Quote:

Gerald is a time-tested local business owner who helps individuals just like the good people you described. He's easy to talk to, highly knowledgeable about the process of being underwater, and able to negotiate with banks.

I highly recommend his business and services.

Gerald Lucas, Managing Director
Performance Property, LLC
880 Bergen Ave, Suite 201
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201)-222-2979
Fax: (201)-222-2978
www.sellhomenownj.com

I received this, too, and was wondering who was behind it. I thought that leaving out the responsibility of school administration (ie; ineffective school boards and superintendents) was a pretty glaring omission. Not to mention that our NJASK testing system is a complete sham.

We cannot simply lay everything on the backs of teachers. In many of our county's schools, there is a complete abdication of parental responsibility as well. I don't think tenure is the biggest issue to tackle, nor the major underlying problem in our public school system.

I have spoken to the owners of Jersey City Dance Academy on West Side Avenue in the past and they were just super. I would definitely check them out:

http://www.jerseycitydanceacademy.com/index.php

I think it's very kind of your group to remember the souls of our neighbors. These were all sons/daughters, brothers/sisters, perhaps even mothers and fathers. May they find peace.

---------------------------------

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. ~George Washington Carver

Is the individual below, Paul Benson of Alpine Company, the same individual that owns the home? If not, my apologies. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of a follow up story here and there is no Paul Benson on a NJ Inmate search or in the Megan's Law database of offenders:

---------------------------------------------------------------

Kid porn charges against owner of Alpine Group construction firm
Thursday, 15 October 2009 22:07 Jerry DeMarco

The owner of a well-known North Jersey construction firm is now sitting in jail after investigators said they found him trafficking in kiddie porn. Paul Benson, owner of the Alpine Group, was arrested at his Woodcliff Lake home and charged with distributing child porn.

"In this case, the child pornography contained images and/or videos of pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual acts," said Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.

Molinelli said his investigators worked closely with their counterparts from the Suffolk County Police Department on Long Island.

The prosecutor also cited several local departments that have provided officers to work with his Computer Crimes unit to track down cyberpredators and other criminals: Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Upper Saddle River, and, of course, Woodcliff Lake.

Benson, who is 42 and married, is being held on $100,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, pending a court appearance in Hackensack tomorrow morning.

Link to article and photo of Paul Benson:
http://www.cliffviewpilot.com/bergen/ ... m-charged-with-child-porn

Quote:

And just because someone is doing something in front of a mosque, doesn't mean it's sinister or is part of a "special" ritual.

People go to different mosques, also, for the same reason people attend different churches or synagogues. There are varied types of congregations and imams (like a priest). Every mosque is not the same and takes different approaches in its ministry and internal politics and administration.

Dr. Cinotti is awesome - here's his background:

Donald J. Cinotti MD joined his father's practice - Hudson Eye Physicians and Surgeons (HEPS) in 1981 after finishing his ophthalmology residency at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary. Dr. Cinotti is an Associate Clinical Professor at UMDNJ and is the Director of the Eye Trauma division at Jersey City Medical Center. Dr Cinotti has always been involved in the politics of medicine. He has served on many committees and boards, and continues his involvement. He is a past president of the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology and the Hudson County Medical Society. Dr. Cinotti is past chairman of the board of trustees for Healing the Children is on the board of the New Jersey Medical Society. Dr Cinotti is the 218th President of the Medical Society of New Jersey. He also serves as counselor from New Jersey to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has made numerous voluntary trips to developing countries to perform eye surgery on children. Dr. Cinotti was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology in 1984

3rd - while I understand your frustration, severe mental illness cannot be compared in a balanced legal way to drunk driving.

As a nation, we are still in the dark ages, quite literally, when it comes to treating people who are chronically mentally ill. It is a disease I wish on no one. Until you walk in the shoes as a patient, friend or caregiver, you have no idea what kind of pain and anguish this causes. Until we restructure mental health treatment, tragedies like this will continue to occur. Look at what this nation is doing to the vets that come home with PTSD - at a rate that military experts are afraid to admit far surpasses that of previous wars.

My condolences go to both families.

I just read about two interesting stories on Hoboken 411. One is about a roof repair scam artist. The other is about a package thief which includes a really good photograph of the suspect. You never know if they'll visit our fair city next:

Roof Scam:
Targets Seniors and other unsuspecting residents
The scammer seems to targets elderly citizens since they?re more trusting. He sometimes claims that he needs to come through their home to access the neighbors roof or states that while fixing another roof he noticed some damage on theirs.

Once inside he distracts them enough to allow him to wander through the home and take personnel belongings. (i.e. Jewelry, credit cards, cash, etc.) He will sometimes ask them to perform tasks making believe they are assisting him with assessing the damage, but it?s pure distraction (i.e. ?Please stand by the faucet and turn the water on and off until I say stop?).

If he does not succeed with this, he then explains that he found damage on the roof and gives them an estimate cost to repair. If they agree, he obtains a deposit from them and of course, never returns to do repairs. He even accompanied one victim to the bank to get the money.

This male claims his name is ?John? and he represents ?ADC Roofing.? He is described as being a white or light skin Hispanic Male who is approximately 30-35 years of age, approximately 5′ 8″ in height, clean shaven and a very thin build. He usually wears either a painters cap or baseball cap, with blue or black pants/jeans and a white t-shirt. He also has several tattoos down his left arm which appear to be all ABOVE his elbow area. One victim states the actor was driving a Silver or Gray colored sport utility vehicle which had a rear spoiler and appeared to be a late model Lexus or Toyota.

If you have any additional information about this man ? or have recently come in contact with a person fitting this description ? contact the Hoboken Police Department at 201-420-2100 or the Detective Bureau at 201-420-5106.

Package Thief - Photo and Story Here:
http://hoboken411.com/archives/5186#comments

Hi folks -

Has anyone ever gone to Dr. Okubadejo at the Jersey City Medical Center Spine Institute? I'm looking for a good back/spine doctor and possible surgeon in the area. Any leads would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Quote:

+100

Bueller...Bueller?

[Bump]

Does anyone have any new website designing resources out there? Looking for someone local for a few projects.

Help! Thanks.

From NJ.com

When officers stopped the school bus near the Bloomfield municipal complex this afternoon, they thought they were pulling over a careless driver who had just missed hitting another car.

But when they confronted the 62-year-old driver, what they found was "truly frightening," Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

Elizabeth Anaya, on her way to pick up a group of developmentally disabled children at the Sawlette Learning Center in Montclair, had a half-full can of Coors Light beer on the seat between her legs and an empty bottle of Bacardi rum in her jacket pocket, Fontoura said.

"It was most fortunate that our officers crossed paths with this individual," Fontoura said. "While the driver was the only person on the bus at the time of her arrest, she was on her way to pick up children who suffer from autism.

"The potential consequences of these children being on her bus are truly frightening," he said.

Anaya, of Jersey City, was charged with drunken driving and several traffic offenses. She was released from custody last night, Fontoura said.

"These are highly disturbing allegations," said acting state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf.

The incident began at around 2:45 p.m. when Anaya, driving a yellow school bus registered to Hudson County Transport, ran a red light at Bloomfield Avenue near the municipal complex and almost struck another car, Fontoura said.

Sheriff?s officers immediately stopped the bus and when they approached it, they detected a "strong odor of alcohol" before finding the empty liquor bottle and recently-opened can of beer, Fontoura said in a statement.

Anaya?s blood-alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit of .08, the sheriff said.

Reached by phone, an employee at Hudson County Transport said the owner was unavailable tonight and hung up before answering any questions.

All school bus drivers in New Jersey who transport public school children must undergo rigorous background checks and reviews of their driving records before they are hired, said Frank Belluscio, spokesman for the New Jersey School Board?s Association.

Anaya?s driving record could not be obtained tonight and it was not immediately known how long she has driven for Hudson County Transport. She does not have a criminal record, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Fontoura said that when Anaya was taken into custody, the bus company was notified, and another vehicle was sent to pick up the students from Sawtelle Learning Center, a private school for public school children and young adults with autism or developmental disabilities.

Leisa Tomchek, the school principal, could not be reached for comment.

Students between the ages of 5 and 21 attend the school and take classes in speech and language development, socialization, play skills, self help, motor skills and academics, according to the state Department of Education.

Districts that cannot meet students? educational needs pay millions each year to enroll and bus special needs students to programs like Sawtelle from across the state.

By James Queally, Jessica Calefati and Mike Frassinelli/The Star-Ledger

First thing I would do is file a police report - at least get it documented somehow that you know an intruder was inside your apartment.

Right now, you have no way to tie this incident to your landlord. Take a step back and realize that it could be someone else. You have actual evidence of someone being in your apartment without your permission - I think that's breaking and entering. You have a right to call the cops, report and document your concerns.

Second, ask your neighbors if they saw an individual in your apartment. Check your phone records, your internet connection, your TV (did they order pay-per-view movies, get on your home computer,) etc. Were there any take-out food containers in your garbage? Any new menus laying around the kitchen? Do a bit of detective work with an open mind to who your intruder could be. Remember to also find out if your building has any security cameras that could track the comings and goings of visitors.

Third, I would change my locks as soon as humanly possible - check your patio door access, too.

This must be incredibly uncomfortable for you. I really do hope you get to the bottom of this.

To "protect" your name/logo in the state of New Jersey, you must file a trademark application with the state. It's easy to do and you can download the application online. You must refile every few years. Just follow the instructions and you can do this yourself.

You will need an artistic representation of your name and a few samples of how it will be used in your business (like the way it looks on a business card, t-shirt, website, etc).

If your business is going to be focused beyond this region, you will need a federal trademark. You can do this online yourself, working through the federal system, or a service like LegalZoom.com can do it for you (for a fee).

Protecting your name can sometimes be a difficult thing to do if you're a small business without a cushion of cash for litigation. If someone "takes" your same name and product/service focus, then you'll most likely have to retain a lawyer to sue them to cease and desist.

I found this site online which is helpful to a small business start up - it does mention the NJ Trademark site as well:

http://www.njsbdc.com/articles/faq.php/

Good luck!

Not to be a Debbie-downer, here are the two incidents that were mentioned in this thread:

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... jersey_city_man_with.html

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _attacks_jersey_city.html

I was a homeowner on that precise block of Webster Ave for several years. The block definitely has its ups and downs. There are a lot of "quality of life" crimes that some with urban patience can endure. My car was broken in to several times as was our shed. Flowers, pumpkins, etc. were stolen from the stoop. The Franklin Ave. block draws in its share of malcontents. There is a definite gang presence in the area. Last week, a man was badly beaten on Hutton Street - right around your corner. Mountain Road has its share of muggings and stabbings.

If you're purchasing, make sure to double check your basement. There are a lot of flooding issues in that area and most basements are wet.

If I had to purchase again, I would most definitely not buy in that area. If you're single, you'll probably do okay. If you're thinking of staying for the long haul to start a family and settle down, I'd think again.

[img] [/img]

Quote:

+1

I was a bit surprised by the "slant" of the Channel 7 news coverage I posted above. While they had feedback from parents that were against what Epps said, it seemed that the "community" was supportive of his comments. I find that difficult to believe.

He should not be protected. Enough is enough.

Shelley - if you're checking back here, it would be helpful to know what happened at tonight's rally. Are you planning additional demonstrations? Kindly post the info on JCList.com. I wish I had known about this sooner. THANK YOU for raising your voice about this matter. From JCIndependent: Jersey City education activist Shelley Skinner is spearheading a protest at tonight?s Board of Education meeting to respond to superintendent Charles Epps? comments made to a group of clergy members Wednesday, in which he said ?our worst enemy is the young ladies? and called some students ?dirty, nasty, bad kids.? ?Nothing short of his resignation is acceptable,? Skinner writes in an email sent around this afternoon. ?How can we have a Superintendent who has this little respect for our students? For our daughters? Every single child in our city deserves a leader who believes in their inherent intelligence and promise to reach their fullest potential life anything short of that is unacceptable.? According to the Journal, Epps ?apologized? today for the comments ? kind of. ?He was referring to all boys and girls,? district spokesperson Paula Christen tells the JJ. The protest, and the board meeting, is scheduled for 6 pm this evening at PS #11 (886 Bergen Avenue). [img align=left][/img]

Here is the phone number for the Jersey City school superintendent:

(201) 915-6201

I find his comments to be outrageous and offensive. He should not be at the helm as the leader of one of New Jersey's largest school systems.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Multiple violations were issued yesterday at three Jersey City buildings owned by the landlord who is facing $41,000 in fines at a fourth building where two people died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Both people died a month apart in an apartment where mandatory sensors for the deadly gas were not installed.

"He knows from his real-estate experience that his incumbent responsibility is for the safety and welfare of his tenants, and it is unfortunate that he continues in defiance of the law," Fire Director Armando Roman said of Farouk Tadrous.

"We have a responsibility to make sure that he is in compliance, which is why we are taking him to court."

On April 3, Rosaria Ferreras-Matos, 24, moved into an apartment in Tadrous' building at 446 Baldwin Ave., where she was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning the next day, officials said. Police then expedited toxicology results on Arthur Galloway, 48, who died in the apartment on March 12, and it was learned he died of the same cause, officials said.

Police found there were no carbon monoxide sensors in the five-unit building and the cause of the lethal levels of carbon monoxide appears to have been a damaged hot water heater vent, officials said.

Yesterday inspectors went to Tadrous' apartment buildings at 50 Beacon St. as well as those at 39 and 41 Laidlaw Ave., which are located beside the building in which Farouk lives at Baldwin and Laidlaw.

Nine violations were cited at 39 Laidlaw and 20 at 41 Laidlaw, including failure to have carbon monoxide sensors in common areas and some other places where they are required, officials said. The hot water heaters in both buildings were shut down by Public Service Electric & Gas because they were not ventilated properly, Roman said.

At 50 Beacon St., 11 violations were issued, including for smoke alarms that were not working and carbon monoxide sensors that were missing from some areas where they are required.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said his office is looking into Tadrous' history of violations.

"No criminal charges have been filed at this point, and we are awaiting the results of the code enforcement investigation," DeFazio said. "When the code enforcement aspect of it is complete, we will review everything."

Tadrous owns additional buildings in Jersey City and inspectors will target them as early as today. He must appear in Jersey City Municipal Court on April 28 to respond to the violations. Tadrous declined to comment yesterday when asked about the deaths at 446 Baldwin and the ongoing inspections.

Just reported he received 30 months. He has to surrender in June.

From NJ.com
Link to Article

The lives of two South African Boerboels were spared after the dogs committed several attacks in Jersey City because their owner agreed to move them out of Jersey City. But when the dogs were found in her home in January, she may have sealed their fate.

"I don't know if there is a solution other than their destruction," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said Friday of the large dogs belonging to Susan Kolb. "It might be, unfortunately, a case where the dogs will have to be destroyed."

After a series of attacks in 2009, Jersey City officials impounded the dogs under the state's Vicious Dog Law and they faced possible euthanization. Kolb went to trial to defend the dogs and as part of an agreement reached with the city on May 15, 2009, she promised to remove them from the jurisdiction.

On Jan. 17 this year, Jersey City police got a 911 call from Kolb's neighbor saying Kolb's husband was being attacked by two dogs but when police knocked on Kolb's door they were told there was no problem, officials said.

Jersey City Animal Control investigated and the municipal court issued a search and seizure warrant for the Kolb residence. On Jan. 28, police executed the warrant and seized the dogs, Jumba and Imani, and arrested Kolb on outstanding warrants for unpaid fines, officials said.

Kolb was then charged with contempt of court for violating the order of Municipal Court Judge Nestle Rodriguez to send the dogs away. Kolb, who had promised to send the dogs to California, faces up to 18 months behind bars if convicted in Superior Court.

A second municipal court trial would be necessary to determine if the dogs are "vicious" before they could be put down. Kolb's husband has apparently retained a lawyer to defend the dogs, official said.

"God forbid if one of these dogs should mall a child," DeFazio said. "We can't be in the position to allow that. We are not of a mind to say we will move the dogs to a rural area because we might be transferring the danger to someone else."

The dogs attacked and injured Jonathan L. Rodriguez, 24, of Brunswick Street, on Jan. 19, 2009, at Washington Street and Christopher Columbus Drive, police said.

James Joyce, 24, said he needed six stitches after being attacked by the dogs on Jan. 9, 2009 at Warren and Morris streets.

And on Sept. 21, 2008, at a park at Greene and Essex streets, police said the dogs were unleashed when they knocked down a woman carrying her 6-month-old granddaughter.

Kolb appeared in municipal court on Friday for a status hearing on the charges against her. The next hearing is set for May 6. Her attorney could not be reached for comment.

Quote:

Can someone please translate?

From NJ.com

An unopened box of carbon-monoxide detectors was found in the basement of the Baldwin Avenue apartment building where two residents have died of carbon-monoxide poisoning since last March, according to a city official.

Fire Director Armando Roman said the discovery added "salt to the injury" following the death of Rosaria Ferreras-Matos, 24, who was found dead at 466 Baldwin Ave. yesterday.

"Do you believe this? Unopened, never disseminated," Roman said. "Does that just turn your stomach?"

Ferreras-Matos had just moved into the apartment on Sunday. After her death, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office reopened the investigation of the death of Arthur Galloway, a resident of 446 Baldwin Ave. who died on March 12, 2010.

Originally deemed not suspicious, the medical examiner now believes Galloway's death also resulted from carbon-monoxide poisoning, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio. A third death of a resident of the building is also being investigated, DeFazio said.

According to Roman, Ferreras-Matos and Galloway lived in the same unit of 446 Baldwin Ave., a five-unit dwelling on the corner of Baldwin and Laidlaw avenues.

Late this afternoon, fire officials evacuated residents from the building so the officials could determine the source of the carbon monoxide.

Roman said he believes the source will be a poorly installed hot-water heater.

Quote:

No need to get snippy. The first person who died was an elderly woman with no indication of CO2 exposure. The second person who died had his cause of death connected to health problems he was suffering.

It was just revealed that the young woman indeed died of CO2 poisoning. The man who died in 2010 just had further medical testing done which indicated another case of CO2 poisoning. They are now looking in to the first woman's cause of death more deeply.

I stand corrected if that makes you feel vindicated.

There is absolutely no evidence presented that the other two deaths were deemed suspicious or unusual by the medical examiner. Creepy, yes. Coincidental, maybe. Convinced they are all somehow connected due to the negligence of the landlord or the city? Not yet...

Three more sets of remains have been located in the area...so very sad.