Dogs, Soccer, And Cannabis: Residents Give Impassioned Comments At Hoboken Council Meeting

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken's City Council voted Wednesday night to hire a new, outside vendor for its fall recreation soccer program, despite criticism from local coaches and volunteers who had built the program up over decades.

Impassioned comments from Hoboken Youth Soccer League coaches and some council members failed to stop the 5-4 vote to hire Athletes Connection Toward Success of Bergen County.

Athletes Connection was one of only two vendors to submit proposals to organize weekly games, according to a letter from Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

Bhalla issued a letter Wednesday afternoon to explain the controversial decision, saying that the Hoboken Youth Soccer League had not responded to a recent Request for Proposals. The city's lawyers had recently informed town officials that the method of running the program in past years wasn't in line with state law, and they'd have to accept bids.

At the meeting, several leaders of the existing Hoboken Youth Soccer League said they had had trouble getting their questions answered from the city, and that they still didn't understand why the city had gone to an outside vendor.

Matteo Percontino spoke of how, over more than 30 years, he and others had set up the league, worked hard to expand it, and found ways to keep it affordable for families (last year's rate was $40 a child). (Watch Percontino's comments at 1:04).

The league founders questioned Athletes Connection's $180,000 pricetag. Councilman Michael Russo noted Hoboken had spent less than $60,000 for the Youth Soccer League to run the program in 2022.

Russo suggested the city instead pay referees and a few others who are part of the existing soccer program.

Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino added that legally, the referees and others could be hired as seasonal employees.

Russo also questioned the high fee and argued that the professional coaches couldn't be any better than local community members.

"I've seen them go in their pocket and pay for someone's lunch because they didn't have it," Russo said of the volunteer coaches.

"It's systematically dismantling the fabric of our community. What's next, Little League?"

But Councilman Michael DeFusco, who was wavering on his vote, noted that the fall soccer season was only 10 weeks away. He exacted a promise from a city official that the registration fee would be the same as last year.

He ultimately was one of five council people who voted "Yes." Council members Russo, Giattino, Ruben Ramos, and Tiffanie Fisher voted no.

The controversial decision was not the only issue to spur impassioned comments and dogged debate on Wednesday.

Downward-Facing Dog Run Hours

A two-year debate about dog run hours at Church Square Park continued on Wednesday when the City Council considered a measure to close the run at 8 p.m. rather than 10 p.m.

But several residents came to speak against the potential change, with one noting that dog owners vote.

The measure to change the hours ultimately failed.

See the impassioned speeches and results here.

Business Alliance, 'Banned Books' And Snow Removal

The Council also passed a proposed $1.56 million budget for the Hoboken Business Alliance.

The largest expenditure was $581,400 for sanitation and cleaning, according to the meeting agenda. Other items funded include public art, snow removal, and decorations.

Councilman Phil Cohen shared a quote from a business owner who said how helpful the group has been to small mom-and-pop businesses. But some community members said they would like more information about how to attend meetings, and easier access to documents.

One of the founders of Blue Violets, a proposed cannabis microdispensary, came to the meeting to ask the council to vote yes on a hosting agreement, a matter that drew much debate among council members, particularly regarding the proximity of dispensaries in town to schools.

Ultimately, the city gave approval to the agreement.

Finally, resident Kevin Davis came to the microphone to express support for city leaders and Hoboken Library Director Jennie Pu, after a recent controversy over a "Banned Books" event.

Davis said he had checked out some of the books on the list, and was enjoying them. He said that he had started reading one of the books that has been criticized as too salacious.

"I was disappointed," he said, to laughter.

See the impassioned speeches and comments at the meeting here.