Hoboken Business Administrator Named A Finalist For Job In New York

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Business Administrator Jason Freeman, who has served in that role under Mayor Ravi Bhalla since 2020, was recently named a finalist for the position of city manager in New Rochelle, N.Y., in Westchester County.

Freeman was to appear for a meet and greet in that town on Monday night, along with two other contenders.

Freeman has been seen as a close Bhalla loyalist and previously had served the city as Bhalla's deputy chief of staff. He has a certificate from Harvard Business School and has served on the city's Democratic Committee, along with wife Rachel Hodes.

In the end, the council in New Rochelle announced at a special meeting Wednesday that they had chosen to promote one of their own: Acting City Manager and Commissioner of Public Works Will Melendez. Some council members became emotional in their praise of Melendez.

A council member said that they had narrowed the search from 40 people to the final three, and chose the person they believed was most knowledgeable about and best suited to the community.

Hoboken city spokeswoman Marilyn Baer had no comment, saying the city doesn't comment on personnel matters.