Dear Neighbor,
As we head into 🌸 Spring 🌺 here are your updates.
State of the City Address
Last week, Mayor Bhalla delivered his final State of the City address. If you haven’t watched it, you should check it out. The speech was substantive and comprehensive, addressing the Mayor’s priorities for 2025, and reflecting on his administration’s accomplishments.
Mayor Bhalla also highlighted the City’s fight to protect affordable and below market housing — defeating the landlord-driven referendum that would have gutted Hoboken’s rent control protections; enforcing rent control requirements; and finalizing plans for a fully affordable senior housing development coming to 11th & Willow. The Mayor described his vision for a mixed use project and brand new Garage B with a residential tower with not a single unit of market rate housing — with 80% of the units dedicated to “workforce housing” for folks living on moderate incomes, like teachers, police officers, or retirees, and 20% for affordable housing. The Mayor also highlighted the City’s efforts to protect pedestrians through Hoboken’s acclaimed Vision Zero program, hailing 8 years without a single pedestrian death.
You can watch the State of the City address here.
Celebrating a Major Milestone for the Hoboken Community Center
I had the honor of joining Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and State Senator Raj Mukherji in presenting $2.8 million in grants from the State of New Jersey and Hudson County to the Hoboken Community Center. This vital funding will support the opening of a new food pantry and provide essential upgrades to HCC’s housing program.
Presenting a Big Check to the Hoboken Community Center
Congratulations to Toni Tomarazzo and the leadership team at HCC, and heartfelt thanks to the dedicated volunteers who tirelessly support our food-insecure neighbors. The new facility will house a food pantry and create 10 affordable housing units at the site. You can learn more about HCC and how to support its important mission here.
Update on Rebuild by Design Construction
The construction of the Rebuild by Design plan continues as we make major strides in protecting Hoboken from the impacts of climate change with stronger, wetter storms, elevated tides, and Hudson River storm surge. With the installation of hard flood risk reduction infrastructure (i.e. walls, gates, and supporting drainage features) for coastal defense, as well as soft features (i.e. landscaping and urban amenities), RBD improvements are underway near Hoboken’s Weehawken and Jersey City borders.
Starting about March 31, NJDEP will begin test pitting and foundation work for the Resist structure’s sliding gate across Jersey Avenue in Jersey City. This critical component will connect to the 5,000-foot-long southern Resist structure, further reducing our community’s flood risk and lowering homeowners’ flood insurance rates. During construction, Jersey Avenue will be fully closed for approximately one month, with traffic detours in place. A southbound lane is expected to reopen by May or June, with full access restored before the July 4th holiday. Last week, NJDEP and the City hosted an interactive information session about this work and plans to address traffic impacts over the next few months. You can watch the meeting here.
Hoboken Has a New Supermarket
Hoboken has a new grocery! Located at 1425 Washington St., Urban Market is a 14,000-square-foot supermarket operated by the owners of Brooklyn’s Dumbo Market.
This big new market features fresh produce, a bakery, and a wide selection of groceries. Urban Market joins Kings, Acme, Aspen Market, and Trader Joe’s, as Hoboken’s 5th supermarket. A new supermarket planned for Southwest Hoboken at 38 Jackson St is expected to open later this year.
Part of Urban Market’s Huge Produce Section
Coffee with Cohen … the home edition on Monday
New Jersey Assembly Candidates Katie Brennan and Mayor Bhalla
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, you can make a contribution to support my community efforts.
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Paid for by Phil Cohen for Hoboken City Council |
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