Among issues to vote on Tuesday is big rent control vote in Hoboken and Bayonne
Nov 05, 2012 | 3784 views | 1 1 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print
ONLOOKERS – The public listens to two sides of the Hoboken rent control issue. Bayonne will hold a vote as well.
ONLOOKERS – The public listens to two sides of the Hoboken rent control issue. Bayonne will hold a vote as well.
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HOBOKEN AND BAYONNE - As if you don't have enough to think about...this Tuesday's vote in Hoboken and Bayonne includes a public question on the future of rent control.

Rent control laws limit annual increases based on the cost of living increase and other matters. In some cases, rent control has kept units lower than market-rate units.

In Hoboken, a taxpayers' group has put a measure on the ballot to eliminate rent control from any rent controlled unit once a current tenant leaves. For buildings with five or more units, the building will return to rent control after a new tenant comes in and starts paying the new market-rate rent.

To approve these changes in Hoboken, vote YES. To vote against them, vote NO.

The matter is so controversial that people on both sides of the issue have still been arguing with each other in the comments sections of our stories (see "most commented" on the lower right of our homepage) even during the Hurricane Sandy cleanup efforts.

In Bayonne, a YES vote will strike down the Bayonne City Council's measure from last year that allows landlords to eliminate rent control from any unit when a current tenant leaves. A NO vote will keep the changes in place.

For the many stories we've written on these issues, see the links below at hudsonreporter.com.

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brianknispel
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November 06, 2012
Thank you for the simple summary for the rent control issue in Hoboken. Seems pretty straight forward to me...It certainly seems fair that a landlord should get to increase the rent to a fair market price once a tenant leaves or gets evicted for wrong-doing. If a tennant is "harassed" out of their apartment/home, they have the ability to bring charges and take their landlord to court, plain and simple. There are plenty of lawyers out there for pro bono work if the financial burden of a lawyer is a concern...its a pretty simple search on the internet to find organizations/firms/independent lawyers in NJ that would take something like this on...

At the end of the day, existing tenants are protected and get to keep their "controlled" rental rates. That's fair.

Once they leave, and if the market may have changed, the landlords who took the risk of investing in a property should be able to reap the rewards of higher rental prices if the city commands it. That is also fair.

Arguments of "saving the community" and promoting FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) about what MIGHT happen to existing tenants are not tangible things that anyone can quantify. They are simply empty statements...especially when considering the drastic changes the community has already gone through over the past 10 to 20 years and has become better for it...more and better services, flourishing and diversified businesses, additional and "upgraded" parks/green-space, etc...

The right thing to do to continue the positive change in Hoboken and protect BOTH sides is to vote YES on number 2 to change the rent control laws.
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