Three Hoboken City Council members are calling for a local police precinct at the housing authority in wake of the killing of 21-year-old Damon Murray.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Last night Damon ‘NuNu’ Murray, a man involved in the community and local athletics, was tragically shot in killed in Hoboken. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo posted on X.
“As Councilman and HHA Commissioner in Hoboken and given the increase in crime in the tri-state area, I believe it’s time to revisit the use of local precinct ASAP.”
Over a decade ago, the Hoboken Police Department set up a precinct at the HHA, but that ended in 2016 after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) decided that public housing authorities could not pay for this out of their budgets.
“The HHA previously gave Hoboken $500K/yr to fund it & then HUD changed the rules & couldn’t provide any longer so #Hoboken pulled out. It was one of the 1st things I faced in my 1st yr on the CC. We definitely should put it back. HHA residents want it,” Fisher said in a reply to Russo’s thread.
Speaking with HCV, 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, who represents the area that includes the HHA, also said he’s in favor of revisiting this concept.
“For years we had a local precinct located in the HHA, it’s definitely time we revisit that approach, in spite of the city helping to fund nearly 400 cameras throughout the HHA, that isn’t enough: we need a proactive, hands-on approach.”
Hoboken public safety spokeswoman Marci Rubin said the administration is open to suggestions whenever it comes to bolstering public safety.
“Mayor Bhalla and the Public Safety Department are open to any and all ideas to keep residents safe and look forward to discussing the proposals with the City Council and members of public safety,” she said in an email.
The killing of Murray, who was a standout football and basketball player, has sent shockwaves throughout the community, with a celebration of his life planned via a balloon rising at 770 Jackson tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The event comes less than two hours after the Massachusetts arrest of Albert Morales, 33, of North Bergen, who is charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon for gunning down Murray.
Russo has been trying to rebuild the family fiefdom in the HHA as he installed himself on the board. Why didn’t he do this earlier? The residents certainly have been clamoring for this back several years now. They know what Russo is all about and many detest him.
Now they have more reason.
Hoboken Hosing Authority will soon triple in size.
Will the HHA crime problems also tripple ?
Can the rest of Hoboken survive ?
Walker, Johnson, Huggins and Hicks
We ain’t as dumb as you think we is