Hoboken Safety Incident May Spur Crackdown On Short-Term Rentals

HOBOKEN, NJ — After several streets in the center of Hoboken closed Sunday morning due to a police investigation, the mayor said she may crack down on short-term rentals.

UPDATE: 5 People Arrested In Connection With Assault; Click Here

Mayor Emily Jabbour said around 4 p.m. Sunday that the police and Prosecutor's Office were still investigating an incident that occurred in the center of town Sunday morning. She said she couldn't release many details yet.

But she said she will look for support from the City Council to address regulations for short-term rentals.

Hoboken has faced criticism from housing advocates for being among the few towns in the area without a strict policy on Airbnb units and similar rentals.

“I want to thank the Hoboken community for your patience following this morning’s police response on Garden Street," Jabbour said Sunday. "...I understand the frustration over the lack of publicly available details at this time, however we are unable to comment on an active investigation, which is now being led by the HCPO."

She added, "At the next City Council meeting, I plan to introduce an ordinance that will regulate short-term rentals, by establishing clear safety standards, holding property owners accountable, and giving our Public Safety Department better tools to monitor these properties and address issues if needed."

Cheryl Fallick of the Hoboken Fair Housing Association wrote on social media, "Public safety matters, but so does the process by which our laws are made. We need to get this right, not rush it through."

Patch reached out to the Prosecutor's Office and will update this story when information is available.

Earlier Details

Earlier, the city had closed the streets in the center of Hoboken around 10 a.m.

In a public safety alert first posted on social media around 9 a.m., the city said, "Please avoid the 500 block of Garden Street. Residents are advised to use alternate routes."

Just before 10 a.m., a Hoboken public safety spokesperson told Patch that police had responded to reports of "a disturbance" on the 500 block of Garden Street.

"Due to this being an active investigation, residents are advised to avoid the area," she noted.

The spokesperson clarified around 10:30 a.m. that Garden Street was closed from Fifth to Seventh streets, and Sixth Street was closed from Bloomfield Street to Park Avenue.

Just before 1 p.m., streets reopened. The spokesperson said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office would handle further inquiries, and the investigation was continuing.

The city did not send a Nixle alert on Sunday or send the mayor's statement to local media, posting updates on social media.

Patch will post an updated story when more information is available. Watch Hoboken Patch for the latest news and subscribe below.

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