Nora Martínez DeBenedetto Unveils Waterfront Protection Plan
Nora Martínez DeBenedetto Unveils Waterfront Protection Plan
Nora Martínez DeBenedetto, a candidate for Hoboken 2nd Ward Council, today unveiled her Waterfront Protection Plan, providing for open space at both the Monarch property and at Union Dry Dock, achieving the goal of a connected waterfront.
“I have a detailed plan to build out open space at both the Monarch property and at Union Dry Dock,” said Nora Martínez DeBenedetto. “As Councilwoman, working constructively with Mayor Bhalla and my Council colleagues, I will turn this plan into a reality, protecting our waterfront for all of us to enjoy.”
DeBenedetto added, “Parks are a personal passion of mine. I climbed the jungle gym in Legion Park as a little girl, and just today I watched my son race through Elysian Park. For people who live in apartments; for seniors seeking neighborly conversation; for city kids who need a little extra nature in their lives; community park space matters. It is the best use of our waterfront.”
The DeBenedetto Waterfront Protection Plan
A Park at Monarch: Making the Developer Pay Their Fair Share.
Mayor Bhalla has worked hard to negotiate an initial agreement to transfer the development rights away from the Monarch property on our waterfront. This was the right move – but the work isn’t done yet. Over the next year, the City of Hoboken and the property owner must come to a redevelopment agreement that will officially prevent development on our waterfront.
I am the only candidate who is actually eligible to vote on a potential Monarch deal, which is arguably the most consequential vote affecting 2nd Warders next year. (Unfortunately, the incumbent has a conflict and must recuse herself from voting on this important matter.) In exchange for the proposed development rights at the downtown garage site, I believe it is critical to include a community giveback mandating that the current property owner must shoulder the cost of the buildout of the park at Monarch.
This will place the onus on the property owner instead of residents. In other words, as your City council member, I will not only fight to ensure that our waterfront remain protected, but I will insist that the developer pay for a large majority, if not all, of the costs associated with the pier rehabilitation and buildout of public, open space.
Preventing a Refueling Station at Union Dry Dock:
With Mayor Bhalla negotiating the acquisition of Union Dry Dock, Hoboken is within grasp of finally realizing the long-held dream of a contiguous, open waterfront. Using eminent domain is the right thing to do in this case, given New York Waterway’s disingenuous public relations campaign and underhanded maneuvers to take over Union Dry Dock for a heavy refueling station.
In order to build out Union Dry Dock as open space, I join my Team Bhalla Slate mate Cristin Cricco-Powel in proposing the following steps:
1. Advocate for additional money from Hudson County’s Open Space Trust Fund. In years past, Hoboken has received up to $1 million from Hudson County specifically for the creation of parks. On the Council, I’ll work together with the County to make sure Hoboken is receiving its fair share of funding.
2. Secure grant funding from the State of New Jersey and FEMA. By including flood mitigation into our park at Union Dry Dock, we could be eligible for assistance from both the State of New Jersey and the federal government.
3. Apply for low interest loans through the State of New Jersey: If the planned open space includes green infrastructure (plants, trees, etc) that can absorb rainwater, we could be eligible for low interest loans with principal forgiveness through the State. Hoboken has successfully obtained such funding for the Northwest Park.
4. Utilize Hoboken’s Open Space Trust Fund. This November’s ballot will also feature a referendum that, if approved, raises Hoboken’s own Open Space Trust Fund by one cent per $100 in taxes. This small change can make a big difference, and is essential to ensure that Hoboken has the necessary funds for Union Dry Dock. This ballot measure has my strong support, as well as that of the Fund for a Better Waterfront.
Shaping Open Space Proposals Through Listening to Residents
As your Councilwoman, I will make it a point to help solicit feedback about the open space amenities through several public meetings. Personally, I believe that passive amenities, like the Maxwell Park lawn, are the best fit for our waterfront. But at the end of the day it is the residents’ voices that matter.
Candidate, 2nd Ward City Council
About Nora
Nora Martínez DeBenedetto is a teacher at Kaplan Cooperative Preschool and the coordinator of the popular Art in the Park program for the City of Hoboken, which is now greatly expanded and running at capacity each summer with almost six hundred children enrolled.
Nora has served as a volunteer organizer of the Hoboken Uptown Farmers Market for ten years, where she was one of the founding members. In this capacity, she worked to bring Jersey Fresh produce to a neighborhood that was in need of more health food options and community events. A graduate of Syracuse University, Nora later received her Master’s Degree from New Jersey City University. She is a lifelong resident of Hoboken and the Second Ward, where she lives with her husband and young son.
