Full Notification

Below is a memo from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla to the Hoboken City Council sent earlier today. 

Dear Councilmembers,

I hope you are well. I write to update you on various priorities and community initiatives, some of which are before the City Council for consideration at tonight's meeting. Please do not hesitate to contact my office should you have any questions or need clarification on these agenda items. Thank you in advance for your support.

Lease with the Hoboken Public School District at the Jubilee Center 

Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce that the City had purchased the Jubilee Center for $3 million, at no impact to the municipal budget thanks to federal assistance, to preserve it as a community center for non-profits and educational institutions. When the building was for sale, I believed it was imperative for the City to act on purchasing the building, instead of falling into the hands of a developer for condos.

I’m glad to share that after discussions with Superintendent Christine Johnson, we will be leasing out the building to the Hoboken Public School District for the purpose of holding early childhood education programming, for an initial five-year period. This will assist the school district as it has had a substantial enrollment increase in younger children, and their current facilities are struggling to accommodate the demand.

On the agenda for the Council’s consideration is a resolution to authorize the City to enter into this lease agreement with the Public School District, for the purpose of early childhood education programming. For the months of overlap that the district is occupying the Jubilee Center at the same time as TRUE Mentors, the district will be occupying different floors of the center. TRUE Mentors’ lease will be completed by the end of June. 

Alessio's Kiosk at Pier A 

Last year, we initiated one-year concession agreements at Pier A utilizing kiosks that previously went unused. After a request for proposals (RFP) process for 2022, Alessio’s has requested to use two kiosks, after using one this past year. I ask for your support for this resolution so we can once again proceed with this popular community amenity. 

Extended work hours for boat removal in Weehawken Cove

As you may have seen, work is underway to remove abandoned sailboats in the Hudson River at Weehawken Cove. As of Wednesday afternoon, five of the 14 boats in Weehawken Cove have been removed, with more work planned over the next several days.

This project, which has been long overdue, is one of many steps we will be taking to upgrade our waterfront, including the bulkhead rehabilitation at 16th Street, the creation of a living shoreline in the cove, and the creation of Cove Park through the Rebuild by Design flood protection project (in partnership with the State).

Currently, the City’s contractor is permitted to conduct boat removal from 8 am until 6 pm, as per our City noise ordinance. On the City Council agenda is a resolution, sponsored by Councilman Jim Doyle, authorizing the contractor to conduct boat removal from 6 am until 8 pm. This is necessary to conduct boat removal during potential high tide during the early morning or evening hours, when it becomes more efficient to do so. I ask for your support so this project can proceed and be completed without additional delays. 

I want to again thank Senator Menendez, Senator Booker, Congressman Sires, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the hundreds of residents who signed a letter of support for the federal grant awarded to the City for the boat removal project.  

Plastic bag update 

In January of 2019, Hoboken became one of a select few communities in New Jersey to pass a ban on carry-out plastic bags at commercial establishments, an ordinance that was amended and strengthened in March of 2020. This ban has resulted in a significant reduction of plastic bags in Hoboken, and has been an important part of our Climate Action Plan. 

I’m glad to share that the State of New Jersey has adopted a similar plastic bag ban at the state level, that takes effect today. While largely similar to Hoboken’s regulation, the central difference is that the State regulation now prohibits grocery stores greater than 2,500 square feet from providing paper bags (in addition to plastic bags). Another difference between Hoboken and the State is that the State’s new regulation prohibits businesses from charging the customer for the use of a paper bag.

Because Hoboken’s ordinance has those two differences with the State law, and because State law will now superseded ordinances enacted by local municipalities, Hoboken’s Office of Corporation Counsel has advised my office that the repeal of our local ordinance is necessary. The ordinance repeal is on the agenda for the Council’s consideration.

Sincerely,
 
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor