HOBOKEN – As the day draws nearer, more officials are reaching out to the community to ask for good behavior on Hoboken’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade day, Saturday, March 5. Typically, people from throughout the area converge on the mile-square city that day and hold house parties and head to the bars starting at 9 a.m.
Hoboken holds its parade earlier than other cities so that they don’t have to compete for bands. But this means that the parade winds up on a day when there are few other events going on to draw partiers — so they head to Hoboken.
On Monday, Councilwoman Theresa Castellano’s team published a press release asking for residents to “commit to civility.”
“I’m glad to see that the police department is preparing for the crowds and laying down the law,” Castellano said in the release. “But we have to set the tone, ourselves. We shouldn’t allow visitors to hijack our town’s traditions for their own party. If we commit to civility, we can demand that others commit to civility, too.”
Castellano’s 1st Ward, in the southeast corner of town, contains many bars and nightclubs.
“This is a celebration of a people that have made tremendous contributions to world art, culture, and thought,” she said of St. Patrick’s Day. “We shouldn’t dishonor that by allowing chugging pints to become what defines this day in Hoboken.”
Last weekend, in the Letters to the Editor section of the Hoboken Reporter, Police Chief Anthony Falco reminded residents of the laws in place for the celebration, including the continuation a no tolerance policy. Click HERE to read the letter. The letter comes just a few days after Falco met with bar owners at City Hall to discuss St. Patrick’s Day preparations.
Also, remember that Facebook page we reported on less than two weeks ago (if not, click HERE)? Well now, the same event has over 7,000 people attending. Get ready Hoboken, St. Patty’s Day is on the way. – Ray Smith
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