The Hoboken City Council approved a the second reading of an ordinance to impose a moratorium on new parklets through March 31st, 2024, while a removal attempt failed, as the city continues to ramp up their rat mitigation efforts.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
During public testimony, Rose Marie Markle was confused about how the council was proceeding forward, given that there were three different parklet ordinances on the agenda.
“The introduction is not a ban on parklets. It’s a removal. All establishments could reapply. It’s just a removal over the winter months,” 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo explained about his ordinance up for first reading.
His proposal sought to ban all parklets until at least the second quarter of 2024.
“I have had issues with the rats,” Frank Palmisano, the owner of owner of Il Tavolo began.
“I caught 14 rats in and around my garbage area. I covered all the little holes. I put out traps. I’m constantly spending money on baits. I haven’t seen a rat since June.”
He continued that regardless of parklets, there’s a rat problem in the city.
“You have to keep them clean. I put fencing, gating around all the areas they can get under: You need a plan. I run a good, honest restaurant,” he declared to applause.
Owen Finnegan, the owner of Finnegan’s Pub, said removing parklets would not suddenly solve the city’s rat problems and that asking businesses to start over in the new year would likely come with a cost of about $25,000.
“The solution is more garbage pick-up. If the parklet goes away, I’ll have to let some employees go,” he added, noting that parklets are very popular in the city.
Anthony Pino, the owner of Anthony David’s, agreed and said that there are plenty of other community partners who aren’t putting their best foot forward.
“Acme has 2,000 pumpkins sitting on its doorstep. It would take an initial investment from everyone to clean the streets. Everything needs to be power washed. At our restaurant we power-wash every week. We put up a gate last week. 30 percent of my business is from the parklet,” he explained.
Hoboken Business Alliance Executive Director Roxanne Earley, who came out against the approved ordinance that ended up being vetoed by Mayor Ravi Bhalla last month, said she thought the moratorium made the most sense.
“We have $139,000 invested in explicit rodent mitigation strategies. We have been baiting in 192 catch places,” she added, noting that a lot is also being spent on sanitation workers and more garbage cans. She further questioned the detriment of parklets here.
Council President Emily Jabbour that the moratorium, sponsored by 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco and 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, explained the local legislation further.
“Some were done certainly more thoughtfully and with these sorts of design guidelines in place, it would give us this five-month period to make sure we’re working together,” she said.
“People want to enjoy a day outside eating at their favorite neighborhood restaurant. The problem came from is that the city all around wanted what was best for the business community. Everybody’s interest is in seeing parklets continue. We’re coming up with a compromise,” DeFusco stated.
He continued that restaurants will also have to go through additional steps and checks that should alleviate the rat problem.
“If you can keep your parklets clean, you can keep your parklets … I think it’s a false choice to say we have to choose between businesses and residents,” Cohen added.
Councilman-at-Large Joe Quintero reacted to one one speaker that expressed being disillusioned with the process.
“There’s a difference between not hearing you and not agreeing on the solution. We’re looking for a comprehensive approach and not going to extreme measures. There’s been a lot of confusion on what’s going on with parklets,” he rationalized.
Quintero noted parklets came about due to COVID-19. Due to their popularity, they were made permanent with the end of COVID, and since then, the governing body passed a law imposing cleaning standards on parklets.
“Let’s not all destroy something we love,” the councilman added.
6th Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino said she fought hard to help businesses get through the COVID-19 crisis.
“My whole goal was how do I get businesses through the pandemic. The parklets didn’t cause the rodent problem. But they do enable it,” she noted
“I’m happy there was a compromise made. I don’t think we need to add more parklets. So, I’m happy to support this ordinance.”
2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said the HBA was not stepping up to address the issue.
“Now they are. Because of all the public. It doesn’t affect everyone the same. We know there are hotspots. The moratorium has an end date. Everyone’s help is needed,” she stated.
“It’s the late night bar crowd that is doing a lot of this. It’s that time when our code enforcement officers aren’t working,” referring to drunken residents throwing trash on the street after the bars close.
On the concerns about overnight hijinks, Jabbour said the city wants to hire overnight investigators as well to address it.
4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos said he worked to sound the alarm on rats months ago and basically no one paid attention.
“I did not support the permanency of it. Together hopefully, we can get our heads around it. This is a whole new level of it. Now that’s it uptown, let’s do something about it. I think we’re at half a million in extermination fees right now.”
He was in favor of Russo’s more aggressive approach to banning parklets.
“How many health inspectors do we have on right now?” Russo asked.
“Four,” Business Administrator Jason Freeman said.
“The parklets under our zoning laws were never said to be permanent, they were always supposed to be movable. We have rodents all over the city. Rats! They’re everywhere! We’re not saying they’re all of the problem. Garbage pick-up needs to increase,” Russo replied.
Russo added some businesses are being more responsive than others.
“I understand that sucks for those who are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. I have a problem with not being able to get to the street and clean it. Our street sweeper can’t drive down the block and clean that street. We need to change how we’re dealing with them. Anyone who said this reactionary lied to you!” Russo exclaimed.
Jabbour said they have imposed penalties on the worse offenders in the city.
“We’re not looking the other way. I’m really hopeful we can all get together and collaborate,” she stated.
Ultimately, the council passed the moratorium unanimously (9-0), as they did on a non-binding resolution vowing to work together with the HBA on this matter.
Russo’s ordinance to remove parklets through at least April 1st failed on 1st reading, 7-2, with him and Ramos voting yes, the same tally for another first reading introduced by Russo that sought to have parklet owners remove their wooden deck flooring.
Rats Rats Rats with the winter weather they will look to get into homes.
Street eaterys another botched, rushed, poorly thought out decision by the Bhalla Administration has ended up bitting Hoboken in the a**
Funny, no one ever mentions the money the City is getting from these businesses, which is substantial. I was in favor of the street-eateries and parklets to help businesses through the pandemic, but it’s time to turn our attention back to the Hoboken residents who lost parking and gained rats as a result. Now, with the City’s inflated budget and scores of lawsuits to pay for, not to mention the importance of the support these businesses provide to political campaigns, I fear we are stuck with these street-eateries and parklets. Yet another example of this administration’s poor planning and disregard for its residents. Vote them out.