Michael Russo

Nonpartisan

Additionally, as bike lanes expand, we should also aim to place bike racks on more street corners. Since state law forbids parking within 25 feet of a crosswalk, these areas are ripe for the expansion of bike racks.

Transitioning to smaller electric Hop shuttles and expanding services would reduce both traffic and the City’s carbon footprint, incentivize economic development outside of Hoboken’s downtown, and—as an added bonus—build community among riders. Public-private partnerships and relationships with entities like the Hoboken Business Alliance will minimize the effect of such beneficial programs on taxpayers.

First, I will support new development proposals which have indoor parking included either as part of the rent or deeded into condo ownership, and believe that such language should be added to the City’s Master Plan.

We need to provide the resources necessary to transport clients to appointments and job interviews, help to expand volunteer programs, and advocate for more affordable housing vouchers.

Permits are currently issued on an annual basis; that basis should be seasonal in order to allow restaurateurs to gauge the seasonality of their clientele and act accordingly. Construction uniformity should be ensured, as the lack of removable decking and regular cleaning contribute to rat infestations.

We can’t prevent every instance of breakage, but we must enforce duty-to-mitigate-damage clauses in each contract we have with a vendor. Therefore, we know that either they’re going to increase the quality of the materials that they use, or they’re going to have to come repair things if they break within a certain length of time.

Further, it’s clear that the Hoboken Housing Authority needs a greater police presence. While the City approved a mobile command center that will float between the HHA and other priority locations, the residents themselves have been asking for a higher permanent presence for years. As I stated in my Housing policy proposal, this does not simply mean hiring more officers; I believe this must be paired with community policing initiatives and de-escalation training.

We need to simplify zone types and issue clearer, simpler signage to avoid confusion. And now that federal guidance has changed, we should consider a new traffic study, revised speed limits, additional speed bumps, and more mid-street crosswalks. Taking these steps ensures traffic and parking that are more respectful and efficient, and don’t sacrifice safety.

I support an increased number of set-aside units for seniors within the HHA redevelopment project, and look forward to that project coming to fruition. This represents my ongoing commitment to those who paved the way for our City’s success, to keeping families together, and to dignified housing for all ages.

Not only do I want to expand the amount of veteran housing to include most of the wards in the City, but I also want to expand services within it; there is a huge demand for visiting therapists and other service providers who can help our vets deal with the incredible stress they felt while serving our nation.

We must identify locations for new garages on the periphery of the City, offer similar short-term and long-term parking plan options for residents, and study the potential impact of alternative visitor pricing plans depending on location. Think of the mom and pop shops on the outskirts of town that would benefit and the residents who would be in closer proximity to their homes; it’s a win-win.

New buildings that can hold hundreds of units should be constructed in multiple accessible locations; they will ensure that our employees can live in Hoboken affordably, be near their jobs, and have an incentive to stay—which in turn accumulates greater institutional knowledge and creates a more effective, responsive government.

But as we all know, making things accessible to those with special needs isn’t just the prerogative of the government; it’s also great for our private sector partners. We should work with the Hoboken Business Alliance to promote mom-and-pop shops that prioritize accessibility every July 26th, the ADA’s anniversary. We should communicate more as a City and through the Hoboken and Hudson County Chambers of Commerce to teach those businesses the economic benefits of full ADA compliance, and we need to put accessibility at the forefront of every conversation we engage in with regards to new developments in town.