Full Notification

Below are updates on the unsanctioned “Leprechaun” event, the revised plastic bag and styrofoam ban, and efforts to save the three hospitals in Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne:
 
Statement from Mayor Bhalla on “Leprechaun” event on Saturday
 
"Thanks to the hard work and collaboration with Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante and our public safety officers, I’m pleased that the unsanctioned “Leprechaun” event is continuing to lose steam and is a far cry from the destruction of previous years," said Mayor Bhalla. "My administration has made a substantial effort to engage with a number of bar owners about “con” events, and as a result, an all-time low of only four bars participated, and I thank those establishments for their assistance. And, this year, less police and financial resources were spent by the Police Department than before. I am very grateful to the members of the Hoboken Police Department, Hoboken Fire Department, Hoboken Ambulance Corps, Union City Police Department, and Department of Environmental Services for their efforts on Saturday and working to keep our City safe."
 
Updated plastic bag and styrofoam ban now in effect
 
An ordinance banning the use of all single service styrofoam products, as well all carry-out plastic bags from food service and retail establishments is now in effect for the City of Hoboken. The original ordinance, which took effect in January of 2019, only prohibited the use of single-use plastic bags, however the revised plastic bag ban, adopted in August of 2019, prohibits the use of all plastic bags, including thicker “reusable” plastic bags. The new regulations are a part of Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement.
 
“Hoboken’s updated ban on all carry-out plastic bags, as well as styrofoam, demonstrates that Hoboken is a leader in environmental sustainability,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “We heard residents loud and clear, that the original regulation could have gone even further, and I’m glad to say we’ve now made those changes. This updated ban is a model for the entire tri-state region, and I’m hopeful that the State of New Jersey will follow Hoboken’s lead as it considers a state-wide plastic bag regulation.”
 
The Hoboken Green Team, a volunteer organization, is working with the City to help educate residents and businesses about the new regulations and the harmful effects of plastic and styrofoam pollution.
 
More information: https://www.hobokennj.gov/news/updated-plastic-bag-styrofoam-ban-now-in-effect-for-hoboken
 
Mayors Bhalla, Fulop and Davis; Hudson County elected officials rally to save local hospitals
 
Hudson County elected officials, including Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, and more joined together this morning to call upon the owner of Alaris Health to negotiate in good faith in order to save three CarePoint facilities, including Hoboken University Medical Center. The elected officials made their concerns public for the first time in an effort to call attention to the critical need to save each of the three hospitals serving Hudson County.
 
“It is critical for the Hoboken University Medical Center to continue serving as a hospital,” said Mayor Bhalla. “I join our elected officials in calling on all parties, especially Alaris, to help facilitate the sale of the three Hudson County hospitals without delay so this can occur. Hoboken will continue to do everything possible to ensure residents have access to critical emergency health services in the years to come.”
 
“It’s unthinkable that a company tasked with providing compassionate care would instead threaten the health and safety of our residents,” said Mayor Fulop.  “I’m thankful for the support from every level of government as we work together to maintain residents’ access to quality healthcare, which is critical for the overall health and wellness of our community.”
 
“The communities of Hudson County must stand together to save our hospitals,” said Mayor Davis. “They are vitally important for the health and well-being of our residents.  We thank our Hudson County legislative delegation for supporting the efforts of our municipalities to keep our local hospitals in business.”
 
Each of the representatives has been working closely with hospital officials, employees, and all other stakeholders for the past several months to ensure quality healthcare remains accessible to residents. The elected officials committed to using all government tools available to protect the area hospitals from closing.