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| Hoboken Mayor Bhalla signing an Executive Order requiring all public bathrooms to be open to members of either gender. |
HOBOKEN PROGRESSIVES IN POWER
There's no doubt that Mayor Zimmer governed as a progressive.
Some deny climate change; the threat of climate change drove Zimmer to obtain Hoboken's $230M Rebuild by Design grant. She eschewed development deals for open space, created a Hoboken Green Infrastructure Strategic Plan to identify the most cost-effective best management practices to address stormwater management and the anticipated increase in frequency of flooding events, partnered with Stevens to make Hoboken a technology-driven "Smart City", changed the way some in Hoboken commute: bike lanes, Zip cars, Hoboken Bike Share, an expanded HOP shuttle bus system with real time online tracking, and on and on. Zimmer was also a progressive on LGBT rights; she came out for gay marriage early on and when it finally became law in New Jersey, performed the first gay marriage ceremony in Hoboken..
So in retrospect, it makes sense that Zimmer picked another progressive to carry on her legacy. Zimmer didn't doubt Bhalla would complete her unfinished legacy projects and like her, govern as a progressive. Like the literature said-- which sent Giattino supporters screaming-- it is true that the only council member Zimmer trusted to complete Rebuild by Design was Bhalla. Something you haven't heard elsewhere: had Bhalla turned the mayor down, she would have stayed in the race. That's right.
Authenticity was, in my opinion, why Zimmer went straight to Bhalla. What do I mean? His politics are not lip service. He's not a DINO. Nor the kind of "Democrat" who would lead the local Party committee but run a Republican's campaign.
True to form, now that he's mayor, Bhalla is not only advancing issues that Zimmer cared about (the northwest resiliency park, green initiatives, Rebuild By Design, Washington Street reno, negotiations for a waterfront park) he's carved out new ground as an activist.
ACTIVIST MAYOR
This mayor understands the power of his office to lift members of the Hoboken community- including city workers- who have not historically gotten that kind of attention from City Hall. He is doing this everyday. Bhalla's visited classrooms in every district school. He read Dr. Suess to a 2nd grade class at Connors school. Yesterday he spoke to Asian American kids at Stevens, Friday he's visiting HoLa.
Someone had mentioned that Bhalla had promised Chief Ferrante he was going to learn the name of every Hoboken police officer. GA asked the mayor if that was true.
He replied, "Yes, same with the Fire Department. I told all the chiefs that I wanted to learn the names of all officers on a first name basis, and the gesture has been very well received among the rank and file in generating confidence and good will. I don't know all the names yet, but I'm trying."
If this outreach to students, city employees, the elderly, and all members of the Hoboken community is 'just' style, the substance is legislative.
In the dark days of the Trumpocalypse, Bhalla's first act as mayor was an executive order making Hoboken a welcoming city. Meaning, the application of the law shall be equal in Hoboken irrespective of immigration status, as well as religion, nationality, ethnicity, or sexual orientation... and the HPD will not expend resources enforcing civil immigration law.
That executive order was a big "eff you" to the Orange Caligula, an "eff you" that warmed GA's heart.
Just this week Mayor Bhalla:
(3) released the following green initiatives for Hoboken:
Dear Hoboken Community,
Now, more than ever, it is important for cities to lead the way in promoting environmentally friendly policies that improve the quality of life for residents and also make our planet more sustainable. In celebration of Earth Week in Hoboken, I'm proud to share with you some of my administration's green initiatives that serve as a model for other municipalities across the State.
Reducing Hoboken's Carbon Footprint
As Mayor, I'm committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions beyond the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. To this end, Hoboken will be soon be completing a greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan to quantify steps to reduce our carbon footprint and pursuing the Sustainable Jersey Gold Star in Energy. I recently became a member of the Climate Mayors Coalition, joining Mayors from across the Country committed to upholding the ideals of the Paris Agreement.
Composting Expansion
Hoboken is expanding its composting program! In partnership with Community Compost Company, Hoboken will be launching a free organic waste (compost) pickup program for local businesses. Additionally, we'll be opening a free organic waste drop site for residents. Details for both of these initiatives will be announced this week. For more information on how to utilize our composting program offered to Hoboken residents, click here.
Green Transportation Options
Earlier this year, I joined Mayor Steve Fulop to consider an expansion of our bike share program into Jersey City, with additional Citibike stations into Hoboken. Additionally, the Hudson Bike Share system, which began in Hoboken, has expanded into five more cities in Hudson County, with users able to utilize bikes in Weehawken, North Bergen, Guttenberg, Bayonne, and West New York. This week, you can also ride our Hudson Bike Share bike system for one day of free 45 minute rides by utilizing the code 845784 in the Nextbike app.
Hoboken is also moving forward with a comprehensive electric vehicle implementation plan, which will make Hoboken a more accommodating City for residents with electric vehicles. We'll be examining the ability to include electric charging stations in our City garages, future garages, as well as certain public locations.
Microgrid & Energy Resiliency
It is critical that Hoboken have its own energy resilience to provide alternative source of power for emergency services and facilities if the power-grid fails, like it did during Superstorm Sandy. Already, the Washington Street Project is incorporating the necessary wiring for a microgrid underground, and our team in City Hall is moving forward with a microgrid feasibility study to plan for the next steps.
Parks & Reducing Flooding
Like our Southwest Park, I am committed to working with the North Hudson Sewerage Authority to ensure our 6 acre Northwest Resiliency Park has the capacity to store at least 1 million gallons of rainwater, which will further alleviate flooding in Northwest Hoboken. We'll also work with NHSA on building an additional flood pump to pump out the stored water in the Northewest Park detention system.
Protecting Hoboken from Rising Sea Levels
With global warming and rising sea levels substantially impacting coastal communities like Hoboken, it's critical to take proactive measures to protect our City. Our team in City Hall, including the new Citizens Advisory Group led by co-chairs Councilman Jim Doyle and Michelle May, as well as honorary chair and former Mayor Dawn Zimmer, has been working hard to progress the $230 million Rebuild by Design project. When implemented, it will provide state of the art flood risk reduction for Hoboken. My administration is working with the State on moving forward with an expanded Harborside Park and Resilient Boathouse at 16th and Garden, which will have the dual purpose of serving as a community park as well as flood protection from storm surge events.
Finally, thank you to the Hoboken Green Team for partnering with my administration on a number of these initiatives. I hope you'll join the Green Team for a number of events we are hosting this week in celebration of Hoboken Earth Week.
Best,
Ravi S. Bhalla
Hoboken Mayor
Now, not every Hoboken resident appreciates an activist, progressive mayor in office. Hey, different strokes.
At least five Hoboken City Council seat-warmers really don't appreciate this mayor; they seem to grow angrier with him by the day. Instead of working collaboratively as a team for Hoboken, they scheme with each other on new ways to hobble his administration. Last meeting they reduced his aides' salaries and now are targeting his security detail.
Hey, if that is how they want to exit Hoboken public life.
Because something tells me that a Blue Wave is coming in 2019. Bitter, whiny partisans, go get your floaties.
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