Dear Neighbors,
Here are your August updates.
Hoboken Rent Control Ordinance Update
I have previously written about a petition deceptively promoted to Hoboken residents as supporting affordable housing that, if adopted, will lead to thousands of rent control-protected, below-market residential units from Hoboken’s housing market.
In April, I introduced a resolution condemning the referendum sponsors’ deceptive practices, tricking people into supporting the dismantling of our existing rent-control protections by allowing all rent-controlled apartments to reset to market rate after they become vacant (a huge incentive for landlords to want tenants to leave) for a one-time $2500 fee (less than an average Hoboken month’s rent).
First, let me reiterate my fierce opposition to the referendum on the November ballot, opposed by all my council colleagues. We urge residents to save rent control, stand up to the bullies who seek to profit at the hands of Hoboken tenants, and vote NO at the polls. This is one of the most critical issues to reach the ballot in over a decade in Hoboken. If the referendum passes, it will end rent control as we know it.
With your support, we stood up to pressure from the Mile Square Taxpayers Association which threatened the city with litigation if the Council approved a more factual, measured, and informative Interpretative Statement on the November ballot, as opposed to the one they drafted that was misleading and lopsided—puffing the Ordinance’s benefits while ignoring its negative impacts on Hoboken’s Rent Control Ordinance. The City Council unanimously voted to replace the Petitioners’ Interpretative Statement that failed to mention that if approved, the ordinance would allow full vacancy decontrol (i.e., without the maximum of a 25% increase restriction currently permitted after a tenant left a rent-controlled unit after 3 years), allowing every vacant rent-controlled unit to reset to market rate if the landlord makes a single $2,500 payment to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
You can read the Resolution here and you can read the Council’s approved, new Interpretative Statement here (on page 548). Thanks to my Council colleagues for your unanimous support. Thanks to the many members of the public who waited hours to urge the Council to replace the Petitioners’ misleading Interpretative Statement. Thanks also to James Vance, a member of the Committee of the Petitioners, who addressed the City Council and agreed with all the public speakers who spoke out in support of revising the Petitioners’ misleading Interpretative Statement.
Together, the entire City Council worked to ensure Hoboken voters will receive accurate and balanced information before voting on this critical ballot question that threatens to remove thousands of below-market rental properties from Hoboken’s rental market when voters go to the polls this November.
"Skip the Stuff" Law Takes Effect September 1st
Effective September 1, Hoboken's "Skip the Stuff" ordinance will ban restaurants and take-out establishments from providing single-use plastic utensils and condiments unless requested by customers. This initiative, part of Hoboken's Zero Waste Initiative, aims to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Businesses will be permitted to provide single-use items—plastic or non-plastic— only when specifically requested by customers when ordering.
The City will focus on educating businesses and partnering with the Hoboken Business Alliance before issuing fines for violations. Residents can report violations here. For more information, visit the Zero Waste Initiative and Skip the Stuff. I’m proud to support this initiative, part of Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan, to reduce landfill waste and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Hoboken to Invest in Public School Districts Through an Innovative Trust
The plan establishes four trusts to allocate funds from PILOT agreements with the developers of 770 Jackson and the Hoboken Connect project. This investment represents the first initiative of its kind in New Jersey, offering a new way to finance public school improvements. Each district can use these to improve facilities, offset debts, purchase equipment, conduct maintenance, and acquire additional property.
I'm particularly pleased that working with Mayor Bhalla and Business Administrator Jason Freeman, the Hoboken Public School District, and Hoboken’s Charter Schools agreed to equitably share PILOT payments for 770 Jackson— a source of significant division and frustration for many constituents during my first term as Councilman. I offer my sincere thanks to the administration for drafting this agreement and carrying this effort through to the finish line:
New Interactive Map for Construction Projects
Hoboken has launched a new interactive map to help residents stay informed about infrastructure projects that may affect their daily routines. This tool is designed to assist in planning and avoiding potential disruptions. The map will be updated weekly with information on ongoing construction projects, including locations, schedules, purposes, responsible agencies, and anticipated traffic impacts. Residents can access the map and construction updates here.
Community Meeting on Rat Control
The City of Hoboken, in collaboration with the Hoboken Health Division and the Hoboken Office of Constituent Services, is hosting a Community Education Session on Rat Control and Mitigation on August 26th, from 4:30 to 6 pm, at the Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand St.
Experts will address the rodent lifecycle and ecosystem, methods for sealing burrows on private property, prevention strategies like containerization, updates on the City's mitigation efforts, and more. Click here to register.
Coffee with Cohen next Monday
Staying Up To Date and Seeking My Assistance
I issue this newsletter every month. You can stay up to date by following me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. 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 my Newsletter, and want to support my work, please consider a much-appreciated contribution to support my community efforts. Thanks so much!
