Ahead of a pivotal vote by the Hoboken City Council on Monday that will determine whether or not there will be a rent control referendum on the ballot, both sides are coming out swinging.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We don’t normally email everyone we have contact information for in a given geography, but because you’ve taken action with us or a coalition entity DSA is part of, and because you’re in Hoboken, we’re sounding the alarm,” the Hudson County Democratic Socialists of America wrote in an email blast on Wednesday.
” … After dubious volunteers collected signatures from Hoboken residents under the guise of expanding affordable housing, the Hoboken City Council has been baited into a ‘compromise’ amendment that would allow landlords to raise the rent 25%, 50% and 100% between tenancies! This all comes from the work of powerful interests looking to gut rent control even further!”
They have also urged residents to contact the nine city council members and Mayor Ravi Bhalla to speak out against the compromise, which is up for second reading on Monday.
The first reading was approved unanimously (8-0) last week, with 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen absent.
In an email sent from Mile Square Taxpayers Association Executive Director Ron Simoncini to Council President Jen Giattino this morning, he urged her to ignore the noise coming from people who live outside of the Mile Square City.
“The Petitioners entered sincere negotiations with Council President Giattino and Members Doyle, Jabbour and Fisher, each of whom contributed to the ultimate set of provisions that were agreed to,” he wrote.
“There was a first reading that passed 8-0. There were no substantive comments in the public hearing that should cause any member to withdraw their support for the duly negotiated provisions, only fear mongering and election threats in order that the Democratic Socialists of America could achieve a political and ideological victory at the cost of equitable housing policy and development of affordable housing in Hoboken.”
He also expressed concerns that Hoboken Rent Leveling and Stabilization Vice Chair Jenny Labendz was allowing the Hudson County DSA to advocate for their position via her Facebook Group “Hoboken Tenants,” which includes an Action Network petition.
He says this is a clear conflict of interest for Labendz and continues that the vast majority of those opposing the compromise live in Jersey City, many who live in the Portside Towers and have engaged in litigation with their landlord, Equity Residential.
“Also attached here is an example of the ‘wanted-style’ posters that have been circulating in Hoboken. There is no place for the use of such language and imagery to threaten public and private individuals to advance an agenda,” he concluded.
“It’s hooliganism and it’s the basest form of civic engagement. We would ask that you listen to Hoboken residents and weigh your policy development based on their needs and not the political hobbyists who are currently activated on our issue.”
In their own separate email blasts this afternoon, Bhalla and Cohen, who have both previously come out against the referendum, encouraged feedback at Monday’s council meeting, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
“In early July, the special interest group ‘Mile Square Taxpayer Association’ was deemed to have received sufficient petition signatures to put a referendum on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, which, if adopted by voters, would permit all rent-controlled
units in Hoboken to be decontrolled (i.e., move to market rate) upon a tenant vacancy for a one-time fee of $2,500 (payable to Hoboken’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund),” Bhalla wrote.
“If adopted by voters, it would likely lead to the eventual elimination of thousands of
below-market units from Hoboken’s housing market. During a referendum election, all registered voters in Hoboken have the opportunity to vote on a ballot question posed to voters.”
He continued that per state law, the council has an opportunity to bypass a referendum by approving amendments to the city’s rent control ordinance that the petitioners have agreed upon, with a deadline of August 9th.
Under Hoboken’s current law, when a tenant who has occupied a unit for at least three years voluntarily vacates a rent-controlled apartment, a landlord/property owner is permitted to apply for no more than a 25% increase in the monthly rent (otherwise known as vacancy decontrol) from the previous legal rent, for the next tenant.
If the referendum occurs and is approved, it would allow all rent-controlled units to go to market rate (upon vacancy) for a one-time fee of $2,500, which is payable to the Hoboken Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
As far as the ordinance that will be voted on by the governing body, the measure would require landlords seeking to be permitted to increase rents based on the schedule below to notify the city and pay a fee of either $100 (for currently registered units) or $3,500 (for unregistered units).
After opting into this program, landlords would be permitted a 25% increase upon vacancy of a unit that was occupied by the same tenant(s) for 2 years or greater, accompanied by a fee of $500.
They would also be permitted a 50% increase upon vacancy of a unit that was occupied by the same tenant(s) for 5 years or greater, accompanied by a fee of $1,000.
Finally, a 100% increase, or an increase up to $1,750, upon vacancy of a unit that was occupied by the same tenant(s) for 10 years or greater, at the choice of the landlord, accompanied by a fee of $2,000, would also be allowed.
In yet another email blast, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher blamed the current predicament on Bhalla, noting that a rent control compromise was approved in 2023, but was vetoed in April of last year.
There were comments from residents who want to be able to stay here, and there weren’t more because no one got a lot of notice about the special meeting. I think people were alerted a few days before.
msta does not want to go to a vote because they know they will lose. Again.
simoncini is scum.
The compromise is a good one and should pass. The alternative is not good.
The HFHA is basically a 1 woman show. They have Cheryl, Mary and Dan. And a few …errr friends who they met at RC board meetings or through work
The DSA group that is threatening and fillibustering the council hearings are from Jersey City.
The same thugs who protest Israel and support the hate speech against Jews of late.
Not sure if it’s possible by wonder if the guy who painted on the Synagogue is a member of DSA?
You keep saying that but its not true. There were people at the last meeting from Hoboken who weren’t Dan, Cheryl, Mary, and still live IN HOBOKEN for now. Maybe you want them out?? Guess who doesn’t live here: RON SIMONCINI WHO IS CREATED THE DECONTROL!