The Hoboken City Council narrowly passed a resolution calling for the group led by council-at-large candidate Liz Urtecho to withdraw litigation against the Blue Violets dispensary as the case awaits a New Jersey Supreme Court hearing.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The measure, sponsored by 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, notes the Hoboken for Responsible Cannabis group is spearheaded by Urtecho, who is on 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher’s slate and calls on her to support the withdrawal.
Blue Violets won the appeal of the Hudson County Superior Court ruling that said the business violates Hoboken’s 600-foot rule, which the council eliminated at their last meeting, as HCV first reported.
“Thank you for highlighting this issue and urging for the right thing to be done,” Blue Violets co-owner Lauren Thompson said during public comment, noting they have been open for about a year-and-a-half with zero issues.
“It’s been hard enough to start a small business here in Hoboken, let alone trying to operate, let alone trying to thrive, let alone with a lawsuit that is continuing to loom over my head,” Thompson explained to applause.
Cohen, who defeated Urtecho in the 2023 5th Ward council race by a margin of about 57-43 and is backing Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour for mayor, recognized that the resolution was non-binding and therefore ultimately just a suggestion.
“This relates to litigation that should end, and it calls on the parties who are suing Blue Violets and the Planning Board to drop the case. We can’t force anyone to do anything … It’s crystal clear they’re legally allowed to operate there,” he declared.
“They also happen to be an excellent business. There are no concerns about their operations: Let them run their business.”
He also noted that the two percent sales tax on cannabis gets allocated to a city fund.
“It’s time to do what’s right and stop the lawsuit. Let this business thrive in the city of Hoboken,” 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo, another mayoral candidate and resolution co-sponsor, said.
“I’m the last person who likes lawsuits. However, we’re asking a citizen to waive their rights to pursue whatever legal action they want to pursue,” explained 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, the fourth council member running for mayor.
While he supported repealing the 600-foot rule, stating that he felt the litigation has run it’s course, he said he felt it was improper to ask someone to waive their rights to do something that is perfectly legal.
The measure was approved 4-3(1) with Fisher, Ramos, and 1st Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano voting no. Council President Jim Doyle abstained.
“ … Ms. Urtecho and her organization are viciously targeting a small business, smearing its reputation with fear-mongering, and forcing it to unnecessarily spend over $100,000 on legal fees defending a misguided lawsuit. Now that the City Council and the Courts have spoken, it is time for Liz and Hoboken for Responsible Cannabis to cut their losses,” Cohen said in a statement today.
“Liz, who has largely self-funded the litigation, needs to end the harassment … I am encouraged by the countless residents who are sick and tired of Liz and Tiffanie’s reefer madness. I encourage members of the community to make their voices heard and sign the petition urging Liz and Hoboken for Responsible Cannabis to drop their case against Blue Violet,” he added.
Mayor Ravi Bhalla said their motivations for the ongoing court case are “vindictive” and “completely out of touch with reality.
