A Hoboken city councilman wants to get more business owners on board to require employees and customers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or wear a mask.

“Unless we continue to push for new energy, new ideas, we will never see the change we need,” says Councilman Mike DeFusco.

DeFusco is proposing that the city offer bars and restaurants financial incentives to require customers to show proof of vaccination or wear masks. It would not be mandatory.

“Nobody is telling you that you need to get vaccinated. What we’re saying is, if a bar and restaurant require a vaccination certificate, we as a city will financially incentive it,” DeFusco says.

Some of the incentives could include waiving the city fees for outdoor parklet spaces for outdoor dining, which could save some restaurants thousands of dollars a year.

A spokesperson for Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla says while he hasn't had a chance to discuss the idea with local business leaders, he is happy to consider any initiative that might increase vaccination rates.

The city recently launched a small business grant program that includes an incentive to have employees vaccinated. DeFusco wants to take that further, especially with nearby New York City's new policy of requiring proof of vaccination for any indoor activities.

“We are absolutely concerned that people are going to be coming to Hoboken because of New Jersey’s allowance to let people into bars and restaurants without a vaccine certificate,” DeFusco says.

DeFusco says if the mayor doesn't implement the vaccine incentive program as an executive order, he will introduce it as a city ordinance. It is a process that takes months to pass and take effect.

News 12 New Jersey reached out to some bar and restaurant owners in Hoboken to see what they thought about the idea. Texas Arizona owner James McCue calls DeFusco’s idea "total nonsense" and says that he would rather see the city reduce or eliminate parklet fees with no stipulations.