HOBOKEN, New Jersey (WABC) — The city of Hoboken, New Jersey, is moving to tighten oversight of short-term rentals after an assault outside a rental property on Garden Street over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Mayor Emily Jabbour said she plans to introduce an ordinance requiring new safety standards and increased accountability for property owners.<\/p>\n
A photo taken Sunday morning showed a SWAT response along the 500 block of Garden Street following what authorities described as a situation that sounded like a hostage incident.<\/p>\n
“You walk outside and see that, it’s scary,” one neighbor said.<\/p>\n
The incident centered on the basement apartment of a multi-unit home that is used as a short-term rental. Neighbors said the most recent group renting the property had been disruptive.<\/p>\n
“What I heard, and I don’t know if it’s right… they were going on the roof and running house to house,” a neighbor said.<\/p>\n
The situation escalated Sunday morning when a 911 call reported an aggravated assault on the sidewalk in front of the rental unit.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to continue to be an active investigation. Yes, there was a gun charge with one of the adults,” Jabbour said.<\/p>\n
“Upon arrival, police were dealing with an adult and juvenile,” Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante said.<\/p>\n
Authorities said four adults from Indiana were arrested, along with an adult from West New York. A 17-year-old was also arrested. All were charged in connection with the assault.<\/p>\n
Neighbors who declined to appear on camera said the Airbnb-listed unit had been a problem location before. Others said renters are generally not an issue.<\/p>\n
Jabbour and Ferrante said they want to strengthen restrictions on short-term rentals, including measures that would hold property owners more accountable.<\/p>\n
“It basically establishes regulations on how short-term rentals are handled. There are no regulations in Hoboken right now,” Jabbour said.<\/p>\n
The proposed ordinance would create regulations governing short-term rentals in Hoboken, according to city officials. No further details about the measure were provided.<\/p>\n
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