Hoboken 6th Ward Candidate Profile: Lauren Myers

HOBOKEN, NJ — If you live in central Hoboken, including near the Stevens campus and central waterfront, you're likely in the 6th Ward. (See the ward map here).

That means you'll get to vote for one of three candidates for 6th Ward council — but even if you don't live there, the election will affect you. Hoboken has nine voting members on its City Council, and each one can sway a vote.

Current Councilwoman Jen Giattino is up for re-election. She's being challenged by political newcomer Lauren Myers, who's supported by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, and Ian Rintel, who has run for council before.

The questions and answers from Lauren Myers are below. Compare them with the other two 6th Ward candidates' profiles posted on Hoboken Patch here.

NOTE: Got something to say? Post comments below or post letter to the editor on Hoboken Patch this way.

Name

Lauren Myers

How old will you be as of Election Day?

31

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.laurenmyersforhobo...

Party affiliation, even though Hoboken elections are non-partisan:

Democrat, Recording Secretary of the Hoboken Democrat Committee

Education.

I received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and graduated with honors. I also graduated magna cum laude from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Current occupation, years of experience.

Lawyer, 6 years

Family information, if you're willing to share.

I live with my husband, Jeffrey Myers, and my dog, Pensy Myers.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or have a government position, either volunteer or paid? Where?

No

Previous or current elected or appointed offices.

I was elected to the Hoboken Democrat Committee in June 2023, and appointed Recording Secretary. I have also secured internships within all areas of government, including the local, state, and federal level. I worked for both Republicans and Democrats and learned how to effectively negotiate across the aisle to get things done.

Why are you seeking a spot on Hoboken's City Council? Please keep these answers to 250 words or we WILL automatically truncate your answer.

Hoboken is my home and I plan on staying here to grow my family. I am running for City Council because I am passionate about making sure Hoboken's streets are safe and clean, protecting and supporting small businesses, preserving Hoboken for the future by working for affordable housing, strong schools, and infrastructure, and ensuring any new development is reasonable, measured, and responsible to maintain Hoboken's unique character.

What is the single most pressing issue facing Hoboken, and what makes you more qualified than your opponent(s) to solve it?

The most pressing issue facing Hoboken is our need for more enforcement of our public safety laws. We have rules that govern bikes, stop signs, smoking, trash disposal, double parking, among others, but we do not have enough people to enforce, whether that be the police or code enforcement officers. The result is that some people ignore these rules. We need to invest in more officers to enforce our local laws and keep Hoboken safe and clean.

Do you believe national political issues are relevant to Hoboken? Whom did you vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Do you believe it's relevant or irrelevant, and why?

While our elections are non-partisan, I hold my Democratic values of equality and fairness for all close to my heart. I believe that national political issues are relevant to Hoboken, we are part of the country and need to be part of the discussion. I voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

Some believe that running for local office serves primarily as a stepping stone, particularly in Hudson County. Are you willing to take a pledge to remain on the council for all four years rather than taking any other political job or paid government position?

I am singularly focused on this election and winning a council seat to represent the 6th ward. My intention is to be the best City Councilperson I can be for the next four years.

Several of our readers and others have said that Hoboken is becoming unaffordable to the middle class, particularly with monthly apartment rents seeing increases between $500 and $1,000 in some cases, and other costs spiking. Yet, Hoboken boasts of being an artsy town and a diverse community. Do you think something should be done to keep a mix of people in all parts of town? If so, what?

Yes, part of what attracted me to Hoboken was the small-town vibe and eclectic community. We need to protect our mix of residents, which makes us so special. This means making sure we have good rental protections and smart use of PILOTs if it means building more affordable housing. In many respects, development is key and is the best way to increase supply and reduce prices. However, we have to balance development with our height restriction and other limitations that are unique to Hoboken. We need to move forward with smart development that protects our neighborhoods, enhances our infrastructure, and provides the units we need to keep the members of our community.

Do you think Hoboken's current rent control ordinance is working as is, or does it need adjustments, and what kind? If there's a referendum to remove the Rent Control Ordinance, as has been talked about in the past, would you work to keep it, or remove it?

While our current rental ordinance offers good protections for renters, they need to be strengthened. For me, that means making it easier to understand and administer the rules, while imposing caps on increases for existing and future tenants. We need to keep a segment of below market units in Hoboken to maintain our economic diversity. As for a referendum, if there is one aimed at removing rent control, I would oppose it.

Six weeks after the 2021 council race, a majority of council members voted to give themselves raises of more than 30 percent, bringing the part-time salaries to $35,000-$40,000 each, plus benefits. Will you be taking the full salary and benefits if elected? Will you approve any raises for yourself during the next four years if you are elected?

My understanding is that all current council members take the full salary, and my intention would be to follow suit. With respect to any future increases, given that the salary was just increased, I would have no intention to raise it further at this time.

If you are running with the support of the current mayoral administration, what is something you think it hasn't done well in its eight years that needs improvement? If you are not running with the administration's support, what is something they've done very well?

I support Mayor Bhalla and am honored to have his support in this race. I think he has done an excellent job for the City of Hoboken. However, there are some areas where the City could have and should have done more; namely, being more expedient with solving our rat issues and having a more comprehensive plan to address and alleviate homelessness. I am glad the City has moved more aggressively on rodents, however more needs to be done. With respect to homelessness, we are much further behind and need to engage our county and state officials to make sure we have the funding and resources we need to help the homeless in Hoboken.

Do you plan to vote in Hoboken's school board election in November? Which three candidates are you supporting?

Yes, I plan to support the Mom's Leading Progress slate (2-3-4)

Please feel free to share anything else you think needs to be said, but keep answers to 250 words. Note that any longer answer will be truncated. Also, if you decline to answer a question, that will be noted.

I am actively involved in our community and am running for City Council to continue to help the people of Hoboken. I always meet people on the street while walking my dog, and I have taken an interest in their well-being and helping wherever I can. I have the experience to get things done on City Council and be a collaborative contributor. I believe my years of litigation experience, where I have navigated difficult issues and managed hard trade-offs will serve me well on City Council.