In the wake of tons of trees being cut down along Jackson Street and Jackson Street Park, many Hoboken residents want to know what has prompted this tree removal of a massive scale.
With rumors flying that as many as 4,000 trees are to be chopped, residents took to social media to express their concerns.
“Some inspired tree/stump art along Jackson Street. #SaveOurTrees,” user Ailene McGuirk wrote in the Southwest Resiliency Park page. Ailene shared pictures of the decorated tree stumps, which read, “Why??” and “What? No more oxygen?” and “What will happen next?” amongst other sentiments. Read on to learn all about the 411 on the missing trees from your Hoboken neighborhood.
Why The Trees Are Missing
Other residents emailed Hoboken Girl, looking for answers. “It’s such a tragedy as Hoboken is losing all its sidewalk shade,” writes resident Jason Thomas.
We know Hoboken wants answers and Hoboken Girl is committed to providing them, without throwing shade {sorry, had to}. We reached out to Vijay Chaudhuri, Communications Manager for the City of Hoboken. Here’s what he had to say:
“PSE&G has committed to investing an unprecedented $318.6 million to upgrade the City’s energy systems, with modernization and consolidation of the Marshall and Madison Street substations. These investments also include flood risk reduction measures to the 16th St. Substation and high-pressure natural gas infrastructure in Hoboken.”
Chaudhuri continues, “While the City is appreciative of PSE&G’s efforts towards flood risk reduction, it is committed to working with PSE&G and residents to address quality of life issues both during and after construction.”
According to PSE&G, 31 trees were removed. However, PSE&G says the selected trees would have either died after pruning, were identified as hazards, were already in a state of poor health, dying or dead, or were in direct conflict with utility infrastructure.
The History
So, let’s break it down: Back in April, Hoboken approved a $175 million power project by PSE&G.
The goal of the project is to prevent another huge flooding issue in the City, a la Super Storm Sandy. As every Hoboken resident knows, the City is still recovering from Sandy on the daily and is looking for prevention methods to ensure such a flood never happens here again.
That being said, PSE&G’s $175 million project seeks to redevelop the city’s power grid. The project combines the Marshall Street substation with the one on Madison Street. The goal of this is to “elevate and modernize” these 50-year-old facilities, which are both at risk to flooding. The project was approved on April 19th and has garnered the support of former Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who at the time tweeted her approval.
Long-time Hoboken residents will remember that Dawn Zimmer was mayor when Super Storm Sandy hit New Jersey in 2012.
That’s not all Zimmer said of the project.
She went in more depth, previously, saying, “All of our residents and our business community need reliable energy, and this project will make certain that we never again have to endure weeks without lights or heat, like we did during Sandy. I have advocated strongly for an innovative design for the substation, and I want to thank PSE&G for continuing to work with the city to create a design that integrates with our urban landscape and replaces the unattractive substations surrounded by chain-link fences and barbed wire.”
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She continued, “With the council’s support, this vital project will start construction this summer and when completed, will ensure a resilient and reliable energy source for our entire city.”
Anyway, back to the project. The deal included a land swap, which means the municipality would transfer the lot adjacent to the existing Madison Substation to PSE&G. PSE&G would then accept that lot in exchange for the utility transferring to Marshall Street, property of Hoboken.
The deal also purports that PSE&G would pay $1.245 million to the City to make up the difference in appraisal value of the two properties. That number also accounts for an annual “loss of use” payment — $275,250 — until PSE&G completes the Marshall Street Substation.
{Photo credit: @jasonthomas99}
How That Connects To The Trees
You may be wondering: What the heck does this have to do with trees?
Well, when the project was announced, it went into little detail explaining what the new power lines would mean. Residents became concerned when they saw trees being cut down in large numbers, not realizing that this is all part of the deal PSE&G struck with the municipality. According to PSE&G, “potentially hazardous trees” would be cut down so they wouldn’t interfere with the infrastructure.
On May 20th, the City of Hoboken posted a page on their website called, “Message from PSE&G on Electrical Upgrades and Trees.” The message reads as follows:
As you may know, PSE&G is rebuilding its electric system infrastructure to replace or supplement its 50-plus-year-old circuit lines. To support this initiative, we are installing sturdier and taller overhead utility poles along Monroe and Jackson Streets in Hoboken. These 69kV poles are the standard of the 21st century and are needed to address increasing demand, reliability and storm preparedness.
After inspecting the circuit route on Jackson Street, PSE&G—along with Quanika Stover, Hoboken’s Urban Forestry Coordinator—identified potentially hazardous trees that could be saved but are in need of pruning. There are also trees that will need to be removed and replaced because the health of the tree is in decline and the trimming would be too severe.
We do not take tree removal lightly, as we know how important trees are to residents, the environment and community aesthetics. Rest assured we only remove a tree if it presents a true hazard to public safety. PSE&G’s 69kV Urban Reforestry initiative includes replacing trees that have been removed in order to accommodate the construction of a new circuit. We will plant utility-friendly, replacement trees in the spring. These new trees will not grow into electric conductors, providing an environmental and safety asset for current and future property owners.
In addition, PSE&G will conduct directional pruning on the remaining trees that are consistent with the standards of the International Society of Arboriculture to help ensure the health of the trees.
The message then goes into sharing proper tree care and maintenance for residents. To read the message in its entirety, check it out here.
An update from Hoboken representatives was made to the message on the same day. The update goes on to say that all recommendations for tree removal were approved by a certified arborist and New Jersey licensed tree expert and that all removal is performed under the standards of the International Society of Arboriculture. Keep reading for more:
The selected trees scheduled for removal would have either died after pruning, were identified as hazards, were already in a state of poor health, dying or dead, or were in direct conflict with utility infrastructure. The rationale used to determine removal included tree location, existing tree health, tree species such as whether or not it was considered utility friendly, maturity, height, and survival likelihood from pruning.
The update also states, “Utility-friendly trees will help to improve electric service, safety, and reliability. PSE&G will be distributing letters regarding new tree maintenance to property owners adjacent to newly planted trees.”
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Hoboken Girl has reached out to PSE&G for comment and we’re awaiting their response. We’d like to know the number of trees that will be cut down, if PSE&G plans to replace the trees, and if they do, whether they plan to replace mature trees with saplings or not at all {as it appears the trees are all saplings that have been replaced so far}. Hoboken Girl will update this article as we receive more information.
In the meantime, remember what Dr. Seuss’ character the Lorax said:
“… Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
What’s your reaction to the local tree removal?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
NJ REAL ID: Everything You Need to Know
Starting May 7th, 2025, you’ll need a new form of ID for domestic travel: a REAL ID. This new federal requirement for state-issued driver licenses and non-driver IDs primarily serves to prevent fraudulent identification. Unfortunately, you can’t simply order it online or by phone — you must go in person to request a REAL ID.
Starting May 7th, 2025, passengers must have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license/ID for domestic flights, unless using a U.S. passport or another federally approved form of identification. Until that date, a standard NJ driver’s license is still valid. Keep reading to find out if you need a REAL ID and what documents are required to get it.
Who Needs a Real ID
Not everyone is required to get a REAL ID, but if you typically use your state driver’s license or non-driver ID (instead of a passport or other form of ID) to fly within the U.S., you probably want a REAL ID.
Otherwise, passengers will need to use a valid U.S. passport or another federally approved form of identification. The standard NJ driver’s license can still be used for driving. Upgrade or renew your standard license/ID to a REAL ID by making an appointment here.
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What to Bring: Get It Right the First Time
In order to qualify for a REAL ID, residents need to bring two proofs of residential address, one proof of social security number, and six points of ID. Applicants can download a printable document selector checklist here. Every ID document must be original, unlaminated, or a certified copy in English marked with a state or municipal seal. If any of the documents don’t meet this requirement, or if any appear altered or false or are deemed invalid for any reason, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation. Submitting your Social Security number is required by state law.
If you have changed your name for marriage or otherwise, you may need more than a marriage certificate to verify your name change. You can double-check the details here.
Residential Address
- Valid NJ driver's license/non-driver ID card
- Utility or credit card bill issued in the past 90 days
- Checking or savings account statement from a bank or credit union issued within the past 60 days
- Original, unexpired lease, or rental agreement
- Tax bill, statement or receipt, and/or any letter or correspondence received from the IRS or tax office within the past year
- First-class mail from any government agency in the past 6 months
- If under 18, a statement from a parent or guardian certifying the address of the applicant
Proof of Full Social Security Number
- Social Security card
- W-2 Form issue within the past year
- Pay Stub with name and full SSN
- 1099 Form issued within the past year
Applicants must select six points from primary and secondary documents:
Primary
- Unexpired US passport or passport card (4)
- US or US Territory birth certificate certified copy filed with a state office of vital statistics or equivalent agency in the individual’s state of birth (4)
- US Department of State birth certificate (4)
- US Department of State Consular Report of Birth Abroad (4)
- Certificate of Naturalization (4)
- Certificate of Citizenship (4)
- Current Permanent Resident Card issued by USCIS (4)
- Unexpired foreign passport with valid VISA and I-94 (2)
Secondary
- Unexpired standard photo driver's license from NJ or any state, or US Territory, and District of Columbia (1)
- Unexpired standard non-driver identification card from NJ only (1)
- Social Security card (1)
- Bank/credit union statement or record (within the past 60 days) (1)
- ATM/debit card with preprinted name and applicant’s signature (1)
- Current health insurance card or prescription card displaying applicant’s name (1)
- Current employee identification card with pay stub (1)
- State professional license (1)
- NJ public assistance card with photo (also known as an NJ Social Services identification card) (1)
- High school diploma, GED, or college degree (1)
- Property tax statement, bill, or receipt issued by an NJ municipality (1)
- For NJ high school graduates: a waiver certificate for the written portion of the driver’s test (1)
- Veteran Administration universal access photo identification card (1)
- Unexpired federal government employee driver's license (1)
- Unexpired federal government employee photo identification card (1)
- US military discharge papers (Form DD-214) (2)
- FAA pilot license (2)
- US school photo identification card with transcript or school records (2)
- US college photo identification card with transcript (2)
- Legal name change court order signed by a judge or court clerk (3)
- Civil marriage or civil union certificate or divorce decree (3)
- US adoption papers (3)
- Current military dependent card (3)
- US military photo retiree card (3)
- NJ firearm purchaser card (3)
- Unexpired REAL ID driver's license, non-driver identification card, or probationary license from any state, US territory, and the District of Columbia (4)
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Applicants can schedule an appointment to get the REAL ID now or wait until it's time to renew their license. There are 28 locations within the area that are currently taking appointments.
For more information, visit the NJ MVC website.
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