Everyone in Hoboken has a story of a near-miss or an outright injury caused by an electric scooter or delivery driver. With the convenience of last-mile transportation services and delivery apps have come fear and injury for many of us for simply walking on the sidewalk, especially our children and seniors who are the most vulnerable to accidents.

Hoboken is not alone in this struggle; many municipalities are dealing with the same encroachment on our safety and peace of mind, but there are many success stories of cities and towns throughout the world who are successfully integrating these technologies into their existing infrastructure.

We need to explore programs that have worked in other parts of the country or even the world; like permitting and registering devices, urban design best practices, and even regulating safety standards. I understand the need to progress with technological innovation, but we cannot sacrifice our safety.

I am committed to prioritizing this issue and making Hoboken a shining example for the rest of the world because I believe we can solve this problem to make Hoboken even better.

The rat problem in our community has become a crisis, posing a serious threat to our health and safety. It's clear that immediate action is needed to address this issue effectively. In July, I published a plan meant to holistically address the issue [HUDSON COUNTY VIEW, 7/25/2023].

You can download the whole plan HERE, but the highlights are:

• First, the City purchases garbage cans in bulk and offers them to the community at a subsidized price. Defraying the cost will keep a lid on food sources for the rats.

• The City Council must pass a resolution requiring residents/businesses to use garbage cans when putting out trash, and no more plastic bags.

• At the same time, we'll ask 3-5 pest control experts to bid on a City-wide contract to allow for efficient pricing and a joint action plan.

• We must attack the problem block by block. Attacking the problem house by house is excellent, but if one building does it and another doesn't, the rats will move to the next building. A block-by-block approach is more sensible.

• While doing all this, we'll continue an education program to teach residents how to correctly manage trash. Residents will be alerted monthly of the successes, giving transparency to the plan and its success.

Since I put out my plan in July, the City has adopted many of the provisions, but it is clear more must be done. We must continue to push the City to take action. When I am elected, I pledge to continue fight until the rat crisis has ended. Please click here to read my entire Rat Plan for Hoboken.

Transparency and accountability are fundamental to a healthy democracy. Unfortunately, too much of Hoboken's budgeting process has been shrouded in secrecy, leaving room for waste and mismanagement.

Millions of your real estate tax dollars ultimately ended up in the pockets of high priced attorneys hired by the city to paper over development deal blunders and strategic missteps from our current administration. Even everyday city services like trash collection are a struggle for this administration, which is what has led to the current rat crisis.

With my strong background in finance, I am committed to bringing a new level of openness and accountability to the budgeting process. I will work tirelessly to promote transparency, engage the community in budget decisions, and eliminate unnecessary expenditures.

We cannot afford to elect another rubber stamp to City Hall. We need someone who will fight to ensure that every dollar is used efficiently to benefit our city and its residents.

The persistent issue of flooding and recent water main ruptures have underscored the urgent need for reliable infrastructure in Hoboken. It has been a decade since Hurricane Sandy, and we still have not completed Rebuild by design preventing another disaster like that.

We don’t need another rubber stamp in City Hall willing to kick the can down the road. It's time for a government leader who places infrastructure at the forefront of their agenda.

As your councilman, I will prioritize the maintenance and improvement of our city's infrastructure, working to address flooding, enhance drainage systems, and invest in resilient solutions that will protect our homes and businesses from future disasters.

Housing is a significant problem in Hoboken, and it has been for a long time. We need a representative who is committed to addressing all facets of this complex problem. My top priorities will be to:

• PROTECT MARINE VIEW PLAZA TENANTS

  People shouldn’t have to live in constant fear that they will be priced out of their homes, but in Marine View Plaza, that is exactly how it is. We need to reaffirm our commitment to these important residents to secure the protections that prevent their rents from increasing unreasonably.

• BUILD NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING

  We need more affordable housing in Hoboken, and we need it now. We can expand the number of affordable units required in new developments by expanding our mandatory inclusionary housing requirements. And, we can build them faster by streamlining permits and timelines to accelerate the building of affordable housing. The problem is that the current administration does not make this the priority it needs to be. And that is why we need to elect a representative who is not afraid to stand up to City Hall!

• REPAIR AND PROTECT PUBLIC HOUSING

  Everyone in Hoboken is aware of how frequently and suddenly suspicious development deals are announced. But for those living in public housing here, this means a constant fear of losing their homes based on the whims of our elected officials. We need someone who will stand up to City Hall, who is willing to put themselves on the line to protect people’s homes. That is exactly what I pledge to do if I am elected. I believe that public housing should be a source of pride and a place of comfort, safety, and stability for residents. That is why I will fight for faster repairs and more accountability from the Hoboken Housing Authority with expanded resources and funding. Because that is what needs to be done.

• PROTECT RENTERS

  Rent and inflation have continuously outpaced wage increases for years. That leaves many families struggling to put food on the table. People shouldn’t have to rely on clothing donations or school supply drives to make sure their kids have what they need to prosper. We need to stem the tide of crazy rent increases and meritless evictions to keep people in their homes. The recent legislation passed by the state legislature is helpful, but what we really need is an advocate who is not afraid to get their hands dirty using that legislation as a tool to protect the people of Hoboken. I pledge to be the tip of the spear for residents of the First Ward fighting against unfair rent increases and meritless evictions.

• PROTECT HOMEOWNERS

  Securing the future of housing in Hoboken isn’t just about protecting renters, it’s also about helping renters become homeowners. With interest rates rising, it is becoming harder for people to secure the funding they need to buy a home for their growing families. If we want to keep people invested in our community and our future, we need to put them on the path to homeownership. That’s why I will fight to expand programs for first-time homebuyers who are facing a difficult time in a volatile market.

By expanding Hoboken’s affordable housing stock, protecting our current public housing, and prioritizing homeowners and renters, we can truly have a housing program in Hoboken that is better for all of us..