an historically understaffed department.
- Added funding for an entry-level recreation coordinator.
- Allocated resources for IT upgrades to improve the city’s systems infrastructure, enhancing services for residents.
Despite our efforts, when factoring in County, School, Open Space, and Library taxes as outlined in my July 10th newsletter, the overall "real feel" property tax increase for this year will be close to a staggering 8%. Unfortunately, due to the billing structure—where the first two quarters are based on 2023’s budget—the full impact of this annual increase will hit in the last two quarters of 2024. This means your fourth-quarter bill will see a one-time rise of over 11% compared to the third quarter that mainly reverses in the first quarter of 2025 as we move into the 2025 budget year.
FREE PARKING SUNDAYS IN “BUSINESS AREAS” & OTHER PARKING CHANGES
At the last City Council meeting, the following ordinance was introduced and will have its public hearing this Wednesday, September 4th:
- Ending Free Sundays in Business Areas: The ordinance proposes ending the long standing Hoboken amenity of free parking on Sundays in Hoboken “business areas,” which are vaguely defined as “areas of the city that have, or are in close proximity to, a high concentration of retail or commercial uses on the ground floor.” I have advocated for amending this to clearly specify the areas it pertains to—for example, Washington St. from Newark to 14th, making it limited hours only – say 12 – 5PM, or removing this provision altogether before the final vote.
- Monthly Garage and Lot Rate Increases: Most monthly garage and lot rates are set to increase by $6-$9 per month for all users, including residents and businesses. Additionally, automatic CPI (Consumer Price Index) increases will be applied going forward.
- Visitor Pass Fee Increases: The cost of visitor passes is set to rise from $4 to $6 for 4 hours, and from $6 to $9 for a 24-hour period.
- New Parking Permits for Unregistered Vehicles: A new provision allows residents whose vehicles are not registered in Hoboken to obtain a street parking permit for $700 per year (previously not permitted).
NEXT COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM IN 6TH WARD
The successful CAPS program is on the move and will be in the 6th ward with a morning time and location that hopefully is convenient for many!
- Date: September 10th
- Time: 8:30am – 10am
- Location: ONieal's 343 Park Ave, across from Church Square Park.
Come with questions for Hoboken PD (recent crimes and food delivery e-bikes…), Fire (when you should call them), OEM (event mgmt. and community emergencies), Ambulance (where does the ambulance take you), Health Department (rats!) and CERT (volunteering). Refreshments provided.
INNOVATING FOR SAFETY AT 13TH & PARK: TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS TO SLOW TRAFFIC
Last week, I met with the HPU team, City Engineer, and our traffic planning consultant to discuss ways to address the speeding traffic on Park Avenue as it moves through the intersection at 13th Street to catch the light at 14th Street. We’ve collaborated before on innovative solutions for other intersections where stop signs were not warranted, such as the island at 15th and Garden and the raised intersection and bike lane at N. Sinatra and Constitution. Here, we’re exploring a temporary solution that’s somewhere between a traffic circle and a chicane to slow traffic at this intersection while we await a stop sign warrant analysis and a full redo of 13th Street next spring.
The idea shown in the picture involves placing a raised grouping of stanchions in the middle of the intersection, which would force cars to slow down and navigate carefully around them. They would also be flexible to bend if hit by a larger vehicle or truck. A nearby resident also provided examples of successful formations used in other locations for us to consider. This would be a pilot program, and I’m hopeful we can implement something soon. #PartneringForProgress
LEARN HOW TO SAVE A LIFE - FREE CPR TRAINING
This is something I routinely get asked about from neighbors of all ages, but in particular from new parents. I a thrilled to see this being offered. Two times that hopefully can be convenient for you. Details in the poster. You can click to picture to take you to registration:
VETOED ORDINANCE KEEPS UNNECESSARY FEES ON NON-PROFITS
On July 10th, we passed an ordinance that would reduce fees paid by non-profits to use city park space. The ordinance passed 5-4.
Mayor Bhalla then vetoed the ordinance, expressing concerns about its application to Stevens and Hoboken University Medical Center, both which provide free services to Hoboken residents. At our last meeting we put an override resolution on the agenda, hoping that just one Team Bhalla council member would put community over politics and give us the 6th vote needed to override the mayor. But that wasn't to be the case. Our non profits will remain burdened with unnecessary city fees that will impact their ability to serve our community.
ADDRESSING RAT SIGHTINGS IN THE 2ND WARD: HOW YOU CAN HELP
I’ve been hearing about an uptick in rat sightings in the 2nd Ward, particularly in the area west of Washington and north of 12th Street. All of the road openings in the area are clearly not helping. I’ve met with several neighbors and have been working closely with them, the City Health Department, and the Constituent Services director to identify and address locations of concern, including specific food sources and properties that are not fully complying with our lid laws.
If you live in this area, please take a careful look at your front and back yards and ensure:
- You are complying with the city’s lidded garbage can requirement (uncovered cans located in trash boxes do not comply).
- You do not have any areas that could harbor rodents.
- Any burrowing holes you see are filled immediately.
If you spot any rats, please report them to the city at [email protected]. If you live in the specific area mentioned, please include me on your email as well. It takes a collective effort from all neighbors to tackle this issue. Thank you to everyone who has already made changes in the past couple of weeks to help and in particular to our Health Department who has responded immediately to my outreach.
TRANSACTIONAL POLITICS: WHAT IT MEANS FOR HOBOKEN
Transactional politics refers to the practice of making decisions and forming alliances based on mutual benefits rather than shared principles or values. Often involves exchanging political support or actions for favors, concessions, or campaign donations. While all politics involves and relies on negotiation and compromise, transactional politics is characterized by a focus on immediate gains rather than long-term goals or the broader public good leading to decisions that prioritize the interests of a few over the needs of the many. This often comes at the expense of transparency and ethical governance.
In Hoboken, we’ve seen the impact of this firsthand, where decisions made behind closed doors have raised serious concerns. The quid pro quo allegation between Mayor Bhalla and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop regarding the Story Dispensary approvals is a great example. And with Mayor Bhalla likely leaving office at the end of this term next year, we are seeing rush of developers pushing to get their approvals for outsized developments in from him before he leaves office. An example is an item on the City Council agenda to start a rezoning process for the block across from the PATH, that is seemingly happening to accomodate a property owner who made large donations to Mayor Bhalla's gubernatorial campaign and wants to build a 20+ story residential tower on a site that currently only allows 6 stories. To me, our timing of considering any rezoning should be driven by the community's needs - in particular LCOR securing a lease for their commercial building - not catering to a property owner's interest in upsizing their own property.
Our City Council meeting is this Wednesday at 7pm at City Hall. You can watch on the city's Facebook or YouTube pages. To participate, you need to join in person and sign up to speak during the public portion.
Wishing everyone a great first day back to school and back to work! 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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