Year: 2017

News

Grist for the Mill: Here comes Mr. Carmelo now

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

He’s back! Well, he’d like to be while on excursion to Newark where he’s making oodles of loot performing in a government role on behalf of that historic New Jersey city in its Department of Economic Development.

Because you know the economic developments he left in the wake of his departure at the Hoboken Housing Authority was oh so impressive. The City of Hoboken recently had to ante up well over $350,000 just to have working locks in the HHA buildings. In government circles this is known as an investment following superior management. Read More...

News

Councilman Cunningham: ‘The North End’

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

From the desk of Councilman Peter Cunningham:


Neighbors, friends and family, 

During my tenure on City Council, I have not only spent a considerable amount of time working with the Administration and the City’s finances which has resulted in a spectacular credit rating for Hoboken, but have also chaired committees on economic (re)development concerning several very important projects throughout the City – namely the Western Edge, the main Post Office and the North End. Read More...

News

HudCo & Hoboken: Political operatives, money and vampiric overexposure

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Hoboken plows through a chilled March election journey to November as political operatives near and far seek to swoop down on the Mile Square carcass eager to pick at its flesh and bones.

Call it tradition.

Unfortunately, the vampiric bloodsuckers muffed their landing, arriving prematurely and exposing themselves to the sunlight.

In any local primer, illumination on political operative activities in the dead of winter on the path to a November election makes no chapter titled, “The time is nigh.” Attempts to cajole, threaten and bluff to the sidelines Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano and clear a path for the junior councilman Mike DeFusco have miserably failed. Read More...

News

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR ZIMMER REGARDING PIER A

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

Office of the Mayor announces:

=&0=& “Tonight’s City Council agenda includes a bond and a $5.3 million contract to fund the repairs needed for the substructure of Pier A that I encourage the Council to support.

Pier A was constructed by the Port Authority. Possibly due to construction issues, the steel pilings are not properly coated to the mudline, causing various levels of degradation to occur on over 1,000 steel pilings. This issue was discovered when the City conducted an evaluation of our entire waterfront after the collapse of Sinatra Park. Funding for the maintenance of Pier A and the waterfront are provided by an account established by a 1994 agreement between the Port Authority and the City. The account funds are managed by the South Waterfront Board consisting of the Port Authority, the City of Hoboken and the developers (Applied, SJP, and Mack-Cali). That account now receives $1 million annually from the developers as part of the obligation of the developers to “give back” to the community in exchange for the development rights that were provided in Hoboken. Furthermore, that account also has many millions accumulated over the years that has not been spent. The City, as a member of the board, has been trying to work with all parties for a fair agreement to fund the repairs to Pier A from that account so that everyone can continue to safely enjoy it. Read More...

News

Mayor: ‘Here’s the 2017 Budget & another tax cut

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading
Agency Logo
Wednesday March 15, 2017

City of Hoboken, NJ
   

Community: Mayor Zimmer Introduces 2017 Budget With Tax Cut
Dear Horsey & MSV readers,

Mayor Dawn Zimmer is introducing a municipal budget that continues to keep municipal taxes stable for the 7th straight year. The introduced 2017 budget includes a 1.25% reduction in the municipal tax rate, due to a flat municipal tax levy and an increasing ratable base.

Over the next 6 years, the City will invest $42 million in the water main system. This includes the $7 million water main replacement on Washington Street that is currently underway, $5.2 million for additional improvements authorized for priority areas, and $30 million through the 6-year capital plan which includes an additional $5 million per year over the next 6 years.

“Since becoming mayor, we have worked with the City Council to restore fiscal discipline and hold the line on taxes, and I’m pleased that this year’s budget will provide a modest municipal tax cut,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Together, we have passed fully-funded, gimmick-free budgets, restored a responsible budget surplus, and improved our credit rating to AA+ from its near junk bond rating. This year’s budget also includes a capital plan to make annual investments to continue upgrading our water main system and additional funding to help maintain our expanding parks and green infrastructure.”

A property owner’s total tax bill includes three main components: municipal, school, and county taxes, along with smaller components for the Library, municipal open space, and county open space. In 2016, municipal purposes taxes made up approximately 31% of total property taxes while County taxes composed 40% and school taxes were 24%.

The introduced 2017 budget can be viewed at: www.hobokennj.gov/docs/businessadmin/CY17BudgetIntroduced.pdf.
A series of budget workshops will be held on the following dates:

  • Monday, March 27, 2017

o   Police – 6:00pm
o   Corporation Counsel – 7:00pm
o   Transportation and Parking – 8:00pm

  • Wednesday, March 29, 2017:

o   Community Development – 6:00pm
o   Health and Human Services – 7:00pm
o   Environmental Services – 8:00pm

  • Monday, April 3, 2017:

o   Fire – 6:00pm
o   Administration and Finance – 7:00pm
o   City Clerk – 8:00pm
News

Councilman Peter Cunningham: ‘lend a hand to your neighbor’

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

From the desk of Councilman Peter Cunningham:

Good evening.

Hope everyone has weathered the storm of 2017.  Fortunately Mother Nature was kind to us, but the real challenge is now what follows.  The clean up… I walked to the PATH this morning and returned to many uncleared sidewalks.  It will get very cold over the next couple of days, and it’s important to clear what you can now.  I have also pressed upon the City to clear corners and especially storm sewers so water can clear. Please keep in mind your neighbors that are elderly. We are a community that supports each other particularly during times of adversity.  Please assist where you can to help them clear their sidewalk, their car or run an errand.    Thanks very much, and stay tuned for community updates.  I have several matters to offer opinions and request your involvement.  Thanks and stay warm! Peter Cunningham cunninghamforhoboken@gmail.com
News

City: Snowboken emergency update

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading
=&0=& Parking is currently permitted on Washington Street and will be permitted on all other snow emergency routes as of 5:00pm on March 14. Parking meters will be enforced starting on Wednesday. Street cleaning is suspended on Wednesday and enforcement will resume on Thursday, March 16. All other parking rules remain in effect. =&1=&

Temperatures will drop overnight, so property owners are urged to clear snow and slush before it freezes. Property owners/occupants are reminded that they have six hours after the completion of a storm to remove snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property, along with adjoining wheelchair ramps or curb cuts. Residents are urged to assist elderly or disabled neighbors with clearing snow from their properties. It is illegal to shovel snow back onto streets or onto fire hydrants. The City is responsible for clearing sidewalks around City-owned properties. Read More...

News

Sign of the Times: Karen Nason, Hoboken mayoral candidate

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

The first candidate out of the gate to announce a mayoral bid against the incumbent Mayor Dawn Zimmer is a local businesswoman, Karen Nason.

Owner of the Hot House on lower Monroe St., she’s been appearing at City Council meetings and speaking on various topics. Her entry to the Mile Square mayoral sweepstakes comes not long after her decrying a business issue where her First St. business was informed it could not host private parties. Nason called the archaic rules an infringement on fair business practice. Read More...

News

Councilwoman Fisher: Planning process on the North End

by SmartyJones4 Min Reading

From the desk of Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher:


Dear Hoboken Neighbors – 
I am THRILLED to announce that the planning process for the North End of hoboken has commenced! Please take the time to respond to this important survey to collect your thoughts on plans for the North End!  And please forward this email to your neighbors as well because more voices are better. www.hobokennj.gov/northendsurvey
The ultimate goal of this process, which will involve future public hearings as well, is to create a comprehensive plan and related zoning updates for the entire North End area to reflect the highest and best use for our City.
I am a member of the Northern Redevelopment Subcommittee (along with Councilmembers Giattino, Cunningham and Bhalla) and have been working with the Administration on this important project. Real estate decisions are permanent – once a project is approved, it cannot be un-approved. As you may have heard me say, we are “one zoning board application (if approved) away” from missing this opportunity to plan something great for our North End. We have one time to get this right for our community. And the time is now. So please take the time to participate and provide your feedback!
For those unaware, currently the area is zoned I-1 (with 2, I-1(w) orphan lots). I-1 zoning generally permits industrial and office (and related) uses with a height limitation of approximately 80 feet. I do not believe anyone wants to see large industrial complexes built here – correct me if you feel differently. That being said, many people have also indicated that they would also not like to see an excessive amount of residential be built either because further increases in population bring further crowding and taxing of our municipal services.
Recently we have not seen any zoning applications for industrial complexes. So far the majority of the applications to the zoning board have included significant residential components which require use variances (which is the most difficult variance to get). And we see this because residential development in Hoboken carries the best reward / risk ratio for developers. Unfortunately, due to our land constraints, it is the opposite for the City – the costs of increased residential are high, without as many offsetting benefits.
Things I would like you to consider as you read and respond to this survey:

  • Economic development depends on a population that supports its local businesses. Think about how downtown Hoboken thrives vs. uptown Hoboken – uptown Hoboken needs more daytime population to patron our restaurants and shop at our stores. 
  • Our transportation modes in Hoboken are already at capacity, especially during commuting hours – imagine how long your bus or ferry line will be with more people commuting alongside you in the same direction if we see a significant increase in residential development. 
  • The North End is currently the only area that does not yet have a public transportation terminal of any sort; however it does have a current (light rail) and future (gateway tunnel) train line that overlap in the northern end of this area, and these train lines further connect to NYC, the Ferry and that Path station.    
  • We have already seen a 60% increase in Kindergarten and 1st graders in the past 4 years – the limits of our free pre-k 3 and pre-k 4 programs, our schools and our field space for the various recreational activities for children are all being tested with rising population. 
  • Our public high school was built in 1962. Our amazing Superintendent Dr. Johnson has said she wants Hoboken to be a model Urban School District and a strong public school district is the foundation to a strong community. At some point we need to have a model urban building for our high school, but land is very scarce and options are limited. 
  • We have the best located land in NJ with multiple, current and future public transportation access points; and we have a diverse labor pool with a range of education and skills. This area is attractive to employers as evidenced by Samsung’s previous interest in moving its headquarters to Hoboken as well as Hilton Hotels interest in coming here; this supports the financial feasibility of building non-residential. 
  • Non-residential uses contribute to our tax base without using as much of our municipal services. So more dollars in than dollars out which will help keep taxes low. 
  • Non-residential uses offer more job opportunities to our diverse, local population. Imagine if your commute was just a few short blocks and required no public forms of transportation… ahh the dream…
    • Read More...