Once feared by Hoboken residents when it became known as Mardi Gras north, Lepercon, the successor to the St. Patrick’s Day never held on the actual patron saint’s day in the Mile Square City has fizzled.
Dubbed Leprecon by a group of never say die bar owners, the replacement plan designating Hoboken the site of a wild melee up and down the East Coast on the first Saturday of March saw more declining numbers of participants and arrests.
Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante telegraphed the demise of the Lepers via Twitter where six arrests were compiled. Of arrest numbers five and six:
There’s no other way to describe it. After 79 municipal workers of the City of Hoboken received layoff notices scheduled for early May, dozens descended on the council meeting last Wednesday.
It was calamitous for Mayor Ravi Bhalla who faced barbs and their wrath at every turn.
The Hoboken mayor who presented the massive layoffs states he has a budget deficit this year of more than $7 million. He’s opposed with detailed and transparent delineations by others on the City Council who point out the actual deficit number is more like $13 million.
Frank Pupie Raia, inmate number 72020-050 has “gone away,” the historical terminology of Old Hoboken for a friend or family member in prison.
Raia, 68, begins a three month stint for underwriting and leading a systematic voter fraud operation using Vote-by-Mail out of his Jefferson St. social club in the 2013 Hoboken municipal election.
He was convicted by a jury last June in Newark federal court.
Raia is now residing in South Jersey at FCI Fairton in Cumberland County handling less than 1500 inmates as the Feds are appealing the paltry three month sentence, seeking a longer stint for Pupie.
In a remarkable reversal of fortune, former VP Joe Biden has come back from almost dead to take a small lead after the Democrat Party Super Tuesday election.
He currently has 60 delegates more than Senator Bernie Sanders with several hundred delegates to be finalized among the candidates on the West Coast.
According to the NY Times delegate counter, Biden popped into the lead taking many of the eastern states while Sander’s fortunes rose in a mano a mano race in Texas with a near delegate split and victories in Colorado and Utah with the biggest prize yet to be tallied: California.
In what some campaign corners are calling “Super Thursday,” today is a decisive moment in the 2020 election cycle and a narrowing of candidacies as voters go to the polls.
New Jersey is not among those states including Texas, California, Virginia, etc. but Hoboken people should remember they are residents of Hudson County and not only at tax time.
Hudson County is where people go to die but vote eternal. In this spirit, while voter fraud has been devastated in the Mile Square City, (you’re welcome) its soul lives here in the land of HudCo and by extension holds fellowship with the Democrat National Committee (DNC).
The City of Hoboken issued 79 layoff notices to municipal workers Friday as the reverberations of Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s budget debacle take hold.
| Ravi Bhalla is preparing his ax issuing 79 layoff notices last Friday. His 2020 budget is in dispute with one financial forecast by Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher stating it’s $12 million in red ink not the $7 million the mayor’s office claims. |
According to a story earlier today on the Hudson County View, the layoffs would become effective end of day May 7th this spring.
Official release:
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Dear Neighbors,
I hope you are well. February has proven to be a very busy month and there’s much going on that I want to share with you.
Mile Square Theatre’s Excellent New Production
Our own professional theater company, Mile Square Theatre, unveiled its new play “5 Times in One Night” last week. The show runs through March 15th. I saw the show last week and really enjoyed it. An adult comedy (for ages 17+) two-person show with fine actors in a special production, in Hoboken’s wonderful local theater, Mile Square Theatre. I agree with the reviewer’s comments below:
“5 Times in One Night delivers a breezy 90 minutes of giggles and guffaws — quality theater at a budget price. . . . The chemistry of ‘Will And Grace,’ the physical comedy of ‘I Love Lucy,’ and the pratfalls and foibles of ‘Seinfeld.’ And theater beats television every time. What’s not to like?”
Get your tickets now (and leave the kids home).
Tickets/showtimes/schedule are available at: www.milesquaretheatre.org
The Tribeca Film Festival is Coming to Hoboken (and the 5th Ward)!
Have you heard the news? The internationally renowned Tribeca Film Festival is expanding to Hoboken and is coming to the 5th Ward! The festival, which is entering its 19th year, will bring its “cinematic storytelling and experiences” to our Mile Square City in April. This wonderful event further cements our city as one of the major cultural destinations in the tri-state area. The festival runs April 15-26th. Stay tuned for schedule and screening details, and I hope to see you on the red carpet at this major Hoboken cultural event. Read more about it here!
Coffee With Cohen
If you haven’t been to Tosti Cafe (or even if you have), let me treat you to some coffee ☕️ and croissants ???? at the March Coffee with Cohen on Monday, March 2nd from 8:00 to 9:30 am at 1024 Washington Street.
Come for coffee, croissants, and conversation. I hope to see you there! You can RSVP for this free event, here!
United Synagogue of Hoboken’s Casino Night ???? ????
The United Synagogue of Hoboken is hosting its always popular 14th annual casino night on Saturday February 29th! Doors open at 7 pm and gaming starts at 7:30 pm at the Elks Club. Your ticket includes dinner, open bar, prizes, and great games! Come join members of the public and the Synagogue in a fun-filled night of games and music at USH’s biggest fundraiser of the year. See you there!
Fox Hill Karaoke Dedication ????
On February 12th I hosted a karaoke dedication for my dear friends in Fox Hill Gardens. I practiced for this special dedication event, but unlike me, my ???? ⛰ friends actually have talent! They sound great and are already using the karaoke machine to program their own activities. I can’t wait to return and enjoy their future performances. ????⛰️❤️
Thanks to Mayor Bhalla, Freeholder Romano, and Hoboken Democratic Party Chair Rachel Hodes for attending the event. Your participation means so much to the residents. If you would like to see my karaoke ???? rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life” for the Fox Hill residents click here!
Low-Cost Internet Service For Fox Hill Residents
At my karaoke dedication event at Fox Hills, I invited Andrena, a low-cost wi-fi/Internet provider to attend. Andrena offers Wifi internet services for just $25/month, a big cost savings for our Seniors and residents living on fixed incomes. As of mid-February, 15 residents Fox Hill residents had already signed up and they love the service (and the savings)! You can find out if you qualify for Andrena’s service here.
Police and Fire HQ Tours
I was recently appointed to serve on the Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee. So, I toured the Police and Fire headquarters with our Chiefs to better understand the work of our public safety professionals.
In January, I toured the Fire Department HQ with Chief Brian Crimmins and met the men and women who support Hoboken’s bravest. Then, last week I enjoyed a tour of Police Department HQ with Chief Ken Ferrante. On the Police tour, I met the hard-working investigation unit as they handled a package theft case where the victim was a 5th Ward Jefferson Street resident. I watched the investigators scan hours of security footage to identify a key 30-second clip to solve the case.
We applaud the dedicated men and women in our public safety community who work every day to protect our quality of life.
Railyard Redevelopment Plan
At the February 19 City Council meeting, my Council colleagues and I voted unanimously to approve the framework for an amended Hoboken Yard Redevelopment Plan. The 2014 framework previously authorized by the City Council, required amendment to accommodate the Rebuild by Design resist features which are planned for southern Hoboken. The amended plan reduces the overall railyard development by approximately 1 million square feet and anticipates greater commercial density, and far less residential development at our transit hub, as well as significantly reduced building heights in the railyard development from the redevelopment plan the City Council considered just last year.
Mayor Bhalla and his Administration will now enter the next phase of development, negotiating a redevelopment agreement without inhibiting the completion of the Rebuild by Design project that we absolutely need to make our city resilient. You can read about the Council’s amended Hoboken Yard Redevelopment Plan here.
Parking and Transportation Developments
More HOP Service! ???? ????
The HOP provides FREE shuttle transportation, improving access and mobility in areas least served by public transit. Mayor Bhalla announced that starting March 2nd the City will phase in two additional HOP buses ???? ???? during peak commuting hours! This is good news.
Increased HOP service will reduce our city’s carbon emissions, as a part of Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan, and keep us on track to exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2050. You can track the location of your HOP bus in real-time, and see your HOP routes using the “Passio Go” app that you can download for free.
Discounted Annual Parking Registration For Seniors, Vets, and Disabled Individuals
During the past City Council meeting I, along with my City Council colleagues, voted (8 for and 0 against (with 1 abstention from Councilman Russo)) to provide 50% discounted annual parking permits to our Seniors (age 62 or older), our veterans, and persons with disabilities (or $26/year for one car, as opposed to $52/year). I have spoken with a number of concerned seniors about this issue and want to make sure that you know I will always keep our seniors’ needs and fixed incomes in mind when making policies for the City.
Sunday Parking is (and remains) Free!
Some have expressed a fear that in our recent meetings the Council authorized Sunday parking meter enforcement or required visitors to purchase visitor permits on Sundays. This fear is unfounded. Hoboken’s Sunday FREE parking (and Sunday visitor permit-free parking) policies continue unchanged.
New Meter Pricing in Our Business District
Transportation Director Ryan Sharp and the Council’s Parking and Transportation Subcommittee (on which I don’t serve) recommended, with the enthusiastic support of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, that parking meters in our business districts increase rates from $1/hour to $2/hour. The majority of the Councilmembers and I approved this increase with the expectation that we will see an increased rate of turnover of parking spaces in our commercial areas. With this price increase, we expect that more employees will choose to park in municipal lots, leaving prime spots on Washington Street available for customers. This should be good for Hoboken’s businesses and good for the customers. The new rates in business districts of $.50 per 15 minutes are slated to begin the week of March 9. You can read more about these issues here.
Water Infrastructure Repairs and Major Water Main Break at Willow Avenue and 14th Streets During Presidents’ Day Weekend
Infrastructure Upgrades
Hoboken is working with Suez to upgrade water infrastructure at eight locations totaling 7,035 linear feet or 15 blocks. Construction began in September 2019 and is anticipated to last until March 2020. Hoboken plans to replace 18% of its entire water system by 2034. This represents the first time in decades that Hoboken is being proactive in replacing water mains before they break instead of simply providing emergency repairs, a historic shift from years of neglect.
Water Main Break
Hoboken experienced a major water main break on Willow Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets on early Saturday morning on February 15th. Thanks to Fletcher Creamer, SUEZ, Hoboken Police Department, Hoboken OEM and to Mayor Bhalla’s office for addressing and managing this water main break, so that it was repaired in time for rush hour on Tuesday February 19th. Most of all, thanks to our residents for their patience through the temporary inconvenience suffered as a result of the road closures, traffic redirection, and sporadic loss of water service necessitated by the pipe and roadway repairs related to this 30-inch water main. With the proactive investments we are making to upgrade our water infrastructure, we hope that these incidents will become much more uncommon events for our community.
If I can ever be of any assistance you, please do not hesitate to contact me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com
Thanks, and best wishes to you and your family,
Phil Cohen
5th Ward Councilman
City of Hoboken, New Jersey
(862) 234-9053
P.S. You can learn more about me and my ideas for Hoboken on my website,
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News 12 began telecasting the report seen below on the Hoboken Fire Victims Memorial Project.
This Saturday at All Saints at 7th and Washington, “Remember the Fires, 1978 – 1983 will be hosted by Rev. Elaine Ellis Thomas where a community discussion is set to take place from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
In addition to recounting the events at that time by eyewitnesses, Mile Square Theater will have members on hand to cast a dramatic reading by playwright Joseph Gallo from his play “Yuppies Invade My House at Dinnertime” highlighting the fires, many by arson and the gentrification of Hoboken at that time.
According to a report on the Hudson County View, there may be a way out of the battle between NY Waterway, the current owner of the former Union Dry Dock site and the City of Hoboken.
The solution would involve NY Waterway returning to a spruced up Weehawken location with an unknown amount of cash sweetening the deal.
Since NY Waterway owns Union Dry Dock and the City of Hoboken offered a little more than $13 million, the difference in the cost may be what will induce NY Waterway to return its operations up the road to an enhanced operating facility.