Council meeting over Labor Day weekend to address Election Day change
Hoboken politicos will have to wait a little longer to skip town for the holiday weekend and hit the beach, as Mayor Dawn Zimmer called for a special council meeting scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3 at 9 a.m., according to a memo from the clerk’s office to the council members.
The only item on the agenda was the introduction of an ordinance to repeal the change in municipal elections from May to November. The ordinance must be voted on at two meetings before it officially passes, meaning that if the measure passed at the Saturday morning meeting, the council can repeal the change after a public hearing at the meeting on Sept. 7.
In July, the council voted to move municipal mayoral and council elections from May to November, citing a cost savings to the city as well as an expected increased voter turnout. When Zimmer’s allies voted 5-4 to move the elections to November, a team of petitioners took to the streets and gathered at least 2,500 signatures to repeal the ordinance and place the issue on the ballot.
Moving elections might benefit Zimmer because more of her newcomer base would be likely to vote in a regular election than in May, and the move would also have a one-time effect of extending the terms of her and the current council.
After a successful referendum is submitted, the council can either repeal the legislation or put the issue on the ballot to let the voters decide.
Even if the council repeals the Election Day change, voters will still have a chance to vote on a referendum related to the city’s rent control laws.
In November, residents can also vote for the county freeholder position and state legislature representatives.
For the results of the Saturday morning meeting vote, visit HudsonReporter.com.
What’s moving into Blockbuster and Barnes & Noble sites?
What will emerge at the former Blockbuster site located at 412 Washington St. in Hoboken is still a mystery, according to Ron Zimmerman, the broker from Remax who is working on a deal. One local website says they have pinpointed the new tenant, but those involved are mum.
A representative from Realty Express LaBarbera, the property manager, said she was unaware of any leases signed for the property.
However, the local website reported earlier this week that the women’s clothing store Anthropologie is moving into the spot.
Zimmerman said no lease had been signed as of Wednesday, and added that negotiations are underway.
Small signs for Blockbuster still appear on the outside window. Construction picked up at the site recently, with permits posted in the front window. The inside still has the Blockbuster-style front desk.
The local website, the Boken Online, also reported that an Office Depot is opening at the former Barnes and Noble site at 59 Washington St.
A call to the property owner was not returned by press time.
Man found dead in Neumann Leathers Building
The man found dead in the Neumann Leathers Building in downtown Hoboken on Monday was Stuart Cave, 44, of Hoboken, who had been reported as missing and possibly suicidal by his brother last week, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Cave left a note on Wednesday with a list of his account numbers and passwords, and also wrote he would end his life by hanging, according to a police report. After police spoke with a colleague of Cave’s last week, the man confirmed that Cave showed up for work on Wednesday, Aug. 24, but left at around noon, and it seemed that he packed up his desk, according to police.
Cave’s body was found in the third floor bathroom of the Neumann Leathers Building on Monday after tenants told management they suspected a foul odor, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said on Thursday. Management called police, who entered the bathroom and found Cave dead.
Hurricane Katia increases strength
For those who like to really plan ahead — and find out about storms that may end up not coming anywhere near Hudson County, in the end – Hurricane Katia was gaining strength in the Mid-Atlantic ocean last week, but was too far east to hit Puerto Rico. While some forecasters say the storm may just travel north in the Atlantic and dissipate, it is too early to tell. Hurricane season continues until Dec. 1.
A storm after Katia would be named Tropical Storm Lee or Hurricane Lee, going by the alphabetical list.