Dear Neighbors,
Here is your bi-monthly update on all things Hoboken.
COVID-19 Updates
The rate of daily positive tests in Hoboken and New Jersey is falling. The transmission rate for NJ had been below 1.0 for several months, reflecting that for each person who gets COVID, it is spread to less than one other person. For the last few months, New Jersey’s transmission rate had been at or above 1.0, but presently, the rate now is at 0.94, a trend I hope continues.
As of October 14th, over 5.9 million New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated with over 12.4 million doses administered in New Jersey. Hoboken’s recent positive test results total 5,848 cases confirmed to date. Two weeks ago there were 5,764 positive cases. Although the weather is warmer and many members of our community are vaccinated, COVID-19 remains. Please stay vigilant, practice social distancing when necessary, wash your hands, and stay safe.
In July, we celebrated an extended stretch of 60 days of having no COVID patients at Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC). With the emergence of the Delta variant, that streak was broken in August until this month, but I am pleased to report that once again, HUMC is treating no COVID patients. If you have any reason to believe you have been exposed to COVID, please quarantine and then schedule an appointment for a COVID test at least 5-7 days after potential exposure.
Hoboken Providing Pfizer Boosters
The City of Hoboken and Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla are providing Pfizer booster shots to eligible individuals following approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Those 65 years old and older who received both shots of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago will have the option of getting a booster shot from the Hoboken Health Department and Hoboken Family Pharmacy.
A vaccination card is required for those seeking a Pfizer booster shot.
Those eligible to receive a Pfizer booster shot include:
- Individuals 65 years of age and older who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago.
- Participants who received the full course of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago, between the ages of 50 and 64, with underlying medical conditions that place them at risk of severe illness from COVID-19
- Pfizer vaccine recipients age 18 to 49 who received a full course at least six months ago and have underlying medical conditions based on their individual benefit and risk ratios
- Those aged 18 to 64 who completed the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago and are at an increased risk of exposure or transmission because of their occupation or institutional setting, such as front-line, healthcare, teachers, and people working in prisons and homeless shelters.
To find out what qualifies as an underlying medical condition for your booster shot, go here.
Voting Information
Election Day in Hoboken and New Jersey is on Tuesday, November 2.
On the ballot in Hoboken are the following races:
- Governor
- State Senate
- State Assembly
- Hoboken Mayor
- Hoboken City Council
- Hoboken Board of Education
Voters may choose up to three candidates for the Hoboken City Council and three candidates for the Hoboken Board of Education.
This year, there are three ways to cast your ballot: in-person early voting, Vote by Mail, or at your polling place on Election Day.
Vote by Mail information
You can request your Vote By Mail (VBM) ballot by October 26th. Applications must be received by the Hudson County Clerk by that date. Voters will then receive their ballots from the Hudson County Clerk. To apply use this form in English or this form in Spanish. Voters who previously requested a Vote By Mail ballot should have received it from the Hudson County Clerk. Your VBM contains two pages, the second of which contains the candidates for the municipal elections.
In order to submit your completed VBM, you can either mail it or drop it off in one of two secure drop boxes:
1) Return your VBM by placing it in your nearest mailbox using the U.S. Postal Service. The ballot must be postmarked on or before Nov. 2 and received by the Board of Elections.
2) There are two secure ballot drop boxes in Hoboken; one at Hoboken City Hall at 94 Washington St. on Newark Street, and one at the Stevens University Gateway Building at Hudson Street and Sixth Street. Your ballot must be returned by Tuesday, Nov. 2 prior to 8 p.m., if you submit your ballot by dropbox.
You can also return your mail-in ballot in person to the Hudson County Board of Elections by 3 p.m. on, Monday, Nov.1.
NEW: Early voting
Registered voters can cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine, during a nine-day period prior to Election Day at a time most convenient for their schedule.
Hoboken City Hall’s first-floor conference room is the City’s early voting location. Voters should enter on Newark Street. The early voting location will be open from Saturday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 31. It will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
Election Day in-person voting
Residents can also cast their ballot at their registered polling locations. Polls are open on November 2nd from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling locations can be found here. For more information click here.
Hallow-Weekend is Near 🎃 and the Ragamuffin Parade 👻 is Baaack!
Halloween is always special in Ho-Boo-Ken and this year should be extra-special! Hoboken's Ragamuffin Parade returns Sunday, Oct. 31, rain or shine. Participants should meet at 10:15 a.m. on Washington Street between 13th Street and 14th Street for the parade.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. This year, the City will not host a costume contest. Washington Street will be closed, and NJ Transit buses will follow a detour during the parade.
Uptown Hoboken is always festive for Halloween. Incredible decorations are already popping up. Our neighbor, the artist Steven Vizena, at the corner of 11th and Garden, has set up a cool art installation for the holiday, as is his tradition, and uptown row houses on Bloomfield and Garden are already pretty spooky-looking with two weeks of decorating to go. Hallow-Weekend promises to be lots of family fun.
Community Bike Ride
Every 4th Sunday of the month you can join your friends, neighbors, and Bike Hoboken for a police-escorted family-friendly bike ride. October’s ride will meet at Columbus Park (9th & Grand) for a 4-mile leisurely ride. I hope to see you on October 24th at 11 am for a fun, family ride that will feature many streets with spooky Halloween decorations!
Italian Flag Raising Event
The Italian Flag is Raised at City Hall
I enjoyed celebrating the Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony & Italian Flag Raising Ceremony in Columbus Park last week with Commissioner Anthony Romano, Mayor Bhalla, County Executive Tom DeGise, and Sheriff Frank Schillari. Congratulations to all the honorees! Mary Grace Castiello, Owner of Giorgio’s Pastry Shop, With Her Citation of Recognition
Hoboken’s Waterfront Arts Gala
On Tuesday, the City's Cultural Affairs Trust presented the annual Waterfront Arts Gala benefiting Hoboken's arts community which I enjoyed attending.
This year's gala revealed exciting new public art projects and showcased the work of local galleries and artists. Mayor Bhalla revealed a design for a new mural installation for Tom Olivieri park as well as a design for a sculpture of Hoboken’s “favorite son” Frank Sinatra, to be installed on the Hoboken Waterfront. A variety of local restaurants offered food, wine, beer, and spirits tastings.
Below is a picture of a display of artists who are Neumann Leathers building tenants, many of whom attended the gala along with members of our vibrant arts community, patrons of the arts, and community leaders.
Neumann Leathers’ Artists Work at the Waterfront Arts Gala
COVID and Travel
The CDC has issued travel recommendations for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. All travelers leaving the State should check with the travel destination and transportation carrier (i.e., airline, cruise ship) to see if there are additional health and safety protocols or requirements, such as proof of a negative COVID-19 test within days of departure. Travelers should also check with their employers, schools, and other entities that may have quarantine policies.
The CDC recommends delaying your travel plans until you are fully vaccinated.
Domestic Travel
The CDC advises that unvaccinated individuals should get tested 1-3 days before their trip, 3-5 days after travel, and stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after domestic travel. Vaccinated New Jersey residents are no longer required to quarantine when traveling domestically outside the state. For more information, click here for the CDC’s guidance for domestic travel.
International Travel
The CDC requires all air passengers arriving in the US from a foreign country to get tested for COVID-19 no more than 3 days before their flight departs and present their negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 before boarding the flight. For more details on international travel from the CDC click here.
COVID Testing Updates
To get the City’s latest information on Hoboken’s COVID tests and hours click here.
Free Testing for Hoboken Residents and Business Employees:
601 Jackson Street (Administered by Medicine Man)
Date: Wednesdays, Fridays
Time: 4 - 7 pm Wednesdays, 9 am - 5 pm Fridays
Location: 601 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
601 Jackson Street (Administered by PromptMD)
Date: Wednesdays, Thursdays
Time: 8 am - 12:30 pm
Location: 601 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
601 Jackson Street (Administered by Riverside)
Date: Tuesdays, Saturdays
Time: 9 am - 2 pm
Location: 601 Jackson Street
Type of testing: Rapid (15 Minute), PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
City MD
City MD at 231 Washington Street also offers COVID-19 tests. You can walk in without an appointment and get tested during regular hours.
COVID Vaccination News
As of October 14th, nearly 100% of our seniors (65 and older) have received their first dose, and 98% of our seniors are fully vaccinated. Thanks to our seniors for stepping up and protecting themselves and our community!
84% of Hoboken residents 12 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 78% are fully vaccinated.
81% of Hoboken residents 18 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 75% are fully vaccinated.
91% of Hoboken residents 30 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 84% are fully vaccinated.
73% of all Hoboken residents, regardless of eligibility, have been provided with at least one dose, and 67% are fully vaccinated.
Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken Health Department continue collaborating with local pharmacies to offer a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic for Hoboken residents and employees of Hoboken businesses at the following location and times:
Walk-in Vaccination Clinic
Where: 605 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees, Hoboken students
Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Time: 4 - 7 pm on Tuesday and 9 am - 12 pm on Wednesday
Vaccine Offered: Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, or Moderna
Ages: 18+ and Pfizer vaccine for ages 12+
Administered By: Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding
To get the City’s latest information on vaccinations and clinic schedules click here.
In addition to the clinics above, Hoboken Family Pharmacy is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine at their Hoboken location at 307 First Street during regular business hours, while supplies last. Residents and employees can schedule an appointment here or by calling (201) 420-7777.
CVS pharmacies in Hoboken Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown locations also are supplying the COVID-19 vaccine. To track CVS’s Hoboken vaccine supply click here. Walgreens pharmacies in Hoboken Downtown and its two Uptown locations are supplying the COVID-19 vaccine. To track Walgreens Hoboken vaccine supply click here. You can also receive the vaccine at the County’s vaccination center in Kearny. Click here to make an appointment.
Coffee with Cohen . . . the home edition
Last year, to practice social distancing, rather than eliminate my monthly Coffee with Cohen events, I turned to the internet. On Monday, I hosted my 42nd Coffee with Cohen … the home edition with special guest Commissioner Anthony Romano who discussed issues affecting Hudson County and Hoboken as well as his endorsements of Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, Councilman Jim Doyle, and Joe Quintero for Council and for re-electing Mayor Bhalla. You can read Commissioner Romano's endorsement here.
I also addressed the latest on COVID vaccines, COVID testing, and Pfizer Boosters. My favorite part of Coffee with Cohen is answering your questions. I addressed your questions regarding crosswalk safety issues at 9th and Monroe, issues concerning the property at 931 Madison St., keeping sewer grates clear near Maxwell Place, and much, much more. Over 150 people have watched this event and you can check it out here.
My 43rd Coffee with Cohen event will be on Monday, October 25th at noon. I hope to see you there. Do you have any questions? Please send them to HobokenPhil@gmail.com as I try to address each one. These events are hosted on my Facebook page Philcohenforcouncil and you can watch them here.
You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, or if I can be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com.
Phil Cohen
5th Ward Councilman
City of Hoboken
HobokenPhil@gmail.com
(862) 234-9053
P.S. You can learn more about me and my ideas for Hoboken (as well as read this newsletter and my prior newsletters) on my website philcohen.org.
