In a letter to the editor, Hoboken Shelter board member and resident Audrey Truschke weighs in on the recent debate over public safety in the Mile Square City.
Dear Editor,
I write as a longtime resident of Hoboken and mother of three grade-school age children. Like many Hoboken residents, I chose to raise my family in the Mile Square City because of the unique lifestyle it provides and the amazing people that make up this community.
Sadly, however, this community has not been putting our best foot forward in recent weeks. At our best, the people of Hoboken come together to engage in respectful dialogue about issues facing our city.
But much recent public discourse has been characterized by unchecked anger, directed at both our public servants and at some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
That ire has obscured people’s ability to consider the actual data and facts about the situation.
The spark for this outpouring of unsavory sentiments was the assault on October 31, 2024 in Church Square Park, but the resulting fire has centered around other issues entirely, including vilifying minority communities and the unhoused, maligning the Hoboken Shelter, and embracing feelings over facts.
These trends are alarming. They also fail to address the relevant issues raised by the assault. I write to urge my neighbors, my fellow Hobokenites, to pursue more productive avenues of conversation.
First, it is important to recognize that Hoboken is a notably safe city, with below-average crime rates and the lowest rates of traffic injuries in the nation.
Like many Hoboken kids, my ten-year-old daughter feels comfortable walking to and from school, local parks, and friends’ houses without adult supervision. When I speak with friends from other towns, they cannot believe that this is possible.
Against that background, the October assault – a horrific although singular and non-deadly event – was enough to prompt the city to hold a public safety meeting on November 18.
Unfortunately, the meeting and much subsequent commentary did not seriously engage with the public safety issues.
Incredibly, some people criticized the police chief and mayor for providing data and information about the situation, which is necessary to consider before taking any policy actions.
Others revealed biases that had nothing to do with the incident. Some complained about food delivery workers being from foreign countries, for example, while others endorsed profiling, suggesting that “we know which people to look out for in this town.”
Commentary on local social media, such as Facebook groups and Reddit, has been even more explicit in airing anti-minority sentiments.
Equally upsetting has been observing how few Hobokenites are willing to call out racism in our community conversations.
Additionally, in recent weeks, many Hoboken residents have displayed bigotry against the unhoused, casually labelling all homeless people as undesirable, unwanted, and criminals.
In my view, villainizing the homeless is a form of prejudice and, like all prejudices, reflects poorly on the slanderers rather than on the targets. It also makes it harder, not easier, to discuss solutions.
The Hoboken Shelter is the major group addressing homelessness in Hoboken, an acute problem caused by increases in the cost of housing.
At present, the shelter sleeps 50 people nightly, serves upwards of 500 meals daily, and provides 1,000 showers per week. Behind each number is an individual, who could be any one of us.
Many Hoboken residents are only one or two events away from a cascade effect that would leave us without a roof over our heads.
After one becomes homeless, getting back into housing is difficult, and the Hoboken Shelter excels at transitioning guests into permanent housing.
In 2023, they permanently housed multiple people every week. That’s a remarkable achievement.
There is no question that the presence of the shelter improves the homelessness situation, both for the unhoused and for the community at large.
However, in recent weeks, the shelter has been repeatedly impugned, despite having no connection to the October assault.
Many housed residents of Hoboken do not want to hear facts about the shelter, however.
A common refrain in Hoboken at present is “I feel unsafe,” and no amount of citing crime statistics or pointing to hard data appears able to displace the centrality of impressionistic sentiments.
Incredulously, some Hobokenites consider it offensive–the equivalent of the middle finger–to use facts to assess safety in the city.
In my view, we must not privilege feelings over facts for determining policy. Data should guide safety measures in the city moving forward, and neither anecdotes nor opinions offer comparable guidance.
Additionally, when we consider feelings, we should value those of all in our community equally. But those clamoring to have their feelings heard and validated at present disregard the feelings of others.
They rail against delivery workers in town and the unhoused, but never ask how either group feels about being maligned. The message communicated is that some people’s feelings matter more than others.
I want to live in a Hoboken where everyone is valued and can thrive, and I think most Hoboken residents agree with me.
I’m sure that there were far more people enjoying Hoboken’s 35 parks on the evening of November 18 than were present at City Hall’s public safety meeting to hear the pearl clutching about how unsafe a vocal few consider those parks to be.
Some parents have proclaimed Church Square Park particularly unsafe in recent weeks. But I visit that park regularly and see that it hosts hundreds of kids and caregivers daily.
Through their actions, Hoboken residents are showing the dominant assessment that our city is safe and vibrant. Hoboken is not perfect, but the way to solve its problems is with a spirit of charity and respect for all the people that make up this community.
Audrey Truschke is a resident of Hoboken and a member of the Hoboken Shelter Board. Her day job is being a professor at Rutgers.
Don’t guilt us for the Shelter’s failures
Someone should check out other interesting posts from this author.
She has been discredit so many times, to say that someone with a real doctorate degree should be smarter is to say the least.
She’s been discredited but is overdue for one notable aspect: being completely clueless on the Ravi Terror Flier!
She’s not only out to lunch; she resides in her taxpayer-paid Ivory Tower looking down on you the Hoboken citizens who dare to speak out. She’s a typical out of touch Leftist academic and a clear and present danger to common sense governance. These are the people who greatly undermine Western civilization and urban living. Everything from backing Hoboken as a “Sanctuary City” which is in flagrant violation of America law to cashless bail for dangerous criminals.
When people in Hoboken are being attacked and hospitalized in broad daylight the public voicing consternation and anger is not the problem. If this propels a public debate on homelessness and the shelter, that’s fine. Let’s have it. We’ve seen unaccountable, bad policy leading to these ugly events in Hoboken courtesy of people like Audrey.
You can find Audrey when she’s not defending corrupt Ravi governance on Bluesky where leftists retreat to stay in their “safe space” bubbles so they don’t feel threatened by the “little people” who dare challenge their destructive, anti-family policies.
https://youtube.com/shorts/fwSQtheN0CU?si=cyip0W0ZGmKoDKoV
“I’m as mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore !”
Having attended and watched many public meetings and hearings through the years, my take was that the 11/18 event was part “unchecked anger” over the Church Square incident and part, for some people, frustration over the way the City is being managed. Much of Hoboken’s business is conducted behind closed doors and there is a notable lack of transparency around many issues, with ill conceived “surveys” employed to salve the public’s woundned psyches. There are lawsuits galore, unifinished projects, floods, congestion and now a growing sense that Hoboken has become less safe than it once was. Compounding the issue is the fact that many of the points discussed the other night, in anger, have been addressed in a more civil fashion during periodic CAPS meetings; opening up the “Kearny Facility” as a partial solve for the homeless problem has been discussed FOR YEARS.
Yes, some of the tone was hostile and, perhaps, inappropriate, though the public outcry should be evaluated in the context of what has, or hasn’t, been happening over the past several years. The Adminsitration spoke too soon and without a clear understanding of what being a “Sanctuary City” means. Hoboken is not alone on this — but the solution will have to come with help from Trenton and Hudson County; clear policies inside the City, enforcement supported by all levels of government and broader support from HudCo on resource allocations. Frankly, we don’t do this type of thing very well – silos and political agendas typically get in the way. At this point, that is simply not a good answer — nor is it one that the public should have to live with.
Exactly ! The shelter is a 501c3 and it needs to be regulated by State and Federal authorities before Hoboken becomes a toilet like San Francisco. The Hoboken Shelter is a dangerous place just like the internet.
The current Mayor re opened Constituent Services to act as liaison between government and to protect the rights of all citizens except the homeless. The Hoboken Shelter is not under the jurisdiction of the City of Hoboken and it’s residents are oppressed and scared to speak out against the shelters illegal policies in fear of retaliation of the Reverand’s two tier justice system. His select “crew” does what it wants. If the shelter is worried about it’s image on the outside, it should address the issues on the inside.
If there are enough people telling you something is the matter with your pie , something is the matter with your pie . Most people that bring their dog to the dog park pick up after their dog while people at the shelter don’t know how to flush the toilet there , at the library, hospital and park bathroom.
Respect is like stage time, it’s earned NOT deserved .
This op-ed is a crock of shit.
This dingbat is a professor at our state college? That explains a lot, actually.
Move all the shelters onto the Rutgers campus. Have them panhandle the college kids, instead of random folks at Newport or Washington St. Have them sit in the college’s library instead of Hoboken’s. It’d be a great learning experience for our future leaders.
Why didnt this elitist race baiting lunatic come to the public meeting and voice this in person?If this who us on the shelter board, no wonder its such a mess.
The shelter is clearly on a PR campaign trying to shame any criticism
Admit what’s broken- stop blaming victims of shelters failures
City should send Zoning Inspectors in for capacity
Board of Health for bed bugs
Police check if it serves sex offenders next to Two schools
Hi, I’m Azy Brown, also on the Shelter board and one of the main people behind our current “PR Campaign”.
We are not trying to “shame criticism.” There is a lack of awareness around what we do and who comes to the Shelter, so we are educating with facts and addressing misconceptions.
At the Public Meeting, we had 7 Shelter representatives, which included our Shelter’s Executive Director, board president, our outreach director, and other board members. We did not have an opportunity to speak during the public safety portion of the meeting but 4 of us spoke during the city council meeting after.
Homelessness is a national problem. The Shelter is an active part of the solution in Hoboken. So far in 2024, we have found permanent housing for 150+ people – moving them off the streets. We also feed and provide services for the working poor. We provide Shelter for 50 people daily, serve 500 meals weekly, and provide 1k showers a week.
We check every person who comes to utilize our services against all sex offender lists.
Bedbugs are a non-issue at the Shelter, and never have been an issue.
The only time we are “over capacity” at the Shelter is when NJ declares a Code Blue, allowing us to take in more people during freezing temperatures.
The truth is, without the Shelter, we would have a bigger homeless population.
I invite you to come with me to the Shelter to serve a meal! Email me at secretary@hobokenshelter.org
What a moron
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/from-max-muller-to-audrey-truschke-bigotry-and-lies-in-the-guise-of-academic-freedom-11011181.html
It is known that the shelter does serve known sex offenders that are registered and within the school radius.
Hi, I’m Azy Brown, also on the Shelter board and one of the main people behind our current “PR Campaign”.
We are not trying to “shame criticism.” There is a lack of awareness around what we do and who comes to the Shelter, so we are educating with facts and addressing misconceptions.
At the Public Meeting, we had 7 Shelter representatives, which included our Shelter’s Executive Director, board president, our outreach director, and other board members. We did not have an opportunity to speak during the public safety portion of the meeting but 4 of us spoke during the city council meeting after.
Homelessness is a national problem. The Shelter is an active part of the solution in Hoboken. So far in 2024, we have found permanent housing for 150+ people – moving them off the streets. We also feed and provide services for the working poor. We provide Shelter for 50 people daily, serve 500 meals weekly, and provide 1k showers a week.
We check every person who comes to utilize our services against all sex offender lists.
Bedbugs are a non-issue at the Shelter, and never have been an issue.
The only time we are “over capacity” at the Shelter is when NJ declares a Code Blue, allowing us to take in more people during freezing temperatures.
The truth is, without the Shelter, we would have a bigger homeless population.
I invite you to come with me to the Shelter to serve a meal! Email me at secretary@hobokenshelter.org
Ma’m, you sound like the Leftist Democrats who blame the voters for an outcome of democracy they don’t like.
Have you thought about moving to San Francisco or a “Defund the Police” Progressive utopia? Because we’d really welcome your departure to that Ravi Bhalla type “sanctuary.”
Please take him and his corrupt crew with you!
To Audrey Truschke, thank you for your thoughtful letter. I am a long time resident of Hoboken, over 30 years, my three children were born and grew up here. While the deplorable attack in Church Square Park should never have happened, neither should we overreact as a community, especially not at the expense of innocent people who just happen to be less wealthy, less educated or from a different racial background.
We should also strongly condemn the vitriol, divisiveness and ad hominem attacks. I am not in any way connected or affiliated with the shelter but truly appreciate and recognize the invaluable work they do in feeding and housing our neighbors in need. Having said that, it appears that the perpetrator has not been associated with the shelter in at least 18 months and, it is not clear whether he was or wasn’t homeless. Asserting without knowledge that the perpetrator was homeless only reinforces negative stereotypes against the homeless at the expense of civility and mutual respect.
When negative stereotype prove true what do you do.
Make excuses ?
I am also doing the long term living in Hoboken, living for 12 years. My husband and I did the needful and bought our house for $1.65M in the midtown where we have been living raising our children also. Because we are minorities we are often attacked. So that makes me sad.
So Mr. Nanou, I am also having the opinion but I am not aggreeful to you! I think we are no longer safe in Hoboken and we are thinking of moving to the Edison or to Robbinsville nearest BAPS.
But we can do better for the Hoboken. Even the poor people and the other minorities like me should be treated with respect. We must all open our home, teek hai, and also opening our hearts.
And, yes Nanou, let us also do the needful and treat each other respectfully. As Waheguru says, “manas ki jaat sabe eke pehchanbo” means love all humans even the filthy Shudras, Ad-Dharmi, and Muslims – each is deserving of my love – especially homeless shelter ones.
Can you please tell us more about your safety concerns?
Also, who are these Hoboken Democrats attacking you? That isn’t right.
A 1000 showers a week ? Really ? When was the last time Audrey took a look at the mold in the bathrooms and the leaky pipe in the “dining ” area ? What about fire code violations ? No bed bug problem, Really ? How about Scabies ?
The Hoboken Shelter is a primitive bureaucracy run by former felons.
It’s understaffed at night and their DO NOT CALL THE POLICE POLICY forced on the residents is a violation of their constitutional civil right to due process.
At night it’s understaffed and former prisoners that are not staff give commands . They bully , harass , intimidate rob and assault and sell drugs to new residents. In addition the former felons can come and go as they please, never abide to curfew come in at any hour intoxicated. They have a place to eat, sleep, get high and rewarded with new merchandise that they can sell as payment for their services.
Dont let the Church and Reverand aka ” Director of Operations” fool you out of your joyous and generous contributions . The crew skims off the top and those truly in need fight over crumbs. 1 former felon has 4 lockers for his merchandise . Others get nothing. During the day and night staff members act as POPULISTS amongst the dealers and felons. Understanding it’s a home and social club for criminals and longtime residents gaming the system. Who do they think they are fooling ? Out of touch and out of mind ! They make it impossible for any moral or decent person going thru a turbulent time to show gratitude. It’s a 501c3 that does what it wants . It’s run like a business . With 36 board members .
The Hoboken Shelters propaganda machine on Instagram actually features a wanted individual and another thats back at the shelter 1 month after receiving keys to his new home. He was in court February 18th 2025 . The other darling has a warrant out for his arrest after receiving his keys on New Years Eve . His warrant for as issued February 18th as well by chief Justice Benjamin Choi.