Dear Neighbors,
The flowers are budding and trees are in bloom on the 11th Street islands 🌼 so Spring weather must be coming soon.
Here is the latest on what’s happening in our community.
Information Outdoor Dining in Parklets and strEATERIES
The City Council recently adopted an ordinance, signed by Mayor Bhalla, allowing business owners to continue to use parklets and strEATERIES after the end of the state of emergency. While extending the right for businesses to operate parklets strEATERIES, the ordinance offers residents a one-time right to appeal whether a current operating parklet or strEATERY should be permitted to operate. Residents who object to any existing STREATRY or parklet can submit a one-time letter of appeal to the Hoboken City Council for consideration until April 13. To file your appeal, submit a letter to the City Clerk at cityclerk@hobokennj.gov and copy our Zoning Officer Ann Holtzman at aholtzman@hobokennj.gov.
In addition to giving residents this one-time-right to appeal, the ordinance provides greater transparency and stronger regulations to ensure the parklets are properly operated. The ordinance establishes new rules and regulations for right-of-way use, construction of dining facilities, and licensing of businesses, including:
- Annual license renewals, including an inspection before renewal authorization, to ensure parklets are safe and maintained properly.
- All new applicants, prior to approval, will be required to provide a public notice to residents within 200 feet of construction. The notice must include a statement of intended use, a rendering of the parklet design, contact information for the applicant, and the date and time of the public hearing.
- New application fees have been implemented along with ongoing fees for use of the right-of-way, creating additional City revenues and covering any revenues lost from public parking spots.
- Clarification that only items related to an outdoor dining setup are permitted to remain in a parklet overnight.
As a reminder, as always, if you want to submit a concern about a possible strEATERY or parklet violation, you can click here and select “Code Enforcement” under “Department” and “Streets – Parklet/Streatery” under “Issue.”
Hoboken Municipal Complex Survey
On Monday, April 4, I attended a community meeting to discuss several new concepts for an uptown municipal complex. After receiving nearly 1,000 responses from community members, the City presented a new series of designs, moving the Fire Department location from 15th Street towards 16th Street, and having a new Public Library branch accessible on 15th Street, incorporating an outdoor public pool in some design options near 15th Street, community space, a courtroom and outdoor open space.
The designs also include a modern headquarters for Police and Fire departments, an Office of Emergency Management command center, a centralized dispatch facility, and a modern Public Works garage.
Importantly, the City presented proposals including cost estimates for various versions of the project, specific ideas for substantially mitigating the impact on taxpayers, and plans for financing this project. Mayor Bhalla made clear that it is the City’s goal to offset the vast majority, if not all of the costs associated with the project using developer contributions, federal grants, contributions from the Library, and selling certain City assets, including the current location of Hoboken Police Headquarters on Hudson Street. You can watch this presentation here.
As I wrote in my last newsletter, I strongly believe that combining our new DPW garage (which must relocate by 2024), along with a modern headquarters for our police and fire, and new recreation facilities is a smart, responsible decision that plans for our City’s future. Patching obsolete critical public safety infrastructure has cost us millions and only kicks the can down the road. The necessity for moving our DPW garage has made the time right for thinking responsibly and long-term about our City’s needs. It is my hope that my council colleagues join me in supporting this project, even if they do not agree with every aspect of the plan.
A second online survey has been released by the City to collect additional public feedback on four design alternatives for the proposed Hoboken Municipal Complex.
You can complete the survey here. The survey closes on April 19 at 8 pm. An updated concept design will be presented to the public this spring based on the results of the survey.
To learn more about the Hoboken Municipal Complex, watch public meeting recordings, and take the online survey, click here.
New Life for the Jubilee Center
Last year, the City purchased the Jubilee Center for $3 million. The acquisition was paid for utilizing federal funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program with no impact on the municipal budget. Because the City, rather than a private developer, purchased the Jubilee Center site, the City will be able to maintain that location for the purpose of serving the community generally, and especially nearby residents of the Hoboken Housing Authority, for decades.
The wonderful local non-profit TRUE Mentors will begin leasing space at the Jubilee Center next month. With TRUE Mentors as the City’s first tenant at the Jubilee Center location, the City will transform the Jubilee Center into a home for nonprofits and educational institutions. As someone who was an enthusiastic supporter of the City acquiring the Jubilee Center location for this purpose, I am thrilled to see our vision realized. I applaud Mayor Bhalla for taking this proactive step to protect and preserve a treasured community center, and I thank the Mayor and Community Development Director Chris Brown and his staff for working to make this a reality.
Register for Spring Fling
Members of the community are invited to join Hoboken’s fifth annual Spring Fling, a community-wide day of service dedicated to cleaning up our parks and public spaces.
Spring Fling will be Saturday, May 7, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Spring Fling projects may include: weeding, planting, or mulching a public area; painting benches, railings, or other public amenities; cleaning up a beach, park, or other public property.
Participants can register as teams or individuals. To register and for more information, click here. Registration ends April 30.
♻️ 🚗 ♻️Federal Funding for EV Infrastructure ♻️ 🚙 ♻️
Senator Bob Menendez was recently joined by Mayor Bhalla to celebrate the federal support the Senator secured to expand public charging infrastructure across the City. In fiscal year 2022, $250,000 in federal funds will be used to install public DC fast-charging stations capable of charging an electric vehicle from 20 percent to 80 percent in only 30 minutes.
Hoboken's electric vehicle charging program is part of its larger Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through a push for electric vehicle ownership.
Hoboken installed its first five public electric vehicle charging stations last year. You can find a list of these EV charging stations here. Since the first EV charging station opened in July 2021, the program has been used 2,300 times. This translates to a reduction of 27,500 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions, eliminating over 3,100 gallons of gasoline — or the equivalent of planting 706 trees that grow for 10 years. Furthermore, at least six additional EV charging stations will be added this year, bringing the total to 22 throughout the city.
A big thanks to Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Cory Booker, and Congressman Albio Sires for working with the Mayor’s office to secure this necessary funding on behalf of Hoboken residents and helping us to achieve the comprehensive goals of Hoboken's Climate Action Plan.
🎸🎷Hoboken’s Spring Arts & Music Festival Announced 🎸🎷
Hoboken will host its annual Spring Arts & Music Festival on Sunday, May 1, from 11 am to 6 pm on Washington Street from Observer Highway to Seventh Street.
The free festival features over 300 artists, crafters, photographers, food vendors, live music, and more. While the Vendor locations are currently completely occupied, if vendors would like to join a waitlist in case spaces become available, vendors are welcome to apply to participate. For more information or to receive a vendor application, contact Hoboken Cultural Affairs Administrator Geri Fallo at gfallo@hobokennj.gov.
COVID 4th Booster Clinics
Mayor Bhalla has announced special pop-up clinics for COVID-19 boosters following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s authorization of a fourth dose of the vaccine.
Hoboken Family Pharmacy and the Hoboken Health Department are offering Pfizer and Moderna booster shots to people who qualify, including those with immune disorders and those over 50 whose last booster shot was more than four months ago.
This week, Hoboken Health Department and Hoboken Family Pharmacy have been visiting community rooms in the City’s senior buildings for vaccination clinics.
Today, April 8th, at Fox Hill at 311 13th Street from 9 am to 12 pm, my friends at Fox Hill and other seniors can receive their 4th booster injection. Those seeking a booster shot must bring their vaccine card. Here is a link to the latest information on vacation clinics.
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 April 7th. As of April 3rd, Hoboken’s positive test results total 10,340 cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic. Two weeks ago, there were 10,162 positive cases.
New Jersey’s transmission rate is presently at 1.11. Please stay vigilant, practice social distancing when necessary, wash your hands, and stay safe.
HUMC is now hospitalizing 1 person with COVID who is a Hoboken resident. 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.
COVID Testing Updates
To get the current Hoboken COVID testing and hours click here.
Testing for Hoboken Residents and Business Employees:
605 Jackson Street (Administered by Medicine Man)
Date: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Time: 8am - 12pm Monday, 9am - 12pm Wed, 8am - 12pm Friday
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
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 April 7th, 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 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: 10 am - 1 pm
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 also supply the COVID-19 vaccine. Walgreens pharmacies in Hoboken are also supplying the COVID-19 vaccine.
You Are Invited to A Special Event for Councilman Phil Cohen
It has been my honor to represent you as an elected member of the Hoboken City Council. I am inspired by the challenges and enjoy the work of representing the people of the 5th Ward and the City of Hoboken.
I am proud of our work together on the Council and would like to personally invite you to join me on April 13th as we celebrate our accomplishments and discuss our vision for the future.
I hope to see you there!
What: Re-Election Fundraiser
When: April 13th, 6 pm
1422 Grand St. Hoboken
Admission: Tickets: $100
Co-Sponsors: $750
Sponsors: $1,500
Or, RSVP by sending checks to:
Phil Cohen for Hoboken City Council
206 11th St., Hoboken NJ 07030
If you can’t make it, I’d be grateful for any donation amount you’d consider, by clicking here. Thanks so much for your support.
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 53rd Coffee with Cohen event on Tuesday, I hosted special guest Hoboken’s Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante.
We discussed his transition from Chief of Police to Public Safety Director, what he feels are the challenges of this new role, the limitations of the police department’s current facility, and his views on the newly proposed DPW garage and public safety headquarters. I also addressed many other issues affecting our community and answered your questions about temporary bollards and how you can support me and my work on the council. Over 130 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.
