Dear Neighbors,
I hope you’re having a good September. Let me update you on what’s happening around Hoboken.
Lowering the Speed Limit to 20 MPH
New signage and striping have begun being installed in Hoboken as part of a citywide speed limit reduction from 25 MPH to 20 MPH. This is an important step forward to make Hoboken’s streets even safer and accomplish our Vision Zero goals of eliminating all traffic-related deaths and injuries by 2030.
I’m proud the City Council unanimously approved this step in July. Reduced speed limits, when combined with other safety improvements like curb extensions, high visibility crosswalks, corner daylighting, leading pedestrian intervals, and dedicated bicycle facilities, can help reduce the likelihood of crashes. The chances of a pedestrian suffering a grave injury or death increase from approximately 25% when struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 mph to over 50% when struck by a vehicle traveling at 30 mph. For more information on the City's Vision Zero initiative, click here.
Elevating the Level of Discourse in our Community
As a member of the City Council, I take seriously the importance of leading by example and consistently promoting civil discourse in our community. We are all neighbors in this Mile Square City.
There is much anger in America and in our national public discourse, where civility and working together to address problems both large and small often appears non-existent. But I believe that Councilpeople can — and should — do better. In that spirit of leading by example, Council Vice President Emily Jabbour, Councilman Joe Quintero and I wrote a letter to one of our Council colleagues this week raising some of our concerns regarding recent rhetoric and actions that you can read here.
Coffee with Cohen
On Tuesday morning, I hosted my 63rd Coffee with Cohen community event at the terrific 5th Ward business, Dolce & Salato at 11th and Grand Streets.
Thanks to the friends and neighbors who joined me for a lively discussion and questions about composting, lantern flies, the timeline for completing the Northwest Resiliency Park and more over coffee and pastries.
Thanks to Dolce & Salato for hosting this event and to Director of Environmental Services Jennifer Gonzalez, Councilman Joe Quintero, and Constituent Services Coordinator Nora Martinez DeBenedetto for joining me.
Do you have a question for my next Coffee with Cohen? Send it to HobokenPhil@gmail.com as I try to address each one. Many past Coffee with Cohen events are recorded and hosted on my Facebook page and you can watch them here.
🚴 Citi Bike Valet Service is Back 🚴
Citi Bike valet service has resumed at Hoboken Terminal at the River Street docking station. The service allows residents to commute to and from the terminal more easily during morning and evening hours by eliminating the need to find open docking space during peak times.
Valet staff significantly expand the availability of dock spaces and bikes at the Hoboken Terminal - River Street docking station on weekdays from 7 am to 11 am and from 4 pm to 8 pm. The valet service is free for all Citi Bike riders.
I have been a strong advocate for bringing the Citi Bike program to Hoboken, and am thrilled by its embrace by our community. Since May 2021 almost 475,000 rides have originated in Hoboken at one of the City’s 28 docking stations. I regularly enjoy traveling around town on a Citi Bike and encourage folks to get Citi Bike memberships and enjoy this convenience and healthy, green transportation alternative. Lyft and the City of Hoboken offer Hoboken Housing Authority residents and SNAP recipients discounted memberships that cost $5 per month or $60 annually. Full-price membership costs $185 annually. To sign up for a discounted membership click here and to learn more about the Citi Bike program click here.
Hoboken’s Zero Waste Initiative
Hoboken has launched a Zero Waste initiative as part of its Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and improve residents' quality of life. About 10 percent of the City's GHGs are attributed to solid waste.
To achieve Zero Waste, the City will collect data to inform the development of a Zero Waste Plan. An online Zero Waste survey was launched by the City to gather public input on solid waste outputs and current waste management options. Residents and businesses are encouraged to complete the survey here.
Additionally, the City and the project team are conducting a waste audit to identify Hoboken's household, commercial, and institutional waste streams. The audit data will be used to develop policies, programs, and services to be recommended for the Zero Waste Plan. With this effort, the City will be able to compare future waste volumes and diversion rates, as well as gain insight into evolving waste types.
For more information about the City's current waste collection, click here. For more information on the Zero Waste initiative click here.
Monkeypox Update and Vaccine Clinic Locations
New Jersey has a total of 668 cases of monkeypox as of September 22nd with 165 cases located in Hudson County.
The State is providing monkeypox vaccinations for eligible individuals. Eligible individuals include those who have had known contact with someone who tested positive for orthopoxvirus or monkeypox in the past 14 days, people who attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred within the past 14 days, and men who have sex with men.
Monkeypox Vaccine Locations
Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud!
Location: Jersey City
Phone: 201-706-3480
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Phone: 800-730-2762
The Prevention Resource Network, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey
Location: Asbury Park
North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI)
Location: Newark
Phone: 973-483-3444 ext. 200
To see all locations throughout New Jersey please click here.
If you believe you’ve been infected with Monkeypox, please contact the Hoboken Health Department at (201) 420-2375 for additional guidance, information, and contact tracing.
Also, you can visit the CDC’s Monkeypox page here for additional information.
COVID-19 Updates
As of September 18th, Hoboken’s positive test results total 13,794 cases confirmed since the start of the pandemic. Two weeks ago, there were 13,697 positive cases.
New Jersey’s transmission rate is presently at 1.04. Please stay vigilant, practice social distancing when necessary, wash your hands, and stay safe.
Thankfully, HUMC is now hospitalizing no one with COVID. 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.
Sadly, one more COVID-19 related death was recently reported in our community, a resident in their 70s, increasing Hoboken’s COVID death toll to 67 since the start of the pandemic. We are still processing the loss and grief that profoundly affected our community during the height of the pandemic. Indeed, the National Center for Health Statistics recently reported that in 2020 life expectancy in New Jerseyans declined more than two years — from 80.1 years in 2019 to 77.5 years in 2020. Just devastating.
COVID Testing Updates
To get the current Hoboken COVID testing and hours click here.
At-home testing
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services offers free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits. To order your kit go to learn.vaulthealth.com/nj.
COVID Vaccination News
New bivalent boosters, designed to combat the new Omicron variant, are on their way for additional City-run clinics. These boosters have been ordered, and as soon as the city receives them, they will schedule additional clinics.
To get current information on Hoboken vaccinations click here.
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.
Staying Up To Date and Reaching Out For Assistance
I regularly issue this newsletter every other Friday. You also can stay up to date by following 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 prior newsletters) on my website philcohen.org.
