If you're into graffiti, I highly recommend seeing Exit Through the Gift Shop, a film by Banksy. There's a lot about the evolution of contemporary street art, as well as a bit of a treatise on art and authenticity. Even if you don't like street art, it's a really fun film - the first time in a long time that I wanted to watch a movie again right after it ended.

It's currently playing at Sunshine theater on Houston in Manhattan.

I wrote about it on my blog too.....http://lookoverhere-abeaumont.blogspot.com/

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Whats the difference with those requirements exists, a police officer needs to only take them once, when becoming a cop. After that its donuts and the AC.

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I wish they were the only transport system around here. They are faster and take up less space on the road/cause less traffic.

While they may stop wherever they want, they at least do their best to pull over. Unlike the big buses who don't even bother in most parts of the city.

Mmmm, BBQ, mmmmm.

I am so happy to hear this, I'm looking forward to some local BBQ.

Good luck!

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How about "saying hells" to speaking English?

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I know, right??? They would all totally stay at the Newport hotels and eat at the Flamingo and Brownstone in the morning and then finish the day with dinner at Edward's or Fire and Oak before heading over to Lucky's or Zeppelin or Iron Monkey for a nightcap. The more adventurous will head west of the Turnpike.

All the tourists and racing teams will be so busy spending money in Jersey City that they will forget New York City is only a stone's throw away.

Amazing slow-smoked ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork.

everything is homemade, the sauce, the rubs, the sides, everything.

carry-out and outdoor seating available.

BBQ at Legal Beans -Jersey City
2 Division Street
Jersey City, NJ 07032
201-216-0050

right off Newark, across from the fire station.

This new tournament is open to any adult soccer team (male, female or coed) who would like to participate in a great event for an even greater cause.

The Soccer Learning Center is currently working to raise money for the Jersey City Police Activity League - an underfunded organization that provides essential after-school activities to Jersey City children.

Our Diversity Cup Tournament is a 4 v 4 format, played over three Saturday evenings, indoors, at the Golden Door School gym in downtown Jersey City. The top team will win $2000 at the end of the event.

Like the World Cup, teams will play for a specific FIFA country they wish to represent.

To learn more, please log on to SoccerLearningCenter.com or use this link:

Diversity Cup Information

Registration deadline is May 20th.

Questions? Feel free to call me, Coach Alex at 201.656.1156

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Stop tailgating buses they're known to make frequent stops. It is common sense.

I would NEVER oppose this! I have gone to it up in Montreal and the amount of money that it would bring into the city would be AMAZING! Plus, maybe we could finally get some streets fixed around here!

There are EXTREMELY deep pockets in F1 Racing. My husband's father is an addict to it and so are others that watch this. It is the only car racing that I enjoy. And that beautiful sound....

So yeah, if you don't want Jersey City and the local businesses to prosper, then say no. But if you actually give a shit about this area.... say hells to the yeah!

The actor who played Furio on the Sopranos and a couple of other fellows were standing outside St. Mike's two days ago. Same movie?

same here in Metropolis towers, been that way for about 2-3 weeks off and on.

Free registration @ Bike JC.org




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And you're surprised at this. How many years have you lived here in J.C. ? Try not to push the envelope, just accept it.

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The City is going to solicit bids (RFP) from companies who can provide the reval services.

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I've been told similar things when filing police reports.... but I also know that it is up to me to push the issue further.

The officer may have been talking from past experience and had similar cases that didn't go anywhere. But we don't know why they didn't go anywhere. Perhaps the person(s) didn't pursue the matter, or didn't have enough evidence to support a case.

After doing some research, if I felt that I had enough evidence to support a case (pictures, documents, witness'), I can assure you that I would proceed to do everything in my power to prosecute, regardless of other people's opinions.

I would put up signs, asking if anyone witnessed the break-in and talk to neighbors around the area your car was parked. Do everything, before doing nothing. Chances are, the person that broke into your car will come back to the neighborhood again and target another car.

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God forbid... but if I were ever to be carried out of a burning building, I would want it to be by someone that could carry my weight. I can?t speak for other woman, but I know that I could not carry 100 plus pounds down a flight of stairs. I understand discrimination laws are necessary (to some degree) but lowering job and safety standards may be a problem, depending on the job.

I don?t want to take sides in this thread discussion because I have volunteered myself in many community projects -- and -- I appreciate and support our Police dept.

Since my boyfriend has property in both the Bergen-Lafayette and Greenville sections of Jersey City, it has opened my eyes to a whole new world outside of Hamilton Park, and it isn?t pretty. Every time I?m there I see some guy peeing on the sidewalk. The other day I saw a woman squatting in the street to take a piss, at noontime. One day an SUV parked in front of me and two guys got out of the car, saw me sitting in my car by myself and they both proceeded to piss in front of me. Real gentlemen!

I?ve spent some time sitting in municipal court and listen to the cases? public urination, panhandling, littering, over and over. It may not be all glamorous work but I?m glad somebody is making people accountable for their actions.

Probably not a good idea to be loitering around that property. It's more responsible to keep you distance, plus it's not a park.

from the above link:

"Full time Orange Chief Financial Officer, John W. (Jack) Kelly, works as a tax assessor for other towns, owns commercial property in Orange, and appears to be getting property deals and tax breaks through his City of Orange position.

Kelley worked for the previous mayor and was cited by the 1998 New Jersey Commission of Investigation for "unethical" and "irresponsible behavior" in performance of his City of Orange duties. Read the report and see if you feel your tax dollars are safe."

I can't believe Healy would hire someone unethical, just don't believe it.

Just plain egregious.

http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2 ... ublic-pay-passes-private/

Very interesting site and illuminating.

http://www.taxes2high.org/Municipal%20Spending.html

Streamline city costs so that the taxpayers aren't sucked dry.

County owes millions in unused time

Sick, vacation and OT benefits add up to large payouts

Sunday, May 18, 2003

BY KASI ADDISON AND JEFFERY C. MAYS
STAR-LEDGER STAFF


? See unused time for Essex County



Over a 30-year career as an Orange police officer, Frank Benevento earned a reputation as the Cal Ripken Jr. of his department.

Like the former Baltimore Orioles infielder who set baseball's record for most consecutive games played, Benevento rarely missed a day at work, using only 46 sick days during a career where he worked his way from patrolman to captain. When he retired last summer, Benevento had accumulated 611 compensatory days for unused vacation and sick days, and time in lieu of overtime.

"He was a hard-working guy. He came in to work every day and you knew he was coming in to work. He was an ironman," said Richard Conte, former Orange police chief and police director.

For his steadfast work ethic, the city of Orange cut Benevento a check for $226,062.04 for his unused time. Benevento was one of three Orange retirees last year to receive six-figure checks from the city. Police Lt. Samuel Battista left with a check for $209,976.71 and Lt. Louis Castro received $112, 237.74.

Orange is Essex County's eighth-largest municipality, yet it ranks second behind Newark, the county's biggest municipality, in the amount of money owed to its workers in unused sick and vacation time.

The city of almost 33,000 residents owes its municipal employees $7.5 million in unused sick and vacation time.

Orange's figures are just part of $156 million in unused sick, vacation and other time that Essex County taxpayers owes its municipal, county and school employees. The county ranks third in the state behind Hudson and Bergen counties in the amount owed.

Sue Strande, Livingston's comptroller, said that while the numbers may seem high, benefits compensate workers for salaries that are traditionally lower than in the private sector. Livingston owes a total of almost $4.7 million.

"You can't compare apples to oranges," she said. "You have to compare everything. One of the perks of these jobs is benefits, it is certainly not the pay."

Even top executive employees benefit from the perks.

When former Essex County Executive Jim Treffinger left office in December, he took with him a check for $43,383.33.

Already out on bail for charges of getting county jobs for campaign workers, extorting money from a sewer contractor and then trying to cover up his actions, Treffinger says he was owed the money for 118 unused vacation days during his eight years in office.

The new administration disagreed with his calculation, saying Treffinger was only entitled to be paid for 40 unused vacation days -- the same as every other non-civil service county employee. In fact, Treffinger himself had instituted the rule.

The state attorney general subpoenaed records in the case and, after a review of state statutes by Treffinger's attorney, the former executive refunded the county $21,161.65.

Orange's Chief Financial Officer Jack Kelly said he doesn't like writing out big checks and finds some of the sums "ridiculous." But he said that when it comes to compensatory time, it's a case of "pay now or pay later." Employees who use a lot of sick time cost a lot of money in overtime for other employees.

"How do you compensate that employee who is here every day? We don't have bonus plans so they get compensated at retirement. It's a bonus for being a good employee," Kelly said.

William Faitoute, 77, worked for Millburn as the health officer for 33 years. When he retired, he received $88,152 for unused sick and vacation time.

"I felt I earned that money," Faitoute said. "When I began working, public service jobs paid less than they do now and benefits made up the difference."

But being a good employee can be costly to a town. West Orange owes its municipal employees $7 million. Money owed to county and school employees brings the cost to $12.2 million, or $271 for every man, woman and child in town.

The policies governing the accumulation and payout of compensatory time are governed by union contracts and government policy.

For example, Orange's 60 non-uniformed employees are paid for 110 sick days at 100 percent of value upon retirement and the balance are paid at 20 percent. Employees can accrue an unlimited number of sick days. The same employees are allowed to be paid for up to two years of vacation time.

And employees are paid for the time at the daily pay rate in effect when they retired. For example, although Orange police officer Benevento accrued his time over a 30-year period, he was paid at a captain's salary of $366.30 per day.

Fairfield has a strict "use them or lose them" policy, said township Business Administrator Joseph Catenaro.

"What can happen is that people accumulate the time in a given year and then by the time they retire, their salary doubles or triples," he said. "You would have overpaid for that time off."

The township owes its municipal employees nothing, and has $967,000 in school and county unused compensatory time, according to documents filed with the state. Fairfield's policy translates into savings for taxpayers, Catenaro said.

Kelly said Orange is trying to take steps to reduce the amount of money it pays out, but it's going to take time. The town's Fire Superior Officers Association recently negotiated a new contract where they agreed to reduce the bankable amount of terminal leave time from 126 to 120 days.

Kelly said there's no way the union or an arbitrator would agree to cut that amount of time in half. "The unions fight tooth and nail for this time," Kelly said.

While other towns are trying to reduce their unused compensatory time debt, the South Orange-Maplewood School District will, for the first time next year, reimburse employees for unused sick and vacation time.

Karla Milanette, the district's assistant business administrator, said the policy was negotiated into the last teachers union contract as a way to reward employees for good attendance.

In the past, South Orange-Maplewood School District employees either used their days off or lost them. They were allowed to bank up to 50 sick days for later use, but were not paid for them upon retirement. Under the terms of the new contract, that has all changed.

Teachers and support staff can be reimbursed for unused sick days up to a cap of $100,000.

The staff had been working toward the benefit for some years, said Hannah Edelman, president of the district's teachers union.

"This was a way to acknowledge and affirm those people that have been in the district for an extended period of time," she said of the perk.

Conte, the former Orange police chief, said his suggested solution is to allow employees to accumulate time as a reward, but to pay employees at the end of each year for the time they are owed. That way, employees are paid for the time at their current salary, not after 30 years of raises.

"This eliminates the big bill at the end of people's careers. It also eliminates employees using all their sick days because of a use-it-or-lose-it policy," he said.

john moss is not very personable on the phone
i can agree with that but if you want a quality inspection and someone that is not in bed with the realtors to move the property. he's your guy. does a very thorough job and is on buyer's side for sure. he'll point out a lot of stuff to you so you can make an informed decision. his personality is not the best but he is good at his job. he is more friendly in person though...

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It's done by outsiders, no doubt political contributors. But your concern about the city's Building inspectors is well founded, they won't hesitate to bully you and trample your rights.

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Well then, that settles it. Greedo shot first.

It would be nice if Google maps updated it's imagery for new buildings and demolition. Downtown is missing all new construction from the past six years. No wonder the census neglected to mail forms to some of the new residential buildings! If it's not on Google it doesn't exist, I guess.

Letter writing campaign to Google to ask them to update??

Does anybody know if Jersey City is hiring an outside company to handle this reval?

Or will residents be subjected to having their homes inspected by employees of the building dept?

I ask because you know, JC inspectors leave much to be desired in the world of fairness.

A bad idea gets worse....

So in observing the everyday progress of the CCD work, I've noticed that at the SW corner of CCD and Varick, the street is not getting widened where the existing curb bump-out is because this is where Dixon has that driveway that goes to their garage. The new curbs are being formed around it, preserving the bump-out.

Now if the aim was to add traffic to the right hand lane next to the sidewalk, that lane is going to abruptly end where the bump-out is which in turn will have created a brand-spanking-new bottleneck where cars will have to merge.

Sheer genius.

Paul Sorvino and Lily of the Feast movie filming downtown, supposed to be at Pecoraro bakery today at 4.

http://www.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?igi=431550&nbc1=1

I've been getting low pressure also, lower than usual.