How Jim Doyle Answered Questions: Hoboken Election Profiles

HOBOKEN, NJ — Ten candidates are running to fill three seats on the Hoboken City Council on Nov. 2, while Mayor Ravi Bhalla is running for re-election unopposed.

Below are candidate Jim Doyle's answers to questions Patch has sent to all 10 council candidates.

Other candidates profiles are linked at the end of this story.

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Your name: Jim Doyle

Campaign website, if any: ravinderbhalla.com

Age as of Election Day: 62

Party affiliation, even though Hoboken elections are non-partisan: I am a life-long Democrat.

Family information (Names, ages, or any details you wish to share): I am married to Leah Healey.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? If so, where? Other than me, no.

Educational background: BA in English, Political Science and History, JD in law

Occupation, years of experience: I have worked as an attorney, for 34 years, for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in environmental enforcement and as a part-time Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York (for 20 of those years).

Previous or current elected or appointed offices: Current Hoboken City Council (8 years), Hoboken Planning Board (7 years).

Why are you seeking elected office? (Please keep these answers to 250 words or we may automatically truncate your answer)

The goals of my day job (environmental protection) and increasing the amount of open space in our city are the main reasons why I became involved in local issues before I sought office, and they remain significant issues for me today as I run for re-election with Team Bhalla. Over the past eight years on the council, the latter desire (open space acquisition) has broadened considerably to a desire to maintain reasonable development in our City, in large part because of the significant progress this and the former Mayor have made in acquiring open space. I’m proud to have been a part of a number of efforts to address these issues and improve the quality of life for residents – from helping facilitate the construction of a new resiliency park and gymnasium at 7th and Jackson, working to add even more open space (such as the Northwest Resiliency Park, complete acquisition of Union Dry Dock, Monarch, and 8th and Monroe), facilitating the construction of the current Southwest Resiliency Park, and more. But I am running because there is still more left to do, including tackling the flooding issues, following through with ensuring that parks are created at Union Dry Dock and Monarch, among others, keep the Rebuild by Design program on track, and if re-elected I intend to work with Mayor Bhalla and my Council colleagues to help see these projects through over the next four years.

What is the single most pressing issue facing Hoboken, and how do you think you can help solve it?

Adapting to climate change and the threats we face from more severe storms, whether storm surges or storm events like recent storm Ida. Even with the advancements we’ve made in flood mitigation, such as the on-going Rebuild by Design (RBD) project, the second flood pump installed in 2016, and the soon to be completed 5-acre Northwest Resiliency Park and the additional flood protection that it will bring, we must continue advancing the “delay," “store," and “discharge” components of RBD that will protect us from both stormwater and the storm surge.

Team Bhalla is proposing that an additional flood pump to be incorporated adjacent to the 2nd Street light rail, which by pumping out considerably more storm water during and after storms will further protect our City. We are also proposing resiliency parks with underground storage for rain water at 800 Monroe and the expanded Southwest Resiliency Park – both of which will help further mitigate localized flooding. Councilwoman Jabbour and I worked with Mayor Bhalla to authorize the existence of these park projects, and we will push for them both to include the flood resiliency features. We also propose continuing to include resiliency features, such as bioswales, rain gardens, green roofs, stormwater detention systems as a part of construction projects, all being consistent with the principles of RBD that began several years ago. This is not a simple problem, and there will be no simple fixes, but if we can continue with our resiliency efforts, we can solve this.

Do you believe national political issues are relevant to Hoboken? During the last race, candidates cited their votes in the 2016 election. Are you willing to say for whom you voted in the 2020 presidential election? Do you believe it's relevant or irrelevant, and why?

While one’s national political perspective is not typically relevant at the local level, I believe that the most critical, long-term issue facing our City, climate change, makes it relevant now. Decisions relating to climate change can have direct impacts in the near term here in Hoboken. If the Country drags its feet in responding to this threat, the existence of the City is in jeopardy, which can make many of the other important issues moot. A prime example is the $230 million awarded to Hoboken in the RBD flood resiliency design competition, which came under the Obama administration. To answer your question, I voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

An issue that often comes up on social media discussion boards is a lack of affordable summer camp options and drop-off recreational options for kids in Hoboken, and a lack of activities for teens, especially compared to other towns, some smaller. In the last few years, parents have said they didn't get enough notice about baseball signups and had to register in Union City for that town's recreation baseball instead of in Hoboken. Specifically, how would you increase low-cost recreation (and not just sports) programming for kids and teens within town, especially over the summer?

While Mayor Bhalla’s administration has added additional recreation opportunities for children over the past four years, we have avenues to improve in this department. The competition for field space for athletics has been a chronic problem, but with the Northwest Park and its sports field coming on line (and possibly more active recreation in the Southwest expansion), this shortage may be alleviated. Along with the mayor, I believe that we should be building a new recreation center in the next four years, one that would allow us more space to provide recreation services (which could include non-sports activities such as art, dance, and more) for children and teens, along with a free summer camp that is much needed for many Hoboken parents. I believe we should also modernize and expand our recreation department with additional staff to assist the director, including a new website and technology to streamline an on-line process for parents to sign their children up.

Some believe that running for local office is only meant as a stepping stone, particularly in Hudson County. Do you plan to someday run for any other political office besides the one you are currently seeking? Why or why not?

No. I abide by the “think global, act local” adage. I enjoy and am challenged by my service to the City on the City Council, and do not plan to seek any other office.

What is the best thing about Hoboken, and what is the worst thing?

The best thing is that we are one square mile, where you can walk or bike to get around without having to use a car and get to small businesses with owners and employees that you know. Living in the middle of town, I can get to some of my favorite restaurants uptown with just a short walk and am able to get to the PATH station (pre-COVID) on a bike in 5 -10 minutes. The scale of Hoboken, both in height and density, is completely different from most of New York City, Jersey City, and most other cities I’ve visited, and that is what makes it so special. No matter how short the errand you run, you are bound to run into someone who you know that creates an inter-connectedness to our city. The worst may be how that the familiarity that makes it such a special place can sadly result in divisions when, at the heart of things, we all have the same goal of keeping Hoboken special even if our visions to achieve that may differ.

What are critical differences between you and other candidates?

I am the oldest. And seriously, I have served the longest. As an incumbent, along with Councilwoman Jabbour, I have a track record, and based on that I have been endorsed and trusted to get the job done on the Council by Mayor Bhalla. Having a record can be a blessing or a curse, and I am proud of mine and hope it is one that voters agree is positive. Working with both this Mayor and the former I worked hard to move forward with a number of quality of life projects including the new 7th and Jackson gymnasium and park that opened in 2019, worked to make the Northwest Resiliency Park a reality, and more recently was an advocate for acquiring both the Monarch and Union Dry Dock properties. On the Council, Emily Jabbour and I have helped move forward the Mayor’s Vision Zero pedestrian safety program, Rebuild by Design, water main infrastructure improvements, and much more.

More Information

Hoboken's municipal elections are non-partisan, meaning the elections aren't Republicans vs. Democrats, but various individuals and slates against each other.

Other Candidate Profiles And Answers:

• Council Candidate Ian Rintel's Answers To Our Questions
• Council Candidate Cindy Wiegand's Answers To Our Questions
  
• Candidate Cheryl Fallick's Answers To Our Questions
  
• Councilwoman Emily Jabbour's Answers To Our Questions
• Candidate Sheila Brennan's Answers To Questions
• Candidate Paul Presinzano's Answers To Questions
• Candidate Joe Quintero's Answers To Questions
• Candidate Jim Doyle's Answers To Questions

Previous Election Coverage

• Hoboken Election: Jim Doyle Replaces Dini Ajmani On Mayor's Slate
• Citing 'Toxic' Hoboken Politics, Councilman Won't Run For Mayor
• I'm Running For Re-Election, Announces Mayor

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