Below is an update from Mayor Bhalla for Hoboken residents:

One of the many reasons I love Hoboken is because of the kindness and generosity of our community. There are so many people stepping up to the plate to assist our response to COVID-19, including Michelle McGrievey, a school library media specialist at Hoboken High School for 18 years. At home, she spent her own time and resources over the past few days sewing 17 beautiful masks to donate to members of the Hoboken Police Department, with more to come as she acquires the materials. Thank you to Michelle and everyone else for your selflessness by lending a hand to our first responders.

24 new COVID-19 cases today

We continue to see a spike in cases in Hoboken, with 24 individuals testing positive for COVID-19 in Hoboken. We now have 85 confirmed cases in Hoboken. Unfortunately, with the apex not projected to hit for at least another week or two, we are likely to see an even greater amount of confirmed cases in the coming days.

We are actively taking measures to flatten the curve and will continue to provide updates on these efforts. As always, the best way to stay safe is to stay indoors as much as possible in self-isolation. When leaving your apartment or home for any reason, please assume that everyone you come into contact with could have COVID-19, maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people through social distancing, and wash your hands and sanitize frequently.

126 bus schedule change

We received news this morning from several frontline health care workers that New Jersey Transit adjusted the 126 bus schedule to start in the 6 am hour, which was problematic for a number of hospital workers who relied on the 5 am hour services to reach their places of employment at New York hospitals. Both Councilwoman Emily Jabbour and I reached out to New Jersey Transit to raise this concern and they have agreed to service a bus during the 5 am hour, to depart from the Hoboken Terminal at 5:25 a.m. If you are an essential employee that relies on the 126 bus during the 5 am hour, please know that there will be one 126 bus departing from Hoboken Terminal at 5:25 am. I want to thank New Jersey Transit for reacting quickly and adjusting their schedule to accommodate our essential workers, and to Councilwoman Jabbour for her successful advocacy in making this change.

Ordinance to suspend rent increases in rent-controlled buildings

To provide assistance to tenants in rent control apartments who may have less income or struggling to pay the bills due to COVID-19, we are placing on the City Council agenda an ordinance to help provide some relief. The ordinance proposes to eliminate rent increases for tenants in rent-controlled buildings in Hoboken through the State of Emergency, and in the two months after that. A few extra dollars in a tenant’s pocket during this crisis can make a meaningful difference, and I’m hopeful the City Council will support this measure. Thank you to Councilman Mike Russo and Councilwoman Emily Jabbour for agreeing to co-sponsor the legislation.

Mortgage relief for homeowners

Governor Murphy today announced today in an agreement with several major banks that New Jersey property owners who have fallen on hard times due to COVID-19 will be permitted a 90-day grace period on mortgage payments. The payments will not need to be paid back in a lump sum after 90 days, but will instead add three months on to the end of mortgages. This grace period will have no impact on anyone’s credit rating and will not result in any additional late fees or added costs. This is good news for property owners, and I’m grateful to the Governor for taking this action.

No evictions or foreclosures permitted in Hoboken

As a reminder to tenants, Governor Murphy signed legislation earlier this week prohibiting evictions or foreclosures for at least 60 days, if you are unable to pay rent on time. If a landlord is attempting to evict you or foreclose on your home, please immediately contact Caroline Caulfield from our Office of Constituent Services at ccaulfield@hobokennj.gov.

If you’re in need of rental assistance, the State has made some resources available at covid.19.nj.gov – enter “rental assistance” in the search terms to see if you are eligible.

Unemployment benefits are there for those who need it

If you have lost your job due to COVID-19, know you are not alone. Unemployment benefits are there for those who need it, and if you’re out of work, I encourage you to file quickly. The good news is that those qualifying for unemployment also earn an extra $600 per week on top of the state benefits through July 31, 2020 through the newly approved stimulus package. For more information and to apply, visit https://myunemployment.nj.gov/.

My ask to landlords

If you’re a landlord of a tenant or small business in Hoboken, I’m making a direct ask to consider the difficult circumstances many have fallen on due to COVID-19. Please, work with your tenant to provide some relief so residents and businesses can have some peace of mind that they will continue to have a roof over their heads when this is all over.

Tenant advocate

We recognize that during these tough times, not everyone can afford a lawyer to deal with a landlord/tenant issue. As mentioned in a previous post, we are offering free legal services through our tenant advocate, Andrew Sobel, Esq. to assist Hoboken residents related to their tenancies. To book an appointment with Mr. Sobel, please email hfranklin@sobelhan.com or call 201-590-2728.

Finally, I want to extend a big thank you to all of our healthcare workers, essential workers, and our own health department for all they do for our residents. They’re on the front lines every day dealing with this crisis in person, and we owe them our gratitude. It was incredible to hear the outpouring of support from residents at 7:00 pm tonight as people clapped and gave thanks from their homes and balconies. It’s a small token of our appreciation for their service to our community.

All the best,

Ravi S. Bhalla

Mayor