Homelessness
Michael Russo proposed building a new shelter using city-owned land in Northwest Hoboken. Emily Jabbour highlighted ongoing work at the Hoboken Shelter, social workers, the library, and partnerships with the hospital. Dini Ajmani stressed the mental health challenges tied to homelessness. Ruben Ramos argued against parking meters meant for donations and instead supported hiring more social workers. Tiffanie Fisher pointed to her long involvement with charities, while Patricia Waiters also emphasized her experience and concerns for those unhoused.
Pedestrian Safety
Candidates agreed safety is a top concern but differed on solutions. Jabbour supported infrastructure improvements and better bike circuits. Ajmani called for stricter attention to double-parked trucks and questioned current Vision Zero efforts. Ramos focused on better enforcement of traffic rules, especially with e-bikes. Waiters supported the “20 is plenty” speed rule but criticized bollards and highlighted dangerous intersections like 14th and Willow. Fisher was frustrated with past Vision Zero legislation passed without community input. Russo supported more speed bumps, mid-block crosswalks, and enforcement.
Parking and Transportation
Ajmani raised the issue of limited parking and suggested city garage revenues be reinvested into maintenance. Ramos called for more coordination across construction projects. Waiters criticized the city’s parking director’s high salary and repeated her idea of partnering with businesses to use their lots. Russo suggested adding smaller electric vehicles to the Hop shuttle fleet and special routes for seniors or Stevens students. Waiters also pushed to bring back senior buses.
City Spending and Budget
A major topic was Hoboken’s financial future. Ajmani warned of a possible 20–25% tax increase without new leadership. Russo pointed out that pensions and debt service are unavoidable costs, calling them Hoboken’s “credit card bill.” Fisher and Ajmani both predicted difficult years ahead but said their financial backgrounds would help manage the city. Ramos emphasized cutting legal fees, controlling overtime, and increasing transparency. Jabbour countered that residents want more services, not fewer. Waiters said she is not backed by donors or developers and can act independently.
Personal Exchanges
Several candidates directly criticized each other. Fisher accused Russo of taking developer money from Applied Housing, while Russo defended himself as a working-class parent without resources to self-fund. Waiters accused the current mayor and administration of mismanaging money and criticized the council for lacking backbone. She also pointed out that she was excluded from another candidate’s slate. Fisher stressed her independence from developers, while Jabbour reminded the audience of her responsiveness to residents’ needs.
The forum ended with discussion of Hoboken’s aging water mains and the need for accountability in city management. Overall, the event showed clear differences in priorities, approaches to spending, and visions for Hoboken’s future.
The Hoboken Mayoral Forum Sept. 10, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAw3C8hqPUE
SUMMARY: https://www.scribd.com/document/920337606/Hoboken-Mayoral-Forum-Candidate-Positions-by-Issue
Hoboken Mayoral Forum Candidate Positions by Issue by Tony Petrosino
