Hoboken Mayoral Candidate Profile: Tiffanie Fisher

HOBOKEN, NJ — Councilman Tiffanie Fisher is among six candidates running become the next mayor of Hoboken. Patch has been posting their profiles and Q&A all month. Come back to Hoboken Patch to read them all.

(Got a letter about the election or other issues? Post them on your local Patch yourself for free using these instructions.)

Four of the candidates have been on the City Council for more than two terms each, so theoretically, they have had time to try to implement their ideas. Council members Fisher, Ramos, and Russo have sometimes been at odds with Mayor Ravi Bhalla. Bhalla's ally, Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, has voted with him.

The elections are non-partisan. Residents can choose a mayoral candidate and any three council members in November, plus a successor to the late Jen Giattino if a resident lives in the 6th Ward.

Hoboken's salary ordinance states that the next mayor will be paid $130,000 and the Hoboken City Council members will earn $35,000 each. The council president and vice president will start at $40,000 and $37,500, plus optional benefits.

The list of people who filed to run for mayor:

(Read the profiles and election coverage here)

• Dini Ajmani, former state and U.S. Treasury official
• Tiffanie Fisher, 2nd Ward councilwoman
• Emily Jabbour, councilwoman-at-large
• Ruben Ramos Jr., 4th Ward councilman
• Michael Russo, 3rd Ward councilman
• Patricia Waiters, who has run for council and school board

PRIOR REPORTING: More Candidates Join Hoboken Mayor's Race

Candidate Profile And Questions

Biographical Questions

Name: Tiffanie Fisher

Age: 58 (on October 27th — celebrating with a Tequila Tasting fundraiser if anyone wants to join!)
Length of time you've lived in Hoboken: 31 years
Public service in Hoboken: Elected three times to the Hoboken City Council; previously served on the Zoning Board (2 years) and Planning Board (1 year); Co-founder and Board Member of the Hoboken Business Alliance (4 years); Chair of the Hoboken University Medical Center Board (1.5 years); Co-founder and long-time volunteer with the Hoboken Food Pantry; member of the Community Advisory Group for Rebuild By Design since 2015; and member of Hoboken’s Vision Zero Task Force and numerous city committees. Co-founder HobokenResidents for a Public Waterfront (anti-Monarch development advocacy group) and CERT member for three years.
Family: In Hoboken, Aunt Mary (Jen's aunt by blood, mine by choice), one dog (Brownie) and two rabbits (Gigi & Sam); father, sister, and my infamous Aunt Barb live in Rochester, NY.
Immediate family members working for local government: None.
Full-time job: Currently full-time City Council member.
Properties owned in Hudson County: One (primary residence).
Educational background: B.A. in Economics and Political Science, University at Buffalo; M.B.A. in Finance and Strategic Management, University of Minnesota.
Other experience: Former CFO hired to restructure the finances and operations of a distressed global real estate company; 23 years in finance and real estate in investement banking and private equity; leading large-scale transactions, projects, teams and negotiations.
Council ticket: Team Tiffanie – Liz Urtecho, Dave Mello, and Carter Craft (At-Large); Diane Imus (6th Ward).
Website: tiffanieforhoboken.com

Questions And Answers

1. Since all of the candidates have some experience with local or state government, the voters may not know the differences. Please tell us what makes you more qualified for the job than all of your opponents.
I bring the kind of experience that doesn’t usually make its way into politics, but should. Before joining the City Council, I spent more than two decades in finance and real estate, including serving as a CFO hired to restructure a global company. I know how to run large, complex organizations, manage budgets, and make tough decisions — experience that directly translates to leading a city like Hoboken.
On the Council, I’ve brought that same discipline and accountability to how the city operates - pushing for transparency, multi-year financial planning, better enforcement of laws, and stronger oversight of development.
I’ve also shown that collaboration works. I co-founded the Hoboken Business Alliance, helped create the Hoboken Food Pantry, and chair the Hoboken University Medical Center Board, where I work with state and county leaders to keep our hospitals open. I don’t just talk about partnership, I build it.
What Hoboken needs now isn’t another headline-driven politician, but a different kind of leader who can manage growth responsibly, rebuild trust in local government, and make sure the city delivers for the people it serves.

2. What is the biggest problem in Hoboken, and how will you address it?
Creating a City Hall that actually works for Hoboken. That’s at the heart of what needs to change. The biggest challenge we face is managing rapid growth while keeping the city affordable and preventing taxes from skyrocketing. For the past eight years, Hoboken has been led more like a campaign than an administration — with headlines driving policy instead of long-term planning.
Our population grew 20% in the last census, with more families and active adults moving in — yet there’s been no real plan to expand schools, create new recreation space, build housing that is affordable, improve transportation, or manage parking. With another 6,000 residential units approved or in the pipeline, that’s another 20% growth. As mayor, I’ll pause on day one to assess what our city truly needs to support this expansion and protect our quality of life and Hoboken's future.
That means having the right people in the right seats in City Hall, expanding in-town transportation with a reliable, electrified bus and shuttle network that remains free for Hoboken residents, ensuring adequate parking, building recreation facilities before we lose the chance, and working with the Board of Education to plan for a new school. It also means having better oversight of construction and infrastructure projects to minimize disruption to residents.
On affordability, I’ll make sure rent control laws are enforced and push to expand housing options for moderate-income households, not just lower-income residents. And on the budget — which is a mess — I’ll bring back transparency, long-term forecasting, and fiscal discipline, reduce health care costs, eliminate waste, and work with the County to take on more services like park management.

3. For whom did you vote in the 2024 presidential election? How do you see national politics affecting Hoboken in the next few years?
I supported Vice President Kamala Harris.
But regardless of who’s in the White House, my focus will be on keeping Hoboken safe, affordable, and well-run. That said, national politics do affect us. The tone of division we see nationally sometimes seeps into local government, and I think people are tired of it. Hoboken deserves leadership that unites, not divides - leadership that listens, solves problems, and puts community ahead of partisanship.
My approach has always been to work with anyone, from any party, who’s willing to do what’s right for Hoboken. But when national or even state policies negatively affect our residents - for example, when funding is cut for critical programs or services - I will always take a stand in defense of our community, regardless of who is in office.

4. Hoboken residents have been promised a community pool for decades and still don't have one, despite updates each spring about a plan. There's also little citywide access to the existing pools in town. If you are elected mayor, by what year can residents expect a pool? Please be specific. If you can't make that promise, why not?
Hoboken residents have waited long enough for a pool — and I have a plan to deliver one. My Recreation and Open Space Plan outlines a two-phase strategy to create two recreation centers, each with a pool. You can read it here. The first phase involves working collaboratively with the Hoboken Community Center and other potential partners — such as our schools or the library — to redevelope the former YMCA site uptown. We have already signed a MOU with them to start this proces. This space could include recreation facilities, potentially with a pool, and provide temporary space for city programs while the next phase moves forward.
The second phase is to redevelop the current Multi-Service Center into Hoboken’s modern, flagship Recreation & Community Center, with a full gym, pool, teen and senior spaces, and flexible community rooms. We have already started and my promise is to finalized these plans by the end of my first year as mayor, with the new facility open by the end of my first term.
Hoboken doesn’t need more promises; it needs action. I’m ready to pick up where the city left off, bring the right expertise and partners to the table, and finally make it happen.

5. Do you believe Hoboken's current rent control ordinance should stay as is? If not, what changes would you make, and do you believe other rent-related laws are needed?
I strongly support rent control and the stability it provides for thousands of Hoboken residents. But we need to ensure the law is enforced fairly and transparently for both tenants and landlords.
I would look to strengthen tenant protections while also reviewing current rules that may unintentionally penalize small landlords who have given rent concessions, sometimes to family, that later become permanent. I also believe the Building Department should receive notifications if units are occupied by rent-controlled tenants as part of all building applications. This would help ensure that no permits or approvals are granted that conflict with rent control or state eviction laws.
The administration needs to work in concert to make sure these laws are upheld, which doesn’t always seem to be the case today. I would also support a “right to counsel” program, funded by development fees, to help level the playing field for tenants facing legal challenges.
In Hoboken, the frothiness of our real estate market creates strong incentives for property owners to maximize profit. The city must act as a fair and consistent regulator to preserve affordability and prevent displacement, while still maintaining a healthy, functioning housing market.

6. It's been said that the city has become unaffordable to some long-time residents. Some have suggested creative solutions to cut costs, such as $5 ferry rides. Recreation programs have been made free to residents who qualify for school lunches — but the cutoff is an annual income of $59,478 for a family of four, perhaps not a lot to live on in Hoboken. What is one creative solution you'd like to try to make living here more affordable, that others have not thought of yet?
Affordability in Hoboken means more than just the cost of housing - it’s about the total cost of living and how we manage city services. I would focus on building more affordable and moderate-income housing, creating a more reliable and fully electrified transportation system within Hoboken that remains free for residents, and keeping parking costs low for those who rely on cars the most. I would also review zoning to ensure that we have sufficient food sources within our city so we are not left with food deserts.
Equally important is running the city as efficiently as possible to minimize the cost of basic services residents depend on. That means smarter budgeting, reducing healthcare costs, eliminating waste, and partnering with the County where possible to receive our fair share of services from them. I would also continue providing free recreation programs for lower-income families and review the income thresholds to make sure we capture all who need support.
Hoboken’s affordability challenge can’t be solved by one program - it requires a mayor focused on efficiency, fairness, and the everyday costs that make it harder for people to stay in the community they love.

7. Have you taken developer contributions to your campaign? Do you think it's a problem for a Hoboken candidate to take them?
No, I have not taken contributions from developers, and I believe it’s a problem when candidates do. When you’re sitting at the negotiating table, you have to decide whose side you’re on: Hoboken’s or the developers’. I sit squarely on the side of Hoboken residents - always have, always will. My colleagues running cannot say the same.
Development decisions are among the most consequential we make as city leaders. When candidates accept large developer donations, it naturally raises questions about whose interests are being served. I’ve built my campaign on support from Hoboken residents who want an independent voice leading City Hall. That independence matters - not just in perception, but in practice.
As mayor, I’ll continue to make development decisions through an open, transparent process that puts residents first. Hoboken’s future depends on responsible, balanced growth - and leaders who aren’t financially tied to the people seeking approvals.

8. Which toppings do you normally get on your pizza, and what are some things that should never go on a pizza?
I’m going out on a limb here...my go-to pizza is pepperoni and pineapple. I first had pineapple on a mountain pie back in 1990 at Beau Jo’s in Idaho Springs, Colorado (#IYKYK) and never looked back. Honestly, I think anything is good on pizza. It’s one of those foods that brings people together -- even when we disagree about what belongs on top.

More Information

To see New Jersey voter information, look here.

Did you know that you can input your email and get a free daily roundup of all the local news we published, sent to your inbox at 6 a.m. each morning? Get it here.

Also, if you have a press release, letter, or event, you can post it yourself on Patch any time, for free! Here are the instructions. Share it with your friends and neighbors.