Sen. Menendez Visits Hoboken

In front of roughly 200 Hudson County business people and politicians, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez talked about economic development and some of his plans for the state of New Jersey, during a luncheon at Stevens Institute of Technology Friday morning.

The Hoboken chamber recently reached 200 members, President of the Chamber Mike Novak said on Friday. The chamber also recently formed a Women in Business council and an Economic Development committee.

"I can remember a time life was very different in Hudson County," Menendez said, who started his political career as a school board member in Union City. Now, Menendez continued, Hudson County is "an incredible center of business."

Hudson County, he continued, has become "a destination location."

"Things have changed since I grew up here," Menendez said, "but it's still home."

Menendez currently lives in North Bergen, Novak said during his introduction. The senator is running for re-election next year.

Menendez also remenisced about a meeting he had in September 2008, when he was called in by Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke. "In 38 years," he said, "I never had a more influential meeting." Menendez continued to say that Bernanke told him—and some other senators—"if you and your colleagues don't act in the next two weeks, we'll have a global financial melt down."

Menendez talked about his plans and the fast ways the world is changing, while the guests enjoyed a lunch. Some of Hoboken's notable guests included Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Freeholder Anthony Romano, Assemblyman Ruben Ramos and Council President Beth Mason. Hoboken University Medical Center CEO Spiros Hatiras and Assemblywoman Joan Quigley also attended.