Part of what makes Hoboken so welcoming for families and individuals of all ages is its strong track record on public safety. While City Hall’s efforts in recent years have brought immense success in reducing property and violent crime, there is still work to be done. With 8 years of experience advocating for residents’ safety as a Councilwoman, I have the know-how to take the lead. As mayor, I would pursue a comprehensive, data-driven approach to public safety to build on past successes and ensure that every member of our community feels safe.

Public Safety

Supporting our Public Safety Teams

As a basic step in our approach to public safety, we must ensure that our police, fire, and emergency response teams have the resources they need to keep Hoboken safe. As mayor, I will:

  • Develop and execute plans for up-to-date HPD and HFD facilities as part of a modern public safety complex.

    • Consolidate all emergency telecommunications operations into a single state-of-the-art facility to strengthen coordination and reliability among police, fire, Office of Emergency Management (OEC), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and 911 telecommunications. Current operations are currently across four different locations, preventing such coordination.

      • Ensure fair contracts for first responders that adequately reward existing employees and attract new personnel.

      • Continue track record of supporting recommendations by the Police Chief and Director of Public Safety with respect to changes to public safety staffing levels and allocation of resources.

      • Strengthen and expand community policing efforts to include youth engagement officers, neighborhood liaisons, and after-school outreach efforts to build trust and visibility.

        • Continue to support existing programs like school resource officers that build trust in police officers.

        • Work with the Fire Marshall to expand proactive fire inspections across the city and combat non-traditional fire risks posed by lithium ion battery devices.

Violent and Property Crimes

Despite some high-profile cases, Hoboken has seen a 40% reduction in violent and property crimes in recent years. This progress has been due to smart policy, not luck, and we must continue to take the issue seriously. In order to build on our prior successes, my administration will:

  • Continue data-informed prevention strategies that allow for a proactive approach to public safety.

  • Ensure adequate lighting and police presence in public parks to deter nighttime criminal activity.

  • Expand the blue light system to the waterfront and explore adding in additional parks beyond the County property (Columbus Park).

    • Work with Stevens to advocate for installation of the blue light system on campus.

Quality of Life Concerns

Outside of violent and property crime, many other behaviors have cropped up that damage the wellbeing of the community. These issues must be taken seriously and attacked at their root, rather than only via a narrow enforcement-focused approach. As mayor, I will:

  • Tackle the threat posed to pedestrians by Ebikes by working with food delivery apps and using geofencing technology to identify and penalize drivers who repeatedly endanger others by riding on the sidewalk or against traffic.

    • Reduce Loitering by Ebike Delivery Drivers on Washington Street: Create a community space for Ebike delivery drivers that would provide restrooms, charging stations, and comfortable rest spaces to attract congregating to this shared space (rather than Washington Street) - paid for and sponsored by the delivery apps.

  • Beautify Common Spaces Around the City: Launch a community-driven graffiti removal and beautification program involving youth, artists, the Arts Council, local businesses, and the Hoboken Business Alliance. Use regular neighborhood meetings and resident feedback from around the City to inform allocation of resources for beautification.

Make Sidewalks CLEAN: Add specific position description for sidewalk cleaning to the ongoing sanitation staff by using portable power wash machines in partnership with the Hoboken Business Alliance in terms of the equipment and staffing.

Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness

Superstorm Sandy is still fresh in many minds when it comes to emergency preparedness. Hoboken needs to continue to invest in the tools and infrastructure changes that help protect residents and prepare for the ongoing negative impacts of emergencies and climate change. To ensure that Hoboken is prepared for emergencies, I will:

  • Hoboken READY Initiative: Empower residents to be ready for emergency situations by developing action plan guides that provide clear instructions on how to handle various emergency scenarios.

    • Create standing partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits to distribute information and resources more quickly when residents need support. For example, the city can designate local businesses as distribution points for clean water during water main breaks.

  • Communication is Key for Preparedness: Enhance communications from public safety teams so that all residents receive timely, accurate information during an emergency - expand sharing of information across all social media platforms (not just X).

    • Create a standard policy on Nixle use and investigate the potential for geographic targeting of alerts. For example when there is a shooting in one neighborhood, create a clear notification system that notifies not just schools, but also day care centers and businesses of this risk. 

    • Introduce strategic monitoring and reporting from notification systems to inform residents of updates that address persistent issues such as water main leaks/breakages, inspection of the waterfront bulkhead, and aging infrastructure.

  • Prepare for Future Storm Events: Ensure the completion of Rebuild by Design in a timely and efficient manner to ensure our community is ready and prepared for natural disasters and the negative impacts of climate control.