Dear friends and neighbors:
What a gorgeous day for the official kick-off to summer!  A few quick updates and upcoming events for next week (Thursday night in particular!) for you to consider this weekend. 
  • Former UDD site – rationale required for “public hearing” (grr…)
  • Pedestrian crossing at Pier 13 improving
  • Upcoming anti-flooding design workshops NEED YOUR INPUT
  • Ending gun violence – 4 ways / 4 days you can help
  • Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
  • Memorial Day thoughts
UDD – Letter Response From James Cannon, Army Corps of Engineer
In response to the letter submitted by the City Council last week requesting a public hearing, the ACOE sent us the attached response indicating that “… before a decision can be made on your request for a public hearing, we need to know your specific reasons as to why you feel a hearing is required in this matter, including what information or comments would be submitted at the hearing that could not be submitted in writing.” 
I will be drafting a response so please send me any thoughts you may have on how to respond.  And also encourage all council members to join and sign.
Safer Crossing Near Pier 13
The intersection of Sinatra Dr. and Constitution Ct. has become a thoroughfare for those pedestrians looking to access the waterfront / Pier 13.  In response to the number of concerns raised by many of you, with the help of Hoboken PD today we were able to re-position the detour signs, and remove the trucks illegally parked adjacent to the sidewalk to improve visibility.  We still need to have the trees cut back and Freeholder Romano has assured us that a stop line will be painted on the road ASAP.  I watched today, like many of you, as over 20 cars and trucks just blew through the stop sign.   Once the changes were made, almost everyone stopped before going through the intersection.  Please keep me posted on anything you witness there.
As most people know, this is a complicated area because many of the roads are privately owned by the Applied Companies.  Historically I am told they have been unwilling to allow Hoboken PD to enforce any parking or traffic violations there.  Given their own Pier 13 is now exacerbating the safety concerns (don’t worry, I am a fan of Pier 13!), hopefully they will be willing to reconsider an arrangement that makes practical sense for our community.  More to come…
5/30& 5/31 PUBLIC INPUT NEEDED – To Design Our $230M Anti-Flooding Project
Two workshops are scheduled next week to begin the design phase of the Rebuild by Design project, specifically for the areas that are located in the northern end of Hoboken (primarily 2nd ward).  These are from Weehawken Cove down through to Washington St. near Madison Bar & Grill.  Both nights will be the same presentation so please try plan to join one. I will be at both.
  • 5/30 7-9pm 1600 Adams St. North Hudson Sewerage Authority Board Room
  • 5/31 7-9pm 124 Grand St. Multi-Service Center
This is when YOU get to help design areas and structures like the park around Weehawken Cove.  WE NEED TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR US and more voices matter! 
5/31-6/3 – Continue The Efforts to Fight Gun Violence  
June 1st is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a day that we should not need to have.  Councilwoman Jabbour is the head of the Hudson County Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and has helped organize the following four events / ways you can participate in the fight to end gun violence:
  • 5/31 8-10pm Moms Night Out at Northern Soul Kitchen & Bar (fundraiser)
  • 6/1 4pm Rally at City Hall in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day
  • 6/2 12noon March across the Brooklyn Bridge.  Bus leaving City Hall at 10am.  Learn more here.
  • 6/3 2pm Spin for gun safety with Cyclebar (fundraiser).  RSVP here.
5/31 - 4th Annual Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Thursday, 5/31 at 7pm at Hoboken High School.  The Hispanic Culture Club studies and celebrates the role Hispanics have played in our country and in Hoboken in particular.  The ceremony is dedicated to recognizing Hispanic individuals who have made a positive impact in the Hispanic and Hoboken communities and this year’s honorees include: Hoboken Police Officer Juan Madera, Public School teacher and author (Ladybug and Dragonfly) Carolina Martinez, and Hoboken City Council President and former Assemblyman Ruben Ramos.
 
Finally, Memorial Day is a time that brings our communities together.  Thank you to all of you who joined us Wednesday night for a beautiful tribute to those we have lost.  If you didn’t get the chance (we had record crowds!), I hope you can join next year for one of our Hoboken’s most special events. 
Top Photo: Battalion Chief Fini, Mayor Bhalla and his son, Councilman Cunningham, Council Vice President Giattino, Councilman DeFusco and his young neighbor, former State Senator Kenny, Council President Ramos and his son, and me.
I had the honor of also attending Hudson County’s Memorial Day Service yesterday for the second year in a row.  Each town in Hudson County honors a veteran and this year’s Hoboken Veteran of the Year was Emil Danduono, a long time Hoboken resident who served bravely in both WWII and the Korean War. 
The event was moving and made even more beautiful by Hoboken’s Vinny Wassman, who like Emil, also served in WWII and the Korean War and who recited the poignant war poem “In Flanders Fields”.  Vinny asked me if I would share on social media and with others so here you go…watch it here (just 1:14 min and worth it).   
 
Have a safe and happy weekend, and be thoughtful and thankful for those who have made, and continue to make, the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.  As always, please feel free to email me or call me at 201/208-1674 if you have any questions of comments or want to discuss this or anything else.   
TiffanieFisher
Hoboken City Council, 2nd Ward
 
Engage. Inform. Advocate.
“More Voices are Better”
 
PS - If you don’t know Vinny, you can learn more about him here “Vinny and Cole: A Hoboken Love Story” (credit: HobokenGirl).