Hoboken Chamber of Commerce Holds Meeting with Mayor-Elect and Local Business Owners 

This afternoon the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce held a meeting with Mayor-elect Emily Jabbour and local business owners. Jabbour laid out an early vision for her incoming administration and its approach to doing business in the city, “I want the government to be a partner in your success, not a barrier,” Jabbour said, a line she repeated throughout the discussion. 

Jabbour framed sustainable economic growth as one of the central challenges facing Hoboken, highlighting the issue of tax revenue and public trust. “One of the first things people always say to me is, ‘What are you doing to lower my taxes?’” She said. While she did not outline specific tax reductions or whether that was a possibility in her administration Jabbour stressed that transparency in how tax dollars are spent must come first. “I like to talk about the value of where your tax dollars are going,” she said. “I think you should have the information that I have when it comes to decision making.”  

Small business costs and delays were a major focus of the meeting. Chamber members pointed out that prospective business owners in Hoboken can pay as much as $12,000 in fees, permits and taxes before they are able to begin to sell their services. Emory Edwards, President of the Chamber of Commerce, compared Hoboken’s process with states like Texas and North Carolina, where new businesses can often open within six weeks. In Hoboken, he said, the process can take up to 12 months. “At some point we’ve had new members barely make it across the finish line or go bankrupt before they can even open.”

When asked whether the city would consider delaying or waiving certain fees for new businesses, Jabbour said she would take the suggestion under consideration but did not commit to specific changes. Instead, she focused on addressing what she described as a lack of accessible information. One of her first priorities, she said, would be to create a centralized online platform that clearly outlines timelines, requirements and expectations for opening a business in Hoboken. “Knowing what you’re facing and when, matters,” she said. “That information alone can remove a major barrier.” She also described Hoboken’s municipal processes as outdated and said residents should not have to rely on in-person visits to City Hall. 

A social worker by training, Jabbour described her leadership philosophy as collaborative and grounded in listening to experts. “I am never an expert in things that aren’t in my lane,” adding that her role as mayor is to bring the right people into the room to help solve problems. “I’m very early in this, and I’m not even an official yet,” she said, “I promise to come back with more information.” Jabbour is set to be sworn into office next week.