On March 11, Mayor Ravi Bhalla stood before a full house at Mile Square Theatre to deliver his final State of the City Address.
He looked back on his tenure since 2018 while outlining Hoboken’s progress in climate resilience, housing, infrastructure, and public safety, as well as the challenges that remain.
The event began with remarks from Vanessa Falco, Daisy Amato, Nora Martinez-Debenedetto, and Olga Garcia, four key officials in Bhalla’s administration, who spoke about the contributions of city employees who helped carry out the mayor’s policies.
Bhalla opened by thanking the people of Hoboken for their trust, reflecting on his early days as mayor when potholes were common, parks needed investment, and water mains were unreliable.
- Major investments in flood protection through the Rebuild by Design project expanded resiliency parks and green infrastructure developments.
- Plans for workforce housing, affordable senior housing, and large-scale redevelopment of the Hoboken Housing Authority to support residents.
- Commitment to Vision Zero, safer streets, new AI-equipped security cameras, and expanded police presence.
Climate Resilience: A National Model for Flood Protection
Bhalla dedicated a significant portion of his speech to Hoboken’s climate resilience efforts, focusing on the Rebuild by Design project, a flood protection system developed in response to Superstorm Sandy. He announced that the state had committed an additional $100 million to the project.
Once completed, this system will protect 80% of Hoboken from storm surges, featuring Harborside Park with a playground, an amphitheater, gardens, and a sliding floodgate that remains hidden on sunny days but deploys during storms.
This initiative will also likely reduce flood insurance rates for residents, offering financial relief to those in flood-prone areas.
Alongside Rebuild by Design, Hoboken has expanded resiliency parks to help manage stormwater, including Southwest Resiliency Park, which will open this year and store 500,000 gallons of rainwater to prevent flooding.
Additionally, Maritime Park at the former Union Dry Dock site will complete the city’s publicly accessible waterfront, with a living shoreline, an expanded beach, and a Learning Pier to educate residents about the Hudson River ecosystem.
Bhalla pointed to other environmental initiatives, such as the city’s first Climate Action Plan, expanded EV charging stations, citywide composting, and a renewable energy program that has already saved residents nearly $1 million.
Housing Affordability: Expanding Opportunities for Residents
Like many cities, Hoboken faces a housing affordability crisis. Rising rents and a limited supply have made it difficult for longtime residents to stay.
To address this, Bhalla’s administration has launched several major projects aimed at increasing housing options.
The Garage B Redevelopment Plan will transform an outdated city garage into a mixed-use, transit-oriented property with hundreds of workforce and affordable housing units, providing homes for teachers, firefighters, police officers, and municipal employees—essential workers who often struggle to afford housing in the city they serve.
Another key initiative is Hoboken’s first fully affordable senior housing development in over 30 years, a six-story building approved by the Zoning Board that will be constructed at 11th and Willow, offering 36 deed-restricted homes for seniors, ensuring they have a stable place to live.
Bhalla also discussed the Hoboken Housing Authority Rehabilitation Plan, which will revitalize 1,354 existing homes without displacing residents while improving critical infrastructure, creating new community spaces, and strengthening flood resilience.
In addition to building new housing, Hoboken has taken steps to protect renters from corporate landlords, successfully defeating a referendum that could have weakened rent control, preventing rent increases that would have forced many residents out.
Public Safety and Vision Zero: Keeping Hoboken Safe
Public safety has been another priority during Bhalla’s tenure, with Hoboken’s Vision Zero initiative helping the city go eight consecutive years without a single traffic-related death, a rare accomplishment for an urban area.
This success, he explained, is due to street redesigns, expanded pedestrian infrastructure, and safety features like curb extensions and protected bike lanes, all designed to make the city safer for residents and visitors.
Hoboken will begin construction on the Sinatra Drive Redesign Project later this year, which will include a protected two-way bike lane, new lighting, safer crosswalks, and improved sidewalks, providing a safer experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
Additionally, the city is updating its Vision Zero Action Plan to identify and address traffic behaviors that contribute to accidents, using data-driven solutions to improve road safety.
Bhalla announced that 30 AI-equipped security cameras have been installed in Church Square Park to assist police in investigating incidents quickly, with plans to install more cameras throughout the city’s parks in the coming months.
Recognizing the need for more police officers, Bhalla urged the City Council to approve the hiring of 20 new officers, which would allow the Hoboken Police Department to launch a Community Policing Bureau and bring back on-street foot patrols.
Although violent crime is down 14%, Bhalla acknowledged that statistics mean little if residents don’t feel safe walking home at night, reinforcing his commitment to increasing police presence.
The Hoboken Fire Department has also expanded, hiring 13 new firefighters last year to ensure every fire truck is fully staffed, improving emergency response capabilities.
Not to mention, the city secured a five-year contract for emergency medical services (EMS), reducing response times and improving care for residents in need.
Honoring a Legacy and Looking Ahead
As Bhalla closed his speech, he took a moment to honor the late Councilwoman Jen Giattino, a longtime advocate for small businesses and vulnerable residents, calling for a moment of silence in her memory.
Bhalla then challenged the audience, asking: What kind of city does Hoboken want to be? A city that settles for the status quo or one that continues to lead?
He reminded residents that while his time as mayor is ending, the work must continue, as his administration has laid the foundation for a resilient, affordable, and safe city, but future leaders must build on that progress.
Although Bhalla will not seek re-election, he is running for a seat in the New Jersey State Assembly for the 32nd Legislative District, ensuring that he continues to advocate for the interests of Hoboken at the state level.
He assured residents that his commitment to Hoboken will not fade as the city now prepares for the 2025 mayoral election, with Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour already announcing her candidacy.
In response to Bhalla’s address, Jabbour pledged to expand public safety, support small businesses, and continue infrastructure investments, promising to build upon the progress made under his leadership.
