Sunday is the perfect chance to catch up on everything that happened during the week — and what a week it was. As always, we’ve got you covered. Among the local headlines — New Jersey residents can pre-register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Hudson Yoga Project to close Hoboken locations, 23-year-old makes history as youngest BOE President, + so much more — keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond:
Jersey City BOE President Making History, Elected at 23
Photo credit: @mussabalijc
Mussab Ali of Jersey City won a seat on the Jersey City Board of Education four years ago and has now been elected as the BOE President at 23 years old. Ali told NJ.com, “It’s one thing to be able to serve on the board. But now to even have the respect of my colleagues to elect me as the president of the board — it’s really kind of unreal.” Click here for more information on Ali and his unique experience.
Hoboken Council Examines Possibility of $3M Jubilee Center
The Jubilee Center located on Jackson Street in Hoboken has provided resources for under-served youth and now the City Council is planning to buy the property with the hopes of expanding its resources. Plans would include increasing community programming, adding a food pantry, and offering PreK classes with the current space. The property was listed in July for $3.35M. You can find more details on NJ.com.
Jersey City Council Caps Third-Party Delivery Fees
The Jersey City Council passed an ordinance that limits third-party delivery fees to a maximum of 15% of the order. This new law replaces a similar law which expired at the end of last year. The council waived the 20-day grace period and has determined this new law should go into effect immediately. The full story was reported via The Hudson Reporter.
Hudson Yoga Project to Close
After over four years of growing a dedicated following, Hudson Yoga Project has announced that it is closing both Hoboken locations and terminating virtual classes at the end of January. “We’ll be honest, this is a tough email for us to send, but one that is necessary. Today we are announcing that we’ve made the decision to close the HYP for the time being. It’s been 10 months since we’ve been able to have our studio doors safely opened, and there is little certainty for when we will be able to open them again. After weighing all possibilities and doing our best to figure out how to navigate the future, we’ve realized that as hard as it is, it’s time to close this chapter.” Click here for the full story.
New Jersey Residents Can Pre-Register for Vaccine
In recent weeks the COVID-19 vaccine has been made available to first responders and political leaders throughout Hoboken and Jersey City. Now, residents can pre-register to receive the vaccine when it’s made available to the public. The required form is available on NJ.health and takes about 15 minutes to fill out. Click here for more details.
Hoboken Man Charged in Tire Slashing Spree
In the morning of January 1st, Hoboken Police Officer Joseph DiMartino was stopped by a man who found his car with three flat tires and had noticed several others in the same condition. It was discovered that 12 vehicles in the vicinity of 9th Street and Willow Avenue in Hoboken had been similarly damaged, the majority with 4 flat tires. Hoboken Police have identified 42-year-old Obneak Walker as the suspect and have charged him with Criminal Mischief. Tap Into has the full story.
Jersey City Public School Remote Through April
Amid another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Superintendent Franklin Walker announced that Jersey City Public Schools will continue with virtual learning until the second marking period ends on April 21st. Jersey City students have not had in-person instruction since the initial switch to online learning in March. This new development marks the third time the decision has been made to postpone re-opening schools. NJ.com has more details.
Triplemint Launches in Hoboken
Software-powered real estate brokerage company, Triplemint has opened an office in Hoboken, which is good news for anyone who has been through the process of searching for an apartment. Headquartered in New York City, Triplemint expanded into the Hudson County real estate scene in 2019. The retail space is located at 331 Washington Street where clients can come meet the team and start searching for a new home. Click here for all the details on this new Hoboken business.
Jersey City Police Chief to Retire After 34 Years
In a joint statement made this week, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Public Safety Director James Shea, and Police Director Tawana Moody announced the retirement of Chief Michael Kelly, effective February 1, 2021. During his 34 years of service, Chief Kelly received a number of accolades including multiple Excellent Police Service Awards, Commendations, a Combat Cross, and Honorable Mention Valor Award.
Work it Out Fitness Studios Closure of Hoboken Studios
Another sad fitness studio closing this week — Work it Out, the boutique gym fitness studios in Hoboken, announced the closure of its two locations. The Willow Avenue and River Street locations have been physically closed throughout the pandemic, and its owner, Noël Fiorentinos, announced the permanent closure of the two locations. Read more here.
Subcontracted Concierge at The Juliana Protest Wage Cuts
Frontline concierges at the 128-unit luxury apartment building, The Juliana are protesting a recent wage cut after the building owner ended a contract with Guardian Service Industries and brought in Planned Companies. “After telling us that we were essential for so many months as we served this building during the pandemic, AEW not only terminated our contracts, but their new contractor left me out of the job I loved,” said Jessica Wrisby, a concierge who had been working at The Juliana for over two years. “This isn’t the treatment we deserve after fighting for our rights and risking our lives every day,” said the press release.
Workers and supporters gathered outside The Juliana Thursday afternoon to protest the mistreatment of employees, demanding the owners restore wages and rehire workers forced off the job.
Jersey City Residents to Pay Fee for Trash + Recycling Pickup
According to the MUA’s Board of Commissioners, a new fee would go into effect on January 1st, 2021 should the City decide to assign to JCMUA its contract with Regional Industries, Inc. for the city’s waste management. It’s unclear if the contract has been assigned and when exactly residents can expect to begin paying the fee which will be based on residents’ water usage. More details are available via NJ.com.
New Convenience Store to Open on Newark Avenue in Jersey City
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Signage was recently put into place for a new convenience store, AP Convenience at 298 Newark Avenue, between 3rd Street and Brunswick in Jersey City. The location is the former home of Roflcopter which closed in 2020.
Unique Winter Outdoor Dining Solutions
Outdoor dining was all well and good in the fall when the weather was mild, but moving into the cold winter months, restaurants are coming up with ways to stay open and keep customers comfortable. Hoboken Girl has rounded up a list of unique winter outdoor dining setups to enjoy this winter season.
Hoboken Mourns the Loss of 2 More Residents to COVID-19
On January 6th, the Hoboken Health Department reported two deaths as a result of the coronavirus. The individuals were both women in their 80s. The total of COVID-19-related deaths in Hoboken has reached 37 since last spring. At this point, Hoboken has had 2,082 positives cases, 32 of which were reported on January 5th. The Hudson Reporter has more details.
Hoboken First Responders to Receive Vaccine
Glad to share our Hoboken partners, @RiversideMedGrp and @CarePointHealth will be vaccinating our first responders from @HobokenPD and @HobokenFire over the next several days. Grateful to our medical staff at both locations for helping protect our frontline workers.
— Ravinder S. Bhalla (@RaviBhalla) January 7, 2021
Members of the Hoboken Police Department and Fire Department will be among those receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in the next few days. Riverside Medical Group and CarePoint Health have provided the necessary facilities to make it possible for first responders and essential workers to be vaccinated in recent weeks.
CarePoint to Sell Hoboken + Jersey City Hospitals to Investment Group
KPC Global Management, a California-based investment group, has signed a letter of intent to purchase the operations of Christ Hospital in Jersey City and Hoboken University Medical Center. The company owns assets worth over $10 billion, according to the KPC website, which includes schools, clinics, hospitals, and more. NJ.com has the full story.
