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Tonight Hoboken will hold a public hearing on repealing the 500 foot rule at 7:00 pm. The forum of the century; not an actual debate but more a group press conference of the major candidates follows at 9:00. It’s not a debate as the forum is more akin to a press conference with consecutive answers of opposing candidates.

As MSV has predicted since the summer, the eMedia (Establishment Media) would suggest the polling indicates a tightening race after Labor Day. The so-called tightening is visible in the obvious weighting among the two parties and independents. (Guess which party benefits with this weighted ten point poll sample advantage? Answer: It doesn’t impact similarly on Election Day.) As the “debate” is scheduled for this evening, there’s expectations 100 million Americans will tune in making it the largest political event of its kind seen in US history. Read More...

From the desk of Councilman Peter Cunningham:

Dear neighbors, family and friends, 

There are a couple of significant legislative matters facing Hoboken which you should be aware of: 1) a demolition ordinance to protect historically significant buildings; and 2) an ordinance to repeal the famed 500 foot rule which pertains to liquor license locations. Recently I wrote and expressed my concern (along with many of my neighbors) with how buildings of historical significance were being severely altered and taken down,  They were dangerously affecting the structures of adjacent buildings.  At last Wednesday night’s Council Meeting, we took a significant step to protect Hoboken’s historic past.  On first reading, an ordinance to protect historically significant buildings was passed 9-0, and I thank my council members, the Hoboken Historic Commission and members of the public for their support.  There’s more work to be done, but this is an important first step. Secondly, there’s an important meeting tomorrow night at City Hall for the general public on the City Council’s potential repeal of the 500 foot rule.  Outright repeal, I cannot support.  However, if an amendment is carefully crafted to avoid the creation of “bar row” and encourage more appealing restaurants, that’s different. My council colleague Tiffanie Fisher did a terrific job laying out the history, current considerations and what should be considered on such an important matter.  Please read her piece at  https://hobokenhorse.com/2016/09/councilwoman-tiffanie-fisher-your-voice.html. Please pass along to your friends and neighbors, and let me know your thoughts. Thanks, Peter

Click here to to RSVP and purchase your tickets online We look forward to seeing you there

From the desk of Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher:

Dear Hoboken friends and neighbors –  Monday night there will be an important debate – and I don’t mean the Presidential one that begins at 9pm!  There will be a public meeting at 7pm at City Hall to discuss and debate whether for the second time since the law was established in 1966, we should repeal what is known as the “500 ft rule”.  =&0=& =&1=& If the law is repealed outright, you may find yourself with one, more or many bars, restaurants or liquor stores on your block that were not there previously.  To some this may be welcomed and to others this may not.  IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU ATTEND AND/OR WATCH THIS MEETING TO LEARN MORE AND VOICE YOUR SUPPORT OR CONCERN.  IT IS CURRENTLY CONTEMPLATED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON REPEALING THIS LAW ON OCTOBER 5TH.  5 VOTES ARE NEEDED TO PASS IT. =&0=& =&3=& The 500 ft rule was put in place 50 years ago in 1966, repealed in 1987 and re-instated in 1991 for the same reasons it was put in place 25 years earlier: due to quality of life (noise and public nuisance) and safety issues that occur within areas with concentration of bars. The rule basically says that no liquor license can move to a location that is within 500 feet of another same kind of liquor license (simply put there are liquor store licenses and restaurant / bar type licenses).  When the rule was put in place, existing locations were grandfathered in.  That is why you see rows of bars and restaurants near the PATH and on lower Washington, 1st and 14th streets.   =&0=& =&5=& Approximately 10% of all municipalities in New Jersey have local laws that limit “Alcohol Saturation” to prevent concentration of liquor licenses in small areas.  The ones I have read range from as short as 400ft up to 2500ft.  A few of these include Bloomfield, East Rutherford, Point Pleasant, and Middletown.  Also, NYC city has it as well.  They seem to be more prevalent in places that have compact areas with high density and / or significant tourism and / or areas that have combined residential and commercial use. =&0=& =&7=& Effectively, there are currently two governing rules that determine where a liquor license can go: –          500 ft. rule – which basically has no exceptions –          Zoning laws – enforced either by Planning Board or Zoning Board.  If bars and restaurants are not permitted within a zone, or are conditionally permitted, a bar / restaurant owner would have to go before the ZBA or PB for a use variance or approval for a conditional use.  In each case, neighbors within 200 ft would receive notice in advance, agendas are publicized and members of the public can voice their views on the application. If the 500 ft. rule is repealed outright, then restaurants and bars could consider locations ANYWHERE in Hoboken.  In most cases, zoning board or planning board approval would be required.  However, in the following areas, Bars and Restaurants are permitted uses and require NO APPROVAL TO OPEN:  –          The Central Business District (Washington south of 4th, east and down to the PATH) –          The Planned Urban Developments in the I-1(W) zone – Shipyard, Maxwell and Hudson Tea complexes –          Select redevelopments areas within the western I-1 zones. That means if you live in or adjacent to any of these areas, you would not get the benefit of receiving notice before a new restaurant or bar opens.  And in these locations, demographics are business friendly, barriers to entry are low, and therefore the risk is higher that we would see an increase in bars and restaurants in these areas.  Here is the link to the current Hoboken zoning map: 

http://www.hobokennj.org/docs/communitydev/Zoning-Map.pdf Read More...

From the desk of Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro:

Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro (D-33) introduced a bill (A4165) this week aimed at educating new drivers on the correct ways to share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians in an effort to curb injuries and accidents.

“As more and more residents in New Jersey opt to use a bicycle through share programs or just buying one for personal use, specifically in our urban areas, it’s necessary to ensure that our driver education classes, tests, and manuals are updated to reflect the changing landscape of the roads,” Chaparro said. Read More...

A special meeting is scheduled on the City Council proposal to change the existing 500 foot rule on liquor license establishments opening in proximity to one another.

The date of the public hearing is unfortunately set for the same evening as the first presidential debate, September 26th.

The final vote of the City Council on the ordinance has been moved to the October 5th meeting.

Public Meeting: Hoboken Liquor Licenses & the 500 foot rule Read More...

Office of the US Attorney General announces:

Attorney General of the United States Loretta E. Lynch, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman for the District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for the Southern District of New York, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Director James B. Comey, Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney of the FBI New York Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher of the FBI Newark Field Office and Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”) James O’Neill announced that Ahmad Khan Rahami, a/k/a “Ahmad Rahimi,” has been charged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, for conducting and attempting to conduct bombings in New York City and various locations in New Jersey on September 17, 2016, and September 18, 2016. Read More...

Once again the Sully follies came to light when the weekend rag’s political columnist Al Sullivan attempted to vent longstanding anti-reform sentiments of that publication toward Mayor Zimmer and his claims of a cover-up.

The said cover-up involved an event hosted by gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy and his think tank New Start New Jersey, a Bon Jovi backed kick-off for aiding the Soprano State’s battered middle class. According to Sully, anonymous sources deny Mayor Zimmer attended said related event some undetermined time ago. Sully has been blathering about this on and off for some months much like his insistence Mayor Zimmer was resigning. Some dreams die hard. Read More...

Courtesy of NJ.com