A Man Of Faith, Law and Politics

Most people don't know that Ravinder Bhalla, councilman-at-large on Hoboken's City Council, also holds another elected position in town. Bhalla is the Democratic Committee person in the third district of the second ward.

All of Hoboken's six wards are composed of roughly six districts and every district has two (one male, one female) elected Democratic Committee people—the total: about 72 committee members.

"Our function is to act as local representatives of the immediate neighborhood," said Bhalla. But, he said, "In reality, committee people don't do anything."

In an effort to change that attitude, he decided to run for the position in 2008. All the committee people together make up the Democratic Party in Hoboken. The committee's chairperson is Democratic Assemblyman Ruben Ramos. 

Another event in 2008 had even more impact on Bhalla's political career and his decision to run for City Council: the election of President Barack Obama. 

"I was very involved in the campaign," Bhalla, 36, said, adding that he closed his law firm for a week before the New Hampshire primary to canvas for the President. 

"Him being elected," Bhalla said, "made me feel that maybe we're in a post racial phase in American politics." 

Bhalla is a Sikh, a religion that originated in India. And although Bhalla described himself as "not very religious," he said he is educated about his religion and he follows most of the five mandates that Sikhism orders. Bhalla wears a turban, has uncut hair—a beard as well as his hair under the turban—and wears an iron bracelet around his right wrist as a constant reminder of his religion. He said he attends a Sikh temple in Jersey City at least once or twice a month.

Bhalla, who has lived in Hoboken for 11 years, was sworn in as councilman on July 1, 2009.

I spoke to Bhalla in a meeting room at his law firm, located on Newark Street between Hudson and River Streets.

Working as a lawyer helps him as a politician, he said. "There's a substantial intersection between the law and public policy." 

Bhalla's first term as councilman-at-large started off rockier than expected when about three weeks in, former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano got arrested on corruption charges.

"It was very difficult to govern the three weeks Cammarano was mayor," Bhalla said. "It appeared we were headed toward gridlock." 

As far as issues in Hoboken are concerned, the budget is on Bhalla's mind, as well as the town's property taxes. It's Bhalla's first budget cycle as councilmember. 

"My biggest concern," Bhalla said, "is delivering property tax relief and cutting down the size of government in Hoboken."

Development in Hoboken is also something Bhalla said he wants to work on. "I care about parks and open space," he said. "Development has to occur, it has a positive impact on taxes and the budget." 

Part of the development should be commercial, Bhalla said, adding that he would like to see more commercial pockets develop in town. "There needs to be more than Washington Street," he said, adding that there is also not enough office space in Hoboken.

The importance of development goes further in Bhalla's eyes. It's also linked to education. People come to Hoboken, get married, have children and need to move out of their condo, Bhalla said. "And your only other option is a brownstone."

Hoboken needs to develop more three- or four bedroom units, Bhalla said, in order to prevent families from moving out. Once that happens, more people will—according to his theory—send their children to public school. Bhalla's daughter will start Hoboken public school in the Fall. Although education is not only important to people with children, Bhalla said, because a large part of the taxpayer's money is invested in the city's public schools.

Between City Council — a hospital in trouble, and more—a daily law practice and a 2,5 year-old daughter, Bhalla seems to be a busy man.

"It's quite a rollercoaster," Bhalla said. "There's never a dull moment."

This is the third in a series of interviews with Hoboken City Council members. David Mello and Michael Lenz sat down with Patch earlier.