Hoboken Chooses New Council President

HOBOKEN, NJ — After some disagreement in the months since Hoboken Council President Jen Giattino died in November, the council finally voted for a new president and vice president at their Wednesday meeting.

At the council's annual reorganization, longtime council member Jim Doyle was unanimously approved 8-0.

Doyle was nominated by past Council President Emily Jabbour.

The council also voted 5-3 to choose Phil Cohen (pictured above) as council vice president.

Giattino, a mother of three and a longtime council member who was praised for all of her unheralded work with people in the community, passed away on Nov. 5.

Doyle and Cohen assumed their positions effective immediately at the Wednesday meeting.

“I thank my council colleagues for their support,” said Cohen in a statement. "I pledge to work hard and in a spirit of cooperation with Council
President Jim Doyle and the rest of the members of the City Council to tackle the challenges that face our city and to improve the quality of life for all of our residents.”

Cohen was elected to the council in 2019 and reelected in 2023 on a slate supported by Mayor Ravi Bhalla. He represents Hoboken’s 5th Ward, the northwest section of town.

Doyle has also run with Bhalla. In 2021, he decided not to run again, but just when he thought he was out, he was pulled back in.