Dear Neighbors,
Happy New Year! Here are the updates to start 2026.
A New Mayor and a New Council
With Mayor Jabbour, a new Council, and a new chapter for Hoboken about to begin, I look forward to working together to move Hoboken forward.
With Mayor Jabbour and Our New Council Colleagues on January 15 — Inauguration Day
Honored to be Elected to Council Leadership
At our January 15 Council meeting, I was sworn in to return to Council leadership after my Council colleagues elected me Council Vice President for 2026. I am grateful for my colleagues’ trust in me, and look forward to serving with energy, collaboration, and a strong focus on the issues that matter most to our community.
Taking the Oath of Office as Council Vice President
Standing Up for Housing Affordability
The bill would prohibit property owners from colluding to share non-public information across properties to fix rental prices, including through the use of certain algorithmic pricing tools. These practices artificially drive up rents and make New Jersey’s already overheated housing market even less affordable for working families, seniors, and young people trying to remain in their communities.
I thank the members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee for their support and voting A4872 out of committee.
Testifying with Jersey City Mayor-Elect James Solomon
North End Redevelopment Agreements Adopted
I was pleased to support the adoption of four Redevelopment Agreements that were approved on December 17th for the North End Rehabilitation Area. This vote marked a major milestone in the long-planned revitalization of the North End of our City. This achievement reflects years of careful planning, collaboration, and dedication by Mayor Bhalla, the City’s Directors, and our community partners.
The agreements move forward a comprehensive redevelopment plan for long-vacant sites that will deliver significant community benefits including: 729 new homes, including 73 affordable units; more than 48,000 square feet of publicly accessible open space; protected bike lanes along 15th Street; significant new ground-floor retail; and a new 275-space municipal parking garage, the first built in Hoboken since 2003, which will create a new source of City revenues; and great new public access to our parks at Weehawken Cove and our fields at 1600 Park. This project will transform Hoboken’s northern gateway from piles of rubble into a new, vibrant, connected neighborhood.
Having served on the Community Development Subcommittee for the past six years, I am proud of our hard work shaping these agreements that reflect Hoboken’s sense of community, neighborhood, and long-term priorities.
Coffee with Cohen . . . the Home Edition
On Monday, January 26th at 12 pm, I host my monthly Coffee with Cohen … the home edition community event with special guest Hoboken Housing Authority Director Marc Recko. I look forward to discussing Director Recko’s plans for a revitalized Hoboken Housing Authority and the latest news about this important part of our community.
HHA Director Marc Recko Joins Coffee with Cohen
You can RSVP to join this virtual meeting here. If you have questions, send them to HobokenPhil@gmail.com and I will try to address them.
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
(201) 639-4082
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 community service, please consider a contribution in support of my efforts.
