NJ Transit meeting CANCELED, now the ball is in Council's court

Tomorrow's NJ Transit vote to purchase the NJ Waterway waterfront property (formerly Union Dry Dock) is OFF.  

But, the cancellation of NJ Transit's special "emergency" meeting was only one part of the agreement hammered out between Hoboken's Mayor, Governor Murphy's Office and NJ Transit.

Stopping NJ Transit's Wednesday purchase of the UDD waterfront property required that the City to end (not suspend) its eminent domain proceedings. The ED proceedings include the City's offer to buy the property.  

Accordingly, the administration will submit an ordinance and resolution to the next City Council meeting, on Wednesday April 4.  

Hudson County View just reported: 

"A new agenda posted online by NJ Transit says that they have rescheduled their meeting for 2 p.m. on Thursday, but Hoboken spokesman Santiago Melli-Huber says that meeting will also been cancelled as long as the council votes to rescind eminent domain."

Whoa.

MY FIVE CENTS

(1) Hoboken has shown (remarkable) good faith in cooperating fully with a hostile party wielding a Sword of Damocles. The Governor's office made this happen.  

(2) It appears the City had no choice to stop Wednesday's sale of the UDD property. The Governor's office brokered this deal with (sleazy) NJ Transit and Hoboken, throwing us a lifeline while parties work out an alternative location for NY Waterway's maintenance facility.  

(3) The ball is the Council's court.  If they renege on the terms of this agreement, NJ Transit will swoop in to buy the UDD site on Thursday April 5, probably use a parcel for their NJ Transit bus operations.  

(4) If the City Council grandstands and turn this into a political shitshow, nothing will be lost on the public.  Isn't it time to stop digging?    

(5) FYI--Time is not on Hoboken's side.  NY Waterways has to shutdown its Wehawken maintenance facility on June 1st. If the Council kicks this can down the road, NJ Transit will end up with a valid reason for an emergency purchase of the NY Waterway property. 

2nd Ward people, 6th Ward people, 1st Ward people, pay close attention.  

Per today's City of Hoboken Nixle: 

"After days of discussions, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, the Office of the Governor or New Jersey, and New Jersey Transit have reached an agreement concerning the Union Dry Dock property in Hoboken, New Jersey. The agreement will result in the cancellation of tomorrow’s emergency meeting of the New Jersey Transit Board of Trustees, where New Jersey Transit intended to acquire this property and immediately lease it back to New York Waterway to use as a ferry refueling, repair, and maintenance facility.

“I am glad the meeting is being canceled and we now have an opportunity to find a use for the land through an open and public process,” said Mayor Bhalla. “It is still my goal to provide a contiguous waterfront in Hoboken, and I look forward to working with the Governor’s office, New Jersey Transit, and New York Waterway to make this a reality and find a reasonable alternative location for the fueling and maintenance site.”

A poll shows nearly 92 percent of Hoboken residents said the land should become a park. The previously scheduled meeting, which was scheduled shortly before a holiday weekend, would have taken place during a week day afternoon while many Hoboken residents are away for Spring Break.

As part of the deal to cancel the meeting, Bhalla agreed to formally end eminent domain proceedings and withdraw the offer to buy the land. A resolution and ordinance detailing this action has been added to the Hoboken City Council agenda for their regularly scheduled meeting on April 4.

“This resolution is the latest in a series of good-faith efforts on our part to cooperate with all parties,” said Bhalla. “I thank Governor Murphy for working with me to ensure an open and transparent process.”

Officials are considering alternative locations in Bayonne, which has expressed interest in housing the proposed facility, for New York Waterway to use."