Another plea expected in bizarre murder mystery tied to N.J. political operative

A third man tied to a mysterious murder-for-hire plot hatched by a New Jersey political consultant is scheduled to enter a plea in federal court Thursday in connection with the long-unsolved case.

George Bratsenis, 73, who had already been repeatedly identified by federal prosecutors in connection with his involvement in the 2014 murder, will appear by video conference in a plea hearing before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark, according to court filings.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2022/03/an ... -political-operative.html

Jersey City Council boosts its own pay while ignoring city workers, residents in need | Opinion

By Elvin Dominici

Jersey City has an affordability crisis that is displacing minorities and lifelong residents from the city that they call home. This crisis has been empowered and embraced by this city’s government that welcomes big developers regardless of the needs and concerns of our communities and the residents that make them whole.

The average annual household income in Jersey City is $105,120, while the median household income sits at $70,752 per year. These salary numbers do not represent the reality of low-income and lifelong residents who are being displaced out of our city. We can see this disparity as we look at the salary of local public servants, who many times are local residents who grew up in this city. Newly hired rookie police officers earn between $30,000 and $45,000; meanwhile newly hired public school teachers have a salary of $31,000.

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2022/03/jer ... ents-in-need-opinion.html

Saint Peter’s is 3rd 15 seed in Sweet 16, beats Murray State

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Undersized in every way, Saint Peter’s became the latest NCAA Tournament darling that only the most ardent hoops fans had heard of before it stepped onto a court with a March Madness logo.

These proud Peacocks from Jersey City, New Jersey, became the third No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16, first tossing eight-time national champion Kentucky out of the bracket and then taking care of Murray State in a workmanlike 70-60 win on Saturday night.

Even mid-major Murray State was taller and beefier than the Peacocks, but that didn’t bother coach Shaheen Holloway or his 6-foot-7, 195-pound power forward, KC Ndefo, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds and played bruising defense at the rim.

“I’m going to say this. It’s going to come off a little crazy. I got guys from New Jersey and New York City,” Holloway said. “You think we’re scared of anything? You think we’re worried about guys trying to muscle us and tough us out?”

https://apnews.com/article/march-madne ... d9edd9131badde5896bdb15f0

Jersey City has 50 new ranking cops: 11 promoted to deputy chief, 39 now sergeants

March 14, 2022 2:23 pm

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“We have the best police department in the state, bar none, and that starts from the top down,” Mayor Steven Fulop began in a statement.

“Effective leadership is key, especially when it comes to law enforcement, and I have no doubt this diverse group of newly promoted deputy chiefs and sergeants will continue the progress we’ve seen in recent years to enhance public safety, community relations, and quality of life overall.”

https://hudsoncountyview.com/jersey-ci ... y-chief-39-now-sergeants/

18 months later, N.J. SEC reprimands ex-JC BOE Trustees Thomas, Roman over Lyles settlement

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Matt Schapiro, another former Jersey City BOE trustee, filed a complaint with the state on June 15th, 2020 alleging that Thomas and Roman violated the school ethics act, specifically the code of ethics for school board members.

He alleged that this occurred when Thomas and Roman voted in favor of settling Lyles’ federal lawsuit, which alleged the board created a hostile work environment and prevented her from doing her job, for $398,225 in late 2019, as HCV first reported.

https://hudsoncountyview.com/18-months ... an-over-lyles-settlement/

LeFrak’s Four Tower, 1,700-Unit Project in Jersey City Gains Preliminary Approval

LeFrak’s Four Tower, 1,700-Unit Project in Jersey City Gains Preliminary Approval

Image courtesy of Arquitectonica.

One of the most prominent developers in the Newport neighborhood of Jersey City has been given the initial green light to revitalize a pier along the Hudson River despite concerns raised by several members of the public over the proposal.

https://jerseydigs.com/2-sixth-st-jersey-city-preliminary-approval/

The case for Jimmy Hoffa, buried under a New Jersey bridge

The FBI is expected to soon commence a dig for the remains of legendary labor leader Jimmy Hoffa, where it is claimed he was buried in a barrel after being killed in Detroit July 30, 1975.

The chances that the remains of Hoffa, the onetime president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, are under the industrial dirt of Jersey City, New Jersey, are actually very good, observers say.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/jimmy-hoffa ... ey-bridge-tony-provenzano

Jersey City school board delays vote on $955 million budget as it looks to ease taxpayer pain

Through five hours of a special Jersey City Board of Education meeting Thursday night there were many questions, but few answers.

On a night when the nine-member panel could have approved a $955 million spending plan for the 2022-23 school year that carries a possible $2,400 tax increase, it decided to punt the question until at least Monday.

The options are trimming the budget closer to the current year’s $814 million by slashing programs and possibly jobs, or come up with revenue sources that would at least reduce the tax hike. Cutting the tax levy by $100 million would reduce the average school tax bill to $1,121, but the board had few solutions on how to raise that other $100 million.

https://www.nj.com/hudson/2022/03/jers ... o-ease-taxpayer-pain.html