Platform | Ron Bautista for Hoboken

Free Legal Representation for All Tenants

No one should lose their home simply because they can't afford a lawyer. Eviction cases are legal proceedings, but today most landlords have attorneys while most tenants do not. That's why, as County Commissioner, Ron Bautista will champion a Hudson County Tenant Legal Defense Fund to guarantee universal access to legal representation for all tenants facing eviction, regardless of income.

This fund would level the playing field, prevent illegal and retaliatory evictions, and keep families stably housed. Proven models in New Jersey and across the country show that providing legal counsel dramatically reduces displacement, homelessness, and downstream public costs.
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Ron pledges to fight for fairness, stability, and keeping tenants in their homes.

Enforce Housing and Condo Laws so Residents Avoid Legal Fees

In addition to legal defense for individuals, Ron Bautista will work to establish a County Office of Housing & Community Protection, a specialized civil enforcement unit that proactively enforces housing, tenant protection, and small condo association laws, so residents don't have to spend thousands on private legal fees just to get basic compliance.
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This office would investigate and prosecute illegal evictions, habitability violations, harassment, and repeat bad actors, as well as enforce condo and Homeowners Association’s governance laws that currently leave small homeowners unprotected.

By enforcing the law across city lines, this office would reduce litigation, deter abuse, and lower housing costs system-wide. Ron will move the county’s focus from a system that leaves residents with out-of-pocket costs to enforce the law, to fair, consistent, and proactive enforcement that works for our neighbors.

Nonprofit Apartments for Permanent Affordable Homes

Hudson County owns land and controls capital resources that can be used to create permanently affordable apartment units, yet too often those tools are left unused while luxury development dominates our neighborhoods. Ron Bautista will fight to establish a Hudson County Nonprofit Apartments Trust Fund that invests County dollars directly into nonprofit-built, permanently affordable apartments on County-owned or acquired land.

The fund would dedicate a responsible portion of the County’s annual budget surplus, without touching reserves, to support nonprofit developers and Community Land Trusts, ensuring long-term affordability. Every County dollar invested can unlock multiple dollars in state and federal housing funds, creating homes that stay affordable beyond just a few years.

Ron Bautista is committed to using County resources to build housing that serves everyday people, stabilizes neighborhoods, and keeps public land working for the public good.

End Homelessness with Housing First, and Expanded Support

Homelessness is not a moral failure. It is a housing failure. The most effective way to help people stabilize their lives is through a Housing First approach that provides safe, permanent housing paired with on site support services when needed. Ron Bautista will fight to expand supportive housing across Hudson County by working with nonprofit housing providers to develop homes that include access to mental health care, addiction services, case management, and employment support.

When people have stable housing, they are better able to focus on their health, families, and our communities' future is more stable as a result. Ron is committed to using County resources, land, and funding tools to end homelessness with dignity, compassion, and proven solutions that work.

End the Corruption Tax by Keeping County Government Accountable

A large percentage of your property taxes goes to the county government. If you don’t know where or how that money is spent, you’re not alone, and this makes it frustrating as a tenant and an owner. Politicians make it difficult on purpose because that means they’re in control, it allows corruption, and keeps money away from addressing the real needs of the community.
That’s why Ron Bautista is proposing an Easy Budget solution online, to make it easier for everyday people to know the details of where our tax money goes. Together we can ensure our county government invests into the community, not into political favors.

Safer Streets for All

Safer Streets for Kids, Safer Streets for All

When 79-year-old Margaret “Peggy” McGeary (Hoboken) was hit and killed by a truck at Paterson Plank Road, next to a park, County Commissioner Anthony Romano’s answer was to ignore the science that could have prevented this tragedy.

This happens too often: just for comparison purposes, in 2021 there were 27 homicides and 26 victims of traffic unsafety in Hudson County.

Peggy McGeary’s death, and many other injuries at roads managed by the county government, could have been prevented; our elected officials just choose not to.

Together, we can have a government that listens to the engineers; we can have an elected official with the political will to make it happen. That’s why Ron Bautista is committed to make county-wide street design safe for ALL users, for people of all ages and abilities.

Violence Prevention Programs

Together we can end cycles of violence by providing social support to survivors of crime and investing in social services for our communities.

‍Community-based Interventions: multidisciplinary programs that combine the efforts of medical staff with trusted community-based partners to provide safety planning, services, and trauma-informed care to violently injured people. This includes mentoring through case management models, providing community-based resources aimed at addressing underlying risk factors for violence.

‍Mental-health crisis response programs: Support EMS, mental health professionals and social workers to respond to mental health incidents.

‍Expand Programs Helping with Food Insecurity: Ending hunger in a healthy and equitable way is a proven way to build stronger, safer communities with dignity.

Address Mental Health Crisis

If there’s something we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that health impacts the lives of everyone in the community. Solidarity is not charity; when we look out for one another we can all grow. We see it in the mental health crisis we currently live in, and we’re committed to ending the stigma by putting it front and center.

‍Mental Health for All: Together with Hudson County Community College, lead the training and support of friends and family members in the community so they can deliver basic interventions for mental health problems. Using the SUNDAR approach, we can empower ordinary people to be aware of signs, provide mental health support and know how to connect with the assistance of a professional.

‍Prevent overdoses: Expand Hudson County Narcan/Naloxone access with free distribution sites and pharmacy programs that make it easier to get free Narcan/Naloxone to the public. Poor people, older people, and folks with limited resources are often not able to access online Narcan/Naloxone distribution programs. Having known fixed and potentially street outreach sites are necessary to reducing drug use-related poisonings (overdose) in Hudson county.

‍Reduce Harm: We need a harm reduction center in Hudson County, they often offer homeless services, case management services, free HIV & AIDS patient services, and medication for opioid use disorder. In addition to direct services, outreach programs can take syringes off our streets

Accountability and Transparency in Public Safety

Ron Bautista makes transparency and accountability a priority, and it starts with not taking campaign contributions from police unions or law enforcement organizations. He understands that public safety is a commitment to also work on the prevention of crime by addressing racial, economic and social inequalities, while improving law enforcement transparency across Hudson County.

Establish an Independent Civilian Complaint Review Board: We need accountability through community oversight. Ron will work to establish a Civilian Complaint Review Board with investigatory and oversight power, and secure a seat at the table for representatives of social and racial justice organizations.

Tackle the Climate Crisis

Free of Traffic: Priority Bus Lanes & Bus Rapid Transit for JFK Boulevard

Traffic congestion and climate pollution are not inevitable; they’re a political decision. One of the most effective way to cut emissions and improve daily life is to make buses the most reliable and convenient transit option; the roads are already there, we just need to prioritize mass transit. Ron Bautista will fight to implement priority bus lanes and phased Bus Rapid Transit on JFK Boulevard so buses can travel free of traffic, arrive more often, and run on time for thousands of people. Faster buses are proven to lower dependency on cars, result in cleaner air quality, and give back more time to working families. Ron is committed to using County government to reduce emissions, improve mobility, and build a climate-resilient transit system that benefits everyone.

Expand Citi Bike & Safe Micromobility Across Hudson County

Climate solutions should be accessible, affordable, and part of everyday life. Expanding bike share and safe micromobility is one of the fastest ways to reduce Uber/Lyft/car trips, lower emissions, and improve our neighborhood’s health. Ron Bautista will fight to expand Citi Bike and protected bike infrastructure across Hudson County so more residents can safely bike to work, school, transit, and local businesses. When biking is safe and convenient, more people become less dependent on driving or taking Uber/Lyft car services, helping neighborhoods become healthier and more connected. Ron is committed to partnering with cities across Hudson County and leveraging the roads managed by the County government to expand bike access as a core climate solution that improves quality of life while cutting air pollution.

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