Dear Neighbors,
Here’s what’s been happening in Hoboken.
COVID-19 Updates
The rate of daily positive tests in Hoboken and New Jersey remains on the rise. 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. Now, New Jersey’s transmission rate is 1.01. According to Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Health, the highly transmissible delta variant is now the dominant strain of COVID in New Jersey.
As of September 16th, over 5.7 million New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated with over 11.8 million doses administered in New Jersey. Hoboken’s recent positive test results total 5,616 cases confirmed to date. Two weeks ago there were 5,483 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). However, now HUMC is treating nine COVID patients, two of whom are Hoboken residents. Eight of the nine individuals are unvaccinated, and one of the two hospitalized Hoboken patients is unvaccinated. 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.
The 20th Anniversary of 9/11
The City of Hoboken hosted a meaningful 20th annual 9/11 memorial ceremony that I was honored to attend.
I will always remember that morning, watching from Hoboken’s waterfront with my then 5 year-old daughter as smoke poured from the pile into the heavens.
I remember Chris Colasanti whose daughters attended school with my 5-year-old, but who did not come home, after commuting to the World Trade Center that morning.
I remember Jeff Gardner, my hometown friend from Livingston, NJ, who like me, moved to Hoboken, joined the United Synagogue of Hoboken and found a new community in his Hoboken home.
Chris and Jeff are two of the 56 Hoboken victims we remembered last Saturday evening, along with all the others who perished, all the heroes who responded and all whose lives changed forever.
Federal Disaster Relief for Hudson County Residents Affected by Ida Storm Damage
I’m glad Hudson County (along with our neighbors in Essex and Union Counties and Mercer County) is now eligible for federal disaster relief funding resulting from Ida’s damage.
Hoboken Awards 179 Small Local Businesses COVID Relief Funds
Hoboken is providing $1.82 million in grant funding to 179 small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses qualifying for the City's Small Business Grant Program will receive awards averaging $9,800 through the American Rescue Plan.
115 of the 179 businesses receiving grant funding also will receive a $1,500 vaccine bonus because 75% of their employees were fully vaccinated. The City will publish a list of these businesses in the coming weeks. The awards will be announced this week and funds will be distributed next week.
This additional funding will help ease some of the financial burdens on the mom-and-pop shops that are so beloved in our mile square.
Last year, Hoboken partnered with Hudson County and dispersed $1.82 million in grant funding through the CARES Act to aid small businesses. Hoboken also provided financial assistance to small businesses through the Hoboken Relief Fund, which I Co-Chair with Council Member Jen Giattino, raising over $425,000.
All these funds have made a real difference for our hard-hit businesses and their employees and these 179 additional grants will make a big impact.
Climate Change and the Importance of Hoboken’s Rebuild by Design Project
As the impact of climate change becomes more profound, stronger, wetter storms like Ida and Henri will no longer be outliers but will be more regular weather patterns. In order to be resilient and address climate change long-term, infrastructure projects like Hoboken’s $230 million dollars federal Rebuild by Design project are critical to complete.
An article published in the wake of Ida’s devastating impact in NorthJersey.com titled “Because of Climate Change, Ida's Watery Wrath is No Longer An Aberration for the Northeast” includes comments from Vanessa Tropiano, the Coastal Training program coordinator for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve in southeastern New Jersey. Interviewing Ms. Tropiano, the article notes:
Innovative plans could combine traditional flood mitigation engineering, such as pumps, levees, and bulkheads, with more “innovative nature-based solutions,” like installing large storage tanks under green spaces, so more stormwater is drained into the ground than would normally be possible. Tropiano pointed to Rebuild by Design projects in progress in the Meadowlands, Hoboken, Jersey City and Weehawken, part of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development competition in the wake of Superstorm Sandy to come up with infrastructure ideas to prevent or mitigate such damage in the future.
I proudly serve on the Citizens Advisory Group for Rebuild by Design and Chair the Hoboken City Council’s Rebuild by Design Subcommittee. You can read the full NorthJersey.com article here and learn more about Hoboken’s Rebuild By Design project here.
Improving Communications with SUEZ
We experienced an extremely trying week recovering from Ida’s flooding rains and then SUEZ's boil water advisory issued at the direction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
The boil water advisory was frustrating. NJDEP tightly regulates information SUEZ and the City can communicate to the public during a boil water advisory and does not allow releasing an expected time frame for the duration of a water boil advisory. This put the City in a tough spot — unable to project how long the boil water advisory would last.
Last week, Mayor Bhalla and his staff met with SUEZ representatives to communicate their frustration and pressed SUEZ for key information and collaborative improvements with the water utility.
Among the requests were:
- SUEZ should provide a detailed after-action report on SUEZ’s boil water advisory
- SUEZ should create a comprehensive communications plan to address future emergencies, and
- SUEZ should permit direct City participation in internal NJDEP/SUEZ meetings affecting Hoboken.
SUEZ agreed to all three requests. The City will continue to work with SUEZ to improve communications with residents going forward.
Finally, Hoboken will offer a seven-day credit to all water ratepayers as a result of the boil water advisory. A credit will appear on your upcoming water bill.
The Hoboken Wellness Crawl is this Sunday!
The Hoboken Girl is hosting its annual Wellness Crawl on Sunday from 11am to 4pm. This year's wellness crawl highlights Hoboken’s extraordinary food, fitness, health, and beauty businesses. The crawl includes Hoboken brick-and-mortar businesses as well as online and mobile businesses based in local shops. All participating businesses will offer exclusive freebies and giveaways to participants and at the end of the day there will be a (optional) scavenger hunt for a larger prize. Every ticket purchased includes a $1 donation to the Hoboken Food Pantry, a vital not-for-profit addressing food insecurity in our community. You can get your tickets here.
Citi Bike Valet Service
The City of Hoboken and Lyft have launched Citi Bike valet service at the Hoboken Terminal.
Residents now can commute to and from the terminal more easily during morning and evening rush hours at no additional cost to riders.
This valet service will help ensure open docks during the morning rush for parking Citi Bikes and waiting bikes at the docking station during the evening rush. The River Street station valet service will be available weekdays from 7 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 8 pm.
Hoboken Fire Department Contains Fire at 12th and Willow
The Hoboken Fire Department did a great job last Friday extinguishing an apartment and garage fire on 12th Street next to Rosario's Pizzeria (a great 5th Ward business with delicious pizza — check out their amazing Margherita Pizza!) Thankfully, there were no injuries, and Rosario’s and all adjacent properties were protected, as the HFD promptly contained the blaze.
Thanks to the Hoboken Police Department for maintaining traffic control and to the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps for always being there when we need them.
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 will their 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:
Jackson St. Gym (Administered by Medicine Man)
Date: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Time: 9 am - 12 pm Mondays, 4 - 7 pm Wednesdays, 9 am - 6 pm Fridays
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Jackson St. Gym (Administered by PromptMD)
Date: Wednesdays, Thursdays
Time: 8 am - 12:30 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Jackson St. Gym (Administered by Riverside)
Date: Tuesdays, Saturdays
Time: 9 am - 2 pm
Location: 605 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 September 16th, nearly 100% of our seniors (65 and older) have received their first dose, and 97% of our seniors are fully vaccinated. Thanks to our seniors for stepping up and protecting themselves and our community!
80% of Hoboken residents 18 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 73% are fully vaccinated.
89% of Hoboken residents 30 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 82% are fully vaccinated.
72% of all Hoboken residents, regardless of eligibility, have been provided with at least one dose, and 65% are fully vaccinated.
Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken Health Department continue collaborating with local pharmacies to offer free COVID-19 vaccine clinics for Hoboken residents and employees of Hoboken businesses at the following locations and times:
Walk-in Vaccination Clinics
Where: 605 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees, Hoboken students
Day: Thursdays
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm
Vaccine Offered: Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, or Moderna
Ages: 18+ and Pfizer vaccine for ages 12+
Administered By: Better Life Pharmacy
Where: 605 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees, Hoboken students
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm
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 Walgreen’s 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 constituent events, I turned to the internet. On Monday, September 13th at noon I hosted my 40th Coffee with Cohen … the home edition with a special guest, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla!
We discussed the challenges he has faced as Mayor, dealing with COVID in our community, the importance of getting vaccinated, his agenda for a second term in office, and Councilmember Jim Doyle, Councilmember Emily Jabbour, and first-time candidate Joe Quintero -- the council candidates he is supporting in our critical November 2 City Council election. I also discussed the latest on COVID vaccines, COVID testing, Hurricane Ida's aftermath, disaster funding relief, and much, much more.
My favorite part of Coffee with Cohen is answering your questions. I addressed your questions regarding being a resident who received a collections agency notice from Riverside Medical Group going to a collections agency for a $25 co-payment, a complaint regarding continued noise from modified vehicles in our streets, and inaccurate curb painting near bump-outs in the 5th Ward. I also shared the results of my poll on whether students are excited to return to school for in-person learning. Over 300 people have already watched this event and you can check it out here.
My 41st Coffee with Cohen event will be on Monday, September 27th 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.
