My name is Councilman Joe Quintero, a colleague of Councilman Phil Cohen's. As you may know, Primary Election Day is tomorrow, June 4. I will be voting for Mayor Ravi Bhalla to represent our district (NJ-08) in the US Congress. I’ve known Ravi since I was elected to the Hoboken Democrats in 2019. I then had the honor of running with him in 2021 and have worked closely with him in Hoboken City government since. Local politics (Hoboken especially) is extremely stressful and as you work with someone you get to see them at their best and at their worst. Through all the challenges and successes we’ve faced, three things come to me when I think about Ravi’s leadership – hard-working, humility, and honesty.
“Bhalla…is also right when he points out (as “Mayor Pete” Buttigieg did when seeking the presidency) that leading a city is meaningful preparation for getting things done in Washington. And as mayor, Bhalla has also shown a broad, bold vision, tackling climate change through flood resiliency projects and a lawsuit against Big Oil, for example, and trying to find ways to rein in the rents being charged in his gentrified city.”
During this campaign there have been a number of misleading and false accusations made about Ravi – don’t believe the hate. I know Ravi Bhalla and he is a good man who has worked tirelessly to make Hoboken a better place. Like me Ravi is a son of immigrants and has worked extremely hard to make his family and community proud. He is the epitome of the American Dream. Under Ravi’s leadership Hoboken has thrived and is today a national and international leader on climate change, pedestrian safety, transportation, and more. And Ravi works every day to lift up our entire community, regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality, or national origin.
I am supporting Ravi in this election because he has a proven track record leading Hoboken and is the leader we need to represent us in the US Congress.
Joe Quintero
Hoboken City Councilman-at-Large
