Dear Neighbors,
Happy Women’s History Month! As the days get warmer and spring is near, I write to update you on the latest affecting our community.
COVID-19 Updates
The number of positive tests in our community continued to markedly increase these past two weeks. Likewise, New Jersey’s new daily positive cases have risen to levels not seen since May, which caused Governor Murphy to extend New Jersey’s State of Emergency for another 30 days.
Hoboken’s recent positive test results include 31 on February 23rd, 56 on February 24th, and 42 on February 26th with 3,411 cases having been confirmed to date. Two weeks ago there were 2,989 positive cases. This jump in 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 as 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, in the past two weeks, there have been four COVID-19 related deaths announced in our community, including a male in his early 50s and another male in his late 60s. 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-19 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:
PromptMD (Jackson St. Gym, 605 Jackson St.)
Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
Time: 8 am - 3:00 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents
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 5), 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.
Vaccination Updates
Hoboken received 500 first-dose vaccines per week from the State at the beginning of the vaccination process, but after setting aside the 500 second-dose vaccines for our seniors who have gotten the first dose, we are now receiving about 300 first-dose vaccines per week. The City is hoping the State will increase the vaccine supply and allow the City to expand the vaccine operations in the weeks to come.
On a positive note, the City, in partnership with Hoboken University Medical Center, has now provided first doses to the majority of seniors on our pre-registration list, as we continue to do everything we can to protect our seniors and those most at risk from COVID-19.
Additional vaccine appointments are periodically being made 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.
For folks who are eligible for vaccines but have yet to be scheduled, we ask you to please stay patient. To get the City’s latest information on vaccinations, including how to pre-register for your vaccination, click here.
COVID-19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day in Hoboken
The City Council unanimously passed a resolution marking March 1st, the first Monday of March, as “COVID-19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day.” Residents were asked to pause for a moment of silence at 7 pm and remember the 43 Hoboken souls we have lost since last March to COVID-19 as well as the many Hoboken residents who continue to be affected. All municipal flags have also been flown at half-mast this week in their honor. I’m thinking about Anthony Uva, my friend, and 5th Ward neighbor who we lost too soon last year, at age 61. I am also thinking of Anthony’s wife, Jean, his sons Nick and John, Anthony’s mother Giovina, his sister Justine, Justine’s husband Rich and their daughter Eleanor, their entire family, and Anthony’s many friends.
Anthony Uva
In honor of those lost to COVID-19, All Saints, Hoboken is hosting a virtual service of remembrance and hope on March 7 at 4:00 pm, which will be broadcast on their YouTube channel. Please email Rev. Elaine Thomas at ethomas@allsaintshoboken.com if you would like the name of a family member who passed away as a result of COVID-19 to be read during the ceremony.
Hoboken Food Pantry March Schedule
The Hoboken Community Center opened the Hoboken Food Pantry (HFP) in 2019 to provide essential items such as food and personal hygiene supplies to its residents and other community members who suffer from food insecurity. The HFP offers two food distributions a month at three locations in Hoboken where they hand out pre-packed bags of groceries. On each distribution day, the HFP serves between 300-450 households, helping feed approximately 600-1000 residents per distribution.
Food Distribution:
If you or anyone you know is facing food insecurity please stop by at one of the HFP’s distribution sites or reach out to hobokenfoodpantry@gmail.com. Residents can pick up pre-packed grocery bags at any of the locations below. If you have not registered you can sign up at the distribution sites and receive a bag of food on the same day.
Food Pantry Distribution Dates:
Wednesday March 10, 10:00am-12:30pm
Wednesday March 24, 10:00am-12:30pm
at the following locations:
1301 Washington (Hoboken Community Center)
124 Grand (Multi-Service Center)
601 Jackson (Jubilee Center)
Family2Family Non-Food Items Program and Distribution:
The Hoboken Food Pantry’s Family2Family program is available for Hoboken residents in need of any non-food items. Items include (but are not limited to): diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, hygiene items, sanitary supplies, adult diapers, pet food, etc. The Family2Family program is constantly re-stocking basic necessities (soap, toothpaste, feminine products, diapers, etc...) as the shelves are practically cleared out each date!
Non-Food Family2Family Distribution Dates:
Tuesday March 16, 9:00am-11:00am
Tuesday March 30, 9:00am-11:00am
at the following location:
1301 Washington (Hoboken Community Center)
To learn more about how to help the HFP's efforts click here, go to their Amazon Wishlist here, or schedule to volunteer here.
Community Compost Contract Approved
At the Council’s February 20 meeting, we unanimously approved an updated contract with the Community Compost Company to expand this popular program from 4 locations to 12 locations where residents can drop off food waste around the City
Not only is this new contract a win for the environment, but it also brings almost $100k in annual cost savings for the City of Hoboken in reduced hauling and tipping fees. For example, Hoboken pays over $100/ton tipping fees for regular trash hauling, recently to West Virginia. But we only pay $20/ton tipping fees for compost trash hauling to Kerhonkson, NY. Composting reduces the weight of our regular trash pick-up, both helping save the planet and save us money! This new contract is in line with Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan, initiated by Mayor Bhalla in 2019 to create a more sustainable City, adapt to climate change, and exceed standards set by the Paris Agreement.
Thanks to Environmental Services Director Jennifer Gonzalez and the Hoboken Green Team for their continued leadership on this initiative!
The Citi Bike Contract Passed!
I'm glad to share that Wednesday night the City Council voted to approve the Lyft contract negotiated by Mayor Bhalla's administration, which will bring Citi Bike to Hoboken!
As a member of the City Council transportation committee, I was glad to provide input on a contract that will eventually provide 29 docking stations in Hoboken along with 300 bikes when fully implemented. Lyft will begin installing an initial set of stations in Hoboken by May 3, including an initial set of 40 e-bikes. This is great news for our community, especially for Fifth Ward residents who depend on additional first-mile, last-mile connections to get to public transportation hubs or simply to take a stroll around our Mile-Square. Our system will be seamlessly integrated with Jersey City’s, and together, we will have access to 900 bikes. I look forward to Citi Bike’s launch in May!
A Big Shout out to Matilda Lawler: a 5th Ward Kid Doing Amazing Things!
We have watched Matilda Lawler, the pride of the 5th Ward, become a fine actor before our eyes. In 2017, She graced the stage of our Mile Square Theater in The Net Will Appear, a powerful two-person drama. Then she dazzled on the Broadway stage in The Ferryman — a production which won 4 Tonys including Best Drama.
Matilda with the cast, director, and producers of The Ferryman at the TONYs
Now, Matilda stars as Flora in the Disney+ feature film Flora and Ulysses! Matilda, we send you, your parents Matt and Mara, and the whole family, our heartiest congratulations on your incredible “big screen” debut. You make all of Hoboken proud (especially the 5th Ward)!
Go, Matilda! We’re all cheering you on!
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 Tuesday, I hosted my most recent Coffee with Cohen Livestream event. Already, over 650 people have viewed this event. This week, I welcomed a special guest, Hoboken’s super-volunteer, Erica Seitzman who discussed how members of our volunteer community addressed the extraordinary demands of 2020 and how residents can volunteer or support the social services organizations that are making a difference. I also discussed the latest on COVID testing and vaccinations, and much, much more.
My favorite part of Coffee with Cohen is answering your questions. This week you asked about PSE&G’s infrastructure and maintenance in the wake of a transformer fire that caused temporary power outages a few weeks ago and I shared the results of my poll asking what you would like to see developed on the City’s North Lot at 13th and Jefferson Streets. Check it out here.
Do you have questions you would like me to address at my next event? Please send them to HobokenPhil@gmail.com as I try to answer each one. The event is hosted on my Facebook page @Philcohenforcouncil and you can watch it here. My next Coffee with Cohen event is Monday, March 15th at noon and I hope to see you there.
You can also follow me on Twitter at @philiphcohen here or on Facebook 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.
