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| Ramos posts "You're welcome!" reminding the Mayor to thank him |
WHAT ABOUT ME?
Pandemic, schmandemic. Election season never ends in Hoboken. And so it seems that some potential 2021 candidates are disgruntled. They seem to feel that their pandemic-related public service is not getting the kind of citywide attention they would like to have. Nor are they being thanked enough. Some have have contacted the media to air grievances, point fingers, assign blame.
Speaking for the typical Hoboken resident, what do we care about now? We care about what the next day will bring our families: their health, schooling, our financial security. Some of us lack food. And rent. Some of us have pre-existing conditions making us vulnerable to coronavirus. Some of us are elderly, seeing members of our demographic die.
That is why the sight and sound of public servants elbowing each other for recognition and thanks for doing their jobs during this pandemic(!) is so distasteful.
Competence is its own reward. As is helping one's constituents in a meaningful way. There'll be plenty of time for self-aggrandizement later, when this is over. Nobody cares about stroking political egos. Council persons are certainly able to update constituents about pandemic-related work they are personally involved in, by email and on social media- some do.
IT TAKES A HOBOKEN VILLAGE
What Hoboken has done in the last two months is simply remarkable. It took a collective of public officials, volunteers, private sector and individual donors united in common cause. Residents are meeting in cyberspace to read stories to each others' children or to laugh about the perils of self-isolation or to share local information. We have come to each other's rescue like never before, without a guidebook. This has been learn-as-you-go for everyone from City Hall to each Hoboken household.
The Mayor's daily Nixles are a must-read for COVID-19 information. To find out what's going on at the County level, read Hudson County View. For your Councilperson's updates, you can check Facebook or contact them by email.
City Hall and a coalition of Council members, public officials and volunteers continue to address the needs of the most COVID-19 vulnerable demographic, our seniors. On Friday, the Mayor announced that Dr. Javed Islam of PromptMD has offered door to door testing in a senior buildings, and that the City would pick up any costs not covered by insurance.
The Mayor's Friday Nixle had more senior news:
Continuing to assist seniors in self-isolation and senior check-in program
In order to encourage seniors to remain home in self-isolation and protected from COVID-19, Director Leo Pellegrini and I, with the support of the City Council, are extending the home meal delivery program for another two weeks. Seniors in senior buildings will continue to receive lunch and dinner, free of charge, to help reduce their need to purchase food outside the home. Over 27,000 meals were delivered to seniors through this program, and we anticipate distributing another 25,000 meals in the next two weeks. Thank you again to all of the volunteers who have helped pack and distribute these meals, including Caroline Caulfield for organizing this process, as I know our seniors are very grateful.
As a reminder, if you are a senior who does not reside in a senior building but would like meals delivered to your home, please call our City Hall Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hotline at 201-420-5625. Another resource also available to seniors is a recently launched senior check-in program, to help answer any questions or provide any information needed. Councilwoman Vanessa Falco has offered to serve as a point of contact and can be reached over the phone or via text at 201-523-4033. Translation services are also offered for Spanish speakers, provided by HoLa Hoboken Dual Language Charter School.
Thank you to Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro, Freeholder Anthony Romano, Councilmembers Ruben Ramos, Vanessa Falco and Tiffanie Fisher, Andrew Impastato, David Mello, Nicole Cammarota, Toni Tomarazzo, Joe Barry, Marc Recko and Erica Seitzman for helping coordinate this senior-check in. The task force also helped acquire over 3,000 pieces of supplies including hand sanitizer for seniors at Walmart, thanks to the assistance of Jackie Princiotto, who works at the store.
I also extend my thanks to Toni Tomarazzo and all of the volunteers at the Hoboken Food Pantry, who have been doing an incredible job also providing meals to residents in need. Since March 25, the Hoboken Food Pantry has delivered groceries and/or meals to over 2,900 residents, which includes over 2,100 seniors.
Below is the 4/25 update from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla for Hoboken residents:
As mentioned yesterday, we learned on Thursday about a backlog in data pertaining to additional known, positive COVID-19 tests in Hoboken, due to increased testing and phasing in reporting of the rapid, 15-minute tests. As a result, the confirmed cases today are much higher than normal because approximately a week’s worth of positive cases through Riverside Medical were manually entered for reporting today.
On Friday, the Hoboken Health Department was notified of five additional positive COVID-19 cases, and an additional five positive cases today. We also entered approximately 56 backlogged cases as of last Thursday, bringing Hoboken’s total to 473 known, positive cases. In other words, the daily number of confirmed positive tests for the past week were under reported by approximately 8 cases. The number of fatalities due to COVID-19 fortunately remains unchanged, with 23 in Hoboken.
Along with increased testing numbers this week due to the rapid, 15-minute tests, we expanded the criteria for residents and essential workers to obtain testing, so residents with any COVID-19 symptoms could be tested. Our current objective remains to test as many people as possible, but as we increase testing, the number of positive cases may also increase. As always, if you have symptoms and need a test, please call our COVID-19 hotline at 201-420-5620, Monday through Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm.
Additional analysis of data
To best analyze the data since the start of COVID-19 and taking into account today’s one-day spike in numbers with the additional 56 backlogged cases, which includes approximately five positive cases from last Thursday and Friday, we’ve put together weekly totals since the first positive case.
March 8 – 14: 1 total, known COVID-19 case
March 15 – 21: 18
March 22 – 28: 66
March 29 – April 4: 98
April 5 – 11: 108
April 12 – 18: 98
April 19 – 25: 84
This week’s total cases represent the lowest amount of confirmed, known cases since March. This data suggests that we may have passed the apex with a flattening of the curve. We need to continue seeing this trend over the next couple weeks to confirm this, as this apparent downward trend could be impacted with a number of factors including more residents being tested. The numbers do, however, appear to show progress for Hoboken.
Much like the rest of the country, this data is far from complete, as we only know of the actual known, positive conducted tests. Many more people in Hoboken and the rest of the region have likely been infected, but we don’t have the data because they haven’t been tested. That said, my commitment to you is that we will continue to report the best, known data we have on a regular basis.
What we’re doing is making a difference
As I mentioned last week, everything we are doing – from self-isolating, staying home as much as possible, wearing face covers outdoors, practicing strict social distancing, and more – is making a difference. Our known infection rate is still less than 1% of the population at .88%, and the mortality rate is .04%, both representing lower totals than compared to statewide numbers. While there are a number of valid factors that could contribute to these rates (which include things like a younger population), I firmly believe that our proactive, collective efforts over the past month have most certainly saved lives and prevented more infections.
It is worth noting that we are below the average statewide despite the fact that Hoboken sits in the eye of the proverbial storm, just across the river from Manhattan, where a large percentage of Hoboken residents normally commute to, and a number cities and regions with substantially higher infection rates. I’m deeply appreciative to all of Hoboken for the continued efforts on so many fronts, as I know it has been extremely difficult during this unprecedented time.
These numbers and apparent progress should not be interpreted as a victory lap. To the contrary, we must continue to take every precaution necessary to protect our vulnerable populations and entire community. My ask, as it was before, is to double down on self-isolation and remaining at home as much as possible. We are most certainly not out of the woods, and we need to see the curve come much further down before we can consider a gradual re-opening of the City. We have been ahead of the curve, but it could easily become undone if we begin to relax. We still have a significant amount of people who could be infected, especially those who are asymptomatic, and we must continue to act as if everyone we come into contact with could have COVID-19.
The more we continue to self-isolate and take aggressive social distancing measures, the sooner Hoboken and our region can take gradual steps to get back to normal.
Testing at Riverside
The testing facility at Riverside has been a major benefit to Hoboken, especially the recent introduction of rapid, 15-minute testing. As of yesterday, Riverside has tested a total of 453 Hoboken residents and front-line workers, with 136 positive tests, representing a 30% positive rate compared to total tests. There have also been 319 negative tests, and 4 pending, invalid or tests not performed. While most of those tested at the facility are Hoboken residents, we’ve also expanded the testing criteria to include first responders and frontline workers who may not live in Hoboken.
There have been hundreds of additional tests conducted on Hoboken residents through other doctors and facilities, however the total amount of tests is not available or provided to the Hoboken Health Department. Only the positive, confirmed COVID-19 cases are reported by these doctors and facilities to the State and the Hoboken Health Department. Riverside has generously provided us with all of the total testing numbers at the site.
Thank you again to Dr. Brahmbhatt and his staff for continuing to serve Hoboken residents with this critical testing facility.
Proactively testing seniors for COVID-19
We are taking the proactive steps to test seniors in certain senior buildings for COVID-19, thanks to a partnership with Prompt MD, and the recommendation from the Hoboken Health Office. Knowing that it can be difficult for seniors to travel across Hoboken to the uptown facility, with the potential for greater exposure, Dr. Javed Islam has offered to provide the necessary equipment to test seniors in one of the senior buildings this Wednesday. If a senior’s medical insurance does not cover the cost of the test, the City will pay for it without charge to the senior.
I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Islam and Prompt MD for coordinating with Director Leo Pellegrini, Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Sgt. William Montanez, Councilman Ruben Ramos and the Council, and Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro to offer these services to Hoboken.
All current rules and regulations to remain in effect
All current rules, regulations and closures will remain in effect this upcoming week through May 1, including the suspension of street sweeping. As mandated by the Office of Emergency Management, meters will continue to be in effect to help facilitate turnover in front of essential businesses including doctors’ offices, supermarkets, and medical facilities.
Please stay indoors if you are quarantined
Some residents have expressed concern to me about other residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are in mandatory quarantine but have still been traveling in Hoboken outside the home. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, remaining in complete self-quarantine at home is strictly required, and the only way to keep your neighbors and community safe. If you need assistance with groceries or meals delivered to your home, assistance is available to you – please call 201-420-5620, Monday through Saturday (9 am – 5 pm). We are here, ready and willing to help you.
Security deposits for tenants now permitted for rent payment
Yesterday, Governor Murphy signed an executive order permitting tenants to instruct his or her landlord to utilize security deposits for rent payment. I believe this is a smart and practical way to assist tenants who may be struggling due to lost income. At the same time, I ask tenants who have not lost income or who can afford to do so, to continue paying rent in the traditional method if possible. Landlords may also be struggling as well, and while this executive order is a positive development, it should be viewed as a last resort.
Paycheck Protection Program to resume on Monday
The new stimulus bill was signed into law on Friday, allowing the Paycheck Protection Program through the Small Business Association to resume on Monday for small businesses. According to the SBA, existing applications already in the queue will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The process for accepting new applications, according to the SBA, will be provided at a later date. For the latest updates, please visit sba.gov.
New traffic lights at Hudson Street/Hudson Place, and 14th Street/Garden Street
While COVID-19 has had a significant impact on City operations, we are continuing to safely move forward certain projects that will yield important benefits after this crisis is over. To that end, I’m glad to share that two new traffic lights have been installed at two highly traveled intersections, at Hudson Street and Hudson Place, and at 14th Street and Garden Street. In addition to the traffic lights, both intersections will also have new pedestrian signals with countdown timers, upgraded high-visibility crosswalks, and ADA-compliant curb ramps. The Hudson Street/Hudson Place intersection will also include a new dedicated left turn space for bicyclists at the intersection, and expanded sidewalks to reduce the crossing distances. The Hudson Street/Hudson Place light is currently being phased in with flashing, yellow lights and will be fully functional on Monday, with the light at 14th/Garden scheduled to be phased in later this week.
When we’re passed COVID-19, these new improvements will help children, residents and commuters with safer streets to get back to work and travel to school. Thank you to County Executive Tom DeGise and Freeholder Anthony Romano for allocating the important County funding for these improvements and supporting Vision Zero in Hoboken. And, thank you to the essential workers from the contractors, the City and County for taking the necessary safety precautions to install these lights and improvements.
Thank you, Hoboken, and our next COVID-19 communication will be provided on Monday.
Sincerely,
Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla
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