Councilwoman Giattino: 'Eminent Domain Vote May Help Acquire More Parks'

Up until Wednesday night's council meeting, Sixth Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino—the newest member of this city council—wasn't entirely sure how she was going to vote on an ordinance allowing the city

She  on Wednesday night, voting in alignment with her fellow majority members. Last year, 

In a recent phone conversation, Giattino told Patch why she changed her mind. 

"I was on the fence," she said. "It's a hard choice." Giattino added that she could only vote for eminent domain if she thought it was "truly for the public good."   

Initially she didn't agree with using eminent domain to buy only one acre of land, "a pocket park."

"I just kept thinking 'is that park really for the public good?'" Giattino said. 

On Wednesday she decided that it would be, because she said she believes this vote gives the city a better position to go after other park land in town. 

The park Giattino said she really has her eye on is the so-called Henkel site in Northwest Hoboken at 12th and Adams Streets, which consists of several attached parcels of land. The Henkel site is a total of six acres.  

"I really, really want Henkel," Giattino said. "I think Henkel changes this town completely."

The Henkel site is located in the Fifth Ward, which is represented by Councilman Peter Cunningham.

Last year's eminent domain vote centered on the reallocation of a $3 million grant from the county, that was initially supposed to help purchase the Henkel site. At the time, that was the reason why Tim Ochhipinti—Fourth Ward councilman and part of the council minority—said he voted to approve eminent domain. On Wednesday, Occhipinti voted with "no."

Giattino said she supports her vote to use eminent domain for the southwest park, even if it's only one acre. "If we didn't do it," she said, "there'e be a condo building there in five or ten years. I'm not for that at all."

Giattino said that at the June 20 council meeting, she'll be voting in favorof using eminent domain as a tool to acquire the Henkel and Pino sites as well.