No.
But I have a darn good memory at election time.

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-- there are plenty of financial journalists with more credibility than some former assistant professor who has a blog, while working at a self-created washington "think tank," in my opinion. my main point was to be wary of wall street analyst estimates, especially out of context.

Defeated 4-3 (2 absent)

For: Fulop, Flood, Vega
Against: Brennan, Richardson, Spinello, Sottolano
Absent: Lipski, Gaughan (I believe it was mentioned that Gaughan was ill)

The reasons for the negative votes included: (1) not wanting to increase the city's debt service (Spinello & Sottolano), even though it was clearly explained before the vote -- verbally and in writing -- by Tom McGlynn of the EPC that, being a bridge loan, the cost to the city would have been miniscule; and (2) perceived competition from other unfunded park projects in her ward (Richardson), even though it was made clear that the $3.7 million already secured for the Embankment's acquisition and additional funds to be raised are entirely separate and do not compete with other park projects.

There was also a sentiment that since there had been little movement on the project (here they were either being disingenuous or haven't been paying attention the last few years), a wait-and-see approach would be best in applying for the loan.

I got emails from HPNA, it was on 25mc.org, it was on the jclist calendar
and on this thread of jclist
http://jclist.com/modules/newbb/viewt ... id=100441#forumpost100441

and also in the JJ.

Where was everyone?

The two no-shows were Lipski and Gaughan.


The issues were not only the embankment but also :

----the change in zoning in a neighborhood near the Beacon to allow a new 15-story tower.

----The tabling of an apprenticeship program (to be fine-tuned) to allow unemployed JC residents to be trained in condstruction so that they can take part in the JC development boom. According to the public speakers, this measure has been under consideration in various forms for 10 years. Our representatives said the ordinance should be ready in about 6 months.

___Also the lack of residential preferences for construction workers resident in JC

---the lack of "affordable housing" even though so many developers are supposedly paying into an affordable housing plan when they get abatements ( at $1500 per unit unlike the $125,000 in NYC.)

I know politics is dirty, but shouldn't the representatives, our elected representatives, at least pretend that they are somehow interested in the lives and well-being of their constituents

DoIt is right, there could have been a street demonstration and the vote would still have gone the same way. Anyone who was present for the Pay to Play vote fiasco can attest to the general contempt that most of the city council has for its constituents. Vote them the hell out I say!

Lets not make the mistake of blaming the victims here. By the victims I mean all of the citizens of Jersey City. The Embankment battle has been fought over the course of a decade, if that's not commitment to a cause I don't know what is.
The point here is that no matter how much work that a civic organization is willing to do , the city government ultimately goes its own way. The Reservoir announcement by the Mayor as a park is an exception to the rule, and their situation can be reversed at any time. Remember the Powerhouse Arts District? I hardly can- since it is primarily high rise development now.
Does the city intend to warehouse these public assets for eventual private development? That does seem to be the trend.

Police investigating Jersey City Buildings Division

The Jersey City Division of Buildings is under investigation by the Police Department, which has spent three days reviewing records and copying checks and documents, Police Chief Tom Comey confirmed today.

Neither the public nor employees were allowed access to the Buildings Division office, at 30 Montgomery St., for several hours in the morning on Friday, Monday and yesterday so that police officers from the Special Investigations Unit could conduct their investigation, Comey said.

Comey would not comment on the specific nature of the investigation, nor would he say if any money, checks or documents were discovered missing. He also would not say what prompted the investigation.

?Right now I can only say that the Special Investigations Unit is handling the situation,? Comey said.

The Buildings Division, which is part of the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, is in charge of issuing building permits and certificates of occupancy and also is in charge of all building inspections.

One contractor said when he arrived at 30 Montgomery St. Friday morning to conduct some business he was told no one was being allowed in the buildings offices and a number of inspectors who arrived for work and could not get into their offices were milling around in the lobby.

City spokesman Stan H. Eason said the division is also undergoing a reorganization under the supervision of Director Ray Meyer.

By Earl Morgan
http://www.nj.com/newslogs/jjournal/i ... hives/2007_03.html#244212

It would not have made a difference if 2,000 people were there. As was the night that Pay to Play came before them when the place was packed and they had no regard for the citizens.

Why was there no organized out pouring of support for this vote.I must admit that i did not even know this was taking place.

The reservoir movement was very vocal about their intentions. On Fulops pay to play i was bombarded with E-mails and their was great discussion on this board.

Did someone drop the ball on this?
Please don't tell me the embankment leadership took Heally at his word on his support for the park.Spinello only votes as she is told, so the city must not really want this park.Shame.....

who were the 2 no-shows?

I'm wrong, PChops, I thought you were talking about the JCFBS Forum, which was slated for the same night apparently.

What is this one about? Is it important enough to pre-empt the JCFBS event?


FAB and NON and RR, quit hijacking this thread or I will send you all to your rooms/ hutches, without diner!


Quote:

no... I don't

The City Council Meeting tonight once again has proven that the majority of our elected representatives do not represent us. When are our demands for adequate representation going to be heard?
The Council 4-3 to not file for loan application money for the Embankment. That's correct this resolution was simply to file, not accept or reject any financial obligation to the city.
Councilwoman Mary Spinello, who was one of the no votes, said "Shame on the city for not going after these funds previously". So why would she vote no now? Isn't she contradicting her vote by her statement? It boggles the mind how common sense and common good are repeatedly overlooked in these types of scenarios.
When are the residents of Jersey City going to say enough?

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You beat me to it.

I was waiting to see a response of this nature (Yun's, not Woodsy's). Spin in full effect.

Even assuming Yun did make some sarcastic comments while "waiting" for the mayor, can anyone blame him, with 200+ people waiting for their fearless leader to show up after cancelling previously?

Defeated 4-3 (2 absent).

For: Fulop, Flood, Vega.
Against: Brennan, Richardson, Spinello, ?.
Absent: Lipski, ?.

I showed up as promised (I'm the man on the bicycle with young daughter), there were only about ten other embankment people there. At the comparatively meaningless meeting at Grace Church a few months ago hundreds showed up. embankment.org should have mobilised and got those hundreds into the council chamber this evening.

Robin.

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Even if you're right about Manhattan, Brooklyn/Queens/Jersey City are hardly the same thing as Manhattan. Downtown Jersey City is full of people who stretched hard to buy condos, and I'm sure some of them have crap mortgages.

Anyone who takes an interest only loan is asking for trouble. As far as the market, at the end of the day though it mostly comes down to things like desirability of a geographic location, job opportunities, and rent vs. own costs. New York's (and JC, Brooklyn, and Queens) is benefiting from a strong job market, desirable geographic location, and high rents. If rents begin to ease down, it will be easier and cheaper to rent rather than own. But if they keep going up (and as far as I can tell, rent increases aren't slowing), people will still be able to buy. Also, and this is probably more true of Manhattan than anywhere else, the tough credentials to buy apartments is going to insulate New York from sub-prime lender problems. So many places are coops with stringent approvals, or condo buildings requiring 20% down, its a good bet that most people buying in Manhattan are not going to foreclose. And by the same token, Brooklyn, Queens and downtown Jersey City.

Quote:

I got news for you, the ovestretched are everywhere, both owner/occupiers & speculators. You could have bought a 3 family in the Heights with little down and stated income and never occupied as you were required to it because enforcement of FHA fraud is a wink.

I had a clueless 20something woman come to look at my Downtown $950 rental who said she had just bought a 2 family in Greenville as an investment with an interest only loan. To my knowledge they don't do those for "investment grade" loans, and she didn't even realize she had committed bank fraud. What a time bomb.

I'll be looking for some decent deals in a year or 2.

Compare this well worded and thoughtful letter to Troy's diatribe from the other day and you start to realise the gulf between the JC establishment and the people they are supposed to represent.

Quote:

I venture to guess that the people of Jersey City care far more about public safety than our illustrious naked mayor.

Quote:

Uh, the author is most decidedly NOT a journalist.

"Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. He previously worked as a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute and an assistant professor at Bucknell University. His blog, Beat the Press , features commentary on economic reporting. He received his Ph.D in economics from the University of Michigan."

I think of it more as this:

"It is green," thinks Nature -- even in the dark.

In other words, the power of nature is (metaphorically) single-minded and relentless, always creating more and more life.

Quote:


Is a Hudson County FREEHOLDER anything like a Jersey City FREELOADER, which some councilpersons and public figures are?

Ijust past through there, that smell is still there, it's horrible!!! if i lived there i would be knocking the doors down in city hell if it lasted for than a day.

Did you see this in today's paper?

Rally was about Public Safety, NOT a ?malicious, orchestrated ambush!?

Dear Mayor Jerramiah Healy:

By the end of 2006, Community Leaders throughout Jersey City began organizing a citywide effort to address concerns with Policing. As many ?Quality of Life? issues have evolved into ?Life Threatening? issues, experiencing crime (in general) is a part of everyday life and an adverse reality in Jersey City. The people of Jersey City are desperately looking for a strong proactive system of policing now more then ever. It was the intention of community organizers to bring this very important issue to your attention at a citywide public safety rally where citizens would be able to voice their distressed concerns. Please observe:

January 5, 2007 - A letter was sent to the Mayor?s Office via certified mail (#7005 0390 0002 9278 5450) announcing our intention and inviting you, the Police Director, and Chief to speak at a rally originally scheduled for Feb. 20th.

February 9, 2007 - Because your office did not provide a response, organizers called to confirm your attendance to the scheduled Public Safety Rally. Despite receiving a thirty five (35) day advance notice, your office informed organizers eleven (11) days before the event that you just scheduled the ?State of the City Address? on the very night of the rally. As a result, efforts spent on advertising this event for Feb 20th were wasted on fliers and meetings with over 50 Block Association Leaders citywide nonetheless, we respected your decision to book Feb 20th as the date for the first ?State of the City Address? in four years. At the suggestion of your scheduler, the meeting was postponed to March 7th for your convenience. Your scheduler accepted this invitation on your behalf and confirmed it by email.

February 12, 2007 - In addition to the email, a confirmation letter via certified mail (#7005 0390 0002 9278 5474) was delivered to your office confirming, yet again, your attendance to the rally on Wed. March 7th.

March 5, 2007 - Full page ads ran in two (2) local newspapers announcing the Public Safety Rally on the 7th. The ads announced guest speakers Mayor Healy, Police Director Jefferson, and Police Chief Comey.

March 7, 2007 - On a night with unfavorable weather conditions including blistering cold and snow flurries, two hundred plus (200+) people from all parts of the City crowded the Abundant Joy Community Church in search of their Mayor. Approximately at 6:40 pm (10 min after the scheduled start of the meeting) Chief Comey announced your decision to support a local basketball team vs. attending a prior commitment to discuss policing issues with your concerned constituents.

Prior to the Chief?s announcement, NO ONE had indicated that you would be absent at the rally. Any telephone call, message, email, smoke signal, homing pigeon, or other communication from your office FAILED to reach organizers at the start of the rally. The Jersey Journal printed an article on 3/9/07 containing unprovoked and inconceivable accusations by your spokesperson, Stan Eason. Your spokesperson blasted the event as a ?malicious, orchestrated ambush? and nothing could be further from the truth.

NOTE: With two hundred witnesses in attendance, I purposely paused the rally at several points to reiterate its objective: ?This rally is about a public safety issue, not a political issue.? Never once during the rally did I capitalize on the opportunity to slander you for not attending. Needless to say, however, your constituents who did take the time to attend the rally were very vocal about their disappointment using words such as ?insulting? and ?disgraceful? to describe their feelings on your absence. Perhaps Stan Eason manipulated the facts on behalf of his own political agenda to discredit the true intention of the rally, the public, and yes even you, Mayor Healy.

Honorable Mayor, the people of Jersey City care as much about public safety as you do. A strong relationship between the Mayor?s office, the Jersey City Police Department, and the public must exist to win the war on crime. We hope that you can resolve the communication issues within your office before the next rally takes place six months from now.
Respectfully Submitted



Michael Yun,
A Concerned Jersey City Tax Payer

P.S. Rally organizers thank JCPD Director, Samuel Jefferson and the Chief of Police, Tom Comey for addressing the concerns of the public at the rally despite the absence of the Mayor?s guidance. The public is truly grateful to have had other policy makers at the meeting including Hudson County Prosecutor, Edward De Fazio; Councilman-at-Large, Peter Brennan; Councilman Ward C, Steve Lipski; Councilman Ward D, Bill Gaughan; Councilman Ward E, Steven Fulop; and Hudson County Freeholder Jeff Dublin who all took the time to hear the concerns of the people regarding Public Safety. A special thanks to all the community leaders, block associations, the Jimmy King Civic Association, and all others for participating in this event.

After reading Councilwoman Mary Spinello's comments on objecting to the bridge loan to be prepared to acquire the Embankment, I recalled her very vocal opposition to this initiative.

What I did not note at the time - her father, John Spinello is a commissioner on the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.

The loan can only be used for open space (and not the portion of the property reserved for Light Rail). The loan is a bridge loan that will be repayed with already designated grant and earmarks, not the municipal budget. The loan does not lock in any specific open space / park development plans.

If the the Surface Transportation Board rules favorable that Conrail did not give the city right of first refusal, then the city must be prepared to purchase the property immediately and this loan is the way to DO IT.

Keep in mind, this resolution is only to apply for the bridge loan, the city is not required to accept funding.

Note to Councilwoman Spinello: The $30k spent in legal fees is a very small sum compared to the millions of dollars that would be saved by a favorable ruling.

Now if the city is also serious about Light Rail on the Embankment (which NJ Transist is not as of yet), then where will the city get the money to purchase the balance the non-open space portion of the Embankment?

The horse has been led to water....


Quote:

wow. i always thought that maybe they were smoking some stuff at the meat rendering plant

Quote:

Well, I hope my chili is not so infamous as famous! I'm bringing both medium hot vegetarian (made six quarts, two for swap, two for St. Matthews and two for missa) and regular beef medium hot and here below are the recipes:

BrightMoment Medium Hot Chili

1.25 cups dried red kidney beans
1.25 cups dried pinto beans
1.5 lbs braising steak, cubed
2tbsps canola oil
2 medium onions or 1 vidalia preferred
1 garlic clove minced fine
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
1 fresh chipotle pepper + 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobe sauce(comes in can)
2tbspn of adobe paste (in can with chipotle peppers)
3 tbspns of all-purpose flour
1 tbspn chili powder
.5 tbspn cumin powder
.5 cup fresh chopped parsley
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
2 tbsps of tomato paste
1.75 cups of water
1 beef bouillon cube, crumbled
1 yellow pepper , cored, seeded, diced
6 drops of Los Vieques Sweet Revenge Hot Sauce*
(rated #10 out of 20 on hot scale with the base for the sauce is the Asi Dulce Pepper native to the Island. Habanero-carrot sauce with tamarind will knock your socks off. XXX-Hot)
salt and pepper to taste

BrightMoment Veggie Chili

2 lbs of mixed vegetables (broccoli, zucchini, eggplant)

1.25 cups dried red kidney beans
1.25 cups dried pinto beans
2tbsps canola oil
2 medium onions or 1 vidalia preferred
1 garlic clove minced fine
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
1 fresh chipotle pepper + 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobe sauce(comes in can)
2tbspn of adobe paste (in can with chipotle peppers)
3 tbspns of all-purpose flour
1 tbspn chili powder
.5 tbspn cumin powder
.5 tbspn fresh chopped parsley
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
2 tbsps of tomato paste
1.75 cups of water
1 vegetable bouillon cube, crumbled
1 yellow pepper , cored, seeded, diced
6 drops of Los Vieques Sweet Revenge Hot Sauce*
(rated #10 out of 20 on hot scale with the base for the sauce is the Asi Dulce Pepper native to the Island. Habanero-carrot sauce with tamarind will knock your socks off. XXX-Hot)
salt and pepper to taste

Tern? Are you on the JC Schools list? If you are, could you pose this same question there? It never even occurred to me as odd until you mention it now.