Dear Neighbors,
Happy Black History Month! Here are your updates.
Supporting Hoboken Tenants — And Progress in the Fight against The Jordan’s Management
One 5th Ward building I have supported and worked with through ongoing fights is The Jordan — at 1200 Grand St. Last month, a federal judge in New York dismissed the landlord’s case — siding with the City and dismissing the landlord’s federal challenge to the Rent Leveling Board’s September 2023 determination that The Jordan is subject to Hoboken’s Rent Control Ordinance.
Expanding Green Spaces: Maritime Park & Union Dry Dock Progress
I’m excited to share a major milestone in our efforts to expand Hoboken’s green spaces and transform the Union Dry Dock site into a part of our connected, forever, waterfront park. The City unveiled Phase I engineering designs for Maritime Park, a project I have strongly supported to enhance public spaces and protect our waterfront. This phase includes a state-of-the-art skatepark, a public plaza inspired by the Palisade Cliffs, and a living shoreline to restore habitats and create educational opportunities. A temporary learning nursery also will cultivate native plants for future development. Once finished, Maritime Park will also feature a multipurpose lawn, an expanded beach, a Learning Pier, natural play areas, and climate resilience measures, including stormwater management and a robust tree canopy,completing our fully-connected Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.
Securing the Union Dry Dock site for our residents’ public use was one of the most significant land transactions in Hoboken’s history, and its significance cannot be overstated. I worked alongside Mayor Bhalla and my Council colleagues in the face of well-funded opposition, and we successfully came to an arm’s length agreement and purchased the land for the benefit of our community. The City aims to award a construction contract for Phase I by fall 2025. For more information and future public engagement opportunities, click here.
PATH Station Construction Improvements Continue Through February 25
As part of a major infrastructure upgrade, PATH’s Hoboken Station remains closed through 5 am on Tuesday, February 25 to allow for critical repairs and improvements. This continuous closure enables work that would otherwise require multiple weekend shutdowns and prolonged service reductions throughout the year.
Key improvements include replacing the Hoboken Interlocking—a complex track and switch system that directs trains in and out of the station—along with 4,500 linear feet of track in the two tunnels leading to Hoboken. The old track switch, prone to mechanical issues, is being replaced with a modern, custom-made switch to improve efficiency and reduce delays. Additionally, passenger infrastructure is being restored, with new staircases, resurfaced platforms, and polymer guardrails to enhance safety and accessibility.
Construction has focused on removing aging infrastructure, clearing the way for planned upgrades. Old wooden track ties and rails, some weighing up to 500 pounds, are being replaced, and new staircases are being installed to provide safer, more accessible passageways between the mezzanine and platform levels. You can see pictures of the progress from week one here and progress from week two here. Once complete, these improvements will enhance service reliability, reduce maintenance disruptions, and modernize the Hoboken PATH station for the long term.
The Port Authority has worked with the City of Hoboken to enhance bus, light rail, shuttle, and ferry service during the PATH Station’s closure for Hoboken PATH’s 20,000 daily customers. You can learn more about alternative transportation options while the station remains closed here.
Strengthening Emergency Medical Services in Hoboken
Earlier this month, I joined my City Council colleagues to unanimously approve a five-year contract securing Hoboken Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and the Volunteer Ambulance Corps (HVAC) as the long-term providers of Basic Life Support services to our community. Since 2022, HEMS has operated under a hybrid model, combining HVAC’s 50-year legacy of volunteerism with paid EMTs. This system dramatically improved response times to an impressive two and a half minutes while eliminating reliance on mutual aid. Additionally, EMS services now collect payments solely from insurance providers, never billing patients directly, ensuring financial sustainability and allowing for reinvestment, including the purchase of a new ambulance—without tapping any taxpayer dollars.
Securing this long-term contract was a priority to guarantee stability for our emergency services, especially with the uncertainty surrounding our local hospital system. I am proud of the progress we have made and am committed to ensuring Hoboken residents receive the emergency medical care they deserve. To learn more, including how to volunteer for HVAC or HEMS, or donate, click here.
Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day
On January 27, Hoboken formally recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day in memory of the six million Jews and the millions of other victims who perished during the Holocaust — honoring the victims, acknowledging the suffering of survivors, and reaffirming our commitment to combating hate in all its forms.
I had the privilege of presenting the Mayoral proclamation recognizing the Holocaust as one of the most horrific atrocities in human history, emphasizing the importance of education and remembrance to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. The proclamation declares that on International Holocaust Remembrance Day the City of Hoboken honors the Holocaust’s survivors, as well as the rescuers and the liberators, and states that International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a powerful reminder to all residents that we should work to promote human dignity and confront hate whenever and wherever it occurs.
Presenting the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Proclamation
Staying Up To Date
If you have any questions, or 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 prior newsletters) on my website philcohen.org.
P.P.S. If you like this Newsletter, and want to support my work, please consider a contribution supporting my community efforts.
