All right, it's time now. >> I think it's for you. >> Hello. I got it. >> I would like to advise all those present that notice of this meeting has been provided to the public in accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act and that notice was published in the city website. Copies
were provided in the burger record and also placed on a bulletin board in the lobby of city hall. Written objections, if any, shall be made to the city clerk. flag. All right, with the flag to the flag of America to the republic
for it standy and justice for all. [snorts] >> Call the roll, please. >> Mr. Con, >> here. >> Mr. Firestone, >> here. >> Miss Fischer, >> here. >> Mrs. Imus, >> here. >> Mrs. Lac >> here. >> Mr. President Zano >> present. >> Mr. Cano >> present.
>> Mr. Russo >> present. >> President Ramos >> present. >> Uh so to begin our meeting tonight as we all know uh June is pride month and obviously here in Hoboken we celebrate uh everyone from diverse backgrounds.
And to begin our meeting tonight we have a presentation we led by Laura Nit and Pride Advisory Committee. Uh so we look forward to hearing what they have to say to us tonight. What activities they have wonderful work they're doing. uh on behalf of Hoboken residents and LGBTQ plus community in the city of Hoboka. So
Laura, the floor is yours >> and Cecilia Platt. >> Oh, and Cecilia. >> They only gave me Laura. >> Yes. Hold on one second. >> Yeah, of course. >> Yes. Yes.
Um, and standing next to me is Cece, an extraordinary human being. I'm sure some of you have met her before. Um, but she's also going to share the presentation as well. Good evening everyone. Those at home, those who are sitting quietly alone, we see you. We
hear you. Happy Pride. Okay. So, we're going to open with um one sec. Let's move forward. We want to celebrate a new year of visibility, inclusion, and community. We also reflect on the incredible progress
that we've made throughout 2025. As we celebrate a new year of visibility, inclusion, and community, we also reflect on the incredible progress we made. So, the Hoboken Pride Advisory Committee continues to promote inclusivity, visibility, and acceptance for LGBTQ plus residents, workers, students, and
visitors. Together we are building a city where everyone belongs. Uh this is a image from our trans day visibility event um which was just a few months ago um where we had uh we reached out to a bunch of community members. We gathered we all gathered the Hoboken Public Library um to just celebrate um and
enjoy and just work on building a community here in Hoboken. And we actually had some students uh work on a banner that we would later bring with us to the uh Memorial Day parade. Um those that was fully made by students Yes, I believe the banner was created by
the middle school and other students from the GSA. Uh yes, as Cece mentioned, the bridge that we the bridges we have built within the school system, you know, some of our families and friends and members of our community stay quiet about the journey they're all on. So
sometimes even though they're silent, our presence actually helps them to carry on and sometimes it's great news and sometimes they're challenges. But this particular event was well attended and again we thank you for that opportunity. [snorts and clears throat] Um our second ships strengthened our
community connection and created new engagement celebration and advocacy across Hoboken. As you see in the picture here is a Hudson Pride Center. We have been working continuously for more than a decade with that organization. one of the only community uh centers for LGBTQ in Hudson County
and we are very grateful for their partnership over the years. We help them and they help us. So that's been a great partnership. We also last year um 2025 we kicked off Pride Month um with the rain rainbow crosswalk painting um which is also
going to happen um this Sunday. Yes. Um, uh, Pride Month kicked off with a painting of Publican's iconic rainbow sidewalk in 2025. The project expanded to include the colors of the Progress Pride flag honoring bipok and transgender members of our community.
>> Yes. And there's so many photographs. We could only stick so many in this evening um, to be respectful of your time. But over the years, we've had city council people, leaders. We've had people from local businesses, schools, families,
people that come from New York, um surrounding municipalities, and it's been wonderful. So, moving forward, last year, some of you may remember, we had an opening ceremony here in this very room, and we had leaders, residents, students, and allies gather here at city
hall to officially launch Pride Month with inspiring remarks. And we had youth voices m and moving musical performances. the two students there pictured I think they have gone on now to college so that was a wonderful event as well
>> we also try to focus on celebrating uh pride through arts and culture um in partnership with the city's department of cultural affairs pride events brought LGBTQ plus stories and experiences into public spaces through film music and community gatherings um and similarly this year we will also be hosting um a
movie night uh later this month all of our events are I believe we've yeah yeah we've shared it enough. But um yeah, >> I'm sure I don't know if some of you saw the social media that went out and some of the promotion on Tap into, but um I
think we have seven or eight significant programs this year. All are welcome. Okay, moving right along. We also host familyfriendly Pride events. So we do have family drag bingo with her sunbeam, community karaoke, and other inclusive
programs. Um we really do work on creating space uh programs for residents of all ages and try to consider um that's a big part of our consideration no matter what we always try to bring the fund to all ages. Oh and I Oh my and
I believe that second image is from the puppy pride parade which we are also doing again this year. Um so hope to see some of you out there. Um plugging for my friend Tara but yeah. Um so pride on the move. also had a pride ride uh connected with participants with important LGBTQ plus landmarks while
promoting wellness, visibility and community pride. Just another one of the many events that we have been participating in and will continue to keep doing. Then um we also what you mentioned we've had pride fun run we've uh which is a 5k
we've had pride fitness in the park and uh film celebrations as we've already mentioned to encourage connection connections excuse me healthy living and shared experiences and I will add that there many of them are alliances to our community and I
can't say enough how how amazing that is as our town of Hoboken can can cultivate that type of Um, I don't know, acceptance, friendship, love, and for a good cause to raise money. Thank you. >> And yeah, a little bit more on the puppy
pride parade. Um, this is one of Hoboken's most beloved pride traditions. We did it. This is, I think, our third year doing it. Um, families, pets, and community members gather last year along the Hoboken waterfront for a joyful celebration of love and inclusion. Um, but it's just, it's also just [snorts] a
really fun, very cute event. Um, it's one of my favorites, personally. Yes. I don't know if any of you caught it, but we do dress up our pets. Um, and then of course that picture on the bridge represents the walk. We began the walk, I believe, on pier C and walked
over to pier A. That was fun. Um, this is very important as well. um supporting the LGBTQ youth. We met with the Hoboken public school district leadership to discuss LGBTQ student experiences to identify opportunities
and to strengthen our support for young people. And on a serious note, it's one of my heartstring and heartfelt thoughts is as a community as we become safe spaces and accepting for all, how do we do this? And so we I don't expect
everybody to answer that right away, but it's really important to lay the groundwork for conversation, safe spaces, and how do we work out our differences in the best interest of our youth? And so I take that very seriously as a member of the committee, as do other members of our committee. So on
the serious note, it's not always rainbows and unicorns and we're dancing and carrying having a wonderful time in celebration, but we also on a serious note contemplate, you know, what does it take now that we have these freedoms and
we have these opportunities um to look at these serious sometimes serious issues. But I can tell you people in Hoboken have stepped up with dignity, respect, and grace. And for that there are no more words. I can only say thank you.
And on that continued serious note, um this is also another this is our transgender um day of remembrance vigil um where we gather and we remember the names and the lives of the lo of lost trans people throughout the year. Um this is the inaugural and future uh transgender day of visibility
celebrations creating opport uh opportunities for education, creativity, connection and affirmation for transgender community and allies. Um but the vigil specifically is a lot more about just remembering and remembrance of the people that have been lost. Um
and yeah, >> then as some of you may already know, we did honor the lives in history uh the second annual transgender day of remembrance vigil and participation in the AIDS memorial rededication here at city hall which demonstrated our
commitment to remembrance, visibility and solidarity. And looking ahead to 2026, um, planning continues for various initiatives, expanded partnerships and fundraising opportunities and new programs that will strengthen Hoboken's pride celebrations year round. Uh, we've been meeting once
or twice a month as much as we can to try to get the get events on for Pride and get just generally events going to try to foster a stronger and more well a more tight community. So, as we begin Pride 2026, I want to say thank you to the city council
members, our partners, our leaders, our volunteers, our residents for helping us create a stronger, safer, and more welcoming place for Hoboken. I know it's not an easy job. I know because I live it every day. However, I have been able to thrive
in this beautiful community. And for I can't like again I cannot tell you what words to bring to this conversation except do not give up in our differences. We can become stronger. We may need to find ways to dialogue around this conversation that makes sense for all of us in this room, not just me. I
look if there's anything you ever need, I'd be more than happy to be there for you in the spirit of celebration this June. Um I can only say from the bottom of my heart, thank you and we look forward to seeing some of you. Uh hope hopefully all of you. Um and I think that's it. And I want to say thank you
to Cece and Kathy, our our chair, our leader and chief, and Brian. Um I think we have 12 members, right Kathy? Um and they're volunteers. Uh and they work tirelessly. Um so thank you all and happy Pride. >> Yep. Happy.
>> Thank you. [applause] [applause] What's up? >> Yeah. Uh thank you, Hen. Just a very quick comment uh to Laura and the members of the Hobok and Pride Advisory Committee. I just want to thank you all for your leadership and your efforts as volunteers. I also know we had a great
Memorial Day parade and I thought it was awesome that the Hudson Pride Center was marching down Washington Street uh was part of the visibility of that. I just want to say happy Pride. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Y yeah, Laura Cy, thank you so much for your presentation, the work you're doing. uh on behalf of I think Laura you
said it well the scene and the unseen able community that need our support every single day. So thank you so much for the work you both are doing. Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh we'll have another presentation uh from the Stevens Government Association. So we'll have Nora and Leah.
I think you guys can use this mic. You can use this microphone tonight. That that's only for the computer. >> Hello everyone. >> Use the microphone a little. Just say your name. Hello everyone. Thank you so much for accommodating us to come here today so last minute. My name is Leah.
My name is Leah Mayer. I'm a second year biology student at Stevens and I'm the government and community relations chair on the stu on the student government at Stevens. Here you go. >> Hi, I'm Noah Wtel. I'm a secondyear finance major at Stevens and I am the vice president of relations.
>> And we are missing one member of our team, Sarah, who couldn't be here, but she's the assistant vice president of relations for us. So we're going to briefly go over some initiatives we've completed this semester and the semester before then this year. So the first thing in civic engagement is PRV 101
changes. PRV 101 is essentially a class that tells you like how to adjust the college. So it's offered to first year students and we noticed that there's not much information or lessons about um civic engagement or like learning how to vote or getting out to vote. So we added
changes to the curriculum about voter registration and how to register into Hoboken voter registration area. And then we also been attending city council meetings every month and we've been meeting with local leaders such as Mayor Jabbor and Mike Menzella. And then on
election day we held an event for coffee and donuts to get everyone on campus excited to vote at Babio. Some of the community outreach initiatives that we've done is Leah hosted a public lecture series at um our school where we invited members of the public to attend lectures from Steven's
professors. We also helped coordinate a STEM night at the Weihawk Middle School and we had a bunch of Steven students table for that which was really cool. Um we saw that there was a need in the community for volunteers. So we had a bunch of students volunteer at the food pantry.
We also created a community service last master list for our students to allow them to see any community service opportunities should they have any interest. And we organized a holiday food drive as well. So now I'm going to go over some future
plans and some of these are ideas and others are things that we've been working on over the summer and we would love feedback on these. So if you have any feedback or ideas on how to improve these, please let us know either today or in the future. So, the first one is to host the 2026 city councilman forum, which you've probably seen my emails in
the past. Unfortunately, we had to reschedule to the scheduling complex, but we're going to try to have it in October in this fall. >> And then I I got so many rooms scheduled for October, so you pick whatever you want and then we'll have it work. And [snorts] then we have a composting
program led by our students this past year and it's been funded through the um youth climate action fund program. But since we've already used our funds for this year, we're looking for new avenues to keep that program going. So if anyone has any ideas on how we can continue having that program available to
students, please let us know. >> And then here Noah. >> Uh we have also taken an initiative from the youth coordinator and we have started a mile square mentors program. This would take roughly 15 to 20 Stevens students and a bunch of high school students. And we'll be um piloting that
program this fall, which will be really cool. And we would also love your feedback on a potential micro internship program with you guys for some of our pre-law majors and other people that could potentially be of use to you. >> So, down to our last two initiatives is
one we're working on right now. It's a local business passport for our first year students. So basically the idea is to compile a list of all the Hoboken businesses that offer a student discount and then we're going to create like a passport for our first year students so they can go around and check off where
they've been so we can get them off campus and into the community and to spend their dollars and give us money for Hoboken. But and then whoever completes all of the things will get a prize at the end to kind of motivate everyone to go and spend their money.
And then next and the final one is a senior design project with the city. So as you may know our seniors every year they do a senior design project which is like a capstone project. So if the city could maybe give prompts or any real life problems that we all know of that they could research and test and then
give you like an innovative solution at the end of the year to implement. Um that would be really helpful because we're always looking for new ideas for our students. On the next page, you'll find uh we did a survey at one of the studentled events. Uh we did this last year as well, so we're comparing last year's
data to this year's data. We had about 89 responses this year. We found that students feel slightly less safe in Hoboken at night. Uh we also found that Steven students will spend around $6.6 million in Hoboken [snorts] per year.
This is aggregated data. Um that's an increase from last year by about $500,000. We also have um students will spend more time doing community service for the local community and uh we have more registered voters than we did last year
and more people that are interested in registering to vote from Stevens. >> Nice. >> Thank you so much. >> Awesome. Thank Thank you guys so much. [applause] Uh Stevens is another uh valuable and important and integral part of the Hobok
community. Uh I think we all love Stevens Institute and having them and your students in town. So much so that my youngest be attending Stevens in the fall and study mechanical engineering. So we're looking forward to the four year that they're [applause] will be spending there. I think Jerry Laura's son as well is going to Stevens next
year to study business. So you're you're okay in our book. Uh so thank you so so much guys for both presentations tonight. Uh really appreciate it. So we have some housekeeping items.
Uh second reading ordinance number one is tabled never to be uh seen from again. That's a direct quote from Councilman Cohen. Uh carrying uh F1 to a special
meeting if CL2 passes tonight. So if CL2 passes, we'll be having a special meeting uh that and so F1 will be held at that time. And then the cannabis/Hemp ordinance uh and resolution for first reading and the resolution on the agenda
is being carried because language has not been finalized for that resolution or ordinance at this time. So that's going to be uh at a future council meeting. Hopefully the next one maybe the one after that as well. So that's all the housekeeping items that we have for tonight. Right, Mr.
Uh, very good. So, we will start with ordinance number two. Thank you. >> A hearing on an ordinance amending chapter 190-6 entitled no stopping >> ordinances >> or standing to prohibit parking stopping and standing on Sixth Street between
Marshall Drive and Harrison Street. >> Uh, for J43, we have Mr. Manuel Rivera. >> Welcome back. Thank you, Council President. Uh, I left my regard my remarks over there, but I will improvise. Council President, uh,
as everybody knows, um, safety, uh, is paramount and important for all residents of Hoboken. So, we appreciate, or at least I'm saying in my behalf, we appreciate anything that, um, saves lives and cuts down or rather speeds up the time of response for the fire
department, the police, the EMS. So, in that regards, I just want to say thank you for for the resolution or the ordinance, but I also would like to ask um how was the determination to make these changes on these on this street, Sixth Street? Um [snorts] what
determined it? Was it a just a decision amongst uh the fire department and the municipal government or was there a study? And if so, where can members of the public find that? Will this be a guideline for other changes throughout the city? Will members of the public
ever have a chance to express their concerns or at least let you know what would be better or if there's any changes? And will members of the public that live in that neighborhood have ample time to understand the changes going into their neighborhood? And again, with that, council president, I
think this is a world record. I yield back. >> Oh, we appreciate it, Manny. Thank you. Uh yeah, [clears throat] I think the just to answer your question as far as this is access to Hoboken housing authority buildings and I think it's from experience where the fire trucks were having difficulty accessing or finding vehicles to go on the side of
the road uh where they could get out and and serve service those areas when they had fire alarm calls. So So this this free up a little more room for them to operate in safer manner. >> Six in Marshall. >> Correct. >> Uh J43. Anyone else?
>> Motion to close the public hearing. Second. All in favor. >> Members of the council, >> please call the vote. Mr. Clerk, >> Mr. Con, >> hi. >> Firestone, >> yes. >> Miss Fiser, >> yes. >> Mrs. Imus, >> yes. >> Mrs. Le, >> yes. >> Mr. President, >> hi. >> Mr. Cano,
>> hi. >> Mr. Russo, >> hi. >> President Ramos, >> I. Uh, ordinance number three is also carried to the next meeting. >> Uh, number four also >> for what? We're waiting for the uh
>> planning board review on >> the HBA >> on J45. >> We have a hearing on an ordinance amending Hobok and city code chapter 68 alcohol beverages act section 68-4 hours of business to change the hours of
business during the World Cup. >> We have no members of the public sign I believe. Wait, the other sheet. >> Manny's name. >> Manny, sorry. >> J46, Mr. Solair.
>> Good evening and thank you again, Council President. I guess I'm making up for um last meeting even though we were well representative by members of the public. I appreciate them. I just want to make sure that I say that thank you to the members of the public who were here last week who gave their sentiment on this ordinance cuz president members
of the public have been asking me um they know the purpose of this is for the World Cup and they know that it's for the benefit of um uh the businesses that uh conduct um these events in their um establishments. But members of the public want to make sure and that the
council and the um administration understand that when you make these changes, you do know that you affect at some point the quality of life of the neighbors who live next to these establishments. that information should always be given in advance to the
neighborhoods that um are going to have witnesses operating at these hours um in case they have small children or persons with any type of uh infirment in in confined pardon me to to bed rest. So it
is important again we are all for it. We want people to come to Hoboken, but we want to make sure that those residents that come to Hoboken conduct themselves in the accordance to the law. And again, council president, if you could explain it better to members of the public who
had some doubts last meeting as well, that there are specific time changes and it's for this specific event. Even though you have on section two and section three other changes for holidays
and such and for some specific times in the city hall is either closed or open. If you could explain those things and clarify those for members of the public, they would also appreciate a little bit of clarity in that. And again, we wish all members of the public and all
residents to have a wonderful time during these events. And we also want to know again another sidebar. You have a lot of strikethroughs. What were they for? Why were they stricken through?
Were they redundant or were they things that you, Council President, the council opposed? So with that, Council President, um that's all that uh members of the public asked me to ask you. And believe me, they asked me. I was in a public place yesterday with a lot of
people reached me. So, I just leave that to you and I thank you again for your time and I yield back. >> All right. I believe it's for uh three nights for three games starting at midnight uh where the bar is going to stay open till 3 a.m. on those three
nights for three midnight games for the World Cup >> and the section two and three. >> That is it. [snorts] >> All right. >> Might be six. Might be >> Oh, and three 11 p.m. games. >> Three 11 p.m. games. But there's only there's only four three or four during
the week. There's already a few that are on the weekend where we're already open till three. >> Correct. >> So it's just a few weeks. >> It it impacts maybe two nights. >> Thank you, Council President. I know that you don't do question and answer. I appreciate it. >> There's no pressure. >> It's been it's a lot of questions on it. >> That's why you see all those crossouts.
>> Okay. Close public portion. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Uh call a vote. >> Council President. Yes. >> Just a quick question. I I appreciate it. Uh, director, in in some of our budget conversations, one of the proposals that I um that I made to the
administration was asking a lot of these establishments to contribute toward the cost of um not only this, but other events that are happening in the city. Have we had any of those conversations with these establishments to say, "Hey, look, you know, we know there's going to
be a lot more people in town watching these games. There's the special zones that we're creating across the city for the quote unquote block parties. Um, and I requested of the administration to have those conversations asking them to foot some of that bill. Have those
conversations happened or are we in constant communication with them? Where are we on that? >> So, those conversations have not fully happened yet. Um, we did receive the grant funding and I know that the HBA is looking to contribute. So, we have not spoken directly to the businesses about contributing. We've mostly been speaking
directly to the HBA. Um, but if those further conversations develop, I will certainly keep you updated. >> Yeah, I think I just think it's a good idea to have, especially those that we know are hosting those block parties. I think it's a good conversation. I think it's a way that we could kind of offset some of the expense that we're going to
incur as a city. Hopefully, they could pick up some of that cost as well. So, >> thank you, Council President. Council Fischer, >> just pigging back on um what Councilman Russo just said, we actually in the budget, we accounted for the $50,000
grant and took another $50,000 off of overtime for basically all those events specifically Mike specifically because we want those conversations to happen and whether it's the HBA paying, whether it's the businesses paying, I mean, we're
providing a big huge, you know, upside for all these zones and the city shouldn't be footing the bill um exclusively for that for sure. >> And where where is that reflected though? I didn't see >> it's the one of the line item changes is was the original 250,000 overtime for
like July 4th and all of FIFA. We cut that by thousand 50 of it relates to the grant and another 50 just saying we're just not funding it. So >> when are we going to get that amendment? >> It's in it's in uh it's tonight. It's in the amendment. It's part of the
amendment. in the packet. >> Yeah, I'll double check it. >> Well, council president, one last thing, >> uh I don't know if this goes to the director or to the business administrator. Um I received a few emails from people in the first ward
that were concerned on some of the the zones. There's always um when we have late night stuff, there's always fringe action that happens away from some of the bars after people after customers have left the establishments. They want to have um some certainty or some
comfort knowing that uh whatever security presence or whatever public safety is available that this extends not just to the the area, it's outside of it kind of like in a circular, you know, you pinpoint a circle. Perimeter. >> Yeah. Perimeter. Uh because I know that
on Garden Street particularly, >> uh we tend to have a little bit of an issue. Um people tend to use some of the bushes there. uh I don't know how but they've seen it and they're just concerned about it. So I just want to make sure that's brought up and that so d uh director Franty so that you know as
well. I I'll come offline and talk to you about it but yeah >> I just want to make sure Yeah, I'll talk to you later about it. Don't worry. I just want to bring that up that they have reached out on that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Quote. [clears throat] >> Mr. Con? >> Hi. >> Stone. >> Yes.
>> Fiser. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> President Xano. I >> Mr. Gatero [snorts] >> I >> Mr. Russo >> I >> President Ramos >> I >> public portion we have Pat waiters [laughter]
>> public portion >> any item you [snorts] >> and I'mma watch my time >> y >> I just want this placed on the record for Miss Sweeney. She did call in anyway and you said you'll take care of it tomorrow. I'll speak I say I'll speak to her tomorrow.
>> You'll speak Let me You'll speak to her tomorrow. Yes. Okay. Miss Sweeney, I just wanted that on the record. >> Okay. Cuz I'm a woman in my word. I want to say this. I want to thank each and every person that Wait a minute.
Each and every person that supported me by signing my petition. >> Pat, this is agenda items. No, this you said public portion on public portion on agenda items. Oh, >> okay. You didn't say agenda, but I'll forgive you. >> Agenda items. Uh, >> just tell me when the public portion. >> All right. Thank you. Thank
uh Amy Forche. >> Hi there. >> All right. >> Hi everyone. >> Hello. Um, I'm here tonight. Um, my name is Amy Fochcher and I'm here tonight to speak about Wear Orange, also known as National Gun Violence Awareness Day,
which falls every year on the first Friday in June. As many of you know, I'm a dedicated volunteer for Mom's Demand Action, the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to reducing gun violence in our country.
Before I address the subject for which I would like to bring awareness to, I would just like to comment on last week's arrest of a man from Alabama who was found to have an AR-15 assault style firearm and ammunition in his vehicle in Uptown Hoboken. First off, thank you to
the resident who called in the noise complaint at 1:45 a.m. And secondly, thank you to our Hoboken police who responded and discovered the weapon. We don't know why this person was in Hoboken or what they may have been planning to do with that weapon, but the
whole scenario is just a reminder that even if we live in the great state of New Jersey, where weapons of this type are not allowed, guns can always cross state lines. This is why Mom's Demand Action continues to push for and support a
federal assault weapons ban. We also are vehemently opposed to a national concealed carry mandate which would compel states to recognize concealed carry permits from other states. This would allow people from states say like
Texas where you don't need any permit at all to get a gun and it would allow them to legally carry it around here in New Jersey. And what I think of is we don't need someone's uncle, someone's family member from Texas showing up to a travel
soccer game at Sinatra Field with his gun tucked into his pants, hidden away, but ready to get into a fight with some other parent from the other team. That's just an accident waiting to happen. Now, on to my main reason for speaking tonight. I'm here to bring awareness to
the fact that New Jersey's gun laws have changed in the past four years and what this means for Hoboken, especially Hoboken's businesses. Because of the 2022 brewin decision by the US Supreme Court, New Jersey must now allow its citizens to apply for and
have concealed carry permits for their firearms. So, what you really need to know is that in the past four years since then, there have been more than a 100,000 more concealed carry permits issued.
Before June of 2022, there were only about 1,500 in the whole state >> because we had very strict rules as to who could obtain one. Now, there are more than a 100,000 more people or gun permits
legally walking around New Jersey with, excuse me, concealed firearms. The process to obtain a concealed carry permit in New Jersey is very strict, and I'm pleased to report that our Hoboken Police Department takes this permitting process very seriously, making sure that
those who obtain concealed carry permits understand the responsibility. And please know that we do have Hoboken residents who are legal gun owners and have rightfully obtained their concealed carry permits. So with this very large increase in
concealed carry permits and the fact that New Jersey is the most densely populated state in our country, our state legislature has had to enact sensitive places laws which prohibit firearms in many of our public spaces where there are large numbers of people.
places like schools, transit hubs, hospitals, government buildings, restaurants that serve alcohol, bars, and many others. However, most businesses do not fall under these categories, especially Hoboken small businesses. So, in response to this huge
increase in concealed carry permits, our Mom's Demand Action chapter here in Hoboken is working to educate our Hoboken businesses about this change in gun laws, letting them know that all business owners have the right to prohibit firearms on their premises.
Easily done with a sticker or a sign posted. These types of signs are very common in many other states where there are even more pe people walking around with firearms and we keep seeing more and more places in New Jersey that have signs posted. This will keep our
communities safer. Research has shown that active shootings are 62.5% less likely to occur in spaces where guns are prohibited. Hoboken is a vibrant city with lots of small businesses and Bob restaurants that attract many people from out of
town, some of whom h may have concealed firearms. For everyone's safety, all business owners can and I believe should post signs or stickers letting patrons know that firearms are not allowed on the premises. This will keep everybody
safer. Even places that are in included in New Jerseys sensitive places laws can post stickers just as a reminder to everyone. So that's my message for this year's wear orange or national gun violence awareness day. Be aware of the fact that there are a lot more concealed
guns walking around New Jersey these days and businesses and property owners have every right to prohibit guns. The good guy with the gun protecting us from the bad guy with the gun is really just a myth. And in reality, more guns
everywhere makes us all less safe and just makes the gun manufacturers that much richer. >> Yep. >> We invite you to put on your orange shirts, anything orange on Friday as well as throughout the whole wear orange weekend and come by our table at the
Southwest Fest this Saturday. Stop by for some crafts and some good conversation about how you can keep your family safe from the dangers of guns. We also will have some stickers to give out to any small business owners who want to make this important step to keeping
Hoboken safe. The fest is June 6, 12 to 5:00 p.m. Jackson Street between 2nd and 4th. See you there. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Amy. Thank you for the shout out for Southwest Fest. Uh, Manny Riveraire.
>> Thank you, Council President. Manuel Rivera. Uh, Council President, I appreciate just want to say thank you to Miss Posche for always having the interest of the public in hand and always speaking on gun safety. Just wanted to say that as I always say every
year that I am also a a person who um felt the of person a person with a gun um had affected my family um profoundly and uh I always um ask and I always say thank you to Miss Poche and the people who
always are interested in gun safety and making it more restrictive for those who not are not supposed to have guns and those that we deem that should not have gone for whatever reason that should be. So again, I thank
everyone for that resolution. And council president, I'm going to speak a couple of things. Uh again, I know that you uh missed me last meeting, but uh I just want to say there was a lot of questions that you um you and your fellow members of the council asked in the caucus meeting uh which I do um I am
able to attend. But I have questions that you may have as asked and you may have gotten the answers, but members of the public still haven't because you you didn't give the answers in the caucus meeting because that's not what you do. But I want to say how about in administration um there were only one
question asked on A2. Members of the public would like to understand um the reasoning A2 and A3. Um I think there was Councilman Preano President Sanano who asked the question and maybe others um what is the purpose between the two of them? What is the difference if
members of the public can understand? We know that it's like maybe 2,000 or $3,000 but is did we end a contract? Did we get a contract? I'm not so sure members of the public would like to understand that. And community service, again, no questions were asked from one
to to five, but how about um CD6? Did we get the answer that was presented um on that uh resolution? And um I also believe that no question was asked. Community service, no question was asked. So, let's ask on 2B. Can um
again, it's not a question. It's again uh congratulations to that person. But again, uh I don't know the selection process. Again, I am at a loss to understand why other members of the public cannot be considered. Um again, congratulations to Mr. Val or Miss Val
Kant. I think that's how it's pronounced. I don't know if any of you have ever met her and you can give members of the public a little understanding, a little um background on this person, but again, to her, congratulations. And I also uh attend those meetings when when and if they
have them. again community uh pardon me corporate council one question was asked on CC1 did we get the resolution on that question can members of the public who were listening understand the difference of the money and what was it for again it's just asking the questions again because it
relates to um the Hoboken regional health and uh in the clerk's uh CD2 again when when will members of the public get a better understanding if it's tonight I you said in your earlier comments, council president, uh members
of the public are very interested. Again, very very interested. Again, I was yesterday in a public setting and believe you me, they were asking questions. I invited everybody to come to the meeting but I don't know if they all attended or not or were able to but anyway I asked the question on their
behalf and um very important in infrastructure uh I think it's I I1 there's uh there's a couple of questions members of the public would like to understand once again this or this resolution would it
affect members of the public directly is this a resolution that only concerns the the um municipality um because there is a whereas clause number seven if you can clarify that whereas clause and uh
council president on 12 there's also a shaded area that doesn't include any amount of money um could you let members of the public understand what that is and with that I'm going to end it only with because there are more but my time is going fast so I would also like to
thank you for changing on first reading uh number two because it was uh I had a whole bunch of questions on that one. members of the public were really interested in understanding why are we having manufacturing is ma is that type
of manufacturing although I have nothing against it but can we also promote other manufacturing to our city uh like we used to have back in the 70s and the 60s uh that would be helpful because uh I'm sure developers could spend a little more time developing those uh types of
uh structures but I know that they're not that lucrative but anyway with that I yield back my two minutes thank you council Thank you. Uh we have any other members on resolutions members of the public? >> Motion to close. >> Second. All in favor?
[clears throat] >> I think uh so a A2 Mr. Rivera is an updated to the NIXL system for public safety alerts only and there are notifications with that through a new provider. Uh I think your other question was
>> A3 municipal court services. A A3 I can't get right up. Uh that's for translation services. A3 is translation services. Uh I believe >> Berlin, >> excuse me. >> Berlin. He had a question on how she was appointed. Berlin.
>> Berlin. Oh, that she's we needed someone from the health department to be part of that board. >> So that's a health person works at the health division. >> So that person need to be >> not a member of the public. >> Not a member of the public. It had to be it had to be an in-house city of Hoboken employee. uh and she fit the criteria
working in the health department to fill that role. That was not like an outside application process uh for that member of the public. Uh I believe you had a question on T1 and T2. Let me go. Uh T1 is just an expansion of the
roadway uh restoration project there. So that's an extension for that. And then T2 is oversight of various uh road projects that need an inspection, engineer inspection uh as projects are getting done throughout the city. That
is 51,500 additional to that one. All right. Uh any members of the PU council pulling member uh items off the agenda for discussion? >> Pull the budget. >> CL2, correct? That's CL2. >> Are we voting on CC3, Council President?
>> CC3. Councilman Russo TC3 is >> an I2C. >> One of the settlements has been pulled. >> Oh, one of the settlements have been pulled. >> The one that we were supposed to >> just one of them out of >> Yeah, correct. That's right. >> Correct. Which one? >> So CC3 is amended as to what?
>> Correct. >> Uh Council President, I >> let me go back from the beginning. CL2, correct? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I >> two Just a quick question.
>> Anyone else? CFCL2 I2. >> Yeah, I have a corporation council question. So I guess when we get to CC >> I can I just pick one and then ask them the question. >> All right, let's just do CC CC1. >> There you go. >> I get a
>> CC1. You got it. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Call the vote on the consent agenda excluding CL2, I2 and CC1. >> Mr. Con, >> I excuse me. Mr. Feststone, >> yes. >> Miss Fischer, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Imus, >> yes. >> Mrs. Len, >> yes. >> Mr. Presidento, >> I. >> Mr. Cano, >> I. >> Mr. Russo, >> no. On overtime pay, other pay and
I think it's I4. Yep. President, >> President Ramos. >> I uh CL2 Council Fischer. >> Sure. Um so CL2 is the budget. Um we
have been laboring and when I say we, the entire city council, the administration has been laboring over this for the last, you know, months. Um, since the last city council meeting, uh,
we increased the pace of conversations and what we are proposing tonight for a vote is an 11 12% tax increase. So, down dramatically from what was um, initially proposed by the administration.
Uh and the reason and and how we got there was a combination of cuts across uh some salary cuts, cuts to group health, cuts to a variety of um other expenses across departments. Um this is
on top of the cuts that the mayor had initially proposed and hiring freeze for police officers, the director um the additional director that she had wanted to hire this year. Um we've taken that completely out of the budget. Um this is
one of those uh I think there's not anyone up here that's happy because it is um you know it's still a double- digit increase. Uh, I think there's people that wanted to see it lower. There's people um that would have felt more comfortable having more cushion in
the budget. Um, but we were, you know, we we came from a lot of different places and had a lot of very constructive conversations to get to this number and I think we feel good about it. The feel better than we don't feel good, but we feel fine with it. Um,
I think it's a responsible budget. It achieves the goal of trying to uh stabilize the city after the last couple of years seeing our surplus balances decline dramatically. It allows us to fund services. There's no cuts to
services. Um and it allows us to replenish our surplus um you know over a period of time. The story for Hoboken is a very strong story. Um, you know, we should we don't anticipate any further ratings downgrade. Um, but what I could
say at the heart of this, uh, for me anyway, and for Diane Rubin and I'm sure everyone up here, um, the taxpayer and getting this as low as possible was really critically important, um, just at a time when we're hearing affordability, you know, all over the place. So, I I I
want to thank everyone. Um I know we're going to hear some people that are critical of this process, um critical of the outcome tonight, but even those voices uh were represented. We tried to hear and include categories, ideas from
everyone on this day um to be able to bring this number as low as responsibly possible. So I just want to thank everyone that contributed and I would say all nine people contributed um to this and um I understand the state has
uh approved it and as a result we will have because of the scale of the changes we will have a hearing on >> June 11th >> the 11th on June 11th um and uh and we will get to hear from the
public at that meeting but we're going into this uh hopefully with enough supportive votes tonight to kind of put this to bed so we can all move on and run the city. Um continue. Uh one last thing I would say, I'm going to take this from Joe's mouth because I know he's going to say it, but I'm going to
say it first and then I'll let him say it second. Um cuz I was No, because I was very appreciative of the comment. I mean, at the end of where we we ultimately got to uh Ruben, Joe, and I on that last call just trying to get it over the finish line. Um, you know, Joe
asked us if we were committing to trying to find additional revenue ideas, working on trying to provide, you know, feedback and input on further efficiencies and cost cutting over the next year. And we all just we are all committed to that um for the first time
in a long time. So, I just want to thank everyone and I hope that we have enough votes. I know we won't have them all, but I hope we have enough votes tonight to pass this. >> Anyone else? Council membus. So, the only thing I would add to that
is that um I I know that I'm joined in this opinion that this is a multi-year process that this this plan really it it gives us enough space to really dive into a lot of the ideas that
emerged out of many of the conversations that could not necessarily be achieved in a 2 to 3 month period. Um so I am very hopeful that the entire process will move earlier that we will not just
pass the budget and forget about it until next year that we will you know start up again in September with you know more with improved reporting from the city so that we can really track where we are against plan um and and
have a more agile approach to managing our expenses and budget. and I I know I share this this um strong desire to go towards that direction. So, thank you to everyone. I appreciate it. >> Captain, [clears throat] um I'll echo the statements of the two
council people before me. This does represent a true compromise. You everyone had inputs into it one way or the other. Uh and they were con considered including um cuts proposed by Councilman uh Rouso Presanano. uh uh
assumptions on revenue uh by council uh president Ramos and uh Councilman Immus and Fiser. Um the trying to pull back some on some of that uh ideas that came from uh Councilman Cohen uh and I um so
it really was getting together and kind of not horse trading because we weren't promising each other anything. We were just saying how do we get this done? Are you willing to do this? You willing to do that? There were philosophical differences that we had to set aside and and this really is a meeting in the middle on all those aspects whether it's
uh uh assumptions on revenues, how much we take from surplus uh surplus regeneration uh cuts to services where I agree right now it looks like there's no cuts to services but if some of our assumptions don't pan out then the challenge is with the administration to figure out how to
make the city run with the with the uh funding that we've allocated to them. And I recognize that's a significant challenge. Uh, and so I appreciate um the work of business administrator administrator and her team on helping us kind of answering our questions along the way uh in this process. I do
recognize the the challenge that we've uh set you guys up with. We're here as Counciloman Fitcher said to work with you on on trying to make sure that we're not in the same position next year. Um specifically we need to focus on you know how we increase um uh our revenues
uh more savings that we can find throughout uh how we how the our city operates. And one of the things I asked council president to do is uh to form a special subcommittee that is made up of individual members of our current subcommittees focused specifically on
finding savings uh within our city. you know, right now, uh, they're going through the review of of positions and salaries, uh, against ordinances against the state. So, I think that hopefully will yield some things. Councilman, uh, Russo, you had some ideas on on how we
can look at our, you know, uh, healthc care spends um, and all those things are on the table. Um, including the revenue, uh, generation ideas. So I think it is uh for the next few months and I want to see the results
within the next few months not within the next year because again if we're going to have revenue streams we need to lock those in now so that we can make those assumptions for next year's budget. Um, so I looking forward to participating in in that um in the next
couple months and really kind of working closely with my colleagues on this day to uh to not only help the administration work with this budget but make sure that we are in a much better position a year from now uh to uh to pass another budget.
>> Thank you. Any other president? >> When you walk into a grocery store and you're in the produce aisle and [clears throat] you see a sign that says 50% off apples or tomatoes, you don't rush towards there cuz you know that they're probably going bad and they're trying to get them out before they're
they're gone. But they put it on sale for a reason because they want to recapture something. They want to get a win. [clears throat] A big discount from an astronomical tax rate is not a win. Um, that's what really concerns me
here. [clears throat] I understand everybody's worked together. We come to this point, but when I go to bed at night, I can't put my head on my pillow and say that I'm happy with 11%, that I'm happy with a double digit, that I'm happy with all the stuff that's transpired in these six
months cuz it's happened year after year after year because we haven't done one fundamental thing. This still doesn't address structural cuts. There's a lot of guesstimates of increased revenues. Some I think are fair because I watch some of
those numbers. However, if we want to stop this from happening over and over and over and every year we're up here trying to borrow against a surplus and I think when Councilman Russo and I got together to think about things and why our number was so low is we respected what the mayor wanted to
do. We didn't even go after surplus. We went just a hardcore structural changes of things that we thought should be cut from government spending. taxpayers, you renters, you're not crying out for a larger
increase to fix the problem. You're crying out for us to finally address the spending habits of this government. And this city council has one mechanism that we can do that to force the administration to do that. Because again, we hold the purse strings, we
make the laws, the administration executes the laws, and the administration spends the money. We control the purse strings. So, we could give them no money and say it's the same as last year and they have to figure it out, but we've gone back to the the administration when we were talking. We
wanted to get their feedback before we put any type of things forward. Um, we had both indicated uh to Councilwoman Fischer that we had room off of our lower-end number. So, but that was met with nothing. That
was met with if I said 7%. The idea was let's go up, let's go to this number instead of go down to that number. I don't know how that works. I mean, in tax or in finance or anything that I've done in business, you never go for the higher number. You always go for the lower number when it's a cost, a
fee, or a tax. [clears throat] So, if all we do is negotiate the size of the increase every year without fixing the problem, we're going to come back to the same debate and we're going to have the same thing, same time, same place probably in June again talking about the same thing again. And what the 11 and a
half percent or wherever the number lands is you set a floor. So what they're what we're saying is this this DES is telling you is that they believe 11 12% is good. It's good for you. We solved the problem. We get the lowest common denominator. So what happens next year
when they come back and they say we need another 11 12%. We didn't solve the problem. So the true compromise would be to do hardcore restructuring of the government. There needs to be cuts.
There needs to be layoffs. There needs to be restructuring within our union contracts of healthcare. These are tough decisions that have to be made. But that starts at the top. The mayor has to do that.
If I was a union president, I wouldn't even Yeah, you guys can go. No, we're not changing anything. Go away. Well, then there could be some ramifications. There could be demotions. There could be layoffs. At the end of the day, we need to get our house in order. And that's one of our core jobs
up here. It's one of the core things that I believe in is finance. I wake up for this kind of stuff. It's one time during the year that I actually get excited about things. Some of the things we do up here is a lot of [snorts] moving the cups from this side of the table to that side of
the table. But this is something that impacts everybody's daily lives and it's going to impact not only homeowners, it's going to impact renters. And I'll give you an example. There's a real estate agent that I was speaking with the other day and she said she's
been working in town for 15 18 years and she told me that she has never seen a landlord pass on in the customers she's dealt with. have never passed on a tax search charge. I found that kind of crazy because if I talk with Cheryl Phallic, she tells me
that, you know, she's heard this here and there and I I called her to ask her that question. What the interesting thing there was in my first few years here, I've never had anybody ask me until this year. Three people came to me and said, "Hey, can you explain a tax search charge to
me?" and they produced a document that came out of our um our rent office and it said you could raise the rent one was 225 another one was 300 another one was higher than that so there is being push back and renters are going to feel this
I don't think renters sometimes think that they don't when we have low inflation you have low increases in the budget you have low low increase in taxes um [clears throat] it doesn't get passed on all the time so I'm calling it right here. We're coming back here next year. We're going to have
the same debate again because we didn't make the structural cuts and we shouldn't be just raising taxes to put a band-aid on the problem. So, I look at this and I've heard it back from you and I've heard it from the community. I know other people have heard it up here and some people are
like, "Oh, we just got to pass this. We got to get the lowest possible we can." I don't believe in that. I believe we can do better. We owe it to you. you elect us to be here to make that for you. And sometimes there's difficult decisions and services might have to be
cut. That's being a leader. Cuz sometimes you have to take a step backwards before you can take a step forward. And I think all this does is just take us two steps backwards and we're not moving forward because next year we'll
be right here again. I simply say here, taxpayers aren't asking for a discounted deal on on bad apples. They're asking why the city keeps buying bad apples. We need to do better for you. And I
won't be supporting this amendment. I think there's more that could be done for you. And we owe you that. And I won't be able to put my head on my pillow saying yes to 11 12% tax increase. Thank you, Council President. Any other members of the council? Councilman
Cohen. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I want to thank everyone who put in real time and work into this process. Uh, in and I want and today is June 3rd and I want to contrast what we've done this year what we've done in prior years and the five
prior years I've served on the council on the budget. We were sometimes dealing with the budget in August, being told we either had to support it or risk a takeover. Those budgets may have been based on rating the surplus to fund operating
expenses, and the budget may not have had realistic projected revenues based on those years experiences, but it often felt like a game of chicken. And if we didn't blink and we refused to adopt the budget that was presented, we would be looking at a state takeover. And the
last time that happened, as council president has mentioned, the city lost control of its budgeting process and taxpayers got hit with more than an 80% tax hike in the two years that followed the state takeover. That was not a responsible way to govern
and it was not a responsible way to plan a budget for the city. This year has been very different. The administration and the city council started this process back in January and because of that we're here tonight having a real discussion before it's too late to have
any kind of meaningful budget to be approved and as you heard uh the the uh this amendment that we're discussing tonight has been approved by the state and that matters and I really appreciate that. With respect to this amendment, I know I've sound like a broken record on this,
but I remain deeply concerned about our surplus and our continued inability to regenerate the surplus based on the amount of funding allocated to the surplus, which is consistent with best practices for municipalities. Yes, I worry that standard and pores has put us
on a negative outlook and I worry about our bond rating and I worry that S&P could downgrade the city of Hoboken which had a real lasting negative impact on the city and all the monies that we have bonded for and will bond for in the future.
But it's also much simpler than that. We continue to shrink our margins. We continue to rely on surplus to fund operations while having less and less surplus available to actually use. We're already using far less surplus today than we did a few years ago. Not because
we do not want to relieve taxpayers, but because we simply do not have the funds available. And that's why I have concerns with this amendment. Hoboken has the lowest tax rate in Hudson County. Full stop. It also has the highest median income in Hudson County.
And this makes no sense. I believe that this amendment is intended to find a better balance in some of the other proposals that are floated. And I have acknowledged in our last meeting on the prior amendment that the work that our council president, Councilwoman Fischer, and Councilwoman
Imus have have done has been a good faith effort. And this amendment too is also a good faith effort. And I appreciate their efforts. And I particularly appreciate the effort to allow the city's staffing to continue at responsible levels to do the important work that our constituents expect,
demand, and deserve. But I still believe that this amendment is overly optimistic when it comes to projected revenues. We should not be for forecasting based on best case scenarios and assuming nothing but rainbows and roses for our fiscal year. I hope I'm wrong. I really do, but
I don't think I am. And if I am not wrong, and Councilman Cano talked about the need to find other revenues if if they don't if we don't hit the numbers that we have, most likely those numbers are going to have to be made up in next year's budget. And on that, I agree with
Councilman President Zano. By not having realistic numbers with respect to our revenues and adequately funding our surplus, we're just going to make the challenges that we're facing today that much harder next year, which will be in the middle of an election year when making tough choices are politically the
most difficult time to make them. So for me, this is not about whether the this amendment is well-intentioned. It absolutely is. I believe it absolutely comes from a good place. This is about whether it is responsible to build a budget around assumptions that may not materialize and whether we have an
adequately funded surplus such that it will regenerate year overyear. At this point, I cannot support an amendment that I believe leaves us exposed and risk making next year's budget process even more difficult. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you. Uh any other council
Firestone? Do you want to go? Council >> L. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, [clears throat] I just want to also acknowledge the work that went into getting this amendment um to where it is tonight. And you know, over the last few months, I've spent a lot of my time on this council listening
and learning and and trying to understand the full picture >> [snorts] >> um from my my council colleagues and the administration. Um I know I haven't at the loudest voice on this day, but it's just, you know, it's just not really who I am. Um, but the work has happened and
I think the, you know, I'm I'm lucky and I think Steve and Diane, I can speak for them and say that we're lucky that we've stepped into a new process um that's different um that's, you know, allowed for more collaboration and and uh I also
want to thank the administration and um director Gonzalez and her team um for their feedback and and engagement in the process because I think that that feedback helped get this amendment to a place um that's realistic and responsible. Um you
know getting to an 11% increase is meaningful especially given where we started but it's still a very difficult number and I don't want to minimize that for residents. Um and I wouldn't and I think that a tax increase of this size is really hard and I know that people
are frustrated when they hear that number. Um, but I think at the same time we have to be honest about the position that the city is in and many other cities and towns in the state are and costs have gone up from healthcare and and salaries, insurance, utilities and
just basic um operations and Hoboken's not immune from any of that. So I want to acknowledge that this amendment also relies on some assumptions that may be a little too positive and
particularly around the revenue and savings and I understand why that those assumptions are there because it brought our number down and I appreciate that goal but I think it's important that we're honest about the fact that those assumptions need to also materialize and
so my support comes with caution. I'm a yes. But I also think that it's worth noting that positive assumptions are not the same thing as guaranteed results. So if we're [snorts] going to rely on them, we need to to monitor them closely and
be honest about where this leaves us for next year um and as the year goes on. So my yes vote tonight doesn't mean that I'm comfortable with where we are for the long term. I think it just means that I believe that the amendment is a step in the better direction and it
lowers the impact on residents while also [clears throat] making a good faith effort to protect the city and its financial standing. Um, I don't think we should get comfortable having this budget conversation for next year and going forward. I hope that our focus is
on the bigger fixes and I appreciate the collaboration that brought us here today um and the sponsors of of the amendment and and the work that everyone's um been having back and forth and I will be supporting this amendment tonight. But my hope is that this is the beginning of
a more disciplined conversation about how we put Hoboken on on a better footing. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Firestone. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, so I'm a brand new council member obviously, so I haven't had the experience of going
through the budget process with so many other folks here that have experienced it. Um, everything that I had heard though in the last year while I was out talking to people and campaigning was that the budget process had some issues and Hoboken really needed to change the
way it did its finances. And I do think that this is a great step in the right direction in terms of changing the way that we do things in Hoboken so that we take accountability for prior decisions and we implement a solution within our budget that's reasonable and that
Hoboken can live with. Um, as council member Fiser, who by the way I applaud for her amazing leadership with respect to the finances here, uh, she is an absolute master with Excel spreadsheets. I'd love to have her come to one of my finance classes to teach. So, the
invitation is always open. Um, but I mean, I think that's that's what it got to. It got to really down to line item by line item. And, you know, I I don't think that um everyone is going to vote for this uh amendment tonight and
and I understand that. But I would also like to thank council members President Zano and Russo for coming up with a whole bunch of different ideas and bringing them to the table because all of us come to this from a different place and as council member Fischer was saying none of us are entirely happy
with what we're looking at right now. So you can make a choice on how you're going to go with this, but um what I would say is that um all of the ideas that have come out as part of the process are not going to be forgotten. And a number we had discussions with
both council members Russo and President Zano and the administration about some of their ideas. And as I think council member uh Cano had mentioned, there's some good ideas in there that we can use. they just might not be implementable in this year's budget. So
I like I said, I'm chair of the finance committee at least for this year and I do I'm not going to take anything that you've proposed lightly and I do hope to be able to continue to work with you throughout this year to come up with solutions for next year. Thank you, Council President.
If you ever saw the movie A Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Alpuccino is sitting at a a deis and he's sitting next to a young boy who who was basically his caretaker and there's a quote there and the quote is,
"I've been around, you know, in that southern draw." And he says it, and when he says it, he says it to the headmaster to basically say, "I've been here and you're not going to pull the wool over my eyes. I've been around for a long
time." And there is a positive in all of this cuz I do believe that everybody tried to implement what they were comfortable with and that's commendable. That's absolutely commendable.
But when you want to be a strong true leader, you have to be able to be comfortable being uncomfortable. You have to be able to make some difficult decisions.
I'm going to pose a question to my colleagues here. If Councilman President Zano and I submitted an amendment to the clerk's office this afternoon, would all of you vote on it? Would all of you vote on an amendment
that Councilman Presidento submitted to Jerry Law or Jimmy Fina this afternoon? Because >> sure, >> that's when the clerk's office got this final amendment. >> No, >> I didn't see this final amendment until just now. [clears throat]
>> I don't know what all of this is. >> Now I'm looking at it and I'm trying to figure out where the cuts were or where the increases of of revenue are. which is fine. And again, I've been around, you know, so I know it's going to pass,
but I think it's important that we call out some of the issues because I know it would be the first argument against any amendment that was presented to this council. If Councilman President Zano and I
submitted that, it would be, well, we didn't see it. We can't vote on it. We should have had this last week and I know we've all been working on it, but I don't know what the final amendment is here because after my ideas and Councilman President's ideas were
submitted to the administration and the finance committee, that was the last conversation we had. And I'm okay with it because I've been around, you know, I'm fine with it, but let's call it what it is. So, that's the first point I want
to make. Councilman President and I submitted amendments and it was only one of potentially many that had no massive changes in salaries to most of city employees with the
exception of directors. It had reductions in overtime so that we didn't have to lay people off. It had changes to our health care,
but no changes to the employee benefit. That's important. Changes to our health care with no changes to the employee benefit. There were no major reliances on
surplus. But in all of that, there was some really hard decisions. And some people just aren't ready to make those hard decisions. And that's okay.
In the original budget we were presented by the administration, we were relying on almost $17 million worth of surplus. In this amendment, we're now relying
over $20 million worth of surplus. Directly in contrast to what the mayor and the administration wanted and Councilman Cohen alluded to it, and I appreciate that.
So, Councilman President and I went back and we tried to adhere to the guidance by the mayor and her administration by not using as much surplus, but we had to make some difficult decisions to achieve that goal.
That was met with resistance every step of the way. And again, I'm okay with it because I've been around, you know, but to try to pull the wool over the eyes of our colleagues
and the eyes of the public to say, "We have a massive win for all of you. We're only going to tax you at 11% this year." Just think about that statement. Take it in a vacuum. Guys, you should be
all grateful that the city is only going to tax you 11% this year. That's a crazy statement to fathom. There were things that could be achieved this year. It was just hard decisions to
make. There were hard decisions to make. asking our employees to rely less on overtime. Asking our directors to take a pay cut, changing the way we anticipate our
surplus regeneration for next year. Rather than trying to anticipate a regeneration of all of that surplus in one year, our proposal, Paul and I said we could do that over a long term, over multiple years. that was met with
resistance when it came to our health care. Well, we want to make sure we have a surplus in our health care. We don't need that surplus or as much of that surplus. When it comes to our water utility,
we're relying on more of that surplus. Our parking utility, we're taking another million dollars from our parking utility that was originally proposed. There's a lot of things in here that we're willing to vote on or some of us are
the art of a compromise. That just doesn't fly with me. I stand where I stand. My goal is to reduce the taxes in the city of Hoboken. Not reduce how much we're going to tax
you. My overall goal is to reduce the taxes. not talk about saving you a few tax a few tax percentage points and now it's only 11% that we're going to tax you. It's a massive excuse me, that's a massive number.
Like I said, I know it's going to pass. I know there's support for it. Uh I appreciate the work that's been in involved in this. Let's not try to pull the wall over everybody's eyes because we all been around, you know. Yeah, I I'll I'll wrap up the the
conversation. I think we started the process at 24%. And I think a lot of people alluded to tonight uh this process this year was a lot different than years past. I think in the past we had budget workshops in May and then we
started budget workshops in February, March. Uh when it first started we were at 24% budget was introduced at 19% and I think no one no one is happy with where we and where we landed. No one's
happy with where we landed. But the fact is over the past years, there's a number of investments that we've made. People people ask us all the time, where's the money go? There's a number of investments that we've made in the
city that drove this cost to where we are today. Uh a number one is our investment in parks and recreation spaces. We've made a commitment 101 15 years ago and and prior to that
with Pier A and Pier C the southern waterfront area that we were going to commit Hoboken to park and recreation spaces. Well, that commitment comes with a price tag. That commitment came with $150 million price tag for Northwest
Park. That bill is due. That commitment came with a price tag over $10 million after grants for Southwest Park. That commitment comes with a price tag of a little over 10 million for 800
Monroe after grants uh that is yet to be uh constructed at this time. Uh that commitment comes with uh 80 million combined bond issued for the purchase of a new DPW and Union dry
dock. Another 60 million for construction of Union dry dock. So the investments that we've made in the Hoboka community comes with a bill that was going to be due and that addition when we do the math on the what the the
almost $300 million that comes with a debt service addition of a significant amount and that bill is due. And for me, my conscience has to reflect my votes into that commitment
over the last number of years to making Hoboken uh a safer uh a safer investment in our police and fire department for public safety. I've made that commitment. My vote tonight has to reflect that commitment. I've made that commitment for public spaces throughout
our comm our community where people where where our public spaces are the envy of the state of New Jersey for ur municipalities. We've committed to that commitment. So, I got to make that commitment to make that payment do for all of us. And while it's it's difficult, I'm a taxpayer. I understand
what's going to do to me personally, what it's going to taxpayers across the city personally, but I've made those decisions up here and I don't regret uh any of those decisions for making our public spaces. When I see kids playing in Southwest Park and people playing pickle ball in
Southwest Park, that brings me joy. When I see people walking in Pierc Park, that brings me joy. When I see people playing soccer in 1600 Park, when I come over the bridge after school and I see kids going to that field, that brings me joy. Seeing our community come together in our public spaces that have cost us
millions of dollars in investment and understand those smiles, happy faces now that we see there. That brings me joy when I see the infrastructure uh commitment that we made for bonding of 30 $40 million. And we see that work happening in the southwest part of
Hoboken. We've went through those those uh the traffic nightmare we've had. That was to upgrade our sewer and our gas lines. We won't have to do that again for the next 30 years hopefully. Right. They put new sewer gas lines throughout all of Southwest Hoboken. That's a commitment that we made
and that bill is due. That's a commitment that we made throughout Monroe Street to put new sewer lines in. That bill is due. All of Washington Street, new gas lines, a micro grid to nowhere. Did not want that portion of it, but $20 million investment with micro grid to nowhere. We made that
commitment. That investment is there. Brand new sewer lines from Washington Street from Missouri Highway all of 16th Street. So, the investments have been made and the bill is due and I won't be able to sleep tonight, you know, unless I looked at myself
making sure that my vote and my conscience match up. And that's what I think I'm doing here tonight. I'm not proud I'm not proud of that. But I'm one thing I am proud of and I'm really really proud of is that last council meeting uh I challenged every council member here that within two weeks we're
going to have a vote within two weeks and I want everyone to contribute and every single council member contributed. every single council member did and I think and and I think the the conversations amongst each other I think
the dialogue we've had with each other uh where we disagreed in various areas you know that was healthy dialogue and I think it's going to be listen even when you disagree and agree with people it's still healthy because it gets us here tonight and tomorrow's another day and we have to move forward uh as adults all
right as community leaders uh to move forward from this process but one thing that another thing that we uh that we we wanted to commit to I think we had this conversation the last three months is a restructuring of what our government looks like and how it operates
and that wasn't going to happen the last two months that conversation needs to happen over the next 3 to four months we go into January 2027 that what we're committing to what our hope government looks like is going to look a lot different and and I think that's a commitment that we've all had these
conversations and those conversations needs to happen over the summer into the fall and having votes in November and December to reflect that work over the ne over the coming months. So, I appreciate the work. Uh I think no one's happy where this landed, but there's a
story to tell on how we got here. Uh and I want everyone to understand that story. So, Mr. Cler, call a vote, please. >> Mr. Con? No. >> Mr. Firestone? >> Yes. >> Fisher? >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Mrs. Le,
>> yes. >> President Zano, >> no. >> Mr. Cano, >> I >> Mr. Russo, >> no. >> President Ramos, >> I >> uh >> I >> CL2
>> CL that was CL2. >> I >> I just really quicker >> is this um so this is for the lead service line. It's saying that it's B835, but is it isn't this being funded out of the water utility? Is that a
water? >> Isn't everything lead service line supposed to be funded out of the water utility? >> Yeah, and I believe that is a water utility bond ordinance. I can pull up the the number and double check for you. >> I believe it's the water utility bond ordinance that was passed right at the
end of 2025. >> Okay. Thanks. I'm happy to vote on it. I just it is what it is. But I want to make sure that's sitting in the water utility and not outside of it. >> I believe so. I'll I'll give you the answer in a few seconds. >> All right. >> Call vote.
>> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> By Stone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fischer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zyus. >> Yes. >> Glacon. >> Yes. >> President Xano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. >> Uh, Council President Zano. Co, you have
a CC question? Yeah, this is a question for corporation council. Um, [clears throat] I need some clarity on something that uh my uh first word residents have brought up on May 6. We
passed an ordinance for uh block party permits and most of the time there's a 20-day estopple period. I don't know if it was signed quickly and went into law, however that is. Um,
but I have residents that put in permits on April 17th were told that they were granted the permits. The primitives were not issued, but they were granted and they were granted their date for next week. [clears throat] They had asked for other
dates in May, but they couldn't have it. The city reached out to them two weeks ago and said, "Where's our $250?" And I said to them, I said, "Hey, can you guys send me over the documentation that you signed
uh initially for that April 17th approval?" And I went through them and there was nowhere anything listed on there for $250 fee. It was I don't know, I think in legal terms de facto. There's some saying there, but it's like after the fact
the we passed a law, they had approval. While the permit wasn't issued, but they had approval and in the documentation that they signed, there was nothing in there that said they owe $250. I would like to get some clarity on that because I was told by the administration
that they still had to pay the $250 and I don't want to put words in anybody's mouth but it was kind of hinted that there are other people in the same predicament and they paid so they should pay as well. I'm in the belief I feel I'm 95% right here in most
of the business contracts that I've done. if you haven't stated a fee when you sign the contract, you don't pay the fee because it wasn't listed there. So, I would like to get a clarification on that. And if that is the case that uh the residents are
correct and we're correct that they shouldn't be build, not only would I like to see the monies refunded to the first ward block, I would like to see it refunded to the other blocks that fell under the same kind of predicament that don't even know that this is happening.
Um, this is pretty simple. Um, I'm not happy with the emails that went back and forth. So, I have to ask this from corporation council if you guys could come back to me. I know you're not going you're not going to make a statement tonight. I understand that. Uh, however, I would like you to come back and
explain that to me whether I'm absolutely out of my mind again. I'm going to say I'm not. >> Or we need to refund them their money. So, >> Councilman, thank you for your question. and I'm happy to review the ordinance. Obviously, I don't have it in front of me, but I will get back to you tomorrow.
>> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Call a vote on CC1. >> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> Mr. Firestone, >> yes. >> Fiser, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Leon, >> yes. >> President, >> hi. >> Mr. Cano, >> I
>> Mr. Russo, >> I >> President Ramos, >> I. >> That is all our business, right, for agenda items. Correct. >> All right. All right. Uh for items first reading, >> first reading, introduction of an ordinance amending the redevelopment
plan for the southwest re rehabilitation area. >> Mr. Con, >> I stone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> No. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Len. >> Yes. >> President. >> Hi.
>> Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. Ordinance for introduction. Ordinance amending the effective date of the ordinance amending chapter 110-17
the Hobok and city code requiring waste containerization for large multifamily buildings. >> Call vote. >> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> Stone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zyus. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> President. >> Hi.
>> Mr. Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. President Ramos >> I CD8 >> CD8 resolution of the Hoboken referring the ordinance amending chapter redevelopment plan for the southwest
rehabilitation area to the city of Hoboken planning board for review and report pursuant to the local redevelopment housing law. Mr. Con. >> I stone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes.
>> President Xano. Hi, >> Mr. Canero. >> Hi, >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi, >> President Ramos. >> I >> public portion Paters. >> Where'd she go? >> Public portion. Pascalina. Pascal.
>> Hi. 19. Everybody know, everybody know already 10 years. I give all of the paper. They just got to give me the spots and no other question. >> I know collaborator the way they say go
to dot go another dot. I give all of the paper. I don't need to do nothing else. >> Okay, that's it. >> That's what I wanted to say. started taking off all the handicap you put for loaded zone. All of the people young I
just said I talked already yesterday to the rhino sharp the director and I told today too I hope he listen I hope he know I need because there's no park I hope the evil house get away from you because they don't want to give me
they're jealous of me that's all very very clear so I understand why they don't want to give me, but they got to give me soon or late. Better sooner than late. >> Well, I don't want to talk too much
because I already in 10 years I talk too much already. >> Yep. >> Let's hope they realize that they got to post. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Pascalina. >> Pat Waiters, >> Knicks game one. >> Waiters. And I'm mad because y'all made
me lose my focus talking about the budget. And I can't refrain from just saying this, Mr. Cohen. You almost had it right. It was a $22 million surplus when Judy Trapi, which was the state monitor, came in. I've been doing this for years. That's why it's sickening to
hear y'all sit here and tell them little stories and them little fairy tales. We don't want to hear it. Y'all were strong, supportive, Ravi Bala people, not you, Reuben. And they better stop putting you in that clip. Even if you jumped over there, now listen, I understand. One, two, three, four, y'all
knew. Okay? Whether I say it loud or whether I say it low, okay? It's still wrong. Y'all knew. I'm I'm not saying y'all don't deserve credit for the work y'all doing. That's what you elected for. So don't sit here and say, "Well, we did good. We looked up this. We looked under that and we came with this
with the budget." You know what hurt members of the public? The dishonesty. Y'all wait eight years. These is the ones that set back Cohen, Emily, Jabore, all the Ravi people. Joe, y'all know what happened to the money. Okay. So, stop doing that. You wasting our time
and energy. I get so emotional because this happened to us before. Yes, that's a great idea. Let the state take over to show that you're incompetent. I don't care how many of you join with finance degrees. Finance degrees. That don't
make you not steal. You can know every number, but you still taking the money, making these fake contracts, inflated salaries. That's where the money at. Let's talk about where the money at. And stop telling me these stories.
Who working hard? Who's not? All of y'all get credit for being not with courage. None of y'all got courage cuz what y'all voted on? Keep saying administrator, administrator, the mayor. Y'all council people, y'all could simply say no. Simply say no. Y'all voted on it. I
watch eight years of him abuse this money and now everybody talking about what we trying to make the government and we trying to do and everything y'all used to say these projects you name Ruben let's go back to grass and black dirt in the park let's go back to those days grass and dirt if you spending
trillions of dollars and keep blaming all the parks I played on the sidewalk when I was a kid my kids are 23 28 and 41 and they grew up in these parks I grew up 1233 Park Avenue. We
grew up in these parks. I never seen so much money talk about winning in parks. Stop it. I'm watching y'all. All of y'all. Okay, with that being said, I didn't mean to get distracted and I did it again. When that's what happened when you give your power and your attention to politicians and not the people. I'm
mad cuz that's what I came here to talk about tonight. I wrote five little lines and I was going to go home. That budget got me. girl by I just want to say this real quick. I was a mayoral candidate, okay? Along
with Mike, along with Ruben, along with u Emily and Tiffany. I went to each and every one of them when I didn't exceed the election. I went to all of y'all and I asked again once again for 30 something years, can I get some support? I'm interested in running for anything.
Run me for dog catcher. Just accept me. Accept me. I don't care where you put me, except me. But that was the old Democratic way. We couldn't run for office. You had to have a lot of money in the bank. We couldn't run if we wasn't a doctor or a lawyer. We couldn't run if we ain't going to behave and shut
up and Pat wayers talk too much. And the story go on and on and I'm going to make it quit. And I kept going and I kept going. And I said, you know what? Oh, why y'all putting her on y'all ticket? She going to lose anyway. And I said it again for 30 years. The only way I lose is when I quit.
and I said, "I'll never quit and I'll never bow down to a political boss." This week, I feel like I made history and I wish Melissa was here to witness it. And I want to thank real quick everybody that live in Marine View Plaza that forgave me getting off of work at 6
knocking on their doors begging for their signature. Okay? I just want to thank them because they had confidence and faith in me and I made my count to run for commissioner with the backs of the people, not the
politician. I went to dawn. I went to people in the county. I called Brian Stack. I went to everybody and said, "Could y'all support me? My mayor Emily on February 15. I got three Texas. Please support me. I want to do what's
right by the people, not the politician. And then Mr. Joe had to know, are you a committee person? Well, do you know you in violation? No, because I don't have to go to nobody. I don't have to go to nobody to be violated. Can I run or not? Cuz I'm running solely for the people
and I will act under the authority of the people, especially those ones that got me here. Thank you, HHA. It's too many people to thank. I wish I could give names. Thank you, HHA, too. I understand the un the un um unprivileged, forgotten, vulnerable, but
y'all all ran down there when I knocked on those doors. They said we haven't seen Emily since she got elected, but was in the housing authority every day. Okay? So, this goes out to the housing authority, my girl Gail. Everybody else, don't get mad at me tomorrow cuz I don't say your name. Thank you. And I'm
looking forward to November the 3rd and asking for your support for county commissioner. Thank you guys. >> Thank you, Pat. Enrique Herrera. >> Sorry. [snorts] Sorry. How's it going, guys? Uh, obviously I'm
here to talk about AI and it's um an unlikely ally. I have the pope on my side with that new manifesto about uh AI and how we need to disarm people who use this type of um computing, any computers or tablets or laptops or phones that are connected to any type of algorithmic
prediction scale. Most notably, what I really wanted to bring up or at least my portion of that type of argument will be about defects and how that contributes to the downfall of um human decency. Uh there's a lot of apps that you can literally just create stuff like that.
Uh it's very much an impossible task when you're not supported publicly that it's always an uphill battle. It's always something that I need credentials for. But in people for for the younger generation, yes, you would need that degree for AI, but we all watch Star Trek as we grew up. We don't need we got
data. We just look at data like that was an algorithmic perfection of a robot. Um but uh yes, nonetheless, the Pope did bring up um AI disarm it, you know, if anything else. Any type of wearable neural links that operate under that
type of pretext. Um I myself would like to just call out any professional contacts that I may know or any friends or family members that may have access to this technology that could somehow see through our eyes with magical precision uh from when we wake up to when we go to sleep. Uh any Neurling,
Starlink, Palanteer communication stuff. But uh yeah, it is a malicious use of technology. If it is used in any work environment, any school environment, I would support some sense of an example. [snorts] Uh any students or work force members to be expelled or terminated. um
if you've ever excluded anyone or used this technology in any way, shape or form u as it was described in that one manifesto in the Vatican or if it was um whether it's Donald Trump or AOC or anyone talking about AI, it's just easier to say it. Uh let's just disarm
this technology, make sure that we hold those accountable for using malicious use of this technology would be the best case scenario. Just, you know, set those examples real quick and um let's just disarm AI, please. Thank you. Thank you, Enrique. Uh, Lisa Bassi,
>> thank you. Lisa Bazi, 1139 Park Avenue. I'm here to really get clarity and actually confirmation of withdrawal of the proposed amending ordinance J42. Uh, I want to read some things onto the record because I think they're material for everyone to hear and for those
listening at home on Zoom. Uh Wednesday, May 6th, Councilman Cohen and Councilman Ramos introduced a J42 and uh that proposed amended ordinance would effectively allow midblock commercial establishments in all
residential zones of Hoboken. It passed on the first reading and since the first reading through Monday, May 18th, um many of us in particularly R1, but I know in other zones as well, um voiced their objections, vehement
objections to this, uh proposed amending ordinance as it would fundamentally change the residential characters of all the zones in Hobok and particularly R1. Uh May 18th, several of us sent objection letters to each and every one
of you to each and everyone on the planning board and to the mayor voicing our BM objections. Uh me and my husband and several others attended the city council meeting the next Wednesday, May 20th. J42 was tabled by the city
council. No public comment was uh accepted at that time. Eight days later, May 28th, my husband and I host a neighborhood meeting to discuss the import and impact, the adverse impact of J42 on all the
residential zones. It was very well attended uh by our neighbors and uh Councilman Cohen showed up at the meeting and discussed our uh concerns and we asked him to share his intentions with respect to J42.
Um, I can go into the specifics of his intentions and we also asked the what he thought the intention of uh, Councilman Ramos was as well with respect to allegedly protecting small businesses. We all voiced our objections based on
many different points which I want to read clearly into the record because I think my neighbor summed it up perfectly and this is what we said at the meeting on the 28th. This is Bob Becker. Quote, "It appears that no thought was given to
alternatives to achieve the supposed objective of the proposed ordinance and the negative effect it would have to homeowners in the R1 district. During the meeting, we told Councilman Cohen that consideration should be given to, among other things, small business loans or grants,
imposing limitations on the ability of Washington Street landlords to impose unjustified rents or rent increases, creating an enterprise zone that would be hospitable to small businesses, and requiring builders of apartment buildings to lease a portion of their
ground floor space to small businesses at affordable rents. Furthermore, it appears that the study was that no study was conducted to ascertain whether owners of Brownstone or rowouses in the R1 district would support this proposal. If there is no support, the
proposed ordinance is a non-starter, and it is a non-starter. It remains so today. Less than 24 hours after our meeting, our neighborhood meeting with Councilman Cohen, all the people who sent in objection letters got an email from Pat Harone, the board secretary, saying,
"Oh, well, it's wasn't withdrawn. It was tabled." So, we're all confused in the neighborhood, justifiably so. Uh, I wrote another email to each and every one of you on the 29th and each and everyone on the planning board and
the mayor as did my friend and neighbor Bob Becker saying, "What's going on here? We understand that this was going to be withdrawn. It should be withdrawn. There's a lot of opposition. And by the way, it doesn't it violates our master plan currently, which apparently is is
expected to be re-examined in the near future." Anyway, so we come to this meeting. We looked at the agenda before coming. It said pulled. We saw table pulled. Now we come to this meeting tonight and get the print out of
the agenda and it says tabled. So what is this council doing with respect to J42? Is it complying with state law title 40 which is how meetings should be run? How do you effectively withdraw an amended proposal to an
ordinance? Maybe corporation council knows the answer to that. Someone should answer us. So, what is the status of J42 and what's your intentions to get it officially withdrawn? That's my question to all of you.
>> Does anyone want to answer that? >> Withdrawn. it. J42 is withdrawn. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> It won't be on the next agenda. >> Okay. Will anything like it the same or substantially similar be on the agenda? >> It won't be on the next agenda.
>> Okay, sir. Your your representation's on the record. Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh, Elizabeth Adams. [snorts] >> Good evening. Tonight, I would like to respond to some comments that were made during the public portion of the May
20th, 2026 Hoboken City Council meeting. Aside from the comments being downright ugly, cruel, and selfish, they were also
illconsidered and shortsighted. Firstly, I would like to say that I'm sorry that the person responsible for having made the remarks suffers from migraine headaches as they are totally truly horrific and
incapacitating. They are debilitating, impede one's ability to work and definitely affect one's quality of life. Also, no one should have to pay what is
an outrageous sum of money in order to obtain some degree of relief from their suffering. I'm sorry that [clears throat] their insurance, for whatever the reason, will not cover the expense of the medication
and that it must be paid out of pocket. However, their anger regarding this situation is misplaced. It should be directed at the system that perpetuates a scenario that essentially forces all too many people to choose
between obtaining adequate health care or in some cases any sort of health care or the roof over one's head. Many people even before the current economic state have been living paycheck
to paycheck. If a catastrophic illness or injury should befall them, they may easily face bankruptcy and even homelessness. [snorts] Making cuts to employee insurance is most definitely not the answer.
Again, we need to ask ourselves what sort of society that we want to be. This country was neither founded nor originally sustained by self-centered people, but rather by people who
genuinely looked out for one another and cared for each other, not merely being concerned with optics or paying lip service to ethics, morals, standards, and values.
Otherwise, we never would have survived. The person also questioned why public education should be funded by people like themselves who are childless. I also do not have children. However, I
realize that unless children are provided with the skills and tools that will be needed by them to not only survive but thrive both now and in the future. We as a society will be the ones
who will suffer as a result of our our failure to be supportive during the their time of development and formation. Surely is such things as if such things as [snorts]
press boxes can be funded to the tune of over half a million dollars. Funds for such truly essential services as these can be found. Lastly, I would like to remind you that
when people come to this microphone to speak, they are to be accorded courtesy and respect. That does not include such behaviors as smirking Mr. Cohen, scrolling on your
devices, Ms. Fiser, or leaving the room while people are speaking, Mr. Cohen and Mr. Russo. Your job which people not only entrusted you to do but for which you are being
well compensated is to listen. Keep an open mind and maybe just maybe choose to see a perspective that is different from your own often rubber stamping mindset
and agendas. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you Zachary King. Good evening, council and folks enjoying the show at home. Um, so about a week ago, I had a lovely phone chat with one of our esteemed councilmen. Um, he did
hang up on me. Uh, nevertheless, it was a thoughtprovoking conversation. Um, and I it made me think about some things that are relevant to the conversation y'all are having about the tax increase and um how divorced the conversation is from reality. So, I wanted to kind of bring it home with some facts, some
numbers, the the concrete reality of this. Um, so first of all, yeah, let's talk about the numbers. The annual property tax people are paying in in Hoboken right now, the average annual property tax is $9,000 a year, right? So, about $750 a month. Um, even if you
did a 20% increase on that, that's another $150 a month. You know, nobody likes to pay more, but think about that number when I give you this next number. The average annual rent being paid by a renter in Hoboken at the average Hoboken rent of $3,950 a
month is $47,400 a year. $47,000 a year versus $9,000 a year. All right. The property tax burden is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to the amount that your renters are paying. And yet you have these big dramatic
debates about the tax increase, but you don't really talk a whole lot about renters and bringing down the rent. Um, and on top of that, 65% of the city are renters, right? And again, another fact, those renters, every single one of them by by definition, just logically, they
are covering the entire tax burden of their landlord. They are, right? Their landlords aren't operating a charity. They're obviously making a profit. So, if they're making a profit, that means that they're getting more money. And it's not surprising because those renters are paying $3,950 a month. Those
landlords are paying, you know, uh, $750 a month. So, they're taking home a whole lot of profit. Uh, not only are tenants paying their landlord's entire property tax every month, every year, they're paying 500% more on top of that. That's
just free money for their landlords. But we're not talking about that. For some reason, that doesn't enter the conversation. There's a lot of grandstanding, but your 60 65% of your constituents that are paying for all of this, no talk about protecting them. Now, in that conversation with the the
councilman, because he was bringing this up as an issue, oh, don't you care about tenants? Don't you want tenants to not have to pay more? I said, "Yeah, sure. I don't want tenants to have to pay more. We're already covering all of our all the landlord's property taxes, so why don't you change the law that says they can pass on their taxes to us?" that's a
law under your control. That was a non-starter for him. He didn't want to have that conversation at all. But I just want to make it clear to the people at home. Your council could change that law. 65% of renters in town, I'm talking to you. Your council could prevent tax charges from being passed on
to you. It wouldn't even hurt your landlord. It would just take their profit margin down by a little bit and it would protect renters. It would shield renters from this tax increase completely. So if you want to talk about, oh, I care so much about people of Hoboken and not burdening them with
taxes, you could shield 65% of people in this town from the tax increase completely by just taking that tax increase out of landlord's profit margin instead of out of renters's pockets. You all have that power. You're all choosing not to do it. So let's just put that on the table so the whole community can
see. You're choosing to take that money out of renters's pockets instead of out of landlord's exorbitant profits. That's a choice you've all made. You don't want anyone talking about it. That's the kind of thing that doesn't get talked about unless we organize and come out here and tell you the facts. Um, and just a
couple ideas for generating revenue, right? Why don't we make it cost something for the people in this town that are holding storefronts and apartments empty all over town? Why don't we actually make that cost something? This entire city is sick of storefronts sitting empty because people
want to jack up the rents and never lower them and they can just hold those properties empty and take it take it as a tax uh loss. Why don't you charge them? Charge them for warehousing the same way you should be charging people for illegally warehousing apartments. Again, could be a major source of revenue for the city, but you're not
enforcing it. You could be enforcing rent control. You could be making hundreds of thousands of dollars by actually enforcing rent control and charging landlords for violating it. You could extend rent control to commercial properties instead of squeezing uh small businesses. The you talk about caring about small businesses, you never talk
about their tax burden, which is the main thing preventing our local businesses from being able to stay in business. Their their their rent, their rent is what's preventing them from being able to stay in business. But you never go after that.
So, changing the subject, reason I was a little bit snippy when the councilman called me the other day is because I've spent a lot of this past week over at our local concentration camp, uh, Delaney Hall. This is the concentration camp in our backyard. I've been getting,
uh, hit and gassed by ICE agents first and then by Mikey Cheryl's state police uh, at peaceful protests. Uh, and and let me tell you something. I've been to a lot of protests in my life. This is the sharpest juxtaposition I've ever seen in my life of a crowd of hundreds
of people linking arms, standing there doing nothing, singing, eating empanadas, and then getting beaten and gassed by officers with shields and on horseback. Armies and armies of riot cops. So much tear gas flying through the sky. It felt like a war zone. I've never seen anything like it in my life.
That's what's happening in our backyard here. The people in that concentration camp, our immigrant neighbors, are locked up for nothing. They're locked up for nothing, right? There's a few of them that have some criminal background record, probably a far probably a lesser percentage than on the council. Um, a
and there's they're sitting in there, they're they're having to eat moldy food, they're getting beaten for resisting, they're on hunger strike, they're not getting medical care, and the peaceful protests are being violently crushed in the United States of America in 2026. I urge you to watch the videos if you
don't believe me. Dig into it. do everything you can because honestly it makes me sick. Like the I was there on the ground almost every other night. The difference between what our politicians are saying and what I actually saw with my eyes is staggering and I invite all of you to please look into it. I know
you all can't really do a lot about it. I'm I'm talking to you as human beings, appealing to you as human beings. Um please join the fight for the people locked up in Delaney Hall. Uh they deserve better. Uh free them all. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Alinda Capiello. >> [applause]
>> Hello everyone. I really came to talk about one thing, but I didn't get to talk in a few. >> Use the mic. >> Can you hear me? >> No, you have to use the microphone because they have to hear you. They have to be recorded. So, you have to use the microphone. >> Can you hear me now? Can you hear closer? >> Okay. Um, Linda Capiello. Uh, so I came
for one item. I was meaning to talk on a couple of things, but what wasn't called, but it's okay. Uh, I just want to go through a couple of the items and make some constructive statements. I think I think they'll be constructive. I hope. Um, and I'll jump around. Um, and if you didn't if you tabled it, forgive
me. Um, just a couple of things about the professional service contracts, Tiffany, and you know, these construction folks doing work in town. just it's it's maybe maybe um Jennifer maybe it's just a suggestion that you know they they did
work down in Grant Street and all you know it was quick that was a rush project but the sidewalks are all broken up already and you know it's dangerous already so you know maybe before they get another contract maybe a discussion could go on with them the same
contractors could you fix that because uh the curbs so bicycle lanes they extended the curb curves for 50 [clears throat] minutes. >> So the trucks drive on the sidewalks now, like if they try to avoid a truck, a a fire truck, they kind of have to go
on the sidewalk, the trucks. It's common now, but it rushed so quickly that it rushed so quickly that um the concrete's gone. The curbs already have >> Yep. >> divots. >> Divots that somebody's going to trip and hurt themselves on it. [clears throat] And of course, we had a rough winter. So
it's not I'm just trying to give constructive feedback, you know, as we try to save money because this is a lot of money between the water increases, the sewer increases, everything. So that that's really meant to be constructive. It's the same contractors. So, you know, they may go back and fix it and it
really shouldn't lay on the on the hands of the um of the of the residents because they were good sidewalks before they broke them up. And that is actually what I came to talk about. But just a couple other things. Let me go through my notes. Um
um sort of along what this lady talked about, um I'm not commenting on anything specific. In fact, I didn't have time to read much. I just glanced the agenda, but I do do want to say I saw um the business alliance in here and I don't know if I heard a budget, but I just want to say it really would help the
citizens and everybody if we have good discussions. I know you've been busy with the budget, but their transparent budget, who's running it, what kind of feedback we have. I think it would be good to engage the residents very collaboratively. It's just that it really is meant to be constructive
because, you know, we're negatively impacted if we don't along with all these redevelopment zones and all that. Um, it would really help maybe corporation council could look at it if we see reports from the prior year. I believe land use requires that a report
of the prior year be done and be report given to the council where we could listen to this. I think it'll be a learning opportunity so to not move into big projects that don't offer uh a benefit to the residents and I'm mainly interested in health safety and like
when you have sidewalks people trip on things like that and parking and all that. [clears throat] So I just want to make constructive uh comments. I know you're busy with the budget and all that. Um, but there's so many ordinances with rehabilitation zones, changing
them, changing business places. I think it really we you have to do this and look at if it, you know, look at it very openly and let everybody all these smart people at the table in in the audience give feedback. So, why did I come? Um, I
just wanted an update on what's going on with the uh bicycle lane, and I might have missed some meeting. I do know there was a petition signed. I know, um, there was, uh, a a request to, uh, Jennifer a couple months ago to have somebody talk on the matter. I don't
think that happened, but if I'm wrong, correct me. Um, [clears throat] I also heard a comment that uh it might occur with the Adam Street bicycle lane discussion, but it's a pilot that's going it's a year in October and it's created a lot of changes and there was
no I don't believe there was any um feedback that was received from folks. Um, and I just want to raise it again just to know um how is this being evaluated and how will we learn the outcome and I'm coming I'm very objective about this. I have my
feelings, but I just want to know how this is going to be objectively assessed. Um the loss of parking, the the the the challenges getting around um you know, the utility of it and who's going to how how are you going to
basically how you somebody give me an update. >> Have we uh >> anybody? >> To this point, there is no objective assessment. >> There has been nothing that's been objectively assessed. There's no parameters. I've asked for it. Um, it's something that's troublesome. Let
Jennifer, do you want to answer? >> Yeah. Well, I will just say that we can provide an update at the next transportation and parking subcommittee meeting. >> I can give it because we asked it. >> All right. Did it happen? >> Talk to Council Officer. Yes, >> we had it last week. Yeah, >> we talked about specifically what he was going to do. So, um, it is a one-year
pilot. They're going to the city is taking the position. It's a one-year pilot. It's a madeup date. It was never No one ever discussed how long it was going to be. Um I know Councilman Russo is talking um with the director and providing feedback to them. Uh what was
communicated in our committee was that they are going to they're they want to have four seasons. They want to be able to see like ridership etc. We raised concerns about you know getting input from public safety. The comment was when
they put it in they didn't get any um opposition from the fire department. And I'm like, well, that's not really an endorsement. And uh they said that they would have some sort of possible survey and or or not andor but and meeting with
residents. And the comments that we gave was we want to make sure that the survey is an honest survey because they're often biased surveys. Um so that's the conversation that we have. So, I think there's, you know, the transportation committee is advocating for some sort of [snorts]
interaction with the public and getting feedback and I know Mike is Councilman Russo is advocating for that as well. I don't know if you want to give more or if you had a chance to meet with him. >> I I I haven't had a chance to meet with the director, but there is no objective assessment right now. There is no
ridership. We don't we don't know how well the the bike rent lane is being used other than anecdotally. I mean there are a lot of subjective markers but I don't know that that gives us enough information. Right. So so to your point I think that we've wasted now and
waste is probably the wrong word but we didn't utilize the time frame >> most efficiently to understand what all those things look like in a very objective way. Uh, and when we brought that up to uh, the director and now the the the old new director, uh, you know,
it was one of those things that there was no real plan in place for them to have that objectively looked at. Um, so my contention is because of the subjective feedback that we've gotten, you know, we had over a 100 people at a
community meeting, um, I think 99% of the room was >> absolutely >> most certainly leaning one way versus the other. Um, I I think those subjective markers are going to provide a lot of feedback, but I also want to give the director a little bit of an
opportunity to get back into the swing of where he left off before he left the city. >> That's why I said >> and and I think we're I think we're at the point though to to make the final point. I think we're at the point to make a decision. >> Either we're going to keep it or we're going to revert [clears throat and cough] back to the
way it was. Um, I've made my my position very clear. I think we should revert back to the way it was. Uh, and in the very short future, I'm sure there's going to be something before this council stating that. So, >> okay. >> Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. Thank you, Linda. >> Thank you for your time,
>> Manuel Rivera Solair. [snorts] >> Thank you, Council President. Manuel Rivera Soler Hoboken sixword resident. I just want to keep that in mind. Everybody knows Mr. President. I thank you all for your attention. Are you okay? Is everybody okay? Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh council president, uh just also want to continue and I want to say again thank you to um the administration for um CL3 and for all of you voting for it. Of course, it's always awareness. it it's symbolic but it's awareness for gun
safety and also I want to thank the students uh from Stevens who were here earlier today and or this evening rather and their participation in our city and in our city government is admirable and we hope that they inspire other young uh
members of uh Hopoken residency. Uh, Council President, I also want to take an opportunity to say thank you to uh the mayor and the administration and everyone involved for the uh Memorial Day parade on Saturday. It was very well attended and very beautiful. One of the
first times that I was really amazed of how many uh marchers and floats there were and everybody was just so happy and festive and and that's a uh wonderful thing for our city to have that type of uh unity and fun. And then, Council President, um I also want to say, um
it's important to um continue to look at the efforts of paving our sidewalks a little bit better. Um I, as a person with a disability, um am very tired of sometimes walking down the street trying to walk a little bit faster, and I can't
because I'm afraid to uh fall uh flat on the floor. um one of my older brothers had that happen to him in Jersey City and um he's unfortunately deceased. That was about two years ago or more. So um if we can have the administration and
you all in your respective um wards always look at that that is very important not only for persons with disabilities for seniors and children's as well. Um, with that, Council President, now I'm going to turn over to a um being a social uh uh giving you
social um information, turning over to an advocate from from different things that are going to happen. But council president, yesterday, just a reminder for all the members of the public and those that are um uh in Hoboken residents that yesterday was la
fiesta de la Republica de la Italia. That is the Italian Republican Republic Day. It was established in 1946 and um very few people know that it's been 80 years since that um that great day for the Italian nation and for all
Italians I guess all over the world. So we would like to say um a happy Italian Republic Day to them. I guess I'm losing my uh air here, so I'm trying to talk too fast. And council president um as well as June is Caribbean American
Heritage Month. As a uh descendant or inheritor of that culture, I want to say to all the people of the Caribbean who sometimes they forget that there is a lot of Caribbean nations and they all are represented in our country and in
our state and obviously in our city. Just walked down Washington. and you'll hear a lot of different uh languages spoken and it's a it's a wonderful thing. So, we want to thank them for um their contributions and labor and education to our great city in our
nation. I also want to say that also again I told you that it was uh social information that on June 12th there is going to be a annual Filipino flag raising day. That is going to a flag
raising day. Yes. Uh that is going to be fee Friday 12th of June at 10:30 a.m. at Brand Brandon Courthouse 583 Newark Avenue in Jersey City. So that also is wonderful contribution to all
our Filipino uh residents in Hoboken and in the county which is very very um important. Again as I said uh we walk down the streets and we hear all these amazing languages and it's uh just fun. And again to all the people of LGBTQ
plus all the people who um live in Hoboken in in our county again to all of them and the presentation that was done earlier today. Again a very happy pride month to all of them and I say it with my full throat so they could all know
that I am their uh member and their representative. So, thank you to all of you for always acknowledging the diversity of our city. And again, council president, uh, I just want to say thank you for your attention. Slava
Ukraine, glory to Ukraine. Heram Slava, glory to the heroes. God bless you. God bless you all. And God bless our men and women in the armed forces, those serving in the conflict zone. May God protect them and return them home as soon as possible. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Manny. Manny members call sign to speak. Motion >> motion close public portion. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> I >> uh friendly reminder, uh Southwest Fest 12 to 5 this Saturday. Uh free food, uh free rides, uh we will have vendors this
year selling, uh arts and crafts for the first time we're doing that uh in the four years we've uh done's been held. So looking forward to Saturday 12:00 to 5:00. And let's go next. Motion closed. Motion closed. meeting journed. >> Good night everybody.
>> Good night everyone. >> Make me feel good. >> Yes. >> Good night. >> Good job. your carrying pass. Okay, start it.