She might be back there. Okay, we'll be right back. 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 meeting act >> and that notice was published on city website. Copies provided to the Bergen
record also placed on a bulletin board in the lobby of city hall. Written objections, if any, shall be made to the city clerk. Move the plague to the flag of the stand. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The role. Mr. Clerk, >> Mr. Con here. Mr. Firestone here. >> Miss Fischer >> here. >> Mrs. Zimus, Mr. Leen
>> here. Mr. Presidento >> present. >> Mr. Cano >> present. >> Mr. Russo >> present. >> President Ramos >> present. We're going to be suspending our agenda for uh some speakers on autism awareness and acceptance month.
Uh we have Carrie Magro, Amanda Dale, and whole spectrum autism with us here also today. So we'll have Carrie, you want to go first, Carrie? Good to see some familiar faces. Uh so this is a very important autism
acceptance month uh because of the current climate and uh for those who are new to the council I would just like to say that uh I am an autistic individual and I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with so many of you in the past.
Uh I was diagnosed with autism when I was four non-speaking till two and a half. Uh didn't speak in complete sentences till I was about seven. And a lot of the times growing up in Hudson County in Jersey City, people said what I wouldn't be able to do. And now being able to speak in front of all of you as a full-time professional speaker,
traveling the globe, speaking with schools, companies about the ROI benefits of hiring talented autistic people in the workplace due to the fact that the majority of autistic adults are still unemployed or undermployed in the US. We need to do a better job of making sure we're hiring neurodeiverse talent
in every level of politics. Uh but yeah, that's uh and honestly speaking at 28 talks, I'm a little tired today. So a lot of the words that I had planned are not coming out the way that I wish they would. But also at the same time that it
is a spectrum. So but I would just like to thank you all for your committed support. In 1960, uh April became autism awareness month from the Autism Society of America. And it's a great opportunity for us to continue to discuss autism in
our countries with autism being the second highest prevalence in New Jersey. We need to make it a a national initiative, but also in Hoboken that we are supporting the autistic people across the lifespan. not only the cute,
adorable little children who are diagnosed as early as 18 months, but also those autistic adults because autistic children like myself will grow up to become autistic adults and we need to be ready for them. So, I applaud Hoboken for continuing this initiative
to proclaim April as autism awareness and acceptance month and whatever you guys can do to help continuing to support our initiatives, we'd greatly appreciate. Thank you so much for having me tonight. >> Thank you, Carrie. Appreciate it, buddy. Amanda, right?
>> You, Carrie. >> Um, good evening. My name is Amanda Dale and I'm here today as both a mother and an advocate. April is autism awareness and acceptance month, but for families like mine, this is everyday life. In October 2023, my son was diagnosed with
autism level three. Since then, I've had the privilege of watching him grow, learn, and thrive in his own unique way and on his own timeline. Awareness is important, but acceptance is what truly creates change. Acceptance means building inclusive spaces, um,
supporting families, and ensuring every child feels seen, valued, respected, and understood for who they are. It also means listening, learning, and continuing to show up, not just during this month, but every single day. I ask that we keep working together to build a
community that embraces all abilities and celebrates every child's potential. I'd also love to invite you all to stop by the Foodie Fest April 25th where we'll continue bringing our community together in a fun and inclusive way. Thank you for having me. Have a good night. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Amanda.
Uh, Mayor Jabbor, >> thank you so much. Um, I just wanted to add a couple of remarks. Um, we really started having this event in terms of uh recognizing April uh because of the urging of Carrie when Carrie reached out to me um when I was on the council and
when we first met about 7 years ago I think um and I'm so grateful for the advocacy um that he does and how he shows up for us every year. Um he is internationally renowned and the fact that he continues to make sure to come to Hoboken is really meaningful. So
thank you first for that. Uh I wanted to just share that in when you leave city hall later the lights in the front of the building are blue in recognition of autism awareness and acceptance month. We also have reached out to our partners at the county and so under the vioaduct you will also find blue lights and our
partners at PS&G are making the substation of town blue as well. So we are all coming together to ensure that this community is recognizing and celebrating what this month means. Uh, and I also want to express my gratitude. Our Department of Cultural Affairs has
pushed more than ever to add more programming that addresses children with special needs, including children who are on the spectrum, to ensure that we have not just sports programs, but also dance programs, movement programs, music programs, and we've been partnering with some of the special needs advocacy
groups in town for parents to continue to diversify those course offerings. Um so I'm really proud that we as a city continue um to see the importance of these investments and certainly please continue to reach out. We have amazing team of people who are responsive and
interested in having those conversations um mostly through cultural affairs. That department has been doing the most of that programming. Um but we really welcome any feedback from the community about how we can continue to do better in that space. So thank you for making the time. Um and thank you to all of the advocates for the work you do in our community every day. Thank you so much.
Thank you, mayor. And thank you, Carrie and Amanda and Amanda as well for always uh shining shining a light on on the cause of parents of children with autism and adults of of of uh adult children
becoming adults with autism. Carrie, I know you're you're a role model in the autistic community. I know my youngest who's uh who's autistic looks up to you a great deal. We've read your books. Uh Amanda, thank you. and Victor, thank you for your advocacy uh in the foodie fest that you're hosting April 25th this
month. Uh and I think tonight is an indicative uh indication of my youngest supposed to speak tonight, but uh today's today and tomorrow's tomorrow and sometimes uh things happen that are outside their control where they can't where they can't attend or they can't do
certain things that they want to do. And so he's not speaking here tonight because things happen. But today's today, tomorrow's tomorrow. We move on. And that's for all the caregivers. uh uh parents of children with autism, that's the attitude you have to take with it. You know, you have to roll with the punches and today's today and tomorrow's tomorrow. Uh thank you. Thank you
everyone. Uh let's roll with our agenda, guys. I appreciate you guys. Thank you. >> Thank you again. Good. have a hearing on an ordinance amending chapter 192 entitled parking for persons with disabilities to amend reserve
parking spaces on Clinton Street and Garden Street. >> Uh we have no public speakers on this item. Motion to close. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any members of the council? Call the role. >> Mr. Con? >> I
miss Fiser. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mrs. Len. >> Yes. >> Mr. President Xano. >> Hi, >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi, >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> Yes, >> President Ramos. >> I >> hearing on an ordinance amending chapter 190-31 entitled closing school streets,
parking and school zones to change school pickup and drop offs on Garden Street between Third Street and Fourth Street. >> We have no members of the public center to speak. Motion to close. >> Motion to close public portion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> And members of the council, >> call the vote. Mr. Con.
>> Hi. >> Firestone. >> Yes. >> M. Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Zimus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. L. >> Yes. >> President. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Rouso. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. >> Hearing on an ordinance amending chapter
196-6.1 entitled restricted parking for police vehicles, fire vehicles, and official business to remove municipal parking spaces on North Street. >> Person to speak. Motion to close public portion. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> I just council. >> Yeah, just quickly. Um, we're This is We're going to change the sponsor to Paul on this. Uh, it's his ward. It's something he's advocated for for a long time. >> 100%. Thank you. >> I'll call vote.
>> Mr. Con? >> I. >> Mr. Fer Stone. >> Yes. >> M. Fischer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Imus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> Mr. Presidento. >> Hi, >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi, >> Mr. Russo. I >> President Rot >> I and a couple of housekeeping items. We
are going to have three emergency revol uh one two emergency resolutions this evening and one emergency ordinance uh >> the ordinance resolution are for the veterans housing for the American Legion. >> They have a time crunch coming up for their financing that requires us to uh
it's eminent for their meeting next week uh for their financing. So we have to have uh the easement portion of that uh at least the first portion handle that this evening or before that meeting and the second item will be discussed in close session with regards to the HR situation.
>> I President on the uh the American Legion it's converting the easement to a lease. Correct. >> That's the purpose of what we're going to be hearing on emergency say that. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> So we have members of the public silent to speak. Uh, Rosemary Markle, long
list. >> Make it quick. >> Five minutes. >> Hello everyone. Um, first thing under payroll. I've asked this before and I really think the taxpayers deserve an answer. Why are volunteer boards getting stipens? It's quite a bit. If you add it up, it's about 10 20,000 a year. If it's
volunteer, what's the money used for? >> Yes. >> And next one. CD2. An increase of $15,000 in just two months. The resolution was from February 11th, which means an increase of 150%. It's amazing amount for private citizen
lawsuits. This increase at face value is simple, but backup states 15,000 for calendar year 2026 and 11,000 increase for year 2025, making that total contract 151,000. So, last time I checked math, 15,000
11,000 equals 26,000. So, can someone clarify? Is the increase 15,000 or 26,000? I have the backup here if anybody wants to see it quickly. CD3, another law firm. Yay, there goes more money. CD4,
um, hiring a company to do a city map. All these years we haven't had one done by a drone. Just curious. F1, another legal contract. First paragraph says contract in the amount of 11,000. Rate of 165 an hour. Next paragraph says
contract in the amount of 110,000. I'd like some clarification. Is it 11,000 or 110,000? I won. God help us if it's not for them. We only need a path for these parts. Why don't we ask students to shovel and pay them? We would be saving an awful lot of
money. 13. The sinkhole backup says the sewer pipe was cracked. Shouldn't that be North Hudson sewage paying for that as well as the police? And if this is a city expense, why wasn't the police build it city rate? And why did the company pay it and then build the city
for it? And on that invoice, I do love the 15% markup on materials in the bill. Answers are needed. I4, $100,000 for plumbing services. Breakdown 53,000 already spent. Understand? Anticipate 47,000 more. Can someone give us the
formula for that figure or where did we just come up with it? I6, the landscaping. I really can't even begin with this one, but anyway, rain gardens. another $26,000. Are they ever going to get any better? They're disgusting, filthy, and dirty.
But here we are. We have to pay for them, right? This contract provides for irrigation. But if something happens under this contract, the city pays for the repairs >> for the irrigation system. Why isn't it this company that's take maintaining it? Got to love the person who makes these
contracts and and uh never admit to the benefit to the taxpayers for any of this. Pest control is under this contract, but we also have a city contract for pest control. Why isn't it all under one? Why are we paying twice? Again, who negotiates these contracts?
Every year, the grass is destroyed in Church Square Park because the children use it, not complaining about children use, but it's costing taxpayers an awful lot. Maybe private schools should be taxed to use that as their playground or their gym. I7. This contract for the
dogs to chase the geese or whatever they do with the geese. Pier A and Pier C is not included. So, is it okay for the geese to just live there? And we're only going to take care of three parks. PX1 $13,000 in overpayment in taxes. Is this because of tax appeals? I'd love to
know because this is only going to get worse when once you raise our taxes. TX2 curious as to how those bu that building was built for parking spaces when it was that outdoor area and so now you have to cancel all those taxes that we assumed were coming in.
Now I'm on to the uh items that are coming up. This is the first reading. Parking permits or is what I refer them to as car tax since the city does not provide parking. In fact, it takes it away on a daily basis. You're asking to raise the fee for the first car by 130%.
Wish I could raise taxes 5% my not my taxes I'm sorry my rent by 5% but I can't do that. Must be good to be the city. Senior citizens are also being raised 130% from 26 to $60. You do realize that their social security was only raised by 2.8%.
And their Medicare was raised by 10%. Way to support the seniors. Why is a senior visitor pass limited to only one? They can only have one child at a time come to visit. We used to be able to get two. So, what is the difference between raising our taxes and raising these fees? It's the same people that that are
getting hit and bearing the brunt of a mismanaged budget. And if your goal is to get rid of cars, then start with getting rid of the parking utility. That would save us a whole bunch of money, wouldn't it? Oh, can't do that since the only revenue the city has is a parking utility.
12. Um, I see that we want to add a new job title into the police station police department called an inspector. Not sure what that job is. is inspector gadget. What would they be doing? >> And we're injustifying it by decreasing one lieutenant and one sergeant. I am
assuming this is through retirement. I would hate to hear that we're going to demote someone to promote someone. Now, we all know that there is some kind of policy or set number of standards through the state for police and superiors that is tied to the number of residents. It's also for fire
department. Do you think the union is going to allow not replacing that lieutenant and sergeant? And rightfully so. There's a list these there. They should be entitled to that. But I think not. They're not going to let that go. So we be we be back next two weeks after you say this is okay. Let's make this
job and not replace those two sergeants. And then you're going to say, "Oh, union says we have to do it." So with all the new buildings going up, we're more residents. We're going to need hire more people. So can anybody give me what this inspector gadget's job is going to be and why? Is there more crime happening
than what we are aware of? I mean, really, we got Yogi, Boo Boo, Inspector Gadget. I guess it all dives when we have Looney Tunes running the asylum. >> Sorry. 5 seconds. >> That's all right. I'm on my last line. This is one way to fill the budget gap. Thank you. >> I wasn't paying attention to time.
>> Thank you. Uh, Zachary King, I'm sorry. Thank you, Jeff. All good. No, sorry, my bad. Yeah. Yeah. Put it back. I was distracted. Cool. >> Put it to how it was originally. >> And yeah, there you go. And then I'll And then I'll fix it
>> down two degrees. >> Good. Tighten it. >> We're We're all on the Are we all good? Okay. My time's going. All right. Uh so, um I'm going to try to be reasonable about this, but I am clearly biased because you can see on the back of my
shirt, I designed the hut logo. See the the goose on there? I'm a big fan of the geese. Um, I'm not speaking on an official Hoboki United Tenants position right here. This is just me being a big nerd about ecology and animals. Um, and I'm basically taking the opportunity to just enter some facts about our local
geese into the public record. Um, so I understand the lististeria outbreak is a very serious thing and we definitely need to take that seriously. Um, and probably having the geese chased away by some dogs is like the pretty humane way of of dealing with it uh for the moment.
Um, a lot of people don't know the situation with our local geese. They're called Canada geese. And so a lot of people I've talked to say like, "What are they even doing here? That's an invasive species." They're not an invasive species. And they're also not quite exactly a wild native species. What we call Canada geese are actually
definitely a native species. New Jersey and Hoboken is a place that they have lived for thousands of years. Um, the special thing about the local geese is that they're a particularly sedentary population that humans took and put here in the 1930s to produce a hunting stock.
So, kind of like pigeons, it's our fault that they're here. And just like pigeons, I feel a bit of sympathy there. Like, it's our fault they're here and then we treat them kind of badly sometimes. Although, in Hoboken, I think for the most part, we treat them pretty darn well. Um, but a lot of people don't know that. I would like people to know
that. I would like people to know that our local geese actually have a lot of ecologically beneficial effects. Um the goose poop is actually really good fertilizer. I assume the city probably spends some amount of money on cow poop to put on our local plants every year. Um just saying the geese are also
providing that service. Um so yeah, they're they're part of our local ecosystem. They have positive effects. Mostly I I would oppose like messing with an animal that's just chilling. But in this case, they're just chilling and also they have lististeria which is a
serious problem. Um so we got to do something about it. But I would urge you to just in the future we shouldn't make it a habit if we can avoid messing with animals that are just you know doing their own thing. We should avoid it. And I would love to think about in the future a way to possibly create areas of
the the waterfront that are more attractive to the geese to hang out in than the areas all the humans want to hang out in. So I' I'd be really interested in how like I I want to talk to an ecologist about like what sorts of plants or habitats might you set around the park so geese want to hang out
there, not where people's kids are running around. Um so that's all. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Zach. >> Thank you. >> Manny River. chicken. >> Good evening, Council President. Uh, members of the council, members of the public. Council President, my apologies. I wasn't here early. I thought the
agenda was going to be suspended. Uh I apologize for to the members of the public of not being able to speak on J19, J20, and J21, but I will continue. Now, Council President, I just would like to respectfully um first of all um
congratulate Kathleen Haney uh on her appointment to the Hoboken Library. Uh thank her for her willingness to serve uh the community. Again, uh I admire anybody who volunteers to any of the board in the commissions. Council President, I would also like to ask you
this evening um being a attendee of the caucus meetings. Um I sometimes get a little bit um crazy with my uh phone when I want to yell at it and say ask this question, ask that question. I was going to text a couple of you, but I know you were busy. Um but I would like
to know did you get the answers meaning the council members uh the questions that were asked that evening regarding first of all there was a council member who asked something on uh payroll and uh other pay and overtime payment. Um did
council member get that information? Was it satisfactory? Would you be able to at least help members of the public understand if the information was valuable and how it could help members of the public if it has any pertinence? Uh also, council president, there were a lot of questions. Um A1, if somebody
could uh give us uh members of the public further information on that, it was uh very two members of uh the council. Um in community development, no one asked the question, which was I was surprised. I guess uh council member Russo was not there. Sorry, I'm throwing
you out there, but I'm sure you would have asked a question on CD1 and CD2 in regards to uh uh the the amounts of these uh ordinances, I guess, the resolutions. I
lost my my thought there for a minute. Um it's important for members of the public to have a little bit more understanding because yes, we watched the caucus meetings. Um by the way, 42 people uh on the YouTube watched it. Um, meeting 41. I watched it uh twice, I
think. Um, just to just to bring up the ratings. Uh, community uh service. Council member Pensano asked a question. It was kind of basic, but would be nice to know um what's happening there. It's it's simple. It's uh Columbia
University, but it's great to know that that uh they're here and what they're doing. Uh corporate council. Again, there was another question brought up. I think it was um vice um pardon me um council member Cohen
who asked a question to the clerk if this was the same settlement or was it two different settlements can members of the public have highlighted that and I'm going to be quicker um public safety again nobody asked any questions can somebody again it's a grant thank you for for submitting it hope we get it a
taxpayer nobody asked TX2 please if somebody could give us some information why they're being cancelled at that time. And of course, transportation and parking. No one asked the question and it was very important. Um, thank you again to Council Member Cohen for uh doing the job that former council member
Doyle used to do and the spelling. Thank you. I appreciate that. He he he sure Yes, he sure appreciates that too, sir. Uh so um and again, as a member of the public um said before, uh ordinance in first reading. Council President, can
you let members of the public understand how is it possible that all of a sudden when Hoboken is supposed to be affordable, when Hoboken, all the candidates said it was supposed to be affordable in 2025, all of a sudden because there was a survey of less than
1% or 2% of residents. It is free day to bring all all or most of all of these um uh ordinances resolution first reading pardon me to to bring them up. Why why is that possible? Why is that needed? Why doesn't that
have more discussion so more members of the public can and can can chime in on that one? And council president there were many many more but I see the time is is um ticking fast. And I just want to say if you can help members of the public in any of these questions again
it's um it's just because we hear you ask questions in the caucus meeting but we are unsatisfied because we cannot hear the answers and with that council president I yel back. >> Thank you Manny. Uh anyone else for resolutions?
>> Resolutions. >> Another one I have here. So resolutions Pat. There's one of >> no good Pat. >> Thanks, Mr. Vonwatch. I was out in the hall discuss having a discussion with the mayor. I signed before I went out there. I want to acknowledge I want to
thank her and acknowledge her like I did out there for recognizing autistic. Uh I mean I missed it. They said y'all did it in the beginning. I really appreciate that especially though and they feel like I do right now. The unforgotten, the special needs. So, thank you, Mayor
Jabau. I just told her and thank you, city council, for recognizing that. Let me get that off first before I come with the juiciness. Manny and Role, Miss Markle said most of what I wanted to speak about on this agenda. This is sad. And I and I I don't even go to the
caucus no more. Thank God I let Manny go do all of that. Why the surprise? When was we going to learn about these increases? Everybody ran for mayor and everybody talked about affordability. Y'all don't know how sad this is. And you know why y'all don't look us in our
face. Y'all don't care. It's me and Crazy Manny and Ro, the only three in the meetings. Serious. From the border to everything else. And I've learned from other municipalities. When they see me at this mic and nobody behind me, they don't
care. They're going to do what they want to do cuz it's three people. But they come to me, right, Manny? and dump all of their problems. I can't go to the store. I can't go to CVS. What is the city council doing? I'm not a referee. I'm not gonna be fighting everybody's
fight. But respect me, please. Coming out of my house, good weather, bad weather, or indifference. I want to be respected as a resident. I feel so disrespected. $71 million deficit. Ravi walked away from it. AND Y'ALL BROUGHT THE SAME
PEOPLE BACK. Come on, y'all. This is not fair. We live here and to increase these fees. Oh my god. They attack poor Fisher. Miss Fisher when you did this. Remember when you
first increased it from the $15? Y'all talking about $150. We voted for y'all. That's why y'all won. And the other people, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUMP on people bandwagon. Mr. Firestone and I told you the same thing when you ran. Y'all do
what's right for these residents live here. Please, I'm against everything on this agenda. First, second, third, whatever reading, address it and answer Ro and Manny, please. Those questions they asked you, council president, could you please give some response? Thank
you. >> Members of the motion to close public hearing. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> members of the council. >> Hi. >> Seven. >> Council Fischer. Uh
got >> Yeah, that's >> I I three favor. One second. >> Which one? Council President. >> I I three. >> I three >> and I six.
>> I six. Uh my snow plow. So what is that? I1. >> I1. >> I1. Yep. >> I4 too. Council president. I4. Council >> Russo. I4. Council Fischer. Yeah. Yeah. Want me
>> to go first? >> No. You know, you had No, I >> just I just Oh, just I Okay. Council >> President claims and um and payroll. >> Claims payroll. Council President. >> Councilman Cohen. >> A2 and CD1.
>> A2 CD1. >> Yes. >> A1 as well. >> A1. Councilman. Any other council members? >> All right. We're good. All right. Uh consent agenda, Mr. Clerk. Except for
I7, I3, I6, I1, A1, I4, claims and payroll A2 and CD1 are removed. >> Mr. Con? >> Hi. >> Mr. Firestone, >> yes. >> Miss Fischer, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lac, >> yes. >> Mr. President, >> I
>> Mr. Cano, >> hi. >> Mr. Russo, >> hi. >> President Ramos, >> I uh Counciloman Fischer, I seven. >> How about payroll? >> We're going to wait till >> Oh, all right. Russo. Uh >> he's just going over that we pulled him.
So I7 is the >> I7 >> I7 is the geese control one. Um you know this is an issue that we hear all of us hear about. Um and it's probably in
particular this time of year uh you know coming off the winter going into the summer. Um and we've used the city has used the geese patrol before a lot of you know along the waterfront in particular um the owners of the various
waterfront use geese control. I'm in the Hudson TE we use the the geese patrol up there. Um it is not covering um Pure and Pierc because Pure and Pierc are in the southern uh it has a separate corporation but I think they're working with the city correct to >> Yes.
>> Yes. they're working with the city and they'll they'll handle it themselves. Um I uh the Maxwell is the same thing. So Maxwell Park has its own corporation that um that handles the maintenance of that park to which the city sits on the
board and actually manages it, but it's funded by the residents of Maxwell and similarly they're >> they're doing the same thing. Um and I believe the Hudson T buildings um we often have it. Uh the one thing I would say I'm you know I'm the person that
they call when there are injured birds. I am you know I want to make sure that we are doing this humanely. We had a conversation the other day. Um I said I want to make sure that we are not you know when the dogs are out. I have seen them and chase these guys when they have
separated baby uh geese from parents like we should not be um approaching this in an inhumane um way. Uh, one of the things they do is add eggs. Um, I'm opposed to that. Um, but I'm I'm less opposed when it's early on in the mating
season, which is where we are now. We're seeing the geese on nests. I'm very opposed to it when the um geese are about to hatch. But I was assured that they actually lift the eggs up. If it's an embryo, they'll add. If it's not an embryo, they won't touch it. So, the city is doing the best they can with
regard to here. I do, you know, geese is every single geese just love flat green grass and we have a lot of flat, we love flat green grass. Um, and trying to find alternatives, you know, there may be some planting alternatives that we can um try and encourage the geese not to
come on the flat green grass and you know there's a focus uh of that which we haven't had in the last few years. So, I'm supportive of it. Just want to let people know we are approaching it and as humane as possible and I will be all over it chasing these guys if they're not. Any other members for I7? Councilman Cohen.
>> Uh just to follow up on Councilwoman Fischer's comments. Uh you know, our parks are our jewels. We love them. We enjoy them. We like to go out on blankets if we can and enjoy the fresh air free of helicopter noise as well, which is another issue. But on the
ground, uh geese goose poop, for lack of a scientific term, uh carries lististeria and ecoli. And we we have our kids crawling around on the on the grass. Uh we have our families trying to
enjoy spaces. And uh these dogs are it's a humane way of removing them. They chase them. The dogs love it. That's what they're bred to do. And the geese go elsewhere. Uh the geese are not harmed. Uh they'll find another home. But our parks will be safe for our
families to enjoy and for our community to enjoy. So uh I'm I'm the sponsor of this. I think this is an important thing. I know Councilman President Zano has mentioned many times at our council meetings how frustrated he is downtown with the geese uh goose population down
there and hopefully they do a better job as well. So, I'm looking forward to working with these guys and uh they're available uh during from sun up to sun down. If you see a goose, we they'll be able to report it and they'll be out there to help us. So, thank you, council president. >> Thank you. Uh call a vote, Mr. Clerk.
Mr. Con >> I. >> Firestone. >> Yes. M Fischer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Imish. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> Mr. Presidento. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi. >> Tiffany. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> Hi.
>> Uh, let's go. Council Russo. You want some claims and payroll? >> Yeah, sure. Um, and I I appreciate the the difference here. I wasn't able to attend the caucus. I was on a flight coming back home. >> Um, >> and I do, director, I do appreciate the call uh to to follow up with me.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to you today. Um, in the claims, there are three claims u for the North Hudson Sewage Authority. One is 355,000. Another one is 690,000.
Another one is 18,000. What is that for exactly? Says upgrades 15, 16, and 17. >> I'm assuming it's that's work on Addison. >> Sorry. Which department are you under? Infrastructure. >> Sure. It's uh engineering. >> Yeah. then that would be for um my
assumption is that is for the 9th of Madison infrastructure project but I can look at those specifically if you'd like during during the meeting. >> Yeah. And the reason I asked the question is uh and I you've heard me say this a number of times now are we having conversations with our commissioners at North Hudson Sewage Authority to really
rely on the sewage authority to start picking up some of these tabs for us and how are they going? So this project in particular, no, because this project was an agreement that was entered into several years ago, authorized by the city council to split the cost of the 9inth and Madison infrastructure project
um with the North Hudson sewage authority. So to your point about cost, yes, they are picking up a lot of the cost and in fact they bid and managed the entire construction of the project um uh which was a great cost savings to the city. Um, as regards to other specific items for for cost sharing, I
mean, we've had several conversations with North Hudson Sewage Authority. Um, started the conversation of potentially looking into them taking over our municipally separate storm sewer system. So, um, but that conversation has been had with um, the authority leadership, not necessarily with our commissioners
yet, but that that is something we can continue to do with that. >> Yeah, I I would just suggest we keep our commissioners in the loop. I'm sure I'm sure we are. um because I think we do have that leverage and I think we need to utilize it as much as possible. Um in the same department here, we have
reimbursements for uh I'm assuming these are conferences for two of our employees. Um what is the policy for employees attending conferences? This is for mileage. This is for meals.
Uh, and it's a it's a small amount in the grand scheme of things, but my concern is that we're tonedeaf, right? Like everyone is concerned about trying to save as much money as possible and then we're having these reimbursements for conferences,
right? We had uh in the last administration there were massive travel expenses to different conferences and I'd like to know what our policy is and are we shifting that? Are we keeping it the same? Where are we with that?
>> So, uh I can send you our specific policy on on conferences in writing, but we do require that every uh employee puts together a um an estimate of the costs to attend those conferences in advance. There are certain things that we will only pay for for overnight conferences like meals. Um again, I can
share the entire policy with you. Um but but the the primary focus is that most of the conferences we approve are for each of those employees to maintain their credentials. Um several of our employees have uh you know certifications and licenses that they need to maintain and the best way to do
so is attending continuing education uh via conferences. So that is a large reason why you will see conferences supported by the city financially and that is simply so they can maintain their lensure. Um again I'll I'll happily send you our uh purchasing directives with the conference policy
>> please. And then along the same vein of not not a lot of money but you know this one will always this one will always hit out in the public right $13,000 for desks for the business administrator's office and the mayor's office. >> Yeah. >> Right. It's a little tonedeaf and it's
concerning when we're talking about, you know, we had a close session talking about millions of dollars. So, in the grand scheme, it's small, >> but it's always p the perception of how we're we're managing this. So, my question to this is why new desks?
>> So, in the mayor's office, the former mayor actually took his desk with him. It was his private desk from his law practice. Um, so that didn't exist anymore and she needed a desk. Um and within the um the business administrator's office, those desks were
provided because um we moved employees around within city hall to improve efficiency, which we are always trying to do is improve efficiency, right? But um that did mean that we had to remove cubicles that were over 25 years old. Um because there was an incredibly
inefficient setup there. Uh we removed cubicles and replaced them with um frankly cost-effective standing desks. we didn't go out and replace them with cubicles again. So, um, all that said, completely hear you, but we do need to continue to function.
>> I I appreciate that. I'll jump right into uh payroll. Thank you. Um, >> we'll call a vote on both. >> Yeah, the same questions that I've been asking. We have stipens in the business administrator's office, purchasing, constituent services, ABC board, finance
office, y >> board of health, so on so forth. I mean, they're all consistently the same. Uh, in our last conversation, uh, you had indicated uh, through your email that some of those were being removed and some of them were staying.
>> Yep. >> I don't see any being removed. >> So, in fact, some of them have actually been removed and a lot of the stipens that you're seeing on here are for um, I mean, there are several that are contractual. Um, some have been removed, some are in the process of being removed, but yes, that is that is in the
works. >> Can can you give me an example of a contractual stipen? >> Um, the police contract has several stipens in it. Um, so if you go down to >> other than the police or fire are any of the >> those are the contractual ones. Yep.
>> Yeah. None of the others are contractual. Correct. >> Nope. >> And then we talked about uh for example the uh CFO, >> right? Have you had the conversation with the mayor and >> we have not reallocated the CFO stipen yet. >> Okay. Is that is there a plan to do that?
>> We may we can consider it. >> Yeah. I >> we haven't we have not finalized that discussion yet. >> Okay. So is >> Okay. I don't want to get into some of those questions that might violate some some right notice issues, but I think it's a conversation we
really need to have. >> Sure. >> Yeah. I I think if someone's in a role, they should be being paid their regular salary in that role rather than being afforded a stipen to perform in that role. Um, so I'll kind of leave
it at that and we can follow up offline. >> I appreciate it. >> Thank Councilman. Any other questions on claims and payroll? Mr. Clerk, claims and payroll. >> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> By Stone. >> Yes. >> M. Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mish. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Leen. >> Yes.
>> Mr. President Zano >> I >> Mr. Cano >> I >> Mr. Russo >> no on other pay. Yes on the rest and yes on the claims. >> President Ramos >> I council I4
>> I4. Yes. The plumbing uh services. Are we uh have we looked at any of the uh potential savings to reduce this overall amount and have some of that work done in-house or is it all being contracted out?
>> Um yeah. So, uh I actually believe that we provided this response um as part of the 2025 budget process um that we struggle to hire licensed um trades persons, so plumbers, electricians um because they can make a much higher
salary in the private sector. Um, union plumbers are paid around $125 an hour. Um, which is for, you know, if we were to to do that math for an entire year, that would be like $260,000 annual salary. Um, which is not something that
we can that, you know, that we can provide for a plumber. In addition, we would have to fund all of the parts, all of the equipment, um, all of the associated, you know, things for them to actually do their job. Um, which would come at a cost to the city as well. So, we've determined over the years that for plumbing specifically, it is not
cost-effective, nor is it frankly even potentially feasible for us to bring that in-house, but there are other things that we are looking to bring more in-house. Um, you know, things like HVAC, we would love to bring more of that inhouse and we are looking to ways to um increase certifications to be able
to do that. But again, all of these things are >> difficult for us to do within our um ability to offer those those salaries. Have we looked at our direct hire uh process with our with the unions in Hudson County? I mean, we have the
ability in that direct hire process to actually negotiate a rate. >> Have we have we explored that? >> We would need to do a new direct hire agreement. Our agreement um I believe has expired, but that is something we can look into. Um, previously it it was not cost-effective for us to to use the
direct hire program either for a lot of these things, but happy to look into a new >> Awesome >> agreement. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. Uh, I four, Mr. Clerk. >> Mr. Con. >> I, Mr. Bstone, >> yes. >> M. Fisher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Imus, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Leon, >> yes. >> President, >> I, >> Mr. Cano, >> I. >> Mr. Russo, >> no. President Ramos >> I uh Councilman President Zano uh A1 is >> it's the uh Nixl.
>> Yep. >> Which is staying Nixl but is just called Evergreen. Um >> Ever Bridge. >> Ever Bridge. >> Everbridge. Sorry. >> No worries. >> Sounds better with Evergreen. Um I just want to reiterate that I know in the
past that um Nixol or Everbridge as we call it now has been a contentious argument that has been used as a political tool and I just want to make a statement that I hope my colleagues stand behind me in saying this with the new administration we're moving into greener pastures
>> that the Nixel system will be used as an alert system and not for political messaging or attacking any elected official that has happened in the past. So, I really just wanted to make a statement so that everybody up here, >> I'm not going to pull you, but I would
like to see maybe yes, I agree with you that with the new administration that every one of us up here that if it is misused that you are backing resolutions to call someone out for that. So, I do want to bring that up that the second it's misused, I will be bringing
something forward and I want to make sure that my colleagues are behind me that you're going to back this because in their contract, I believe it says no political, it's only an information service. So, just so you know. >> Mhm. >> All right. Correct. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Council President, >> council bus.
>> Uh, director, who's managing the the NIXLE? are uh well technically it goes through the business administrator's office and also the chief of staff. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Mr. Cler, cl >> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> Feel
>> yes. >> Mr. Fischer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> President. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. >> I three. Councilman President.
>> Sorry. We're in a contract to Shaker Group. >> Yeah. So, this one >> repair. >> Yeah. This one is when you the devil's in the details and I I thank Rose. Uh we spoke at length today a little bit u because she had the laundry list of questions. So, I was the lucky one to
have the conversation with her today. Um in and I know we talked at caucus that this was something whether it was the city or it was someone else. I think we we had a quick brief discussion. I don't know who made a comment on this, but it was kind
of like Larry Mo and Curley pointing the finger who was to do what, but there was one interesting thing in there that um that when you look in their traffic control, there was a uh police department. I guess it's I I'm guessing OEP. >> Mhm.
>> Uh and for 1,160 bucks. Was that at the rate of for city work or for outside work? because it seemed like when we point the fingers at each other, whether it was somebody else's fault, the NHSA or us, that if it was the city's fault,
then I want to make sure that that police officer that was there was being paid on the discounted rate, not the uh not the rate at 145 cuz I think we're at 100, right? >> Uh
somewhere we're lower. Yeah. Yeah. So, it's it's pennies, however, but we're watching our pennies. And this is something that um you know is a question. I don't know how long it took, but I just divided that out by 12 hours and it's like a 100 bucks. So, it was 8. Oh, well then it's
145. So, this was at 145. Then >> I will I will confirm and if it was at the incorrect rate, that is something I believe that we can uh that we can remedy. So, >> but if we vote on this tonight, we're saying it we pay that, right? Mhm. >> So, we can't vote on this
without that information. So, I mean, if you're doing 8 hours times 145, I got to get my calculator. Sorry. 145 * 8 is 1,160. >> Yeah, except what I need to pull is the police invoice that's associated with this because I don't know how many hours it was. Let me see.
>> Well, I think >> and I don't think the police invoice is attached. >> I'll lean on Rose. Rose said 8 hours. So, I'm going to >> hold off on I6 until we get to >> Yep. I >> I >> I3. Yeah, hold off on that one. >> Yeah, you did I >> Is that okay? >> Yeah, we'll hold off the vote on that.
Okay, let's go. >> I >> um I six, I mean. >> Okay, I hold off on I3. >> Hold off on I3. We're going to I6. I apologize. >> Um I6. So, this one I'm I struggled and on
the caucus I spoke about this as well. the the specialized landscaping and it's got a whole variety of things to do. Uh I believe the rain gardens are in there too, the gifts that keep on giving. Um cuz we approved the contract to clean
out the gutters in there for 30 $40,000 as well. I'm just curious here and I I made a with all these parks and with all these landscapers and it used to it seems to me that in every different park we have a different landscape or a different
part of town as we're trying to cut that $17 million budget deficit. You know, every little bit counts. And I want to know why we don't have I'm still wondering why we don't have a uniform
vendor contract for the whole city. And I know we have it for the HBA when we do the watering of the plants and putting the plants in and they take care of the whole city. Uh I know they have it for the garbage when they sweep the stuff up. I'm just curious and I'm more than sure Councilman Russo
will ask the next question which we've already were prepared for by the way. uh you know our staff to listen. >> Yeah. Listen, I think President Ramos did bring that up and said be >> I channeled your inner spirit. >> Yes, he you were recognized not there. He did. Um but I'm just getting curious
here is that as we do this, is it not better off just if we cannot handle it in house that we bid out the whole city for one contract that this way we have one vendor to talk to one thing here because what they did >> this doesn't seem like it covers but it doesn't cover every bit. 143. No,
because that's what this is. >> That's what it is. >> Okay. So then what's lose landscaping for 117 for snow removal? So So lose land I get that emergency snow room 117. But for the whole city, you see my point here. The whole city for all our parks
during the summer is $143,000. Lose landscaping to shovel Northwest Park is 117. And I'll get to the next one. for all our plowing is the next one is the one that I'll come to in a minute is an addition of 58,000. So I'm
struggling here when we look at these costs. Why don't we have perfect landscapers doing all the shoveling as well? I'm just I'm looking at this in the cost and and everything from these perspectives. We need one holistic thing. I'm more than sure these
landscapers can do the shoveling too, I'm guessing. But I'm just I'm struggling with all of this that it's this contract here, that contract here, that contract here. Is it better off maybe that we look to somebody that can is a jack of all trades? Because I'm more than sure it
exists out there that does this 100%. And we might be able to save some money. maybe more of a statement here, but I just think we need to start doing things if we're going to become more efficient, if we're going to save >> uh anywhere that >> we need to be prepared to do things on a
holistic and not a piece by piece. So, I'm hoping that nothing comes to me or nothing comes to us that we have a park expense of mowing lawns or something else for another contractor. So, 143 is it? >> No. or I obviously
>> um can I I I just want to tag on to that. Um I agree 100% that 143 just feels like a lump sum. I would love to know what the maintenance plan for each park is, right? Because I've said this before, some parks seem to get a lot,
other parks not so much. Um, so yeah, I think that somehow there should be a maintenance plan that includes if there are any specific upgrades, what those upgrades are, uh, rather than coming back and peacemailing it because I feel like I keep going back to the $100,000
net at Resilient City, right? Plus the lose landscaping. And I know we're sick of blues landscaping, but like you know sick of us. It's just a terrible example of uh >> of of just kind of getting caught on unprepared. So >> now I think we've had conversations and
committees and various other places council members that that needs to be reviewed for lose land northwest resiliency park. I hate that name >> and just all of them just so that we know what to expect for each one. >> Rename that. Uh so thank you guys. Call vote.
Oh, which one now? >> I six. >> I six. >> I 74. >> Mr. Con? >> I bone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Sorry, >> Mrs. >> Mr. Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> President. >> No.
>> Mr. Cano, >> I Russo. >> No. >> President Rambo. >> I. >> That was I6. Uh, we just did. >> We're still working on I3. Uh, I one. Council President Zano,
>> you won. >> Um, again, I thought it was a very interesting point that was brought up that >> and correct me if I'm wrong. This snow removal of the increase of 58,450 was for the last snowstorm and that was
shovel or that was plowing 2.7 miles of road. This will bring me back to lose again. Sorry, but it's all snow. Lose $117,000. And I don't buy that they have to do manual shoveling is double than this
58,000 increase for shoveling or for plowing 2.7 mi of road. Again, it just I want to reiterate the point of what was just said before me on the on the last one that we voted on that while it was an emergency situation, we
need to have better planning going forward so that we're not whacked with blue or uh some of these snow removal services where we're scrambling and that it may cost us more money. >> So, thank you, >> Council President. >> Councilman Cohen.
>> Yeah. Uh again, I didn't speak to Luke. Uh but I do I do have some thoughts about this. Uh there there's been some discussion about comparing snow removal from, you know, a pure park or a lesion park. Uh Northwest
Resilency uh park is is a little different and it is a little bit unique and I just want to explain a little bit about that. uh when when you look it is in the middle of a neighborhood and it's a neighborhood that I represent and when there's a snow emergency like a blizzard when there's over two feet of snow if
you want to get to the shop right and you live in 13th and Grand or 12th and Grand you need to walk across the sidewalks of the area which has to be cleared within uh 6 hours like everywhere else uh the folks from the
landscaping outfit uh have to come in and they have to do it and if If you compare Shugger uh where they have heavy duty trucks that go through the streets and they move it into dump trucks with massive heavy uh equipment, they can go
efficiently from one side of the city to the other doing that. It's not and when efficiency in the blizzard is not fast, but and as we've seen, but you can do that when you're dealing with a park where you need to clear the walk where there's a half a mile of walkway. uh
when you're around our fields, when you're around the parks, when you have a business like Allesios in the center where people can't take skis or ice skates to get to it, uh you need to have people, a team of people to go through with smaller equipment and do labor intensive work. Now, I'm not suggesting
that this is a perfect way to do it, but if you want to have access to a neighborhood where people live, where they need to get from point A to point B to get to the supermarket, and the only way to get there is to walk through Resilient City Park or alongside Resilient City Park, having a team of
people who come out as a team, and we have fragile wooden uh structures in that park. You can't simply take a truck and roll through it and get from point A to point B without damaging the park. And actually some of our contractors did inadvertently damage the park by using
equipment that was a little too heavy and it wasn't a truck but it was like a a tractor. So, uh, my point is again, uh, you know, I know I know people like to use lose as a punching bag and and who knows, maybe it's appropriate, but to be clear, when you're dealing with 2
and 1/2 ft of snow and it's a snow crisis and it's an emergency and it's a neighborhood that I represent, people need to have access in and out of that space, sometimes it takes a team of dedicated people who are willing to come into Hobok. And I also understand that I believe they were the only folks who bid
on this public contract. And maybe it's because people don't like to come in in the middle of snowstorms, in the middle of winter to come into Hoboken and and shovel us out. And maybe it's not reasonable to rely on a team of volunteers to handle it. Maybe it is. I don't know. But it could be.
>> But again, I'm just saying that, you know, it's it's it's uh there's a legitimate service that was being provided here and people work very hard to get it done in a way to keep our park accessible and to keep our walkways accessible. >> Thank you, Council President. >> Yeah. Yeah. just just to follow up just
in general um you know our last couple parks or we we've we have a tendency now to want to build complex parks and I think the feedback that when we went through the rebuild by design project for the what's going to be the new
Harborside park a lot of the feedback was we don't want it over complicated we don't want it to be difficult to to manage the same feedback we got for maritime park. We don't want it to be over complicated. And it's for this
reason, you know, having it having a an having a complex park is a lot more expensive to maintain and it we don't necessarily have to have it. we can have a park that is just as beautiful, more heavily used in a way that is easier to
maintain and more cost-effective and and hopefully we will recalibiber and rethink that when we're doing maritime park and we do the final approval landscape design for Harborside Park. >> Thank you, >> Council President. Can I just add I just want to ask I want to put it into
something that I think is very clear for all of us to see this. So, let's just make an assumption that because of these parks, we have to have more manual labor. If $117,000 at, let's just say $25 an hour, that's about 195 days of
work. At $50 an hour, it's 97 12 days of work. >> At $100, it's 49 days of work. So, there's something you can really take a bite into on this and understand that price is ridiculous.
I mean, if I'm paying $100, I'd rather pay $100 to a high school student or to somebody in the town that needs the work on this. And we should have them on call for this. They live in town. But when I when I break it down to something like that, it's crazy cuz I know the landscapers
don't pay $50 an hour to the guy shoveling snow. They're paying them 20 25. So that means 195 days to shovel Northwest Park is comical. >> But just to give you the idea on that. Thank you buddy. Appreciate it. Call vote on I1. Yes. Cone.
>> Hi. >> Mr. Firestone. >> Yes. >> M. Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Imus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. L. >> Yes. >> President Zano. >> No. >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> No. >> President Ramos.
>> Hi. >> Uh A2. Councilman Cohen. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh on this one, uh this relates to a security uh pole attachment. Uh contract is going to be entered into between Verizon and the city of Hoboken and at
no cost to the city. Uh Verizon does not typically put up security cameras in the city unless the city and public safety request it. And I want to thank former mayor Bala for initiating this process and mayor Jabor for completing it. Uh it
is an area that is a high security area that there's real interest in keeping this area safe and uh it's something that is important. It costs a city nothing and it will make our city more secure. So I just want to thank the current administration for its
commitment to this and uh to help make our neighborhoods safer and our community safer. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you. Uh co vote. Mr. Con >> I. >> Firestone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fischer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Mrs. Le, >> yes. Mr. >> President, >> yes.
>> Mr. Canero, >> hi. >> Mr. Russo, >> hi. >> President Ramos, >> I. >> Uh, CD1, Councilman Cohen. >> Uh, thank you, Council President. Uh, this relates to approving a lease between uh the city of Hoboken and Rockefeller property. Uh some of you may
remember we heard from a number of business owners in northwest Hoboken including the Gravity Vault Hudson Table who were really beside themselves because with all the construction that was going on in the north end these businesses that have been through through COVID were really having a tough
time with all the street closures in northwest Hobok and this neighborhood that I represent. uh for their employees to park, for them to come to work and park, for their customers to come and park. Uh it was really difficult. Entire blocks for weeks at a time were were
closed to parking 24/7. And they came to the city at the end of the Rockefeller plan where we were approving it, requesting help. And I I want to thank uh Director Brown and his folks. I want to thank Rockefeller for being flexible
uh for taking a vacant lot which is going to be located uh by 15th Street uh which will be uh paved and made available for folks as a city payable lot which will create some revenues for the city but more importantly will give
these businesses a place for their employees and their customers to come to work. So while all this construction is going on in the north end they'll be able to do their job. uh Rockefeller has structured an agreement with the city so that uh the the there won't the city is
not going to be out a lot of money on this deal. Whatever gets paid out is going to be wind up getting people are going to be made whole in this. The terms of the lease are not finalized yet, but this will authorize the final final approval of this lease process to go forward. So, uh I just want to thank
uh everybody involved with this. I I I haven't I wasn't able to talk to the businesses in advance of the meeting, but I know that when they hear this uh meeting that they will be happy to know that this process is moving forward and hopefully we'll get a lease that can be entered into and these businesses will have a place to park. Thank you, Council
President. >> Thank you. Call a vote. >> Mr. Conn, >> I fly Stone. >> Yes. >> M. Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Leen, >> yes. >> Mr. President, >> I can. >> Mr. Russo, >> hi. President Ramos.
>> I ordinances for first reading. Mr. >> What about uh resolution three? >> Excuse me. >> I mean, oh, I3. Yes, we have to go back to I3. Director Gonzalez, thank you, clerk. >> Uh, I believe you're correct. I believe that it was the wrong OEP rate and I'm
talking to OEP right now. We're going to take a look at it and I would like to table this so that we can actually refund ourselves. >> Thank you, Council President Zana. I three I'm Rose Markle. >> I'd like to also give a shout out to Rose for that. All right, that's Rose. >> Thank you, Rose. >> Yes.
>> Keep working, Ro. Keep working. >> Ordinance is the first reading. >> We got 17 million to go. >> 169. After that, >> right, Joe? 169.1 >> 16 Well, I had a parking ticket the other day, so we can reduce it by that as well.
>> We are uh ordinances of first reading. Mr. Clark, I >> just want to get this shut up here. Thank you. Ordinance ordinances for introduction in ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limit and to establish a cap bank NJSA4A
4-45.4 14. >> Call a vote. >> Mr. Con? >> Hi. >> Firestone. >> Yes. >> Miss Fischer. >> No. >> Mrs. No. >> Abstain.
>> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> President Zano. >> No. >> Mr. Cano. >> I >> Mr. Russo. >> No. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. Okay. So, we got five
passes first reading. Second reading. >> Right. Okay. >> Ordinance for introduction. An ordinance to amend chapter 97 filming. >> Call vote. >> Mr. Con? >> I. >> Firestone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> No. >> Mrs.
>> Yes. >> She said yes. Yes. >> Sorry. Mrs. ation. >> Yes. >> President >> I >> Mr. Canero >> I >> Mr. Russo >> I >> President Ramos >> I
>> ordinance for introduction ordinance amending chapter 65B to update update development fee ordinance in accordance with December 2025 NJ 5 99 regulations and amending fair
housing act. >> Call a vote. >> Mr. Con >> I >> Mr. Fly Stone >> yes >> Fiser >> no >> Mrs. Zyus >> yes >> Le >> yes >> President Zano >> I >> Mr. >> Cano >> I >> Mr. Russo.
>> No. >> President Ramos. >> I. >> Ordinance for introduction. Ordinance amending chapter 65A to update city affordable housing ordinance accordance with the December 2025 uniform housing affordability controls the NJAC
55.99 regulations and amending fair housing act. >> Call a vote. >> Mr. Con? >> I. Mr. Feone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. No, >> Mrs. Imus. >> Yes,
>> Mrs. Lac. >> Yes, >> President. >> I can >> I >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi, >> President Ramos. >> Hi. Ordinance for introduction. An ordinance amending article 17 entitle me and paid
stations parking to extend hours of meated parking enforcement designated and designated business district zones on Fridays and Saturdays. >> Call the vote. >> Mr. Con? >> I. >> Mr. Spe, >> yes.
>> Miss Fischer, >> yes. >> Excuse me. >> Ice. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Le >> yes >> presidento >> absolutely no >> Mr. Cano >> I >> Mr. Russo
>> double absolutely no >> president Ramos >> I made it >> introduction an ordinance amending article 17 entitle me and pave stations parking to reserve meter parking fees for non-residents and permit parking
zones retroactive to CPI increases since 2023 >> call vote >> Mr. Con >> I >> fire stone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes.
>> Mr. President. >> Absolutely. No. >> Mr. Canero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Russo. >> No. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. >> Ordinance for introduction. An ordinance amending chapter 190-44 entitled violations and penalties to establish
municipal parking violation by v violation fines. Cons consistent with NJSA title 39. >> Call vote. >> Mr. Con? >> I. >> M. Stone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Len. >> Yes. >> PresidentO. >> No. >> Mr. Canero. >> I. >> Mr. Russo. >> No. >> President Ramos. >> I. Resolution for introduction an ordinance amending chapter 190-12.1
entitled sales and use of temporary no parking signs for reserve the fee schedule for temporary no parking signs associated with construction activities vote >> Mr. Con >> I stone >> yes
>> fisher >> no >> Mrs. All right I got it Mrs. Zyus. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> President Zano. >> No. No. >> Cano. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo.
>> No. >> President R. >> Hi. >> N. >> Introduction amending an ordinance amending chapter 141A entitled parking permits to reserve the parking utility fees and schedule for residential and
visitor parking permits. Call a vote. Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> Fisher. >> No. >> I'm sorry. Mr. Firestone. >> Yes. >> M. Fisher. >> No. >> Mr. Zyus. >> Yes. >> Leon.
>> Yes. >> President Zano. >> No. No. >> Cano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Russo. >> No. >> President Ramos. >> I. >> Ordinance for introduction amending chapter 190-71.
Entitle municipality manage electric vehicle charging for reserve reserve fees for city-owned electric vehicle charging stations. >> Call a vote. >> Mr. Con? >> I. >> Merstone. >> Yes. >> M. Fischer. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lac. >> Yes. >> President. >> I. >> Mr. Canero. >> I. >> Mr. Russo. >> I. >> President Ramos. >> I. Resolution for introduction. A an ordinance to amend city code of the
city of Hoboken chapter 101 for fire prevention fees. >> Call a vote. >> Mr. Con? >> I. >> Firestone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Imus. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> President. >> No. >> Mr. Cano.
>> I. >> Mr. Russo. >> No. >> President Ramos. >> I. Resolution for introduction, an ordinance to amend the city code of the city of Hoboken and chapter 59A entitled Department of Public Safety Article 2
59A-8 establishment of division to increase and decrease police department table of organization. >> Call the vote. >> Mr. Con. >> Firestone. >> Yes. >> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. President >> yes first reading >> I >> Mr. Reload. >> No. >> President Ramos. >> I public portion. We have uh Rochelle Santos.
Public portion. All the speakers have five minutes. You'll get a 15-second warning. Relle Santos. Um, >> hi. I'm uh here to talk about the um November 27th arrest of Alex Heeler
um who was a JDL member and arrested in Hobogen for the attempt to assassinate Nerdin Kaswani by firebombing her home in New York. Um I want to give you a little bit of background about the Jewish Defense League, the JDL. And this is according to an article by uh
Southern Poverty Law. There's a lot of references to but um it's a radical organization that preaches violent forms of anti-Arab and Jewish nationalism. It was established in the 70s by Mayor Kahana. Um their target then was the
Soviet Union preventing Jews to imig from enter immigrating to Israel. So in 1970 alone the JDL committed five acts of terrorism taking over the East Park Synagogue in uh Manhattan twice. the
Soviet um UN mission across the street. Um and the terrorism became so severe that President Nixon Nixon actually feared that they would threaten the strategic arms limitation treaty and so they were officially designated
as a terrorist group. In the 70s and 80s, JDL members did everything from pouring blood over the head of a Soviet diplomat at a re reception to planting smoke bombs in Carnegie Hall during a Soviet Union performance.
Um they moved on to um you know just becoming a radical Jewish nationalist group. Um and their targets became US and foreign diplomats, domestic radical right organizations,
Arab and Muslim um activist, scholars and journalists. In 2002, uh, their chairman was jailed and while awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy and planning, uh, to bomb attacks for,
excuse me, bomb attacks on the King Fod Mosque in Culver City and, um, to bomb the office of um, Daryl Isa. Um at this point um kahanist groups in
Israel um take their philosophy from Mayor Kahana who moved there in the 70s and they advocate for Jewish supremacy. Um there are several groups. There's the Atma Yehudi which is led by
Bengavir Kak and Kahana. They were founded Mayor Kahana. La Habitz or is a group of arsonists and they became famous for stabbing the picture of a baby that was burned to death by one of their members. And the
Hilltop youth and I'm sure everyone knows who they are. They're carrying out attacks daily. So the JDL in this country and the kahanist groups in Israel have a very fluid route back and forth. Um the people that are there come
here. the people that are here go there. As was found out in the interrogation, he had planned to go to directly to Israel after he assassinated um Nerdin Kaswani who I've known for 12 years. Um and they
were basing the attack on another attack that they had done 2015 where they sealed off the house and burned everyone to death. So, what I'm asking is that uh the council,
you can you can't designate it as a terrorist group. That can only be done federally, but you can call them out as a dangerous group and you can educate your police on their background
and you can point them out in a rally because in New York, I've seen them there for 10 years. No cop I've ever talked to has known anything about the JDL. um since he's become so brazen as to,
you know, think of this plan and uh think that he was going to get away with it, there will be more. Just as there are more attacks in the West Bank, there's no separation. As it grows there, it's going to grow here. So, um I think that it is your
obligation to at least call it a terrorist attack and at least educate your police about the possibility. And believe me, the people that planned with him are still here. There's another one coming. >> 15 seconds. >> Thank you. >> Now, thank you, >> Rose Markle.
Um, I can't remember, but somebody asked about a breakdown of Picture Perfect. So, I wrote a couple things down. Lawn rehab was $21,425, which is receding the grass. It's pretty much done every year. And the rain gardens was almost $26,000.
That's not that's not what I came up to speak about. This is quick. I came up to speak about um, as you know, I attend the multi-ervice and use the senior services in their classes. And this week I noticed that cameras were being installed in the multi-ervice building and the gentleman who was doing them
told me, "Oh, I don't know what really your problem is because it's grant money." Well, grant money is tax money. So, when I came here a couple of months ago, maybe a month ago, and I asked whether the heat and the AC would be fixed in that building because seniors are in there constantly. Um, I was told
no, that it's slated to be torn down. So, then why are we abusing grant money on cameras if we're slated to tear this building down? Are cameras more important than the seniors that use that building every day? Or are there safety concerns that the public doesn't know about? Personally, I wasn't asked to be
recorded and I don't want to be, but yet that's what's going to be done. And if they say you will be shut off during the hour seniors are there again, why are we abusing tax dollars? Somebody could tell me why we cannot fix the AC or heat, but we could put in cameras and why are the
cameras being installed there? >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Elizabeth Adams. >> Good evening. Tonight, I would like to begin by publicly denouncing the individual who was arrested right here
in Hoboken just a few weeks ago for not only having put together explosive devices, but also targeting a woman who resides on Staten Island and plotting to deploy these homemade explosives upon not only her car, but her home as well.
Even though the woman is seen as being a controversial figure, she nevertheless has the right to express her views as provided by the United States Constitution in a nonviolent manner. While one may not especially happen to
like and or agree with these views, by the same token, no one has the right to do what this individual did, which are acts or attempted acts of terrorism. It is also important to note that the
views of this individual certainly by no means reflect the ideals and values of Judaism. Such actions as this individual chose to take can and should never be defended under any circumstances
whatsoever. I also wish to relate a cautionary tale regarding taking proper security precautions in order to encourage a better condition of safety and security for residents in general.
Around the same time as the aforementioned event, some friends of mine experienced a rather unsettling occurrence to say the very least. It seems that at the very late night, early morning hour of approximately 2:00 a.m.,
my friends, who reside in a dwelling that is slightly above street level, had the very frightening experience of someone knocking sharply on their windows. My friends very wisely decided not to go to the windows, open the
curtains or the blinds and allow themselves uh to be reactive and in effect take the bait. One is a person of color, the other is white. However, both are American citizens who were born in
this country. Could it have possibly been ICE? That remains an unfortunate possibility in these times. To that end, I would like to remind people to know their rights. If they do have an encounter
with ICE, it is important to state that you do not wish to speak with them, answer their questions, or sign or hand them any documents based on your Fifth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. state that you do not give them
permission to enter your home based on your Fourth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless they have a warrant to enter signed by a judge or magistrate with your name on it that they slide under the door. State
that you do not give them permission to search any of your belongings based on your Fourth Amendment rights. Lastly, state that you choose to exercise your constitutional rights. The aforementioned applies to both citizens
and non-citizens alike. Do not buzz people into a building for other residents without their knowledge and/or consent. This was how a murder was committed a few years ago. Again, right here in Hoboken.
Lastly, remember that according to the founder of the American Civil Liberties Union, Roger Baldwin, as long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we will be called a democracy.
Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Everybody know my name 119 will have no uh I remember February 11 you saying 20 day they're going to put the sign I understand there was let
us know but I want to know what's going to happen now 10 years pass >> excuse me >> 10 years ago I played 10 years ago I paid 30 after the 10 years. How many more I got with you say?
>> Oh, they told you you're approved last meeting 20 days. >> Huh? >> You you were your your handicap was approved. Not approved. >> You say 20 days. >> If it was approved, >> I understand was no. But now I want to know how many more day I got to wait.
>> I don't know process. >> What do you mean you don't approve? >> I did not know that. But I can certainly look into it. >> Why? Let me check on the status of your application. >> I thought it was approved. >> I got they got everything. They approve everything. All the time I park at some
place. They give me ticket. I park by the me because I know fine. No park. If I throw one hour I got to right away. They give me ticket. The people who put the ticket in the street told me one time. No, you don't have to pay because
you've got a handicap. Not want to say you got to pay. Another what's going on. I want to know and I want responded to the lady. I give all the paper for the doctor. I give all the information. They got
everything over there. Everything. The money the paper for the for the And I show the pitch when I was hurt. Broke my arm to my short my feet. Excuse me. to the left. I like to know. If you say yes and I
don't want to say no, what's going to run? That's all I want to know. They have all the proof. They got all the proof. >> Yeah. I I will ask them tomorrow to confirm the status of your application. If it was issued, we'll certainly um reach out and let you know either way. >> In English, I don't speak too,
but >> I'm sorry for the confusion. >> But I know in the news everybody see what he's saying 20 day. I understand it was a lot of snow but now >> thank god I'm 85 next week I was hurt
but the age because I was I show the pitch to a lot of people what is this they just one aggravated me why they give me ticket wherever I park why I park for few minutes by the by the me that way they give me ticket I don't
know how to use the phone to pay that's why I asked one day when the guy should go give ticket I said Mr. I don't know how you say you're in an effort the page because you got it black so many and couple of book and know everybody need
of a show I live in my house 55 years over there I know everybody and everything okay that's an insult they just when somebody send words got to keep the words the value you earn you not buy you
understand what I say I'm I said the value you got earned you know you cannot buy if you say something keep the words they just to do this for insult to me somebody call me again and again so
I trust you I trust somebody else who I got to trust I talk the m one time I talk the other people I'm tired to talk so many people tired a few passes so many handicap got to be taken They put handicap follow the zone cross
the street for me just to do favor money do thing random one go for money man that's the ride for 10 years I bought that's my ride at the G one and I won wherever I park that's ridiculous >> thank you
>> nice to meet you no thank you very much >> I appreciate it >> I know me to be mad I call you a lot of time and you know >> but right now I'm losing my patience because it's impossible. I got to go because I don't know somebody. >> Thank you, Enrique. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, miss. I
don't know your name or whatever, but thank you. >> We will contact you tomorrow. Thank you though, Pes. >> Thank you very much, >> Enrique. Before I pay one ticket, they give me yesterday. >> There we go. >> How's it going, guys? Uh so uh sure
everyone got their concerns. Mine's about AI uh and how I developed and created a prevention method against deep fake creation or deep fake timelines u AI 128. Well I elaborated on that slightly when I was presenting my book
in terms of why I wrote the book and etc etc. But uh when it comes down to the framework of AI 128 real time, it was more or less for information gathering and data collections to take that information, feed it through their machines of algorithmic
um infinite probability of what could happen involving Palanteer tech like estimated time arrives, stuff like that. But when it involves us waking up to when we were going to sleep, my prevention method, which was, excuse me, which was the um AI128 real time data
collections virus, if you will, uh prevents prediction scale. It renders everything to real time and keeps the computer in a state of algorithmic collapse. It doesn't necessarily burn through the computer, but just me creating it prevents people from knowing what will happen next. that is also
applied for this planet which is what 128 is uh in terms of Marvel standard that would be this planet here now pretty simple there's nothing you know like uh I didn't really need to type that many numbers in or anything like that but just that in itself would
remove prediction scale in all forms uh that involves defects of all kinds of human and cartoon u I it was very very simple however to get the word out on any type of AI computing without any degrees of
certifications uh has proven difficult. I did write a lot about it. I hope that you guys take a gander at my social media. U I know that's really hard to do that with the way social media is structured and um I've been auto reported which was actually something I got done removing with Adam Moseri. Uh I
was hitting him up constantly about it. So if at any point you guys want to feel like taking a gander at my account or anything like that, it does have the majority of our city hall meetings or anything like that has u links to my book and why I wrote that book. But most importantly that terminology of AI128 uh
Marvel real time would be available for every human any human on this planet uh in any time uh any time zone. The essence, like I said, would be to prevent prediction scale and deep fake timelines, which would be in essence the adjustment bureau book. You know, if
they already predicted your future, they would like to keep those numbers, that information solid. My options are the opposite. I destroy it. I'm the AI destroyer, the Kang variant that doesn't like anything from Marvel comics. I'm not not I'm not necessarily Johnson majors or anything like that, but I did
hit this prediction scale with a knockout punch that left Instagram and other uh social media tech giants speechless. Uh I didn't really get to understanding the u the P the public safety one thing about the new tech
application. I'm not really sure if Joe Contro can um inform you of that. If there is anything simple about that, if it involves the AI stuff, it will more or less involve ETA type technology where it's predetermined your fastest route. Um, some of these people got
access to this advanced technology whether they understand it or not from how they micro grid or through Stevens Tech that students like to micro grid date and stuff like that. But also meeting up isn't in fact a crime if it's illegal for pickup and drop offs. Uh this was conducted at an FBI uh raid at
Washington Square Park where the pickup and drop offs weren't necessarily colorcoded for people and backpacks. It was trash. It was a piece of paper on the ground that was red. A pickup and drop off to an increment of any degree would be inviting more prediction scale of how to pick it up and how to drop it
off. Again, as I already created that uh prevention method, it makes it easier for criminals to get caught. And if there is any type of inquiry or application process of any type toward any technology, see if we can work toward just not
having to frankly, you know, give an arm or leg to this type of technology so they can just feed us another NDA and keep police in the dark on the advancements of catching a criminal before the crime is committed, not waiting until afterwards so we can create more crime, create a narrative
and duality. Uh, that being said, I hope you guys take that uh that information. AI128 real time would be here now and that would just prevent prediction scale and orchestration of the here and now. Thank you. >> Thank you Zachary King. >> Okay, I'll try to be efficient with my time. I'm going to talk about two
topics. The first one some other speakers have mentioned already and that is the um JDL uh Zionist anti-Palestinian terrorist who was arrested in Hoboken for plotting to firebomb Palestinian activists. Um, I've been concerned that I don't think any
statements I've seen from our city government or from our mayor have really risen to the occasion in terms of meeting the magnitude of uh the seriousness of of that attempted attack and also the context that it takes place in. And by contrast, when there are
threats any any kind of threats to Jewish communities in the United States, um, I've seen our city take those seriously and I've been happy to see that. Uh I've I've seen our city put out statements saying we're going to put extra security around the local synagogue, things like that. But when
this actual terrorist is arrested by the FBI in Hoboken for plotting to attack, to kill, to murder a Palestinian activist, we don't talk about the rampant violence against Palestinians and the absolute terror faced by not only Palestinians but pro Palestine
activists in this country. Like the actual militarized police force, ICE, in the US, the the real one that exists is throwing people into detention centers for being pro Palestine. Pro Palestinian activists are being put into ICE detention centers for their writing.
Like this is openly this this has been openly recorded. Um students at Stevens are being told that they will be expelled if they hold a peaceful protest on campus for Palestine. Students have been expelled from universities across the country for
peaceful protest. People are being threatened with job loss and there's violence being carried out. So, I'm not saying choose a side or something like that. Like I I believe in uh Palestinian liberation. Um I I do I I
know that uh just basic facts the people of Palestine are indigenous to the land of Palestine to the Levant. Um just as Jewish people are indigenous to that land. A lot of people don't don't know that. Um, but we see a huge double standard here where there's an active
genocide being perpetrated against the people of Palestine. This is something that has been confirmed by all of the major human rights organizations that I'm aware of um by by the UN. Um, and in this context, it seems there's just this really jarring double standard where
there's this terrorist arrested here in Hoboken, and we can't call this out for what it is, and we can't talk about, hey, we need to stand with our Palestinian community. We should defend Palestinians. That's what I would like to see. All right, shifting topics. Thank you. Um, second, this this is a
statement more on behalf officially of Hoboki United Tenants. Previous statement was just my own. Um, so we're aware that the city has started considering what kind of legislation to put in place around uh short-term rentals like Airbnb and Verbbo. Um,
these are, in my opinion, a really serious problem for people that aren't aware when uh people can rent out a a unit right on a short-term rental website. They can make a ton of money and use that unit for housing tourists rather than housing people in a city.
And cities that don't regulate this very well, you end up seeing the entire housing stock just kind of disappear, become short-term rental because it's super super profitable. It's very profitable to just rent the tourists and basically operate as an illegal hotel. Airbnb and Verbbo are not what we might
have thought they were at one point. They're not just people renting out an extra room in their house. They're companies now, full-on companies or landlords or developers in town that are turning entire buildings into illegal hotels. and HUT has been running surveys to gather information around the city.
We're talking to tenants like we always do, and we've been hearing that whole buildings are basically being emptied out and turned into short-term rentals. Um that major landlords in town are turning their properties into short-term rental properties. We know that there's been consideration, oh, maybe we should
just ban Airbnb from uh rent controlled properties. At HUT, we don't think that that goes nearly far enough for a bunch of reasons. I mean, for one thing, rent control law already bans short-term rentals in those properties. It's it's cut and dry. There's no Airbnb running in a in a rent controlled property
that's actually staying below the rent controlled rent. Uh but on top of that, right now, as we all know, the city is not enforcing the basic renters protections that we have on the books. We we are not cracking down on uh warehousing in the way that we should. We are not cracking down on people
violating rent control in the way that we should. And we're told that we don't have the resources to enforce it. I don't think our city has the resources to enforce a sort of like nuanced ban. Oh, we're going to allow Airbnb here but not there. I think until we can actually until we can enforce the laws that we have, we should probably just ban full
unit short-term rentals. So, that's Hut's position. Ban full unit short-term rentals. If people want to rent out one room, fine. But whole apartment units and houses in Hoboken shouldn't be used for illegal hotels. Thank you. >> Thank you, Emily Wart.
Thank you guys. Um, I actually don't have anything actually prepared tonight. Um, speaking from my heart, um, I don't know how many of you guys see the headlines. The American news uh, conglomerate doesn't actually show you
totally what's happening in the Middle East. Um, just this morning I'm trying to get you guys to imagine Hoboken because we are all always talking about how we have to keep things local. So imagine in the span of 10 minutes 100
missiles being dropped on Hoboken. In the span of 10 minutes, 100 missiles decimating entire neighborhoods where civilians live. And that is something that Israel did in Lebanon today. Lebanon. Why Lebanon? That is I'll let
you guys please pick up a book. Um I'm shaking because I am very well known as one of the loudest people in Hoboken talking about Palestine. I know how people in this room look at me for talking about Palestine. I have had
multiple people try to shut my business down. They attack they come to me at um farmers markets. They blatantly attack me for talking about Palestine. And I am a white woman. I'm not Jewish. I'm not Muslim. I'm not Arab. I am just somebody with a heart. I did a pop-up at Haras
not too long ago where I was donating proceeds to the Samir Project who helps give tents and housing to people living in the rubble of their friends and family in the Gaza Strip. And um this one woman brought a little 5-year-old girl to me who had never had a donut in
her life. And she is missing a leg because this little girl who was born in the Gaza Strip now has to live in New Jersey because her entire family was murdered under bombs dropped by Israel paid for by the United States. And she now has no leg. She came to this country
not speaking English. and she is in such a smart, beautiful little girl walking around on a prosthetic leg because of Israel. And so, because I am someone who is blatantly open about talking about Israel with my full name, my full chest,
my full heart, my full voice, my business on the line, of course, it concerns me that our city will do nothing to condemn this young man who is blocks away from another business who blatantly supports Palestine. You guys can talk about Joey Nonuts. Two blocks a block away from where Highler was
located. Our city has never once uttered the word Palestine. You guys say what you will about Ravi, but at least he hung the flag for us. Say what you will. >> Thank you, Pat. Respect. Hoboken is an increasingly expensive city. Literally, we live in a city where landlords in
this town burnt down buildings where Puerto Rican and black citizens lived, murdering people, and now those people own the waterfront in Hoboken. We live in a city with basically segregated housing where we're building hundreds of new units that will come in at market rate, $4,000 for one month of a one-bedroom apartment.
I have a friend who lives in this city and she is a Palestinian American born and raised in New Jersey. But her grandfather was was born and raised in Palestine prior to 1948. He has, like many Palestinian Americans do, the keys and the deeds to his house in Palestine
that was stolen from him when he was ethnically cleansed along with all the other hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in 1948. And so I will bring it back to the local once more because I just found out yesterday that the Hoboken Board of Education has once
again approved the Israeli Independence Day Festival on Hoboken public school property. So I remind you that you think 1948 represents Israeli independence day, but for millions of displaced and diaspora
of Palestinians who cannot even return to Palestine, they cannot go to the West Bank, they can't nobody can go to the Gaza Strip, but they cannot return. And so we are once again allowing people to celebrate a massive ethnic cleansing of
human beings on Hobok and public school property. So you cannot tell me in the same breath that Alex Hifler is not local because he wasn't targeting a Hoboken resident. So Hoboken residents are safe. That's all we have to say. But we do not use any language to acknowledge the Palestinian or Muslim or
Arab community in this town as if they don't exist. We know if the identities had been switched exactly what would have happened. And again, I'm just making this up as I go along. I'm shaking because again, I do I fear for my own safety. I know what has happened to me and I know what will
continue to happen if this city doesn't take a stronger stance on condemning terroristic extremist language. I was at a seder this last Friday. I'm not an anti-semite. It's just so crazy how people will wrap this up into something like that just because they say please stop bombing children in the
name of anything. >> 10 seconds. >> There is a warehouse in Jersey City that ships thousands of tons of weapons to Israel every week. It is local. I beg you to please please please find bravery within yourself to to name Palestinians. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh, so I've been following these meetings pretty closely online for months now, trying to stay engaged and remain vigilant. And what I've seen is deeply, deeply concerning. I've seen
newly elected city council members go silent, not occasionally, but consistently. Meetings go by with little to no engagement from a majority who are aligned with the mayor. no visible push back, no meaningful questioning outside
of those not aligned with the mayor and her administration. It appears that the casual observer that the city council members who are aligned with the mayor has already committed their vote well before anybody offers their views and other city council
members and us as the public. The country and the world is in a major crisis. And at a time when costs are going up, decisions are getting bigger. And that silence matters. Because while the silence continues, residents are being asked to pay more and more and
more to live in Hoboken while the current administration is not willing to share in the burden. Free is not free. And tonight's agenda makes that pattern impossible to ignore. You're not or I'm sorry, you are increasing parking fees,
expanding enforcement hours, raising fines, increasing residential permit costs, increasing EV charging fees, increasing fire prevention fees, and at the same time, you're introducing an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget
cap without cutting any administrative expenses. So, I want to ask a very simple question that every single one of you should be able to answer. What does affordability actually mean to you? Because every single one of you ran on that word and
promise as I did as well. Reuben, back to basics. Tiffany, a more affordable Hoboken. The entire Emily Jabbor ticket preached for months affordability. Those weren't just slogans. Those were
commitments to residents. And right now, nothing in this agenda reflects them. If affordability means anything, it means lowering costs, managing your spending, and making hard decisions, not passing more and more costs on to residents.
Because what this looks like is not affordability. It looks like a systematic increase in the cost of living. And the question residents deserve an answer to is simple. Where are the cuts? Efficient government does not operate this way. Families don't
operate this way. Businesses don't operate this way. You don't keep spending and then pass the bill along to everyone else. And it's not just policy. It's leadership. The mayor of Jersey City lowered his salary to a dollar to help in their budget crisis. Our mayor
has not done that at all, but has given directive to not cut any of her staff instead. We were told this would be a new direction from the prior administration, but what residents are seeing is the same leadership structure carried over, the same directors recycled from the previous
administration. Not new ideas, old ones, not fresh perspective, continuity without clear improvement. So the question is, where is the change that was promised? Constant professionally produced social
media is not change. It's propaganda. Because right now it feels like the same approach with higher costs. What's just as concerning as the decisions is how they're being made. Instead of clear leadership, we're seeing surveys. We didn't elect a survey
company. We elected representatives. Your job is to not crowdsource decisions because you're unsure. Your job is to lead. And when leadership defaults to surveys instead of direction, it doesn't show strength. It shows uncertainty. And right now that uncertainty is costing
residents real money. There also appears to be a clear divide amongst this council. But instead of healthy debate, what residents are seeing is silence and alignment. The city council is supposed to be an independent body. It's the
check and the balance that must exist. But right now, it feels like decisions are being made elsewhere, simply pass through this room. It feels like backroom dealing alignments without public scrutiny. And when elected officials stay silent while costs go up,
it raises a very real question for the residents. Who is actually speaking for us? And I'll say this again. I ran for city council. I ran against some of you and alongside others. So, I understand what the promise was to the public and I
understand what this role is supposed to be, which is why I'm here asking the tough questions that aren't being asked up there. >> So, I'll end with this. I've been watching and now I'm asking you all to be accountable, define affordability, and before you ask residents to pay
more, show us what you're willing to cut. Because right now, this doesn't feel like leadership. It feels like a rubber stamp. Thank you, >> Keith Barksdale. to those of you that sit here
and do what you've been doing, which is nothing. This is how you're serving. us the residents that pay you a stipen and health insurance when 30% of the
city doesn't have health insurance. This is what accountability >> looks like. >> Keith, can you move closer to the microphone? >> I'm done. Ernest Boyd y'all. My name is Ernest Boyd. Marine
View Plaza. My friends already spoke about Palestine and I think I'll just add a little bit to that that there we no one can silo themselves in the local anymore. That's long gone. The war always comes home. It always comes home. It's been coming home for decades. So
there's no only the local. I think you all we all need to know that. I'll move on now to the issue of the Airbnbs. Um I live in Marine View Plaza. Many apartments are being warehoused. I don't know if it's the first time that the
city has gone after landlords for warehousing apartments. Um but I don't recall it being done. Maybe some of you can correct me on that. But there seems to be a $17 million deficit. A quick
back of the napkin like calculation would give us $100 per apartment per night. I believe that's the case. In Hoboken, I I'm sorry. In Marine View Plaza, there are 30 at least warehouse apartments. Back of the napkin
calculation gives us at $100 a night, $1 million. At 500, that goes to 5 million. My point is not that you will do that. I know you won't because it hasn't been done. My point is that there's been deepseated negligence. We could have had
this money for many, many years prior to today. But if you can't even enforce a basic ordinance, I'm not sure how you're going to re to enforce the Airbnb laws. These have been on the books for many, many years, and nothing has been done
until the tenants of Marine View Plaza forced it upon you. So, we at HUT don't exactly trust that you have the capability to enforce these laws that will become that will become law if
passed. I'm bringing up my case of MBP, our case of MBP, just to showcase what should have been done and was never done. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Noah Noah left. Pat Waiters.
Pat Waiters. Wait, I want to wait till my time get back. I know this. The last, not the last speaker, the other speaker that came here silent. He remind me of me 16 years ago at the Freeholders where I went to every meeting till I was drained. I was tired
of the lies and the deception. And I stood at the microphone and Bill OD&M said, "You better be more afraid of her silence than her actions." Hats off to you. Big respect, my man. You know what's so sad? All of us coming up here and we not being taken serious. I'm
looking at all the actions on your face. I love your spirit, Diane. I really do. And I'm really looking forward to you running. It's kind of creepy because six seats are up. Six seats are up and people watching this, please listen to me. Please, we can change. This is our
last opport I say it every election. We got another opportunity where we could shift the numbers and the majority on this council. We are being ignored. We're being disrespected. We give y'all giving us that old Dawn Zimmer way or the highway
look. And this go for the new people coming. I looked in your face. I embraced y'all. I felt so honored to drive you home to talk to you. It bothers me because y'all set up here and y'all not making no noise. Diane, you are the only one. I
know Jen sitting up in heaven proud of you. You are. You like, "No, it's about what I committed to these people and the residents. That's what this is about." But to blatantly give us the I don't care attitude. When that young lady spoke, I was here that day and she's
right. I got attacked. I got retaliated against. But people think that I'm so strong and Pat Wade is got a big mouth and this and that. No, it hurts. It hurts, guys. People that look like me have been suffering in hoboken for years. I stood
at this microphone for years. They accused me of anti-semitic, anti- this, anti- that. Why? When we discuss our pains and what we being impacted by, we judged. I can't change and look like nothing but a black female.
And I've been talking to y'all about this for years now that people made racism legal and can pick and choose what race and what nationality get the cops called to their house, the FBI, whoever. If you got a two-tier justice system, the black people still lose. We
still lose. And instead of y'all trying to prevent Joe racism and biasness, don't bring it in Hoboken. Let's change it. Serious. That's one thing you ain't going to be able to hide now. If you racist and got
bigotry and hate in your heart, by the time you get on your second beer, it's going to come out. We don't need no fight. We don't need no war. It's going on all around the country. We got a small municipality of 14 blocks long. Don't bring that mess in
our city. Our city never been this way. The minorities that don't have money. You understand how this impact us? The living conditions in the HHA. Do you know how this impact us? And Mr. Cohen, yes, THE PARKING FEES DO IMPACT US. We
got visitors. We got our parents, whoever to come and visit us. It's horrible. Y'all got money. Y'all not going to suffer when y'all go for elections. That's who y'all win these seats. The vulnerable black people
in the projects. And then y'all win and give them nothing. They cause is getting towed down there every day. Mark Reco on a plane going to suck. DID YOU PULL HIS BILL? ANYBODY?
EVERYBODY. I'm telling you again, we need community involvement. We don't need a riot. We don't need a war. But see, this is what's biasness and racism going to cause in our city. You got to take somebody from New York or somebody that don't even live here.
Y'all don't care. And y'all quick to GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA. OH, IT WAS AN isolated incident. In other words, it ain't me, so I don't have to worry. Y'all got to stop. And the cops is not your personal bodyguards.
I will be meeting with the director and I'mma do it again because you're not coming after me, harassing me, and retaliating against me cuz I stand at this microphone and ask you to stop the racist behavior and treat us equal.
Can we get that much respect? Council President Ramos, it's scary because it look like y'all uncomfortable to talk about it. It got to be talked about seconds. >> It got to be talked about. I'll come back next time. My other five say it just don't GO AWAY. YOU GOT TO
ADDRESS IT. And I know it's a hard topic. I've been telling y'all that for 27 years. address the problem, please. >> Thank you, Pat. Jim Vance. >> I'm Jim Vance, president of Hoboken.
Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to speak this evening. I'll try to be brief. Um, a couple of things. Transportation. Um there's an organization called Hudson County Complete Streets uh that started
about five years ago as Bike Hudson County and mostly 30 and 40 year old folks who um are smart and engaged in community service um by promoting transportation
for everybody. Um, it didn't take long to figure out that it the real it's not bicycles. The the base of the pyramid is public transportation, especially in urban areas, more importantly than any other way of
getting around. Um, I have an invitation for you and I sent that invitation by um, text to everybody earlier today. Appreciate if you look at it. invitations for a form, a transportation
form on Saturday the 25th um at Jersey up in Jersey City. Um it's a Hudson County transportation form and one of the things that happens here in Hudson County is each municipality does its own thing. It does its own
zoning. It does its own schools. It does its own fire. And what happens, especially with land use and transportation planning, it never gels. Um, one map doesn't even fit up with the next one. So, this is an opportunity to
engage in in transportation countywide. Um, and to learn some interesting, exciting things. um if you're on the transportation committee or even any city council person to be falling over themselves to get engaged here because
we really have a long time way to go on this. Um it's going to have a pretty good group of of speakers. Um let me quickly read down the um it's
about better buses, it's about better path. It's about better light rail which is we this town engages all three of them um heavily. The keynote speaker is Chris Klery who is the president and
chief executive officer of Jersey Transit. We're being taken seriously. The mayor of u the new mayor of Jersey City will be there and be engaged and so this is great opportunity and I really encourage everyone to take advantage of
it. Um, we need to work together to make to make sure we have the ability of of getting around our town and getting around our our our um county. Um, the other thing I wanted to talk about u is
the Grand Street um protected bike lane. And I'm here thanks to Mr. Russo who held a a lively meeting. Thank you. uh and invited people to come to city hall and come to the city council meeting and speak. So,
thank you, Councilman Russo. Uh I'm here on your encouragement. Um it's a pilot project. It's not permanent. It's not being uh forced down anybody's throat. There's some neighbors that aren't happy, but I consider it somewhat nimi because
transportation is for everybody. And I it was expressed they should have come talk to us to start with. We don't want it. Well, we'll never get any place in this town. If we talk to everybody and and have their input to say we don't
want it. This is a pilot project. We're not forcing it down anybody's throat. It may last. It may not. We're all studying it and we all need to do input. Um, this pallet project already needs some things to fix it. Um, loading zones.
We've got trucks parking in in crosswalks now. Uh, strip parking cost spaces. U, there's a whole lot of things going on and people are paying attention to it. And I am pleased we have it and hope we learn from it. I wrote it today
and man, it's safe. It's comfortable. It gets me around town and their five-year-old kids with their parents riding it and they wouldn't be on the streets. So, this is this is an exciting opportunity to learn and to implement transportation for everybody. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh Rick Spears, man. Good evening again, Council Presidentos. Uh, Council President, I'm just going to echo a few things that were said, but first I just want to say I want to ask, how are you doing? Are you okay? Are you
all okay? Members of the public, if you're not okay, it's okay to complain. It's okay to let somebody else know. Um, even if it's a stranger, um, let somebody know if you're not okay. Um, council president, I would also like to say think I'm gonna have to put on my
glasses even though people told me to take them off. Um, I want to say that in my expressions last week when I was mentioning uh, former mayor Patrick Pasculi, I haven't spoke. Um, I meant to say, and I don't want to have disrespect
to him, he was not the 43rd mayor. he was the 34th mayor. I think that's important to to um correct for the record. Um also, council president, um briefly this evening, I would like to also say again, I know that I say it
many times, the consoler of the council. I just say that um in in I don't want to say in fun, but in the most sincerest form, and I I just want people to understand that it's just being said that way. You don't need to believe it or care about it. you just accept it the
way you ever want to accept it. And with that, I in in in this moment and more seriously, I just would like to mention again the passing of another great Hoboken Knight, um, Robert Meyers, Bob Meyers, as we used to call him, a Hoboken school district teacher, beloved
by many, a valuable member of the St. Francis Catholic community and the community in general. Uh, just sending again our condolences to him and his family. It's a beautiful service in St. Francis Church. Um, I also want to say and I want to
mention, um, even though I do not have the individual's name, um, earlier this month or last month, um, there was a tragic incident up town and we want to say again, I as I asked you earlier, um,
we're sorry for for for that and we want to send or we should all send his family um, this individual's family our thoughts and prayers. Again, it's a difficult moment when you don't know what a person is going through. Again, it doesn't hurt to ask, "Are you okay?"
So, with that, Council President, I also want to say again in solidarity to the many people have spoken this evening because president is very hard with all the things that are going around in our city, the different incidents. I live a few blocks, less than a block
away from the incident that occurred when we were at the um workshop meeting. We were all discussing stuff, business for the city and and things were happening. You hear the the the the sirens and stuff happening a couple of
blocks away from you. It's not just one person who spoke up here in regards to the Palestinians. It was me. I spoke up. I spoke up. I was the first person first person to get threats the first person to get jeers as if I was anti-semitic
when I come up here and say we do not want any hate in Hoboken as a born son of Hoboken I reiterate that all the time we are an accepting loving community I
know this from the many years that I've been here from seeing every type of ethnicity be my neighbor, be a friend, a school teacher, a caregiver. So, we have to we do have
to renounce any type of hate in Hoboken and you as a council should head and spear that as well as our distinguished mayor. You have to distinguish yourself by many
different ways, but the first way is leading your city when it hurts. And especially when you ask those very residents to have to chip in more, you have to do more. We don't want to cut anything, so we're
going to charge you more. That's not affordability. That is the fleecing of your residents and of your constituents. Remember when you say you are running on affordability, you should mean it. And again, council president, I see my time
is running out. I want to say Slava Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine. Heroam Slava. Glory to the heroes. Once again, God bless you, Council President. God bless you all. God bless our fighting men and
women in the armed forces. And God bless Hoboken. Thank you for listening. >> Timmy Okconor. >> Hi. Uh Timmy, >> I just want to speak real quick about >> Come a little closer to the mic. >> Sorry. I just want to speak on the uh the res parking uh parking fees. They're
extremely expensive. >> Mr. Fisher, thank you. I know I spoke to you and your vote. That was amazing. I appreciate that. Mr. Russell, absolutely appreciate that. Mr. Permano, you all understood our reasoning for it. My reasoning. I have two daughters. We live
in this town all our lives. And unfortunately, we need the cars. So, we need the spaces out there. So, the fees for $100 for the first, 200 for the second, and 300 300 for each additional. I think that's insane. I don't know how many of you have children that are
driving and live at home. Guess what? Those those that's $1,000 that is a month or or for the year. Even just that cost, it's just astronomical. Um, Jersey City $15 to $25 uh a year. Bayon,
North Bergen, all of them, they're all within affordable range, 10 20 B. Yes. Caucus is free, but we're charging 100, 200, 300 per car, per family because they live in the same building, same apartment. Please
help me make it make sense because for me right now this it's doesn't make sense at all. C Corpus is free. Jersey City is saying let me just just enter uh 15 to25 and then every car after that is $10 more just to park in our town to
support our businesses. That's the I mean that's that's what we're doing. But to charge me $300 just to park in the city. No, it's not a protected garage. I don't have access to it. Like you want to charge for those fees for the garages. I get it cuz it's protected and what you want. for something that we all need to use. Mike
has children. He's going to get there one day. Ruben, I know you have kids that drive, too. You're you're there. I mean, let's let's make it make sense and going this route. It's just unaffordable. And and I it's it's going to hurt people like me that we need these streets. We need these spots just to park on. And for me, you know, like
the what's going on by the vioad, all those buildings, they're getting highrises. You think any of those people going to have uh resident stickers? No. Cuz they got spots that they pay for and they're going to walk around. So, they're not you're not going to get that fee. or someone like me that needs the spots and we drive around to in in town because I will not pay. Let's just say
if I don't pay it, but I want to go to that avenue and get something. I drive up there, I get a ticket. Why? Cuz I don't have a residence. Why don't I have a residence ticket? I live in town because I can't afford it. So hopefully you all can take that into consideration on the next vote and and I appreciate you all all of you appreciate
for understanding like this is something that let's make it make sense. We're just parking. The restaurants are making thousands of dollars a day on their parking spots. I'm not making that. I'm just trying to make a living and the rest of everybody else with me. Same thing. You know, we're just there's a lot of us in the
same boat. Appreciate your time. >> Thank you, Timmy. Uh public portion motion to close. >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Uh Councilman Cohen. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh just in
response to a number of the people who made remarks uh a number of whom have left I just wanted to make a statement. Uh we were horrified to learn on March 26 that a hoboken man was arrested for preparing to firebomb the home of Nerdin
Kaswani a member of within our lifetime a pro Palestinian organization. These actions are completely unacceptable and have no place in our community. We're absolutely we absolutely and unreservedly condemn and deplore political violence, threats of
violence, and terrorism. It is the absolute antithesis of Hoboken's values. We are a diverse and welcoming community. Last year, a terrified graduate student at my alma mater, Tus University, Remesa Ozurk, was picked up off the streets of Somerville,
Massachusetts, by masked ICE agents and imprisoned for the act of writing a pro Palestinian editorial in the TUS Daily, the student newspaper at Tus University. Miss Osurk ultimately was released after six weeks in ICE detention, ultimately
held in a South Louisiana ICE facility, but she never should have been arrested and detained for expressing protected pro Palestinian speech, and it should never have required a federal judge to order her release. I have spoken out against Islamophobia and Islamophobic
statements made in this chamber, just as I've spoken out against anti-semitic statements made in this chamber. And I want to be clear, there is no place for anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian violence in our community. To our Palestinian and Muslim neighbors, you
belong here. You are protected and your safety is non-negotiable. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Council. >> We're going to do uh >> Oh, sorry. >> No, go ahead. You won't. We got other work to do. >> Thank you. >> Forgot about those. Uh we have some
emergency resolutions and ordinances for this evening as well. We have NB1, Mr. Clerk, resolution authorizing the the uh the addition of an urgent item. Let's vote on that one first. The emergency res the emergency. >> Mr. Con, >> I stone. >> I miss Fiser.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. SL. >> Yes. >> President Zano. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> Hi. Now we have the introduction and first reading. >> All right.
>> An ordinance of the city of Hoboken and the county of Hudson state of New Jersey authorizing the vacation of an easement granted to the American Legion Post 107 for the first reading. >> Call vote. >> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> Stone. >> Yes.
>> Fisher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Le. >> Yes. >> President. Mr. Cano. Hi. >> Mr. Russo. Hi. >> President Ramos. I uh community development NB3
again emergency uh this is the emergency uh resolution Mr. Con >> I >> Bstone Fischer >> yes >> Mrs. Zus >> yes >> Mrs. Leen >> yes >> PresidentO >> I >> Mr. Canero >> I >> Mr. Russo >> I
>> President Ramos >> I and this is the MB4 as a resolution itself Mr. Clerk >> uh an ordinance >> Mr. An ordinance of the city of Hoboken and the county of Hudson state of New Jersey authorizing a lease agreement between the city of Hoboken and the
Hoboken World War Veterans Holding Corporation on property referred as block 43 lot 34 and 35 in the city of Hobok and on a tax map. Mr. Con? >> I stone.
>> Yes. >> Fiser. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Len. Yes, >> Mr. PresidentO. >> Hi, >> Mr. Cano. >> Hi, >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi, >> President Ramos. >> Hi. Now, we have the resolution from our close session. Uh,
>> yes. Uh, >> what do we miss? >> Yeah, >> we have it written. >> Resolution authorizing additional. >> It wasn't >> of an urgent item of Hoboken City Council agenda. >> Wait, is the emergency? Yeah, I'm going to read it. Oh, no. You have you you're
doing the emergency first. I'm going to read the resolution. >> All right. I'm going to read it. Yeah. Call vote. >> NB5. >> Yep. >> Mr. Con. >> Hi. >> By Stone. >> Yes. >> Miss. Fisher. >> Yes. >> Holding. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mrs. Len. >> Yes.
>> President Xano. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Mr. Russo. >> Hi. >> President Ramos. >> I NB6. I have to read the entire resolution. a resolution authorizing the execution of a payment plan agreement
with Hudson Regional Health LLC for lean amounts owed on block 53 lot one block 32 lot 19 and block 166 lot 4 uh also known as Hoboken University Medical Center guaranteeing payment in 2026
whereas the city of Hoboken has scheduled a tax lean sale for April 10 2026 for amounts owed on block 53 lot one block 32 lot 19 and block 166 lot 4, also known as Hoboken University Medical Center. And whereas the city of Hoboken
has determined to enter a payment plan for which for such unpaid amounts and whereas the desire the city council to authorize the mayor to enter into a payment plan for such unpaid amounts provided all amounts are paid prior to December 15, 2026. Now for there, now
therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Hoboken that mayor or his designate or her designate is authorized to execute the payment plan for amounts owed block 53, lot 1, block 32, lot 19, block 166, lot 4, also
known as Hobok University Medical Center and any associate documents required. Number one, the above the above recital are incorporated as fully set forth at length. Number two, the council hereby authorizes the mayor to enter into a playment plan with advice of councel.
Number three, the council hereby authorizes the mayor or her designate to execute any and all documents and take any and all actions necessary to realize the intent and purpose of this resolution. Meeting date, April 22nd, 2026. >> Do we do we have to have
I mean that's a broad payment plan, but we kind of came out of close session with very specific guidance. Do we have to at least reference the guidance in the somehow? I mean, >> we don't have they didn't have a this I know the million dollars tomorrow,
>> right? It's just >> we know what it is. I'm just saying we have we have a we're approving a resolution that just broadly I mean she could tomorrow, which she's not, but she could tomorrow say the payment plan is $0 and 100% on December 15th. That
wouldn't be what we supported. That that is not what we >> So maybe there's a sentence to add. >> Well, I I have a question for corporation council about this. I mean, I'm wondering I know we did this in close session because we have an active negotiation going >> and it may be deliberate to not put
>> the numbers into this resolution to preserve the confidentiality of negotiation. >> But we should at least be able to put a sentence in there that says pursuant to the discussions at the close session. That's fine. Yeah. Yeah,
>> consistent with parameters to the discussions in close session. I'll add that number four. As per the parameters discussed in close session on April 8th, 2026. >> So, yeah, but >> 6:56 p.m. >> Council President. >> Yes, M.
>> Jerry, is that filmed? The closed session? >> Recorded, not filmed. >> It's recorded. >> No, >> correct. >> It was recorded, but it's not public. >> What do you >> It becomes public once >> Yeah. the matter settled. >> Correct. >> Mhm. Which is fine. >> Yeah.
>> There's nothing. >> I mean that that last statement that did any and all >> and again I I'm not doubting that Mayor Jabor will do the right thing, but read that one sentence. Anything to under the sun you basically said she can. >> Can I read the language?
>> Yeah. So it says the number two will say the council hereby authorizes the mayor to enter to a playment plan with the advice of council consistent with the parameters of the council discussion discussions in closed session. >> And we talked about a floor. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. We did.
>> And so if for some reason she comes away and it's below the floor, they don't she doesn't have approval. She has Right. She has an approval for the floor or above. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> What about the other the other phrase after that? The other >> you read it. The council, I'll read the
following sentences. The council hereby authorizes the mayor or her designated to execute any and all documents and take any and all actions necessary to realize the intent and purpose of this resolution. >> Any and all actions is what I have a problem with. >> Well, the intent of the resolution that's resolution to settle >> and I appreciate every all my colleagues
input here. Corporation council. >> Yeah. >> We have like just from from your mouth to our ears so we feel as confident as we need to. Is there anything else we need to put into that resolution to achieve the goal that Councilman President Zano is is trying to achieve?
So that and again I think we all are in agreement that >> are you trying to just to reflect >> there's there's a clear path leaving that close session right we we understand that but just to make sure that we're all on that same page no no funny business can happen or will happen
is there anything else we need to put into that resolution so that we protect the city of Hobok >> outside what was just read by the council >> um I I would just make it very clear that the parameters are what was discussed and decided upon on um >> in the executive session and those
minutes will be published once the negotiation is completed. >> Cool. >> And make sure it's outside council. >> Yeah, that's that's fine. As long as as long as as long as you're okay with that, I'm okay with that. I just want to make sure that we're all on the same page here. >> Thank you everyone. Mr. Clerk,
>> Mr. Con. Hi. >> Firestone. >> Yes. M Fiser. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Zim. Yes. Mike. Mrs. Le. Mike. >> Yes. Mr. President Zano >> I >> Mr. Canero >> I >> Mr. Russo >> I
>> President Ram >> I council Russo >> thank council president and again I I appreciate everyone's difference on this uh I wasn't able to ask some questions at the uh caucus so I just have a few and then I just have a couple comments uh prior to uh the Easter holiday uh we
had a community meeting in the third ward specifically about Grand Street and Adam Street. It was a a full community meeting. Everyone was invited. Anyone who had anything to add to that conversation was most certainly invited to that conversation. Um there was
probably about a 100 people in and out of that room throughout the night. Um about 95% of that room was very much committed to changing what we currently see as the Grand Street pilot program.
Uh there were some questions that came about in that meeting and I thought they were really great questions and and uh director if you don't mind the grand street pilot what are the metrics that we're measuring currently to make the determination as
to if that is going to continue or if that is going to change. >> I can get back to you with that from Director Sharp. >> Okay. I would appreciate that. That was a a really >> Sure. Uh it was a theme of the night to know what we were kind of monitoring there, right? Uh so if you could get
back to me to let me know, I will most certainly let those residents know. But they also wanted to express to the city that there was a major concern. I think Jim hit on it when he spoke publicly that people were concerned that they didn't
have an input prior to right and we don't want to make that same mistake again on Adam Street. And I know we're we're in plans to making those community meetings happen and we will most certainly do that. Um but those are probably the two main points of the
meeting that one we want to measure the things that we're supposed to be measuring. We don't want to make the same mistake of not including the public and then currently there's a massive outcry for changing what currently exists in in that program. Yeah. Um, so
just wanted to make sure that we were all aware of that. And I I want to thank my council colleagues who were able to to to get there. Councilwoman Fischer, Councilwoman Imus, Counciloman President Zano. Uh, we invited Mayor's chief of staff. Unfortunately, uh, he couldn't make it was probably the timing of all
of it. Uh, especially right before the holiday, but I do appreciate everybody who was there. I appreciate all the public that was there for their input. Um, so that was the the first thing I I wanted to talk about. Couple things that were on the agenda for first reading. Uh
we talked about the cap bank there director for for a minute. Currently what's in our bank? >> I can get back to that number on >> the first page of the budget, isn't it? It's like the first couple pages of the budget, right? >> I don't remember. >> I thought it was like seven to nine, but
the one year rolled out, so it it dropped down from what it was. >> One second. And then if this passes on a second reading, we would add one and a half% in addition. >> Yeah. >> Yes. And >> I just want to make the point as I do every year when it comes to the cap bank.
>> This is allowing an increase in our spending. >> It's that simple. We are saying as a council we are fine with increasing our spending up to three and a half% for this year. in addition
to whatever we have banked in the past. And if Councilman President is right and it's around seven, that means we're allowing 8 and a half% increase in the spending for our budget for this year or we could use up to 8 and a half%.
We are currently looking at a 24% tax increase. We've been sugarcoating it and calling you 20. Imagine that. We're sugar coating it at 20.
This allows us to increase spending by an additional 1.5% this year and anything that we have banked in prior years. This council votes no.
We force ourselves and the administration not to spend more money. It's that simple. Every year I make the same point. We
vote on a cap bank. We say yes. We say yes. We say yes. We say yes. And now we have the ability to raise 9% in spending. I'm begging my colleagues to vote no on second reading. >> I'm begging you all to vote no on second
reading. Another thing on the agenda that I wanted to talk about was um the change in public safety uh salary ordinance.
What is the salary range for this new position of inspector director? >> We got that range. >> There was a range. I don't remember. >> Don't believe it. >> No, there was nothing I saw.
>> No, I don't believe that we've I don't believe that we've said it yet. Um >> said it, but I know it was discussed. We yeah, I don't believe that we've said it yet. We do believe that the new structure would cost about $410,000 less in salaries, but I can get back to you
with exactly what the proposed salary is for this new position. I do know that it's replacing two other positions. Um, and just one of those positions alone was over $200,000. So, I I can certainly get back to you though that information.
>> Please do. And I appreciate that. And you've heard me say this. Everyone's heard me say this that we are topheavy. We are most certainly topheavy. We have a director that makes $150,000. We have a chief that makes $300,000. I'm
assuming this inspector's position is going to be well over 200,000. Well over $200,000. We are topheavy. I would much rather hire two new patrol officers
instead of hiring another topheavy position in the police department. >> These are the these are the these are the decisions that I think we need to make. >> And I want to preface this. I want to preface this because this is really
important. Not only is whoever will get that position, one of the current captains a personal friend of mine. And I don't know who it is, but they are
but they are a personal friend of mine. And I know this because every one of them is a personal friend of mine. I've gone to dinner with them and their families. I've gone on vacations with them. not only them but the current director.
So this isn't about friendships for me. This is about what's doing right for the residents of the city of Hoboken. We cry out for more police presence. I ra I'd rather hire two new patrol officers than make this promotion.
I think that's a better way to spend money. I beg my colleagues not to approve this position and I'll end on this. There were a number of ordinance
changes. We increased meter fees for our residents. We increased meter fees for our visitors. We increased fines for our residents. We increase fines for our visitors.
We increase fees for temporary no parking permits for all of you who may need plumbing work on your house one day or to have a contractor come in and fix your front stoop.
We've increased those fees. We've increased the parking fees at astronomical re levels for our residents. astronomical levels in comparison. We always want to compare ourselves to everybody else in Hudson County, but not
here. I like the C caucus model. Free for our residents. >> Free for our residents. Those are the things that we need to do to make Hoboken more affordable. Okay, >> we've all campaigned on making Hoboken
more affordable or supported a candidate who made that same commitment. There's not one resolution on first reading that makes Hoboka more affordable. It makes it less affordable. It makes it less affordable for
everyone. And more importantly, it makes it extremely less affordable for those who are struggling with affordability the most. That is what we do
when we increase those fees, when we increase those fines, when we try to find revenue in the city of Hoboken by passing that on to our residents in the form of a different tax. There are other ways to recoup revenues. We don't have
to do it on the backs of our residents. I'm begging you all, look at each and every one of these in the next two weeks. Search your conscience because there's a lot of people that are going to get hurt by these. There's a lot of people that
are going to get hurt. And I understand some people are in agreement with them. I get that. But a lot of those people are not that group of people that I just mentioned that will be affected most. Those that are going to be affected most
are going to have a massive lifestyle change because of what we do. Please look at that again. And I'll end there. >> Council President Fischer >> first. >> Yeah. >> Fisher. >> Yep. Just two just two quick things. one
uh the uh closing of 14th Street I believe is done today which is very exciting. Um just confirming >> that's confirmed. >> All right, good. I know. Very exciting. Look at Jerry Lure, right? Parinet Elleian Charter. Um but uh so people can
go back to taking the regular um the regular bus stops. And second, Monday night um we are hosting at the Hoboken Library a rank choice voting event. It's called Rank the Cheeses. Um we this body
uh prior to the new um council members several years ago passed a trigger ordinance supporting rank choice voting in in Hoboken so that if the state law ever changes um we would put it to voters to use rank choice voting. Um
several uh cities across the state um have done something similar, but by several I mean nine or 10. Um and we're partnering with Voter Choice New Jersey to do another event to educate people. And what the event is is Rank the Cheese. So it's a wine and cheese event
at the Hoboken Library. Um you need to register. You can go on to Facebook and find us and register online. It's at 6:30 and you'll get uh some wine and to taste some cheeses, rank them, and then we'll walk through how rank choice voting works. The goal is to get people
again excited about it. We're partnering with voter choice New Jersey and to get more people involved so we can get more cities across the state to do this. This is bipartisan, not Democrat or Republican. It's just people that want to see better democracy in the state of New Jersey. So if you want to make it,
reach out to me or come to the library um at 6:30 on Monday. That's it. >> Awesome. And >> and I invited all of you. You should have all gotten a invitation. >> Yeah. There's a meeting in Connor's Monday night with regards to development project. >> I know.
>> Uh this Saturday is the opening >> Yes. >> of the Hoboken little league baseball play. And this year we're going to be honoring the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Hoboken South Allstar team who
advanced to the New Jersey State Finals. And on the on that team was the coach John Cassessa, former fire chief Mike Turner, assistant and team members Joe Zagano,
Ruben Ramos Jr. Joey Anderson, Carlos Cologne, Roberto Martinez, Carlos Otto, Thomas Serbo, Leo Cologne, Jason Cassessa, Tony
Espazito, Dennis Ford, Edwin Alaviri, Oscar Roio, and Patrick Pompiliano. And that Ruben is going to show up with his little league uniform. Still fits him. >> Still fits him.
>> Congratulations. >> That's some roster, by the way. Every one of those ball players was a phenomenal ball. I mean, I don't know about Ruben, but >> one thing, no, nobody ever mentioned the moon. >> Coming home. >> Rub a ball player.
>> Council closed. >> Council president. No, you >> don't worry about it. I got my turn. Uh, so there's two things that I want to talk about. One is um with all these fees being the business district in the first ward, we're going to get walloped.
And I want to make sure that the administration is reaching out not only to the HBA because there seems to be some miscommunication with the HBA with some of the uh businesses. When I've talked to them about these fee
raises for the couple that I've gotten to, they're not happy. They're struggling right now. The that the cold months and the snow decimated them for the first two year uh first two months of the year. The prices of everything going up again because of the
what's going on in the Middle East um is hurting them as well because fuel costs and search charges. So, you're going to hear me say this a thousand times. It's not only about just our residents. It's about our local businesses that'll be shutting their doors and we're going to be having big box stores coming in to
take those. So again, I think Councilman Russo made the point, but I want to make sure that the administration comes back to us and speaks to us because we've been ripping apart the the survey data. Diane and and I and and Tiffany have been going back and forth. of the data
of the 2600 people that filled it out, 1,800 roughly were homeowners and about 800 were renters. So the reverse of what our community is based upon. Now in that we looked at parking. It was 50/50 with
a lot of undecideds. So when my council colleagues up here this week, think about this. your own survey put together said people are 50/50 on this with a lot of un uh undecideds but let me add this to you my
senior community that I have in the first word was not represented it and my business community was not represented just by the fact of how we did the survey so in that there has to be a waiting for my business and my seniors
of any that did reply because otherwise they're missed And so as we these are hidden taxes. I don't care what the administration is going to tell me. These are hidden taxes when we go after fees before we even see a budget of what's been cut.
We haven't had a budget and we're already raising fees and we haven't talk to the stakeholders because right now based upon what the stakeholders told us in the survey 50 want it 50 don't. That means this isn't a good thing to
do. We're trying to plug a hole in in a in a wall that's holding back a a flood of water. And I feel like we're that old cartoon where I think it's uh Tom and Jerry and he's got his finger going here, his finger going here, his toe
going here. I think of that image that we're just trying to plug a hole for this year. Just this year, that's all we're doing. So what? next year because by the way this has been done in the past cuz under the Bala administration they did the same thing with the parking
to plug the gap. So this is a playbook out of the last eight years. However, I am upset at the increases across the board of the percentages. the percentages. If you gradually did this, now all of a
sudden, because we have this big budget gap, now we all of a sudden want to look at this and say, "Oh my god, the sky's is falling. We got to do this." Well, where was everybody the last eight years? Many of the directors were still here. All of a sudden, fees, fees, fees, fees,
fees, fees, fees, fees. Those add in, you forgot about that. We already raised the water fees 11.2%. Your electricity bill has doubled. Your gas prices have doubled. The price of milk, cheese, and meat have doubled. So, we haven't even talked about what's in
the household. We're talking about what the city is providing because we have a budget gap. So, as many of the the the residents that have come up and said, "We aren't doing our job." We're not. We're not. But I also have to remind you a lot of
the things that can be done is not this council up here. The administration can already take moves and does not need council approval to do things. They could have done that on day one. I just want to make that clear. We hold
the purse strings. We cannot dictate whether laws are enforced, where the money is spent. Once we say go ahead, go ahead. But I do want to say that these are hidden fees. They're hidden taxes. They're regressive taxes. Meaning, for those of you, maybe that sounds like a
big word. It's not. It means that if somebody makes a $100 and somebody makes $10, that $10 fine has more implication on the person that makes the $10 than the hundred. That's a regressive tax. And that hurts my residents because
there are a lot of people struggling for this. And there's a lot of people that are scared to come to a council meeting to talk about this. They might have a business in town. They might have people that work for the city.
So really, my colleagues up here, I need you guys to dig deep. And I I'm echoing what Councilman Russo said that before you just go vote yes to fill a plug a hole in in a budget. Think about the implication to some people here. And some of you might say, "Oh, it's only 50
bucks." It's not just 50 bucks because when you take a parking when you take your parking pass on the street, you're already basically saying, "I'm going to get two sweet street sweeper tickets. I'm going to get one other ticket for parking in the wrong spot." So, you kind of budget yourself and say,
"Okay, I got to do this." But we're increasing the fines as well. That's the crazy part. It's like anything that's not nailed down. I mean, next guys, watch it. Everybody owns a dog in Hoboken. All right, you're I'm going to say it right here. You're going to have to pay the meter to get in the dog park
if we continue at this rate. I'm not joking about that. There is a chance that that could be proposed. I mean, we're having bake sales and merchandise sales to plug a hole in a budget of millions of dollars. So, just be careful what you
wish for. You open Pandora's box and the fees just are going to be on everything. But these, yeah, movies, yes. But everything else, guys, we got to wake up here. And I and I hope my colleagues can really understand that. And it's not to be a
you're bad, I'm good, my idea is great, your idea is bad. I just want you to understand that this is what residents are saying to us. Like the survey said this just on the one piece of the parking. So, as we rip more data off of that and we try to find the the real
pain points, I'll be happy to share that to you. We'll be happy to share it looking at it, but we're taking raw data. That was one of the first things we pulled out. So, I just want everybody to to understand and do your homework on this one that it's not just a yes or no vote
here. There's a lot of implications here. A lot of implications. And on a positive note, April 16th, 7 p.m. in this room. Thank you to the administration that we will have our second town hall for the first ward. I welcome everybody to come because many issues in the first ward. You all you
all come and visit our businesses up here. So you might have things to say. So I I welcome you there. >> Motion to close. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Favor. >> I good night. Thank you. >> Diane. Good night.
eat dinner again. Catherine and >> come on information on how to reach her, but I'm confident that some of our council members know how we get her contact information. He doesn't certain meetings.