Dear Neighbors,
As Summer officially begins 🌞 here’s an update on the latest in the Mile Square City.
COVID-19 Updates
The rate of daily positive tests in Hoboken and New Jersey continues to slow as vaccinations remain readily available. As of June 23rd, over 4.8 million New Jerseyans have been fully vaccinated with over 10 million doses being administered in New Jersey.
Hoboken’s recent positive test results total 5,073 cases confirmed to date. Two weeks ago there were 5,019 positive cases. Although the weather is warmer and many members of our community are vaccinated, COVID-19 is still around. Please remain vigilant, practice social distancing when necessary, wash your hands and stay safe.
Last July we celebrated the landmark of having no COVID patients at Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC). After spiking earlier this year with 29 HUMC COVID patients, I am pleased to report that as of Wednesday, we can celebrate a second landmark milestone of having no patients at HUMC!
If you have any reason to believe you have been exposed to COVID and have not been vaccinated, please quarantine and then schedule an appointment for a COVID test at least 5-7 days after potential exposure.
COVID and Summer Travel
The rate of new positive cases continues trending lower and the State’s COVID-19 transmission rate presently remains below 1.0, (meaning each new COVID case will spread to less than one other person). However, the CDC has 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 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 Vaccination News
In great Hoboken news, as of June 23rd, 97% of our seniors (65 and older) have received their first dose, and 90% of our seniors are fully vaccinated. These amazing senior vaccination statistics outpace even the State’s impressive numbers.
Hoboken’s former Fire Chief, Richard Tremitiedi, gets vaccinated
65% of Hoboken residents 18 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 58% are fully vaccinated.
58% of all Hoboken residents, regardless of eligibility, have been provided with at least one dose, and 51% are fully vaccinated.
Thanks to all who have stepped up and gotten 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: 221 Jackson Street (community room)
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Day: Thursdays, through at least the end of June
Time: 3 pm - 7 pm
Vaccine offered: Johnson & Johnson (one-dose) or Moderna (two-doses)
Ages: 18+
Administered By: Better Life Pharmacy and Hoboken Health Department
Where: 605 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm
Vaccine Offered: Johnson & Johnson (one-dose)
Ages: 18+ and Pfizer vaccine for ages 12+
Administered By: Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding
Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics at Hoboken Terminal
Where: Hoboken Terminal
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Day: Tuesday (June 29) and Thursday (July 1)
Time: 4 pm - 6 pm
Vaccine Offered: Moderna
Ages: 18+
Administered By: Carepoint
To get the City’s latest information on vaccinations and clinic schedules click here.
CVS pharmacies in Hoboken Midtown and Uptown locations also are supplying the COVID-19 vaccine. To track CVS’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.
After I got my second shot at HUMC!
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, 605 Jackson Street (Administered by Medicine Man)
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 2 - 7 pm (Wednesdays)
Location: 605 Jackson Street (updated location)
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Riverside Medical Group
Riverside Medical Group recently closed our public COVID-19 testing facility and transferred its testing facilities to their three Hoboken offices. All Hoboken residents and Hoboken employees remain eligible for free COVID testing at Riverside offices.
To get your COVID-19 test with Riverside, Hoboken residents and employees can call their preferred Riverside test location:
232 Clinton Street - (201) 876-3215
609 Washington Street - (201) 706-8490
1111 Hudson Street - (201) 942-9314
PromptMD and City MD
Prompt MD has transitioned its COVID-19 testing to its primary office on 1st Street. All Hoboken residents and employees remain eligible for testing at Prompt MD's First Street location. To get a PCR COVID-19 test through Prompt MD you can walk into Prompt MD's primary location in Hoboken 309 1st Street without an appointment or call ahead (201) 222-8411. You can also book a PromptMD COVID test appointment online here.
City MD at 231 Washington Street also offers COVID-19 tests. You can walk in without an appointment and get tested during regular hours.
Free Access To Stevens Institute’s Tennis Courts for Hoboken Residents
Mayor Bhalla and Stevens Institute of Technology President Nariman Farvardin announced that fully vaccinated 💉 Hoboken residents will have free access to Stevens’ tennis courts now thru August 22nd! The 🎾 courts are open to Hoboken residents age 18+ Monday to Thursday between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm, and Friday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm. Tennis court access will be granted after proof of residency and vaccination is provided.
Residents must first sign-up and register here and provide contact information, government identification, or a utility bill indicating a Hoboken address, and proof of full vaccination. Once the form is processed by the City, an approval email will be sent. Proof of approval is required to collect the Stevens visitor ID card. After receiving the approval email, the ID card can be picked up at the Schaefer Athletic Center's reception desk, in the main lobby of the athletic center, Monday-Thursday between 10 am and 8:00 pm, and on Friday between 10 am and 6:00 pm.
You should take a CitiBike to the campus, as no parking is available on campus for tennis players. If the courts are full, players must limit their court time to 1 hour. The details about this great partnership between Hoboken and Stevens including the program’s rules are here.
Preserving Union Dry Dock for our Open, Public Waterfront
Governor Phil Murphy and Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla announced a historic agreement with New York Waterway (NYWW) in which Hoboken will acquire the Union Dry Dock property for public, open space. The Bhalla Administration agreed to purchase the Union Dry Dock property for $18.5 million from NYWW. The State and NYWW will work together to explore opportunities to expand ferry operations at an alternate location.
Hoboken’s leaders and residents have fought for a continuous waterfront park for decades. With the acquisition of the Union Dry Dock property, Hoboken’s dream of a complete public waterfront with a public park will be within our grasp. The Union Dry Dock property is the key link in Hoboken's waterfront not publicly accessible and sits between our public beachfront/boat launch and our waterfront skatepark.
Remember, just 3½ years ago, in January 2018, during the last hours of Governor Christie’s administration, many of us spent the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with Mayor Bhalla, who spoke out at NJ Transit’s Board Meeting, and blocked the backroom deal where NYWW would sell Union Dry Dock to NJ Transit and then lease it back from the State for $1/year -- a deal that would have rendered impossible any arms-length negotiation or fair settlement that followed.
With Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken contingent at NJ Transit’s Newark HQ in January 2018
The Bhalla administration and NYWW are collaborating on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the City's acquisition of the Union Dry Dock property which will be presented to the City Council for approval at our July 7 meeting. After adopting the MOU, the City and NYWW will formalize the agreed-upon terms, which will include acquisition costs of approximately $14.5 million from Hoboken’s Open Space Trust Fund with no impact on our municipal budget, as well as an additional $4 million, for which the City will bond. The MOU stipulates that post-closing Hoboken will temporarily lease the Union Dry Dock property to NYWW until its permanent Weehawken ferry station is complete.
Congratulations to Mayor Bhalla and his Administration and Mayor Zimmer and her Administration for fighting this protracted and difficult fight. Hoboken and its counsel Joe Maraziti faced off against well-funded and top-tier attorneys and powerful lobbyists every step of the way. Thanks to Governor Phil Murphy for his Administration's support and critical intervention to keep lines of dialogue open and to help facilitate this resolution. Thanks to the Fund for a Better Waterfront for your advocacy to “connect the waterfront” and your long-term vision for a public waterfront park. Finally, thanks to New York Waterway, for helping conclude a difficult and drawn-out dispute in a way that is a true win-win for New Jersey’s commuters, and for the citizens of Hoboken and the many visitors who love our world-class waterfront park. After closing, a comprehensive public process will be initiated to determine our new waterfront park design.
You can learn more details about the settlement here.
Movies Under the Stars and Concerts in the Park are Back!
In a sign of the return to life pre-COVID, Movies Under the Stars and Concerts in the Park are back! Schedules have been finalized by Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken Cultural Affairs Department and its fearless leader Geri Fallo who have announced a strong lineup of summer events.
As always, all summer night movies and concerts are free.
Movies Under the Stars at Pier A Park (100 Sinatra Drive)
Movies begin at sundown (9 pm in June and July, 8 pm/8:30 pm in August).
Wednesday nights starting June 23rd until August 18th.
June 30 - Jumanji: The Next Level - 2019, PG, 2hr 15min
July 7 - Aladdin - 2019, PG, 2hr 8min
July 14 - West Side Story - 1961, 2hr 33min
July 21 - Grease - 1978, PG, 1hr. 50min
Aug. 11 - Frozen 2 - 2019, PG, 1hr 43min
Aug. 18 - Toy Story 4 - 2019, G, 1hr 40min
Movies Under the Stars at 7th and Jackson
Wednesday nights from July 28th until the 4th.
July 28 - The Lion King - 2019, PG, 1hr 58min
Aug. 4 - Onward - 2020, PG, 1hr 42min
Concerts in Sinatra Park
Thursday nights from June 24th until August 19th.
Concerts start at 6:00 pm unless otherwise noted
July 1 - The Sounds of Sinatra featuring two favorite winners of Hoboken's yearly Sinatra Singing Contest. Performances by Tony Corrao and Jerry Pearce.
July 8 - Krystal - High energy classic rock. Taking you back in time, doing the best of the greatest bands in rock history!!!
July 15 - Hey Bulldog - One of the best Beatles' cover bands around.
July 22 - Tom Petty Engagement - Each summer ALEO brings together some of the area’s finest musicians to celebrate a national musical icon. This year we celebrate Tom Petty.
July 29 - A Bob Dylan Birthday Musical Tribute: Featuring performances by Swingadelic's Cheap Guitars, Gene D. Plumber, Kate Jacobs, Elena and Boo from The Demolition String Band, Deena and Jon from The Cucumbers, Jack Skuller, Abbe Rivers, Ed Fogarty, John Bauers, Dave Post Elevator Pitch and more
Aug. 5 - Julio Fernandez and Friends will present a great selection of music, from jazz and funk to classic rock featuring our Hoboken hometown hero and Spyro Gyra guitarist/legend. The band will include top area musicians with some surprises in store.
Aug. 12 - Orquesta La Experiencia: A mix of Latin sounds: Salsa, Merengue & more. Sponsored by The Puerto Rican Cultural Committee: Raul Morales II, President
Aug. 19 - Hoboken Sings - Get ready to strut your stuff & show off your talent. Any karaoke singers in the house? Come out and shine! presented with the Hoboken Historical Museum
Concerts in the Southwest Park
Monday nights from June 21st to August 16th except for July 5th. Concerts start at 6 pm unless otherwise noted.
June 28 - Joe Taino Group - a blend of roots Americana, blues, jazz, and Caribbean influenced music
July 12 - Melting Pot with George Naha - Melting Pot is a quartet with deep Hoboken roots. The band plays a great variety of music, from R&B to Jazz, Reggae, Blues, Rock & Roll, etc.
July 19 - Lloyd United - Lloyd United is a Hoboken-based ukulele rock band, that is part psychedelic, glam, prog, and Celtic, with a distinct sound combining songwriting talent with a pub rocking attitude and artistic vision, resulting in a spectacular live experience.
July 26 – TBA
August 2 – Zydeco Revelators - hot, Louisiana-style Cajun dance music. Zydeco Revelators bring the MARDI GRAS party to you, any time of year! Groove to the spicy gumbo of Cajun accordion, electric guitar, and smokin’ rhythms. Dance all your blues away!
August 9 – Brett Altman: blends pop and folk musical stylings through his intimate songwriting. His songs illuminate the moments of everyday life.
and Elevator Pitch from 7 PM to 8 PM
August 16 – School of Rock (6:30 PM - 7:30 PM)
Concerts and Family Fun Nights at Shipyard Park (13th Street and Shipyard Lane)
Tuesday nights from June 22nd until August 17th. Concerts start at 6 pm.
June 29 - Ron Albanese (Polka Dot) - energetic, colorful, and fun!
July 6 - Music with Corey - Corey has the rare knack of connecting with kids through music.
July 13 - Rockness Music - During Rockness shows, the stage disappears and everyone is in the band. Children participate in sing-a-longs, with big movement, and dramatic play. The performances are exciting, entertaining, and educational!
July 20 - The Fuzzy Lemons - Get ready to jump, wiggle, and shake with The Fuzzy Lemons, the juiciest family-friendly rock band on the scene! With laugh-out-loud lyrics and memorable melodies, every song tells a story.
July 27 - Birds and Ballads - The joy of birds through music, creative activity, and discovery with Mr. Train and Dave Lambert
Aug. 3 - Americana Family Jamboree - old-time fiddle tunes by the Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, Bill Monroe, Pete Seeger & more
Aug. 10 - Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band - skip, holler, dance & sing along
Aug. 17 - Mr. Magico - High energy, magical entertainment
Schedules are subject to change. In case of inclement weather, concerts and movies may be rescheduled or canceled. Details and updates about all the summer nights movies and concerts are here.
Hoboken’s Free Composting Program Has Dramatically Expanded
Last Friday, Mayor Bhalla, the Community Compost Company, and the Hoboken Green Team announced eight new compost drop-off locations. In addition to tripling the size of the program, the new locations will make it much easier. As part of Hoboken's Climate Action Plan, the compost facility will help the city reduce greenhouse gases and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
The twelve drop-off composting locations include the 4 original stations:
- City Hall - near patio behind City Hall on Bloomfield Street between Newark and First Streets
- Church Square Park - near restrooms in the center of the park
- Elysian Park - near restrooms on the north side of the park
- 7th & Jackson Plaza - near Portland Loo restroom on 7th Street between Monroe and Jackson Streets
And 8 new stations (including the first two stations conveniently located in the 5th Ward!)
- Columbus Park - 10th Street at Grand Street
- Under the Viaduct - on Adams Street at 14th Street
- Southwest Park - on Harrison St. between Observer Hwy and 1st Street
- Harborside Park - on Park Ave. between 15th and 16th Streets
- Maxwell Park - on Sinatra Drive North at Frank Sinatra Drive
- Stevens Park - on 4th Street at River Street
- Hoboken Multi-Service Center – 2nd Street between Adams and Grand Streets
- Hoboken Community Gardens - on 3rd Street at Jackson Street
Registration information is available here. Residents are asked to take an online quiz to make sure they comply with the composting policies. Once you have completed the quiz, you will have access to the combination of the locked bins. The composting program accepts all food products including vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy products, and coffee grounds. See the full list of compostable products here.
By expanding the City's composting program, 5.6 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided from traditional waste disposal -- the equivalent of removing 15 cars from roadways. The drop-off composting program has already diverted 96,020 pounds of waste from landfills in West Virginia, avoiding 42.28 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and 2,743 gallons of gas, significantly reducing Hoboken's carbon footprint. Further, taxpayers are estimated to save $75,000/year in tipping fees and hauling expenses by sending our compost waste to Community Compost Company’s (CCC) local, Kerhonkson, New York, facility. To learn more about Hoboken’s partnership with CCC that dates back to 2015 and all of CCC’s offerings, click here and here.
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 37th Coffee with Cohen livestream event. This week I welcomed two special guests Jack Silbert and John Branciforte, who are sergeants with the Hoboken CERT team. We discussed how they handled working the COVID hotline for their recently concluded, extraordinary 14-month deployment, what they felt was most important about their work on the hotline, how they and the rest of the CERT team are doing, and how our community can support or join the CERT team. I also discussed the latest on COVID vaccines, COVID testing, acquiring the Union Dry Dock, and much, much more.
My favorite part of Coffee with Cohen is answering your questions. This week I addressed your questions regarding the return of regular HOP service, adding additional compost bins, and electric vehicle charging stations. I also shared the results of my poll on whether you called the COVID hotline. Over 440 people have already watched this event and you can check it out here.
Do you have questions you would like me to answer 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 will be Monday, July 19th at noon and I hope to see you there.
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, 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.
