David Roberts Hoboken

Over the course of a political career spanning nearly 25 years, David Roberts designed and implemented numerous improvement projects on behalf of Hoboken, New Jersey. David Roberts served the City of Hoboken from 1985 to 2009, when he retired as Hoboken's 36th mayor. After 16 years on the City Council, David Roberts earned his first election to the office of mayor in 2001. In his July 1 inaugural address, he outlined a Master Plan for the city that would be approved in 2004 by the Planning Board. The plan, still in effect today, was comprised of more than 200 recommendations designed to enhance both the appeal and the sustainability of the city, promoting a sense of community and encouraging use of Hoboken's recreational facilities and public areas. Many initiatives of David Roberts' Master Plan have already been set in motion, including a development project directed toward the improvement of the waterfront. The program called for the creation of 16 acres of new parkland, which have since been transformed into popular recreation areas, including Sinatra Park, Hoboken Cove, and the World War II Memorial. As mayor, Mr. Roberts also strove to preserve the historic aspects of Hoboken, supporting an ordinance to create the neighborhood now known as the Castle Point Historic District. In addition to designing and implementing the Master Plan, Mr. Roberts also succeeded in preventing the closure of major local health care center St. Mary's Hospital. At a time when financial concerns were threatening the hospital's continued operation, Mr. Roberts secured state legislation that would allow the municipality to assume control of the hospital and designate the facility as a nonprofit entity. This legislation allowed the hospital to remain open under the name Hoboken University Medical Center, and today it is one of the city's largest employers. Now retired from the mayorship, Mr. Roberts manages commercial and residential real estate in the city of Hoboken.