Photo by Reena Rose Sibayan / The Jersey Journal.
It has been a very busy and hectic week for Hudson County and the entire state of New Jersey as a whole, so let’s get into it.
Here’s How New Jersey Voted In The 2024 Presidential Election
New Jersey had a lot of things to vote for in the 2024 general election: races for local town councils and school boards, ballot questions and Congress seats. And in the main event: the presidential contest between Kamala Harris and the eventual winner, Donald Trump.
New Jersey voters took to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots until 8 p.m. The state makes up 14 of the needed 270 votes to become president-elect.
The names on the ballots this year were:
- Kamala Harris (Democrat)
- Donald Trump (Republican)
- Chase Oliver (Libertarian)
- Jill Stein (Green Party)
- Claudia De La Cruz (Party for Socialism and Liberation)
- Randall Terry (Constitution Party)
- Joseph Kishore (Socialist Equity Party)
- Rachele Fruit (Socialist Workers Party)
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent Party)
*Kennedy suspended his campaign, but he still appeared on the presidential ballot in New Jersey and several other states.
The final poll results in New Jersey were:
- Kamala Harris – 1,684,776 votes (52.1%)
- Donald Trump – 1,493,013 votes (46.1%)
- Claudia De La Cruz – 3,501 votes (0.1%)
- Rachele Fruit – 930 votes (0.03%)
- Robert Kennedy – 17,235 votes (0.5%)
- Joseph Kishore – 970 votes (0.03%)
- Chase Oliver – 7,457 votes (0.2%)
- Jill Stein – 25,100 votes (0.8%)
- Randall Terry – 2,167 votes (0.07%)
Although Harris won the state of New Jersey—which is a historically blue state—Donald Trump finished with more overall electoral college votes and will serve as the 47th President of the United States.
Andy Kim Makes History In New Jersey
The U.S. will have its first-ever Asian American senator.
Democratic Rep. Andy Kim defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw to fill the seat of former longtime Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez resigned in August after he was charged with 16 counts for accepting bribes from New Jersey business people with ties to the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
“I’m here with my mom and my dad. I’m here with my wife, with my two sons — three generations in the same room,” said Kim. “It’s a lot to process, but I’m really proud.”
Kim, who grew up in South Jersey to Korean immigrant parents, is part of the fastest growing Asian American community. But not everyone has had a positive reaction to an Asian American like Kim representing the state.
“Last year, when I first started running for Senate, I had somebody literally tell me to my face that I’m the ‘wrong kind of minority to win statewide,’” Kim said. “That was really hurtful.”
“I have every bit as much right to represent the state as anybody else,” he said. “I am as American as anybody else.”
“… Don’t self-select yourself out. If you want to run for office, if you want to serve, give it a try. I hope that people hear that.”
Jersey City To Put Locals First For Affordable Housing
New Jersey’s second biggest city—Jersey City—will give local residents first choice on affordable housing units.
The ordinance, which was passed by the City Council on Wednesday, will include more than 1,000 low- and medium-income units that will be up for grabs.
It is planned to go into effect in July 2025, but it still needs to go before Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop for his signature. If he doesn’t sign it, the council can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
Lack of affordable housing is a major concern across the nation, but especially in the Garden State. According to state officials, New Jersey is short of more than 200,000 low-priced units.
But the new ordinance would not apply to all affordable housing in Jersey City. For prior apartments built using the Mount Laurel Doctrine, a 40-year-old affordable housing mandate, they will be exempt. Any apartments built using state or federal funding connected to a statewide affordable housing mandate will be excused. That mandate, called the Mount Laurel Doctrine, comes from a 40-year-old state Supreme Court decision that says all New Jersey cities and towns must create their fair share of affordable housing.
Jersey City Councilman James Solomon added that the city is working on 500 affordable units, and residents will have a chance for those as well.
“Rents are going through the roof, residents are being displaced, and if we’re using the residents’ taxpayer dollars to create these units of affordable housing, then they should have the first chance to get access,” Solomon said.
Hoboken Mourns Sudden Loss Of Council President
Hoboken City Council President Jen Giattino has died, city officials confirmed Monday night. She was 53 and mother to three children.
Giattino was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015. She ran for mayor in 2017, but was unsuccessful. She was elected again to the city council in 2019 and 2023.
“I am heartbroken to share that my beloved wife, Jen—the love of my life and mother of our three children—passed away suddenly,” said her husband, Joe Giattino, in a statement.
“She was not only an incredible mother but also a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about this community. Jen’s unwavering commitment, kindness, and passion touched so many lives here in Hoboken. We are devastated by her loss, and I ask for privacy for our family as we try to navigate this difficult time. Thank you for your understanding and for keeping Jen in your thoughts and prayers.”
Giattino represented the 6th Ward, which can be located in the center of town.
She had compared Hoboken to “Sesame Street” during her past campaigns. She had just posted a photo of Halloween decorations on Instagram in the city last week.
Previously, she worked as a real estate broker, business owner and was even a professional ballerina.
“Shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of my colleague Councilwoman Jen Giattino. Jen was a dedicated public servant who could always be spotted around the neighborhood, checking in on neighbors and handling constituent concerns. My heart is broken for her husband, sons, loved ones, and community,” said Councilwoman Emily Jabbour in an Instagram post.
The Hoboken community continues to mourn the loss of Giattino. Governor Phil Murphy and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla both shared statements about her passing.
The cause of death is still unknown.
Bruce Springsteen And Jeremy Allen White Spotted In Hudson County
Midtown Bayonne got a visit from New Jersey legend Bruce Springsteen and “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White.
White and Springsteen were reportedly in the Hudson County town to film the new Springsteen biopic, “Deliver Me from Nowhere.”
“Deliver Me From Nowhere” is based on musician-turned-author Warren Zanes’ 2023 non-fiction novel of the same name. The novel depicts the making of Springsteen’s 1982 acoustic album, “Nebraska.”
The biopic will mainly take place in Springsteen’s home state New Jersey at Asbury Park, East Rutherford and Morris County, but will also be in other locations like New York and Los Angeles.
There is no exact release date yet.
Hoboken Says “No” Thank You To Rent Control Referendum
2024 Election Day had Hoboken voters making many crucial decisions, the main one being the President of the United States.
On top of choosing the next leader of the country, the ballot had a question asking residents to vote on an amendment to the City’s rent control code.
If passed, the new amendment would allow landlords to increase rent after a tenant vacates at market price—without limitation—as long as they pay a $2,500 fee per unit to the Hoboken Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It would only impact new tenants.
If voted “no,” the current rent control code in the city would remain, which limits how much a landlord can charge after a tenant vacates the property. Landlords are limited to raising rent to 5% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. This increase can only happen once every three years for the same unit.
Most of Hoboken voters voted “no,” which blocks the amendment from being passed.
