Hoboken has announced the establishment of the Department of Climate Action and Innovation following a unanimous vote (9-0) by the city council last year.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The new department will be led by Chief Sustainability Officer Jennifer Gonzalez, the city’s former Director of Environmental Services.
As a part of the reorganization, the Division of Health will be consolidated under the department of Public Safety, and the Divisions of Cultural Affairs and Senior Services will be overseen by the city’s business administrator.
“The establishment of the Department of Climate Action & Innovation underscores our unwavering dedication to the well-being of our community and the preservation of Hoboken’s future,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“By creating this department, headed by Director Gonzalez, we aim to make Hoboken the most prepared, adaptable, and climate-ready community in New Jersey, while setting an example for cities of similar size worldwide. Our focus on innovation and sustainable solutions will allow us to further enhance our city’s resiliency, while also identifying cost-saving measures to save taxpayer dollars. Director Gonzalez is the ideal person to lead this effort, bringing a wealth of expertise and commitment to the forefront of our efforts.”
The Department of Climate Action & Innovation will proactively address flooding caused by rising sea levels and climate change to ensure the city’s preparedness for an ever-changing climate landscape.
The department will also work to identify additional, environmentally friendly cost-saving measures that will save taxpayer dollars.
As part of this reorganization, the existing Department of Environmental Services will be renamed the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Public Works, with Diana Aviles, the former deputy director of Transportation and Parking, at the helm.
“Diana’s impressive track record of enhancing efficiencies within the Department of Transportation and Parking, coupled with her adept management and supervision of a substantial staff uniquely positions her for success as the new Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Public Works,” Bhalla.
“I have full confidence that Diana will work to address resident needs, fostering diverse programming, and elevating the overall quality of life in our city.”
To facilitate efficient cooperation between city departments on all resiliency and sustainability initiatives, each of the city’s seven directors will appoint a liaison to the Department of Climate Action & Innovation.
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What an absolute disgraceful waste of time and resources. Ravi should put some effort into doing his job and stopping the rat problem instead of pushing pseudo-climate warming nonsense.
Ravi is wasting Hoboken’s taxpayer dollars to get votes from the indoctrinated climate change, uh, the global warming sheep.
Who paid for that trip?
Climate change is real but this is just to raise money from Democrats for his campaign, while he keeps lying to Hoboken and ignoring the poor. Wait til people find out all the promises he has broken to everyone in Hoboken. He thinks the truth won’t get out but 7 months is a long time.