It’s Election Day in America with the big question being, who will lead our nation for the next four years as President? Current Vice President, Democrat, Kamala Harris or former President, Republican, Donald Trump.
The weather in Hudson County is not an issue today, as the sun is out and the temperatures are pleasant, slightly above normal for this time of year. So the public has no excuses not to go to the polls before they close at 8 pm…that’s of course if they did not cast their votes by mail in ballot or take advantage of early, in-person voting which ended on Sunday. And many, many New Jersey residents, including those living in Hudson County, did just that.
In New Jersey, 14 electoral votes are at stake in the presidential race.
Hudson County residents are also voting for a United States Senator and members of the United States House of Representatives in three Districts. There are also a few municipal races in West Hudson, the vote for County Surrogate and Board of Education elections in numerous municipalities.
Just a reminder for those of you who have yet to go to the polls, you are not permitted to wear anything within 100 feet of a polling which supports a particular candidate or party, or sheds a negative light against a candidate or party.
So, aside from the huge Presidential contest, what’s at stake in Hudson County?
In the United States Senate race to succeed disgraced, former Senator Robert Menendez, south Jersey Democratic Congressman Andy Kim is facing Republican Curtis Bashaw.
Running for Congress in District 8, the largest House of Representatives district in Hudson County, is incumbent, freshman Congressman Rob Menendez, Jr. of Jersey City. His Republican opponent is West New York’s Anthony Valdes.
In the Tenth Congressional District, Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver, who was appointed following the death earlier this year of Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., faces Republican Carmen Bucco. A portion of Jersey City lies in District 10.
In Congressional District 9, Democratic State Senator Nellie Pou faces Republican Billy Prempeh, an Air Force veteran who previously ran for the seat twice against Congressman Bill Pascrell, who recently died.
In the race for Hudson County Surrogate, incumbent Democrat Tilo Rivas faces Republican Juliana Lombard.
On the municipal level, there is a race for a Council seat in Kearny’s 3rd Ward and in East Newark, two, At-Large Council seats are up for grabs.
There are also school board elections in Bayonne, East Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Guttenberg, Kearny and Secaucus.
There is a public rent control protection referendum on the Hoboken ballot.
A “No” Vote Means: You support maintaining the current Rent Control Code and its current limits on permitted rent increases upon a vacancy – to 5% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower; or to a maximum of 25% after a vacancy by a tenant that lasted three years or more. There would be no option for an unlimited rent increase upon vacancy coupled with a $2,500 fee paid to the City of Hoboken to be deposited in the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
A “NO” vote is supported by the Hoboken Fair Housing Association.
A “Yes” Vote Means: You support an amendment to the City’s Rent Control Code to allow landlords to increase the rent upon any vacancy to whatever the market would bear without any limitation (i.e., without the current 5%/CPI limit and three year/ 25% increase restriction) if they pay a fee of $2,500 per unit, which would be deposited into the Hoboken Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Thereafter, the unit’s rent would once again be subject to the Rent Control Code’s limitations. This would amend and reduce the current restrictions in the Rent Control Code.
A “YES” vote supported by the Mile Square Taxpayers Association.
Remember, if you are on line at your polling place by 8 o’clock tonight, you will be permitted to vote.