The Hoboken Renaissance:

A People’s Perspective on Gentrification During the Hoboken Mayoral Election of 1985

Abstract

By the1980s Hoboken, NJ had gone through a stark transformation that made it a model for American cities. The once bleak, post-industrial, cityscape had become a trending destination for a new group of young urban professionals looking for a place to settle. So by the city's Mayoral Election of 1985, residents faced a tough decision between incumbent Steven Capiello or the city's upstart councilman, Thomas Vezzetti. While Steven Capiello represented the forces of urban renewal, Thomas Vezzetti channeled the grievances of those disaffected by the Square Mile City's rapid gentrification. This paper will aim to explain the forces that shaped Hoboken's redevelopment from the 1960s through the 1980s by examining the voices of Hoboken's residents and its politicians.