STATEMENTS FROM MAYOR BHALLA AND COUNCILWOMAN JABBOUR ON HOBOKEN DOG ORDINANCE REVISIONS

Below are statements from Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Chair of the Council sub-committee on health and human services, Emily Jabbour regarding Hoboken municipal ordinance 93-22, pertaining to dogs in parks, originally passed in 1994.

“Over the past several days, I’ve heard directly from many passionate dog owners across the City,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Based on the feedback, and reviewing the ordinance in question myself, it is abundantly clear that modifications need to be made so dog owners are not unfairly burdened when taking dogs to our parks. I’m asking the Council and the Council sub-committee on Health and Human Services to propose appropriate amendments to the outdated dog ordinance from the mid 1990s that I believe no longer reflects the needs of our growing population. Until revisions are made by the City Council, the City will prioritize other more substantial violations, including dogs off leash and dog owners not picking up after their dogs.”

“As a dog owner and mother of two children, I know how important our parks are to our quality of life,” said Councilwoman Emily Jabbour. “We need to make sure that any antiquated ordinance, such as this one, that imposes a hardship on residents is revisited.  As chair of the sub-committee on health and human services, I look forward to hearing from residents on this issue.  I invite any dog owners or residents to email me at hobokenemily@gmail.com with any feedback.”