Quote:

Like my 401K, I'm afraid to know right now.

Red Deutsche

Again, you don't get it. These people dont pay property taxes in the areas i'm referring to. They are on the gov't cheese.

By the way your name fits you well.

Quote:

I hope that some day your neighborhood begins to deteriorate right under your feet and before your very eyes, through no fault of your own, as you're paying property taxes out the ying yang for city services you don't receive, while simultaneously seeing a substantial real estate market crash, so that you're in effect trapped where you are, and someone says the same exact thing to you.

Jerkoff.

"On the subway, do ever notice that people are always looking, but they only see what they want to? Things can be sitting right in front of them and still they can?t see it." That?s your guide Anthony speaking. He?ll show you how he lives in the tunnels underneath the New York City subway system?that is, if you?ll let him. Which is exactly what Youme decided she would do one afternoon when she and Anthony began a conversation in the subway about art. It turns out that both Youme and Anthony Horton are artists. While part of Youme?s art is listening long and hard to the stories of the people she meets, part of Anthony?s is making art out of what most people won?t even look at. Thus began a unique collaboration and conversation between these two artists over the next year, which culminated in Anthony?s biography, the graphic novel Pitch Black. With art and words from both of them, they map out Anthony?s world?a tough one from many perspectives, startling and undoing from others, but from Anthony?s point of view, a life lived as art. Author Youme Landowne will be at Imagine Atrium for THINKFriday, Friday, October 17 @ 7pm to talk about art, activism, and the making of Pitch Black. More info at http://www.imagineatrium.com

Quote:

Doesn't work...
you don't think those people will infiltrate your neighborhood?

I seriously think we should just pull out all police presence in these high crime areas and let these animals police themselves.

Alb

you sound like a very unstable person. shooting yourself by accident? something tells me you have never shot a gun in your life. Take a gun safety course it will ease your fears. Ironically, all my anti-gun friends have never even shot a gun.

Shooting people who tick you off on purpose? You shouldn't have a firearm. Come to think of it you shouldn't drive a car or keep sharp objects in your house. You're bound to hurt someone.

I think the obvious reality is that the JCPD has no influence over the people involved with this incident, and the gangs do.

If the JCPD folks want witnesses to come forward in cases such as this, then they have to show they have the intelligence and moxie to take on the gangs.

If the JCPD folks don't start taking on the gangs, then even people like me who are uncomfortable about the idea of owning a gun will go buy guns. Then we'll start shooting ourselves by accident and people who tick us off on purpose, along with getting an occasional perp through blind luck, and then things will really go to heck.

I remember when the school was under local (city hall) control. It became a political patronage machine. I support elections.
Yvonne

The first time I walked past the Garfield Avenue address, I had no idea what it was. I gathered it was a former industrial site, but it seemed unusual that an empty lot would have such a prominently displayed address, so I stopped and read the posted signs. I also took a photo for the heck of it. This was about the same time a security guard came out of the trailer and hurried to the gate while yelling angrily at me.

Explaining that I was within my rights standing on a public sidewalk, and was not trespassing wasn't good enough for her. "As far as I'm concerned you're trespassing!" It wasn't worth the frustration of arguing with a person in a irrational state so I took another photo and left.

Later I read about the demolished PPG facility and the site, capped with concrete, is still contaminated with "hexavalent" chromium. Based on what I read, it seems that PPG has not been proactive with remediation efforts which might partly explain the guard's defensive attitude.

The sign on the lower left reads:

GARFIELD AVENUE RENEWAL PROJECT
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION
IN PROGRESS AT THIS SITE

For further information contact
PPG Industries
Jon Holt, Community Relations Consultant
908-832-0557

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Community Relations
1-800-253-5647

Tank-Ass wrote:

Quote:

Hi all! Here are the details for the Brennan Courthouse Coffeehouse tomorrow night. It starts at 7:30 with the opening act (Greg Freeborg and me). The main act is Maria Sangiolo who I will be excited to hear for the first time. Come out for a relaxing night of folk music in the acoustic wonder that is the Brennan Courthouse! :) They serve light refreshments too.



Brennan Courthouse Coffeehouse
Friday October 17th
7:30 pm opening act starts

http://www.brennancoffeehouse.com/home.htm


Brennan Coffee House

Address: Justice William Brennan Court House
583 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ

Phone Number: 800-542-7894
Admission and Show Information:

Shows Start at 7:30pm

Open Mic concludes each concert. 5 minutes for each performer. Sign-up Sheet at the box office.

Prices vary for each performance.
Please call toll free number for prices.

Fresh brewed house blend coffee and home made desserts are available before and during the show. Performer CDs for sale during the intermissions and after the show. BCH logo tee shirts are also for sale.


DIRECTIONS*****************(from website)

1. DRIVING
New Jersey Turnpike to Hudson County Turnpike Extension ? Exits 14A, 14B, 14C

After paying the toll at 14C, continue on for about one mile and on your right you will exit at the ?Jersey City ? Christopher Columbus Drive? ramp

Proceed down the ramp to the traffic light straight ahead, and turn left. (NOTE FROM CHRISSY--you cannot turn left at this light any more--instead go straight through light at Montgomery, follow curse of road to the right (going around ferris High school. When you get to the light make a right on Brunswick. Go straight to light at Montgomery and turn right). You are now on M ontgomery Street . Go to the 3 rd traffic light, at the Baldwin Avenue intersection (on your left are The Beacon condos, formerly the Jersey City Medical Center ) and turn right

On Baldwin Avenue go to the 7 th traffic light, at the Newark Avenue intersection, and turn left. The Brennan Coffe House, located in the Justice William Brennan Court House 583 Newark Avenue , will be on your immediate left as you turn. Free parking for BCH is in the lot adjacent to the building.

2. FROM PATH TRAIN
Get off at Journal Square Station. Follow signs for bus platform entrance level through glass doors.

Turn right past newsstand and straight ahead to Summit Avenue, exit at glass doors.

At street level walk to Summit Avenue intersection and at traffic light cross over to the other side of the street and turn left.

Walk one block to Pavonia Avenue intersection and turn right and at traffic light cross over to the other side of Pavonia and turn right.

Half way down the block you will see a staircase on your left. Go up stairs, walk through parking lot.

The Brennan Coffee House is located in the courthouse adjacent to the parking lot.

Entrance to the Coffee House is from the front of the building at Newark Avenue.

Hi all! Here are the details for the Brennan Courthouse Coffeehouse tomorrow night. It starts at 7:30 with the opening act (Greg Freeborg and me). The main act is Maria Sangiolo who I will be excited to hear for the first time. Come out for a relaxing night of folk music in the acoustic wonder that is the Brennan Courthouse! :) They serve light refreshments too.



Brennan Courthouse Coffeehouse
Friday October 17th
7:30 pm opening act starts

http://www.brennancoffeehouse.com/home.htm


Brennan Coffee House

Address: Justice William Brennan Court House
583 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ

Phone Number: 800-542-7894
Admission and Show Information:

Shows Start at 7:30pm

Open Mic concludes each concert. 5 minutes for each performer. Sign-up Sheet at the box office.

Prices vary for each performance.
Please call toll free number for prices.

Fresh brewed house blend coffee and home made desserts are available before and during the show. Performer CDs for sale during the intermissions and after the show. BCH logo tee shirts are also for sale.


DIRECTIONS*****************(from website)

1. DRIVING
New Jersey Turnpike to Hudson County Turnpike Extension ? Exits 14A, 14B, 14C

After paying the toll at 14C, continue on for about one mile and on your right you will exit at the ?Jersey City ? Christopher Columbus Drive? ramp

Proceed down the ramp to the traffic light straight ahead, and turn left. (NOTE FROM CHRISSY--you cannot turn left at this light any more--instead go straight through light at Montgomery, follow curse of road to the right (going around ferris High school. When you get to the light make a right on Brunswick. Go straight to light at Montgomery and turn right). You are now on M ontgomery Street . Go to the 3 rd traffic light, at the Baldwin Avenue intersection (on your left are The Beacon condos, formerly the Jersey City Medical Center ) and turn right

On Baldwin Avenue go to the 7 th traffic light, at the Newark Avenue intersection, and turn left. The Brennan Coffe House, located in the Justice William Brennan Court House 583 Newark Avenue , will be on your immediate left as you turn. Free parking for BCH is in the lot adjacent to the building.

2. FROM PATH TRAIN
Get off at Journal Square Station. Follow signs for bus platform entrance level through glass doors.

Turn right past newsstand and straight ahead to Summit Avenue, exit at glass doors.

At street level walk to Summit Avenue intersection and at traffic light cross over to the other side of the street and turn left.

Walk one block to Pavonia Avenue intersection and turn right and at traffic light cross over to the other side of Pavonia and turn right.

Half way down the block you will see a staircase on your left. Go up stairs, walk through parking lot.

The Brennan Coffee House is located in the courthouse adjacent to the parking lot.

Entrance to the Coffee House is from the front of the building at Newark Avenue.

Quote:

Agreed.

Where's Jimmy B when you need him??

This ordinance is good in principle, but the noise levels don't seem realistic.

Regarding Nico's (now York St. Tavern), there was an issue with noise but the larger issue there was the gangs of people (mostly 20-something a-holes not from the area) that would make noise, p!ss in the street and curse like MFers at 2AM after the bar closed. Not sure if York St. Tavern has the same issues, but I do know their food sucks and by the looks of things it's still a dive, just a different name.

First of - I had to register to share my experience.

I can't believe this towing situation has been on going for so long!

I was "rapped" last night. Any time I've shopped at Newport Mall I had always used their parking deck.
And for no freaking reason, I guess I thought it was harmless, I parked in one of the parking spaces adjacent to the Pep Boys. Forty minutes later, my car was gone!!
Yes - my fault for not reading the signs, i was on the phone from the time i pulled in and walked to the mall.
So I received the bad news from some bum in a black GMC Jimmy mid-size SUV and pretended not to know what had happened and came off as if he was doing me a favor. He handed me a business card (E-Z Towing and Recovery) so I called up and the guy on the phone explained the fees, which are RIDICULOUS!! as some posters have mentioned before. I would had not been so upset if the charge was $75 - $80. But to charge $150+ to pick it up at their shop and paying with credit card and $120 if they drop it off and it has to be CASH!?!?!

So I asked the guy on the phone to drop off the car and he asked me to wait by the Bed Bath store. Of course I had to go to the ATM located inside Shoprite. I walked up to the tow truck and I was polite. The driver just asked for the money or he will not put the car down. So I tried to bargain with him and of course he wasn't hearing it.
I explained to him that I really couldn't afford to pay $120 because I would had to tap into my daughter's dental bill for a tooth that she needs to take care this week. No sympathy from the driver. He just said, well I have 5 kids and I have two jobs (well good for him!!). After 15 minutes of going back and forth, I pulled out $80 from my daughter's savings account and I happened to have $35 on me. He wouldn't release my car because of $5 so we were there for another 5 - 8 minutes arguing about $5 dollars!!!!

I explained to the guy that if he will not take the $115 then I would pay with a credit card if he would just call his dispatcher and take my info over the phone. His answer was NO we do not take payments over the phone. Ok, fine..I then asked if they could just bill me and I would give them a copy of my drivers license. Answer to that was of course, NO - we do not bill. Its not like i was not trying to pay - freaking scammers!! I finally called my gf and asked if she had $5 dollars on her (she was nearby). The driver finally released the car and drove away with the $115.

I was sooo upset! My fault I know. It just pisses me off because after 10+ of shopping at the Mall and parking at the deck, last night for whatever stupid reason I thought it would be easier if i parked near the Pep Boys and walk accross the street and meet my gf instead of picking her up at the bus stop like i normally do!!!!! uughh!!!

Ok - thanks for reading

In most communities, a person who sees a murder and helps the police put the killer behind bars is called a witness. But in many inner-city neighborhoods in this country that person is called a "snitch."

"Stop snitchin'" is a catchy hip-hop slogan that embodies and encourages this attitude. You can find it on everything from rap music videos to clothing. "Stop snitchin'" once meant "don?t tell on others if you?re caught committing a crime."

But as CNN's Anderson Cooper reports for 60 Minutes, it has come to mean something much more dangerous: "don?t cooperate with the police ? no matter who you are."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/0 ... minutes/main2704565.shtml

Rayco saunders looks like the model citizen of greenville.
Greenville Chick you probably know him? He is a real stand up guy and is just misunderstood by rascist white america.

From a news article in another post today, perfect example of how the community is failing itself:

"Police officers on patrol near the Fulton Avenue playground heard two shots at 10:39 p.m. and saw muzzle flashes coming from the park's entrance, reports said.
Advertisement

They found a 25-year-old man on the ground on the northwest corner of Fulton Avenue and King Drive, bleeding from the left side of his torso, police said.

The man was uncooperative and police were unable to learn from a crowd that had gathered direction the shooter had fled or a description, reports said."

uncooperative....

http://www.thuglaws.com/hip-hop-and-rappers-say-don-t-snitch.html

Stop Snitching


Rayco Saunders wears Stop Snitching T-Shirt.

Rap songs about Snitches: Don't Snitch by Mac Dre, Snitches by Master P and Snoop Dogg and Snitch by Lil Wayne. There are many others...

The stop snitching campaign is in high gear as rappers nationwide, zero in on the quote, ?rats.? The campaign literally started when stop snitching t-shirts started popping up in the hood. The t-shirt sales took off like wildfire and the rest is history.

Pictured on the left wearing a STOP SNITCHING shirt, Rayco Saunders, an ex-drug dealer turned pro boxer, is quoted as saying he wears the shirt, ?to protest paid police informants.?

That being said, our street correspondents went to the hood to find out from the homies, how they define a snitch. Here's what they said...

Street Slang Definition of a Snitch
1. Any person who tells police of another's illegal activity.

2. Someone who calls the police and tries to say they didn't.Stop Snitching, we ain't playin when we say don't snitch b-e-e-y-a-t-c-h!

3. A jail informant.

4. A snitch is the scum of the earth and worse than roaches and must be exterminated. A snitch tells other people's business, bringing them under investigation, getting them arrested, convicted, evicted or killed.

5. A police informant, (paid and unpaid) who gives information to 5-0 in exchange for reduced sentences, dropped charges and witness protection.

6. A person who steals other rappers lyrics and beats

7. A scared person who informs police of threats made to them

8. A person who witnesses a crime and informs the police of what they saw, who they saw and who did what.

http://www.thuglaws.com/hip-hop-and-rappers-say-don-t-snitch.html

Quote:

You and everyone else can thank your local politicians and limp wristed legislatures for for creating this enviroment.

CK

I live in lafayette, a couple blocks from LSP light rail stop, but it's a different world than living on ocean or mlk. And not because of a racial difference, but many socio economic ones. My neighborhood is very mixed ethnically but what is different is that many places are owner occupied, there is a good mix of old-timers and new residents, and most properties (except for ones that are vacant where owners are waiting til the market improves to unload, or the ones owned by the city or developers who just keep moving rubble from one side to the other) are taken care of, which indicates a sense of pride. Also where i live is still in the east district police dept, where the other places on that hot zone list experiencing these problems are not.
Clearly this problem is layered, but it seems to me that if every night something bad happens on a certain corner, than why isn't there a "hot spot" declared and undercovers there every night. If you arrest enough people at each of these hotspots, they will move their activities elsewhere, and i know the idea is to stop the problem all together, but let's start with where it's happening now. Also, it is sick when you hear that people gathered around the scene and the victim refuse to say anything about what happened. Cooperation between residents and the police is necessary to address crime, no matter how each feels about the other. Also, from reading a lot of the reports of these crimes, the victims and perps of the crimes often don't live where the act happened. Which is also infuriating. Because the chief is probably right about the fact that many of the people who live in these neighborhoods are hard working citizens who just want to be safe.
Whether it's a war zone or not is irrelevant, what matters is that people can't feel safe coming home from a hard day's work, or walking their kids to school. And with the amount of money the city wastes and the taxes we pay, that should not be the case.

Quote:

When people here complain about the police not being there to stop a mugging downtown, OK, that might not be all that fair.

But, in the case of Bergen-Lafayette, we're talking about open-air supermarkets that seem to be about as obvious and as well-established as the Jersey Avenue C Town.

It seems as if the freezer inspectors go after the C Town owners way more often than the police go after the open air supermarket managers.

If Jersey City were a giant, completely out of control city, maybe that would explain why the city doesn't even bother to harass the open-air drug supermarkets in a noticeable way. But Jersey City isn't really that out of control. Maybe there are, say, a few dozen substantial, persistent open-air drug supermarkets.

If the police would try to make arrests at two or three open-air drug supermarkets every evening, OK, sure, dozens of other supermarkets would still be operating, and many of the dealers would get off on technicalities. But maybe some of the dealers would spend some time in prison, and maybe some dealers would decide to go operate somewhere else.

"The man was uncooperative and police were unable to learn from a crowd that had gathered direction the shooter had fled or a description, reports said."

Here is the problem folks. If the very people the police are trying to protect wont help them find the criminals why should the cops even get out of their patrol cars.

Gotta love the welfare state we created.

N.J. starts program to help teens at risk from dropping out

Oct. 16, 2008
By Angela Delia Santa
Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. - Though New Jersey's high school dropout rate of 17 percent is among the lowest in the nation, state officials yesterday launched a yearlong effort to reduce it even further.

The New Jersey High School Graduation Campaign aims to promote support for students, families and teachers; cultivate school leaders; and establish high expectations.

"It's important that we understand that when children, young people, stay in school, they stay out of trouble," Gov. Corzine said at a news conference at Rutgers University-Newark. "Look at our prison population: 75 percent of those in prison are high school dropouts."

Corzine, Attorney General Anne Milligram, Education Commissioner Lucille Day and other New Jersey officials were joined by Alma Powell, chairwoman of a national initiative to raise awareness about high school dropouts. Powell, wife of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, said Camden, Newark and Jersey City were among the 50 cities that America's Promise Alliance would target.

At Camden High School, for instance, the dropout rate was about one in four in the 2006-07 school year.

Powell said that a student somewhere in the country drops out every 26 seconds, on average, and that the rate in some communities had reached crisis proportions.

About 19,000 New Jersey students who were due to graduate in 2007 failed to do so, according to state officials.

The high school dropout rate is 30 percent among all U.S. students, 42 percent among Hispanic students, and 47 percent among black students.

Corzine noted the income disparity caused by a limited education: High school dropouts earn an average of about $23,000 a year, compared with about $31,000 for high school graduates and $50,000 for college graduates.

"There's a huge, huge impact on a person's life by being able to stay in school, to get the skills to be able to operate in the 21st century," he said. "I hope that all of this will come together in a way that will make a difference in young people's lives going forward."

New rules for clubs

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City City Council has introduced an ordinance creating an entertainment license that differentiates between restaurants and nightclubs and sets limits on how loud they can be.

The stated purpose of the ordinance, which was introduced and then tabled at the council's Sept. 24 meeting, is to help city officials clamp down on "occurrence detrimental to the public's safety," including "riots, disorderly groups, public consumption of alcohol and urination."

The new proposal limits restaurants to a decibel level of 55 decibels from noon to 10 p.m. and then 45 decibels from 10 p.m. until closing. Nightclubs would be restricted to 65 decibels from noon to 10 p.m. and 50 decibels from 10 p.m. to closing.

Sound measurements could be taken either inside or outside the establishment depending on the nature of the complaint, officials said. Special permits would still be granted for outdoor entertainment, city officials said.

The decibel levels could change before the ordinance is adopted, said Commerce Division Director Paul Barna.

Healy's bid to nix school vote rebuffed

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy confirmed yesterday he lobbied Jersey City school board members last week to block a November ballot question that asks voters if they want an elected or mayoral-appointed school board.

Healy is promoting what he calls a "hybrid" school board for the Jersey City school district, which returned to local control this year.

According to a state bill being drafted at his behest, the hybrid board would consist of three members elected by the public, three members appointed by the mayor, and three college officials picked by the state Department Commissioner of Education.

But this choice isn't on the November ballot since it technically doesn't exist as a legal option. Healy said he expects the bill to pass next year.

As part of a transition plan back to local control, voters will be given two choices next month - elected or appointed board.

"It is a meaningless exercise. We already have an elected board," Healy said, who is convinced voters will opt for an elected board. "It is untenable to have the Board of Ed making up a budget when it's the mayor and City Council that has to send out the tax bills."

Several school members said they had no intention of trying to yank the ballot question.

"As part of the transition we were instructed (by state officials) that the electorate had to decide if they wanted an elected board or an appointed board, and the (school) board did that, we unanimously did that," said board member Peter Donnelly. "I'm for the elected board."

Former mayor and current school board member Gerald McCann, who also wants to keep an elected board, quipped that Healy should trust voters since they elected him mayor.

Newport still should boil

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By TOM SHORTELL
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Repair crews restored normal water pressure to the Newport section of Jersey City early yesterday morning, but officials are still telling residents and businesses to continue boiling their tap water.

Construction workers replaced a 20-foot section of a 30-inch pipe that burst Tuesday at 4:17 a.m. United Water was able to return normal water pressure to the area by 1:30 a.m. yesterday morning, said United Water spokeswoman Sonja Clark.

The cause of the break, which disrupted service to 30,000 residents and closed stores and restaurants Tuesday, remains unknown, she said.

Residents are still advised to purify all tap water by boiling it for one minute.

The boil advisory will be in effect until Department of Environmental Protection tests show the water is safe to drink, Clark said. That could take another day, Clark said.

'BOLD' NEW SQUARE

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy yesterday unveiled an ambitious "vision" for the Journal Square - a plan that one city official calls a Marshall Plan for the long-neglected center of the city.

Developed by planner Anton C. Nelessen and architect Dean Marchetto - with some input from residents and major property owners - the plan covers 244 acres, the heart of which is the transit hub at the Journal Square Transportation Center.

Presented to a crowd of movers and shakers at the Hudson County Community College's Culinary Arts Center, the plan is intended to be more pedestrian-friendly, with more walkable, has more open space and fewer cars. Even residential blocks in the yesterday's PowerPoint presentation are given islands of greenery.

"It's bold, it is visionary," Healy said about the plan. "And it is not only going to be a great thing for our city, our county, in our state. I believe it is going to be a model for the country to follow."

The plan calls for between 10,000 and 15,000 new housing units, nine acres of parks, parking lot "interceptors" at the edges of the district, and light rail connecting Journal Square to the Downtown waterfront.

Distinguishing between pure "vision" and portions of the plan that are backed by money, a timetable and a builder behind it was tricky yesterday since the Nelessen's PowerPoint presentation included both.

Clearly the most concrete element of the plan is a two-tower, mixed development slated for the old Hotel on the Square block. Both Healy and Lowell Harwood, one the developers, said they expect to break ground "within six months."

This $400 million project includes 1,600 residential units and 70,000 square feet of retail in two towers, one 68 stories, the other 50. On the other hand, the PowerPoint show included a glittering new Port Authority of New York and New Jersey building on the Square and a new PATH entrance with sunlight beaming through from a reflecting pool at street level.

Asked if the agency has agreed to these improvements, Port Authority Deputy Director Susan Bass Levin, who attended yesterday's presentation, said, "No, we haven't."

"That was the first time anybody saw it, it was part of the visioning process," Bass Levin added. "What we are doing now is a $3.3 billion PATH modernization system. . What you're seeing here is a very, very first stage and it will take a while for this get to reality, but this is how you have to start."

Healy said the plan could take five, 10, even 15 years to complete and he couldn't yesterday put a price tag on how much it would cost the public.

The "vision" study, which gets a public hearing on Oct. 23, has so far cost $400,000. "Smart growth" grants from the Department of Community Affairs covered $150,000 and Urban Enterprise Zone funds $250,000, city officials said.