PATH reliability is way, way better than the NY subway system, and the NY subways are reasonably good. Be thankful that we have such a well run system.

I can say this , I've been working on the waterfront for the past 10 yrs here DTJC and when I started back in 1998,other than my place of employment, there were 2 other bldgs and the skyline was totally open and able to view from all sides.

The commercial bldg boom here has been a testament to the fact that Money talks and "BS" WALKS !

Good Luck on getting those Photos.

CK

I posted Grand Street from the summer of 2005 compared to 2007, the major difference being Liberty Harbor North:

comparison photos

Its only 3 years, but LHN is a big development.

Also, Grove Pointe just before it became Grove Pointe.

Does anyone have any pictures of downtown JC before the real estate crazy of the past 5 years or so? I was curious to see the skyline/overhead of downtown.

Why you always hating on cops and our men and women in uniform robotjustine? I'll guess you were either turned down by the police or army and now you have a bee in your bonnet. Or perhaps you're some scrawny college student with a Che Guava poster on his wall and a chip on his shoulder.
I say more power to the police. I won't be happy until they're kicking down doors left, right and center, ransacking houses and looking for the bad guys.

That would make sense; I noticed these things at Secaucus Road and JFK after they realigned the intersection for 3 lanes; while it used to be pretty regular signal cycles, now I feel like the signal cycle varies quite a bit, and the right turn around does not always come on.

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Most likely a traffic signal camera sensor (for the light). Probably not for issuing tickets unless you see a flash firing or additional cameras pointed at different spots of the same cross street. Red light cameras in NYC can usually be found mounted *behind* the intersection to get a picture of the rear plate.

Cameras in Union City

OL.. McCain is copying Obama < -----79870 > 06/11 06:21:21

Now Mccain is saying that oil companies should pay some kind of windfall profits tax. Can Obama sue for plagiarism.

If Obama is so dumb, why do Republican leaders seem to like his proposed approach, ie Cheney saying a gas tax holiday is a foolish idea!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25092436/

Europe has several different health care schemes...go to France, and you will see that it works and it is not exorbitant. Now, go to some town in Mississippi or Arkansas and tell me that you will get the same kind of service/treatment you get in the Northeast. I doubt it.

At the end of the day, all healthcare is rationed somewhat and the rich obviously get better...but in Europe, at least the poor get something unlike many homeless in the US.

The fact that there are 50 million people without insurance is a f_cking disgrace, and what's funny is that most Americans are too stupid to realize they are being screwed including some of those 50 million without insurance. They are more concerned with whether Bill Gates has to pay a $1 billion more in taxes than with their neighbors health and well being.

I thought Jim Jones died along with a U.S. congressman and 900 others 30 years ago.

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Do the tax payers really care if the job is being done by locals. It's union so they get the last say in the matter. How about local developers. I believe the residents get a tax break as well when property taxes are being paid. Also when seeking a new home porential owners can seek a tax abatement.

The abatement process should not be used to insure or guarantee the profitability of any developer's project.

It's just plain wrong to do this off the backs of the residential taxpayer.


While promises to hire Jersey City construction workers should always be a condition for the grant of any abatement, it's a grossly insufficient trade off to justify revisiting the already agreed upon abatement. In this context, it's not a "shakedown," but more accurately, it's a cheap "give away" that the developer might willingly pay -- as the value of any renegotiated abatement is worth millions more to them. In essence, it's another variant form of pay-to-play.

All the best.

Geoff

Friendly fire? If a group of undercover cops beat the crap out of another group of undercover cops, that would be friendly fire. Also, it would be hilarious.

You mean like this?

Location: Academy Street and Bergen Avenue, JSQ

surprise, surprise...

everybody get used to this, this is the precedent our council has set - they've guaranteed that this will continue to happen with every developer now - the city absorbs any risk, the developer absorbs any profit. I'd do the same thing if I was the developer, since the city council has shown itself to be such a pushover (or a more likely scenario, there's some $ changing hands)

Why even bother negotiating any abatement terms in the first place if they're so changeable?

Let me go out on a limb here - they'll get whatever they want, the vote will be 8-1

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I've been the "beneficiary" of European socialist medicine before. It blows in important ways.

Ms. Justi was over in Euroland and got listeriosis, a condition with a 30% mortality rate. (because it usually goes undiagnosed). She recovered. They didn't find out what it was until 6 months later, when they finally ran the blood tests for it- see, in order to save money, they "batch" blood tests and run them when they have certain minimum levels, rather than on individual samples. If you have something rather common, then it is OK. If you have something rare like GBL or listeriosis, well, you are out of luck.

I'd love to be the dude that got the message that his GBL was operable six months ago when he gave up the sample, but now it is too late, so he better make his funereal arrangements.

The problem with America and socialism is that we are, essentially, whiny little bitches. We want socialized medicine, without rationing. But that's what socialism is all about- rationing. If you want quality health care, you have to actually pay for it, because quality is expensive.

So I guess if the developer doesn't GET a sweeter deal than his already sweet deal, he will RAZE the condominium complex? Or perhaps default the unsold units to the City?

I guess the developer will have to slip some of these councilpeople a few thousand more and then he will certainly get any rate that he wants for whatever period he chooses. He has to PAY to PLAY this foul game.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could ALL say "Times are tough, I want my taxes lowered!"

Psst, "shakedown" is a GREAT word to use!

SLyng wrote:
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You should roll Battlestar Galactica style and say "Frak." It's cool on basic cable, so it's not a swear.

So say we all!

City nixes rapper's school appearance, citing 'violent' lyrics

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
By PAUL KOEPP
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The invitation for rapper and hip-hop mogul Jim Jones to perform at a Jersey City school on National HIV Testing Day has been rescinded, with city officials saying his work promotes violence.

Officials say they nixed the invite from the city Department of Health and Human Services when they read some of the lyrics of the Harlem native, who inspired the New York Giants' "jump shot" celebration with the music video for his hit song "We Fly High."

Jones, who is also the co-CEO of Diplomat Records, has spoken out about losing his father and uncle to AIDS.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said that while the June 27 event has been canceled, the city is offering free HIV testing at several locations through the end of June.

"The City of Jersey City is proud to sponsor events during the month of June that encourage our residents to be tested for HIV/AIDS," Morrill said. "When it was brought to the attention of the Mayor's Office staff that Mr. Jones was the star of the concert, a careful review of Mr. Jones' lyrics was done and ultimately the decision was made to cancel the show.

"Mayor (Jerramiah) Healy has always been a proponent of positive outlets for our youth and a strong gun control advocate," she added. "Mr. Jones' lyrics speak of violence to women and police, of the drug trade and guns, and other activities that Mayor Healy could not endorse by sponsoring an event featuring Mr. Jones."

Morrill did not cite any specific lyrics.

A representative for the rapper said he was not aware the event had been canceled but had no further comment. Morrill said the Health Department notified Jones' representatives.

According to published reports, a bodyguard for Jones was arrested in a June 1 confrontation with police following a surprise performance at Giants Stadium where the rapper's entourage made onstage references to Sean Bell, the Queens man slain by New York City cops in 2006.

The incident was not a factor in the city's decision, Morrill said.

Jones and rappers close to him have also been criticized for urging listeners not to cooperate with police by "snitching" on others. And in one interview, Jones said Louis Farrakhan was "like the pope to the black people."

With loft sales stalled, Coalco seeks better deal

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

With only 55 of 202 condo units under contract, the developer of the Canco Lofts is returning to the City Council tonight to seek a sweeter tax abatement deal than the one it received two years ago.

In April 2006, New York-based Coalco received 30-year abatements for new condo owners at the renovated factory on Dey Street in the shadow of the Pulaski Skyway. The owners would pay the city 10 percent of the adjusted gross revenue for 10 years, 12 percent for the following 10 years and 14 percent for the last 10 years. The assessed value of property in the city is 26.10 percent of market value.

The owners are currently paying 16 percent, which is above the conventional tax rate.

Facing a slumping real estate market and the reality of attracting buyers to an off-the-waterfront location that's not close to a PATH stop, Coalco developers now say they need a bigger break.

"We know you are not obligated the change the terms of the abatement," James McCann, Coalco's attorney, told council members at their caucus Monday. "The problem is they can't sell units."

The project is slated to have a total of 551 units.

Council members seemed open Monday to the developer's plea, especially since the city has been inking deals with similar PILOTs for more than a year.

But Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano suggested a "check valve" that would up the percentage of the PILOTs if economic conditions improve.

McCann countered that condo abatements are "self-correcting" since the more units sell for, the more money the city makes. Units are currently selling for between $300,000 and $800,000, said Coalco president Mikhail Kurnev.

Monday's meeting featured an angry confrontation between Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan and Downtown Councilman Steven Fulop.

The developer said he couldn't participate since his construction contracts are already signed, but would be willing to hire 10 Jersey City residents for construction jobs over the next three years.

Gaughan suggested a better plan would be to give the city $150,000 to help run the program.

Fulop objected to Gaughan's attempt to, as he put it, "shake down" a developer.

"That's a bad word to use," Gaughan exploded. "Don't use 'shake down.' I resent his comment."

The council is scheduled to meet tonight, 6 p.m., at Middle School 4, 107 Bright St.

In talks on tax break for Square towers

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A proposed 30-year tax break for a landmark development in Jersey City's Journal Square would be a huge money loser, costing the city nearly $500,000 in the first year alone, according to a memo by a city official.

While the deal would bring in $323,000 to the city in the form of payments in lieu of taxes and other fees during the first year of the abatement, the city would have to shell out $793,000 for various government services, according to the May 20 memo by Stephen J. Skrocki, the city's division director of abatement management.

And the years following Year 1 don't look too hot either, according to a copy of the memo obtained by The Jersey Journal.

Although "it is not possible to project past the first year . negative results can be expected over the life of the tax exemption unless the revenues from the Master Lease are improved," Skrocki wrote.

The proposed abatement calls for payment in lieu of taxes to the city of 10 percent of gross annual revenue.

But to maximize profits for the project's majority investor - the Bethesda, Md.-based Multi-Employer Property Trust, a national real estate equity fund that invests union pension funds - the development partners plan to create a company to lease the building.

The city's 10 percent would be based on the lease agreement, not the far greater amount collected from the building's residential and commercial tenants.

City officials and a representative of the developer - MEPT Journal Square Urban Renewal, LLC - were quick to emphasize last week that the tax abatement is still being negotiated.

"My hope is those discussions will conclude shortly," said Alan Marcus, a spokesman for MEPT. "It would not be appropriate to describe something that is at best ethereal right now."

Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly said the city might have to stomach a property tax loss to get the signature, $500 million project, next to the PATH Transportation Center, built.

"The renaissance of Journal Square is a priority of my administration," Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. "The benefits (of this project) for the entire city will be increased tax revenue, the creation of hundreds of construction and permanent jobs, and the jump-starting of the revitalization of Journal Square."

Lowell Harwood, one of the development partners, had predicted completing demolition of the 1.5-acre site by May and starting construction this summer.

"We all want this to happen. But it has to be favorable to us," said City Council President Mariano Vega, a member of the committee negotiating with MEPT. "We are not just surrendering."

Land swap for Powerhouse on council agenda tonight

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City City Council is expected to pass a resolution tonight to authorize a land swap deal with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that will give the city possession of the old Powerhouse building Downtown.

The iconic Powerhouse building on Washington Street, which houses a substation and transformers for the PATH trains, would be transformed into an anchor building with cafes, restaurants and retail stores for the expanding Powerhouse Arts, Retail, and Entertainment District, officials said.

Tonight's resolution would put the burden on the city to find an alternative site for the Port Authority.

Tonight's meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., at Middle School 4, 107 Bright St.

The city would also commit to stabilizing the building, while an alternative facility is sought and the move takes place - a process that could take three to four years, according to city officials.

The city wants to move the PATH power station to 350 Warren St., site of the 1905 Butler Brothers warehouse.

Healy's 2nd appeal: Arresting cops lack credibility

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

An attorney representing Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy was back in court yesterday trying for the second time to get Healy's conviction for fighting with cops in Bradley Beach two years ago overturned.

Before a three-judge appellate panel in Morristown, Philip Matsikoudis argued that the convictions for obstruction of administrative law and resisting arrest should be overturned because Healy's arresting officers lacked credibility.

The judges didn't give any timetable for a decision.

The June 2006 incident occurred after Healy tried to intervene in a lovers' spat outside a bar his sister owns. He and several witnesses testified he tried to tell police officers the matter was under control by the time they arrived.

But cops testified Healy appeared inebriated and was pointing his finger at them and put up his fists in a fighting stance. Finally, they said, they had to throw him to the ground and pepper-spray him to arrest him.

Matsikoudis, whose brother, Bill, is the city corporation counsel, argued that one officer failed to execute an open warrant for the boyfriend involved in the spat, while the other officer changed his story about when he pepper-sprayed the mayor.

After a two-day trial last June, Monmouth County Judge John Colannino found Healy guilty of the disorderly person charges and told him to pay more than $828 in fines and court fees.

In September, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony Mellaci upheld Colannino's ruling.

Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Patricia Quelch agreed to have the obstruction and resisting arrest charges merged.

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No response from anyone on this? I'd like to know why people would be in support of something like this from their candidate based on the questions I posed here.

I had a 4 point ticket and the prosecutor said it would be reduced to zero if I took the $350 deal. Most of the other people there had two-point tickets and he had said to me that he definitely recommended that I take the deal because I wouldn't want 4 points on my license.

FYI - I was pulled over right near the Beacon on Montgomery... there is a speed trap there so be careful!

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And the higher the education degree the lower the insurance premium rate. I bet if a non-smoker were competing with someone that smokes for a new job the non-smoker would get the job. Better health risk I guess. Psychologists associate bad credit, less educated, and smoking (all 3 seem to link) with more aggresive and risky driving behavior.

By the way I forgot to mention that he grabbed these turtles right by the ocean. What a jerk!

Unfortunately, this is the case. It's annoying to say the least as I am an avid FisherWoman.
I must say that fishing 3 to 4 times a week as I do throughout the local area, I've seen plenty of jerks breaking rules and doing things they shouldn't be doing. Perfect example. This past Saturday, my Husband and I went to North Hudson Park,80th Street in North Bergen to do some lake fishing. This Jerkoff decides to come hangout with us because he noticed that we were catching fish.
We had a cage that sits in the water so that the fish stay alive and fresh.
All of a sudden there are 2 monstrous odd looking turtles attacking the cage. The guy notices and goes on to telling us how he was in Conneticut visiting his sister 5 years ago and saw these baby turtles and couldn't resist them and ending up taking them.
To make a long story short he basically ended up raising them for 5 years, they got way too big and aggressive for his tank and he ended up releasing them in the lake. Now for all we know he could've been making this up although it seemed unlikely being that he had chewed our ears off talking about how he goes to the lake 2 to 3 times a week to catch fish and turtles for his tanks at home.
He even had a special bucket with aeration that he showed us.
He went on to say how he tricks the little turtles in order to capture them. How anyone could do something like take a free animal and imprison them in a tank is beyond my understanding. He does this with the fish too and described how beautiful they become once he has them. That's all well and good but all I could think of is why isn't anyone monitoring this fool.
Anyhow as we're watching these genormous turtles that clearydo not belong in that lake attacking and attempting to rip our cage to shreds, this jerk states with pride each new move that the turtles are going to make and how they were destroying the tank they were in and going after everything in the tank and so a few weeks ago he couldn't take it anymore and just released them into the lake. Now as I said before why believe this jerk, but his story seemed feasible from allthat he had said to us earlier.
Quite frankly both my husband and I were disgusted with his proud Papa attitude and at the possibility that hewas potentially screwing up the ecology of the lake.
Growing up when I did everything was more free but look at the irresponsible jerks we have to contend with. annoying as it is to My Husband and myself we understand why there has to be rules and regulations however I cannot comprehend how this person has been getting away with this and God knows how long for.
In the end we did find a Park Ranger reported all that we had learned, showed him the turtles to which he was quite stunned and the mere sight of them and assured us that he'd report it to game and wildlife so that they could setup traps to in order to get them out of there. As for the Reservoir you have to register with their site in order to get alerts as to the dates for different activities http://new.jcreservoir.org/ I personally have little patience in waiting around for them to decide we're doing this on this date and that on that date. I suggest looking other places such as I and my husband have been doing.

Most times I'm stuck at that intersection. A while ago I noticed what looked like a camera. It was on high "pole" attached ti the traffic signal.

Just wondering if I should be extra careful.

Hey, I was up at the Central Ave today in the hope of seeing the reservoir (for the first time) and hopefully going fishing.

The whole place was chained up - including one area where the beautiful stonework had been busted out - it looked like Beirut!

What is it with this City? Can't we have a little outdoor fun once in a while without being babysat? It's a freakin lake...and I'm an adult, so let me use it! I was raised in the country and I didn't get educated by Sesame Street, so F*ck off!

I've had enough! I'm moving to a place that isn't over managed by Liberal, Democratic retards...does anyone want to buy a condo?