HOBOKEN -- The Hoboken City Council, under the advice of rent control attorney Victor Afanador, pulled the proposed rent control ordinance revision from the council agenda on Feb. 2. It is expected that the proposed changes to the 1973 ordinance, which was established to protect tenants from massive rent hikes, will be revisited at the next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 16. For the full story, with plenty of public comments, pick up a copy of the Feb. 6 Hoboken Reporter.
Also, an ordinance to repeal the current affordable housing guidelines in the municipal code was sent back to subcommittee by the council. Former Zoning Board member Mike Evers brought to the attention of the council last year that a portion of the municipal code concerning affordable housing requirements of new projects has been ignored. The Reporter followed up with a story last Sunday, which can be read HERE.
For comprehensive council coverage, make sure to pick up a copy of the weekend's Hoboken Reporter or read the stories online beginning on Sunday, Feb. 6, right here at www.HudsonReporter.com. - Ray Smith
Democracy is a powerful, wonderful thing, and we have a little glimpse of it right here. Money can't buy all the people's votes.
If any well-intentioned landlord has been doing the wrong thing that situation needs to be sorted out by the sensible rent leveling board. We do not need a giveaway to the large purposefully malevolent landlords to achieve a fair resolution for each landlord in Hoboken.
Our zoning board has been neglecting its duty to require new affordable housing units as a requirement of every new development. We need to preserve every unit we currently have and need to look vigorously at how to add more.
Also, when rent-controlled apartments come on the market, we need to make sure we get the information out to current Hoboken residents.