A man and woman, and the woman was rather short? Although that isn't much to go on, I wonder if it could be that homeless or near homeless couple that hangs out on Newark all the time, the short beat up woman and the taller guy she always seems to be with while they drink all day on the benches or in front of the vacant building on Barrow and Newark and curse out the cops who drive by and do nothing.

This is what, 2 blocks from the police station?

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No. I think everyone should have guns. As a matter of fact, everyone should have uzi's and play tag with them in the park. We need citizens, thieves, and everyone else firing away at each other. That'll teach em!

I'll be sure to be on the lookout for a man and woman wearing jeans.

Jersey City residents including Steve Fulop are featured in a documentary about political corruption in NJ. Jersey City is acknowledged as a dark example of the corruption rampant across the state. A protest in front of JC city hall by fed up citizens demanding an end to criminally corrupt leadership offers a glimmer of hope. The film opens in select Clearview Cinemas Friday October 22 (the closest one is Hoboken Cinema 5). Stay up to date and help shine light on political corruption by "Liking" us on facebook The Soprano State Documentary on Facebook Headquarters 10 Theatres, Morristown NJ-Tenafly Cinema 4, Tenafly NJ-Clairidge Cinemas, Montclair NJ-Red Bank Art Cinema, Red Bank NJ-Hoboken Cinema 5, Hoboken NJ-Manhasset Cinemas, Manhasset NY-Cinema 100, White Plains NY-First & 62nd Cinemas, 400 E 62nd St. NY-Chelsea Cinemas, 260 W 23rd St. NY-American PLCinema, Flemington NJ

The Soprano State - Documentary from Jonathan Kalafer on Vimeo.

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Where's the video -- more than 6 out of 500 need to be suspended -- on a side note, as has been said many times -- students should not be allowed to leave at lunchtime - they don't go home -- it's only good for the guys selling cheap pizza slices, fried crap and loosies.

There was a similar incident at 8:20 on Erie Street last night. Perhaps it was the same individual(s)? Stay safe, keep your eyes open, and call in any suspicious activity.

At around 8:20 last night, a woman was robbed at knifepoint on Erie Street, right under a streetlamp, between 3rd and 4th (it happened closer to the corner of 4th) on the East side of the street. Thankfully she was unharmed, but the assailants took her bag. She said her attackers were a man and a woman, the woman was fairly short, both wearing jeans, and they took off down 3rd towards Manila. This could be the same perp as this other incident. Please keep an eye out, as these crimes usually run in patterns, and the perps usually prey on the same area until caught (like the car breakins last year).

If I was a mugger I'd also hide out on Essex between Greene and Washington. It's so dark at night you can barely see the sidewalk!

lets look at the bright side, with influx of luxury condos and apts, the thugs can't manage to mug everyone that has moved to town in the past 5-10 years.

Healy will tell you not to think about this and instead try to focus on the first black fire chief and the first gay councilman and you'll feel better.

the .40 is not ACP but i'm pickin up what you're puttin down.

Part of the problem is that the criminals know the cops in this city are only interested in guarding construction, not the resident's security. It is up to us to help the police department find their way. I know there weren't many details available for this specific case, but anytime you see something happen, write down as many details as you possibly can: license plates, descriptions of those involved including what they are wearing, how tall they are, etc, no detail is too small - and e-mail everyone you know. All those people should then call the Jersey City non emergency police number (201) 547-5477 (NOT 911!) and relay the story. As they receive more calls about incidents they will realize that Jersey City residents are serious about their safety and the police department will have no option but to participate in making this a safer and better place to live.

THIS is why Christie doesn't want to keep throwing $20,000+ per student for an "education". Great kids in JC. Go Gov!!!

Wow I walk down Mercer between 6:30 and 6:45 every night. Guess I might be switching to Montgomery. At least there is more traffic and less places to hide.

A little off topic but its kind of strange that the no mans land between Jersey City and Hoboken still remains so valuless in terms of property. It seems that all that can exist there are gas stations, strip malls and vacant lots. You would think there would be a little more desire to build that area up being between two relatively decent urban areas. I guess it has a lot to do with the Holland Tunnel traffic right there.

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you're implying it was safer at one time, it wasn't.
Watch your back.

Actually my wife and I talked about that (for economic, job, tax reasons.. Texas is a very business friendly State).

For concealed carry (CCW) reasons I could also choose between 40+ States that are 'shall issue' or unrestricted (no permit required). NJ is way behind in allowing people to defend themselves. CCW has been expanding since the early 1990. It has been a success with no "blood on the streets" promised from the anti-self defense crowd.

Our future Leaders!

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They should look into hiring class 2 special police officers. Alot of shore towns hire them during season. They have complete police powers and carry. Fire all of the useless meter maids.

I agree, these are animals we are dealing with, not people! They deserve nothing but to rot in hell Legalize hand guns for the good citizens of NJ and crime falls that day. I live in the same area and I know exactly who to watch out for, it's not rocket science! If the cops weren't so busy getting over time jobs on construction sites, maybe they could actually walk the beat in Downtown JC. Or maybe we fire all the jerk off meter maids and hire more cops. Let the cops ticket the cars, at least they will be out and about.

I have an Evo on Sprint and don't have any problems with dropped calls. I get a 4G signal when I'm outside and easily connect to my home wireless network while I'm in my apartment (or I can use the 3G network).

The Evo is fantastic. The only thing I'm not fully satisfied with is the battery life. If you're out all day and using battery-heavy features like GPS, you may find that it drains pretty quickly.

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I don't understand. You think that people shouldn't be able to defend themselves against thugs who are out to do us all harm?

Oh right---you're part of that group that believes only criminals should have guns. Makes sense.

I notice the "Ducky's and Dumplings" sign is no longer on the storefront. Does this mean they're no longer opening?

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You should move to Texas right now. Please don't waste any time doing it.

School security guard writes novel

Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By MARK MAURER
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

As children walked through the halls of School 14 over the past 14 years, few knew the story of Clarence Matthews, the 76-year-old Jersey City Board of Education security guard. Now that he has published a novel, that might change.

His first book, entitled "Jacob's Rite of Passage, Vol. 1: Young Jacob," focuses on the youngest of four children from a family of sharecroppers in Fayetteville, N.C. Jacob learns various life lessons, such as "mother-son over-bonding," the observation that a woman can't teach a boy how to be a man.

Matthews intends it to be the first in a trilogy, of which he is currently crafting the second installment, due out by early December.

A Jersey City resident for 52 years, Matthews worked as a real estate sales associate until 1976, then switched to a more "secure" job as a security guard.

He is also a trustee at Monumental Baptist Church, where he teaches a black history class to senior citizens and has occasionally written and directed plays.

Sharon Abbruscato, principal at School 14, said she had seen one of his plays at his church and was thoroughly impressed. The school shares the building with the Board of Education.

"I know he plans to continue with writing and I'm going to further encourage him to do that," Abbruscato said.

Matthews' attendance at the school for over 14 years has been near-perfect, his supervisor Gerri Hendrick said.

To those who work with him, Matthews doesn't talk much. Instead, he saves his words for the page.

"I learned I could put things together," Matthews said. "I'm more of a writer than a speaker. You can get your point out better."

His daughter Deneen Matthews is a graphic designer in Indiana who founded deeClare Publishing to get her father's book made. As the book's editor, she conspicuously divided his work into two-page chapters. The book is aimed at the reading level of an 11-year-old.

The book, which was released in March, is for sale on Amazon.com and at Word Works Christian Book Store, 130 Monticello Ave.

Imam's Union City building still has violations, city inspectors testify at trial to take it over

Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By JEAN-PIERRE MESTANZA
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Union City housing and health inspectors spent more than 60 minutes on the witness stand yesterday, testifying in Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City that some violations still exist at the Central Avenue building owned by the imam who wants to build a mosque near Ground Zero.

The city wants to collect the rent and make sure that 2206 Central Ave. is properly maintained.

"From the city's perspective, a custodial receiver is still necessary on this property to make sure the violations are abated," city attorney Christine Vanek said.

The owner, Feisal Abdul Rauf, was cited with more than 200 housing and health code violations over the past two months.

Tomas Espinosa, the lawyer for the imam, urged Judge Thomas Olivieri to reject the city's plan to take over the 16-unit building, saying the violations have been remedied.

Alejandro Velazquez, Ana Mansilla, Yordi Mesa and Don Montesano, all inspectors with Union City, testified that repairs have not been completed.

Union City contends that there are several sewer pipes that have not been not capped and an abandoned water heater in the basement that could lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide in the building. The city also contends that the bedbug infestation was not properly exterminated and is likely to return.

"The proper way to do it is to exterminate the whole building three times, once every two weeks ," Mansilla, a health inspector, said.

The city also told the judge it is seeking an additional $6,840 as compensation for a fire watch at the building from Oct. 8 to Oct. 13. According to officials, the city had to assign police officers to watch the building around the clock during this period because sections of the fire escape were missing.

The court ruled last month that the imam had to pay the city over $12,000 for an earlier 10-day fire watch.

"We are hopeful that when all the facts are laid out, the court will rule in our favor," city spokesman Mark Albiez said.

The judge adjourned the hearing until this morning at 9 a.m. Rauf did not attend the hearing.

Plans to build a mosque and Islamic cultural center a few blocks from where nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 have sparked a national controversy.

BUDDY'S NEW HOME
Famed 'Cake Boss' expanding to Jersey City

Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By KATIE COLANERI
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Lackawanna Center, an eight-story industrial building outside the Holland Tunnel, was transformed yesterday into the set of a future "Cake Boss" episode as politicos, bankers, developers and real estate agents gathered to welcome the famed baker to his new home in Jersey City.

Last week, Emmes Asset Management, LLC, the building's co-owner, announced that Buddy Valastro has leased 30,000 square feet of the building's ground floor for a new state-of-the-art baking facility, distribution center and office headquarters.

Valastro is the star of TLC's reality series "Cake Boss" and operates, with his family, Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop on Washington Street in Hoboken.

"We've outgrown the space in Hoboken," said Valastro, who arrived at the Lackawanna Center yesterday with a TLC camera crew, producers and three of his sisters.

"It's very exciting," said Valastro's sister Grace Faugno. "It's a prime space in a prime location ... Our dad would have been so proud."

The late Buddy Valastro Sr. started the bakery on Washington Street where 130 employees currently work in 7,000 square feet of space. The Washington Street bake shop will remain open, the family said.

Despite the fame, "I still feel like a baker from New Jersey," Valastro told the crowd that gathered inside the building, which included Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, and several members of the Jersey City Council.

"We think that somebody like Buddy Valastro ... can be a magnet for other tenants to come," Healy said.

Emmes is also in the initial planning stages of a new project called the "Shops at Lackawanna," which would bring several retail businesses to the ground floor of the building.

Yesterday's welcome event will be featured on an episode of "Cake Boss" Season 4 in March.

View Larger Map Bike hits car biker becomes unconscious Wednesday, October 20, 2010 By MARK MAURER JOURNAL STAFF WRITER A 43-year-old bicyclist was knocked unconscious in Jersey City on Monday when his bike slammed into a Lexus that had stopped at the intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Boland Street, according to police reports. At around 2:30 p.m., the 45-year-old Alpine man who was driving the Lexus told cops he was stopped when the bike struck the front of his car, reports said. The bike rider stood up and spoke to emergency medical technicians at the scene, but after he arrived at the Jersey City Medical Center, a surgeon told police that the man became unconscious and was in critical but stable condition, reports said. Police have not interviewed the bicyclist.