In an effort to cooperate with city officials, more than 20 bar and restaurant owners gathered on the steps of City Hall Thursday to roll out a quality of life campaign called “Operation Clean-Up.” The campaign will include an organized effort by bar owners to clean city sidewalks and streets on weekends, as well as a concerted effort to control noise and a strict adherence to all local laws.
The newly formed Hoboken Hospitality Association (HHA) brought brooms and trash cans with them to show the city that they are willing to make the effort to help clean up the town’s streets and improve the city’s quality of life.
“We are here to let you know that we want to work with the city,” said David Carney, the owner of the Madison Bar and Grill at the corner of 14th and Washington streets. “We want to open lines of communication with City Hall and show that we are taking the effort to maintain a high quality of life in Hoboken.”
The formation of the HHA, which is an affiliate New Jersey Restaurant Association, is a reaction to several complaints from high ranking city officials including Mayor David Roberts. On Jan. 26 there was a pub crawl that drew dozens of twentysomethings to Hoboken’s streets. While there were no arrests or summons issued, several councilpersons and the mayor complained about unruly behavior.
The council was so irate that they unanimously passed a resolution “condemning” pub crawls in the city of Hoboken. Council President Anthony Soares threatened to roll back the city’s one-way door from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m if the city’s bars didn’t shape up in six weeks.
Timely formation
With the St. Patrick’s Parade, one of the busiest and traditionally most boisterous days of the year, scheduled for two days later, the HHA took the opportunity to show City Hall that it could regulate itself.
“During the St. Patrick’s Parade day we are going to be a second police force,” said Carney Thursday. “We are going to run our establishment [within] the fullest intent of the law, we are going to check for two forms of IDs and are going to be extra tough on customers that day.”
He added that after the parade is finished, the HHA has organized cleaning crews to pick up debris left by the celebration. The HHA intends to follow through with that practice on every weekend from now on, he said. “We are going to work hard together to make sure the St. Patrick’s parade is a successful one in Hoboken,” said Carney.
Mayor David Roberts said Thursday afternoon that the measures are a step in the right direction. “It’s a very positive development and I fully support and encourage them to follow through with this and carry it on past the parade and into the future,” said the mayor. “I think we all understand that the St. Patrick’s Parade is a festive and robust event, so I’m glad they are taking steps to ensure it is orderly and safe. I truly hope that they are able to make a difference.”
David Jayce, owner of the Black Bear Restaurant and Bar at 205 Washington St. and co-founder of the HHA, said Thursday that he is willing to hold public forums and meet with civic groups to openly discuss the issues. “We would like to have public comment on these issues,” said Jayce. “That’s why we formed this association, to talk openly about quality of life issues, and we would be happy to meet with any community group that wants to.”
Jayce added that it is in everyone’s interest to make sure that the St. Patrick’s parade is thriving and safe. “It is one of if the busiest days of the year,” he said. “It’s been a successful city-sponsored event for more than a decade that attracts a lot of people to our restaurants and bars.”
John Sivo, whose family owns the Far Side Bar at 531 Washington St., said that Hoboken’s current popularity is primarily due to the city’s excellent restaurant industry. “It’s the hospitality industry that made this town,” he said Thursday. “It’s by far the most important industry in Hoboken. Without them there wouldn’t be all of these apartment buildings that have high property values. They’re a direct result of the fact that Hoboken has a nightlife with great restaurants and taverns. If that was quelled, we would go right back to 1975.”
2nd Ward Councilman Richard DelBoccio, who was one of the harshest critics of the January pub crawl, said Thursday that the bars’ cooperative effort is a good start. “We certainly want their cooperation so that they are able to have good business and at the same time have the rights of the residents respected,” said DelBoccio. “I would like to see everyone have a good time [at the parade], but also keep thing orderly. I’m very happy they are taking positive steps to work with the government to make things better for everyone.”