Could this be the same guy?
http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/ ... 22430338266090.xml&coll=1

We have been in second place behind the leader by 5000 points for several days now...


Quote:

If you knit and have a cat or a dog...







These aren't just lovely portraits of people posing with their pets, but look a little closely and you'll see that the owners are wearing sweaters and vests that resemble the fur of their dogs. And they should because they were literally made from them.

Below is a series of photographs (an ongoing project) by photographer Erwan Fichou of people posing with their beautiful dogs, sporting canine couture... actual sweaters and vests made from the hair (fur?) of their own pet dogs.

http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2 ... -portraits-of-people.html

Mail Order Custom Handspun Yarn from Your Very Important Pets!
http://www.vipfibers.com/about-vip-fibers.htm

I like them!

i too can send invites

email me: lwhateley@gmail.com

The Hunt: Life After Rent Control



ON HER OWN LaVerne Walker says becoming a homeowner means hitting a ?certain level of maturity.?

The New York Times
By JOYCE COHEN
Published: October 17, 2008

FOR several years, thoughts of buying a home nagged at LaVerne Walker. She had lived in the same place since she was 10: a spacious two-bedroom rent-controlled apartment in Midwood, Brooklyn, that she took over from her mother. Her rent was $700 a month.

A two-bedroom on Harrison Avenue in Jersey City had noisy neighbors.

She and her friends in an investment club talked incessantly about buying, but ?there was no action,? she said. ?None of us had money to get into the game.?

Her accountant urged her and her husband to buy a home for the tax deduction. ?I said: ?I live in rent control! What part of that don?t you understand?? We couldn?t rationalize paying more? just for some tax savings, she said.

But Ms. Walker, 40, who studied accounting at Marymount Manhattan College and is now the assistant director of financial aid at Weill Cornell Medical College, heard rumors that her building, on Ocean Avenue, might be sold or turn co-op. If it did so under an eviction plan, she could be forced to leave. ?You felt the ground loosening in front of you,? she said.

Last year, she and her husband visited open houses in Brooklyn, and all of the places seemed expensive. Then, last spring, after a divorce, she became more serious about buying a home.

?I wanted something permanent in my life,? she said. ?The melancholy part is that this is something I wanted to do with him.? Still, ?it was time to grow up, whatever that looks like. When I look at friends my age, lifestyle-wise, they have children in college already and have been divorced eons ago, maybe hitting their second marriage.?

Buying a home, she said, would ?represent a certain level of maturity. It allows you to put a check mark on the list of things you desire.?

She decided on a maximum budget of $250,000 for a two-bedroom with easy access to public transportation. In Brooklyn, ?everything was marketed as a luxury condominium,? she said, but she didn?t need that. ?I figured, let me get close to luxury without luxury prices.?

She was drawn to Newark, which seemed to be affordable and improving, and was interested in a foreclosed unit in the Society Hill town house complex. But when she saw an advertisement for a Jersey City apartment for under $100,000, she wondered what so little money would buy.

?At the time, I didn?t know Jersey City,? she said. ?All I knew was Newport Center Mall,? where a former boyfriend shopped for clothes to avoid New York?s sales tax. So last spring, she and a cousin, who lives in South Plainfield, N.J., met at the mall and headed to the bargain apartment, which was near Journal Square.

At first, she couldn?t understand what the agent was saying. He was ?talking about this old man, and said this old man does a lot of cleaning around the property,? Ms. Walker said. She finally figured it out: it was an investment property that came with an elderly tenant.

Later that day, they stopped at the Jersey City Heights office of Liberty Realty. An agent there, Maida Negron, was glad to show them places nearby.

Ms. Walker wasn?t interested in a duplex condo with a spiral staircase in a former school building on Central Avenue. At $255,000, it was too pricey and too small.

But she would have been willing to bid on a two-bedroom condo in a newly converted six-unit building on Graham Street. The listing price was $249,000 (later reduced to $230,000). The unit had pretty bathroom fixtures, an outdoor deck and a stackable washer and dryer.

Ms. Negron protested. It was too soon to make such a big decision. ?LaVerne was unclear what she liked,? she said. ?She knew nothing about Jersey. I said, ?Don?t be ridiculous ? there are so many other things I will show you that you will love.? ?

Besides, all the units in the Graham Street building were being sold by the developer, so it would be tough for Ms. Walker, who had served in the Navy, to get her Veterans Affairs loan approved. (Such a loan, which allows for 100 percent financing with no down payment, generally requires that 70 percent of units in a condominium be presold.)

The next weekend, Ms. Walker ? with three girlfriends in tow ? continued her hunt closer to Journal Square, where Ms. Negron knew she would get more for her money. When they arrived at a Harrison Avenue two-bedroom condo listed at $225,000, ?it was love,? Ms. Walker said, partly because of the two full bathrooms. ?The building was a little shoddy but you saw potential,? she said.


A duplex on Central Avenue in Jersey City Heights was cute but pricey.


Another unit on Harrison Avenue, with three bedrooms, was roomier.

Ms. Walker offered $220,000 but was outbid. Meanwhile, she had changed her mind about the building. On the last of her many visits, she saw bags of garbage in the hall. When a neighbor exited his apartment, she heard children screaming inside. ?We had been in this building at least four times, and it was quiet as a church,? Ms. Walker said. ?But now I got to see the building with the lights on.?

Initially, she was ambivalent about another Harrison Avenue condo building. She disliked the layout, with one of three bedrooms near the front door. It lacked a washer-dryer, too.

But the friends who looked at it with her loved it. One friend happened to know a couple who lived in the building, and they showed Ms. Walker their apartment. Another friend knew a contractor who came to see the place and raved about it. ?I needed to hear someone else?s opinion, someone who knew about building structure,? Ms. Walker said.

All signs pointed in the right direction. She told herself: ?O.K., chickie, you just need to make a move ? you don?t need to be married to the place, you don?t need to live there forever. Just do it, LaVerne, and take all the risks that come with it.?

For her apartment, of nearly 1,000 square feet ? slightly smaller than her rent-controlled apartment ? she paid the asking price of $230,000. The condo fee is around $390 a month; property taxes are $1,140 a year.

Ms. Walker, who moved in early last month, wasn?t prepared for the difficulty of the move. She assumed she could simply pack everything into large boxes. The first box was too heavy to move. Fortunately, she was able to trade her large boxes for smaller ones. Her brother and a crew of friends pitched in.

As a marathoner, she likes the forced exercise of the walk to the PATH train, even though she sometimes takes her condominium?s free rush-hour van to and from Journal Square. (The superintendent and his wife are the drivers.)

She and some friends have a company, Bodywealth in Motion (bodywealthinmotion.com), which runs wellness seminars and endurance programs. The groups meet in Prospect Park or Central Park, but ?now that I am next to beautiful Lincoln Park,? she said, ?we are hoping to start a walking club out here.?

Having finally made her move, she is thrilled. ?There is something about ownership,? she said. ?I get it now. It creates a sense of completeness in your life. The day I moved in, I sat here and I?m like, ?Wow ? this is yours. You did it.? ?

=================================



OK, here are still a few more -- nice to see the Village Voice really embrace Jersey City!

Ibby's Falafel
303 Grove St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
201-432-2400
I'm afraid this humble Middle Eastern caf? puts our own Mamoun's to shame, serving exceptionally fresh-tasting mezze, whipping up the lightest baba ghanoush on the planet, and twirling an amazing shawarma, which shatters into salty, smoky fragments as it's heaped over rice. A further specialty is the pastries, which you'll find arranged on top of the refrigerator case.

http://www.villagevoice.com/locations/ibbys-falafel-147403/

==================================



Sri Ganesh's Dosa House
809 Newark Ave.
Jersey City, NJ 07306
201-222-3883

While most southern Indian spots offer only a handful of dosas, at Sri Ganesh's?named after the handsome Hindu elephant god?the roster runs to 66. That means you can freak out and order pessaratu, its wrapper turned verdant green with herbs, or spring dosa, filled with saut?ed onions and peppers but enfolding zero potatoes. Another strong point is the porridges, including upma (cream of wheat studded with toasted cashews) and pongal (lentils and mung beans with pungent spices). The accompanying coconut and peanut chutneys are made from scratch, and the free sambar is all you can eat.

http://www.villagevoice.com/locations ... aneshs-dosa-house-152617/

=======================================



This is a repeat but they have a photo -- and they are sitting at our favorite table.

Dosa Hut
777 Newark Ave.
Jersey City, NJ 07306
201-420-6660

Not to be confused with establishments featuring various spellings of the same name, Jersey's Dosa Hut is a yellow-hued greasy spoon with cheap, excellent, and strictly vegetarian South Indian fare. The list of 30 different dosas makes for interesting reading, but the butter masala dosa is a can't-lose choice. Unusual dishes abound, including a quartered and deep-fried rendition of iddly dumplings, and a cold rice pudding called curd rice. Flavored with curry leaves, it's sour instead of sweet.

http://www.villagevoice.com/locations/dosa-hut-150850/

bring back the Whigs!

I am with BouncingSoul....neither candidates should become the next president...I wish we could start anew. Get rid of the dictatorship of the democrats and republicans...they're really the same when it comes down to it.

Helen is great as a sitter and also a daily walker.

Wait there is even more Jersey City restaurants on the Voice's Best of 2008 List:

Freshest fish in the City

Morgan Seafood Restaurant
2801 Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City NJ, 201-792-2400

It used to be that "Go to the Greeks" was the best advice for someone seeking the freshest, unfussiest seafood, and we can remember many splendid Astorian meals of grilled whole fish with a just a squeeze of lemon, a handful of fries, and a feta-planked salad. But let us turn now to the Egyptians of Alexandria, who have an even sparer fish cuisine, based on grilled whole fish and fried fillets, served elegantly with a sauce of herbed tahini. Morgan Seafood (named after the pirate Henry Morgan?) is the top spot, where your fish choice is often limited to porgy, sea bass, mullet, and whiting. 2801 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey, 201-792-2400

==========================

BTW - Hoboken only got one award this year and it was for "Fiore House of Quality" a Vietnamese Restaurant - and I think Nha Trang on Newark Avenue is better.

JC have come a long way since 2005, when the Voice called Jersey City the: "Best Faux Outer Borough"

JERSEY CITY
Jersey City NJ

Not far over the Hudson lies a fantasy-land where the subway only costs $1.75, sales tax is 3 percent, and a studio apartment in a decent neighborhood can be had for less than a grand. JERSEY CITY isn't a wasteland anymore. The ethnic diversity has Queens beat; even its far-flung Journal Square PATH station is only 20 minutes from downtown Manhattan; and it doesn't smell like toxic waste (that's Newark). You can also buy two homes with backyards and parking for the price of a co-op in the city. Don't be a snob; cross the river and, finally, live in a place where stretching your arms doesn't mean smacking two walls.

============================

Barack Obama Speaks Before 100,000 in St. Louis

...also we have the "Wildest Weenies"

Boulevard Drinks
48 Journal Square
Jersey City, New Jersey NY
201-656-1855

Jersey shouldn't be called the Garden State, it should be re-dubbed the Hot Dog State. From the ripped glory of a Rutt's Hut frank, to the buttermilk-sided wonder of a Hot Dog Johnny's dog, the state excels in wild weenies. Our own nearest outpost is Journal Square's ancient Boulevard Drinks. What a civilized name, calling up to the imagination, maybe, a Paris landmark! Boulevard's only solid offering is a frank festooned, according to the sign, with chili, onions, and cheese. You'll quickly discover, though, that both the chili and the onions have been cooked down into a single delicious substance.

http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/20 ... d/wildest-weenies-492962/

========================================

...and the "Least Horrible Franchise"

FATBURGER
286 Washington Street
Downtown Jersey City
201-332-2244

I hope you won't hold it against me, but I'm fond of FATBURGER, the California chain that manages to incorporate maximum grease and salt into everything. Most compelling are the gloppy third-of-a-pound burgers; thick, thick milk shakes made from actual ice cream; and the sweet brown onion rings.

==========================================

Oh and from last year - in case you missed it:

Casa Dante
737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
NY 07306
201-795-2750

Though we were tempted to treat the 13th-century poet to a truly hellish meal at one of Frank Bruni's favorite places to thank him (Dante, not Bruni) for mapping hell in The Divine Comedy, our better side won out, and so we decided to take him to his namesake restaurant, Casa Dante in Jersey City, where we'll regale him with Italian-American fare. The use of prosciutto in the superb linguine with filetto de pomadoro sauce may astonish him, since prosciutto is never used in sauces where he comes from.

Lots to check out:
http://www.villagevoice.com/bestOf/search?keywords=jersey+city

Does anyone have a landlord that has other apartments they might be renting out? My two roommates currently live downtown and we're looking for a 3 bedroom in the area. We're attempting to avoid the relator fees...

Thanks for your help! :)

Best Outer Borough You Can Still Afford
Downtown Jersey City

You can still afford it, but just barely. As we write, luxury condos are sprouting up like mushrooms (not the magical kind) in Downtown Jersey City, but in their shadows are rows of brownstones, skyline views, a massive state park, and some diverse and delish grub. Transportation to Lower Manhattan takes eight minutes and costs less than the subway. And even if rent prices are creeping up into Park Slope range, one thing Jersey City has that the New York City boroughs don’t is a decent supermarket like the ones you remember from back home in Bumblefuck. Join the frequent shopper club and, come Thanksgiving, you’ll be thanking us for that free 16-pound turkey in your freezer.

Click for Voice's Best of 2008

We also have a lot of restaurants on the list - Three on Newark Avenue!

http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2008/award/greek-690832
http://www.villagevoice.com/locations ... ippine-bread-house-701432
http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2008/award/up-with-upma-691312


==============================================

It’s Greek to Me
194 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey, 201-222-0844

For the meaty fare of the Greek mainland, check out It’s Greek to Me, a Jersey chain with an annoying name that offers killer zucchini fritters called kolokithokeftedes.

==============================================

Philippine Bread House
530 Newark Ave.
Jersey City, NJ
201-659-1753

If you love white bread, you’ll love the soft rolls called pan de sal at Philippine Bread House, where a steam table also presents savory stews and roasts, and every other baked good contains eye-searing purple yam.

==============================================

Dosa Hut
777 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey, 201-420-6660

Sure, we love the dosas on Newark Avenue in Jersey City—but we love the upma even more. You can get this gussied-up cream of wheat, studded with pistachios, black-mustard seeds, and mellow cardamom, at Dosa Hut. And it’s not just for breakfast anymore!

==============================================

Suez Canal
117 Tonnele Avenue,
Jersey City, NJ
201-333-5305

Jersey City’s Alexandrian fish places have become legendary. The best is Suez Canal, where the modest premises belie some of the freshest locally caught fish around, rubbed with whole-wheat flour and charcoal-grilled—peel and discard the skin to reveal the smoky flesh.

hello - does anyone have recommendations for a dog sitter in the jc area? i have an 8-year-old maltese, and i'm looking for someone who could keep her in their home for 10 days around thanksgiving.

thanks in advance

Quote:

Probably begging for spare change at the PATH station.

New York Times hosts online:
Expert Q&A: A Downturn for New York Real Estate?

October 17, 2008, 6:48 pm


Vicki Been, director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University, and Jonathan J. Miller, the president of Miller Samuel Inc., an appraisal company, will be answering reader?s questions on how history might be a guide to the current real estate market in New York City.

http://realestateqa.blogs.nytimes.com ... -new-york-real-estate/?hp

Appraising the Green Marketplace in New Jersey

New York Times
By Ken Belson
October 17, 2008



Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy joked about the financial crisis at a clean energy conference today.

The promise of green energy is undeniable. But its future is inexorably linked to investors and how much money they are willing to risk.

Given the recent market turmoil, question marks about that willingness abound.

At the New Jersey Clean Energy Conference this morning, one of the hosts, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, wondered whether it was such a good thing for his city to be known as the ?Gateway to Wall Street? these days.

Nervous laughs followed.

The next speaker, Gov. Jon S. Corzine, said he was determined to bring new ?green? jobs to New Jersey. But he acknowledged that with the price of a barrel of oil falling to $68, investing in green energy is a ?different economic equation.?

He urged the overflow audience to ?stay the course.?

At a panel discussion later, business leaders including Ralph Izzo, the chairman of PSEG, said that some marginal energy efficiency efforts ?may fall off,? but that core projects, like installing more efficient lighting systems, will continue unabated.

?Anyone who thinks commodity prices will continue their downward trend is as mistaken as those who thought there was no cap six months ago,? Mr. Izzo said.

Gregory H. Olsen, an angel investor who runs GHO Ventures, added that the current economic turmoil means ?you?ll find bargains.?

Bob Chiste, the chief executive of Comverge, which provides demand response technology (think: smart meters) for utilities and consumers, said his company had $100 million in cash and would not need to go back to the markets for a few years.

==========================

Huge Offshore Wind Farm Approved in New Jersey

New York Times
October 3, 2008
By Ken Belson


What wind turbines would look like at varying distances from the shore.

Regulators in New Jersey on Friday awarded rights to build a huge offshore wind farm in the southern part of the state to Garden State Offshore Energy, a joint venture that includes P.S.E.G. Renewable Generation, a subsidiary of P.S.E.G. Global, a sister company of the state?s largest utility.

The selection, which includes access of up to $19 million in state grants, is part of New Jersey?s Energy Master Plan, which calls for 20 percent of the state?s energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. It also comes on the heels of decisions by Delaware and Rhode Island to let energy companies install offshore wind farms.

Energy experts say that these approvals could prompt regulators in New York to support projects off the south shore of Long Island and New York City.

The proposal by Garden State Offshore Energy includes installing 96 turbines to produce as much as 346 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 125,000 homes a year. The turbines would be arranged in a rectangle about a half-mile long by one-third of a mile wide. The project, which would cost more than $1 billion, would not start producing electricity until 2013.

The turbines, though, would be between 16 and 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey?s Atlantic and Ocean counties, and thus in much deeper water than other proposed projects. Deepwater Wind, which will work with P.S.E.G to build the wind farm, said it can affordably build turbines in 100 feet of water with the same technology used to build oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and other locations.

Regulators in New Jersey on Friday awarded rights to build a huge offshore wind farm in the southern part of the state to Garden State Offshore Energy, a joint venture that includes P.S.E.G. Renewable Generation, a subsidiary of P.S.E.G. Global, a sister company of the state?s largest utility.

The selection, which includes access of up to $19 million in state grants, is part of New Jersey?s Energy Master Plan, which calls for 20 percent of the state?s energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. It also comes on the heels of decisions by Delaware and Rhode Island to let energy companies install offshore wind farms.

Energy experts say that these approvals could prompt regulators in New York to support projects off the south shore of Long Island and New York City.

The proposal by Garden State Offshore Energy includes installing 96 turbines to produce as much as 346 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about tens of thousands of houses. The turbines would be arranged in a rectangle about a half-mile long by one-third of a mile wide. The project, which would cost more than $1 billion, would not start producing electricity until 2013.

The turbines, though, would be between 16 and 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey?s Atlantic and Ocean counties, and thus in much deeper water than other proposed projects. Deepwater Wind, which will work with P.S.E.G to build the wind farm, said it can affordably build turbines in 100 feet of water with the same technology used to build oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and other locations.

Because the wind blows more reliably during the day farther off shore, the company hopes to get better prices for the power it produces. And by putting the turbines that far offshore, the company hopes to blunt opposition from environmentalists and residents who say that turbines diminish ocean views and damage wildlife.

?People don?t have to choose between clean energy and a clear view,? said Nelson Garcez, the vice president of renewable generation at P.S.E.G.

Mr. Garcez said the deepwater turbines would produce enough power to help the company break even in about seven years.

The next step is for Garden State Offshore Energy to seek permits from state and federal agencies to build offshore. The company will also have to get commitments from manufacturers to build the turbines, which would be assembled in New Jersey and could potentially create hundreds of new jobs.

The decision by New Jersey?s Board of Public Utilities comes just over a week after the Long Island Power Authority and Con Edison said that they would study whether it is economically feasible to build a wind farm about 10 miles off the south shore of Queens. In August, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said the city would solicit proposals from companies interested in building offshore wind farms and placing turbines atop buildings in the city.

The projects being approved in neighboring states could increase the chances that offshore wind farms could also win approval in New York, where a vast majority of wind turbines are on land and upstate.

?It?s like a rising tide lifting all boats,? said Peter Iwanowicz, the director of the New York State Climate Change Office in Albany. ?More projects in the Northeast helps with public acceptance that we need more clean electrons and helps us guard against rising fossil fuel prices and water levels on the coast.?

Quote:

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."---Robert Zimmerman

Upcoming events at New Jersey City University

Oldies Concert
NJCU Scholarship Benefit Concert on October 24 at 7:30 pm , Margaret Williams Theater
featuring
Billy Paul, Baby Washington, and The Teenagers
Among the hit singles for which these entertainers are known are ?Me and Mrs. Jones? and ?Ebony Women? by Billy Paul; ?That?s How Heartaches are Made? and ?Only Those in Love? by Baby Washington; and ?Why Do Fools Fall in Love? and ?I Promise to Remember? by The

Tickets: 25, 35, 50
http://www.njcu.edu/scholarship_concert/

Ono/Lennon Art Exhibit
Yoko Ono Imagine Peace, Featuring John and Yoko?s Year of Peace? Exhibition to Be Shown in NJCU Galleries October 27 Through December 8

Preview Reception: Oct. 26 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm
(The reception will start in the Lemmerman Gallery)

Film screenings (Visual Arts Building Auditorium)
The U.S. vs. John Lennon, November 6 at 5:00 p.m
Films by Yoko Ono, November 18, at 6:00 p.m.

Lecture (Hepburn Hall, Room 202)
Yoko Ono Imagining Peace, 1966?2008
Dr. Kevin Concannon
December 8 at noon

For further information call (201)200-3246 or visit http://www.njcu.edu/dept/art/galleries/ or www.imaginepeace.com.



Classic Film

Hallelujah!,? First Major Hollywood Film with All-Black Cast, to Be Screened at NJCU on October 29, 6:30pm at Margaret Williams Theater;
Critic Don Bogle to Introduce, Discuss Film;
Admission Is Free
For further information call (201)200-3426.

NJCU ( New Jersey City University) is located at 2039 Kennedy Boulevard

Quote:

I thought all the Ron Paul currency wingnuts had scurried off in hiding. Guess I was wrong.

Welcome back "BouncingSoul" or whatever other sock puppet you represent.

We can REALLY use the extra support. Please at least register by asking Maryann for an invite.

'Straight-shooter' GOP judge to decide Healy's fate
Saturday, October 18, 2008
By Agustin Torres - Political Insider

The saga of Jerramiah Healy's future may be coming to an end. A hearing on whether Healy can stay in office is expected in Monmouth County on Oct. 24. Somehow, it would have been more appropriate if the legal proceedings began a week later.

It is probably dawning on some of the participants in this legal fight that the petition filed in Monmouth County by former Assemblyman Louis Manzo is somewhat of a web that could catch more than one fly.

As the Insider mentioned in Wednesday's column, Monmouth Prosecutor Luis Valentin is faced with the prospect of arguing against himself. At one point during all these Healy appeals and countercharges, Valentin argued that in 2006, outside a Bradley Beach tavern, the Jersey City mayor acted as a political bully trying to intimidate police officers who arrested Healy for interfering and resisting arrest. The mayor was convicted of the charges in 2007.

THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW

Now Valentin is making the exact opposite arguments he made before the same judge the first time around. If he or Healy's team fails to immediately win on all the technical defense arguments, then they must face the merits of the case and the prosecutor will need a silver tongue to explain why he did not follow state attorney general guidelines on whether Healy should or should not exit.

OK, you know all this.

So, let's have some political fun and ask ourselves what happens if the "unthinkable" occurs and Monmouth Superior Court Assignment Judge Lawrence Lawton, a Republican who has been called by some "a straight-shooter," decides Healy no longer has a Grove Street office?

Besides creating panic in the Hudson County Democratic Organization, glee among aspiring Jersey City mayoral candidates, a dilemma for state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, and groans inside Gov. Jon Corzine's office, Healy's removal would raise the question of who would step in for him in the May election?

The guys and gals in the Jersey City Democratic Organization say "no one" because Healy will remain. True, but what if? I doubt they will recruit any of the existing candidates. How 'bout Manzo? Kidding.

SPECULATING ON A DARK HORSE

I say the replacement could be Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise - sorry Mariano Vega. He has the organization that runs Healy's campaign

DeGise would say he has no intention of running - until the prospects present themselves. It would be an interesting choice because it means he would face off against his old political pal, former Mayor Bret Schundler.

The county executive would not have the benefit of Healy's relationship with Cunningham. DeGise is oil and Cunningham is water. Not that he would need her support. It seems that since her backing of Healy, some candidates'polls claim to have both the senator and mayor dropping in popularity since the unofficial backing.

Should DeGise try to shore up Jersey City, the first thought would be that Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan, DeGise's chief of staff, would be the man to fill the county vacancy. All they would have to do is convince the Hudson mayors that this is a good thing. This another reason why a victory by Bayonne Police Director Mark Smith in next month's Peninsula City special mayoral election is important to the HCDO.

All this can be avoided if Judge Lawton would just go along with the program.

INSIDER LONG-DISTANCE CHATTER

- Recently, Jersey City Downtown Councilman Steven Fulop, ex-Marine and avid runner, was participating in a 5K weekend run at an annual Jersey City firefighters picnic when in the middle of the race he heard a voice describing him in very unflattering terms. It was obviously another runner on his heels who continued to barrage Fulop with descriptive reasons why the fellow runner hated him - and Manzo.

Looking over his shoulder, Fulop said he saw the face of Firefighter Jerramiah Healy Jr. The councilman said he was stunned by the amount of rancor he was subjected to and picked up his pace. There was suddenly a race within a race.

Fulop crossed the finish line before his antagonist and there was another runner or two between him and Healy Jr. The councilman admitted that he let the heat of the moment get to him and there may have been a blurting of "I beat you and I'm going to beat your old man!"

The councilman added: "Why did he lump me in with Manzo?"

http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/in ... 24311129303310.xml&coll=3

Quote:

Who cares? He's a sex offender, drug dealer, and murderer why would anyone care about this guy?! I'm glad they put his picture on the paper, most likely he will move out of here.

Virginia ave is in Bergen Lafayette not Greenville.

It seems like we made some small change on the BJs shopping cart issue. Maybe if enough of us complain to the 4 stores in that lot we can get something done.

Its a long shot but seems like it would be worth it.

Quote:

I wonder if that was because he was feeling remorse for all that he has done, or because he got caught? I can imagine some street cred will be lost from that being printed.

Quote:

It's not that big a secret... you think his gang is going to see him walking around the neighborhood after confessing to murder, kidnapping, drug-dealing and burglary and think he got off for his good looks? Everyone will know why he's not locked up. I just want to know who his lawyer is in case I ever need a deck of get-out-of-jail-free cards too.

Mark.

huh... dead man walking.

The best thing that could happen to this country is that Washington DC gets sucked into the ground as a result of a massive earthquake while Congress in session and McCain and Obama are there so that we can start from scratch and not vote either of these unqualified jackasses into office. Oh, and by the way, I want Ron Paul safe at home in Texas during this event so that he can help to really change the country for the better, unlike the fake changes that Obama and McCain are promising. We need to return to the ideas that this country was founded upon, small government, real representation, sound currency and accountability.