It’s finally Sunday, Hoboken and Jersey City. You know what that means: an in-depth recap of all the most noteworthy news headlines that happened this week between our neighboring cities. ICYMI, there’s been a ton going on — from new openings to sad closings to an unexpected visit from the Federal Investigation Bureau. Keep reading to find out all that’s been happening in Hoboken, Jersey City, and beyond.
Eco-Friendly Spa Called Gaia’s Cavern Opens on Wayne Street
(Photo credit: Instagram)
Next time you step foot into 140 Wayne Street in Jersey City, be ready for a life-altering experience, as Gaia’s Cavern has just set up shop. Gaia’s, an eco-friendly spa that uses organic ingredients in all of its services, hosted its soft opening on Friday, August 3. Gaia’s Cavern offers a wide range of services such as facials, foot soaks, and massage therapy. Their list of organic ingredients includes various teas, homemade bath and body products, and of course, CBD infusions.
Gaia’s Cavern also offers deep tissue massage treatments, aromatherapy, and massages incorporating Swedish practices and lava stone. Continuing the recent trend of all holistic treatments infused with CBD, Gaia’s also features a Cannabis-based massage with a cute name to boot! The CannaBlessed massage uses a cannabis balm (that features no effect on the brain — AKA it won’t get you high} to relax the nervous system, all your muscles, and alleviate any pain.
For price points and more details about treatments, check out Gaia’s Cavern online.
Rumba Cubana is Open in Hamilton Park
{Photo credit: Instagram}
As of Tuesday, Hamilton Park is officially home to Rumba Cubana. The restaurant, known for its Latin food that fuses Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisine, is located at 237 Pavonia Avenue and features Cuban tapas, arroz con pollo, ropa vieja, Cuban paella, mofongo and more, all for a decent price. Rumba Cubana’s menu also features vegetarian options for those of you who are plant-based, including a veggie paella.
The opening ceremony took place on Tuesday, July 24 at 4:00PM and featured Mayor Steven Fulop who participated in the Park Francis’ ribbon-cutting. The Park Francis official opening honored Rumba Cubana’s opening, but also Tribeca Pediatrics, Project Pilates, North Park Cleaners, and Sa10n. Stay tuned for an HG review soon!
Soul Curry Replaces Matt & Meera on Washington Street
{Photo credit: Facebook}
Goodbye, Matt & Meera, hello, Soul Curry. The new Indian restaurant is set to open in the coming weeks at 614 Washington Street and features a menu of various spicy dishes, from vegan summer corn bhel to chicken tikka masala. Soul Curry is currently available via UberEATS and Grubhub while renovations on the space are finalized.
Expect Lane Closures on Route 495 Until 2020
{Photo credit: Twitter}
The New Jersey Department of Transportation has announced some unfortunate news for commuters. As part of a Restore 495 Project, the bridge over Route 1&9 and Paterson Plank Road will undergo reconstruction as of mid-August. In the wake of this reconstruction, drivers should expect lane closures and traffic delays that could extend over a span of two years.
“Route 495 lane closures to begin in mid-August as rehabilitation of the bridge over Route 1&9/Paterson Plank Road begins. Expect severe congestion and delays for the next two-and-a-half years,” Prosecutor Suarez official Twitter account announced.
FBI Confirms Visit to Hoboken Accounting Firm
“Official law enforcement business” went down in Hoboken last Thursday. The FBI’s press office confirmed that the Federal Investigation Bureau visited the Mile Square City. Now, several sources are coming forward, alleging that the FBI visit was paid to Cannarozzi & Picardo, a well-known accounting firm on Adams Street.
“I can only confirm that the FBI was there on official law enforcement business,” U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Matt Reilly said in email confirmation.
Cannarozzi & Picardo is spearheaded by accounting partners Matthew Cannarozzi and Louis Picardo, who served as the CFO for the City of Hoboken between 2003 and 2004. In 2011, the Superior Court ruled Picardo had to remove an extension to a property he owned at 920 Castle Point.
Kelly Saint Patrick Returning to JC Wave Fest
The first-ever Jersey City Wave Fest is coming to White Eagle Hall, and it marks an exciting homecoming, too. The JC Wave Fest will be the return of Kelly Saint Patrick, a staple of the Jersey City music scene. Kelly, a Pennsylvania native who has lived in Jersey City for over eight years, has released two records — the most recent of which was The Light Keeper, released in December 2017. More than solely a vocalist, Kelly also writes her songs.
“I don’t want to create music based off what is popular,” Kelly says. “I don’t want things to have to sound a certain way. Of course, as a songwriter, the biggest gift is when people say they get it.
The JC Wave Fest at White Eagle Hall kicks off on August 18 and features an amalgamation of musical talent, art openings, readings, and other creative performances as well. Along with Kelly Saint Patrick and other well-known local talents like Shayfer James and Sylvana Joyce, newer voices like After School Activities and Spaghetti Sessions will also perform.
The Sarah & Whitney Show Celebrates Fun at Mile Square Theatre
{Photo courtesy of Chris O’Connor}
The Sarah & Whitney Show, featuring new and innovative dances by Sarah Weber Gallo and Whitney Jacobs, is showing at the Mile Square Theatre from Thursday, August 16, Friday, August 17, and Saturday, August 18 at 8pm. Described as a “60-minute dance extravaganza dedicated to all things FUN,” the Sarah & Whitney Show promises to celebrate effort, risk, excess, and “gigantic messes.” And it’s family-friendly {and fun} for all ages.
Tickets can be purchased on MileSquareTheatre.org and the show will be held at the Mile Square Theatre at 1400 Clinton Street in Hoboken.
Battaglia’s Home Announces Going-Out-of-Business Sale
{Photo credit: Battaglia’s Home}
Family-owned home business store Battaglia is officially going out of business after a long run of being Hoboken’s go-to furnishing store. After 25 years, Battaglia {located at 1414 Willow Avenue} is hosting a going-out-of-business sale Monday to Friday, 11:00AM to 7:00PM, Saturday 1:00PM to 7:00PM, and Sunday 10:00PM to 6:00PM.
Battaglia owner Brian Battaglia said in a heartfelt statement to hMag, “We have loved watching your families grow and having children we met as babies come and work in the store as young adults. You let us into your lives in small ways when you needed wine glasses for a party or a candle for a teacher gift and bigger ways when we helped you layout and furnish your first apartment, or get a sleeper sofa for when your parents visited.”
More Than 100 Kids on Hoboken Pre-K Waiting List
The district must provide programs such as full-day kindergarten and pre-school to Hoboken school districts as part of a series of Supreme Court decisions from the 1970s to 1990s. Basically, those decisions were to ensure poorer school districts received similar educations as more well-off ones. While Hoboken isn’t the only school district who receives this benefit — 30 others in New Jersey also receive state funding — the district is still encountering a problem.
State funds covered free pre-school for 885 kids, a number based on 2017’s enrollment figures. However, with 140 kids left without pre-school placements, it’s clearly not enough. The district determines student placement by an annual lottery system in the spring, with lower-income families, special needs kids, and children who already have siblings in the district, receiving priority.
“We already placed about 24 children who were on the waiting list into seats vacated by families who either moved out of the district or who have decided to send their child elsewhere,” Superintendent of Schools Christine Johnson tells The Hudson Reporter. “But the list climbed back to the original number of 140 as 24 new families moved into town.”
Mistrial Declared in Jersey City Murder Case
A Hudson County jury has failed to reach a verdict in the murder trial of Dominique Green, a man charged a daytime shooting that occurred in 2017. Green, 24, was looking at 30 years to life in prison for the murder of Rasheed Raysor, 19. Raysor was shot on May 9, 2017 on Woodlawn Avenue in JC.
Green, who has denied committing the crime or even knowing the victim, was arrested on May 12, 2017. An eye-witness, a woman whose identity has not been publicly revealed, has testified against Green, alleging that she witnessed Green gun down Raysor.
The new trial has been pushed until November 27.
Hoboken’s House of ‘Que Coming to Weehawken
House of ‘Que, the home of authentic Austin barbecue that’s been located on Frank Sinatra Drive in Hoboken since 2015, is also coming to Weehawken. A House of ‘Que outpost is planned for a new location, 500 Avenue at Port Imperial. The outpost will likely feature some of the BBQ dishes that have become staples to Hobo’s own House of ‘Que: wings, brisket, pulled pork, and more. A Residence Inn by Marriott and Renaissance Hotels will be going into the same Port Imperial complex as well, which is just across from the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal.
Hoboken Gourmet Company Surprise-Closes, Already Under Construction
Garden State Roller Girls Going for the Roller Derby Title
{Photo Credit: Quick Draw Sports Photography}
Who will compete in the 2018 Intraleague Roller Derby Championship? On August 11, fans of the Garden State Roller Girls {New Jersey’s own all-woman flat track roller derby league} will find out as the Gateway Grim Reapers go head-to-head against Jersey City Bridge and Pummel. The two teams will battle it out at the Inline Skating Club of America in North Arlington, Saturday, August 11. Doors open at 7:15pm and the first whistle of the night is at 8pm. Admission is $15 at the door and $10 online at brownpapertickets.com.
The winner of the 8/11 game will move forward, competing in the Garden State Rollergirls’ home-team championship game on Saturday, September 8.
Red Bank and Westfield ‘Cake Boss’ Locations Shut Down
In 2018 alone, Buddy Valastro, the face, chef, entrepreneur, and reality TV star behind the Carlos’ Bakery and Cake Boss franchises, has shut down two of his Jersey locations. The most recent location to join that list is Red Bank {Westfield closed back in April}. The Red Bank closure was announced on Wednesday via a sign posted to the shop’s front door; it read “We Are Closing.” The Red Bank location initially opened back in 2013 to a line of hundreds of customers looking to get in. The Red Bank location officially closed the following Tuesday. Other Carlos locations still open include Times Square, Hoboken, Westbury, Ridgewood, and Wayne.
Orale Mexican Kitchen Opening Up Second Location
Hoboken Pride Week Kicks Off Monday
The city of Hoboken is kicking off Pride Week celebrations on Monday, August 6th at 9:30AM with the inaugural flag raising at City Hall {94 Washington Street} as part of Hudson County’s first-ever dedicated “Pride Month.” At the flag raising, Mayor Bhalla will appoint Laura Knittel as Hoboken’s LGBTQ Community Liaison. Stay tuned for more events coming next week!
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What’s Going on With the NYC Congestion Pricing Plan?
The New York City congestion pricing plan has been an ongoing saga for New Jersey and New York drivers. The plan was first announced in 2021, halted weeks before it was set to take effect in June 2024, and a revised plan was officially implemented in January 2025. The plan has been met with much criticism from drivers and State officials alike. In most recent news, President Donald Trump announced plans to end congestion pricing in February 2025. The Hoboken Girl is sharing the most recent information on congestion pricing and what the next steps are after President Trump’s announcement. Read on for the latest updates on the New York City congestion pricing plan.
Status Quo
January 5th, 2025 was the first day of the new congestion pricing plan. Before its implementation, the plan was the subject of extensive debate between supporters and detractors, public transit advocates, taxpayer groups, and even the states of New York and New Jersey.
The plan created a toll structure that mandated a $9 congestion pricing fee for all non-commercial vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. Despite the controversial nature of the plan, the goal is to raise $15 billion for MTA system improvements and to reduce gridlock in midtown and lower Manhattan.
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Per the New York Times, observers noted reduced vehicular traffic in the zone and anecdotally faster bus trips since the congestion pricing plan began.
What's Next
On Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 President Donald J. Trump announced that he would end the congestion pricing plan. In a letter sent to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed the agency’s rescission of its approval of the toll program.
The Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) is a program managed by the Federal Highway Administration that is designed to help state and local governments underwrite changes to highway tolling programs. The VPPP is an essential element of the NYC Congestion pricing plan. By rescinding the approval for the VPPP, the congestion pricing program is essentially rendered null.
A statement issued by the Department of Transportation included the following information about Secretary Duffy’s rationale:
“As detailed in the letter, the Secretary is terminating the pilot for two reasons. First, the scope of the CBDTP is unprecedented and provides no toll-free option for many drivers who want or need to travel by vehicle in this major urbanized area. Second, the toll rate was set primarily to raise revenue for transit, rather than at an amount needed to reduce congestion. By doing so, the pilot runs contrary to the purpose of the VPPP, which is to impose tolls for congestion reduction – not transit revenue generation.”
The MTA has filed a lawsuit to preserve the congestion pricing plan, per a press release. Governor Hochul has also expressed her dedication to keeping the plan in place, as evidenced by her comments during a joint appearance with the chair of the MTA. “We're in fight mode within seconds of us getting this notification. Our MTA was prepared. We knew this could come and filed a lawsuit within minutes. I'm very confident we will be successful. And I also want to say, the cameras are staying on. We are keeping the cameras on. Lights, cameras, action. They're staying on,” she said.
NJ Governor Phil Murphy has long been a critic of the pricing plan, and issued the following statement following President Trump’s announcement:
“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Duffy for their efforts to halt the current congestion pricing program in Manhattan’s Central Business District.
While I have consistently expressed openness to a form of congestion pricing that meaningfully protects the environment and does not unfairly burden hardworking New Jersey commuters, the current program lines the MTA’s pockets at the expense of New Jerseyans.
Although we have had a difference of opinion with our colleagues in New York on congestion pricing, we have always had a productive relationship with our neighbors across the Hudson. I look forward to continuing that spirit of partnership for the benefit of the entire Tri-State Area.”
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In the meantime, the tolling will remain in effect for drivers. Observers say that the situation presents a unique legal question about the role of the federal government. In a Gothamist article, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) expressed skepticism about whether the administration’s decision would hold. Attorney Eric Goldstein told Gothamist, “ The courts impose a very high burden when the federal government seeks to reverse course and completely do a 180 turnaround simply because administrations have changed. They've got to prove that their rationale is legally justified, and it's hard to see how they can make that case.”
This post will be updated with any further information.
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