Dear Neighbors,
I want to wish you and your families a happy, healthy holiday season and a Happy New Year.
At Long Last, Hoboken Has Acquired the Union Dry Dock Property
A day that has been a long time coming arrived last week, when Hoboken officially acquired title to the 5-acre Union Dry Dock waterfront property. This paves the way for creating a public park at the Union Dry Dock site, which will open up an inaccessible portion of our waterfront for all residents and visitors to enjoy. You can read press coverage of this big announcement here and read details about this acquisition here.
New York Waterway (NYWW) will temporarily occupy the property — in cooperation with the City — while it redevelops and expands ferry operations at an alternative site. The City and New York Waterway will continue negotiating the terms of this acquisition through the condemnation process. If the City and New York Waterway are unable to agree on final terms, the courts will resolve the matter and set the property’s acquisition price.
I look forward to working with the community on a waterfront park design, including public amenities and special features for this 5-acre park, and also working with NYWW on a smooth and orderly transition of this parcel of Hoboken’s waterfront to local control. The City Council has authorized a request for proposals (RFP) for professional design firms to offer design options for this future public park, which will then (like the process for our other new parks) include robust public feedback before choosing a final design.
Mayor Zimmer started this fight, and Mayor Bhalla stayed the course and — with the City Council’s and community support — realized our vision to acquire the property. With last week’s announcement, we accomplished a historic milestone to realize our hard-fought vision. You can learn more about this historic development here.
At Special NJ Transit Board Meeting, Newark, NJ. MLK, Jr. Day -- January 2018.
Photo: Bryan Anselm for The New York Times
Mile Square Theatre’s New Production is Getting Rave Reviews
There are only two weekends left to check out Mile Square Theatre’s latest show “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” — a playful twist on Charles Dickens’s classic tale! Don’t miss this Christmas treat for the whole family. This show only runs until December 24th, so don’t delay. Get your tickets here and support your award-winning local not-for-profit theater.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony
I joined Hoboken’s American Legion Post 107 for their annual December 7 Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony. The ceremony concludes with a memorial wreath tossed into the Hudson to honor those who perished on December 7, 1941, a date President Franklin Roosevelt declared “will live in infamy.” You can watch my video of the conclusion of the ceremony with the tossing of a memorial wreath into the Hudson here.
Pilot Reservation Parking Program
In my previous newsletter, I highlighted free and 50% discounted parking promotions for Hoboken residents and visitors this holiday season to make it easier to dine in our amazing restaurants and shop local this holiday season.
In an effort to encourage drivers to take advantage of Hoboken’s convenient garages, the City announced a pilot ParkMobile Reservation Parking Program. Residents and visitors now can reserve parking spots in select municipal garages during specific days and times.
ParkMobile app users can reserve a space in Municipal Garage B (28 2nd St.), Garage D (215 Hudson St.), and Midtown Garage (371 Fourth St.) Mondays through Thursdays from 6 pm to 2 am, and Fridays from 6 pm until Sundays at midnight.
To participate, click here to download the ParkMobile App, available in the Google Play and Apple App stores.
Holiday Banding Concert
What are the holidays without festive holiday music? The City of Hoboken is stepping up with the annual Holiday Banding Concert this Sunday, December 18th, from 4 to 8 pm at Willie McBrides, 616 Grand St.
Come out to hear a variety of holiday classics featuring performances by local bands and musicians including (from Spyro Gyra fame) Hoboken legend Julio Fernandez, as well as Jim Testa, The Gefkens, Rio the Messenger, Cliff Westfall, Jack Skuller, Dave Stengel, Gene D. Plumber, Ed Fogarty, Lloyd United, Pamela Strell, John Bauers, The Fuzzy Lemons, Demolition String Band, Abbe Rivers, Tom Vincent, and the Holiday Banding House Band.
Admission to this awesome show is $10 with proceeds supporting Hoboken’s Cultural Affairs programming. For more information, click here.
Are You Ready for a Holiday Extravaganza?
Main Street Pops and the Hoboken Business Alliance are presenting a special Holiday Extravaganza on Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm under the viaduct featuring over 125 local artisans and small businesses, live ice carving, carousel rides, a Holiday DJ Dance Party, and many more family fun activities! You can read all about the Holiday Extravaganza here.
Monkeypox Update and Vaccine Clinic Locations
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
To see all Monkeypox vaccination locations throughout New Jersey 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 Testing Updates
To get the current Hoboken COVID testing and hours click here.
At-home COVID 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 Vaccinations and Vaccination Records
To get current information on Hoboken’s COVID vaccination clinics 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.
Coffee with Cohen
On Tuesday, I hosted my 69th Coffee with Cohen community event at the terrific locally owned and operated 5th Ward business bwè kafe at 14th and Adams.
Thanks to the friends and neighbors who joined us for discussions and questions over coffee and pastries. Thanks to bwè kafe for hosting and thanks to Special Guest, Hoboken resident Miss New Jersey USA 2022, Alexandra Lakhman.
With Alexandra Lakhman, Miss New Jersey USA 2022
Staying Up To Date and Seeking My 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.
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