Tiffany, I called you back just a moment ago. They're going tonight. That's your team. That's literally your team. So Jerry, are we ready? Oh, no. I'm sorry. All
right. All those present. The notice of this meeting has been provided to the public in accordance with the provisions of the open public meeting act. And that notice was published in the city website. Copies provided to the stands one
nation indivisible. Mr. Con here. Miss Fischer. Yes. Mr. Jabore here. President Xano present. Mr. Cano present. Mr. Ramos present. Mr. Russo present. President Doyle present.
So we're going to suspend the agenda for a couple of proclamations. Um I think Oh shoot. Councilwoman Mhm. Fisher and Jabbor were all going to get up. I suspect it
that's you. Where would you like? Sure. Wherever you'd like to be. Do you want to here? Why don't you face everyone? Then you'll show on camera. Right. That's okay. Um good evening. Thank you all for being here. Uh we we wanted to make sure to
recognize um Bev Savage. Um Beverly has been for the last 20 years the executive director of Hudson County CASA. CASA stands for the courtappointed special advocates. Uh I had actually the privilege of volunteering with CASA in Massachusetts right after college. So
when I relocated down to this area and learned that there was a CASA locally, I knew I wanted to get involved in terms of how I could be supportive um and came to find a number of friends actually who have been working with Bev in the last many years. Um CASA is an incredible organization. Uh their mission is to
support children in foster care. uh there needs to be somebody looking out for those kids, guardians. And this is a person who volunteers their time to be committed to looking out for a child in the system. They attend court hearings. They go to different uh child welfare meetings. They may meet with different
family members to help permanency plan for kids who otherwise get lost in the system. Um these are truly some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Uh, and for her entire 20 year career, Bev has been dedicated to making sure that that whole organization can run
smoothly, that it's well funded, that it has volunteers who are dedicated, and has been an incredible advocate to do good work. Whether you see her in the community fundraising, whether it's backpack drives at the beginning of every fall, um whether it's celebrating the incredible work of volunteers at any
number of social gatherings, I'm just constantly impressed at the endless energy that you have to bring to this passion and truly this has been a mission that is so incredible to watch and we are very very grateful because this work could not be done by anyone. Uh it really has to be done by someone
who understands, who's compassionate, uh and who has been able to see this organization to all of its success. Um and then I'm going to hand this over to Councilman Fisher. Okay. She didn't leave me a lot more to say, but the one No, no, that's okay. Honestly, I I echo everything. I met Bev uh when I was on
the zoning board with her husband 11 years or so ago. Um, and I think in addition to everything that uh, Councilman George just said, I think one of the things that has always been um, so impressive to me is how many people within the Hoboken community are
volunteers with CASA. Like so it's not, you know, it's the effort, you know, for these children, which is first and foremost. Um, but it's also the integration and, you know, within the spine of Hoboken and really that connection and and pulling people to help. you know, people always find, you
know, look for ways to help and you've been this great connection like I feel like Hoboken has connected to Kasa before that or because of that. Any any number any idea how many volunteer how many volunteers you have right now? I can't say. Yeah. Yeah. So, anyway, I
think uh what we we have a proclamation um for you. We couldn't be more excited, you know, for whatever your next, you know, step is. And we know you're going to be in Hoboken still supporting uh everything that we do that's good here. So, and we know you're probably not going to step away from silly involved.
It means I can still ask all of you for money, but Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Say a few words. Well, this is a real honor to be honored by my community. It means a lot to me. I've known many of you personally over the years. Kasa has a big presence in the house tonight because, as Emily said, she's a former
Kasa volunteer. Tiffany is, and uh Michael Russo's wife, his better half, Lisa, is an out is an outstanding volunteer. Um, we have been working very hard. We have to work behind the scenes because the children's cases are confidential. Can't tell you their
names, can't tell you where they're placed, but over the years there have been many foster kids placed here. We have a lot of great families. We've had a significant number of cases. We don't get the referrals that we do from example from Union City or Jersey City, but there have been a significant number
and hundreds of volunteers. I think that um, you know, everybody has been so helpful. I'd like to just make a small tribute to the late Genji Tino because last year at this time we had a kid who was in crisis. Her older sister had gone to county prep, was extremely
successful. She was rejected. This kid was devastated. The family was devastated. Um she would have been she would have been in bad shape at public high school in Jersey City. I called Jen. I think we talked maybe 30 seconds. She said, "Call Reuben." I texted
Reuben. 30 seconds later he said what to do what you know reapply this child got in these are two good people no one knew that they were helping us they have changed this child's life they've changed this family's life she had a great ye a great year so I think that
there's so many good people out here who do excellent work and I know that it'll keep up um I think of Hoboken Hoboken is the mile square city you know I certainly know that but I think Hoboken cares for kids and I'd like to see that being our our subtext text because we
are a wonderful community. The other thing that's happened here is when the child the children are placed here, they entered the school system. They have gotten the best care from the teachers, the social workers, the learning specialists, the principles. This far exceeds what we see in other parts of
the county. This school system and this community supports kids and I'm very proud to be a part of it and I'm very happy for this great honor. Thank you so much. I take a quick photo. [Applause] very much better half join.
Yeah, one more. So, it it's always amazing when we have the ability to honor one of Hoboken's heroes and and Bevo certainly is one of our heroes, one of our current heroes, but this is a week where we remember.
It's a week where we remember D-Day. Uh, and it's been my my honor to to actually speak a little bit here tonight. And I'm not going to say much because we have uh the commander of post 107 here uh and the commander will come up and say a few words. But I did want to just remind everybody that because of all those
actions, right? There are points in our history where we have the ability to do the things that we do. We have the ability right now to assemble here and honor a hero that we see right in front of us. But we do that because of the heroes of past. So, this is one of those
instances where we honor all of those who have made that ultimate sacrifice and remembering that in incredibly difficult and devastating day, but we do that in their honor. We do that so that that memory continues each and every
time we honor someone else in the city of Hobok. And you know, a lot of times we we may bicker up here at at the council table, but these are the moments where we all get to come together. These are the moments where we get to put all of our politics aside. We do that
locally. We do that in the state of New Jersey and we do that nationally because these are the things that actually unite us. So, it is my honor and my privilege to introduce the commander of Post 107. Commander, please.
Thank you, Michael. Thank you. It's a It's a pleasure to be [Applause] here. When we go to the beach the summer, don't forget your sunscreen. And don't forget the young
men that went to the beaches of Normandy, France nearly 80 years ago. They didn't go with sunscreen to bathe on Utah Beach. They didn't go with swimsuits to swim at Omaha Beach. They
went with backpacks loaded with hundreds of pounds of equipment to fight for the great freedoms we enjoy today. They went with courage and determination to help our allies liberate Europe. They fought gallantly
and thousands never made it home to Hoboken. The Hoboka World War II Memorial lists 163 names of Hoboka Knights that never came back to this mile square city. Let's always remember the sacrifices our men and women are
making today, not just on Memorial Day, but every day. God bless our troops. God bless Hobok and God bless America. Jimmy, get over here. Yeah, Jimmy. Yeah, Jimmy's one of our vets. Jimmy was an
[Applause] I'll talk to you like John. Okay. So, we have a presentation tonight to start our meeting. I'd like to introduce George
Paschalis and Zach McHugh with regard to the presentation that that with regards the Hudson tunnel project 4F uh but 1600 park. Thank you. And good evening. Can you hear me? Yes.
Uh, try again. Good evening. Get closer and we'll Good evening. Ah, there it is. You may have to Good evening to members of the council, to the administration, and members of the public. Uh, thank you for the
opportunity to be here with you today. My name is George Pascalis. I'm the community relations manager for the Hudson Tunnel Project. Thank you very much. Oh, that's much better. Uh, and I'm joined here today, uh, by Jake Wade, who's our senior environmental planner,
and David Smith, um, our senior tunnel engineer. So, we want to begin tonight with a big picture snapshot of the project, then zoom in to our work at your northernmost border, particularly work planned uh, next to 1600 Park.
We're going to provide a brief overview of the environmental process, including section 4F coordination, explain some project refinements that have resulted in changes to our construction, some of our construction plans and timetables, and let you know how you can share
feedback on those changes. And we promise to do all of this in under 15 minutes. Please don't set that timer. Uh for those uh not with us tonight or watching online, this presentation is also posted on our website at
hudsonpro.com and we will be accepting comments until July 7th. So there's plenty of time to review this at your leisure and we'll get more into that uh at the end of the presentation. Okay, zooming out for a moment. Uh as many of you know, the Northeast Corridor is the most heavily
trafficked rail corridor in the country. From DC to Boston, corridor supports 800,000 daily passenger trips and moves 20% of the nation's GDP, the busiest and most congested 10
milei stretch of the corridor right here in our neck of the wood woods. Um, and it relies on an over a century old one track in one track out tunnel connecting New York, New Jersey, and the rest of the corridor.
So, what are we doing? We are building nine miles of new passenger rail track between New York and New Jersey, including a new twotube tunnel under the Hudson and rehabilitating the existing tunnels and in doing so eliminating the
root cause of delays that have plagued commuters nearly two out of every three days. Project is fully funded and construction is well underway in both states. And as many of you may have noticed out on the river, uh this next slide speaks to the urgency
of this project. Um a four-year shutdown of just one tube for repairs would cause um as you can see here, 16 a 16 billion dollar loss to GDP and the equivalent of losing 33,000 jobs per
year. Okay. Uh the five active sites today are creating more than 20,000 jobs and a 4.5 and 4.5 billion in economic activity. This will grow to 95,000 jobs and nearly $20 billion in economic
output over the project's construction period. Zooming in um we have two projects here in New Jersey. the Tunnley Avenue project in North Bergen and the Palisades Tunnel project um that straddles North Bergen and Hoboken. These two projects alone are creating
5,500 jobs uh and boosting the local economy with $450 million in wages and benefits. Okay, now I'm going to turn this over to Jake who will talk to us about the construction sites in and adjacent to Hoboken and the project
refinements I referenced earlier. Thanks, George. Uh, so again, can you guys hear me without the mic? All right, people online. Can you hear me now? Yeah. Okay. Uh, so again, I'm Jake. I'm with the planning team uh working on the environmental review for
the Hudson Tunnel project. Um, and I'll describe briefly some of the uh construction going on here in Hoboken and We Hawin. Uh so here you can see on the uh on the screen the orange area is the large Hudson County uh construction site uh where the the uh construction
access shaft is going to be constructed and the tunnel boring machine is going to be launched out of. Um what we're really going to get into today, however, is uh refinements to uh construction at the ground stabilization construction area. Uh that's in the yellow and then
uh at the Willow Avenue vioaduct uh underpinning area in red. Um so here's just a profile view of uh Hoboken and Wii Hawin and um the profile view of the tunnel alignment passing beneath uh Hoboken. Um so in total uh
tunneling beneath Hoboken and Wehawen is going to be on the order of 3 to 4 months um depending on the exact uh date of uh the the tunnel boring machine launching. Um, and this would be around uh at least 60 to 80 feet below uh the
surface of Hudson County. Um, so moving into the environmental review process and section 4F process specifically, I'll give an overview and then get into the specific project refinements that uh bring us here today.
Um so the uh in May of 2021 as some of you may know there was a final EIS or that's FEIS and a record of decision ROD or ROD uh for the Hudson Tunnel project um and that it was to document and assess uh the environmental impacts of
the project um and satis to satisfy the national environmental policy and review act uh or NEPA. Um so the Federal Transit Administration or FTA is the lead federal agency for the project. Uh and the Gateway Development Commission
is the NEPA project sponsor. Um so section 4F uh refers to section 4F of the US DOT act of 1966. Um and this establishes the requirement for all federally funded projects uh to evaluate the use of any recreation uh
land recreational lands. So recreational lands could include public parks, recreation areas, wildlife or waterfell refues, so conservation areas, uh, and publicly accessible historic sites. Um so with that background going into the project refinements
um as engineering advanced after the FIS was completed in 2021 uh refinements to the ground stabilization area below the Hudsonber and light rail uh as well as the Willow Avenue viooduct underpinning activity uh were advanced and developed. Uh and these changes warrant uh the
consideration of one section 4F protected resource which is 1600 park in the north end of Hoboken. Um so first getting into the ground stabilization below the Hudsonburg and light rail or HBLR. Um so this was identified in the FIS as something that
was going to be done. However, the specific areas for construction staging uh as well as the construction durations were not provided um at that time. So, as currently contemplated, there would be a new construction staging area that would be um occupying a portion of 17th
Street between uh Clinton Street and Willow Avenue. Uh as well as the uh additional properties identified up there. Um and then this construction staging area would be active for approximately 19 months. Yeah. Uh so here you can see the extent of the
ground stabilization area where the tunnel alignment is going to pass below the Hudson Bergen light rail. Um and uh that's in the orange hatched pattern. Um and then in the yellow you can see the new proposed construction staging area to support these activities. Um and then
on the right there's an image from the Willow Avenue vioaduct uh looking west showing the Hudsonburg and light rail alignment as well as the proposed area for the construction staging. So as you can see this is a vegetated largely overgrown area. Um and this would be cleared during construction to allow for
the ground improvement activities. Um the this construction staging area would be active for 19 months as I mentioned um starting at the beginning of 2026 um and lasting through uh until the latter half of 2027. Um and again this is just another
view of where that construction staging area is going to go. It's going to occupy this portion of 17th Street. Um and again you can see the uh overgrown area between 17th Street and the Hudson Bergen line um that would be used for construction. So this area would be cleared of vegetation during
construction for the 19 months. Um but then following construction would be restored and replanted. Um and GDC is currently in coordination with the city of Hoboken uh to obtain the necessary uh right-of-way user agreements for this occupancy of 17th Street. Is that the the power
station just to the south of the uh yes that the PSCG station is the building directly adjacent to this area? Yes. Um All right. So, transitioning to the second set of changes that we're discussing today, uh the Willow Avenue vioideuct underpinning uh support or the Willow Avenue viuct supports the Willow
Avenue uh it's essentially a bridge over uh the Hudsonburg and light rail. Um and as with the previously discussed changes, these are really refinements of what was in the FIS and already analyzed. Um but following the FBI, we uh the GDC team developed a refined
underpinning scheme to um allow for safe passage of the tunnel boring machine under the Willow Avenue vioaduct and protect the structure of the Willow Avenue vioaduct while minimizing the intensity of construction activities and limiting the amount of excavation. Uh so the proposed uh design now would utilize
micro piles that would be drilled into the ground from below the Willow Avenue vioaduct um and above ground pile caps and steel uh concrete encased steel girders that would be attached to the Willow Avenue vioaduct foundations to support that structure during the tunnel boring machine operations. Um so this
would require some marginal temporary and permanent occupancies uh of 1600 park that is within the Willow Avenue rightway. Um and it would require approximately 14 months of construction in this area. So here you can see the
Will Avenue vioideuct adjacent to 1600 park um and the limit of the proposed construction uh area in orange. Um uh sorry. So construction here would begin in the middle of 2026 and extend
through the middle of 2027. And uh again, this would uh be constructing these permanent above uh above ground pile caps and girders um to attach to the existing foundations of Willow Avenue to support the structure. Um so Willow Avenue would remain open
throughout this construction. Uh there would may be short-term intermittent uh closures during off peak and weekend periods. Um and construction fencing would surround this area to separate it from the publicly accessible park. Uh so and also the public bathrooms and other
key features of the park which we'll get into a little bit more uh would be would remain open and accessible throughout this construction. So here is just the area uh below the Willow Avenue vioct as it currently looks. Um you can see the area of proposed construction that's outlined in orange and then the columns that
would be supported by this infrastructure are highlighted in red. Um and this area is currently fenced off and inaccessible to the public. So for park users of 1600 Park, uh the walkway between Willow Avenue and the adjacent athletic fields uh would be
narrowed to about 10 ft at its narrowest point. Um and adjacent to the public bathroom building, a minimum clear width of 3 ft would be provided during construction. Uh three park trees are located within this orange construction area here. Um two of them would be
protected in place and one would have to be removed. So, uh, GDC is currently in coordination with the city of Hoboken to, um, regarding that, uh, tree removal. So, this is just a rendering of what the future permanent condition is going to look like. You can see here
there's, uh, above ground pile caps and uh, concrete encased steel girders that attach to those Willow Avenue viuct foundations to support them uh, during tunneling activities. So going into 4F, uh, sorry, section
4F. Um, as I said, construction here is going to be adjacent to and partially within 1600 park. Uh, so 1600 park is, uh, many of you likely know is a publicly accessible, uh, recreation area. It has multi-use athletic fields, a slide hill, a dog run, restroom
facilities, um, and pedestrian pathways. Um, so the city the the park is primarily owned by the city of Hoboken and you can see that uh outlined in blue. That's the city- owned portion of 1600 park. Um, however, the city also entered into an encroachment agreement with Hudson County who owns the Willow
Avenue rightway uh to extend some of these park amenities into the Willow Avenue right ofway. Um, so you can see that in the black hatched pattern. I don't know if you can make it out on this uh small screen, but basically the area directly west of uh the 1600 park proper. um is within the Willow Avenue
right ofway but is improved with park facilities like the dog run. Um so in the FBI there was no section 4F use that was uh determined uh at that time. Um but given the current um design and uh advanced information
that we have now uh GDC anticipates that these temporary and permanent um encroachments into publicly accessible parkland would constitute a section 4F dimminimous impact. So under section 4F a dimminimous impact is uh one that does not affect the features, attributes or
activities that qualify the park for protection under section 4f. So to get more specific about what's going on here, uh within 1600 within 1600 park, uh approximately 2500 square feet or 2.5% of the public park would be
temporarily occupied by construction activities and that's shown in the yellow shaded area on this map. Um and then uh as I mentioned, permanent uh above ground pile caps would extend marginally into this area as well. Um, so the existing fence would be relocated around those pile caps and extend
approximately 500 square f feet or.5% of the total publicly accessible park. Um, so these uh permanent and temporary occupancies are entirely within the Hudson County owned Willow Avenue rightway portion of the park. Uh, neither construction or nor permanent
infrastructure would extend into the city-owned portion of the park. Um and again just to reiterate all of the key park features would remain open and accessible throughout uh this construction period. So GDC anticipates that the um project refinements discussed today meet
the definition of a dimminimous impact under section 4F uh given that they are not substantially affecting the activities features or attributes of the park. Um and they would allow for continuous access to all key park features. Additionally, this area that is affected is small enough to not affect uh the general public's use of
1600 park more broadly. Um those are the three criteria that you have. Yes, those are the three criteria under section 4. Yes. Okay. Thank you. And I'll pass it back to uh George to let you know more about comment.
Uh thanks Jake. Um now and of course in the future we have a number of um public engagement tools available. Um we have a 24-hour hotline for emergencies for construction complaints if you want to reach us anytime. The the
hotline is on the screen 1 8004441050. We have a dedicated email address that's monitored continuously new jerseyconstructiongatewayprogram.org.org. Um, very soon we shall have a neighborhood project outreach office set up near the Hudson County staging area,
construction site, and we have a dedicated project leaison always available to address concerns again now or and in the future uh for the duration of the project. And so our commitment to you is uh that we will be here. Uh we're happy to come
back and give you briefings as necessary, coordinate with you, identify concerns, and solve problems together uh over the next few years. Um lastly, we we sort of close where we started. Uh comments on this presentation and the proposed
construction activities in 1600 Park may be submitted or before 5:00 pm on Monday, July 7th by emailing the individuals on screen. Um and to see this presentation uh and to get more information on the project, please visit hudson
tunnelpro.com. And with that, we really thank you for your patience and thanks for having us. Thank you, Councilman. Any questions? I have one. Thank you, Council President. Um, I
noticed that the the impact that I think the community will notice is a tiny little portion of the park and I noticed from the the schematic that it looks like it's a little green square there and it appears that there are some trees
there. Uh, will any of the trees have to be removed and is there a plan to replace them? Uh Jake will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we're we're um looking at three trees, two of which um will be protected in place. The third will need to be removed, but we are working with the city to coordinate that
removal and whatever mitigation might be required. And would that uh with respect to the one tree that might have to be removed, would that be replaced? At what if it did, at what point in the project would it be replaced? The conclusion or you know, that's an excellent question.
I turn I um that that tree would likely be replaced at the end of this specific construction activity which would be in the middle or end of 2027. Um so there would be tunnel project is going to go much longer than than that but at the
end of this 14-month period that tree would be replaced. Yep. Thank you. That's all I have council Russo. Yeah. Thank thank you council president. During the presentation, you know, we we use the word dimminimus and and at one point, I think you pretty much quickly
glossed over potentially closing Willow on weekends. Could you get a little bit more into the weeds on that? What What does that look like? We we've been in the city of Hoboken, we've been dealing with a lot of closures over the last so many months, and that one kind of stings
a little bit. I think the the idea is to close Willow um very infrequently and overnight, but I'm going to let David Smith David Smith speak to that. They're passing a buck, Dave. All right. I'm David Smith, um tunnel
engineer for the project. So, the work you heard about putting concrete around the the existing columns and putting mini piles into the ground, all of that happens while the Willow Avenue vioaduct is open. However, the load has to be transferred from the existing footings
onto the new ones. When the contractor is actually transferring that load, jacking up the bridge a fraction like a paper width and then putting it down onto the new uh piles, it's not prudent to have traffic on the bridge, but those
the transfers are pretty quick. Um, it's anticipated that that can happen at night, but we need our actual contractor on board to work out their detailed work plans to work out if they are just nighttime closures or if there are weekend closures required. Is that a one-time process? Is that multiple
weekends? Is that uh to be determined? Um, it it probably more than one incidents, but um it's not going to be not going to be more than 10. and it's going to be closer to one, but we'll work out the
details between 1 and 10 scenario. Once we have a contractor on board, we we can brief you on those details. Okay. And then the other question I had is uh while any of the constructions going on, is there any impact to the light rail system? What does that look like? And
what is what are delays, closures? So the the underpinning under Willow Avenue um no impacts to the light rail system are anticipated. The jet grouting and the ground improvement you heard
about which will will inject cement into the ground under the rails uh to allow um the tunneling to occur. That that happens from alongside the railroad not directly through the railroad. Fences will need to be put up along either
side. construction fences. Um, and then the grouting machines will will work from e either side. Understood. Ex. Exact. Again, there may be some limited outages while the fence is put in and perhaps from some of the work most close
to that. But again, it depends on the contractor's means and methods. And we'll work with uh New Jersey Transit yourselves and the new operator to work out exactly what that looks like. And I'll ask the same question. Is that one time? Is that multiple times? Is that over the course of 5 months, 2 months, a
year? What does that look like as far as getting people in and out of the city of Hoboken or through the city of Hoboken? We will be looking to minimize those impacts in any outages. I can't give you specifics right now. Um the work has
been planned to keep it as far away as practically we can. Um, and we'll have to get back to you on the specifics. Yeah, I I appreciate that and I understand that you're in that stage where you really don't have the answer. However, I'll say it here and I'm sure
my colleagues would agree. We've been dealing with a lot when it comes to moving people in and out of the city. And we do not want to resolve one issue and walk into another issue. Um, I think those answers are
needed and I think they're needed quickly. So I would appreciate all that you can do to get those answers to us so that we know exactly what we're dealing with. If I can give you a quick timeline and these are approximate but we are in
procurement now for the contractor and by the end of this year we anticipate knowing which contractor should be on board and what their means and methods would be. Perhaps not every detail, but
by the end of the year, we should at least be able to get you much better answers than we have tonight. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. President Fischer. Yeah. just just to follow up on actually this wasn't what I was going to say but what you just said um because we
we just bumped into kind of the same situation where a contractor's means and methods were what determined a workflow as opposed to what the needs the transportation needs were for our community. Um, so I I guess the way I
look at it is you should procure your contractor and say any disruptions to the light rail have to happen overnight. Whatever work that's going to happen that would disrupt that has to happen overnight or there there needs to be like some sort of analysis for um a
alternative transportation for all those people. And the same thing with the Willow Avenue Bridge like work like in your bidspec or whatever it is. It should their their means of method should be wrapped around night work for any type of work on the Willow Avenue bridge or disrupting the Willow Avenue
bridge or the light rail. Like that's something you guys can do now as opposed to waiting and suddenly the contractor shows up as Caleb knows our business administrator. The contractor shows up and says well this is the way we want to do it. This is how we bid it and it wasn't for night work. it was we don't
really care about disrupting like you need to kind of put that in your package now. That that sounds totally reasonable and we will look very carefully at doing just that. Awesome. Um and and the um the one thing we talked about just cuz I know people are watching we
haven't had really this was great like it's great coming in. I think people you know everyone's super curious about what the cranes are you know in the water. Um, I hear about it maybe more than the rest of my colleagues just because a lot of the work is on the uptown waterfront, the the little offices and the and the
boat that takes the workers out to um out to the work being done in the river. Um, but one of the things that we talked about when we met is when they're actually doing the drilling underground, which is pretty incredible. You kind of skipped over really quickly that cool
picture of the 28t, you know, drill that is drilling this underground. um is considering all of the structures in the area that may be impacted by vibration in particular. Uh and we talked about this. I have some neighbors texting me right now way back when when this started like seven, six, seven years
ago. You know, the Hudson T buildings, all three of them are 100 plus year old solid concrete buildings. So, a little bit of vibration could do a lot of damage. and those and I'm sure the PSEG and the NHSA like anything that is
potentially going to be impacted um by vibrations and noise, you know, we should have those conversations sooner than later. Yes. The the contractor will be required to have seismographs which are vibration monitors which they will place on sensitive potentially sensitive
buildings. Yeah. Um so I mentioned that I'm going to try and coordinate some of the management companies of the 15th Street buildings that are right. So this tunnel is going right through the Weihawken Cove, right? Like right underneath the Weihawken Cove and across the Hudson River. So there's just the structures that are kind of right around
that on the Hoboken side. Um the Weihawk side are making out like bandits. They're getting new HVAC's, new windows, and all the shades. Um but that but they're they have a lot more disruption um to us. So just staying close and coming back and presenting again would
be great. More than happy to. Thank you. Councilman, Councilman Cohen, did you have a Just one last quick thing. There were several references to overnight work, it's probably obvious, but I still would like to say it when you look at overnight work, you should be looking after rush hour in the evening. Yes. Uh
obviously that's the heart of your project is to make rush hour better for everybody. Uh and I would expect evening work to begin after rush hour is over. So you are correct in that assumption. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Have you any idea about the caliber of the tree that
you'll be you'll replace it with a consistent? We will do whatever the city of Hoboken uh advises us to do. Seoia. Okay. And then um the when I asked about
the criteria, I said are those the three criteria and you said those are three criteria. I I don't it wasn't clear that are those the only three criteria that you alluded to or are those among a list of 20 criteria? Yes, those are the only three criteria for uh park resources. So
section 4f also applies to historic resources which have a slightly different set but for parks those are the only three. Okay. And your your definition of dimminimous um you know a year and a half is I guess forever is a long time. So a year and a
half is a small part portion of it. But is that is it standard that you would make a dimminimous determination for a year and a half or year and three quart especially considering this construction activity is not affecting any of the actual features of the park. Um we are comfortable making that assertion right
now. Um obviously this will have to get approved by the Federal Transit Administration. So um they will be the final say here but uh yes we currently anticipate that this would qualify for a dimminimous impact under section 4f. Thank you. So, I think that that's it. Thank you very much, gentlemen.
Appreciate for having us. We'll see you again. So, next up, uh, public hearing on second reading ordinances. We have the members of the public that have signed up for me. Ordinance
B766 is being carried to the June 16th council meeting. Thank you, Mr. Parina. A hearing on an ordinance amending the North End redevelopment plan for the North End rehabilitation area 767.
Uh the planning board last night uh reviewed this particular ordinance for consistency and I know that um director lure director lure Jerry Lure who just recently promoted um congratulations
um circulated that the planning board did have and I don't have it in front of me the the resolution but there were some they weren't recommendations they were sort of comments. Um,
and they had to do with the change in the the public benefit was not was not identified in the ordinance as is appropriate, but the you know the these amendments
are reducing the public open space from 12% to zero. they increased the uh the bonus height from you know it it would the it was 60 to 80 feet now it's 60 to
118 ft so it's you know another 58 ft so the question was do what were the public benefits that were um and I don't know whether they've been negotiated already um but I I feel that you know the planning board asked these questions so
either get back to them director Brown uh um or if anybody else wants to comment on that. Okay. So, there's uh Patricia Waiters has not indicated what ordinance she would like to speak on. Are are you
interested in six or 767? Excuse me. I'm giving you the number. Okay. Number five. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Second reading, please. This is second reading. Yes.
Um Manuel Rivera Solair, you signed up for B767. If you would Yes. Good evening, Council President, members of the council, members of the public. Council President, uh, as a member of the public, and
I'm going to, uh, ask, uh, Blankber forgiven us for not being there last night, but I would be interested if Don't let it happen again, man. No, I will not. Uh, I will be interested in the um, amendments that you just um, alluded
to or referred to. if a a member of the administration or you members of the council can explain a little further on those amendments if they are already clear um so that we could members of the public could understand a little further. Um it it did sound a little bit
uh that we're gaining height on the buildings or getting height on that uh project. Is that uh a worthy effort and the space? Uh if you could I guess the person that you called to answer if they could come and help us out uh to understand. Thank you, Council
President. And I yel back. Record time. Are you asking this director Brown to summarize the amendments? Director Brown, would you be so kind? I'd say trip. I actually No. Okay. Council President, I
have the the the report from uh the planner the planning board's planner if you'd like to. No, I can I can just I looked at the comments from the uh planning board. Generally speaking, the north end plan has a few districts. This
particular project is 1416 Clinton Street. It's in the infill development district, the ID. When we develop north end plan, um the north end plan of course has a linear park that runs between 15th and 16th Street with all the the the development projects um
along that stretch. That's the linear park district. This is the infill development district. So, it's all infill projects and the amendment to reduce open space from 12% to 0%. It's more consistent. that's more in line with kind of rectifying an issue from the adoption of the plan. That area
doesn't have a linear park. That area doesn't have open space. If you put open space there, you have alleyways. You have um buildings that are more set back from the street line, which is outside the character of what the neighborhood would be, right? So, uh, it's more kind of rectifying an oversight with the original intent of the redevelopment
plan and going from 12% open space. If you have 12% open space on like, uh, couple of projects that we've developed that we've that we've, uh, approved before, 1404, the Herz site, the Herz site, um, the brewery building, those
those projects also had consistent um, amendments consistent with what this project um, was amended to. And the redevelopment uh agreement was adopted uh I believe on May 7th. It stipulated a 1.7 $1.75
million community benefit payment. Thank you. There was a community meeting for this project I think back in April. Um Yep. That was pointed out last night. Yep. So, uh it's and we ran this project was discussed in subcommittee um and um
couple of different times and we uh had the community meeting and the redevelopment agreement like I said was adopted by city council in May. So in the north either one could have been last year or was it recent?
We Will you use your microphone? Um, I'm just correcting. I just don't think that that project or that this plan amendment or the project was talked about in subcommittee. Maybe I missed it. I just don't remember. I don't think
so. I I don't Yeah, I mean, we discussed this in sub we discussed this project in subcommittee. May it may have been in 2024, but um I know that discussed it many times. I just don't I'm trying to put a timeline in my head together. I just don't remember. I'd have to go back to the calendar to our to the to my
calendar to to to find the the meetings that we discussed it at, but um we disc I know we discussed it in we've discussed it in subcommittee. We had a public meeting over Zoom. Um there was we all you adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a
redevelopment agreement back in May. Right. Is can you remind how many can you just describe what this project is in two seconds? Sure.606 160 units, 60 and affordable.
Um, it's eight sto nine stories. Um, 100 It's, uh, steps back. It's the height is actually consistent with many of the buildings on the north side of 15th Street, 99 ft
over DF. And then there's amenity um there's a parapit and an amenity building amenity structure on the roof which goes to the 18 feet over the roof which which 19 ft over the roof which brings it to 118 ft over over DF. So, in
the height of the buildings that are on the north side of 15th Street that are the lower of the north side of 15th Street, but the south side of those the big blocks between 15th and 16th, those are all the similar height as this one.
Yeah, the uh the Oh, that one louder. the POJI the uh the building that's currently on the for proposed 1500 grand uh site 4A on the previous POGI press site that is 99 ft over DF. Yeah. 8 and
12 stories. Yes. Right. But this one the 118 ft is how does that 118 compared to the 99? So you go up to 99 Mhm. to the roof. Mhm. And then it's like a 4ft parapit or some amount of parapit and
then it steps back goes steps back a bit more and then there's a uh an an amenity building which is which brings it up to that extra 19 ft. So they're not building so even though it says
118 it's an extra 19 ft to accommodate a rooftop amenity. Yes. So the but the without the rooftop amenity the height is similar then to the 99 across the street. Oh no it's 118 it's a it's 118 ft because you count the amenity
building as in terms of building height. Um I'm just saying that it's consistent with the heights of the buildings on the A. It's the same design. It's it's consistent with the 4A building across the street on 15th Street. But you just
said that one was 99 ft without the amenity building. without the amenity building. And the other one also has the amenity building. The one across the street doesn't have an amenity building. That one is also, I believe, in the 118 range with building height. I'm thinking, sorry I'm confusing you there.
Um, I'm thinking about from ground to roof 99 ft and then you step back that goes up another 19. Okay. Thank you, director. Welcome. Uh, Mr. Fina, call the vote. Motion to close the
hearing. Motion. Thank you. Second. All those in favor? I now would you please call a vote? Yes. Mr. Con? Hi. Mr. Fischer. Yes. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. President Xano. Hi. Mr.
Cano. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Doyle. Hi. Hearing on an ordinance of the city of Hoboken city code chapter 190 vehicles
and traffic to amend viola reserve parking space. Um Mr. uh Mr. Rivera Solair you signed up for 768. Pat screaming out Pat. Yes, Council President. Good evening
again. Uh or good afternoon rather. Uh just briefly here and um I think I signed up for a couple too many. I don't want to hog up the uh microphone, but it is very important. As you can see, don't be afraid. It's just that they're uh triple space and big. Uh it makes it
easier to read as my doctor told me. Stop squinting. Anyway, anyway, council president, the the reason why I arise or I want to ask this question for members of the public and myself is uh the parking that's being uh restricted for
the use of uh these uh vehicles for this company, are they going to be returned back um at a certain time for the residents of the neighborhood where these um locations um for the parking uh
going to be located? Will they be returning back to uh the neighbors of the location and um how many are they going to be? I was trying to understand it a little further over here, but again these are not
um in the ordinance. Uh I cannot find it, but if you can explain it or someone um in the council uh we would appreciate it. Thank you very much and I yield. Councilwoman Jav. Sure. um to address your question. So, this is actually an adjustment of an
existing space that's already uh reserved for use of Violia. I believe the hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday in order to accommodate vehicles associated with the Hoboken Water Utility. And it's just adjusting the location of that existing um reserved spot to be slightly south of
where it currently is in order to accommodate another change, which is the next item, which is adding a loading zone for the daycare that's located uh in the multi-ervice center. Um there was concerns about the ability for parents to drop off there safely given how many cars were coming and going and this adjustment allowed us to kind of add
that loading zone there. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Councilwoman, uh no other members of the public are signed up. Motion to uh close the public motion. All those in favor? I. Council members, Mr. Fina, please call the vote.
Mr. Co. I. M. Fisher. Yes. Mr. Mr. Jabore. Yes. President. Hi. Mr. Canero. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Toy. Hi. Hearing on an ordinance amending chapter 190 article 2
section 190-4 C of the Hoboken city code to establish a pickup and drop off zone on Grant Street. No members of the public have signed up to speak. Motion close. Second. All those in favor? I.
Mr. Fina, Mr. Con. Hi, Miss Fischer. Yes, Mr. Jabore. Yes, Mr. Presidento. Hi, Mr. Cano. Hi, Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. Hi, President Toily. I hearing on an
ordinance amending chapter 192 section 192-4A restricted parking spaces for persons with disabilities. Um, Patricia Waiters. Thank you. Put this down lower. Seeing here, Patricia, wait is 15 church
towers. Um, seeing here, I'm going to be speaking on this handicap ordinance, but I want to just place this on the record. The NJSA title 39. Um, I'm seeing this here. So, I'm assuming you do have full knowledge of title 39, state title for
motor vehicle, Miss Jabar, right? Is that right? I'm saying I'm assuming that you read title 39. I'm not saying it's in entirety, but you have it on here and you have full knowledge of the laws with with respect to parking and handicap. Okay. With that being said, I just want
to speak on this for a reason because the last past three or four years or more, okay, I did resign or whatever you want to call it off the committee and I'm still being approached and is real troublesome that every time again like I
said during election time is like not the right time but this is the right opportunity because I'm going to show you how being unethical And you guys be saying, "Well, we not breaking the law. Our lawyer fees speak for itself." And
not taking our city serious and having integrity only up until an election time. I want to know now, and I'm a little afraid to say this, but I'mma say it cuz I want to get this off. If you are being threatened any way, Emily, I told you this a couple of months ago
when I stood up here and I defend you to the end just because I had full knowledge again. Former officer, I made arrest with title 39. I wrote tickets when you illegally parking or whatever. And I asked you, I said, "If you don't
feel comfortable or whatever, you know, let me know. You know, it could be even between just me and you." What I don't like is what I'm hearing and seeing in our town and people are still taking. Thank you.
We do need for the recording. So, if you would speak in They can't hear me as loud as I talk. Is a is what I'm trying to say. I don't want to lose my train of thought here. For people to call other politicians outside our municipality is
wrong and it's being done. Our own commissioners made comments in reference to my personal which is my confidentiality through my illness through my lawyers or whoever I went to or my doctor. So now I'm being threatened and I'm quite sure you're
being threatened because I'm going after the same thing. And then now we playing this retaliation game. I don't know longer who's on that committee. I don't got to kiss anybody's behind and bow down to nobody to prove that I'm sick. And because I'm Pat waiters and got a
big mouth and feisty and we'll be this way until the end. Don't underestimate my illness and it shouldn't become an issue. However, with people calling me or stopping me in the store, well, I'mma go to Michael Russo cuz he's running.
They feel Michael Russo got a something to lose if you Well, I'm not gonna vote for you. Please, Mr. Boy, don't let none of this take, you know what I'm saying? Heed to you. I'm just saying it because you are the committee chair of that board. It's gotten real hectic. It's gotten real ugly. I could go back to the
Terry Leuno days when they all sat on a handicap committee and that's how you used to get handicap spaces. You got to know a politician. And I don't want that image for you because that's what people feel. Our mayor been indicted, been whatever.
All of his charges, people posting them and y'all jumping in pictures with them. Don't do that. It makes it look really bad. I sat there and seen people say, "Well, Mayor Zimmer said I'm going to get a handicap space on Monday and Tuesday the space was up. I experienced
this. So, I'm asking you if you are really being threatened and they coming at you, call me. I'm serious. And let me handle it." and I'm thinking about reinstating cuz I did nothing wrong besides they didn't like me and I don't care or I didn't have the vote. I'm
going to reinstate and ask for my seat on that committee even if I got to go back on a handicap committee in the county and I will do that. Okay. But again, I'm here for you because I don't like the retaliation thing. And shout out to my boy El Guuardo that stood
there to the end. It shouldn't be about retaliation. If we qualify, give us the space. Okay. Thank you. My I know my time is up, but y'all had a little discrepancies with So, yes, that's fine. Yeah. All right. Thank you very much.
Um, um, so there's actually Miss Waiters, thank you very much for your comments. Um, there's a different process that we put into place. Um, the council members uh are not involved in that whatsoever, nor uh is the administration. We actually use an outside medical review process that's
been implemented. So any of the applicants who seek a reserved parking space are evaluated in terms of their medical needs. So it's it's not handled by anyone here. In fact, um because of the confidentiality of people's personal information, we don't include their
names involved. Um and so to the best of my knowledge, the applicants who are included in this particular ordinance passed through the medical investigation process with their records. Thank you. Let you know I know I met your need. Great. I appreciate it. And I'm stay.
Thank you, Councilwoman, for clarifying. Um, no other members of the public have signed up to speak on this. Second. All those in favor? I. Mr. Pina, please call the vote. Mr. Con. Hi. M. Fischer. Yes. Mr. Jabore. Yes.
Mr. Presidento. Hi. Mr. Cano. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. I hearing on an ordinance to amend 190-11 loading zone designated at First Street and Marshall
Street. Uh, no members of the public have signed up. Motion closed. Second. All those in favor? I. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con? I. Mr. Fischer, yes. Mrs. Jabor, yes.
Mr. President Zano. Hi, Mr. Cano. Hi, Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. I hearing on a norance amending chapter 110-25 storage refu recepticles.
Uh, just confirm no members of the public have signed up to close. Second. All those in favor? I Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I Mr. Fischer, yes. Gabbor, yes. Mr.
President, I he said I I Mr. Canero. I said I too. Hi. I'm sorry. It's all right. Mr. Presidento said hi as well. So I Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. Hi,
President Door. Hi, hearing on an ordinance amending chapter 98 firearms of the city of Hoboken to include firearm storage requirements. Um Amy Foucher. Hi. Hello. Did you raise
the Good evening. Um I'm here tonight to speak in support of the ordinance. My name is Amy Focher and I'm a 29year resident. Tip up the microphone just so we can hear better. Nope. From the actual mic itself. Jerry, can you There we go. How's that?
So, I guess it's not working because it was it buzzed or whatever. You must have turned the power off on it. Do Do I need to come down there? We need you. Sorry, Amy. Yeah, Amy. Just one second. Sorry.
There we go. Okay, perfect. Now, can you hear me? Yes. Great. Thank you. All right. Um, I'm here tonight in my role as co-lead of the Hudson County chapter of Mom's Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. We're committed to
keeping our families safe from gun violence through the passage of common sense gun laws. Laws that do not infringe upon anyone's Second Amendment rights, but laws that will keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them, which obviously includes our
children. Secure storage of firearms is more important now than ever. In case you were unaware, the gun laws in New Jersey have changed. Before June of 2022, it was very difficult to obtain a concealed carry permit in New Jersey. It
was mostly retired police officers, security guards, and people who had experience in handling guns who might be using a firearm in their profession. But the Brewan Supreme Court decision of June 2022 changed all that as they ruled that the Second Amendment guarantees the
right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms in public for self-defense. Prior to June of 2022, there were about 1,500 concealed carry permits in the entire state of New Jersey. Since then,
there are now over 73,000 that have been issued. This is a staggering increase, and now is the time to educate the public on secure storage of firearms and impose the the real consequences to those who don't store
their firearms securely. Just in Hoboken, we've seen 114 new concealed carry permit applications since June 2022. There was one prior to that. That means there are more people choosing to
buy guns to protect their families and more people who could potentially be walking around Hoboken with concealed guns. All of this creates real dangers to our residents both outside and inside our homes. and we need to do all that we
can to keep everyone safe. And by the way, all of the above data is updated monthly on a state permit to carry dashboard created by our state attorney general. So, let's talk about the inside the home part. With all these additional
guns in Hoboken, it's even more important to keep our children safe inside their homes when parents have made that choice to own a firearm. Kids are curious and smart. And usually when parents say that their kids have no idea that they have a gun or where it's
stored, they're wrong. Kids know. Unintentional shootings happen every day in the United States. About 360 children under age 15 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else every single year in the United States. Tragically,
this just happened last week in Jersey City. No parent wants to lose a child because they were negligent in the storage of their firearm. In addition, teenagers are at far greater risk of suicide if there's a gun in the home. And suicide becomes much easier and more
successful. Those are words I really hate to use, even when there's a firearm that's close by and in their home. These are just two of the many reasons why a secure storage ordinance makes sense and will save lives. I could go on and on
about the connection that secure storage has to school shootings, firearm thefts, and domestic violence, but in the interest of time, I kept my statement about how this ordinance will save kids lives. I started volunteering with Moms Demand Action back in 2019, and since
then, I've learned so much about how our state government works. I've spent many days in Trenton at the state house. I've testified before committees and I'm proud that our governor has signed so many important common sense gun laws. However, our state still lacks a robust
secure storage law. And personally, I can't understand why our legislators can't get this over the finish line, especially with the fact that we have over 73,000 more guns in our state. So, this local Hoboken ordinance is even more critical to the safety of our
residents. I'm confident that if more municipalities pass firearms storage ordinances, this will put additional pressure on our state legislators to do the right thing and pass a state law. Hoboken is a vibrant, thriving city and I'm so proud to call it my home. I just
want our children to be able to grow up and live their best, most authentic lives. We need to educate our local residents about secure storage of guns and we need to have a law in place for when they don't securely store them. Thank you very much for listening to me
tonight. Thank you very much. Uh Manuel Rivera Soler. Well, I uh want to echo those sentiments completely. Uh very uh heartfelt and again as I always say every year that
something um an ordinance or uh some type of resolution comes up in regards to um firearms. as a um a person who's uh been whose family has been a victim of uh firearm violence and uh uh death
in my family. Um it is very important to have ordinance in place to have um some type of laws um that at least have the intent um for complete safety if there is such a thing. and lawabiding legal owners of
firearms should not fear uh any type of legislation or city ordinance that protects themselves and their children in their home. Uh firearms are legal. So we need to deal with um
uh sorry we need to deal with the circumstances as they are beared. So we do need gun safety and we not just need it as uh was said earlier um just for people who are open carrying who knows where as I always ask where where does
it um where is it legal and where is it not legal is it legal again in this um August uh chamber to have a firearm I do not know I've always asked that question but again I echo once again the
sentiments of the prior Speaker, I do know that this um uh ordinance will pass. Um I support it but again it also has to have enforcement um so that the uh law officers who will have
to conduct the safety of this uh ordinance meaning uh it's uh carrying out I don't know how it would be called but uh the making sure that people are following the rules is what I want to say and with that uh council president I
yel back and again I hope you all support this and I know you will. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Rivera. So, uh, no one no other members of the public have signed up to speak. Motion to close public portion. Second. All
those in favor? I. Mr. Aina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I. Miss Fischer, yes. Mrs. Yabore, yes. Mr. President, I. Mr. Cano, hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. Hi,
President Doyle. Hi. Hearing on a note. Oh, [Music] if everyone can please leave the chambers. Brief recess. Yeah, we'll Motion for recess.
That's first. Anyone know a firefighter? [Music] Really? [Music] [Music] How we going? All right.
[Music] Just me and you, Jerry. You know, I'm in a hotel room and the fire alarm went off here at 90 minutes ago. Just me and Councilman. Okay. Hello. Yeah, I'm I'm I'm here. I'm watching.
Hello. As is the as is the YouTube audience. [Music] That firefighters calling me right now. What's going on? Watching the meeting go. downstairs. You hit the button. my
Remember my grandfather was still on a fire at the bomb. This place would be cleaned out. Oh god. What are we on? New business. Jim, we're on new business. [Applause] Hey. Uh, I saw your cousin back.
No, I saw prior. He's not there now. You know, you're running. That's a new one. Wrong one. Okay. But we already voted on it. You're just you're just telling me that you're not.
Okay. She still wants to speak. He's just abortion. Put her appointment. Well, she can put herself on public. The sign up is over there. You put that What's Pascalina's last name again since
Wow. [Applause] So, Jimmy, we're up to the last last ordinance, correct? Yes. Yeah. Number uh 775. Okay. reaction. 100%. Okay.
We're on 775, which is 10. The 10th. Yeah. Okay. Hearing on an ordinance of the whole housing authority redevelopment plan. Uh, Gregorian. Thank you. Do we need to go back uh into
Well, it's a motion to come back into session. Motion. Second. Thank you. I Thank you, Councilman Cohen. All those in favor? I I hearing on an ordinance amending the Hoboken Housing Authority Redevelopment Plan.
Um Patricia Waiters. Hi. Um this is sponsored by Michael Russo and Ruben Ramos, right? Yes. Uh all right. So is this the amend is this the second and final reading for the amendment only to amend the language?
Right. This is this is adding property you adding to the the language to the All right. Thank you. And I I should add I apologize Patricia. I should have said first the zoning excuse me the planning board met last night and unanimously approved it as
consistent with the master plan and the land use element and the housing element. So, yeah. Um, Zachary King. Hey, uh, Zachary King with Hobbook and United Tenants. Um, so I spoke uh last session about the uh, redevelopment
plan. Uh, I know that you're not the body that's in charge of writing the plan, but you do have power. You're about to vote over moving forward with um, approving the plan as it moves forward. And so this is one of a few opportunities where our council people can exert some uh influence on this.
When I spoke last time uh I told you that in speaking with uh residents of the housing authority through Hoboki United Tenants, we've heard a lot of concerns um of course concerns about the quality of of the buildings and the the very real need for redevelopment, but
also concerns about displacement. Um, and I was told by the council at that time that there was absolutely nothing to worry about. Maybe I misunderstood. Everyone's intentions are very, very good. Um, and there's just this real strong commitment to not displace a single person in this redevelopment
plan. Um, and I believe that. I believe you. I think that everyone here has that intention. Um, but I did what I was asked to do, which is go back and read the document in full. And I've done my best to read it up and down. I'm searching for language throughout this
document and what I find in the document is an intention, a good intention that not a single person will be displaced through this redevelopment, that everyone will be rehoused. There's a good phased plan. If everything goes according to plan, great. The problem is
there's no language in the entire document. No language guaranteeing a legally enforcable right to return. There's nothing about tenants having legal standing. There's no consequences for if the plan goes wrong, if politicians decide to change something.
There's nothing there guaranteeing tenants of Hoboken Housing Authority today a legal legally enforcable right to return legal standing, right to counsel, right? Because we as as everyone here knows, we have no rights if we can't afford a lawyer, if we don't have good legal representation, right?
There you don't have a right if you can't actually follow through on that right. It's why we have the Sixth Amendment. So, uh, that is is a big concern, um, for for me and and I might be missing something. I I often miss things, right? I make mistakes, but I'm I'm looking for the language in this
document that gives tenants that right uh the the legally enforcable right to return, right, in case those good intentions were to fall through. Um, I I think that as it stands right now, if we think of this document as a contract that the HHA is making with its
residents, I don't think it's a contract any of you would sign. I think if someone gave you this offer and said, "Hey, I have every intention to rehouse you in in a better place." I think that you would ask your lawyer to review it. And I think that, not being a lawyer myself, I think I guess that they might
say, "Hey, we should change this language and give you a legally enforcable right to return." Um, so again, could be wrong and please please send me the specific language if I've missed something. If if tenants do have that legal right to return, um, please
please send that to you can send it to Hoboki United Tenants. That would be a huge relief. Um, but you know, I I think that this is really important. I think that you might have an opportunity to just push for this because if we all have this intention, then there should be no reason not to give tenants that legal right. If you want to look for
example language, the city of San Francisco recently passed a a right to return that you could look to as an example. Um I think Hoboken could do even better than that. Um but you know, we we need to see more people having the power to assert their rights. And as
usual, my thanks go out to the Marine View tenants that are here for asserting their rights, calling for transparency at every step, and insisting that affordability in the city is protected. Their tenants, too, and Hoboken tenants stand united. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause]
Thank you, Zachary. John Gregorio. Hi, John Gregorio, 107 Jackson Street. Been a resident of Hoboken for 35 years and a fourth board resident for 25. Um, concerned over the PSEG site.
Originally, I was told in meetings that with Ruben Ramos, our that the property could not be built on. No residential property could be there. So, we were talking about pickle ball
courts. Now, we're talking about turning what I believe, if I mail, $3 million property over to the HHA to be residential units. And as it stands now, according to again an email
he sent, they're allowing four stories over the flood plane. So a five-story building. If you turn that into whatever amount of apartments that is, and I can tell you that for my little apartment, okay, not
little apartment, my little place that I live within a block away, I'm spending $13,000 a year in Texas. Okay, multiply that whatever this piece of property couldn't generate. I'm
sure knowing the people on the board here and and etc that once the HHA gets their hands on it, five stories is not going to really work. We really need 10, 12, 14, 15 stories and we can rehouse everybody and
we can bring in new people and it'll be huge and we'll be wonderful and we can tell our people were going to be trying to woo into voting for us as mayor or whatever. What a nice job we
did. I've watched on TV. I try not to go to these meetings where you're nickel and dimming over little tiny pieces of the budget and say we could save $5 here. We can do this. I've been fighting for 14 years to in plain English. you have a
chance to make $3 million plus and you're forgoing whatever tax revenue would be on on full property taxes on that property. You can't come back and tell me, "Well, we have to raise taxes, but
is it 7% 14% this year because we're really tight on money. We're cutting back. We're going to try take 10% off our salaries because there's not the revenue stream. There's a revenue stream. You just don't want to take it.
No. I've been neighbors with the HHA for years and those people need nice apartments, right? This is not the way to do it. The plan was coming in. It was told we're going to build right next to
it. We're going to move the older people into this building and then we'll reab that and nothing will change. We don't need that PSEG site. That's why in the meeting we can talk about pickle ball plan uh
courts. The money is there. The money is giving being given away. Why? Politics. Sure. Housing. I'm not going to mention his name. You guys all know it. A gentleman came up
here and said that the HHA is being used by politicians like a plantation where they can they can get their people to do what they want and get the vote out. And that's what's
happening here. I'm I'm seeing shaking heads. I knew this was going to happen because you guys all vote as a single we don't really care about the the the taxpayers here because some of you don't actually pay full
taxes. Some of you have been living in subsidized housing since you were born. I don't. And is a real is Hoboken an expensive place to live? Yes, I can tell you that vehemently cuz I do pay full
taxes and I get my garbage picked up. I don't have kids in school. I don't ask for anything. I don't ask any favors and I've never asked for a favor. All I'm saying is you can't one week say we don't have the revenue. We have to raise
taxes. Oh, this is terrible. It's terrible because you've mismanaged what you have. No other members of the public are signed up to speak. Motion to close. Motion. All those in favor? I President, can we clarify a couple of the statements that were made? I'm sure that
you can. Thank you. And and Director Brown could could also uh clarify a couple of the couple of those statements as well from both both speakers. Uh, as far as the property being given, I mean, Councilman, if you would like to sign up for the public portion, she knows. Oh,
she signed up. Okay. The wrong spot. She's going to be All right. I just Okay, we're good. I want I I thought she was waiting in front of the mic. No, no, no. In a second. Uh, not now. How long I got to wait? One minute. One minute. No, it's not going to be one minute. It's
going to be a public portion. An hour and a half, perhaps. But anyway, I'm I'm sorry, Councilman Ramos, I interrupted you. It's okay. All right, council. Thank you.
Thank you, Council President. Uh the property is not given being given to the Hoboken Housing Authority. The property is being sold. The property is being sold. So the city will receive revenue when the
property is sold. That's what the appraisal was for. Uh the reason why we decided to incorporate this uh piece of land into the Hoboken houses plan overall was because two things. We
wanted to move the plan a lot faster overall. And the second item is going through all of the units and the residents currently living in the housing authority that will not be displaced or relocated someplace else. They'll be moving into a brand new unit
within the housing authority itself. They will be uh we notice a number of seniors living in eightstory buildings, nstory buildings. uh three-story walkups and this property will be allocated for
senior citizens because when we looked at the overall plan for the housing authority and the number of units and and the moving throughout we were short in that type of housing. So that's the goal for this plan. Those are those are the two goals there. Uh current federal
property does not pay taxes. Uh the plan will pay taxes when the housing authority plan is all redeveloped. that will be paying property taxes which they currently do not pay. So we will be gaining another revenue stream not just on this property but overall the entire
plant every new building that gets built will be paying property taxes right members of council am I correct on that right Dr. Brown am I correct on that Dr. Brown. Thank you. And so that was a thumbs up. So that that was that was the
intent and go back to the the prior speaker. This is the redevelopment plan. This is this does zoning. This is not the agreement. when the agreement is when we will
codify the protections for the residents. And I just want to read a portion of our plan for everyone to see what it says. But our intention as our goal and we're going to do it is HHA commits preserving the AY's existing affordable housing
stock and maintain the total number of HHA owned affordable housing units when when redevelopment of existing housing is required. HHA commits to developing one for one replacement units and will not accept anything less than the number
of units in our current housing stock. And this will go to the agreement. I believe RPM is the designated developer. This will be in their every development agreement. Future development density goals. HHA will never go below the
number of units that currently exists, but will strive to increase the availability of low and moderate income housing to serve the unmet needs of our community. And goal number two is what we're doing tonight. One of our unmet needs was finding senior housing for
those seniors that we need more units to try and house our seniors the best we can. And obviously the most important thing is putting roofs over people's heads and making sure that those residents are protected. And in no way are they moving outside of Hoboken. They're only moving once unless they
choose to. Excuse me. Unless unless they choose to. Correct. Unless they choose on their own. Unless they choose on their own to move uh outside the city of Hoboken. That will be on them. and they will be uh in a unit currently when the units new units get built they'll be
offered the new unit at that time right so I believe just to clarify something everything that Ruben just said but just one thing because I'm not sure you were as clear on this one specific point that the prior speaker I
think that this this is different than other housing authorities where they're upgrading because they're actually taking people out of their units to take a building down and build a new one. So those tenants, they they may have to go and live somewhere else and there's
question on whether they can come back. But as Ruben was saying, like this is we're building on a parking lot, right? So the first one's a parking lot. No one's displaced. People will then be the one we're amending taken out or offered to move out of existing buildings into a
brand new building. And once those buildings are empty, then they'll take those down and build on the next one. So, this is different than a lot of other housing authority plans where that that displacement may be a bigger risk because you actually have to move people out in order to rebuild. We're not doing
that. And and also uh HUD regulations make that a requirement as well. Right. So, Council President, Councilman Russo, thank you, Council President. Um I don't know. I was I was just a little confused by uh one of the members of this of the public who were speaking. Uh at first I
thought uh there wasn't there was he was advocating for not building anything on that site but then kind of shifted to advocating for building market rate housing on that site. So I don't know I don't know where
that really stands but let's speak to both of those. So if we build nothing on that site, we don't achieve any of the goals that were were articulated. We don't have a revenue stream. We don't have taxes. We don't have any of those things. It becomes another burden on the
taxpayer. Right now, there may be a give back to the city. If we chose not to build housing on that site and build something like a park, it would be an amenity to the city of Hoboken. But the reality is it would not solve anything
when it comes to the city's budget. There would not be a revenue stream into the city by doing something like that. So that's one side of that equation. The other side of that equation is well let's build market rate housing or luxury condos on that site to reap the
benefit of some taxes. Well, as my colleague said, we're going to reap the benefit of taxes on this site regardless. It is my intention and I think it should be everyone's intention to make sure that
we house people across the entire socioeconomic scale in the city of Hoboken. And those size and those and those those size of disgust when when I make that statement is telling. We should house people across
the socioeconomic scale in the city of Hobogen. Those who are at the very low end of income to the very high end of income and everything in between. And I am fully committed to
doing that despite the sigh of disgust. It was my intention from the beginning. I'll say it here now. I'll say it again and again and again. Instead of just rebuilding the housing authority one unit for one unit, I still
believe it's the right thing for us to do to build more than one for one because we have a serious housing crisis in the city of Hoboken and well beyond the borders of this city. I'll say that one more time. We
have a serious housing crisis in the city of Hoboken and well beyond the borders of this city. It is our duty. It is our obligation to make sure we protect our citizenry and will that
every step of the way. I will support this tonight. I will support the plan. I will support the agreements and I will make sure from the beginning like I always have serving on the housing authority for 10 years. I will support our residents. I
will protect those residents and I will make sure that they all have standard above standard living. That is my commitment. That will continue to be my commitment despite those that do not want to see that happen. I will ensure
every step of the way my vote is with the housing authority residents and those that cannot afford to stay in this city because they're being priced out. Thank you, Councilman. It's a great point. We should definitely add it. Please not please don't yell out, but I
I did want to make a few comments as well and I will echo what Councilman Ramos said that this is a zoning ordinance. This is not a rent control or a landlord tenant protection law. There
are other laws for that. So you you would you wouldn't put you don't put into a zoning code rights to lawyers uh you know personal issues like you like you have a
you you all will in fact be uh you provided with a space that is as far as moving out of town. um the the displacement here it's we can provide for that in the
redevelopment agreement but it's not appropriate to say those things in a zoning code. So they will be taken care of but this when you said show me where it is. It's not in there because it's not appropriate to be in there. Um, and
you said you wanted it to be ironclad earlier tonight for the North End redevelopment plan. That was the seventh amendment. So, you're going there's no there's no way under the law to to pass
a law that can never be changed. That's just not the way things work. So, and I'm I'm not saying that that that's a good thing, but we are all very much so committed to what the intent in the plan is, but there's no way to to to amend
this plan so that it can never be amended again. Um, so you're going to have to keep coming out when amendments in the future when the when the agreement itself is being approved and you'll be able to see the agreement in the future and you'll see that these the
tenants are protected and you'll see you know I mean I you guys will will be here doing this and and and you'll be held accountable. So and I'll be yeah um so it's not a contract. This is a unilateral law that's passed by us and
it's a law. The tenants don't sign the redevelopment plan, but they will sign leases that have to be comport with state law in the future. Um, as far as the the second speaker on this topic, you know, regardless of the fact that we
in fact are going to be generating getting revenue from taxes, um, you know, there are other kinds of of consideration in life and you know making money is not the only thing. So I
if if we have a public policy objective of providing adequate housing for our residents then that brings to us a benefit regardless of whether it's market rate taxes or you know or even if
there weren't taxes frankly I it would not trouble me if this were land that would being that was to be deed but that is not the case where they're paying for it and they'll pay taxes thereafter. So I don't know if anybody else has
anything else to say or Mr. Call it Barina call the vote. Mr. Con. Hi. Fisher. Yes. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. President Zano. Hi. Mr. Cano. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi.
President Doyle. I. So we are on to consent. Yes. Uh public comment on agenda items. We're going to suspend the
agenda. Well, actually the um the agenda is incorrectly had the finance F1 next, but it's that that will occur when we get to the consent agenda. So um anyway the the public this is public public
comments on resolutions on resolutions that are in the agenda and if you are interested in just making a general public statement then we can leave this on the the the the bar and you can sign up for that and that will follow. Um,
Amy Foscher, and I apologize for mispronouncing your last name last time you came up. Just fine. I'm here again. Hello everybody. Um, tonight I'm speaking to the Hoboken community in support of tonight's resolution
proclaiming the first Friday in June as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Commonly known as wear orange, this is a time to honor survivors and build community with those working to end gun violence. We are all affected by gun
violence in some way. Some of us have lost members of our family to gun violence, whether it be through homicide, suicide, or even an unintentional shooting. All of us have been in so many everyday places where high-profile shootings have taken place.
schools, grocery stores, churches, malls, music festivals, and the list could go on. Our children participate in frequent school security drills, and as parents and grandparents, we worry about their safety constantly. This is the
world we live in in the United States. So, for wear orange this year, we ask that on Friday, you wear something orange and think about your why. Why do you wear orange? I know that I wear orange for all the survivor families and
friends, the ones who have lost their loved ones and are just trying to get through the pain and grief every single day. And for the families whose loved ones may have been gravely injured and are now trying to navigate the financial
and emotional burden of lifelong care for their loved ones, I'm doing this work for you. This year, the Southwest Fest is happening during Wear Orange weekend. And so, I invite the entire Hoboken community to stop by our table
for some crafts, some good conversations about how you can keep your family safe from the dangers of guns. June 7th, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Jackson Street between 2nd and 4th. See you there. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you.
Yes. All right. Let's suspend the agenda and we'll let you speak. You got to offer it in. Okay. Could you lower it so that we can hear every word? Don't please don't touch it. Please don't. Okay. Is that okay? Is that true? Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Now, that's not my
fault if I'm here for 9 years. Nine. They make me come here. You think I'm stupid or what? One say you apply now say I got investigate. What the hell going to run? When somebody to do correct thing, no set here. Do you understand? 9 years I went to
the thing that physical I show the pitch where I say one one day say you got to go to that morning I understand what happened that morning one now they say you got to have handicap sign I went to ve I said f you
won you don't have to have so many other story you want to find that's the story I not give up and I I know who I got to talk. I wanted the sign because I don't get turn one hour when I go home with a bag or something and I see so many
handicap under me people got before they set do something you understand I don't ask for I ask for something I write the law everybody said now you know I'm my name will I see so many illegal
activity illegal so many people be arrested every few Yes, they're stealing money and now they want to investigate. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right, back on agenda public portion with regard to resolutions. Patricia Waiters, you'd signed up for this? Yes,
I told you. But CC3, CC1, CCD. You You didn't tell me, but I It's fine. Yes, I did. Well, it's right here. And there's zero. Did you put it on the other Okay, that's that's it's fine. You have seven minutes. You can speak about anything you like. All right. And it's
all legal fees from Mr. Cohen, the sponsor. It's all legal fees. Okay. Okay. So, I'm going to just save time and energy to keep saying each one, but I want to talk about Mr. A uh Hand and the Tenant Advocate
CC3. Is this better? What? Do we excuse me is he affiliated with better waterfront lawyers? This the fund for better waterfront. Yes. This is not the same lawyers. No, this is Andrew. Is it Andrew? All right. So, this is for
Hoboken residents. He's the one who gives advice to tenants. Right. Hoboken. But I have been tenant tenants there. But this is for Hoboken residents only, right? Yes. Yes. And it's not better waterfront. It's No. Okay. nor is it the waterfront project
which maybe is what they giving him a No, but I'm saying if we have issues facing with our landlord and facing eviction or whatever he handles all of that he's not downstairs no more he's based somewhere they told me like where I don't know where he All right my
thing is why is we giving him money he's not working in Hoboken if he's for Hoboken council or corporation oh Brian's not here he he comes to the city to give advice. Correct. He doesn't make people
go to wherever his office is. No, comes here. So they come to the city. He comes to the city when you know how many people I sent there. Pat, they have regular Zoom meetings. They have conference. Can I have his business card and information please tonight? And this is serious. There's a page on the website how you can schedule an
appointment with the tenant advocate. Thank you so much. And then all the other increases too. My thing is if you have a not to exceed amount, what deems it legal to increase it anyway? And you voted on a not to exceed and then it's increased.
Well, it's five different be back and forth, but we No, it's done. I'm wrapping them all up. Same thing. So, at the beginning of the year, we vote on a portion of the annual contract because in the beginning of the year, we do not have a budget. So, if it's a $100,000
contract every year in January, we may uh authorize 20,000 because we only have the beginning before the budget is is approved. Once the budget is approved or as the year goes on, we have to add to the amount when the earlier smaller
amounts are spent. Okay? And with all due respect, I understand that is what I'm saying. But you guys as a legislative body as council and you put down forth legislation and you just change it in the public is real confused because it doesn't look good. It looks
unethical. It's not to exceed in my hypothetical $20,000. You can't go above $20,000. Once we run out of the $20,000 because it's a yearlong $100,000, we then raise it to $40,000 or whatever the number is. And
then as the year goes on, if we haven't passed a budget, we have to keep doing this. Well, council president, it's not just you. It's your government body. And you got to understand the frustration of members of the public. The last past eight years, these legal fees is ridiculous. And some of these cases is
bailless. It's so horrible. And then to see what our mayor doing and is involved in this kind of things. You don't blame us for coming up here being upset. This is ridiculous. All of this money. I I will say the legal budget has been the same for the last 10 years. But anyway,
I'm Thank you, Trisha. I'm sorry if we're having a back and forth. Manuel Rivera Solair signed up for the consent agenda. Thank you, Council President. Manuel Rivera Soler, six ward resident. Uh,
Council President, consent agenda. Uh, would just like to start off as I always do and the proclamations and uh, communications. again the um well-deserved recognition for Reverend Elaine Ellis Thomas, a very good uh
person committed to um faith and uh uh justice there and um a very good uh member of our our uh community as well as this evening the chamber was um uh graced with um the presence of uh Miss Beverly Savage which is a good and
dedicated worker. She will be missed. I hope she doesn't leave uh completely from CASSA which is very important. Uh now I would like to start um in administration A1. Council President it
seems like uh the last meeting it sounded or it was came off like I was against um a uh the uh presentation for the mural. Uh to the contrary, nothing could be
um uh so far that uh I am in favor of it and I hope it it gets voted on tonight. But I hope that all the questions and the inquiries um that the council had, members of the public were satisfied to your liking and again that you were able to vote for it because the um community
where they will be placing the mural where the mural will be um at uh is a a community welldeservant like all of ours but uh very well deservant and uh it would bring uh I hope more visitors to
the area uh and climate action and you ovation. Uh, council president, this is going to be I would I would uh tick them all off, but what I would just like to ask the member of the council who is in the sub uh committees as
CA one, CA2, CA3, uh I believe those are no CA 2 and CA3 are uh noise uh waiverss. Can members of the public understand what times and why uh the reason for now having to uh do
this? And as well as CA six, where is the change and the purpose of the change and the increase? Um when will the city um conclude with the renovation of uh the portico? uh community development of
course CD uh 4. I'm going to leave cooperation council as it stands because the prior um member of the public said it well. So I will go to um clerk
CL2 um and let's see I have also in parks and recreation now um council president uh and members of council um P2 I was going to say something else
I'm sorry my my tongue was going to slip um in P2 um what is the the um the revenue versus the services paid when we auction off these vehicles because it seems to never appear or at
least I can't find it but it it never appears. Can uh members of the public at some point even if it's in uh in the website find out where or when next year I'm assuming uh in the budget hearings we can hear where in this section um do
we benefit from the sale of the vehicles and uh again uh in transportation and parking T2 and T3 um if uh members of the public and in T2
uh get a little more clarity um in regards to uh the this ordinance and um what is it a study is it physical work that we are going to do there or what's happening in T2 can members of the
public get a little bit more uh information and you if you could elaborate further on that one and again at the end here I have introduction for first reading uh this I was going to go I have a Sharpie I would like to show members of the public uh straight
through one to uh I think it's one through eight. Uh so if if at any point when you're discussing an uh uh introduction for first reading, try to explain to members of the public some of these ordinance because they're very um they're they have a lot of
uh they're going to have a lot of weight to them, things that are are being proposed throughout. And uh again, as was mentioned before, it's it's um it's an awkward time of the year when elections and things try to interfere in your public work. it shouldn't but
members of the public would just like to know clearly what can you explain from introduction and new readings and uh with that I yel back council president thank you thank you Manny uh Mr. Brian Murray I don't he's left he
had signed up for the wrong thing anyway um he was he's looking for but if he comes back we'll keep an eye out for him James Fischer Oh, I know what you mean. All right. So, quickly, uh, I just the CC3 giving an
additional $30,000 to So, Han for their services as the tenant advocate. I just kind of want clarification on whether they're like, is there any oversight as to where that money goes? Like what's what's that deal
look like? Because to me it seems we're giving them 200% more than the total contract value was prior to this amendment if I'm reading it correctly. Right. It was originally 15,000 and now we're saying we're going to give him an additional 30,000. Is that correct?
Well, as I just just described, we typically give $50,000 a year to this individual. He earlier in the year was given the first was uh you know an incremental amount 15,000 because we didn't have a budget and so we are
increasing it and we may very well increase it again depending on the need but he bills us by the billable hours and we pay those bills up to the cap of the amount. So he is so that you asked that. So that's the oversight. We look
at the bills and if it's if the bills are out of whack, we ask questions and presumably they'll be clarified. Okay. And then is there like any oversight with regards to the services that you're actually paying for, right? instead of just paying for like just services because if I understand how the tenant
advocate became a thing here in Hoboken, Soil and Han was like kind of the first firm to become a tenant advocate in Hoboken. Right. Correct. Has there ever been a review of their services to um see whether we need to get a new tenant
advocate in town because their services have not been up to par or anything like that? I hope that becomes a part of the review process when renewing this contract or reviewing how much money the city is actually spending on because it's not
just about the money, it's about the quality of the tenants to tell us if they find the advice to be useful and satisfactory. And I I don't know that we've ever had complaints, but I you know I will we'll take that under adisement of corporation council as far
as I would say that I've talked to uh the tenant advocate about an issue here with Marine View Plaza residents and it didn't feel as though they were prepared to give advice even at both meetings that they were here. It did not feel that they were prepared. They didn't seem to have an understanding of how our
rents worked or anything like that. and they were the ones giving us advice on what to pay, what not to pay, and then that sort of switched. So, my experience with the tenant advocate has not been positive. I that's just one person, but I'm sure anybody from Maria will give
you the same uh spiel. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, sir. [Applause] No, there are no other members of the public signed up for public portion. Second. All those in favor? Hi.
So, what? Excuse me. A3 and T1. A A A3 and T1 are both carried or pulled. They're they're not going to be voted on tonight, right?
A A3 and what was the other one? T T1. T1. That's marked, right? Which is indicated um on the But A3 is not indicated. Yes, it is. Yeah, it isn't. Oh, not on my version, but okay. Anyway, so anyway, and others
C1 CC1 CL2 T2 and CD3. T2 and CD3. CD. Yes. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. So, uh, everything other
than CC1, CD3, CL2, T2, and claims. Uh, Mr. Fina, please call the vote.
Mr. Con. Hi, Miss Fischer. Yes, Mr. Jabore. Yes, Mr. Presidento. I Mr. Cano. Hi, Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. I abstain on CA4 and
yes on the rest. Okay. So, CC1, I believe, is the alphabetically the first one. Councilwoman Fischer, claims. Thank you very much, Councilman. Um, I don't know if this would be the um, uh, uh, director for parks and
recreation or you can answer this, director. Uh, geese geese chaser 1728 for Stevens Park. I don't know if that's just they delineated it just for Stevens Park or it's just like their whole for everywhere. point me towards uh what the uh slide
down to like parks and public works a number on it on the hang on. Yeah, let me sorry. Yep. Uh claims uh it is Oh, you got ah thank you.
Uh 2500322. So it's page four. Okay. I don't It says there that at Stevens Park. So I'm guessing it's the invoice is related to services
rendered by Keyschasers at Yeah. I'm going to tell you fire them because there's geese crap all over the place. There's geese everywhere. I now have geese in the first ward. I'm not against the little cute furry animals that come up. However, I've grown up in the country and we had geese
and they've polluted our legs and all this other fun stuff with it. But now I'm not only avoiding dog feces, I'm avoiding geese feces now. So, I don't know what the heck they're doing. But I know fire them. They're not doing their job because it is I went to play soccer
with my son yesterday at the park. We had to stop. We we couldn't even walk in because there was that much geese droppings there. So, I don't know what we're doing. We got to fix it. Uh and if we're paying $1,700 for them,
they're not doing a great job. Understand? All right. Mr. Fina, I guess on claims on claims. Mr. Con. Hi. M Fischer. Yes. Mrs. Jabore. Yes, president. I and
everything except 2500322 to the geese people. Could you please indicate write that down for Jerry? Yeah. Is that the is that the proper name of the company? I don't know. The geese people uh sorry geese patrol. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. Mr.
Cano claims people Mr. Ramos. Hi. Russo. Hi. President Doyle. I CC1 Councilwoman Fischer. Yeah. Can you just explain what litigation this relates to? It's a
fairly sizable increase. This is I'll have to get back to you. I just thought C and C are before C and D in the alphabet. I'll get you an update from them on the litigation where they stand. I got it. Can we just carry it then? Sure. We're just he he didn't have
an update. Can we just carry this one uh one meeting and he'll let us know? It's a big it's just a really big increase. It goes from 45 to 75 and I asked what the litigation and he just off the top of his head doesn't have it and he said we can carry it one meeting. Yeah, we don't we'll there's Yeah, the Monday meeting we'll do it. Okay, perfect.
Thank you. No worries. We're going to carry CC1. CC1 will be carried. Yep. Thank you. Uh, everyone. CD three. Yep. Councilman Ramos. Yeah. Thank you,
Council President. Uh, I wasn't going to speak on it, but I felt I felt compelled. I have to, not for me, but for the the person we're voting on tonight. uh because it was
posted or emailed to our residents that fun fact uh the person in question on the agenda tonight to become our new cannabis uh council for the cannabis board is my cousin. Uh she's been my
cousin for as long as I know. Uh our dads, our grandparents were brothers. Uh, but it inferred to political insider I did not know that she was going to be
on the agenda tonight, but it also kind of inferred that she was kind of unqualified to do the job when she's been an attorney for 25 years. Uh, graduate seen in hall law. She's
practiced environmental law, land use law, uh, civil rights law. But in 2018 when legalization of marijuana started being discussed in uh, in New
Jersey, she kind of shifted to cannabis law. and so much so that the Garden State Bar Association uh refers to her as one of the preeeminent attorneys in the state of New Jersey with regards to cannabis. She
is uh is a cannabis attorney in other municipalities as well. She trains attorneys for both sides uh when they're seeking uh approval for municipality and also training attorneys to be uh
municipal board for cannabis boards in a municipality. So, and then it would said, you know, these type of things would go out to bid. It was stated, well, we just had Andrew Sil contract that didn't go out to bid to anyone. I think you were dissatisfied with his
work, right? Uh I think the mayor made a decision because I think many members of the council, members of the public who attended cannabis board meetings with someone dissatisfied for the current uh cannabis board attorney and he felt a need was made a need a change needed to
be made. So why not hire the preeeminent cannabis attorney in New Jersey? And the re and let's not forget about the reason uh one of the main reasons why state of New Jersey
other states are are chose to legalize cannabis in their state is because uh black and brown kids that look like me were being arrested at a far greater
rate than others when the use this this use of marijuana in cannabis was disproportionate to the arrest rate. Black and brown individuals were not the main users of cannabis percentage-wise. And so she felt the need to try and
fight that fight. I think residents of New Jersey saw that uh discrepancy and that's why they one of the reasons why they chose to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. So I'm going to get into a couple of fun facts now. We had Monarch
litigation. Uh those attorneys over that 12 13-year period were paid over $1 million in legal fees to fight that case going all the way to New Jersey State Supreme Court unsuccessfully the entire
way. A million dollars in legal fees. Never bid out. Never bid out. this contract, $25,000, needs to get bid out because some way, somehow, because we're related, they try to make her look like
an ambulance chaser when she's out or waiting outside uh uh emergency rooms as opposed to being ridiculously qualified for the position she's being uh assigned to potentially this evening. So, I felt
insulted for her because there were a lot of inferences there. If you read between the lines, well, there are no inferences made to a million dollars worth of contracts for the monarch when corporation when when corporation council at that time at that
time and the council for the monarch representing the city of Hoboken told the council member that they should recuse themselves that maybe conflict of interest there a million dollars in legal fees. but here trying to infer that some type
of corruption is being taken place or power broker behind the scenes is being here for qualified candidate that I've known since I was three my first memory recollection of her. So I was insulted for her uh because it was just inferred
way too much when she's qualified and you know secondly you know I have a lot of relatives in Hoboken you know I have a big family we're we're proud to be from here from battalion chiefs uh fire
captains uh teachers child study team members guidance counselors librarians you know we were we're part of the fabric of this city. I made it from uh you know bootstraps. So I I was insulted by those comments. I was more
insulted by those comments on her behalf. So I felt compelled to speak council president. And when I as soon as I saw the name on the agenda Friday night, I knew I had to abstain. I didn't have to be told by corporation council or anyone else I had to abstain. So thank you council president.
Thank you councilman Councilman Ramos. Um council president. Yep. May I just add one comment? Um, just to go along with your comments, Councilman, um, I also reached out to the previous cannabis board uh, attorney just for the sake of um, having served uh, last year
on that to ask about, you know, just any in in additional context he could provide. And even he acknowledged and said that she is an incredibly capable attorney, that he has worked with her in that space because it is somewhat specialized. And he said he had no concerns whatsoever with respect to her
experience and professionalism in that role. Sure. Thank you, Councilwoman. Um, CD3, can I respond? So, the the the person who sent out the email was me.
Um, Ruben, Councilman Ramos was kind enough not to um say that. Uh, I didn't say anything about her qualifications. We know what her qualifications are. We have and I've
always always expressed concerns over the long history here that we appoint our attorneys um and that we don't bid it out. I've literally raised this multiple times a
year every time we look at questionable contracts. We have another one uh at the end in new business on here as well. Um, the state allows us to not bid out legal contracts like specialized professional
services and allows us to appoint and we have an administration that likes to hand out contracts to friends and you know we have a corporation council that reviews bills etc. But you know we have 97 different law firms on here. That's
because we have a mayor who hands contracts out to friends. He's known to do that. other people have been known to do that. So when we when I saw this and I saw that it was relating related to someone on the council, I did question
it. I don't I don't think that we should be handing out contracts to anyone, especially someone who's related to an elected official in town, just period. Right? Like we have to from a transparency standpoint, from a um just
from a a good governance standpoint, we need to raise the bar um much higher as it relates to elected officials and having anyone that is related to an elected official be benefiting uh financially. And my opinion doesn't change on that. I know um I know I don't
know this person well. I've met her a few times. I am absolutely aware of her credentials and I'm sure she will do great for the city of Hoboken, but that was never the issue and although I appreciate Ruben raising it and I know he expresses con, you know, concern over it. Um, I just think it's a pivot away
from what the issue is, which we need to just do better from a transparency, a governance, etc. in the two seconds on uh on Monarch. Um, because that was directed at me as well. Um, I was never, first of all, I wasn't around when the
attorneys were actually hired by the city, uh, appointed by the city. Um, we I spent a ridiculous amount of time over I I was elected multiple times specifically to work on Monarch, vote on
Monarch. It was an important thing for uh, Northeast Hobok. And for anyone who's unaware, um, I am in the Hudson Tea directly looking east. Monarch would block my view. It's always been out there. It was on all of my materials from the beginning. And because my
situation is not unique and it is consistent with hundreds of people in my area and I was elected on that issue and I was no longer on the board of the Hudson TE having anything to do with the litigation, I was told by multiple attorneys including the DCA that I
didn't have a conflict. Just so we're clear. So, notwithstanding at a moment in time, I may have because I was on the board of the Hudson T. I will just clarify that I take those things very seriously. Trust me, I take them incredibly seriously. Um, so I just
wanted to add this additional I I support Reuben. I think he does a great job. I just think as as elected officials, we need to do better and we need not to have, you know, be making any choices that benefit our close
family. So, Council President, Councilman Russo, just quickly and and as most people are seeing here, it's a it's silly season in Hoboken and politics will get in the way of almost anything at this point. Um, but I did just want to
mention Hoboken is a small town field. There are people in this city that are related to others. There are people in this city who have committed their lives to serving the city. There are people in the city that will continue to do that. And and I don't want to get involved in the political stuff, but I do want to
say that Nelly Moyeno, a former council president here in the city of Hoboken, had the utmost respect, the highest integrity of any of my
colleagues that served before me. That is a function of who Ro is. Ro holds herself in the same way. She has the as an officer of the court,
she has that same integrity if not more than her mother did before her and her father did. And growing up in the city and knowing people for a long time, I think it it it has to be said that when silly season happens and people make
those types of comments, you might not have that you might not have that intention, but that inference still is there. And I think it's important to make sure that we talk about people for who they are and what they stand for and their
abilities and and this family, this entire family has always only had the city of Hoboken in their best interest. And I think it's important to put that on the record. So I appreciate the time, Council President. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you, Councilman. I I would
only say that I had to add that Councilman Ramos I I I don't think there would there would be any question but I commend you for accusing which is what that's the way the system works. So there's no reason your relative should be disqualified from contracts just
because they're your relative and obviously you take that seriously and you're not going to vote on it and that's that's the appropriate response. Mr. Fino, could you call the vote? Mr. Con? Hi. Miss
Fischer, no. No. Mrs. Jabore. Yes. President. Hi. Mr. Cano. Hi. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Oh, sorry.
Mr. Russo. I know you did. I President Doyle. Hi. CL2. We CL2. Thank you, Mr. Fina. Uh, thank you, Council President. I know it's probably after Yes. two, but
you know, we're Go ahead. Um, thank you, Council President. So, a bit of a pivot. Um, I know, uh, Amy spoke on this earlier, but I did just want to add some additional context. Uh, Friday is gun National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Um
the wear orange campaign uh was started actually um and I like to tell this story every year because I think it's meaningful to why this movement exists. Um so bear with me. Um there was a young woman who was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013. Her name was Hadia Pendleton.
Uh Hadia had the previous week um been a performer as part of the marching bands when President Obama was inaugurated. Um and she returned to Chicago and was killed. uh in violence in her community. She was 15 years old. Uh her friends
after she was shot and killed decided that in order to honor her memory, they would wear orange to her funeral because orange is the color that hunters use to designate life when they are in the woods. And they felt it would be
meaningful to take that opportunity to recognize her memory. And that has since grown into a national movement. Um, so every the first Friday of every June is in Hadia's memory and the memory of everyone who's been impacted by gun
violence. Um, unfortunately each year that I update this resolution, the number of people who are killed every day goes up. That number is now 125 people per day. And now that is 260 people per day are shot and wounded in
addition to the fatalities. It is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in this country and this community is has been traumatized in several recent instances. Um whether it's the
memory of Chris Garcia, whether it's the memory of Damon Murray, or if it's the memory of John Saki, who I think about when I pass by the garden that commemorates him almost every day. Uh, I was recently reminded by a neighbor who actually wrote about the experience he
had while at the Newport Mall several years ago when there was a shooting that happened in the food court there and how he and his young son had to find shelter, flipped over a table, and ran for their lives out of fear. The mall isn't safe. The movies
aren't safe. Our schools aren't safe. It is an issue that I will just continue to work at until we come to some better understanding of how we as a country can do better with policies uh that we refer to as common sense
gunsense policies. And I really commend and thank my colleagues tonight for passing the ordinance earlier this evening around safe storage. Um which is just asking that people make sure to securely store their weapons. uh because unfortunately there are too many
instances of unintended shootings that happen when people have access. So I just would ask uh that everyone this Friday keep it in mind. Um if you wish to wear orange, please feel free to share that with the community. I think it's meaningful. And for those who have
been impacted by the trauma associated with gun violence, hold those people in your hearts on Friday and this weekend. Um I look forward to joining Amy at Southwestfest. I know with several of my council colleagues um who will be there to talk about uh Mom's Man Action, which
is the organization that works on this topic, as well as Every Town for Gun Violence Prevention, um and ask that each of you find a way to commit yourselves to addressing this issue as it continues to uh pervade in communities like ours. Thank you, Council President. Thank you,
Councilwoman T2. Councilman Ramos. Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Pina, call a vote. Mr. CL2, I. Miss Fischer, yes. Mr. Jabbor, yes. Mr. President, hi. Mr.
Cano, hi. Mr. Ramos, I Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. Hi. Uh, T2, you want me to read it? want to read it. You want me to read a resolution awarding a professional
service services contract to Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $179,500 for design and construction phase services for the resurfacing and inter of and intersection improvements on the Sinatra Drive between First
Street and Fourth Street funded by B735. Yeah. And thank you, Council President. Uh Director Strand, we spoke about this this morning. Uh Director Web, we spoke about this, I think on Monday. Uh obviously we're trying to look for cost savings wherever we can and then talking
to many residents uh I think obviously the street is in need of repaving. So my questions were why couldn't we just like mill and repave the road as opposed to just a complete redesign uh o over this contract. So is that is that still
possible tonight? Can we just mill and pave the road and lower and lessen this number to a lot smaller number? I mean, I I know that it's to raise the intersection, but for the most part, that road is already narrow. It has bumpouts at all the intersections already. So, it's meeting a lot of the criteria for a safe street, which is our
goal. Uh, so we have to go the extra stuff or can we try and save a little bit here with this contract and just go for milling and paving the street from first to fourth street as opposed to spending 175,000 just to oversee the project. This would include the milling and paving work uh in this portion of
it. So, that was my question on Monday. That was my question this morning. Hope my question tonight that hopefully we could uh try and reduce that number. So there's two pieces to this contract. The first is design for the street. So that's grading and any amenities and the second is construction oversight. I can
invite Director Weber to come up and explain what's included in the contract and whether there's any movement on that. Thank you. Think we are now. Thank you, Councilman.
Um so the the contract for 179,000 uh most of that is for construction management uh survey getting permits for uh uh environmental issues.
Uh 20,000 of it is for the preliminary design uh and engineering and 24,500 is for the 100% design. So uh much of that would be necessary just to verify the asbuilt conditions. Uh you
need to you need to provide an updated design in order for the contractor to uh do the work. Uh what what environmental conditions would it have? That road is relatively new. Well, it uh it's a soil erosion and sediment control permit.
Can't it just be repaved instead of like redesigned? Can't we just repave it for now and redesign it five years from now? Well, if if we if we redesign it or if we pave it now, uh you can still oversee the contract. Oversee the construction
of them doing the paving properly. I I I um I think if there's this many questions, we should revisit it in subcommittee. Okay. Sure. Um I I would hate to push this forward but keep in mind we're also doing this the most recent experience we have with Hudson
County and Park A we considerable issues related to greater ponding and then second I think that we are doing more than just resurfacing because we're anticipating having the World Cup next summer. So the scope may be more than just a traditional project, but let's put this back in subcommittee. Let's
discuss it more. And I would just say, I mean, the soil erosion, I mean, we've seen what's happened on Sonatra Drive with with the problems that we've been having and the repaving and the seaw wall issues. So I mean, if we're repaving and milling a road where it's
not stable underneath, that's that's a waste of resources as well. So I mean, and that's that's not a minor issue on that road. It's a little more like concrete ground this area. Yeah, this is this is a a permit. That's a
requirement. It's a what? It's a requirement for for the project environment or the the soil erosion. The soil erosion those aren't discretionary. We don't we don't get to decide if we want to do that or not. But there's also this is also the hotel hopefully is going to
start. So, we're going to have like construction vehicles on that area at some point sooner than later. I mean, not a tomorrow thing. And um it's like I I like we've had conversations about even like making that a pedestrian plaza. Like there's a
big conversation to have on that part of Sinatra before. I think we just go and and redesign it if we do think we're going to have a lot of construction vehicles or there might be an alternative use. I it feels more like this project's discretionary than it is non-discretionary. So maybe that's why
it's worth having a conversation. Well, if it's going to go back to committee, subcommittee, then we probably don't. Okay. Thank you, director. Um, so so T2 is pulled. T2 is pulled. Okay. Point uh point of inquiry.
Um I and I don't know if it's we have to change rules here or uh aligns, but under Robert's rules, standing committees are expected to report regularly. I'm kind of getting a little frustrated that I don't find out till
Friday what is on my agenda unless I happen to speak to a colleague that sits in another subcommittee meeting. And that's frustrating from a standpoint that I don't know what's being discussed in other subcommittee meetings. In the boards that I sit on, the subcommittee
meetings are held or or presented in in a short quick format to give what was discussed at the subcommittee. So one for transparency and accountability. Uh one clear example where it happens in Hoboken, it's a different entity, but the board of ed does this. And I feel
that there should be something that if you have a chair of a committee, either there's something quickly written that these were the topics that we were talked about and that either disseminated amongst the council here or we actually give a quick report if we're a chair of a committee because I think
what we speak about in those committees is extremely important and I wait till Friday at 5:00 till Jerry posts it to find out what actually took place in that meeting or what might actually hit the agenda. Uh so I feel yes it it makes the meeting
longer however or we keep that there is something sent to the council after the committees meetings are held so that we know what's being discussed cuz not all the time that I have time to reach out to Councilman Russo or Councilman Ramos and find out what they talked about when
it could be something impacting my ward that I don't know because I don't even know that it's being discussed. So, I as as a point of inquiry, um I mean, I've read Robert's rules and they say that they're expected to be done at a council meeting. I I I'm asking council
president if that's something that we can either adopt or you can basically say you have to send it around as as a chairperson for each uh subcommittee so that we're better informed. Council President, can I just ask a
question? Uh Councilman, point of inquiry. Can someone yield back their time? C Councilman, are you are you looking to have that before there's the meeting so that you could vote on it? Because if you are, the only reason I ask is because if we're going
to communicate to the entire council, there's an open public meeting issue there. Correct. And if you're not suggesting that and then you get that report at a meeting and then the next meeting you're voting on it, it just changes the timeline of how we're
getting information around. So if so that's the only reason I ask. So the way it done right now with we send if we want to communicate with the council, we send it to Jerry and Jerry sends it out to all of us and then we don't reply all. We reply back to Jerry and then Jerry does what he has to do. Um, my
concern is I feel that it would be just as important that we give subcommittee reports on this day as I there's no reason why the public can't know what we're discussing in subcommittee meanings unless it's something you know uh it's a litigation or things like that. No, I'm I'm asking specific like
for your purposes. Do you want that information prior to a vote for you because that would change the timeline, right? Right. We wouldn't be able to kind of give that to do it at 710. Yeah, you know, you're giving it at the meeting that you're voting on something
or are you suggesting that we give that committee report and then anything in that or pertaining to that committee report be held to the next meeting? That's the only where I'm kind of not. If you're if we're going to vote on something that on Wednesday, right, we
find out Friday what's on the agenda, but most of our committee meetings take place before Wednesday because Wednesday then we have to have all our stuff passed so Jerry can put it on a sella and all that other fun stuff. I'm opening to Listen, I want to hear what everybody thinks here. I I
just want to know what the heck's being discussed in these meetings, which I think all of us have a duty. I agree with you, but I don't know the right process. So then hence I'm asking council president you're in charge trying to clarify the process that you're looking for councilman Cohen. Well I just say that actually for point of information this is not a proper
point of information that we actually have an agenda that we're supposed to go through. If there's a piece of information that you would like from the chair about something we're debating tonight. You can ask the chair for as a point of information as to what we're discussing. No I'd like proper. So what you're engaging
here is a debate about something that's not It's not a debate. Council McGoen, it's not all right. I have a I there is stuff that I'm hearing in different in different subcommittees that impact my ward or impact people that have views in the city and I don't find out till it hits an agenda. That's garbage. That's
that's not transparency or accountability. We sit up here, we say that we're transparent accountability. Well, then not all of us up here don't know what the hell's going on. We have to find out on Friday. And that's my concern and that's what I'm looking to solve. Well, if you want to raise
something in new business, you can do that. But we have an agenda and what you're raising right now isn't on it. I think I called a point of inquiry. It's part of Robert's rules. I asked council president. I Let's Let's curtail this
for now and let's decide how we're going to evaluate and respond to this. Whether we take a vote and the majority says we don't want to every two weeks have to create a report for the rest of the council which or whether we will assign
the directors which are who are on every committee has a director and the the director can summarize it and disseminate that. Can I just opine on that quickly if that's seriously being considered because I would never want our directors have to summarize conversations with council members and
represent their opinions. Well, that gets to the except when it's confidential. I mean, we the agenda goes out the the agenda goes out on Friday. There's five days to look at the agenda and I mean, I'm not we are all very busy, but you have you have five days to
look at it and if you have a question, it's like what what heck what the heck is this thing? Well, you can call someone and say on Monday or Tuesday. I think if you look like Jersey City has a caucus, the county has a caucus. We just don't have a caucus. We don't have any format where the council as a whole can
like engage and discuss some of the bigger issues. We had was great. What' you say? We used to have a right. We don't have it. Fabulous. Right. We went from having since I've been on. We haven't. So I don't I have no I had no idea. It was
the '9s when we last had caucuses. The last caucus was 2000 20 maybe sixish. I mean it's somewhat also at the discretion of council president. All right. So, how about we So, why don't you have a conversation? Let's figure this out. Not now. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Thank you for raising this. I'm sorry for not
being firm enough. The point of inquiry. Point of Okay, it's a correct proper term to use. That's all right. So, uh, ordinances for first reading. Excuse me. Uh, an ordinance to amend
city code city of Hoboken chapter 59A entitled Department of Public Safety Article 259- A-8 establishing the vision to increase the police department table of organization.
Mr. Fina, call the vote. Mr. Con? I. M. Fischer, no. No. I can't hear. Why is that so hard to hear? Mr. Jabor, yes. President, no. Mr. Canero,
hi. Mr. Ramos, no. Mr. Russo, hi. President Doyle, I am first reading. Introduction on an ordinance of the Hoboken city code, chapter 154, rental housing warehousing to clarify the
city's ability to conduct inspections. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I. Miss Fischer, yes. Mr. Jabore, yes. President, hi. Mr. Canero, hi. Mr. Ramos, hi. Mr. Russo, I
President Doyle, I. Ordinance for introduction to Hub Open City Code 155-2.1. Transition from rent regulations to preempting government agency to regulate of chapter to clarify
calculations of base rents. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I. Fiser, yes. Mr. Jabore, yes. President Xano, I. Mr. Cano, hi. Mr. Ramos, hi. Mr. Russo, hi. President Doyle. I
ordinance for introduction amending chapter 192 section 192-4A to add restrictive parking spaces for persons with disabilities. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con. Hi. Fiser. Yes. Mr. Jabor. Yes. President.
Hi. Mr. Cano. I. Mr. Ramos. Hi. Mr. Russo. Hi. President Doro. I. An ordinance amending chapter 179A entitle section 179A-20 of the Hoboken city code adjust
taxi cab fairs. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, hi. Miss Fiser, yes. Mr. Jabore, yes. President, I Mr. Cano, hi. Mr. Ramos, hi. Mr. Russo. Hi.
President Doyle. I Mr. Priny, you want me to give you a break? Ordinance amending supplementing chapter 158 rent increases in the Hoboken code by adding a new section 158-2 entitled prohibition against
algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market. Council President. Yes. I just have two things to say about this before we have a vote on this. Okay. Uh okay. Uh one is that there was originally when this was posted in the Stella, there was a provision in it
which is no longer in it which was there was a penalty which included a potential incarceration which is a penalty that crim Yeah. So that has been removed. That's no longer in there. And there was also a friendly amendment which I'd like to communicate to the council and also
to corporation council uh which uh is consistent with the Jersey City ordinance like this. Uh without this information, we're likely going to be subject to a constitutional challenge over first amendment. And the friendly amendment with my co-sponsor, Councilman
Cano, are okay with this is to allow the use of algorithms for publicly available pricing information that is older than 365 days. Uh because uh it's publicly information as opposed to private information. And if the information is
uh older than a year, it's of less relevance when it comes to setting prices for rent. So it would make it less vulnerable to to legal challenge. So that is so otherwise algorithmic uh price fixing uh is is prohibited but for
public information. So yes. So that is the that is an amendment for that uh for that language. You want to cross You want all of this off the one, two, and three. No, this would be in the prohibited. I'm saying there's two
things you you were talking about. You're talking about penalties, right? C1 C1 is is eliminated. And then so this is C1 and two. Is that correct? Right. And C2 becomes C1 and C3 becomes C2. Okay. So you'll you'll get this the wording of what you just read to the
clerk so that they can correct. So that's what we'd be voting on. Okay, Mr. Fina, please call a vote. Mr. Con, hi. Mr. Fisher, excuse me. Yes. Mr. Jabore, yes.
President Zano, I. Mr. Cano, I Mr. Ramos, hi Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. I an ordinance for introduction amending supplementing chapter 155 rent control article 3 rent leveling and
stabilization board and office section 155-23 determination applicable of the city code I have to it's actually appealable there's a typo in there but
to update appeal procedures for rent determinations questions. Mr. Fina, please call the vote. Mr. Con, I fiser. Yes. Mr. Jabor, yes. President, I Mr. Cano,
I Mr. Ramos, hi. Mr. Russo I President Doyle I board introduction amending reading and reindorsing the redevelopment plan for the western edge redevelopment area Jefferson and Madison Street
sub areas uh Mr. Fina please call a vote Mr. Con I Fiser present Mrs. Jabore yes Mr. Presidento I Mr. Cano
I Ramos Mr. Russo not present. Hi, President Doyle. I would uh CD the resolution number nine. It should be CL something. But
anyway, do you want me to read this, Jimmy, or do it's a resolution? CD5. I thought we're at uh we're at n number nine of the CD5. Where's CD5? The you have a different agenda. Resolution. All right. There is no nine. That's just
CD5. CD5. the Monarch 9. Okay, thank you. Um, yeah, CD5. That's So, it should be Yeah. Uh, but that my point is it's a resolution, so it's not a hearing, so you don't have to read it, right?
Or CD5. CD5. Yeah. Yeah. So, we're just going to vote on because we passed on first reading uh number eight, just call a vote on CD5. Mr. Con I M Fischer
um present Mrs. Zabore yes Mr. Presidento I Mr. Canero I Mr. Ramos not voting on Mr. Russo. Hi, President Doyle. Hi.
Uh, so we have public portion. Um, Alyssa, could you give me the signin sheet and we'll do new business? You want to finish the new new business? Well, the public portion is above it and I think it's all right. It's new business is the
last thing. So, okay. Um, uh, Enrique Herrera. It's all right. Um, uh, yeah, sure. U, I actually wanted to just for Is there a way I could lower a little bit? Uh, sorry. Sorry.
Uh, I actually wanted to, um, start this off by congratulating the Trump administration on the executive action of Take It Down Act. This is uh a very brazen step forward against any AI pornography or anti-ruule 34 legislation
toward any human or cartoon. And preferably we can eradicate that type of counterfeit content of any type of cartoon character or human, myself included, from any type of computer system or anything like that. Uh I'm I'm
really happy that uh that it was just that easy for that to be conducted and I urge the council members to take into account that you can now like address that um in your local government. Uh Westfield was one of those examples. Uh in my case, Island Span Sana was a big
work environment primarily primarily female which I actually had to help to kind of push that agenda by myself because of the lack of support that I had at the beginning of my campaign against that. Um, I'm also going to be spending some
time challenging the resolve of certain individuals in government that refuse to acknowledge me on social media. Uh, especially on the actions of deep fake warfare and just communicating about it,
addressing it. Um, I protested in front of Alexander Kaseru Cortez's office and got arrested uh twice. Uh, they were both dismissed. I can represent myself in the court of law. I got it. Easy peasy in there. Uh, so I'll be addressing her first. I dare you to speak to me, Alexandra Okaso Cortez. If
in the event you do have some sense of conscious, I'm sure you can pick up your phone and talk to me in any way, shape, or form. Just going to go right there for that one. Uh, Governor Governor went for the for the camera. Uh, Bernie Sanders, I haven't heard from you in a
while. I wonder if you're still there. Uh, I really hope that it's not an AI I'm speaking to cuz that's something that is a thing where you can just replace yourself. I'm sure there was even a situation where a court judge um reprimanded a human a male uh putting in
uh putting in one of those uh AI lawyers. So, if that was the case, then I don't know what's going on social media. That's completely dry for me. Uh, I know I've already addressed it with the local members and stuff, but I'm kind of just trying to see if I could swipe at the big dogs in here. Uh, in
terms of the governor of New Jersey, I'm going for uh, Governor Murphy. Where you at? I really hope that you guys can actually address me and not silence me on social media. Um, use meta to shadowban me beyond all recognizable doubt and think of me as a robot. If anything else, here I am.
Uh, I am going to press the Donald Trump administration with President Trump and JD Vance. Uh, vice president, where you at? I'm pretty much here waiting to see what you got you have in store. I'm sure the Secret Service investigation on
October 5th yielded nothing wrong. So, I'm sure we can communicate without any of you being afraid of me. Uh, I was more or less very much hyperritical on AI deep fake agendas against that behavior and I
even gave a more in-depth detailed assessment on my social media account which was never even addressed. If in the event there is any type of identity theft or intellectual property theft, excuse me, I would hope that in some
sense you can accredit me with at least addressing it and holding my ground on that issue of being against this type of AI warfare in terms of defakes and stuff like that. U again I created AI 1218 which destroys prediction scan
orchestration of any illegal act conducted against the woman. However, um in terms of defects and stuff, I cannot stop a woman from creating that material. If it is something that you want to do in your spare time, yeah. But if I can just remove it, that'd be a
better option. It's something that would be beneficial for a species to see women address the situation right away. And again, I am always open for debate in terms of any reference of my sanity being put into question. I'm sure anyone
has referenced Bernie Sanders's hair or whatever like that, but yeah, I um I'm going to go for this the swipe for the the New York representative. I'm going to go for Alexander Kascortez first and uh I'm going to continue my fight against that uh type of neglect that even if I'm not
a constituent of your congressional district of the 14th congressional district, I showed up by myself with a Captain America shield ready. If in the event you do have some sense of status, I'll be taking this recording from the YouTube channel, assuming it does get recorded. Sometimes it doesn't really go
through and I'll be ending that right there. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, Jonath Jonathan Msculin Jerry. This is not How you guys doing tonight? Uh, my name is Jonathan,
born and raised in Hoboken. Uh, pretty much uh, my whole life been raised in uh, Marine View. Um, first off, thank you guys to the council who actually came out and uh spoke with us and took your time um to speak with the tenants and uh answer any questions we had. Um,
and it's nice to see that the like the items on the agenda tonight and actually get introduced and passed to uh second readings. Um, the first reading I have for speaking here is just trying to get some uh transparency on a timeline. Um, Marine View, we back going back six months, we've heard a bunch of dates,
right? We've heard uh Marine View was un out of state control and supposed to be under rent control as of January 2024. Then it was uh January 2025, March 2025, 2027 even. Just a bunch of dates and I know it's because of old documents and stuff like that. And there's new
findings, but I think the tenants as a whole would like to see some kind of factual stuff what you guys have uncovered. So like we know that the had a court hearing or something Marine View agreed as of March 2025. that's that date that they're under rent control.
But it would be helpful to actually know when they came off the state because going back to those uh 2024 and early conversations, we were hearing uh from the tenant advocates about uh what to do, what should we pay, what's legal, what's not. And despite back and forth,
there was just consistent inconsistencies throughout. And I think it made the process of trying to relay information, especially to the elderly and people going to come out to these meetings very hard. Um secondly, that brings me to the search charge. Uh that's something else
that like there's inconsistencies that whether it is a part of that kind of rent control thing that goes away or it gets included, but also we heard it could be a part of the pilot that actually goes to 2027. So I don't know if there's any correlation, but just some actual
um whatever you guys found in the last couple of months, some concrete information. So like in closing any confirmed dates of when they actually came off the NJ state and was obligated to go under Hoboken and then um would be greatly appreciated by myself and the
tenants of Marine View. So Oh yeah, happy birthday to my mom. [Applause] like the talent with Jerry. Uh Peter Benedict. I am Peter Benedict. Um I'm a resident
of Marine View Plaza and um just want to thank you guys for the effort to speak to our tenants over the past months and to be open to our concerns. And I wanted to make some points in in uh support of the ordinance you introduced this
evening about the search charge um which has these kind of factors around as as has been discussed. Um the search charge is not in the spirit of rent control law. Um it's not relevant to rent control to have a financial related
search charge. Um this the search charge is currently getting paid to the city and not the out ofstate owners of Marine View and um they'll lose nothing essentially um if the income search charge is excluded from base rent
through this rent law revision. And I ask you as council um leaders, do you would you really want to reward um the owners who in some way many ways the city's fought for years around big increases that were not legal um and
other rent rent control issues um and give them a windfall of a substantial amount of money, you know, um by keeping those funds that come from the income search charge. Third is the unfair just kind of the basic unfairness of um the tenants, two tenants for
example having the same exact units. Take imagine two tenants both moving in at the exact same time and one tenant gets an income search charge and the other is not getting a search charge. So that seems kind of basically unfair. Lastly, I think there's an impact on um the s income search charge on retired
seniors at Marine View and as as your law that you you've introduced would affect other properties going from government um control to city rent control, other government control. Um the impact on seniors, some seniors um
income has gone down since Marine View does its semi-regular process of income resertification. Um, and those search charges they have are no longer accurate and Marine View has almost always been greatly delayed in doing reertifications, which this is unfair.
Um and secondly um some tenants went through reertification um earlier and there is this question lingering which the previous speaker just mentioned um about when in fact was state oversight ended and the city
oversight began. So, if it's the case that it's much earlier, like last year, some tenants may have gone through reertification um since then and were wrongly hit with an income search charge. And last, I just want to point out seniors have lived and contributed to your community
for many, many years. They're important voting block for you guys. So, thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. [Applause] Venovic. Marty Anderson or Martin Anderson, excuse me.
Good evening. Uh Martin Anderson, uh first ward, uh first um Marine View, uh Plaza resident. It's late, so I'll be brief. I just wanted to thank the council for all they have done for the
tenants and also uh particularly for considering and passing uh ordinances two and three. And also a shout out to uh Paul Presenzano for introducing these uh important uh considerations. Thank
you. Thank you, Mark. Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Um Patricia Waiters, bring the microphone down. Thank you. I got to bring my Bible up here. I want
to wait. Where's Ruben? Come on, Reuben. I'm waiting for you. Oh my god. This is for whoever it is. People texting me and watching this. Whoever just sent this picture of me
January 2022 at 10:30 doing an interview with Peter from the Pulse. Wait a minute. Let me get it. It says, "If you not going to speak out and do something about it, nothing is going
to be done." And it's a picture of me and Peter in the interview and it says Wednesday, January 2022 at 10:30 p.m. I'm sitting here and this is being televised and people watching it and they cracking jokes cuz they seeing how
quiet I am. So, I'm going share this with you. When I wear the trouble bracelet facing down toward the people, I'm here for good trouble and I'm quiet. I'm not going to respond. I'mma save all of my positive energy. But if this bracelet is turned upside down and I can
see the word trouble to myself, we going to have a problem. So, I decided to wear it down. And I was doing good today. I'm actually patting myself on the back cuz so much is going on to around the whole world as a whole to where we have become
comfortable with racism. We have become really really comfortable. And it's hard for a person that look like me and you, Ruben. I want to play this video. And this is the council woman Joyce Waterman from Jersey City, which is also running for mayor.
And I shared it with all of y'all. I sent you this video and she said why I'm not you don't feel I'm capable for running for mayor. I am a black woman. She said it three times. And you know what hurt? When somebody do something
racist or like I'm being disrespected now the main two should be listening. It's not good. I don't even have to say nothing. So I don't care who accused me in the morning of being anti whatever. We got to do better cuz let me
tell you this. Back in the 60s,7s and 80s, we got away with it. We see black deaths over and over. We got to change the mindset. This is the worst I ever felt since moving here in the 60s. And y'all
sat there and I just told you in the hallway, Mike, y'all sat there. Tiffany openly admit we got 90 lawyers and blah blah blah. Ruben, your one cousin, aunt or whatever, one black person, and y'all make sure they didn't slip through the
crack. You got 90 attorneys like you said. Yes. Right. And I want to hold up the integrity of Hoboken. So I decide, Reuben, thanks for not saying my name. But all he had to do was put your picture in there and I knew who it was cuz I lived in your ward again for 20
years and you totally ignored me. I brought racist matters to you on top on top on top of each other when I knocked on doors in Hudson T and was rejected and hear the n-word. I always came to you as my council woman. I even pulled out of the race when y'all threatened me
cuz I had two petitions under. I could stand here forever and share with you what I'm experienced living in black skin. We got to do better. And I'mma continue to say it. I don't care what you guys write on the
internet. What's scaring me is we going to get tired. We going to get tired. Patricia waiters. Everybody know I'm a diffuser. I walk in acne to CVS, the shop, right? And I hug and embrace everybody. People I don't even know. Just cuz they say,
"Hi, Patricia. I'mma give you love. I hug and I embrace. If they say other than that, I'mma tell you to your face, you're a liar." And it bothers me because I've been asking you kindly. We got to do better cuz bigotry and hate, you cannot
hide it. And we learned that with our president and I voted for Donald Trump and that was a joke to everybody. His legislation was excellent. But he have made it where people are really comfortable to be racist, really comfortable to be biased. I sent on
purpose people to that able guy. That's why I said that tonight that look like me. They would not help them. I sent people to Nora. I've been advocating and you know, Michael, I called you from the judges chambers. I've been doing this for years and I learned to earn my respect cuz I go to people respectful
and I don't see color like I teach my little kids. My kids is in Somerset being harassed every day. They the only blacks in their CL and they Spanish looking. And it's scary cuz those are my grandkids. And I'm telling you, with every ounce of being in my body, when
that man stood up here tonight and said the HHA, and the way he said it right after that, he used the word plantation. I was waiting for somebody to say, "Excuse me, sir. That sounds a little on the I was waiting." No, you was there, Doyle, cuz I know I know you. I seen
your expression. You was there. I'm telling you guys, even if you don't mean to. He said it. He cleared his name. He said it wasn't me. A guy stood at this microphone and said to Ha, "They do, Reuben. It's true, baby. They look at us like we on a plantation. That's their
mentality." Ruben, look at David Little. None of y'all, and I said it when Jen was alive. None of y'all aren't my uncle Davey. Davey's mother looked at white, blonde hair, blue eyes. That's my mother's brother. Okay? And the experiences that he dealt with here,
Jean Drayton being his best friend. I'm living Jean Drayton's life. They moved the only black man in Marine View for a long time. That's me in church towers today. Rewind. Okay. So, we talking about from the six. I'm wrapping it up. We a man came up here and talked about a
parking ticket. Y'all made him talk two sessions. We We got to do better. I don't want to lose focus cuz the rest of the election I'mma come up here and I'mma say it. I do not want to see this city break out in a all down war because
the color of our skin. I don't even real people coming up here telling you 30, 40 years and how long they lived here. This is not good and y'all making it too obvious. I'm wrapping up because I could go on forever. But Miss Jab boy, I must share this with you. Y'all, that mom's
for violence with the gun violence. We are on board. We stood in here packed when people that look like me got shot and killed. Okay? There's a serious issue going on right now in Wallace. I tried to be nice and share it with you. Okay? But being that it's under investigation, I'mma hold back. But any
kind of gun violence should be addressed and taken serious cuz what happened in Wallace two weeks ago, trust me, get in touch with me cuz I'm not letting that one ride. Thank you very much, Patricia. Thank you very much. Please guys, let's do better.
Manuel Riveraire Buic president Conilio Conilio Fis Portugal is Portugal Luis deos president council president briefly
said I heard some size as well but it's to include everyone uh it's our community hoboken community is uh compiled of many many many beautiful nationalities and they all should be spoken in this chamber and if I have anything to do with it I will try to
speak as many languages as I can even though I think I briefly mixed my Spanish and my Italian in here a little bit so my apology to all three um uh communities uh briefly is to um commemorate um the 10th of June which is
um Luis de Komeo's commemoration of his life um to all our Portuguese um residents we uh celebrate with you and we commemorate with you as well. Um again now I would just like to also say um briefly I would like to also thank uh
council member throughu council president council member um for the first word uh Paul presidento which um he advocates for transparency and uh even here in a in a point of order or in a point of inquiry. It is important for
members of the public to be informed and well informed which is why I come and ask questions and thank you also for the uh email. Although I am not a constituent of yours, I appreciate to be kept informed uh and thank you for that. Um also, Council President, I would just
like to let members of the public um also understand that also June is uh the celebration of the LGBTQ community. Again, Hoboken has a vibrant community. Um, and it is important that we also continue to recognize them as the prior
or the current administration, pardon me, uh, has always done and I hope future administrations continue to do and Sunday, June 8th. And, uh, I have pleasure saying that date. Uh, it's not only the day that they're going to be,
uh, out in front of city hall painting the lines again, it is also yours truly's uh, uh, birthday. So, it is an important day in Hope that we are going to one day uh do a parade for. Just
kidding. Uh we also celebrate on uh uh Saturday here in this chamber uh at Puerto Rican Heritage Month and we also um have a parade again in New York City on June 8th uh National Puerto Rican Day
uh the National Puerto Rican Day parade, pardon me. Um, Council President, all these things I say and I know that time is right running and I know that time is late, but it is important to say again for all members of our community, especially the Puerto Rican community whose um dedication to Hoboken for
decades um has always been unsung and if it on June is the month we can give um all of them the props and the dues that they deserve um because they were here and they stood here when everybody else left and a couple of other communities.
So uh thank you for that for for that uh moment of your attention. And now I want to go into sadder uh situations and as I always do I guess I'm the consoler of the chamber. Uh I will take that uh honor. Um, again, I hope that we can all
unite as a community, you council president and the council and the members of the public and the Hoboken uh community uh to send our thoughts and prayers to the victims of Boulder, Colorado of the senseless um tragedy and uh to the the families of the
victims. Uh we cannot solve anything with more violence. So if you want violence to cease, we cannot continue doing violence. So I urge all people everywhere to please stop doing
the violence. And we also want to send our prayers if we can to the Jersey City community for the death of Justin Rivera. no relation, council president, but to to the Jersey City community and
to the police community of Jersey City, to his family. I hope we all can also unite and sending our thoughts and prayers again to his family and colleagues and also to the Hoboken uh colleagues here, council president. We thank you for that. And uh again it is
uh so sad that we also have to send our prayers for the two victims of the consulate um uh deaths in uh Washington. Again a tragedy that has no sense. So with that council president I also would
like to say um I'm just going to leave it at this then I'll just say council president thank you and thank members of the public. God bless you. God bless you all. God bless Hoboken and let's hope that we see the the hostages freed very
very soon and we also pray for the innocent citizens of Gaza and the Palestine Slava Ukraine heroam Slava council president it was equal time but I appreciate it thank you back thank you
I believe Mr. Murray continues to not be present if I'm not mistaken. Um Kevin Weller. Hello council. It's my first time here before you in person. I did join you um by Zoom once or
twice. My name is Kevin Weller. I'm president of the Portide Towers East Tenant Association visiting you from Jersey City. Let me go off my prepared remarks and a little bit not on what was prepared. First, I want to comment on this council. I have
been to 55 consecutive city council meetings in Jersey City. So, basically all of them since November 2022. I've missed two, I think. Um, I didn't know the council was allowed to talk. Our council doesn't talk to us like you guys
do. We can't keep them from talking. No, no. I I'm like blown away. I mean, can we do a council exchange? I mean, we would love to have this council come to Jersey City. Um, we as a group have presented over a thousand speeches related to non-
enforcement of the laws that we have in our city. And uh our council for the most part they just don't say anything you know and uh to hear commentary back on I think every public person that spoke there was commentary and I just
was amazed by that. Um so I really I think uh this city has something special in this council. The city may not agree with everything that everybody up here says but it's really quite incredible what you guys what I observe here and we really appreciate that.
Um, the main reason why I'm here is to talk about the the three three of your first readings. Um, and primarily the one related to algorithmic price fixing. Um, I am the first and only New Jersey renter to file what has become the
largest real estate antitrust class action in American history, targeting Real Page Equity Residential and more than 25 of the nation's largest landlords for algorithmic price fixing. including included in that class action I filed are buildings right here in
Hoboken. So tonight you passed I think unanimously the first reading which is great um your proposed ordinance number six on your list um which addresses what the New Jersey Attorney General just confirmed on April 23rd uh that algorithmic pricing systems are being
used to artificially inflate rents across our state. The AG investigation validates exactly what I've been fighting against since I filed my lawsuit in April of 2023. Um, but why did a Jersey City renter have to launch this landmark case before the DOJ took action before the
FBI raid, before the New Jersey AG filed suit? Because transparency was completely absent from our enforcement systems. Unlike Hoboken, we have a mayor who enables price fixing even in rent control buildings um by only selectively
enforcing the laws of his city. Had Jersey City simply enforced existing rent control laws, including all of the transparency requirements like rent rolls, real page could never have infected the building where I live in Portide Towers. This is precisely why your ordinance needs teeth. Without
mandatory disclosure of what pricing systems landlords use and without real consequences for hiding this information, you're essentially asking vampires to self-report their blood consumption. As I told Jersey City Council last month and patch quoted, "We're witnessing a
dangerous cycle where algorithmic pricing extracts maximum rent from tenants that money uh that money funds political campaigns which protect developers interests, allowing them to extract even more. It's a perpetual motion machine where regular people's
rent checks ultimately finance their own displacement. Any algorithmic rent fixing ban is meaningless without transparency. How will you know if landlords are using real page yieldar or the next generation of price fixing software if they're not required to disclose it? Modify this ordinance to
add mandatory transparency requirements or pass a companion ordinance that will clean this up like what Jersey City is currently doing. So on that's on that one. On the warehousing um and with all respect and with a
little bit of a smile, the warehousing inspection ordinance might as well include a provision um for complimentary coffee and donuts for the violations. I say that because 7 days written notice is not really enforcement. Warehousing thrives in darkness. You need
unannounced inspections. You need inspections triggered by tenant complaints. um you need uh perhaps rewards for reporting violations um you know making warehousing more expensive than compliance. The AG lawsuit that was filed on in April of of last month or in April is sorry April
23rd uh revealed that landlords conspire to conser to circumvent rent control not just using algorithms but through other processes and I can't really comment on the redacted portions of the AG's complaint. Um but it alluded to u systems that are in place including
warehousing and warehousing is a big part of the strategy. So, if you give 7 days notice, then the landlords have time to basically clean up their act. But if you come in and a tenant says, "Hey, this build, this unit next to me
has been vacant for a month." And the inspector comes in and they find it's vacant. And then they say, "Well, how long has this been vacant?" But if you give them a heads up, it won't be vacant in 7 days um potentially. So, I would say pass ordinances with transparency requirements and enforcement mechanisms
that will survive political cycles because Hoboken won't always have leaders like Mayor Bala and perhaps soon Mayor Jabbor um who prioritize tenants over campaign contributions. So, the algorithmic ban needs transparency and the vacancy
inspections definitely need to be unannounced. And then the other last two notes I have here. Kevin, just you're over. I'm sorry. If I saw that, I wouldn't have gone over. I apologize. No, it's it's fine. I just I didn't realize I was show you that we will shut
you guys up. Um No, if you want to just conclude back everything he said next. I'll conclude very uh they would never let me do that over there. Um I love conclude very quickly. Um the the base rent ordinance is really great, but you
should add the word legal. Um, the last legal rent should stay. Um, I'll follow up maybe with an email to explain why that is. Come up afterwards if you want. Yeah, go ahead. Great. I'll do that. Thank you very much. And, uh, put jail back into number six. And that's it. I
just want to say one thing to Mr. Weller with respect to the algorithm. I'm very quick because he complimented us for feedback. Uh we passed we passed an earlier ordinance as council did which is now law uh that says that if any landlord raises rent by more than 10% they must disclose to the tenant whether
they used an algorithm when they raised that rent. So there actually is a mechanism that exists in the Hoboken code that provides for disclosure by the landlords to tenants and tenants have a right to enforce that. Awesome. Only if it's 10% of
Okay, that's that's moving in the right direction at least. Thank you very much. I apologize for the overtime. Zachary King. All right. Thank you for your patience even though, let the record show, your chairs look way more comfortable than our chairs. Um, so yeah, I wanted to
make clear just a couple things from earlier. So I I understood that you weren't voting on the actual language of the redevelopment plan here. Um, but just to make it clear for everybody, I I know that you have power over things like zoning law approvals and you frequently use that power as a negotiating chip. So that's why I bring
it to the council also because we don't get to vote for the HHA. We don't get to vote for their leadership. HHA residents don't get to vote for their leadership. That's an appointed position. So I have to go to the people that I actually vote for um and hope that you will have their ear. I assume that as politicians you
have some influence, right? So there's uh I think good reason to bring up HHA issues to our council. Um and I just wanted to say like if I got the wrong documents, if there if there is that legally enforcable language, that legally enforcable right to return for HJ residents in a document somewhere, I
would love to see that. Love to see it if if that's correct. Doesn't exist yet, but when it it does exist, you will be able to see it. Okay. So it doesn't exist yet, but when it exists, we'll be able to see it. All right. Well, that clears that up. And uh that's all. I guess the last thing I'll say is the geese are native, Paul. They were here
first. That's great. The geese are native first. That's good. Thank you. Uh John Gregorio was great. Hello again. uh want to first
say I have been a supporter of the HHA and its increase in size and and performance. I' gone to meetings with uh Mr. Ramos and I was told this is what's happening and etc. And I agreed
with them absolutely and in my statement I said people who live in the HHA deserve to have good living conditions. My problem was is that one piece of property which I was
continually misinformed about was said to be which is the PSNG site was it was not buildable. We're not going there. What we're going to do to move these seniors from one building into a
building we're building on the parking lot. That's it. Then I think it was two meetings ago, it came out, we're going to turn this piece of property into
um HHA property, which it never was before. talked to emailed uh director Brown and I said, "How much is that piece of property worth?" And he sent me a thing that said the
$22,600 square ft or something to that effect was $2 million. Very low for that area. Very low. How many people How much can you build on that? Well, it's in a
district where it says you can build four stories over the flood plane. I said, "Okay, so what is that?" Maximum 34 apartments. Okay. None of this was ever explained to
the people of the fourth ward, to the rest of of Hoboken and etc. So what I see it as is somewhere in the back room somebody made a deal and said let's do this. What was lied to us about is said we're not going to take that
property and turn it into more of the HHA. What we're going to say is that that's unbuildable. So we can't really put anything there and we're going to just move people from one building on on the parking lot and put it into the other. That was my point. it came out
different if it was mischaracterized by people. Um, that's their problem. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for clearing it up. And Alex Garcia, our final
speaker. Save the best for last, Alex. Of course. Of course. Um, good evening. Um I came to address something basically um people always say is come with solutions not the problems bring
solutions the whole um I got thinking I spoke to Jessica Ramirez some women Jessica Ramirez about two months ago regarding the whole uh ebike situation the problems and I asked her why can't we
bring up a bill to have all these ebikes be registered and she's like we do on the how come nobody is basically passing it was going on so forth because it hasn't been really been addressed. So I'm going to my city
council right now to ask why hasn't this been brought up. It's bill alpha 3359 assembly number 3359. It was sponsored by a Slimman woman Linda
Carter, Asimwoman Chenique Spite, and a Slimman Regginal Atkins. It was introduced on January 29 of last year. What happened? Okay, I'm sorry. Um,
so it requires low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters to be registered with the MVC and to be insured. Now, I'm not sure if you guys knew about this, but this could be really helpful for our town, especially
in the summertime. Now, I saw Paul posted two days ago somebody with a vest. I was ecstatic about it. I'm like, you know what? Finally, somebody's actually following the laws, a vest, the number on it, whatever the case may be. That's
what we need. How come we're not I'm asking you guys, how come this hasn't been pushed and it's been brought up as a bill already? So, when I ask Jessica Ramire if she could do something about it, the galaxy is already there. It's just you guys got to basically the people have to speak up on
it. So, I've given you guys the tools. I hope you guys address it this point forward. There's no excuse at this point. It's on the table at the state level. That's
one. Secondly, um where is it? I'm losing it. Um yes, regarding the whole prohibition and the application algorithms. Thank you very much for passing the first reading. Great idea. hopefully starts
basically controlling this whole rent increase and we could have less people moving out of Hoboken at this point. Huge issue. Thank you. Thanks. And last but not least, who's in charge of the movies underneath the stars? Cultural affairs.
Cultural affairs. It's like every year is gotten worse for parents. I mean, us adults could have fun. Great. Go to the movies. But those are the days where in the beginning used
to be kids for movies for kids. Now it's like barely any movies. I mean I mean I may be out of your scope. It's something hopefully some of you to address. Like these are these are basically events that parents look forward to with the kids underneath the stars. Now there's not even one movie. I have to go out of
Jersey City to look for a movie and for cartoon for kids. might be something small but something as a parent the father of four kids that means a lot you know so people want to bring creations want to bring uh want to be a recreation with the parents kids to get something
involved that's something to do with look into thank you very much thanks thank you Mr. Garcia. Um, it's done for the public comment. Motion. Second. All those in favor?
New business. We have new business. Two items in new business. Yes. Um, we can discuss as long as we like. Um, so there's there are separate resolutions for authorizing the urgent
item, one for one for each. So, excuse me. All at once. Um, it's been requested that we not do that. So, let's let's go with the first one is a is Jerry, excuse me, Jimmy, you don't need to read these.
Uh, but, uh, it pertains to number two, which is the professional service contract with Antelli Caner Rivera. So, could you call the vote on the talk on it? Uh, one and two, right? One and two. The first one or two? No, I'm only Don't
we usually do those two together or No, we don't always do them together because So, we can talk about it if you want. Yeah, but we can talk about it. So, so the emergency rel council uh Thank you. Uh for MB1, the emergency, this is a you know, arc this council unanimously asked
the FAA to take action to protect us from uh unauthor non-essential helicopters. Uh not we had that sent to the FAA. We've heard nothing in response. We've heard a ton from our constituents. The reason why this is in
new business is because the administration presented this on the Friday after we had our deadline on Thursday. Uh and uh what follows is uh to increase uh council's budget, which is now $3,000, an additional 15,000 to allow for the preparation of a complaint
uh against the FAA. uh and uh whatever research relates to the to the claims in that complaint uh I know we've all heard from our constituents and you know rather than wait for our next meeting the the belief is this is a public health emergency and it's something we
need to get before the FAA as soon as we can. That's basically the nature of the emergency. So I'd like to say something um just today president. Thank you sir. Thank you council president. Uh there was a meeting this morning between Craig
Guy, the owner and operator of the Carney Helport, and the mayor of Carney. And there was some type of agreement that they came to today that they're going to cut back on some of the um activity. It wasn't really
uh when I spoke to um the county executive, he said to me, he's hopeful, but it wasn't really clear and they used some terms that they weren't that familiar with, but they said they would be cutting down on this. Um, I also spoke to Mayor Bala this
weekend and I spoke to Councilman Cohen and I said to them very clearly, I'm not in favor of this. Uh, because you work better as a team. So, I feel like a coalition or Jersey City joining us, Union City, we hawking, everybody,
us going to do it and instead of us taking this alone because when you see the federal government, they're just going to drag things out as long as they can. one. Two, this administration that's running the country right now seems to be very vindictive. And my concern is we spend
$15,000 to go for a lawsuit and we suddenly lose a million dollars in grant funding cuz it seems to happen that way. We're already getting sued because of the executive order of Mayor Bala with the welcoming city. I feel as if we have a target in Hudson County on uh for this. So for me,
if I had a coalition, because it's not going to be $15,000 if we start with the FAA, it's it's going to be more than that. But I had said to Mayor Bala that the way I would support this is if you have Jersey City, if you have Union
City, if you have We Hawk and board on this to help defay some of this because it's impacting all of us. So I I'm not in agreement that while yes, we have a an issue. However, before we jump to
litigation, we should build the coalition of all of us so we go there together um and not doing it peacemeal. So you have the county already looking at this and county every elected official is pushing it from uh state senators,
assembly people to the congressman Mendez as well. uh it's on the radar and everybody's trying. However, we don't have everybody on the same page here for this. So, I won't be in support of spending $15,000 to sue the FAA. Uh I
think we should take a more team approach before we even get to something like that. Mr. President, um I agree with with what uh Councilman President Zano said just in general. Um, you know, this is definitely a hoboken
issue. I hear about it. We all hear about it. I've been on, you know, the emails and exchanged with the mayor of Carney. Um, I've spoken with our county executive as well. I'm sure we all have. I've spoken with Councilman Cohen. We've gone to Trenton. Um, I've spoken with
Menendez. There's definitely a lot of um a lot of eyes and a lot of energy. And you know, this is the start of what potentially is a pretty expensive litigation and it just seems like and we're jumping in and Hoboken taxpayers
may be bearing the burden of something that really should be a shared expense but but as importantly to me um you know why Anteneelli cancer? I mean, I feel like we're suing the federal government and we're suing the federal government
on an aviation type issue and that's just not what Antelli Caner does literally at all. So, it feels like if instead of rushing to meet, you know, a primary um election on Tuesday, you know, we should just spend a few minutes
to identify what the right attorney is and get a little bit of input um around suing the federal government at this time and what our chances are. Um so, I'm going to be a no on this. Um, but not I I'm not completely opposed to
suing the FA. I just think we need to bring a few more people in and get um attorneys that have experience as opposed to paying for people that don't have experience in this subject matter. We are.
Thank you, Councilman Fischer. On the Yeah. So I mean we're voting on whether it's emergent to address this now and we but we are obviously also talking about the substance of it. So do we we want to vote on whether uh the two
of them? No, we can talk about it for 10 minutes. Okay. So we're voting on number one and new business as to whether there's an emergent condition urgency that is to uh Mr. Con. I miss Fiser. Yes.
Mrs. Jabbor. All right, Mr. President. Well, one is and one isn't. No, no. This is whether or not it's We're voting on, right? That is whether or not we want to move forward with that. The issues are I True Gum. Mr.
Cano, I Mr. Ramos. Hi, Mr. Russo. I President Doyle abstain. All right. So now two So now we're voting on the the contract itself. Yes.
Number two. Mr. Con. Hi. M Fischer. No. Mrs. Yabore. It is urgent. No. Mr. Presidento. No. Mr. Cano hi
Mr. Ramos no Mr. Russo. No. President Doyle abstain. Resolution fails. New business. Resolution rising additional. I think we can do these two together. Okay. Yes. We do the two
together. Resolution awarding a contract to World War Veterans of Housing Corporation DBA, Veteran Center of Hobok, and $50,000 from the affordable housing capital fund to fund site
preparation and construction permit fees affordable housing at 308 uh 62nd Street Affordable Housing Capital Fund. Mr. Mr. Con,
Miss Fischer, yes. Mr. Jabor, yes. President, I Mr. Cano, I Mr. Ramos, I. Mr. Russo, I, President Doyle, I.
Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I thank you everyone. All right. Thank you. Good night. We