"Some break-ins"?

How many? Which buildings? Multi-unit building with multiple hits or several different buildings? About the same time of hours apart? Break-in through windows? doors? People home at the time?

Not trying to be a hard-ass, but looking for more info.

FYI.....Possibly some the the Embankment folks can chime in and let us know what we can do to help push this bill ahead.

New bill that will require railroad company to negotiate in good faith with certain entities for sale of railroad right of way proposed for abandonment.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A3500/3120_I1.HTM

ASSEMBLY, No. 3120

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

213th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman L. HARVEY SMITH

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblyman JOHN S. WISNIEWSKI

District 19 (Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

Requires railroad company to negotiate in good faith with certain entities for sale of railroad right of way proposed for abandonment.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Act concerning railroad rights of way and amending P.L.1967, c.282.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 1 of P.L.1967, c.282 (C.48:12-125.1) is amended to read as follows:

a. In order to permit the State and its political subdivisions to receive notice of, and be afforded an opportunity to acquire, by purchase or condemnation, railroad rights of way proposed to be abandoned, any railroad company which makes application to the [Interstate Commerce Commission] Surface Transportation Board for authority to abandon any part of its right of way on which passenger or freight services are operated, or to abandon, sell, or lease any of its right of way over which services have previously been abandoned and title to such right of way currently remains with the railroad shall, within 10 days of making such application, serve notice thereof upon the State and upon each county and municipality in which any part of the right of way proposed for abandonment is located. No sale or conveyance of any part of such right of way shall thereafter be made to any person other than the State, [a] or such county or municipality, for a period of 90 days from the date of approval by the [Interstate Commerce Commission] Surface Transportation Board of the application for abandonment or from the date of service of the notice in this section required, whichever occurs later, unless prior thereto each governmental agency entitled to such notice shall have filed with the railroad company written disclaimer of interest in acquiring all or any part of said right of way.

b. During the period of 90 days in which a railroad company is prohibited from selling or conveying any part of a right of way pursuant to subsection a. of this section, such railroad company shall negotiate in good faith for the sale or conveyance of the right of way with the State, or with any municipality or county in which the right of way proposed for abandonment is located and which expresses interest in acquiring such right of way.

c. Any sale or conveyance of a right of way made after the expiration of the foregoing 90-day period to any person other than the State or a county or municipality in which any part of the right of way proposed for abandonment is located shall be subject to the right of first refusal by any of the foregoing governmental entities which shall have made an offer to purchase such right of way during the 90-day period and which offer was refused by the
railroad company. Upon exercising this right of first refusal, the governmental entity shall purchase the right of way for the same amount agreed upon between the railroad company the person to whom the company attempted to sell or convey such right of way.

d. Any sale or conveyance made in violation of [this act] P.L.1967, c.282 (C.48:12-125.1 et seq.) shall be void.

As used in this act "right of way" means the roadbed of a line of railroad, not exceeding 100 feet in width, as measured horizontally at the elevation of the base of the rail, including the full embankment or excavated area, with slopes, slope ditches, retaining walls, or foundations necessary to provide a width not to exceed 100 feet at the base of rail, but not including tracks, appurtenances, ballast nor any structures or buildings erected thereon.

(cf: P.L.1967, c.282, s.1)

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT:
Current law prohibits the sale or conveyance of any part of a railroad right of way proposed for abandonment to any person, other than the State or a county or a municipality in which the right of way is located, for a period of 90 days from the date the Surface Transportation Board approves such abandonment, or from the date upon which the company serves notice of its intent to abandon, whichever occurs later. This bill would strengthen the existing statute by requiring the railroad company to negotiate in good faith with the State or any such county or municipality that desires to acquire the right of way proposed for abandonment. The bill also provides any of the foregoing governmental entities with the right of first refusal of any sale made to any other person after the end of the 90-day period, provided that such governmental entity made an offer to purchase the right of way prior to the expiration of the 90-day period. Upon exercising the right of first refusal, the governmental entity would be required to purchase the right of way for an amount equal to that which is agreed upon between the railroad company and the person to whom the company attempted to sell the right of way.

There were some break-ins on Wayne Street last night between Jersey & Barrow. Please keep your eyes peeled and lock your windows!

The New Jersey Assembly is back in session and this is a bill that was introduced on September 15th 2008

I spoke with one of the bill sponsors who stated this has been in the works for some time. The bill is now being sent to the Health Committee for further review.

ASSEMBLY, No. 3203

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

213th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman JOAN M. QUIGLEY

District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)

Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER

District 29 (Essex and Union)

Assemblyman L. HARVEY SMITH

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

Establishes procedures to prevent and eradicate bedbug infestations in certain residential property.


CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Act concerning bedbug infestations in residential dwellings and supplementing and amending Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Populations of the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, have increased by 500 percent in the past few years.

b. A bedbug infestation is a uniquely hard to exterminate threat to the health and habitability of a dwelling because tiny adult bedbugs are able to hide deep in mattresses and walls, and their food source is the occupants of a dwelling.

c. Bedbugs leave signs of their presence in bedding and in a dwelling that are visible to the naked eye, making education of a dwelling occupant a critical aspect of prevention.

d. Bedbugs feed on human blood, and present a public health risk.

e. Bedbugs travel through the ventilation systems in multi-unit establishments, causing exponential infestations.

f. The owner of a multiple dwelling is in the best position to coordinate the extermination bedbug infestations in that multiple dwelling.

g. The common bedbug is a public nuisance and it is a matter of public welfare to protect New Jersey citizens' health from this pest.

2. (New section) For purposes of this act:

"Bedbug" means an insect of the species "Cimex lectularius," commonly referred to as a bedbug.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.

"Department" means the Department of Health and Senior Services.

"Dwelling" or "multiple dwelling" means a multiple dwelling as defined in section 3 of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-3).

"Eradicate" means the process required to eliminate an infestation of bedbugs by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping, or by any other recognized and lawful pest-elimination methods, including repeated applications of any treatment.

"Infestation" means the presence of bedbugs in numbers large enough to be noticeable, harmful, or threatening to the occupants of a dwelling unit.

"Local board" or "local board of health" means the board of health of any municipality or the boards, bodies or officers in such municipality lawfully exercising any of the powers of a local board of health under the laws governing such municipality.

"Local health officer" means any duly appointed health officer employed by the local board of health as described in R.S.26:3-19.

"Owner" means the owner as defined in section 3 of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-3).

3. (New section) a. The department, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs, shall, as soon as practicable and annually thereafter, prepare a pamphlet that describes bedbugs and explains how bedbug infestations spread. This pamphlet may contain any information that the commissioner deems necessary and may be revised by the department whenever new information concerning bedbugs becomes available. The pamphlet shall contain the following information:

(1) Measures that may be taken to prevent and control bedbug infestations in a residential setting, including professional extermination, cleaning the dwelling space and mattresses, and laundering bedclothes, and clothing;

(2) Specific facts about the bedbug, including its appearance and breeding habits; and

(3) The State's guidelines and regulations for disinfecting, labeling, and reselling mattresses.

b. The department shall make the pamphlet available at no cost to the public, in a form suitable for distributing pursuant to the provisions of this act. The department shall make the pamphlet available in both the English and Spanish languages. The department shall post the pamphlet on the department's Internet website, in an easily printable format. The pamphlet shall serve as an informational document only, and nothing therein shall be construed as binding on or affecting a judicial determination related to this act. The pamphlet shall not be deemed to be medical advice.

c. Within 30 days after the department has made the pamphlet available to the public, every owner of a multiple dwelling shall provide each occupied dwelling unit in the multiple dwelling with a copy of the pamphlet, and thereafter every owner of a multiple dwelling shall provide a copy of the current pamphlet to each new tenant at or prior to the time the tenant assumes occupancy of the dwelling. In addition, every owner of a multiple dwelling shall keep a copy of the current pamphlet conspicuously posted in one or more common areas and in a manager's office, so that the pamphlet is prominent and accessible to the occupants of each dwelling unit. If there is no common area in the dwelling, the pamphlet shall be posted in a conspicuous location in the premises, including, but not limited to the walls of the front vestibule or any foyer or hallway near the main entrance of the dwelling.

4. (New section) a. Every owner of a multiple dwelling shall be responsible, at his own expense, for maintaining the multiple dwelling free of an infestation of bedbugs.

b. Upon notice, either oral or written, from a tenant, or from the local board pursuant to R.S.26:3-49, of an infestation of bedbugs in any dwelling unit, an owner shall immediately, at his own expense,

(1) eradicate the infestation of bedbugs in the dwelling unit;

(2) ascertain whether other dwelling units or common areas are infested with bedbugs; and

(3) eradicate any remaining infestation in other dwelling units or common areas.

c. When an infestation of bedbugs is found to exist in two or more dwelling units, or in a common area, the owner of the multiple dwelling shall provide notice that there is a risk of an infestation of multiple units to each occupant of the multiple dwelling by causing written notice to be delivered to each dwelling unit in the multiple dwelling.

5. (New section) a. The tenant may notify the local board and the owner of a multiple dwelling of any failure of the multiple dwelling to be kept in a condition free of an infestation of bedbugs.

b. If, following notice, either oral or written, from a tenant, or from the local board pursuant to R.S.26:3-49, the owner of a multiple dwelling does not eradicate an infestation of bedbugs pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the local health officer shall act as an agent for the owner of a multiple dwelling to engage a qualified insect exterminator or insect management professional at a usual and customary price in the area to eradicate the infestation of bedbugs.

c. Any exterminator or insect management professional who provides services to eradicate an infestation in accordance with subsection a. of this section may bill the owner of a multiple dwelling directly. The local board may adopt an ordinance, similar to an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1962, c.66 (C.40:48-2.12f), providing that the municipality shall pay the costs of eradication of an infestation of bedbugs, and that the costs shall be charged against the multiple dwelling premises, and shall be a lien against the premises. The owner of the multiple dwelling shall reimburse the local health officer or local board for the actual costs incurred for any eradication of an infestation of bedbugs.

6. (New section) a. Any owner of a multiple dwelling whose negligence or failure to act results in action by the local health officer pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $300 for each affected dwelling unit and not more than $1000 for each affected common area in the multiple dwelling. Such penalty shall be recoverable by and in the name of the local board of health.

b. The local board or local health officer may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce a penalty imposed pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The court is empowered to issue any appropriate injunctive orders, and to authorize immediate collection of reimbursable costs due the local board.

7. (New section) The commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

8. R.S.26:3-46 is amended to read as follows:

26:3-46. The local board, within its jurisdiction, shall examine into and prohibit any nuisance, offensive matter, foul or noxious odors, gases or vapors, water in which mosquito larvae breed, and all causes of ill health or disease, including bedbugs, which may be known to the board or brought to its attention, which, in its opinion, are injurious to the health of the inhabitants therein, and shall cause the same to be removed and abated at the expense of the owner.

(cf: R.S.26:3-46)

9. R.S.26:3-49 is amended to read as follows:

26:3-49. Whenever any nuisance, noxious gases or vapors, water in which mosquito larvae breed, or cause of ill health or disease is found on private property, the local board shall notify the owner to remove and abate the same, at his own expense, within such time as the board may specify. A duplicate of the notice shall be left with one or more of the tenants or occupants. Whenever any infestation of bedbugs is found in a multiple dwelling, the local board shall notify the owner to eradicate the infestation, at his own expense, immediately.

If the owner resides out of the state or cannot be so notified speedily, a notice left at the house or premises with the tenant or occupant, or posted on the premises, shall suffice.

In the event that an owner does not eradicate an infestation of bedbugs immediately following notice pursuant to this section, the local board of health is authorized to act as an a agent for the landlord, pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ), for purposes of eradicating the infestation.

(cf: R.S.26:3-49)

10. R.S.26:3-54 is amended to read as follows:

26:3-54. The local board may recover, by a civil action, the expenses incurred in such removal and abatement from any person who shall have caused or allowed such nuisance, source of foulness, water in which mosquito larvae breed, or cause of sickness, hazardous to the public health to exist, or from any owner, tenant, or occupant of premises who, after notice as herein provided, shall fail to remove and abate the same within the time specified in the notice. The local board may recover, by a civil action, the expenses incurred in eradication of an infestation of bedbugs, pursuant to section 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ), from the owner of a multiple dwelling who, after notice, failed to eradicate the infestation of bedbugs.

(cf: P.L.1953, c.26, s.14)

11. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill makes landlords entirely responsible for maintaining a safe and clean living environment free of an infestation of bedbugs. This legislation provides that property owners are responsible for maintaining multiple dwellings free of bedbug infestations, and must remove bedbugs at their own expense when they become aware of an infestation in a multiple dwelling. The legislation imposes a financial penalty upon a landlord who does not take immediate action upon notice that bedbugs have infested a property.

If enacted, this legislation would require a local board of health to act on the landlord's behalf to exterminate bedbugs when a landlord does not do so. The bill has no financial impact on taxpayers because the property owner is required to reimburse the board when it acts on the owner's behalf.

The bill also requires annual inspections of multiple dwellings for bedbug infestations.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A3500/3203_I1.HTM

Quote:

Wait a second. This guy is a teacher? It's no wonder kids are like they are, however that is.

*speechless*

The big question is when, not if, to buy.

The pain for the sellers has not even started yet.

I'd wait until the prices drop by 50% from the peak.

See the council pass the Pay to Play ordinance on SpeakNJ
Monday 10:30 PM, Tuesday 9:00 PM. The show will play for several weeks on Channel 51
Yvonne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GagNQSp2Kn8

I also noticed when I walked through Hamilton Park on Tuesday night that there were about 4 or 5 people sleeping on benches. SAD.

Where then, in what area do you suggest I live? All of the issues that concern my general area and that directly impact me revolve around Bergen/Lafayette. The community groups in this area that I would be a member of are here for the betterment of Bergen/Lafayette.

Was it really necessary to devote 50% of this article to telling us about the current state of the economy and the real estate market? Like we didn't know? Like we just landed here from outer space? ******************************************************************************** "Tony Deluco is a Jersey City developer and real estate manager who has been in real estate for over 20 years. He said people facing foreclosure can cope with the current mortgage crisis by being aware of the procedure known as a "short sale." That's where the homeowner sells their property for less than the outstanding balance of the mortgage. All of the proceeds go to the lender to pay off a majority of the debt and the lender forgives the rest. However, the lender would have the right to approve or disapprove of a proposed sale." *********************************************************************************
So? How does one go about doing this? Where do you start? How likely are the chances that the bank will go for it? How often is this done? Does it work? ********************************************************************************* "She offered advice to potential buyers who have been tentative about buying a home because of the problems with the mortgage industry. "If you are ready to buy, you have the money, and interest rates are good, and as long this is where you are going to make your home and you are not speculating, then it is a good time to buy," Skolar said. "Be conscientious and don't overextend yourself, which is what people were doing before." Malave said people should do research on how much they want to pay and on the kind of mortgage they can afford. He said they should make sure they qualify, rather than "jump into water where they can't swim." **********************************************************************************
I thought the title said something about tips? Are these tips? Isn't this just stating the obvious?
I am cranky today.

It would be a great addition to the area. Plenty of skaters around downtown to make it viable. Seeing how the skate parks have worked out elsewhere because of the of locals, it would be nice to see community hands on involvement in a potential park to make sure that things go right.

I agree!

Here are two related threads:

Skateparks & Shops 1

more

In the Region - New Jersey
Scaling Back on McMansions in New Jersey

Scaling Back in Suburbia



September 26, 2008
Aaron Houston
The New York Times

FINALLY, the McMansion may have reached the limits of its popularity in New Jersey, where it has seemed to rule the residential market with unshakable authority for many years. Whether that setback is temporary or permanent remains to be seen.

BIG BONES A new brick house in North Caldwell, much like Tony Soprano?s, is still on the market after 214 days and a $200,000 cut, to $1.49 million.

Some signs of the current times:

? A new brick colonial with roughly the same big bones and indulgent amenities as the one that Tony Soprano inhabited on-screen ? and in the same North Caldwell locale ? has been languishing on the market for 214 days, despite a price reduction of $200,000, to $1.49 million.

? In Livingston, a six-bedroom behemoth built in 2000 and outfitted with a chef?s kitchen, family-room fireplace, whirlpool baths, and so on ? and so on ? has spent 168 days on the market, and is still there after a price cut of $150,000, to $1.649 million.

? In Llewellyn Park, a gated community in West Orange, a developer?s plan for a sprawling six-bedroom colonial with six peaks and gables across the facade has not garnered a purchaser in 476 days on the market ? although the price for the custom-built abode, to be set on five acres, has been reduced to $4.25 million from $4.5 million.

?McMansions?? said Joanne Harkins of the New Jersey Builders Association. ?In a nutshell, people aren?t buying them ? certainly not the way they did before. And our members are going to have to evaluate whether there is still a market for this type of product.?

The residential market is hurting at all levels, all around the state, of course. But market experts say the supersize single-family house in the suburbs is taking a harder hit than other housing types.

For one thing, higher-priced houses inevitably take longer to sell, said Jeffrey Otteau of the Otteau Valuation Group, which monitors contract sales figures in the state. And when the market is slow, the effect is exaggerated.

The total inventory of houses now on the market would take 10.9 months to sell at the current level of demand, if no other houses were put on the market in that time, Mr. Otteau said. For houses priced at $1 million to $2.5 million, the inventory would take 16.9 months to sell; for homes over $2.5 million, the wait would be 29.2 months.

?But actually,? Mr. Otteau said, ?many conditions have converged to affect the market for so-called luxury homes, particularly in those areas not along major mass-transit corridors.? He mentioned the rapid escalation in the cost of energy and gasoline, as well as increasingly restrictive zoning ? for instance, some local ?anti-McMansion? ordinances, which limit the footprint and height of new homes.

Perhaps the most important factor, Mr. Otteau said, is the shrinking pool of likely buyers.

Since 2000, the state has lost 130,000 jobs in the highest-paying categories and added roughly the same number in the lowest-paying categories ? service positions. In addition, widespread layoffs on Wall Street have greatly affected the residential market in many upscale commuter communities in New Jersey.

?Last, but not least,? he said, ?we have a growing fiscal conservatism amongst baby boomers as they get closer to retirement. Historically, this generation of consumers created the greatest demand for luxury-priced homes.

?When you are 45 and you feel certain your income will continue to rise, you are more willing to take the plunge than when you?re 55 and expect your income to decline in the near future.?

A number of architects in the state said they, too, were seeing a significant decline in demand for the McMansion, which most defined as a house with 4,000 or more square feet of living space, occupying a disproportionate share of a lot and featuring formulaic elements like two-story foyers, Palladian windows, granite counters, and ?great rooms? with fireplaces.

Philip S. Kennedy-Grant, who runs his own firm in Bernardsville, said he had recently worked on a project designing houses, ?the first of which was small, really, by McMansion scale, at 4,500 square feet, in a small subdivision in Somerset Hills.? He added: ?The homes are more handsome, and better built than most, and still the market is nonexistent. One house sold after a long time, and then the project went on hold.?

Yet though he and other architects, like Jim O?Brien, who has his own firm in Morristown, said they applauded the demise of ?overblown? designs, they were not quite prepared to call that demise permanent.

?I think we?re probably just seeing a temporary decrease in the flow,? said Mr. O?Brien, who conceded that he had done good business serving homeowners who wanted to ?bloat up? the size and style of their homes during the years of rapidly escalating home values and easy-come equity loans.

?I think the credit crisis broke a certain type of fever that was still running high in some towns, like Wayne,? he added, ?although that community did pass an ordinance several years ago on the size of house-to-lot ratio. Everybody wanted the biggest house possible, with an indoor pool, and in-law suites, and whatever they could think of to spend their equity.?

In Westfield, one small developer is currently marketing what it calls a ?McMansion alternative.? The house at 1221 Prospect Street, near downtown, is still huge ? more than 5,000 square feet ? but it consumes energy in a small way, according to its creators, two first-time builders who call their company e-Solar Properties.

Paula Golbin, a partner in the project with David Goodman, says the house is made of recycled, allergen-free and energy-conserving materials, and equipped with solar panels that generate enough power to heat and cool the space, and keep all its ?smart? systems operating for a monthly net utility cost of less than $90.

?It doesn?t look like people are going to stop desiring these large houses and all the modern luxuries,? Ms. Golbin said, ?but at least this is a sensible way to do it and respect the environment.?

Mr. Kennedy-Grant said he did not think devotion to the McMansion paradigm would ever diminish in the Garden State. ?It would take a cultural revolution, involving art, and philosophy and the way we think about community,? he said. ?No matter how bad things look now for McMansions, I somehow doubt such a revolution is in the offing.?

Corzine's ethics proposals overdue and doomed?

Jersey Journal
Saturday, September 27, 2008

There was an interesting attempt this week by Gov. Jon Corzine to rebuild the public's trust in elected officials by announcing a package he hopes will prevent scalawags from buying influence in Trenton and other levels of government.

With much fanfare about ethics and that ballyhooed word "reform," Corzine unveiled a bunch of executive orders and demands from the Legislature to approve legislation that he says bans the practice of pay-to-pay statewide. What we're talking about is the "traditional" awarding of government contracts - no-bid and mostly for professional services pacts - to those who donate generously to campaign war chests.

In what seems like a Boy Scout merit badge moment, the governor wants very tight restrictions on "wheeling." An example is where one political organization may have donated its legal limit but they then send money to several other organizations who in turn donate that money back to the lucky candidate.

"The public understands all too well the intersection of money and politics is bad for their pocketbooks," Corzine said. "We have reached a point where New Jerseyans have come to believe that instead of government of, by and for the people, we have a government of, by and for political contributors. Today, that era ends."

Well, maybe yes and maybe no.

His proposals say a lot about curbing contributions by state redevelopers and their consultants and a donation ban for developers seeking, well, development contracts. These new rules also extend to county and local governments, school districts, and regional authorities.

While there is much said about making certain there is a "fair and open process" for awarding all professional contracts and "competitive contracting" for insurance pacts, it would sound more sincere if the governor's proposals specifically mentioned law firms and bonding agents - what most state legislators do for a living.

Since this gubernatorial ethics and reform package will supersede all county and municipal laws, Corzine is at least doing Jersey City Downtown Councilman Steven Fulop a favor by including developers. Developers are not spelled out in the councilman's local proposed version. Fulop said it was left out on the advice of a citizens advocacy group which he said believes developers are extremely protected in New Jersey.

Corzine is not winning friends among the legislators. They are mad.

Most of the limitations on campaign contributions have lawmakers grousing. Only millionaires will be able to run for office, they say. Some are calling the governor's measure the Corzine Incumbency Act.

What is worst to some is that Corzine wants to add corruption offenses under the scope of the state's RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) law. This could have a chilling effect on the average businessman or contributor who wants to donate to a campaign, say legislators.

Doesn't this RICO stuff sound like the realm of U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, a Republican whose name pops up as a possible challenger for Corzine ? Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said the GOP is willing to work with Corzine on ethics and reform, something they have been pushing for years, and he and other GOP members wonder why it took Corzine three years to come up with any ideas.

All this is probably moot because the Legislature does not want to approve any Corzine-proposed ethics bills.

There were some eyebrows raised when Senate President Richard Codey did not show up at the governor's reform announcement. Codey and Corzine both said that no one should read anything into his absence, which means we already have.

All Assembly members - as well as Corzine, come up for re-election next year. They have no choice but to go along with "reform" because they know it is a buzz issue. Assembly members will expect Codey and the Senate to play the bad guys and allow the legislation to die.

Should Codey decide to run for governor, do you think this will hurt him? Do you think.

SOME INSIDER NOTES

- The Hoboken Democratic Organization is getting its members together at Willie McBride's Thursday evening for what they call "Palin versus Biden: The Main Event."

It will cost $15 - considered by some jokesters as half-price - to gather and watch the televised vice presidential debate between the Republican Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska and her Democratic rival, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware.

- Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler is expected to hold a fundraising event next month at Puccini's, according to city and culinary sources. Schundler will be appearing Tuesday at 7 p.m. as a guest speaker at the Jimmy King Civic Association which meets at 440 Hoboken Ave.

We're getting close to the time when mayoral candidates will start publicly announcing their candidacy.

City, state get funds to rehab foreclosed properties

By Alan J. Heavens
Sat, Sep. 27, 2008
Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania is receiving $59.6 million and Philadelphia will get its own $16.8 million as their shares of the $4 billion Neighborhood Stabilization Program that was part of the Housing Economic and Recovery Act approved in July.

The funds will be used to buy and redevelop foreclosed properties for resale, thus reducing blight.

Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Allentown and York County are receiving allocations from $2 million to $5.5 million each.

The allocations, announced yesterday, are based on foreclosure filings over 18 months, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston said.

New Jersey gets $51.5 million. Bergen and Union Counties, Jersey City, Newark and Paterson will get $2 million to $3.6 million each.

Most funding will go to high-foreclosure areas, especially California and Florida.

Deborah McCullough, executive director of the Philadelphia Department of Housing and Community Development, hopes to leverage the city's grant with state funds.

Political Column
Conduct unbecoming a mayor?

By Al Sullivan
Hudson Reporter
09/27/2008

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy may well get angry behind closed doors over the recent lawsuit by mayoral hopeful Louis Manzo, but judging by his recent hit video on Youtube and his other live music performances, Healy is trying to give off the perception that he is not fazed by the push to have him step down until his legal appeals have been heard.

Some people see Healy's musical renditions as tasteless taunts hardly dignifying the highest office in the second biggest city in New Jersey.

Prior to his most recent rendition at the Irish Festival in Jersey City, rumors claimed Healy would be stepping down soon, until the legal questions are resolved concerning his confrontation with police in Bradley Beach last year.

The Irish Festival performance appeared to allay these rumors, but more importantly raises questions about the mayor's public persona. Healy, who is among the state's most ardent supporters of gun control, is singing about shooting people in Avon and Bradley Beach to the tune of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues."

Other public officials who attended the festival appeared to see nothing ironic about this. In fact, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg even danced.

Manzo's lawsuit, filed earlier this month, asked for Healy to be removed from office, comparing the Healy situation to Newark Councilwoman Dana Rone, whom the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is seeking to remove after the state court upheld her 2006 convention for obstruction of justice resulting from a 2006 traffic stop.

While perhaps asking Healy to step down may be going too far, it is not too much for the public to demand that a mayor and former municipal judge convicted of a crime refrain from performances that show arrogance against the system of justice Healy has sworn an oath to uphold.

How to survive the mortgage crisis
Local realtors, experts offer tips

By Ricardo Kaulessar
Hudson Reporter
09/27/2008


GIVING ADVICE - Tony Deluco is a Jersey City developer and real estate manager advises people to consider a short sale for their homes.

Paul is an African immigrant and a homeowner for two years who lives in the Heights section of Jersey City with his wife.

Paul, a teacher in the Irvington school system, is currently trying to unload - albeit unsuccessfully - his $475,000 house for $390,000, so that he can get out of his $4,700-per-month mortgage.

Coupled with all his other bills during this recession, Paul is having trouble making the mortgage payments. Adding to the frustration, said Paul, is that a tenant living in the house did not pay rent for seven months.

Looking back, he regrets taking out mortgages on the property for $380,000 at 8.9 percent interest and $95,000 at 12.7 percent interest, respectively. It was a lot of interest, but it allowed him to buy without any down payment.

These sorts of risky mortgages, given to people who might not be able to keep up with the payments, are often cited as a cause of the current financial downturn.

"I think before I ever decided to buy a house, there should have been a course where you need somebody to tell you that you can't buy without any down payment," Paul said.

Housing crisis

Advertisement

"Mortgage" has become a dirty word recently as millions of unpaid mortgages across the United States have created a crisis amongst homeowners, financial lenders, home builders, and just about anyone else who is impacted by mortgages.

In particular, sub-prime mortgages, or mortgages issued by lenders to borrowers with less-than-stellar credit reports, have created much of the problems in the mortgage and credit industry.

The ripple effect has reached major Wall Street firms such as Lehman Brothers, which declared bankruptcy recently and Merrill Lynch, which was sold for $50 million to Bank of America.

In New Jersey last month, there were 6,475 foreclosure filings, according to California-based RealtyTrac, a company that tracks foreclosures. That is a 49 percent increase from August 2007.

Foreclosure is a process in which a lender takes title or forces the sale a property to satisfy the debt of a borrower.

For Hudson County, RealtyTrac listed, as of last week, 2,800 properties going into some stage of foreclosure.

Of those, 2,039 were at the pre-foreclosure stage, a grace period when homeowners are allowed by a lending institution to sell a house to avoid foreclosure.

Jersey City had the most listings in Hudson County, with 1,383, followed by 378 in North Bergen and 200 in Union City.

Is there a sliver lining?

Some local experts offered advice recently about the crisis.

Don't overextend; keep it short

Tony Deluco is a Jersey City developer and real estate manager who has been in real estate for over 20 years. He said people facing foreclosure can cope with the current mortgage crisis by being aware of the procedure known as a "short sale."

That's where the homeowner sells their property for less than the outstanding balance of the mortgage. All of the proceeds go to the lender to pay off a majority of the debt and the lender forgives the rest. However, the lender would have the right to approve or disapprove of a proposed sale.

Laura Skolar has been in the real estate business since 1982, working as an agent at Century 21 Plaza Realty in the Heights section of Jersey City.

Skolar said her agency currently has clients in Jersey City, North Bergen, and Bayonne whose homes are in various foreclosure situations, and they are trying to sell their home.

She offered advice to potential buyers who have been tentative about buying a home because of the problems with the mortgage industry.

"If you are ready to buy, you have the money, and interest rates are good, and as long this is where you are going to make your home and you are not speculating, then it is a good time to buy," Skolar said. "Be conscientious and don't overextend yourself, which is what people were doing before."

Greg Malave is an employee in the Jersey City Mayor's Action Bureau and a licensed mortgage broker.

Malave said people should do research on how much they want to pay and on the kind of mortgage they can afford. He said they should make sure they qualify, rather than "jump into water where they can't swim."

But Malave said he is optimistic that the current crisis will be resolved in the "next two years."

Comments on this story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

i think it's a good idea..the parks are currently bursting at the seems and a skate park would lessen the load at other parks and create a much needed skate area.`

Skateboarders ask city for skate park under the New Jersey Turnpike near Ferris High School
========================================================

Ready to roll -- Skateboarders ask city for place to practice moves

By Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 09/27/2008

BEGINNER ? Downtown Jersey City resident Selina Vargas with her 6-year-old son Jayden Bell, who is learning to skateboard.

Bayonne and Hoboken have popular skate parks, and Union City is about to open one next month, but Jersey City - the second largest city in the state - has none.

Jason "Joshua" Wiggins, a Jersey City resident and co-owner (with his wife Gia) of the Nine Lives Skate Shop on Newark Avenue, says a permanent skate park would keep skateboarders from practicing their moves on the steps of public buildings such as the U.S. Post Office on Montgomery Street.

"We are getting sick of them kicking us out of the post office or other places where we skate," Wiggins said last week. "There needs to be a place where we can practice, especially for young kids who are learning for the first time."

The city has floated the idea for years, with a proposed location on land under the New Jersey Turnpike near Ferris High School in downtown Jersey City.

There are more than 1,000 active skate parks in the United States, full of ramps and curving "half pipes" that allow skaters to practice their kickflips and grinds.

City spokesperson Jennifer Morrill said that the city operated a skate park at the Pershing Field Ice Rink on Summit Avenue during the spring and summer months until this year. She said the city had hired a firm from Connecticut to lay out a skateboarding course, and a skateboarder was hired to oversee the park and teach the sport. But she said attendance dwindled, likely because of the safety rules.

"As the skate park was located in a city building, the city was required to staff it," she said. "Signage was also put in place requiring skateboarders to wear helmets, knee pads and elbow pads. The staff of the skate park strictly enforced these rules. When the park first opened, there would be 30 to 40 attendees on a given day. That quickly dwindled ... the skateboarders instead were skating on the railings in the park outside of the ice rink."

A spot to call their own

Advertisement

Use Auto Refinancing to Ease the Family Budget

Computer Slowing Down? What to Do About It

Auto Loan Refinance to Reduce Monthly Payments

Not long ago, Wiggins and other skateboarders were forced by NJ Transit officials to dismantle a "secret spot" they had built with the various ramps, rails and obstacles on land near light rail tracks by the Jersey City-Hoboken border.

He said the makeshift park had attracted professional skateboarders from the metropolitan area.

Wiggins complained that back in January, he and skater friends attended a council meeting to ask for a skate park, but nothing had been done.

"We told them we wanted a skate park, and they told us they would find a spot for us," Wiggins said. "But it has been almost a year and we have not heard from them."

Wiggins said if the city has delayed because of location, they can transform the roller hockey rink located at the Roberto Clemente Sports Complex on Ninth Street in downtown Jersey City into a skate park. He said he would offer to help design the park, and recommends that the details are made of concrete so that it will last longer.

Using the hockey rink

The city does have some plans - although not as "concrete" as Wiggins might like - to install such a park. In the city's Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, a long-range development plan that has still not been approved by the City Council, there is a recommendation to convert another area within that sports complex into a skate park.

Wiggins said he uses the roller hockey rink often to practice and to teach skateboarding to others, like his 6-year old son. He also meets with other skateboarders who also go there to practice every day except for Tuesday and Thursday evenings, when it is used by an amateur roller hockey team.

At the rink last Tuesday afternoon, 18-year-old Bilale Sakt, 18-year-old Vadim Filatov, and 19-year-old Dave Feldman was demonstrating their moves to each other.

Feldman said he would welcome a new park, but with some hesitation.

"Once they give you a place to skate, they will expect you to stay there, which is not how skateboarding works," Feldman said.

Selina Vargas was also at the rink with her 6-year-old son Jayden Bell, who's learning how to skate.

"This may not be a skate park, but at least they can have some place where they can learn, where they can be part of the culture," she said. "And the kids here are nice and helpful."

Comments on this story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

More play at Washington Park
New dog run on Union City/Jersey City border

Hudson Reporter
By: Amanda Staab
09/28/2008


RUN WITH A VIEW ? This is Dodger Stadium, the new dog run overlooking New York City from Washington Park, on the border of Union City and Jersey City.

Union City and Jersey City officials joined together to cut the ribbon on a new dog run in Washington Park, on the border of both towns, on Friday, Sept. 19.

The 80-by-120-foot gated area, which cost the county $160,000, includes sand, benches, and water fountains for humans and dogs alike. There is also a new walkway leading to the run.

"I have been eagerly awaiting this park," said Peter Aquinde, a member of the Washington Park Association, a group of residents who came together earlier this year to work with both Union City and Jersey City on improving park conditions.

"We actually have members in both cities to work on making a positive improvement in the neighborhood," said association member Mory Thomas, "and we thought the best way to do that was to start here, in Washington Park. We figure if you have a beautiful park that can be used by all the diverse people of this community, that our community will improve with it."

Computer Slowing Down? What to Do About It

Auto Loan Refinance to Reduce Monthly Payments

Major Life Change? You Need Insurance
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise brought his golden retriever, Dodger, who served as the inspiration for the new run's name, Dodger Stadium. DeGise said, "A lot of it is going to depend upon us, the dog owners and residents of this area, to make sure this park is well-maintained, that people are picking up after their dogs, and people are obeying the rules."

The open park space used to be an unofficial dog playground, according to local residents.

Union City resident Kadee Jacobsen, who was there with her two dogs Lacey and Sam, said: "They used to come and run here. It was all open. Now, it is an official dog run."

"There could be as many as 20 or 30 people up here with dogs, and with the dog run here now, I expect that that number will grow even further," said DeGise.

"We see the need that exists for facilities such as this," said Union City Commissioner Christopher Irizarry. "It's funny. I am so used to building parks for children and renovating the parks for children, it is interesting to see a park that is being built for dogs. Many folks that aren't dog owners or pet owners, such as myself, take it for granted the importance of having a dog run of this kind."

"We know that you'll put this dog run to good use," said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. "I am very happy that in the last 10 years, people have started to pick up after their dogs. That was not always the case in Hudson County."

Still scoop the poop

Though residents still have to pick up after their dogs while in the dog run, the new facility keeps the waste from being left in park areas where children may play.

"The good thing is that [the dog run] contains the waste," said Jersey City resident Walter Parks, who was present with his dog Buddy. "It also brings neighbors together. It gives us a reason to speak to each other."

The dog run will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

FXFOWLE's rendering of what the development of NJ Transit's Hoboken Terminal and rail yards could look like if the administration's development plan is realized.
=====================================================

Crowd outraged at NJ Transit redevelopment plan

Jersey Journal
by Amy
Sunday September 28, 2008

Hoboken NowResident Maurice DeGennaro turns away during a public meeting of the administration's proposed redevelopment plan for the NJ Transit Terminal at the Multi-Service Center in Hoboken on Sept. 25, 2008.

Mayor David Roberts' plan for parks, public plazas - and nearly dozen high-rise buildings on the NJ Transit rail yard site was met with sarcasm, frustration and finally raw outrage at a public hearing Thursday.

"This plan is most stunning for its sheer arrogance," said resident Lane Bajardi after the plan was presented.

NJ Transit is planning to develop its 36-acre rail yard site on the southern edge of Hoboken. The public agency worked with the administration, FXFOWLE, the architecture and planning firm Hoboken hired through funds from NJ Transit and LCOR, NJ Transit's chosen developer for the site, to create a redevelopment plan that all parties can live with.

But the crowd at Thursday's meeting made it clear that they found the plan the opposite of livable.

When FXFOWLE's senior planner Mark Strauss said the plan tried to "be sensitive to Hoboken's scale and character" the crowd scoffed.

When he referred to a green space as "Freedom Park," (so named because it will face the future Freedom Tower), the room filled with bitter laughter.

But it was only after he showed a rendering of what the new development might look like at night -- featuring a half-dozen glass skyscrapers dwarfing Hoboken and even Jersey City -- that true outrage came to the surface.

"It looks like a comic book," shouted resident Dan Tumpson, who later called it a "cancer" and a "monstrosity."

The design includes 8 acres of new parks and plazas, a landscaped Observer Highway, a traffic circle to ease congestion at Henderson Street, sewer line improvements to prevent flooding and bike paths.

But it also includes 9.2 million square feet of new development including a cluster of "iconic" skyscrapers next to the train station and a line of 18- to 78-story residential buildings set back along Observer Highway with an estimated 3,200 apartments with about 6,000 new residents.

"I feel like this development is going to crush, crush the Fourth Ward and crush the First Ward," said Fourth Ward Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer. "We are going to be packed in like sardines."

Hoboken Parks president Leah Healey, who helped develop the city's Master Plan, said the proposed development blatantly goes against the plan's stipulation that "buildings should not be permitted in the airspace of the rail yards."
Amy Sara Clark / Hoboken NowResident Richard Weinstein, a former attorney for the EPA, questioned whether the public process has been properly followed for the project. "Where's the citizen's advisory group," he asked. "Wasn't there a memorandum of agreement?"

"Under the guise of smart-growth policies and transit-oriented development we are preceding with development that is so far out of whack with the Master Plan ... that on that basis the City Council could reject this plan outright," she said.

But it is not yet clear whether a rejection of the plan by the council would make any difference.

According to NJ Transit, the law only requires the agency only has to "consult" with Hoboken, and it's not clear to what extent the agency has to listen to what Hoboken has to say.

"It's state-owned property. It does not need to get approvals from a subordinate entity," said NJ Transit attorney Paul Werther at the meeting. "But it's their policy to seek out and involve the municipality."

Both Hoboken attorney Richard Weinberg and Healey argued otherwise Thursday, calling NJ Transit's stance merely one "interpretation" and asking for the case law to back it up.

I'm starting to notice more people living in their cars - I notice them in carparks and quiet streets. They seem like regular folk that are the causalties of the recession.

It also appears that this recession has also caused family break-ups, as at least 2 I see still wear their wedding bands.

I hope some sort of charity organization can provide a mobile soup kitchen to help them out before winter moves in.

Robbers pistol-whip resistant victim
Friday, September 26, 2008

A Jersey City man was pistol-whipped for his cell phone Wednesday evening.

A 29-year-old Kennedy Boulevard resident told police shortly before 11 p.m. that two men mugged him on Marcy Avenue, authorities said.

He said he was on his way home when two men approached him, flashed a black handgun and demanded money and anything else he had, according to police. When he refused to comply, one of the men struck him in the head with a black handgun, reports indicated.

Medics treated the victim for a minor cut to his forehead.

CHARLES HACK

Cops: Man stabs his neighbor
Friday, September 26, 2008

A 23-year-old man suffered a punctured lung when his next-door neighbor stabbed him in the hallway outside their apartments Wednesday evening, reports said.

Mario Manzanal, 59, of Newark Avenue in Jersey City, was charged with aggravated assault and weapons charges, reports said.

Manzanal stabbed the victim at around 9:25 p.m., and then chased him to the stairs, reports said. The victim ran out of the building and onto Kennedy Boulevard, where he found his brother and called the police, reports said.

A witness told police the victim was stabbed with a silver-handled knife as he walked past Manzanal's apartment to reach his own apartment, reports said.

"This guy came out of no place and stabbed (the victim)," the witness said.

CHARLES HACK

Cops cuff alleged carjackers
Friday, September 26, 2008

Sharp-eyed Jersey City plainclothes police arrested three men early yesterday who were riding around in a vehicle they had carjacked Wednesday night, police reports said.

Aaron Connors, 18, of Grand Street, Corey Pridgen, 38, of Catherine Court, and Robert Evans, 18, of Bramhall Avenue were charged with receiving stolen property, reports said.

Cops saw three men in a silver Toyota Corolla, which had been reported stolen in an earlier armed carjacking, in a parking lot at Montgomery Street near Ristaino Drive at 12:37 a.m., reports said. While the officers waited for backup, the car pulled out of the lot and onto Florence Street, reports said. Police followed the car and arrested the trio when the driver parked the car on Fremont Street, reports said.

There was no mention in the police report if the gun allegedly used in the carjacking was recovered.

CHARLES HACK

PLAYING DUMB?
Sentencing delayed as 2 request evaluations
Saturday, September 27, 2008
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Two Jersey City brothers who admitted they robbed bingo players at a Downtown church have had their sentencing put off nine times between them, but a judge lost patience yesterday and told one of them to await sentencing in jail.

"To protect the public, he will be in jail until sentenced," said state Superior Court Judge Melvin Kracov at what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing for Victor Morales, 23, and Miguel Morales, 22.

Victor Morales was then handcuffed and led out of court.

Victor and Miguel Morales pleaded guilty in May to the Nov. 19, 2006 armed robbery of $6,000 from Our Lady of Czestochowa Church bingo players, officials said.

Both were out on $100,000 bail and Kracov canceled Victor's bail and ordered the money he posted be returned to his family. He will be sentenced Oct. 31.

The brothers have asked to have their sentencings postponed until they can undergo mental evaluations to determine if they are developmentally challenged, as they contend, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Steven Dill said.

The two have not been evaluated yet, but believe if they are deemed developmentally challenged their sentences may be reduced, Dill said.

Yesterday, Victor Morales' lawyer said his client again hadn't gotten the evaluation because his mother had three heart attacks and he was in Pennsylvania caring for her.

Victor Morales had his sentencing postponed four times, including yesterday. Miguel Morales' sentencing has been put off five times, including yesterday.

Miguel Morales told Kracov his girlfriend's water broke Thursday and she went into labor. The judge rescheduled his sentencing for Tuesday.

"The longer the sentence is put off, the longer the victims feel that justice hasn't been served yet," said Dill.

On the day of the robbery, a handful of bingo players had arrived at the church grammar school, at Luis Munoz Marin Boulevard and Grand Street, when two masked gunmen confronted a 58-year-old woman and she collapsed, police said.

They forced the woman into the building, where they ordered a 68-year-old woman and five others to the floor and took the money, police said.

Victor Morales faces up to eight years in prison and Miguel Morales faces up to 10, Dill said.

The robbers specifically demanded a briefcase containing money that was in a closet, police said. That knowledge led investigators to believe they had inside help. Prosecutors think the inside man is Adrian Santana, 25, of Charles Street. He is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and remains at large, Dill said.

A witness gave police a description of the robbers and a third man who was watching the door, and a description of the getaway car, police said.

Cops found the car parked on Bright Street and saw Juan Ortiz, 22, who matched the description of one of the robbers, get into another car. When the car was pulled over, officers found two guns in the car and $2,338 in cash still wrapped in denominations as they had been at the bingo hall, police said.

Police later connected the Morales brothers to the robbery, officials said.

2 Days in a row!!! LHS supporters are kicking some serious butt!!!!

The bandwidth cap is a temporary measure that is unlikely to last very long. With FiOS penetrating ever deeper into Comcast territory -- already available at some downtown addresses -- Comcast will have no choice but to lift their caps or risk losing their customers.

Also, you can thank the local municipal government for granting Comcast a monopoly on cable services.

I can solve the problem in less that 6 months. 1st I would get rid of all section 8 and welfare in jersey city and 2nd i'd give all law biding citizens the right to carry concealed firearms.

this is still an isolated bat attack. It isn't in the same category as the daily multiple shootings and car jackings in greenville.