News

Ravi goes to Trenton

by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

Mayor Ravi Bhalla went to Trenton, the state capitol to press for a review of the NJ Transit plan to install NY Waterway at the Union Dry Dock location.

He was joined by Second Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher and other Hoboken residents.

Via twitter @ 1:00 pm:

Spent the morning in Trenton advocating in support of a continuous waterfront in #Hoboken. My hope is @NJTRANSIT will hit the pause button on their deal to purchase Union Dry Dock and instead work with the community to come up with a solution that works for everyone. pic.twitter.com/7kr9tWPAcE

— Ravinder S. Bhalla (@RaviBhalla) January 8, 2018

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News

Councilwoman Jen Giattino: “Hoboken needs your help”

by SmartyJones2 Min Reading

Official release:



Dear friends and neighbors –  In September of 2012 Mayor Zimmer and I sent a letter to Governor Christie, Commissioner Simpson, and Executive Director Weinstein regarding NJ Transit’s acquisition of Union Dry Dock. Executive Director Weinstein responded that NJ Transit was no longer looking to acquire Union Dry Dock nor would they be in the future (letters are attached below). Although, I cannot attend tomorrow’s hearing in Trenton, I have asked Mayor Bhalla and Councilwoman Fisher to incorporate Executive Director Weinstein’s 2012 letter into the record. Please take a few moments to forward the template letter below to NJ Transit officials and state legislators. NJ Transit has a meeting on 1/10 and is scheduled to vote on the acquisition of Union Dry Dock. Your voice matters, so please take the time. Who to send it to: Please email your letter directly to the following ASAP:

  • NJ Transit Board – njtboard@njtransit.com
  • Paul Wyckoff, Deputy Executive Director NJ Transit – pwyckoff@njtransit.com
  • Eric Daleo, Assist ED of Capital Projects – edaleo@njtransit.com
  • John Leon, Government Relations NJ Transit – jleon@njtransit.com
  • Steven Santoro, Executive Director NJ Transit – ssantoro@njtransit.com
  • Richard Hammer, Commissioner NJ DOT – rick.hammer@dot.nj.gov
    • Read More...

    News

    Police Chief Ferrante briefs City Council on ‘terrorism’ flyer investigation

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    Concluding the City Council meeting Wednesday night, Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante outlined the extensive investigative efforts on the ‘terrorism’ flyer leading into last November’s contentious Hoboken municipal election.

    Hitting the streets early Friday evening before the Tuesday November 7th election, the notorious flyer generated a rising tide of sympathy for then mayoral candidate Ravi Bhalla propelling him to victory with less than one-third of the vote.

    Of interest, the massive publicity surrounding the flyer led to a dramatic increase in voter participation. Fully 25% more voters went to the polls for the Hoboken elections last November then in 2013. Read More...

    News

    Ravi council votes: “We come to vote in present”

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    As proposed by MSV a compromise candidate last year and predicted early this year: Councilman Ruben Ramos was voted by his council colleagues last night to be Hoboken Council President.

    The new city council president who also has served as a NJ Assemblyman spoke of the enormous positive changes on the Hoboken legislative body in recent years where professionalism and collaboration have become the standard.

    “Honestly, 90 percent of time, the votes here are unanimous… 10 percent that we’ll work to get through, plug away to produce the best outcome for our 55,000 residents.” Read More...

    News

    Tales from the Crypt: False attacks on council members leaked out of the mayor’s office!

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    What does a Ravi Bhalla paid campaign political operative, one dead operative, slander and false leaks against multiple Hoboken council members all have in common?

    Not a single council meeting in 2018 is underway and their all part of fur flying and mudslinging during last year’s campaign. Tora! Tora! Tora! 

    First, the mayor’s office is allegedly leaking misinformation to Sybil’s Cave where the mutt like yapping against good governance City Council members: Peter Cunningham, Tiffanie Fisher and Jen Giattino is a 24-7 affair. Six of the nine council members were falsely accused of not responding to email invitations to the mayoral and council inaugural held on Monday. Departing City Council President Jen Giattino who has scored high marks for two consecutive years of magnanimous leadership is deemed Beth Mason. Tsk, tsk Syb. Read More...

    News

    Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher: What are your priorities in 2018?

    by SmartyJones3 Min Reading

    Official release

    Dear friends and neighbors –
    I hope that all of you were able to spend time with those close to you during the holidays and that your new year is off to only a great start.  
    However, yesterday, I was able to attend the historic inaugurations of our new Mayor Ravi Bhalla – the first Sikh to be elected mayor in the state of NJ – and our new At Large Councilwoman Vanessa Falco – the first African American council member in Hoboken.  Not to be outshined, also the repeat inauguration of At Large Councilman Jim Doyle, and the first time inauguration of At Large Councilwoman Emily Jabbour.  I offer my congratulations to all four and am looking forward to working with them on all things good for Hoboken. 
    As we look ahead, we have an opportunity to do so much together for Hoboken.  And YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL to me so please email me with your thoughts:
    • What is important to you?  
    • What do you think we need to keep doing?  
    • What do you think we need to do differently?  
    • What should be our first priority?  
    • What would you like to see considered that has not already been?
    Based upon what I have learned over the last two years, a few of my priorities for the 2nd Ward and all of Hoboken include:

  • Getting Washington St. done and done right – I would like to see the city hire an experienced  engineer / public works professional to manage the completion of this project and the many other infrastructure, municipal and private / public partnership projects that our city faces over the next decade. 
  • Implementing improved traffic calming measures at the many intersections where people feel there is danger – in particular 11th and Hudson, 13th and Park, 15th and Garden, and along Sinatra Drive.
  • Making sure that developments across Hoboken work for Hoboken– in particular the three redevelopment corners of our city:  SE (NJ Transit), SW and NE – and ensuring we do robust economic analyses for all development negotiations. 
  • Finding a way to continue the progress that makes Hoboken so desirable, but making sure we are not displacing our own residents due to affordability.  
  • Establishing better parking rates so that people are not kicked out of town after their meter runs out.
  • Continuing to fight for a public waterfront – Union Dry Dock and Monarch – this is where I started my own community advocacy.
  • Finishing Rebuild By Design and making sure all residents benefit from improved resiliency. 
  • Doing what we can to influence the expansion of transportation alternatives available to Hoboken residents.
    • Read More...

    News

    Sign of the Times: Senator Cory Booker in Hoboken performs the oaths of office

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    NJ Senator Cory Booker came to Hoboken and performed the oath of office for all three council candidates. Booker who has known Mayor Ravi Bhalla for years, handled the duties for three council members in addition to Hoboken mayor.

    Council candidates from left: Emily Jabbour, Jim Doyle and Vanessa Falco take the oath of offices simultaneously yesterday afternoon in the auditorium of Hoboken High School.

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    News

    Ravi Bhalla inaugurated as Hoboken mayor; risks federal funds in first executive action

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    Ravi Bhalla, a two term Hoboken City Councilman takes the helm as mayor of the Mile Square City being sworn-in at Hoboken High School.

    NJ Senator Cory Booker performed the swearing in duties for Ravi Bhalla and council members Vanessa Falco, Emily Jabbour and Jim Doyle who will serve a second four year council term.

    All four took an oath to uphold both the NJ and US Constitution.

    Ravi Bhalla is sworn in as Hoboken mayor by NJ Senator Cory Booker.

    Last November, Bhalla won a highly contested six way mayoral race with four major campaigns vying for the top office. In an election featuring mudslinging galore, Bhalla would come out on top pulling in less than 33% of the vote. Read More...

    News

    Ruben Ramos to be elected Council President

    by SmartyJones1 Min Reading

    2018 enters with big changes on the way. On New Year’s afternoon, Ravi Bhalla will take the oath of office for mayor swearing to uphold the NJ and US Constitution at Hoboken High School. Shortly thereafter those documents will be nullified by executive fiat welcoming break-ins into the People’s Republic of Hoboken. 

    It may be difficult to find the PRH on a map of nations. It may be nestled somewhere between Iran and India but when it comes to federal funding, City Hall will change its tune on a dime bellowing “We’re closer to Washington DC than Newark.” This even as an official release from Hoboken City Hall proclaimed, “law enforcement resources will not be expended in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.” Read More...