I'll Donate My Entire Mayoral Salary To Help Renters, Says Hoboken Candidate

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken mayoral candidate Dini Ajmani, one of six people running for the city's top spot, said Tuesday that she'll give away her mayoral salary if she wins — instead using the money to fund a city employee whose job is to help tenants.

In the last few years, rents in Hoboken and neighboring Jersey City climbed to among the highest in the nation.

Tenants have told Patch they've gotten 25 percent rent increases or been in situations in which landlords falsely told them they'd have to move out. Some have said landlords got around existing rent stabilization laws by tacking on new "amenity fees" or taking away services to push them to leave.

Ajmani said that she would use the $130,000 mayoral salary to create a "high-level position" that could help renters and landlords resolve disputes, rather than seeing tenants forced out of town or into court.

Ajmani, who was a U.S. Treasury official during the Biden administration — and left during the change in administrations in January — has raised concerns during her campaign about Hoboken's budget. The new position won't increase spending if it comes from the mayor's salary. READ MORE: Why Is A Former U.S. Treasury Official Running For Hoboken Mayor?

Decades Of Rent Strife

Ajmani said the person in the position also would be tasked with trying to stop excessive rent increases, as well as looking into new fees and other matters.

In the last year, Hoboken has passed new laws to try to keep rents in check, particularly by corporate landlords who've bought up apartment buildings in town. Earlier this year, the city passed an ordinance telling landlords they must justify any rent increase over 10 percent, but the penalty is a one-time $1,000 fine, which may not stop a corporation.

The city currently offers a free tenant lawyer to help renters in town with questions or issues.

But — said Ajmani in an interview Tuesday — the lawyers and officials have been unable to keep up with the various problems tenants are having.

The state of New Jersey has a law saying rent increases may not be "unreasonable or unconscionable," but doesn't define the amount. Tenants who believe their rent is too high are directed to withhold the amount until the landlord takes them to court, at which time they can make their case before a judge. It puts both parties into an adversarial relationship, and Ajmani doesn't want the disputes to get that far.

"It's very one-sided," Ajmani said in an interview Tuesday. "You get an email saying, 'Your rent is going up this month.' What are you going to do? If you're not under rent control, your options are even more meager."

She added, "The capacity of City Hall and tenant advocacy groups to deal with all of it is is not just there. Tenants try to get a response, and cannot. I just want one senior-level person to focus on these issues. They passed a law to ban rent-setting software. But how do you enforce that? How do you monitor it? You need the human resources. I want more focus on...helping the renters."

Decades ago, during the city's infamous gentrification, City Hall did have a full-time tenant and landlord advocate to help in such situations. Tom Olivieri served in the role and has since passed away.

The city has also seen several voter referendums over whether to keep its existing rent control laws, which apply largely to older (and some newer) buildings, keeping rent increases in line with the annual cost of living adjustment. Last year, Hoboken residents voted to keep the laws in place.

In the last three years, the city has become embroiled in various lawsuits with corporate landlords who bought up Hoboken's apartment buildings and raised rents.

Read about New Jersey's eviction and rent laws here.

This week, a mayoral candidate in neighboring Jersey City floated a proposal to freeze rents in that city for any tenant whose landlord breaks the law.

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The General Election will be held on Nov. 4.

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