Thursday, May 16, 2013
Dozens of Hoboken Housing Authority residents attended Wednesday night's council meeting in support of Barbara Reyes.
The Hoboken City Council on Wednesday night was unable to appoint someone to the vacant seat on the Hoboken Housing Auhtority Board. Former Chairman of the board Jake Stuiver's term ended officially on May 1. Stuiver has relocated to Pennsylvania recently, but will stay on as a chairman until a replacement is appointed. With the council deadlocked at a 4-4 vote on almost all significant issues, finding that replacement might take until the end of the summer. Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti proposed Barbara Reyes, a HHA residents who attends those board meetings and works for HOPES. "I'm here for the people, not for politics," Reyes said, when she addressed the city council on Wednesday night. "I do not have a problem about …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Trespassing is one of the HHA's major problems, according to residents.
Six people were arrested on charges they trespassed onto Hoboken Housing Housing Authority property —a persistent problem in the public housing buildings, according to residents. At a meeting earlier this month, residents told Police Chief Anthony Falco that rowdy trespassers are a major nuisance, according to the Jersey Journal. The Hoboken Housing Authority has a special bureau of officers dedicated to the HHA's buildings and surrounding area. One man was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and trespassing at 300 Marshall Dr. on Sunday just after midnight, police said. Five others were arrested on Saturday around 2 a.m., according to a police report.
Monday, May 13, 2013
The Hoboken Housing Authority is applying to be eligible for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. The deadline is May 31.
The Hoboken Housing Authority is preparing to apply for federal funds to build the first building of the Vision 20/20, a plan to improve the buildings as part of an overhaul of the area. While the HHA needs a resolution of need passed by the city council to be seriousy considered to receive the funding as well as the tax credit, the application will be turned in with or without that vote, said Dr. Robert Powell, a financial advisor to the HHA, late last week. The HHA is also asking the city to approve a PILOT program — short for "payments in lieu of taxes" — to start the first phase. The payments from the developer would bring roughly $30,000 into the city's coffers, Powell said. The first building is supposed to be built on the parking …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Rob Davis, who has been on the housing board for more than seven years, will fill the position.
The Hoboken Housing Authority elected a new chairman on Thursday night in its annual reorganization meeting. Rob Davis, a HHA commissioner for seven and a half years, was elected in a 4-3 vote. Davis succeeds Jake Stuiver as chairman. Immediately following the vote, Stuiver left the meeting without giving a reason why. Commissioners Stuiver, David Mello and Greg Lincoln voted against. Judy Burrell joined commissioners Jean Rodriguez, Eduardo Gonzalez and Davis in a "yes" vote for teh new chairman. After all those years on the board, he said he was excited to take on the role as chairman. As a resident of the HHA, Davis said he wants to fight for better living conditions. "It'd be nice to have some newer buildings," he said. He continued …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Police Chief Anthony Falco held a public meeting at the Hoboken Housing Authority last week, where residents could voice their concerns.
Ruben Ramos and his running mates respond to last week's discussion about the first phase of the Vision 20/20 plan at the Hoboken Housing Authority.
To the Editor: We are disappointed to learn that the Mayor and half of City Council have decided to halt all progress on the Housing Authority’s plan to provide more modern, safe, LEED-certified environmentally friendly and affordable housing to Hoboken’s low-income residents. The award-winning, federally recognized Vision 20/20 plan, which has been in the discussion and development phase for three years, has been under extensive review and revision by the HHA, and requires only funding approval in order to move forward. By rejecting the proposal put forth by the Housing Authority less than one week before the approval deadline, the Mayor is preventing progress for at least another year. The argument that the PILOT funding mechanism was a …
Monday, April 15, 2013
A massive overhaul of the Hoboken Housing Authority is in store for the coming years. A developer to start the first phase was hired last week.
The Hoboken Housing Authority took a significant step in the process of Vision 20/20, a massive overhaul of the area which is supposed to take place in the coming years. The first phase of the plan includes 44 units of low-income housing at 333 Harrison St. This is the first step to bringing the authority’s rapidly deteriorating housing stock up to par with the rest of the city. On Thursday night, during its monthly board meeting, the commissioners voted 5-1 to hire Montclair firm RPM Developers. Commissioner Judy Burrell was absent. Commissioners Jake Stuiver — who is the chairman and who attended the meeting by phone. Before any construction can start, the HHA first has to apply for funding and present the plans to — and receive approval…
Friday, April 5, 2013
Shekea Coleman, 12, won the prize in the 48th annual Kung Fu Championship.
A 12-year-old Hobokenite is the Tae Kwon Do champion. Shekea Coleman, a resident of the Hoboken Housing Authority, won first place at the 2013 All American Open Tae Kwon Do – Karate – Kung Fu Championships on March 16. Coleman beat about 40 competitors in the 48th annual competition at Paramount Gym at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. “I’m so proud of Shekea,” said Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director Carmelo Garcia. “She truly embodies the heart of a champion.” Coleman enrolled in the HHA's after school karate classes, which are led by Sensei Ray Rogriguez.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Jake Stuiver will complete the duration of his term, which officially ends in May.
Hoboken Housing Authority Chairman Jake Stuiver has moved out of Hoboken but is allowed to finish out his term on the seven-member housing board, he said Tuesday. "I am thankful and honored to receive corroboration of my belief, that I am able to continue serving on the HHA in full compliance with all local, state and federal laws," Stuiver wrote in an email, "and consider it not only lawful and proper to serve out my term but in fact imperative that I honor my commitment." Stuiver and Executive Director of the HHA, Carmelo Garcia, have gone head to head lately, in a fight that involves the executive director's appointing authority and contract terms. The HHA's attorney, Charlie Daglian, ruled that there is no residency requirement for …
Friday, March 15, 2013
A last minute resolution was put forward at a Hoboken Housing Authority meeting on Thursday night, in which chairman Jake Stuiver and his allies on the board proposed to terminate Executive Director Carmelo Garcia's contract.
Hoboken Housing Authority Chairman Jake Stuiver and his allies on the HHA board proposed a resolution to terminate Executive Director Carmelo Garcia's contract on Thursday night, in what appears to be an ongoing struggle about who has the power to hire professionals at the Housing Authority. Ultimately, both parties agreed to renegotiate some terms of the contract in the coming 90 days, according to several people who attended Thursday's meeting. The executive director's contract — Garcia is currently two and a half years into his five year contract at an annual salary of $150,000 — can only be terminated unilaterally by the Housing board 120 days before the end date of the contract, Garcia as well as Commissioner Eduardo Gonzalez said. …
puzzledone
12:28 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Why is that a stupid question? Shouldn't the impact on the current crime in the community be part of any discussion about changes? If not, we are really not looking at a living situation solution, just a kickback to developers and building a new project that will quickly deteriorate. more ›