Dear Neighbors,
Happy Spring! Here is the latest on what’s happening in the Mile Square City.
I Support a New Municipal Complex in our North End
As you may have heard, Mayor Bhalla recently updated the City Council about a new Department of Public Works facility located in Hoboken's North End. This facility is also proposed to include new Police and Fire department headquarters, a community center, and an uptown branch of the Hoboken Public Library. A robust community engagement process will determine the building's specific functions.
As currently envisioned, the Hoboken Municipal Complex is proposed to include a new municipal parking garage with approximately 405 public spaces, a new public works facility, as well as multiple indoor and outdoor community spaces such as a 5,500 square foot uptown library branch, 18,500 square foot field house, a 42,000 square foot recreation center, and rooftop community gardens.
As the Mayor’s update to the City Council indicated, the need for a new DPW garage by November of 2024 results from the Monarch Settlement, which ended the risk of two 11-story residential condominium towers being built opposite the Hudson Tea Building over the 15th Street piers — preserving the public’s use of our cherished waterfront forever — creating new waterfront park space.
I have long been a strong, proud supporter of the Monarch settlement — a settlement unanimously approved by my City Council colleagues — that was negotiated by Mayor Bhalla and will benefit generations of Hoboken residents who cherish our public waterfront parks that will not be blighted by private residential development over our piers. When the original settlement envisioned a temporary relocation of the DPW garage to the 13th and Jefferson site, I worked hard with Mayor Bhalla and his Administration to relocate the planned temporary DPW site to north of 15th Street, and the City Council unanimously passed a resolution confirming that this is where any new DPW garage belongs.
While the newly proposed municipal complex and garage in our North End may not be on the exact lot in the North End envisioned by each Councilmember, I believe it would be grossly irresponsible to deny the Mayor the authorization to continue the process of planning for a new DPW garage at the 15th and Adams location. If the Council blocks this from proceeding, we will be left without a DPW garage location, and the very real possibility that other City properties including 2nd and Harrison, 13th, and Jefferson, and even the Monarch site would be used as temporary DPW garage locations for staging Hoboken’s DPW vehicles including snowplows, dumpsters, salt sheds until a permanent location can be identified and developed. I know how strongly residents in the area of the Northwest Resiliency Park objected to the idea of having a temporary DPW location in their neighborhood, but unfortunately, the prospect has become real again, because my Council colleagues will not permit the Administration to proceed with acquiring the lot at 15th and Adams — a location far apart from current 5th Ward residents, and an ideal location for additional community amenities, including an uptown library branch that could include work stations for adults to work remotely and programming space for kids that would allow 5th Ward residents to not have to travel to Library’s main campus on Church Square Park where many programs are oversubscribed.
Some have asked why we need to construct a new headquarters for the Hoboken Police Department and Hoboken Fire Department and other new facilities in this plan? As reflected in Mayor Bhalla’s report, the Hoboken Police Department and Fire Department facilities are in serious states of disrepair, which are projected to cost taxpayers millions of dollars in emergency upgrades and repairs over the next decade in order to keep our community safe. To build new facilities for each of these community needs would cost millions more than consolidating these facilities into a new, modern municipal complex.
Many have also asked how we are going to pay for such a complex? This is a valid and important question. The Administration has assured me that while nothing yet is set in stone, there are a variety of funding mechanisms, including developer givebacks, federal funding opportunities, the potential sale of the land where the present Police Headquarters is located, and more to help pay for any debt service on a City bond, and mitigate any large burden on the taxpayers. Note that we currently have an AA+ credit rating, a credit to the Zimmer and Bhalla administrations, providing us with the ability to bond at low-interest rates.
You can read more about the detailed reasons why it’s important to move forward with this project by reading Mayor Bhalla’s memo here.
An online community meeting was held last Wednesday to discuss the public safety community’s current facility constraints and needs, as well as the proposed concept for the city block at 15th and Adams, which led to breakout sessions, gathering feedback on visioning for potential community amenities on site. You can watch the Community Meeting meeting here.
Additionally, a public survey was released by Mayor Bhalla and the City of Hoboken regarding this proposed Hoboken Municipal Complex, in order to solicit public input on proposed community amenities. You can take the online survey here. The survey is scheduled to close Monday, March 28.
Based on community feedback from the public meeting and the online survey, the City will develop design alternatives to be presented to the public at a second community meeting in April. You can learn more about this proposed project here. If you have any questions, please email municipalcomplex@hobokennj.gov.
Welcome Ken Ferrante – Hoboken’s New Public Safety Director
Mayor Bhalla announced that beginning March 16th former Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante would serve as the City’s Public Safety Director overseeing the Hoboken Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Ken Ferrante is familiar to many. Ken served our community for nearly three decades, launching his career in public service as a Hoboken Police Officer in 1993, rising in rank until ultimately heading the Hoboken Police Department as the Chief of Police from October 2014 to his retirement in July 2021.
Ken worked as the City’s OEM Coordinator in 2013 and 2014, during which time he responded to all active fires and helped launch the City’s federal Rebuild by Design flood resiliency project.
During his tenure with the department, he served as a commander in several disasters, including Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene, as well as local incidents such as the 2013 fatal fire at Marine View Plaza 2 and the 2016 fatal Hoboken train crash.
As Public Safety Director, Ferrante will be responsible for analyzing crime prevention, fire safety preparedness, updating and implementing policies and procedures that ensure public safety, and adjusting departmental methods and protocols to improve operational efficiency. Along with developing and monitoring department budgets, he is tasked with finding cost-saving measures, working with other agencies, and conducting community relations and public information programs.
Complete Street Program to Upgrade Many Streets and Intersections
Mayor Bhalla announced that as part of the City’s Complete Street Program, the City will upgrade over 80 blocks of road infrastructure, utilizing state funding and partnering with Hudson County and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 33 blocks will be improved this spring, and 49 in the fall.
To increase accessibility and safety for all modes of transportation, the repaving and infrastructure improvements will incorporate various Vision Zero and complete streets safety improvements, including high visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, ADA-compliant ramps at crosswalks, enhanced bicycle facilities, drainage improvements, and more.
Hudson County will resurface 16 blocks of Hudson Street from 14th Street to Observer Highway beginning next month. As part of Hoboken's water main replacement project, these blocks on Hudson Street were previously upgraded with new, modern water mains.
The City will resurface 12 blocks with $734,000 in grant funds from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). These include Second Street from Clinton Street to River Street, Third Street from Park Avenue to Washington Street, and Sixth Street from Jackson Street to Madison Street.
Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Rebuild by Design team will resurface and restore five blocks of roads and intersections where underground sewer infrastructure was upgraded this spring. This includes River Street from Hudson Place to Newark Street, Newark Street from River Street to Sinatra Drive, Hudson Place from Hudson Street to River Street, Hudson Street from 14th Street to 15th Street, 14th Street from Washington Street to Hudson Street, the intersection of River Street and First Street, and the intersection of River Street and Third Street.
The City plans to repave 16 blocks of streets this fall using NJDOT grant funding of $809,500, including Eighth Street from Willow Avenue to Hudson Street, Ninth Street from Madison Street to Willow Avenue, 10th Street from Grand Street to Park Avenue, and 11th Street from Adams Street to Willow Avenue.
The county also plans to repave Park Avenue from Observer Highway to 16th Street, Garden Street from Second Street to 12th Street, and 14th Street from Park Avenue to Sinatra Drive this fall.
More information about construction project schedules will be posted to the City’s Construction Updates page here. To see a map of active road closures in Hoboken due to construction, visit here.
Hoboken Supports Ukraine
This month, Hoboken launched the Rent for Refugees campaign in partnership with the Hoboken Relief Fund and the Hudson County not-for-profit Welcome Home to assist Ukrainian refugees living in Hoboken's adopted sister city, Białystok, Poland.
The campaign provides housing assistance in the form of furnished apartments to refugees who have fled Ukraine. A furnished apartment for five people costs approximately $450 a month. This week, the leaders of Bialystok, Poland had a conference with Mayor Bhalla and the organizers of Rent for Refugees thanking the people of Hoboken for their direct impact in assisting the village of Bialystok with housing and sheltering the influx of Ukrainian refugees in their community. You can see this conference here.
The City’s Rent for Refugees campaign was announced at the City of Hoboken’s Ukrainian flag-raising ceremony at which over 100 residents, neighbors, Ukrainian-Americans, elected officials, and Hoboken Clergy Coalition members stood together in solidarity with Ukraine.
You can learn about the Rent For Refugees campaign and donate here.
Also, Ukrainian-born Hoboken resident Roman Malantchouk is working with Heal Hoboken to support his family’s hometown, Chervonohrad, in Western Ukraine by delivering humanitarian relief to the many Ukrainian refugees who are sheltering in Chervonohrad, Roman is an entrepreneur and founder of a Hoboken-based architectural design business who felt compelled to act in response to the crisis in his homeland. Roman’s efforts creating a start-up Ukraine relief effort — Friends of Chervonohrad — are featured in Inc. Magazine here. You can learn more about Roman’s work here and donate to Friends of Chervonohrad here.
On March 9, the Hoboken City Council unanimously adopted a resolution of support for the people and government of Ukraine that I proudly co-sponsored. The City Council called for our nation to broadly support the government and people of Ukraine in the face of the unprovoked, unjustified, and criminal Russian invasion of Ukraine. You can read our resolution here.
We stand with the people of Ukraine.
🇺🇸 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦 🇺🇸
Hoboken Housing Authority Releases Draft Strategic Plan
The Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA) released its draft Hoboken Housing Forward Strategic Plan. The plan outlines a vision and roadmap for how the HHA can execute the repositioning process and redevelop or rehabilitate a large number of the HHA’s housing units. You can review the HHA’s proposed plan here.
Live In-Person Theatre has Returned to The Mile Square Theatre!
Mile Square Theatre’s award-winning programs are back with a new season and live, in-person shows — the first since March 2020. MST’s Artistic Director Kevin R. Free and the MST team shared a preview of “The Niceties” with Mayor Bhalla, Councilwoman Jabbour, and me last weekend. The play looks fantastic, opened March 23rd and runs through April 17th. Do not miss the long-awaited return to live theater at MST. Get your tickets here!
Benefit for Victims of the 38 Jackson St. Fire Tomorrow Evening
Join your neighbors at Pilsener Haus & Biergarten on Saturday, March 26th from 7-10 pm for a benefit event for the many local businesses affected by the tragic fire at the Chambord Place building last December. All proceeds go to the Hoboken Relief Fund. For more info and to purchase a ticket click here.
COVID-19 Updates
Over 6.8 million New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated with over 14.3 million doses administered in New Jersey, as of March 24th. As of March 22nd, Hoboken’s positive test results total 10,162 cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic. Two weeks ago, there were 9,920 positive cases.
New Jersey’s transmission rate is presently at .91. Please stay vigilant, practice social distancing when necessary, wash your hands, and stay safe.
HUMC is now hospitalizing 1 person with COVID. If you have any reason to believe you have been exposed to COVID, please quarantine and then schedule an appointment for a COVID test 5-7 days for those fully vaccinated and immediately for those unvaccinated after potential exposure. To find out when you should get tested, click here.
Sadly, since my last newsletter, one more COVID-19 related death was announced in our community, a woman in her early 60s who passed last month, increasing Hoboken’s COVID death toll to 64 since the start of the pandemic. I offer my heartfelt condolences to this family and each Hoboken family that has endured this terrible pain and loss.
COVID Testing Updates
To get the current Hoboken COVID testing and hours click here.
Free Testing for Hoboken Residents and Business Employees:
601/605 Jackson Street (Administered by Medicine Man)
Date: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Time: 8am - 2pm Tuesday, 4 - 7pm Wed, 8am - 1pm Friday
Location: 601/605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: 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.
At-home testing
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services is offering free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits. To order your kit go to learn.vaulthealth.com/nj. I ordered four free test kits from the federal government for my family, and you can order yours at https://www.covidtests.gov/.
COVID Vaccination News
As of March 24th, nearly 100% of our seniors (65 and older) have received their first dose, and nearly 100% of our seniors are fully vaccinated. Thanks to our seniors for stepping up and protecting themselves and our community!
99% of Hoboken residents 12 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 84% are fully vaccinated.
95% of Hoboken residents 18 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 81% are fully vaccinated.
Nearly 100% of Hoboken residents 30 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 90% are fully vaccinated.
86% of all Hoboken residents have been provided with at least one dose, and 74% are fully vaccinated.
Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken Health Department continue collaborating with local providers to offer a free COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinic this week for Hoboken residents and employees of Hoboken businesses at the following location and times:
Walk-in Vaccination Clinics
Where: 601 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees, Hoboken students
Day: Tuesday
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm (Tuesday)
Vaccine Offered: Pediatric Pfizer, and Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J boosters
Ages: 5-11 (Pfizer Pediatric), 18+ (booster)
Administered By: Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding
To get current Hoboken information on the City’s vaccination and clinic schedules click here as new information is posted daily.
If you are a Hoboken resident and would like a copy of your vaccination record, please contact LMedeiros@hobokennj.gov. Vaccination records are also accessible for all New Jersey residents through the Docket app.
CVS pharmacies in Hoboken Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown locations also supply the COVID-19 vaccine. Walgreens pharmacies in Hoboken Downtown and its two Uptown locations are also supplying the COVID-19 vaccine.
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. For my 52nd Coffee with Cohen event Tuesday, I hosted special guest Anton Peskens, Acting Chief of the Hoboken Fire Department.
We discussed operations at Hoboken Fire Department, his views about a proposed new Department of Public Works, including new Fire Department Headquarters, and best practices for Hoboken residents for fire safety in their homes. I also addressed many other issues affecting our community and answered your questions about Hoboken ward redistricting, how to request street trees for your street, and community garden plots for residents. Over 140 people have watched this event and you can check it out here.
My next Coffee with Cohen event will be in two weeks. I hope to see you there. Do you have any questions? 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 always follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. 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
Hoboken City Councilman
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.
