Gov. Murphy Responds To $241M Hoboken High Referendum; Voting Results

HOBOKEN, NJ — For Tuesday's Hoboken referendum election results, click the results story here: Results Coming In From $241M Hoboken School Referendum.

With Hoboken's $241 million Hoboken school referendum becoming a heated affair, Gov. Phil Murphy was asked this week if he would weigh in.

Gov. Murphy, whose COVID guidance early in the pandemic often followed Hoboken's and who has ties to the current administration, declined to wade into the choppy waters. He responded, according to the New Jersey Globe, “No opinion on the high school referendum. But as a general matter – not specific to their election – you want to try and get as many people voting as possible."

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Will that actually happen today, and how will that affect the outcome?

A total of 43,465 Hoboken voters are eligible to cast a ballot, according to the County of Hudson. How many will come out in a January election?

In the end, the vote may come down to vote-by-mail ballots.

For decades in Hoboken, the team with the bigger machine could knock on doors in advance of an election and convince residents (particularly in senior housing) to vote for their side — whichever side it was. And while one councilman was indicted years ago in connection with an alleged absentee ballot scheme (see this New York Times story), most voter fraud investigations in the city have failed to bear fruit.

Parents have taken positions on both sides of the debate, as have architects, activists, educators, members of local political parties, and even Hoboken High School students who wrote letters in the last few days. There have also been personal attacks.

Voting Hours And Where You Can Vote

• The polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Click here for a state site to find your polling place or click here for directions from the city.
• Absentee Ballot/Vote By Mail: You can mail your ballot or drop in the ballot boxes in front of City Hall or at Sixth and Hudson streets.
• For more information on the Tuesday election, see this page on the city of Hoboken website.

More About The Plan

Hoboken school administrators having been sharing details about the $241 million project — which would reconfigure the schools and build a new Hoboken High School — since it was introduced to the public two months ago.

The district says the proposal is long needed to address enrollment trends and aging school buildings (ranging in age from 60 to 110 years old).

Critics have said the plan needs more discussion and will raise taxes for homeowners ($491 per year on average, says the board) and on some renters, including those under rent control (the city's longstanding Rent Control Ordinance allows landlords to split tax and utility increases among tenants).

The district has been steadily updating a list of responses to frequently asked questions, adding number 22 last week, "School Choice."

What's In The Project?

The project, as currently proposed, will involve building a new Hoboken High School building at 1000 Jefferson St., on the site of the current district athletic field west of Columbus Park. The new building would include a rooftop athletic complex, and would also contain an ice rink and pool.

The current HHS building at Ninth and Clinton streets would become the city's new middle school. The existing middle school — a 110-year-old building on Fourth Street formerly attended by Frank Sinatra — would be turned into an elementary school.

Past Patch Coverage, Letters, And Voter Information

• Post your own letter on Patch using these guidelines for posting an article.
• Board addresses 'misinformation': Read more
• Post a letter: How To Post A Letter About The Hoboken School Project On Patch
• Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher And Emily Jabbour Explain Their Stances: Councilwomen Weigh In On Opposite Sides
• Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr. Supports 'No' Vote
• Jan. 11 Board of Education meeting: Watch It Here
• READ MORE: More Residents Submit Letters
• District Q&A: The district has answered 22 questions from the public about the project, including about costs and timing. Click here.
• The district released a new video about the project over the weekend. Click here.
• Check the school district webpage for updates.

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