According to a joint statement from City Council President Jen Giattino and Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, the two were at Hoboken City Hall (94 Washington Street) yesterday addressing a constituent’s possible eviction. As they finished, the two councilwomen were approached by City Hall security who said they were instructed by the administration to escort the two councilwomen out of the building because “they had no business in City Hall”.

“It is alarming that the administration ordered our removal from City Hall while we were helping a Hoboken resident at risk of losing his home,” said the two elected city officials, in a joint statement.

“As duly elected representatives and active members of the city’s government, we will continue to be a presence in City Hall and we will not tolerate nor be intimidated by this attempt to prevent us from doing the job we were elected to do—representing and advocating for the residents of Hoboken. This level of bullying has no place in our city let alone from within City Hall and everyone should be concerned by this misuse of power exhibited by the mayor’s office.”

This move comes days after Hoboken City Council voted 8-1 to approve an amended municipal budget that trimmed $836,000 from the administration’s proposed budget. Of that, $115,000 will come directly from the Mayor’s spending budget—impacting salaries of administration personnel.

As of press time, the City has not responded to hMAG‘s request for comment.

***UPDATE (9:47 a.m.): hMAG has received the following statement from Hoboken City Spokesperson Vijay Chauduri:

The Councilmembers dramatic claims, as per usual, are disingenuous. The Business Administrator has received numerous complaints from City Directors that these two Councilmembers in particular repeatedly abuse their status and barge into their offices unannounced, disrupting staff always without appointment. They were asked if they had an appointment, and if not to politely vacate the building due to the Business Administrator’s policy requiring an appointment to see City Director and staff.