Hoboken 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, a candidate for mayor, is calling for safer streets in the Mile Square City after a woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in a viral video.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I was coming home from the bar on Saturday night, I was working from downtown, towards like Jersey City, and I was on FaceTime with a friend and I had somebody run up behind me and they started walking next to me and I turned to look and they said something and I didn’t understand what they said so I said ‘what?'” Kathleen Marie said in a TikTok video reposted to the Only In Hoboken Instagram page.
“And he shoved his hand up my skirt and he grabbed me in an incredibly violating way. Me being the person that I am, I don’t let things like that go, so I chased him and that is really where my injuries are resulting from. I fell in pursuit and essentially have road rash everywhere but I just wanted to make because I think that I am a very strong person … but this really shook me up.”
Ramos expressed dismay over what occurred and said this is just the latest example of how Hoboken’s streets need to be safer, which he pledged to do if elected.
“What happened to this woman is unacceptable, and my heart goes out to her. No one should ever feel unsafe walking in our community. This incident is a reminder that we must take real, concrete steps to make our streets safer, especially for women and vulnerable residents,” he said in a statement.
He also emphasized the need for stronger public safety measures, including improved street lighting, better coordination between Hoboken and Jersey City law enforcement, and increased patrol presence in key walking areas during evening hours.
“Public safety isn’t negotiable. It’s fundamental. I stand with this resident and every person who has experienced harassment or violence in our community. We must ensure that Hoboken and Jersey City are places where everyone can walk without fear,” Ramos concluded.
Hoboken public safety spokeswoman Marci Rubin said the situation occurred early Sunday morning and the isolated incident remains under investigation.
On Sunday, October 5th at approximately 1:45 a.m., the Hoboken Police Department responded to the area of Newark and Grand Streets, on reports of a criminal sexual contact, she told HCV.
An on-scene investigation determined an unknown man approached an individual and touched her inappropriately, by grabbing her buttocks. The Hoboken PD believe this case is isolated and it remains under investigation by the detective bureau, Rubin added.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Officer Jessica Arebalo at ArebaloJ@hobokenpdnj.gov or 201-420-2100 Ext. 3146.
