Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation Partners with American Legion Post 107 to House Homeless Veterans
I am excited that Hoboken’s American Legion Post 107 has received the generous support of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation for Post 107’s extraordinary Veteran Center project.
As a Zoning Board Commissioner, I proudly supported Phase I of the American Legion’s Veteran’s center which rebuilt the American Legion Post that had been destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The new Post includes beautiful, fully-furnished housing for 6 formerly homeless veterans. I attended the ribbon-cutting for the new Post in 2019.
Phase II of this extraordinary project includes 18 new, fully-furnished apartments — 3 one bedrooms and 15 studios – planned for an adjacent lot owned by the City of Hoboken. I believe we have a moral duty to ensure the men and women who honorably served our country have a roof over their heads and receive the support they need after all they have given our nation.
To learn more about the vision and the program of the Veterans Center of Hoboken and participate in the JBJ Soul Foundation’s matching grant click here or mail your check (payable to Veterans Center of Hoboken) to 308 2nd Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Hoboken's Unveils the First (of many) Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Hoboken’s Transportation Department activated our first four public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on July 15. The four new EV charging stations are located in Garage B (28 2nd Street) and Garage D (215 Hudson Street). These four new charging stations provide two ports each, meaning eight electric vehicles can be charged simultaneously. All five stations are classified as "Level 2" which will charge most electric vehicles at about 20 miles of range per hour. Charging stations will utilize J-1772 ports, which are the industry standard for EV charging and should be compatible with most electric vehicles.
To cover the electricity costs at each station, the charge is $1.00 per hour.
Next, Hoboken's first curbside electric vehicle charging station will come online by the end of July -- on 1st Street between Washington St. and Court St., These charging stations are funded in part by a grant through the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection.
During the next six months, the City plans to expand the number of public EV charging stations, including50-minute Midtown Garage (371 4th Street) and Lot 3/North Lot (1301 Jefferson Street). Other locations will also be considered.
Also, Mayor Bhalla announced the City's municipal fleet will include two new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. By the winter of 2021, the City intends to phase in eight fuel-efficient vehicles, including three hybrids and five plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. These new vehicles, which will reduce maintenance costs by $128 per month on average, are the first phase of a comprehensive fleet management program projected to save taxpayers over $870,000 during the next 10 years. Through this program, the City will reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet by increasing mileage from 14 to 30 miles per gallon (MPG) by 2025.
You can find more information about the charging stations, including their specific locations within Garage B and Garage D, current availability, payment setup, and more, by downloading the Chargepoint mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or click here.
The Southwest Pop-Up Park Is Open!
Hoboken celebrated the opening of the Southwest Pop-Up Park on July 7th. The new park features a playground, basketball court, pickleball courts (pickleball lovers, rejoice!), picnic tables, shade structures, and more.
While the final design process for the permanent park is underway, the pop-up park offers great opportunities for Southwest Hoboken’s residents to enjoy their newly expanded park.
Pickleball is back!
Community Meeting for the “930 Monroe” Project
Last week, the City Council hosted a community meeting on the proposed redevelopment of the so-called 930 Monroe Street project (located between 9th and 12th Streets).
Existing and Proposed Monroe Street streetscapes with/without an Amazon Warehouse
The Developer’s architects made a presentation on the proposed development that you can watch here to better understand the builder’s vision for this project. I especially recommend that you watch between the 10 and 50 minute marks which includes a comprehensive rundown on the project, and describes the builder’s $10+ million contribution to build out a new City park at 800 Monroe, and includes significant flood remediation features (355,000 gallons of stormwater retention, green roofs on all the buildings) and many more features. 
Existing and conceptual plan for 800 Monroe Street Park, with $10 million contribution to park buildout funded by developer
I think it is exciting to envision a vibrant new neighborhood on the Western Edge of the 5th Ward with retail, shops and a green circuit including protected bike lanes instead of 24/7/365 Amazon Warehouse truck and van traffic as our neighbors. I would appreciate your reactions to this presentation. Please let me know at HobokenPhil@gmail.com.
Hoboken and Hudson County to initiate traffic upgrades in Southwest Hoboken
Traffic circulation upgrades have begun on 2nd Street, Paterson Avenue, and Marshall Street. Mayor Bhalla and Hudson County are implementing circulation upgrades as part of a one-year pilot plan to reduce traffic congestion in southwest Hoboken.
The traffic circulation changes include:
- 2nd Street is converted from one-way westbound to two-way between Marshall Street and Jackson Street
- Paterson Avenue is converted from two-way to one-way westbound between Monroe Street and Harrison Street
- Marshall Street is converted from two-way to one-way northbound between Paterson Avenue/1st Street and 2nd Street.
The City's traffic consultants, Bright View Engineering, overseen by Transportation Director Ryan Sharp and City Engineer Olga Garcia, have conducted extensive modeling of traffic patterns and signal timings. The models predict that the new travel patterns will reduce travel time delays in southwest Hoboken up to 20% on average. The new traffic patterns will go hand-in-hand with the circulation improvements implemented on Harrison Street, Jackson Street, Madison Street, and Jersey Avenue and new traffic signals installed on Observer Highway in Hoboken in 2017.
In addition to changing traffic patterns, the project will include other improvements. These improvements include:
- New crosswalk and curb extension at Marshall Street and 2nd Street
- New multi-way stop signs at the intersections of 2nd Street/Marshall Street, 2nd Street/Harrison Street, and 2nd Street/Jackson Street
- Upgraded traffic signals and controllers on Paterson Avenue between Monroe Street and Harrison Street
- A new bicycle lane on Marshall Street
- New ADA-compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces.
The pilot program will add curbside parking spaces to Paterson Avenue and Marshall Street to compensate for the removal of curbside parking on 2nd Street that is required to make 2nd Street two-way. The bus stop currently serving NJ Transit routes 22, 85, and 87 on Paterson Avenue will be relocated approximately 100 feet west on Paterson Avenue just west of Harrison Street.
These changes will, hopefully, improve the long-standing traffic congestion issues in southwest Hoboken. I will appreciate your feedback on whether these changes are making a difference.
COVID and Summer Travel
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 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: Wednesdays, Fridays
Time: 2 - 7 pm (Wednesday), 9 - 12 pm (Friday)
Location: 605 Jackson Street (updated location)
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Hoboken Housing Authority, Community Room (Administered by NJ Department of Health)
Date: Fridays (July 23rd, August 6th, August 20th)
Time: 1 - 7 pm
Location: 221 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR, saliva-based (do not drink or eat 30 minutes before the test)
Who: Hoboken and Hudson County residents, Hoboken business employees
No appointment necessary
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.
COVID Vaccination News
In spectacular Hoboken news, as of July 22nd, nearly 100% of our seniors (65 and older) have received their first dose, and 94% of our seniors are fully vaccinated. Just amazing.
76% of Hoboken residents 18 and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 69% are fully vaccinated.
67% of all Hoboken residents, regardless of eligibility, have been provided with at least one dose, and 62% are fully vaccinated.
The data in July showed 33 cases, 11 of which were unvaccinated, 21 were breakthrough cases from those fully vaccinated, and one case was an individual that received their first dose. In cases of breakthrough cases in Hoboken, the COVID-19 vaccines have been 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations caused by serious illness. Getting vaccinated helps. If you have not done so please do.
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 July 29th
Time: 3 pm - 7 pm
Vaccine offered: Johnson & Johnson (one-dose) or Moderna (two-doses)
Ages: 18+
Administered By: Better Life Pharmacy
Where: 605 Jackson Street
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Day: Tuesday,50-minute July 27th
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
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 locations during regular business hours, while supplies last.
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.
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 July 19th, I hosted my 38th livestream event and welcomed Toni Tomarazzo and Susan Lisovicz, both members of the Hoboken Community Center’s Board of Trustees.
We discussed how the Center serves the community, the services and programs that the HCC provides, a $1 million grant from the State of New Jersey to help replace the Center’s HVAC system, plans to rehabilitate the recreational area of the HCC building, and how our community can support or get involved. I also discussed the latest on COVID vaccines, COVID testing, an amazing grant from the JBJ Soul Foundation for Hoboken Legion’s Post 107 to house homeless veterans, and much, much more.
My favorite part of Coffee with Cohen is answering your questions. I addressed your questions regarding replacing a Two Way Sign at a busy intersection, cayenne pepper on the base of trees to deter animals, and the proposed Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission new fracked gas-fired power plant. I also shared the results of my poll on your favorite Jon Bon Jovi song. Over 400 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, August 23rd 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.
