Over the last three months, there has been a fatal stabbing and a near fatal shooting in the projects. In addition, according to Washington, there has been a dramatic increase in drug dealing in public, open spaces by gang members.
The Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA) oversees the city's approximately 1,300 federally subsidized units of low-income housing, primarily located in the southwest part of the city. The HHA answers to the federal department of Housing and Urban Development and is not city-run, but the City Council and mayor appoint some of the commissioners.
"There is definitely more gang activity recently, all of which has lead to an increase in drug [dealing] and violent crimes," said Washington from his office Thursday afternoon. "Because of this we are now dealing with the state police and asking them for assistance in dealing with this problem."
Washington did not elaborate what services the state will be providing so as not to compromise any undercover operation that may be forthcoming. Washington said there are multiple reasons for the surge in gang activity but pointed to a sagging economy and high unemployment among low wage-earners as the leading cause.
Thursday, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio backed up Washington's claim, saying there has been a rise in gang activity in Hoboken and throughout state. "Current reports are indicating that there is an increase in gang activity statewide," said DeFazio.
He added that while some national based gangs are present, most of Hoboken's gangs are informal and locally founded and operated. "[In Hoboken] a good part [of the gang activity] consists of an informal group that comes together for a common goal, which is usually the distribution of drugs."
Washington also said Thursday that to be successful, the Housing Authority needs an additional presence from the Hoboken Police Department. The Housing Authority currently employs a private security firm, but Washington said this firm is ill-equipped to deal with gang violence and large scale drug dealing. "No private security firm is able to deal with higher-level criminal activity," said Washington. "They do not have the training and authority of law enforcement personnel."
Washington said Thursday that he does not believe the Housing Authority is getting the same amount of protection from the Hoboken Police Department as is the rest of the city. "Right not we are getting separate and unequal protection," said Washington. "We should be getting the same amount of protection that residents that live on Hudson Street and Washington Street get, and right now, that's not happening."
Hoboken Police Chief Carmen LaBruno was on vacation this week and unavailable to comment for this story, but did appear before the City Council at its last meeting on Wednesday Oct. 16 to answer questions about patrols in the Housing Authority.
LaBruno was grilled primarily by 4th Ward Councilman Christopher Campos. Most of the HHA's property is in the 4th Ward.
Since being elected last year, Campos has been a vocal critic of many of Washington's policies, but agrees with the executive director when it comes to police protection in the Housing Authority. Both have gone on the record stating that the Housing Authority is not getting fair and equal deployment of officers.
"Obviously we have a problem and it's festering," said Campos Thursday. "Without a visible police presence it will only get worse."
At the council meeting LaBruno often raised his voice in objection to accusations that the HHA is getting less patrols than other areas. He did complain that the HPD is currently severely undermanned. According to him, the approximately 150-man force is more than 25 officers short from having a full complement.
But he was steadfast against allegations that the HPD is not patrolling the Housing Authority, maintaining that the Housing Authority is getting the same number of patrols that the rest of the city receives, and he added that two extra patrolmen have been assigned to the area.
Numbers
Washington said Thursday that LaBruno's deployment of two extra officers is nothing more than "window dressing" and that the HHA is still not getting the patrols that it is entitled to.
LaBruno also said that the management of the HHA is partly to blame for current security concerns. According to him, in May a $200,000 per-year contract between the Hoboken Police Department and the HHA expired. The two-year contract provided for a special force of eight city officers to be assigned exclusively to the Housing Authority. LaBruno said that the HPD had deployed 12 full-time uniformed officers to the HHA in the past two years, of which the police department absorbed the excess cost.
Campos said Thursday that since May, "There is a direct correlation with the removal of a visible police force and the increase in crime."
"Residents of the Housing Authority should feel entitled to feel as safe as residents of Washington Street," he added.
LaBruno has said that he proposed that the HHA use uniformed off-duty police officers, and he will approach the union to attempt to get a waiver so the HHA can hire the off-duty cops at a discounted rate.
Under the union's current contract, off-duty officers must be hired at $40 an hour. LaBruno said he will go to the union with an offer of having officers work for $200 for a seven-hour shift, an almost $12-per-hour discounted rate.
As of press time, no agreement for supplemental security with the HPD was reached. Washington said he that it is not proper to talk about extra patrols yet. "We should get the patrols that the rest of the city gets. When that happens, then we will talk about extra patrol," said Washington.
He also said that the Police Department's request for money for supplemental patrols "borders on extortion."
Roberts to investigate hiring cops
Currently Hoboken has state grants to hire approximately 15 new police officers, according to Mayor David Roberts. The problem with the grants is that after three years, they expire, and the city is forced to absorb the cost of those employees.
For some time, the city has been hesitant to use those grants because of the future budget implications, but Roberts said Thursday that he is going to approach the City Council to possibly hire more cops.
"Right now, we are low on police officers," said Roberts. "We have been holding off on hiring with the current budget situation but it's time to investigate using these grants."
The mayor added that before that happens, he needs some assurances. "It is important that these offices are visible so that the public gets the full benefit of their presence," he said.
He said it is important that there are guarantees that these officers will be used for neighborhood patrolling.
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