Hoboken mayoral candidates Mike Russo and Emily Jabbour called on the city to immediately reinstate Brian Crimmins as fire chief in light of a letter from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission saying it would be criminal not to do so.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It’s shameful that the administration has continued to play politics and defy court orders in the case of Chief Crimmins, dragging out a legal fight that residents cannot afford and hampering our first responders. The City Council voted two months ago urging the administration to abide by the court order, yet Emily Jabbour refused to support that vote,” Russo, the 3rd Ward councilman, said in a statement.
“As we elect our next Mayor on December 2, the people of Hoboken have a decision to make: elect a Mayor who will lead from the front, or someone who will stand on the sidelines when it matters most.”
In September, the Hoboken City Council voted 4-3(1), with Council President Jim Doyle, 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, and Councilman-at-Large Joe Quintero voting no and Jabbour, a councilwoman-at-large, abstaining.
Back in May 2021, Crimmins was placed on administrative leave and Peskens was named acting chief before returning to work as a firefighter in April 2023, before an administrative law judge and the NJCSC ordered his reinstatement, all as HCV first reported.
“The New Jersey Civil Service Commission has made it clear: Mayor Ravi Bhalla must comply with the court order and reinstate Brian Crimmins as Hoboken Fire Chief. His continued refusal to follow the law is unacceptable and a disservice to Hoboken residents,” Jabbour said in her own statement.
“This situation has dragged on far too long. The Civil Service Commission has warned that Hoboken will face serious penalties if Mayor Bhalla continues to ignore the directive – penalties that could cost taxpayers. Hoboken families shouldn’t have to pay for the mayor’s failure to act.”
She further stated that this situation would never happen under her administration, which would focus on strengthening public safety.
City spokeswoman Marilyn Baer declined to comment on the matter yesterday since it involved personnel.
You know it’s getting pretty bad for Emily and her campaign. She had a chance to act on a recent vote on this issue and she thought she’d be cute about it and vote to abstain. Now, she’s publicly saying something different in a desperate bid for votes. We know Russo is what he is but watching Emily implode with her Ravi hate and division deception campaign is spectacular to watch.
A pox on both candidate houses, the Horseman says:
https://hobokenelection.blogspot.com/2025/11/zimmer-promised-no-more-ravi-but-emily.html
This gonna make some mad.