2025 Mayoral Survey - Runoff Edition
At Bike Hoboken, we believe getting around our city should be safe, fun, and accessible, regardless of how you choose to move.
That’s why, every election year since 2017, we’ve asked Hoboken’s candidates where they stand on key transportation issues that matter to our community. While Bike Hoboken does not endorse any political candidates, we hope their responses will help you make an informed choice when casting your ballot.
This page shows responses from Mayoral candidates who have advanced to the December runoff - Michael Russo and Emily Jabbour.
All candidates appearing on this year’s ballot were invited to participate and responses are listed in random order. Candidates were asked to follow these guidelines:
Yes/No questions: Answers should be direct, although “No” responses may include a brief explanation, limited to 50 words
Open response questions: Responses should be concise, limited to 100 words (approximately the length of these instructions). Answers should emphasize high-level priorities and processes rather than exhaustive policy positions.
Infrastructure and Funding
1. Do you support funding the Vision Zero Safety Improvement Project on Willow Avenue (11th–16th Streets)? (Yes / No)
Michael Russo: Yes
Emily Jabbour: Yes
2. Do you support Hoboken reauthorizing funding for Citi Bike? (Yes / No)
Michael Russo: Yes – but we have the right to negotiate with them regarding pricing, amount of curbside space taken up, etc.
Emily Jabbour: Yes
3. When negotiating new developments, should Hoboken prioritize space for additional parking spaces or prioritize additional housing units? (Housing / Parking)
Michael Russo: Housing
Emily Jabbour: Housing
4. What would you do to improve the Hop? (Open response)
Michael Russo: I was the first candidate to propose electrifying the Hop and adding new routes. The vehicles we currently have are depreciating monstrosities, so imagine a public/private partnership that adds app-based rideshare components along with consistent routes. In addition, there are new routes I’ll explore in addition to the current route list. A Hop After Dark will keep our students safe and support local businesses, a Medical Hop route will get our residents to their appointments and keep our community safe and healthy, and an additional, dedicated senior Hop will help Hoboken’s elders remain independent.
Emily Jabbour: The HOP needs additional investments for more shuttles so that you can locate them every 15 minutes rather than every 30 minutes (currently), and to expand the hours of service to start earlier and run later, as well as weekend service. I also love the idea of a holiday HOP that would feature a route that connects to a circuit of local businesses in partnership with the City and the Hoboken Business Alliance.
5. Many infrastructure projects require cooperation with neighboring municipalities and Hudson County. How would you build collaboration to advance key transportation improvements? (Open response)
Michael Russo: Despite what anyone says in response to this question, the answer will come down to relationships. Maintaining open lines of communication and positive working relationships with our county, state and federal partners is the way to get help from them. By working relationships I mean constituent services, I mean interagency cooperation, and I mean mutual promotion of positive work.
Emily Jabbour: Hoboken needs to take a more active seat at the table when it comes to Hudson County dynamics by working more directly with our County Commissioner and the County Executive to find common goals, for example, tying the discussion to our mutual support for the Vision Zero initiative. I think more regular communication to share the background thinking and the data that drives our decisions around infrastructure investments is also a positive way to get more buy-in from the County stakeholders.
Safety & Vision Zero
6. Traffic injuries in Hoboken have steadily declined over the past eight years, despite an uptick in 2024. What actions would you prioritize in the next phase of Vision Zero to continue this progress? (Open response)
Michael Russo: I think there are tangible steps to take to improve visibility and speed issues: enforcing double-parking regulations, ensuring more efficient turnaround in our loading zones, and installation of more speed humps. Of course, that all comes down to budget.
Emily Jabbour: There is still much work to be done when it comes to infrastructure – particularly protected bike lanes. I want to see real progress on the upgrades to a protected bike lane on Sinatra Drive, the creation of the green circuit around the perimeter of the city, and additional improvements to infrastructure throughout the city such as the corner bump outs. I would like to see continued use of the camera-assisted enforcement that just started with CLEAR as a way to also keep Washington Street clear of park violations.
7. What steps would you take to improve safety for students walking or biking to school in Hoboken? (Open response)
Michael Russo: Protected bike lanes for the bikers, and better enforcing our traffic laws for those walking. Enforcement in particular has been a chronic issue with this administration. There is no shortage of parents in Hoboken who have had an e-bike delivery driver zoom past them on the sidewalk, and the ticketing of those individuals will be paramount in ensuring the safety of our youngest residents who are just trying to get to and from school.
Emily Jabbour: I would like to focus on the concept of safe routes when it comes to looking at how crash data can guide a focus on getting children to school safely. I think this approach could also be useful when looking at our senior citizens going to the senior center, etc. I think we should concentrate our crossing guards to the highest crash areas in line with these school routes.
8. How should Hoboken use crash data to guide and prioritize transportation safety improvements? (Open response)
Michael Russo: Our public safety data will always be a valuable source. I also think community input is equally important. When neighbors say “we think there should be a speed hump here because people zoom down this street and a crash is bound to happen,” we shouldn’t be dismissive of that. Vision Zero is about being proactive to prevent tragedy. Regarding prioritization, to me it’s a holistic approach: what are the other construction projects happening across Hoboken at the moment, what does traffic flow look like, what is the estimated completion time, what’s the proximity to a school, etc.
Emily Jabbour: I think an analysis of crash data in a report format that is similar to the Bike Hoboken Traffic Injury Report would be helpful to focus our efforts and investment into the areas of the city that have the highest number of crash incidents. As noted previously, I also think we should allocate staff such as crossing guards in a way that reflects those areas that are most at risk for children traveling about town.
Policy & Planning
9. Do you support the use of automated enforcement (e.g., cameras) to ticket illegally parked vehicles? (Yes / No)
Michael Russo: Depends. An example I do support is using automated means to enforce loading zone violations beyond the allotted allowable time.
Emily Jabbour: Yes
10. Do you support building a fully connected network of protected bike lanes through the interior of Hoboken, even if it means repurposing street or curb space? (Yes / No)
Michael Russo: I believe all bike lanes should be PBLs, but I also believe all streets should not have a bike lane. A holistic approach is best. Where applicable we will install PBLs by simply restriping lanes and using the parking lane as the protective barrier. I will explore that where possible, but I will not remove parking outright.
Emily Jabbour: Yes
11. Based on the findings of the Curb Reimagined Foundations Report (May 2025), what changes to curb space allocation would you advocate for, if any? (Open response)
Michael Russo: See answer to #10. We must specifically allocate parking by delineating spaces for cars, motorcycles, and bikes (including e-bikes) Also, my housing policy commits to fighting for deeded/included indoor parking in new residential development. Before we “reimagine” our curb per se, we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got a backup plan.
Emily Jabbour: Given that the findings of this report prove that people are using the curbside for car storage, we need to invest in more capacity in our city-owned parking garages to encourage the use of garage space as opposed to on-street parking. We also need to implement more technology when it comes to wayfinding for use of said garage spaces based on open capacity for visitors and residents. I’d like to continue to maximize the use of curbside spots by encouraging the continuation of programs like the parklets for restaurants because I feel it adds to the unique quality of life for Hoboken residents. Finally, we must continue to look at dynamic pricing structures and camera enhanced enforcement as ways to keep regular turnover in our main business/commercial district along Washington Street.
12. How should Hoboken update policies and infrastructure to safely support the growing use of low-speed electric bicycles for deliveries? (Open response)
Michael Russo: We need to enforce the laws we currently have. The Council passed Tests and Vests in order to register and educate individuals; unfortunately, City Hall dropped the ball. The first day of rollout there were not enough vests, and the administration spent the next year slow rolling any ticketing while its allies on the Council tried to spin it as “the law didn’t work.” To this day there are delivery drivers zooming on sidewalks, stealing dedicated commuter spots on bike racks by the PATH, and blowing red lights. Without committing to enforcement, how can we be trusted with anything else?
Emily Jabbour: There is a long-standing ordinance on the books that says that bikers on sidewalks should not travel faster than pedestrians – I think we need to continue outreach with HPD to the delivery drivers about this law, and work with the restaurants to assist. I think expanding the network of protected bike lanes (e.g. the green circuit and interior lanes) helps ensure that all electric bicycles use these dedicated lanes; and the use of camera- enhanced enforcement on Washington will keep the green bike lane clear and more easily accessible.
13. What would you do to prioritize and expedite construction of the 15th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station? (Open response)
Michael Russo: Short of advocating for increased NJ Transit funding, it comes down to the relationships. This project, just like the Gateway project and any other major infrastructure improvement that crosses through multiple jurisdictions, relies on a series of grants, alternative funding streams, and politics. Now more than ever! Making that happen will require everyone representing Hoboken, both in City Hall and the legislature, to maintain positive working relationships. It’s so much more difficult to get things done if you cannot find common ground; that’s a problem in our federal politics, and it affects things downstream.
Emily Jabbour: I think the best option for investing in the build out of the 15th Street Hudson-Bregen Light Rail station is to use community givebacks for the private development projects in this area to invest in this new transit point. Adding an uptown light rail station at this location creates many new opportunities to open up the accessibility of this neighborhood and brings new energy and life to the planned commercial center along 15th Street. As Mayor, I would also advocate with our state legislature to earmark state funding for this much-needed transit point.
14. What are your ideas for improving cross-Hudson transit service? (Open response)
Michael Russo: We have to maintain positive relationships with Trenton, Albany, and NYC in order to make improvements to NJT/PATH. Additionally, we must keep an open dialogue with our unions in order to prevent disaster. Think back to that week or two before Memorial Day where we got hit with the perfect storm: Jersey Ave closed, construction all over, and NJ Transit workers on the precipice of a strike. The people of Hoboken were victims of poor planning, and that absolutely affected the quality of service. We also have to eliminate the overnight storage of delivery e-bikes, limiting commuter spots at our PATH-adjacent bike racks…again, that’s a matter of enforcement.
Emily Jabbour: I am proud to work actively with the Hudson County Complete Streets team on advocating for improved PATH service as one of the best resources available for cross-Hudson service. I am committed to ongoing advocacy with both Port Authority and NJ Transit to ensure PATH and bus service is meeting demand. I see the growing lines for the 126 bus on Clinton Street and know it means we need to sit down and look at getting more capacity with additional articulated buses on that route and explore adding a Madison/Monroe Street route.
Community & Equity
15. How would you ensure that residents who express concern about bicycle infrastructure or street redesign projects are heard and meaningfully engaged in the decision-making process? (Open response)
Michael Russo: I do this every day. I’ve openly engaged with Bike Hoboken and other organizations when crafting my own policy proposals and hosting town halls around the City. People who use bicycles will have always been and will always be welcome at the table. I will always have an open dialog with all residents of Hoboken. Open communication and engagement is a priority.
Emily Jabbour: I think the City needs to do a better job of following the key social work tenant of meeting people where they are at – that means sending Transportation staff members out to talk to people on the streets and commuting on a regular basis to gather feedback on a particular project. I don’t think it is enough to email blast or post links on social media for surveys – I think more meaningful and deliberate engagement is needed.
16. What role do you believe active transportation (walking, biking, micromobility) should play in Hoboken’s climate and sustainability goals? (Open response)
Michael Russo: An extremely important role. Keeping parks and open space as a priority encourages people to seek recreation within our city instead of traveling out of town. That, by definition, reduces the reliance on cars and incentivizes micromobility. Reimagining the Hop, as previously stated, and expanding other micromobility programs like our bike share program accomplish the same goal. However, in this precarious economy and especially given the major roads that go in and out of Hoboken which are vital for commerce, increased micromobility has to be a demand-side shift. At the end of the day it’s still a choice, and especially when there are so many commuters who live here (myself included), I believe that we should be accommodating of people’s various transportation needs.
Emily Jabbour: I think that active transportation options are essential to achieving Hoboken’s climate goals. I think we need to incentivize residents to think broadly about the impact of their daily transportation habits on goals such as addressing climate change and empower residents to feel like they can be a part of the solution.
17. How would you ensure that transportation improvements support accessibility for people with disabilities and mobility challenges? (Open response)
Michael Russo: I’m the only candidate in this race that has put compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on the forefront of my campaign. This is a priority for me, with an ADA audit baked into not just my overall plans, but my 100 Day Plan for what I think we can realistically accomplish in the first three months of my administration, which of course includes transportation throughout our city. I have a constituent who lives on Jackson Street whose son is a wheelchair user, and she’s told me outright how the sidewalks are so bad in Hoboken that her son has had to leave the sidewalk and travel out into the street. This is simply unacceptable, and with respect to the ADA would frankly be considered illegal.
Emily Jabbour: I think that often the City overlooks the vulnerable populations that experience mobility differently due to some level of challenge or disability. Again, I think the City needs to be deliberate about engaging this subset to ensure that we are crowdsourcing solutions from them directly to properly meet their needs. It is important that Hoboken has a better reputation when it comes to accessibility – for example promoting the accessibility of the free HOP shuttle and holding the Port Authority accountable if/when the elevator service at the Hoboken PATH Terminal is not in service (I hear about that too often).
18. How would you ensure that walking and biking infrastructure is equitably distributed across all Hoboken neighborhoods, including underserved areas? (Open response)
Michael Russo: Regular surveys and community input. I think before we spend a ton of money contracting with another vendor to do a major study, we should get that data in-house instead of asking them to do it. It’s cheaper to do a series of town halls than to farm that process out.
Emily Jabbour: I think education and outreach is an important first step to bridging the gap in this area. I think we need to be mindful about the HOP schedule/map when it comes to providing that critical service to residents to ensure that there is access throughout the City – and acknowledge that the routes and needs of some populations may look different than others, e.g. where do residents of the SW corner of Hoboken most often travel to versus the residents in the middle/interior of the City versus seniors who may live uptown at Fox Hill. Hoboken is a small enough City that we can look at these patterns and understand the stories behind the usage.
Personal Experience & Vision
19. How often do you walk or bike for transportation in Hoboken? What have your experiences been like? (Open response)
Michael Russo: As a working-class father of four, finding time to bike is a rare luxury. Being the sole provider means my days revolve around work and family responsibilities. My wife and I shuttle the kids around in our minivan, and for nearby errands or outings, we usually walk. I genuinely love biking but between the demands of daily life and limited free time, it’s simply not practical.
Emily Jabbour: I ride my bicycle to get around most days. If there is a day when I have not bicycled to get around, I’ve likely walked. I have been in a number of situations where cars have acted aggressively toward me as a bike rider, for example while taking the lane on First Street – so I have had to educate those drivers on what the paint markings on the street mean. My family does own one car that most often my husband will use for his reverse commute to the suburbs.
20. (Optional) Is there anything else you’d like to share about your vision for walking, biking, and active transportation in Hoboken? (Open response)
Michael Russo: My philosophy is that for all the taxes we pay and for the high cost of living that everyone is experiencing, it’s wrong to penalize someone for the method of transportation they choose. That means our approach should be additive, not subtractive, and we must be interested in each other’s point of view. I’m committed to being that balancing force between those who are proponents of bike riding, and those who recognize our parking shortage. The two can coexist with a holistic view of each city block, and with my lifelong knowledge of our city I’ll make it happen.
Emily Jabbour: Thank you to Bike Hoboken for your long standing advocacy to make our community safer!