Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla today thanked Business Administrator Jason Freeman for his service to the City of Hoboken following Freeman's announcement that he will step down from his role on May 7. Freeman, who has served the City since 2018, will be leaving City Hall to pursue a new career opportunity in the nonprofit sector.
“I have had the privilege of working closely with Jason over the past several years, and his dedication to Hoboken has been unwavering,” said Mayor Bhalla. “From his role as Deputy Chief of Staff to his time as Business Administrator, Jason has been instrumental in advancing key projects that have transformed our city, including the acquisition of the Monarch Site for critical open space and expanding our Vision Zero efforts. His leadership has helped position Hoboken as a forward-thinking, resilient, and thriving community, and while we will miss him greatly, I am confident he will continue to make a positive impact in our community and in his next career. I wish him the very best in all his future endeavors.”
Freeman joined the City of Hoboken in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Staff before being appointed Business Administrator in 2020. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the historic land swap negotiations for the acquisition of the Monarch site, 800 Monroe, and the acquisition of the former Union Dry Dock site for much-needed open space. He also helped facilitate the Rebuild by Design – Hudson River project, a critical resiliency initiative to protect Hoboken from storm surge flooding. Freeman worked closely with other members of the administration to prepare the municipal budget, successfully securing AA+ and SP1+ bond ratings from S&P Global for two consecutive years. Additionally, Freeman helped secure funding for the construction of Resiliency City Park, the largest resiliency park in New Jersey, and helped expand the Vision Zero program, facilitating interdepartmental projects to enhance safety. Freeman also spearheaded the restructuring of municipal offices and implementation of technology upgrades and digital services to improve the efficiency of city operations, especially in recreation and cultural affairs. His efforts also included rooting out corruption in the City's recreation department, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
“It has been a true honor to serve Hoboken and contribute to its growth and resiliency,” said Business Administrator Freeman. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated public servants and passionate community members. Together, we’ve accomplished so much, from expanding open spaces to improving safety and sustainability, and I am proud of the lasting impact we’ve made on Hoboken’s future. Thank you to Mayor Bhalla, the City Council, and the entire City Hall team. While I’m excited for the next chapter in my career, I will always appreciate my time working for the City of Hoboken and the memories of the work we’ve done here.”
The City of Hoboken will announce plans for the Business Administrator role in the coming weeks.
