Dear Neighbors,
Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🦃 Wishing you all a wonderful start to the holiday season.
Here are your November updates.
Runoff Election Information for Hoboken Voters
Emily Jabbour for Hoboken Mayor and “Team Emily” for Council
Hoboken voters have a clear choice when they return to the polls Tuesday, December 2, for a “winner-take-all” runoff Mayoral election with Hoboken’s next Mayor and three Council seats at stake.
Hoboken can move forward, with Emily Jabbour for Mayor — a professional social worker — not a career politician — and the “Team Emily” slate — Joe Quintero, Steve Firestone, and Caitlin Layson — a team that will deliver steady, responsible, and community-centered leadership.
Or Hoboken can fall back with Emily’s opponent — a career politician who has worked to advance his interests and the interests of Hoboken’s largest corporate landlords (whose rental buildings are plastered with his campaign signs, reflecting their massive investment in his campaign).
I am endorsing Emily Jabbour because she brings a service-first approach grounded in hard work, compassion, and real results. Emily consistently rolls up her sleeves and tackles the issues that matter most, keeping our streets safe, improving quality of life, strengthening affordability protections, and ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with a growing city. Her collaborative style and deep commitment to public service make her the clear choice for Hoboken to move forward.
Joe Quintero, Steve Firestone, and Caitlin Layson are committed to putting residents first. Joe has been a strong voice on public safety and affordability, working to protect renters and address the everyday concerns of our neighborhoods. Steve brings a thoughtful, solutions-driven approach to decision-making, always focused on what will best serve the community. Caitlin's training and experience as a Hoboken special education teacher, rooted in service, equity, and family support, gives her a meaningful understanding of the challenges confronting Hoboken residents.
On November 4, Emily and the “Team Emily” Council slate finished first — earning the most votes for Mayor and for Council. Now, we need to turn out on Tuesday, December 2nd to deliver the leadership Hoboken needs.
Vote Emily Jabbour (1A), Joe Quintero (5B), Caitlin Layson (6B), and Steve Firestone (7B) — to move Hoboken forward.
With Council President Doyle, Emily Jabbour and the “Team Emily” Slate
Voting Information
In-Person Voting
Polls open on Tuesday December 2nd from 6 am to 8 pm at your assigned polling location. You can find your polling location here or here.
Vote-By-Mail (VBM) Information
Any registered voter may apply for a Vote-By-Mail ballot. Complete the Vote-By-Mail Application and return it to the County Clerk’s Office 7 days before the election (November 25th), or apply in person at the County Clerk’s office by 3 pm on Monday, December 1. VBM applications can be downloaded here in English and here in Spanish.
Submitting Your Ballot
There are three ways to return your completed VBM ballot:
1. Mail. Return your VBM by placing it in your nearest mailbox using the U.S. Postal Service. The ballot must be postmarked on or before December 2nd and received by the Board of Elections.
2. Secure drop box. Hoboken has three secure drop box locations:
i. Hoboken City Hall at 94 Washington St. on Newark Street; ii. Stevens University Gateway Building at Hudson & Sixth Street; iii at Monroe Street between Seventh & Eighth Streets.
3. In person drop-off at the Hudson County Board of Elections at 257 Cornelison Ave., 4th Floor, in Jersey City. Applications may still be submitted IN-PERSON to the Hudson County Clerk Division of Elections by 8 PM on December 2nd.
There is no early voting for the runoff election.
Fighting Nonessential Helicopter Traffic
I recently testified before the Senate Transportation Committee in Trenton in strong support of Senator Raj Mukherji’s S-4639, critical legislation to reduce the excessive and disruptive nonessential helicopter traffic impacting our communities.
For years, Hudson County residents have dealt with constant noise, safety risks, and environmental impacts from low-flying tourist helicopters — flights that cross our neighborhoods with minimal oversight. Noise complaints in New Jersey increased nearly tenfold from 2019 to 2022, yet these tourist flights have continued to operate free from sales tax on their operations.
S-4639 imposes a tax of $100 per seat or $400 per flight (whichever is greater) on nonessential tourist helicopter and seaplane trips. All revenue would go to NJ TRANSIT to strengthen and modernize our aging transit infrastructure. The bill does not affect essential flights like medical, military, governmental, or journalism operations.
Outside the Senate Transportation Committee After S-4639 Was Voted out of Committee
Join Me Tuesday for November Office Hours
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 25th at 8 am to join me, Mayoral Candidate Emily Jabbour, and the “Team Emily" slate one week before Runoff Election Day for my November office hours at The Hive — a great locally-owned and operated 5th Ward business! Come for coffee ☕️ croissants 🥐 and conversation about the issues that matter to you.
What: November Office Hours with Special Guests Mayoral Candidate Emily Jabbour and the “Team Emily” Council Slate
When: Tuesday, November 25th from 8 to 9:30 am
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.
Thank you for voting.
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.
