Dear Neighbors,
With the first day of spring arriving this weekend 🌼, I write to update you on the latest in our Mile Square City.
Vaccination News — 1,100 Additional First-Dose Pfizer Vaccines Arrives in Hoboken Next Week!
Thankfully, I have really good news - next week the City will receive an additional 1,100 first-dose Pfizer vaccines, significantly increasing our supply for next week and likely beyond. Thanks to County Executive Tom DeGise and Commissioner Anthony Romano for assisting Hoboken with this extra supply, and to Mayor Bhalla for working tirelessly to secure additional vaccines for our community.
Hoboken received 500 first-dose vaccines per week from the State at the beginning of the vaccination process. After setting aside the 500 second-dose vaccines for our seniors who have gotten the first dose, we have been receiving about 300 Moderna first-dose vaccines per week. So, this new 1,100 first-dose supply will make a big impact!
As of last week, the Hoboken Health Department administered 4,374 vaccine doses to residents, including 3,017 first doses and 1,357-second doses. As of last Wednesday, Riverside Medical Group administered approximately 3,800 vaccine doses, including 3,000 first doses and 800-second doses at its Hoboken location.
Additional vaccine appointments periodically become available at Hudson County's Kearny site for seniors and those with chronic medical conditions in phases 1A and 1B. Check for appointment availability and registration here.
CVS pharmacies Midtown and Uptown Hoboken locations are now supplying the COVID-19 vaccine by appointment. To track CVS’s Hoboken vaccine supply click here. For folks who are eligible for vaccination but have yet to be scheduled, we ask you to please remain patient. To get the City’s latest information on vaccinations, including how to pre-register for your vaccination, click here.
New Vaccine Eligibility and Pre-Registration Lists
As of March 15, Governor Murphy made the following categories of workers eligible for vaccination:
- Public and local transportation workers, including bus, taxi, rideshare, and airport employees; NJ TRANSIT workers; and Motor Vehicle Commission staff;
- Public safety workers who are not sworn law enforcement or fire professionals, including probation officers and fire safety inspectors;
- Migrant farmworkers;
- Members of tribal communities; and,
- Individuals experiencing homelessness and those living in shelters, including domestic violence shelters; as well as
- Pre-K through 12th- grade educators, support staff, as well as licensed and registered child care workers.
The Governor also announced that starting March 29, these additional groups of workers will be eligible for vaccination:
- Food production, agriculture, and food distribution;
- Eldercare and support;
- Warehousing and logistics;
- Social services support staff;
- Elections personnel;
- Hospitality;
- Medical supply chain;
- Postal and shipping services;
- Clergy; and,
- Judicial system.
COVID-19 Updates
The number of positive tests in Hoboken has remained high these past two weeks. New Jersey’s positive case rates continue to stay at levels comparable to what we witnessed last spring. Given these ongoing concerns, Governor Murphy has extended New Jersey’s State of Emergency for another 30 days.
Hoboken’s recent positive test results include 19 on March 10th, 23 on March 11th, and 37 on March 12th with a total of 4,026 cases confirmed to date. Two weeks ago there were 3,411 positive cases. This jump in our positive cases is troubling. In July we celebrated the landmark of having no COVID patients at Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC). However, now we have 19 COVID patients at HUMC, including 5 Hoboken residents.
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. Please remember that wearing a face mask (or a double-mask as the CDC recommends), practicing social distancing, and avoiding indoor gatherings beyond household members is the key to keeping our community healthy and safe.
Sadly, the City was recently notified that there were three additional COVID-19 related deaths in our community (two in February and one in December), including a female in her early 90s, a male in his early 70s, and a female in her early 50s. I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to each Hoboken family that has endured this unimaginable pain. Please know that you have the full support of your neighbors and our entire Hoboken community. We send you our prayers and extend to you our wishes for your comfort, healing, and peace.
COVID Testing
To get the City’s latest information on Hoboken’s testing click here.
Free Testing for Hoboken Residents Only: Riverside
Riverside Medical (351 16th Street)
Dates: Mondays - Saturdays
Time: 8 am – 3 pm
Location: 351 16th Street (Bijou Properties location)
Type of testing: Rapid 15 minute test (Abbott ID Now), and PCR
Who: Hoboken residents only
(appointments typically released online for the following week on Wednesdays)
Riverside Medical Group patients should call their Riverside primary care office to schedule a COVID test and should not use the online sign-up form. Patients without a vehicle should enter the test facility on Clinton between 15th and 16th Streets. Those driving should enter on 16th street between Clinton and Grand.
Free Testing for Hoboken Residents and Hoboken business employees:
PromptMD (Jackson St. Gym, 605 Jackson St.)
Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
Time: 8 am - 3 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents and Hoboken business employees
Results are typically provided through Prompt MD within 48-72 hours.
Free testing for Hoboken Residents and Hoboken Business Employees:
Medicine Man (605 Jackson Street)
Date: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Time: 2 - 7 pm (Wednesdays), 9 am - 1 pm (Saturdays)
Location: 605 Jackson Street (updated location)
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
New Jersey Department of Health (221 Jackson Street)
Date: Friday (March 19)
Time: 1 pm – 7 pm
Location: 221 Jackson Street (Hoboken Housing Authority, Community Room)
Who: Hudson County residents, Hoboken business employees
Type of testing: PCR
No appointment needed, testing provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Local Private COVID Test Facilities.
In addition to Hoboken’s five free, public COVID-19 facilities, you can visit City MD at 231 Washington Street or PromptMD at 309 1st Street, and walk-in without an appointment to get your COVID-19 test at their private facilities. To be safe, you should call ahead to confirm test availability.
Hoboken to receive $27.2 Million from the American Rescue Plan
Last Thursday, President Joe Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill known as the American Rescue Plan. Hoboken has been allocated $27.2 million of stimulus funds over two years. During a time when COVID has significantly reduced our City’s revenues and increased its expenses, including expenses to protect our community from COVID, this federal relief is welcome and important news delivered by President Biden and our congressional representatives to our community. Thanks to President Biden, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Bob Menendez, and Congressman Albio Sires as well as to Governor Phil Murphy for standing up for our community and delivering these critical funds that are going to make a huge difference for Hoboken.
Mayor Bhalla’s administration is already working on creating plans and projections to incorporate these stimulus funds. The Mayor has informed me that two critical uses for these funds will include a rental relief fund for those impacted by COVID-19, and a business recovery fund for our struggling business owners. As a member of the Council’s Budget and Finance committee, I will keep you informed as our budget news unfolds.
NJ to Increase Indoor Capacity This Week
Governor Murphy announced that New Jersey is permitted to expand the capacity of its restaurant, cafeteria, and food court establishments, along with casinos, spas, gyms, barbershops, and nail salons to 50% this week. This permitted capacity increase from 35% to 50% takes effect today, March 19 at 6 a.m. The limit on private gatherings is also increased to 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors. You can read Governor Murphy’s new capacity updates and guidance here. However, please remember that customer seating at bars remains prohibited at this time.
Neighborhood Meeting on 931 Madison Street Development on Wednesday Evening
I will host a virtual neighborhood meeting on March 24th at 7 pm on the Redevelopment Project for 931 Madison Street (the Water Music Building) with City Planner Jessica Giorgianni, project architect John Nastasi and developer’s representative Richard Stabile to answer your questions and hear your concerns. Please join my Zoom meeting here at 7 pm Wednesday. You can review the City Council’s Special Council meeting on February 24th addressing this 931 Madison Street project, including community members’ questions here.
Architect’s rendering of proposed 931 Madison Street design
Socially distant, outdoor workouts return this spring.
Last spring, Hoboken made it possible for our gyms and fitness studios to conduct socially distancing, outdoor workouts to assist gym owners who would have likely otherwise gone out of business. This year, the City will again offer this alternative to indoor fitness whenever field space allows, given the continued indoor capacity restrictions for gyms. If interested, gym or fitness studio owners should email outdoorworkouts@hobokennj.gov along with the desired field or park, times, and contact information.
Neumann Leathers Buildings Rehabilitation
The City Council hosted a Special Meeting to hear presentations and the public address the latest amendments to the Redevelopment Plan for the Neumann Leathers Rehabilitation Area.
In 2014, the City Council designated Neumann Leathers Rehabilitation Area an Area in Need of Rehabilitation. The rehabilitation area covers approximately 3.29 acres surrounded by Observer Highway, Newark Street, and Willow Avenue. In December 2015, the City Council adopted the Plan for the first time. New modifications presented last week come after years of negotiations with the property's owner, Neumann Leathers Redevelopment Group (the “Developer”).
The Plan amendments specify 70,000 square feet of rehabilitated industrial arts space, the creation of 76,200 square feet of new commercial and retail properties, 51 units of affordable and workforce housing, a continuation of Grand Street to Observer Highway, stormwater infrastructure to mitigate localized flooding, a 32,500 square foot outdoor public plaza and a 9,500 square foot indoor public plaza. According to the redevelopment plan, the Developer must maintain reduced rent levels for industrial art spaces to ensure that they remain viable for those tenants.
The project amendments include the construction of 310 new residential units, the renovation of two mixed-use buildings following historic standards, and the addition of 204 parking spaces.
The Council approved the Plan amendments on first reading at our March 3rd Council meeting and next they will be reviewed by the Planning Board. You can read the Plan amendments here and the complete Redevelopment Plan here. Then Plan amendments will return for a vote on 2nd reading before the Council after which the City will negotiate a Redevelopment Agreement with the developer. After a Redevelopment Agreement is in place, the Developer can apply to the Planning Board for site plan approval.
Hoboken’s Vision Zero Safety Initiatives Make Real Progress in 2020
Mayor Bhalla announced on March 10th that significant improvements to Hoboken's Vision Zero safety categories have been made. Hoboken experienced a 35% decrease in pedestrians struck by a vehicle, an 11% decrease in bicyclists struck by vehicles, and a 27% decrease in vehicle-on-vehicle crashes between 2019 and 2020. Wonderfully, Hoboken had zero traffic-related deaths in 2020 -- the third year in a row. This was achieved despite national trends indicating an uptick in traffic-related deaths in 2020, in large part because of greater speeds of cars caused by fewer cars on the road due to the pandemic. The fact that Hoboken was able to reverse these trends demonstrates the Mayor’s Vision Zero plan is working.
In August 2019, Mayor Bhalla signed an Executive Order officially launching the Vision Zero safety initiative, setting up our Vision Zero Task Force tasked with, among other things, creating a Vision Zero Action Plan. The Task Force is currently finalizing its Action Plan, which will be presented to City Council in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
Coffee with Cohen . . . the home edition
To practice social distancing, rather than eliminate my monthly Coffee with Cohen constituent events, I turned to the internet. On Monday, I hosted my most recent Coffee with Cohen Livestream event. Already, over 600 people have viewed this event. This week, I welcomed two special guests, Kristin Karotkin and Catherine Willhoit, the co-founding entrepreneurs of The Hive, an awesome new business in Hoboken’s 5th Ward, for a discussion addressing the recession and COVID's impact on women in the workforce, their view of the business climate in Hoboken, and much more in recognition of Women's History Month.
My favorite part of Coffee with Cohen is answering your questions. This week you asked about Hudson County Sheriff Dept. vehicles parking on the Columbus Park lawn and families hoping to use the Wallace School’s playground on nights and weekends. Also, I shared the results of my poll asking what best describes your reaction to CitiBike coming to Hoboken? I got 225 responses and you can check it out here.
Do you have questions you would like me to address at my next event? Send them to me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com as I try to answer each one. The event will be hosted on my Facebook page @Philcohenforcouncil and you can watch it here. My next event is Monday, March 29th at noon and I hope to see you there.
You can also follow me on Twitter at @philiphcohen here on Facebook here or Instagram here. 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.
Stay safe everyone!
Phil Cohen
5th Ward Councilman
City of Hoboken, New Jersey
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.
