uhmmm..........maybe i'm just talking silly but.........do we really need a map to know where crimes keep going down?

we find out where they happened, and you keep records of where this stuff happens.........uhmmmm..........so why the map? just for a fun visual?

the cops know where the bad neighborhoods are already......and the crimes continue to happen.......why do we need a map to show this?

i commend you for your efforts but.....

Feds probe James' land-sale law
Subpoena seeks records on for-Newark-only bill that mayor pushed through Senate

Wednesday, July 04, 2007
BY TED SHERMAN
Star-Ledger Staff

Federal investigators have subpoenaed Statehouse records tied to legislation spon sored three years ago by former Newark Mayor Sharpe James that gave him unbridled power in city land sales.

James, who is under investiga tion over cut-rate sales of surplus municipal real estate to politically connected friends and associates, pushed for the change in state law after a court rebuffed his challenge to the city council's bid to unilaterally give land to a Hispanic nonprofit group.

At the time, ranking Democrats said James, in his role as a state senator, had threatened to hold up the budget if the bill was not passed. Introduced in February 2004, it became law the following July.

The subpoena to the Senate -- a copy of which was obtained by The Star-Ledger -- seeks all documents and communications related to Senate Bill S967, as well as any correspondence from the two primary sponsors of the legislation, James and the late Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham.

The U.S. Attorney's Office would not discuss the matter. Calls to James and his lawyer, Raymond Brown Jr., were not returned yesterday.

The grand jury subpoena, dated June 28, came just a day after the Associated Press reported that James was denying responsibility for the cut-rate city land deals now being investigated by the U.S. At torney's Office.

In a two-page, handwritten letter to the AP, James invoked the Faulkner Act -- the 1950 law that lays out powers for mayors -- in claiming he never had the authority to broker land deals or set prices by himself.

"The mayor is not a boss or a lord or can give away municipal land," he wrote. "Only the Council set prices, only the Council meet and interview developers, only the Council can convey land to developers."

But in 2004, the former mayor took steps to give himself a major role in the sales of city land, when he pushed to amend the law solely as it affected Newark.

The bill he sponsored as a senator mandated that the city council could not convey property unless first presented to the council by the mayor, "recognizing the authority of the mayor, as the chief executive officer of the municipality, to initiate those land purchase and sales decisions and determine the terms and conditions for acqui sition and sale." The change only covered municipalities with populations of 265,000 or more as of the last census; only Newark qualified.

In a June 2004 interview, James said he took the action to nullify a December 2002 resolution by the Newark City Council that approved the sale of a piece of city property to a nonprofit community group, La Case de Don Pedro, for a token $100.

"The council took the position that they could unilaterally decide to give land without any involvement from the mayor," James declared at the time. "This was wrong. It requires action from both of us."

The current federal investiga tion into the former mayor's deal ings started after The Star-Ledger reported last summer that James used two city-issued credit cards to pay for trips to Brazil, Puerto Rico and elsewhere.

The investigation later expanded to focus on Newark real es tate deals, following the discovery that one of James' travel companions, a publicist named Tamika Riley, made hundreds of thousands of dollars buying cheap property from the city of Newark and resel ling it, sometimes after just weeks.

Last summer, agents raided a storage garage rented by James, and city hall has since turned over hundreds of documents, including dozens related to the city land that Riley bought in 2001, 2002 and 2005.

In the last few weeks of James' tenure as mayor, the city sold several parcels of land at prices of about $4 per square foot -- far below market value -- to a number of politically connected developers. The city closed on 21 separate deals from March until James' final day as mayor on June 30, 2006.

James was notified by U.S. At torney Christopher Christie last month that he was the target of a federal grand jury investigation and could face corruption charges.

James, 71, opted not to run for re-election last year after serving 20 years as mayor, choosing to avoid repeating a bruising election battle with Cory Booker. In April, he said he would not run for re-election to his state Senate seat and recently stepped down from his job as direc tor of the Urban Issues Institute at Essex County College.

Booker says he now is looking to reclaim any parcels of city land sold by the previous administration to developers who have not built new homes on them as promised.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@starledger.com or (973) 392-4278.




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


Feds subpoena Senate records on James land sale bill

Newsday
July 3, 2007, 9:55 PM EDT

TRENTON, N.J. -- Federal investigators have subpoenaed state Senate records related to a bill former Newark Mayor Sharpe James sponsored as a state senator that gave him broader power over sales of city land.

Jim Manion, spokesman for the Senate Democrats, confirmed Tuesday night that a subpoena was received June 28 seeking information and documents related to the bill James and the late Glenn Cunningham, a former state senator and mayor of Jersey City, pushed in 2004. It became law in July of that year.

The issuing of the subpoena was first reported by The Star-Ledger of Newark on its Web site.

The grand jury subpoena was issued one day after James, in a letter to The Associated Press, denied responsibility for a series of cut-rate city land deals now being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

In the letter to the AP, James insinuates that any blame for discounted land sales lies with the City Council.

During James' administration, more than 5,000 city-owned properties were sold at below-market prices, many to politically connected developers.

In March, federal investigators issued subpoenas seeking documents on dealings between James and a Newark businesswoman whose company purchased city-owned lots and sold them for a substantial profit while James was mayor.

After-hours messages left Tuesday at the offices of James and his lawyer, Raymond M. Brown, were not returned. James and Brown have previously declined to comment on the investigation.

James, 71, served as Newark mayor for 20 years before deciding not to seek re-election last year. In April, he decided not to seek re-election to his Senate seat.

___

Information from: The Star-Ledger, http://www.nj.com/starledger

That is a great idea. Maybe it should have it's own thread so you can post updates. Just a suggestion.

OK, so I passed by the gun store today to see what wacky old Dave was up to. I believe it was open. Not only that, but it seems Dave has found religion. In large friendly letters on his window was "With God all things is possible". Has Dave given up his gun slingin' ways to be a bible thumpin' preacher? Or is he now a self-styled avenging wrath of God, looking to cleanse the streets of Downtown JC from evildoers, hooligans & wayward souls who are foolish enough to double park in front of his establishment?



"I've had it with turning the other cheek. Dave showed me the way. It's payback time Judas!!"

From: [redacted]
date Jul 4, 2007 12:42 AM
subject Car Vandalism In Front Of #312 8th Street (Wells Fargo Building)

Attention All Hamilton Park Residence:

Please be advised that our neighbor's car parked in front of their residence at #312 8th Street was "keyed" on Monday night, 7/2/2007, and must be repaired.
The JCPD was called and a report was filed by our neighbor.

If anyone witnessed this vandalism, or sees vandalism in progress, please call the East District immediately with any information. East District: 201-547-5477.

Thank you.

Jan
Hamilton Park

Captain McDonough <jcpdeastdistrict@yahoo.com> date Jul 3, 2007 4:58 PM subject 4th of July Street Info. Hello. Please be advised of the following and pass along to all community members, neighbors, family and friends. Effective 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, 2007 the following streets will be closed to non-resident traffic. - East of Marin Blvd. between Grand St. and Montgomery St. - South of Montgomery St. between Marin Blvd. and Greene St. - East of Greene St. between Montgomery St. and Christopher Columbus Dr. - East of Washington Blvd. between Pavonia Ave. and Newport Parkway Regards. Captain Brian McDonough

Quote:

I'd hate to think how many 'markers' there will be over a period of 12 months - It would be nice if you could get the info on crimes that don't make it into the papers.

Great job - Hope the community can use it to show the cops that certain neighborhoods are 'high risk' to live in.

I have been questioned lately about Jersey City Families for Better Schools asking for a shortened contract term for Superintendent of the Jersey City public schools, Dr. Epps. Some may view this as an attack on Dr. Epps, but below is my response. I do not view this as an attack on Dr. Epps as a person. What I do question is the process that does not allow for public review or comment. Please see my statement below:


I believe the issue at hand is that we, as parents and the voting public, have absolutely no say in what appears to be a multi year contract to a person appointed by the State even though the State is looking to hand over the school system to the City. We can get no straight answers to when the school system will be handed back to us nor what is in the contract and when the contract is due to begin and end.

No matter what you think of Dr. Epps and his record, it is undemocratic and unfair that the voices of those very people who will be directly affected by this contract will not be heard.

If someone asked you to sign off on a mortgage for a house without letting you see the terms of the mortgage or view the inside of the house, would you sign the contract? No matter how nice the people involved were nor how nice the house might appear from the outside, I would not sign. We are being asked to take on a contract of this very sort.

I resent that this will be shoved down my throat without any say! I do not accept this, I believe that this process is not only unethical, but completely dishonest. And the people that this hurts the most are the people least able to effect change or move out of this City if their children are failing. I can move out, I could probably even scrape enough money together for a private education if I so choose. I consider myself extremely lucky to have this option, but the majority of parents in Jersey City do not have this option.

However, I have chosen to stay and fight. I have chosen to be a part of the system and have a say. I do not believe this can happen until the process is opened up to the public. Nothing less then a transparent system that respects the views of the public and truly welcomes the involvement of all parties concerned, parents, teachers, administrators, government officials, taxpayers, and not least of all the children attending or soon to attend the schools.

The contract is being negotiated right now and will be a done deal by September. We will have to accept it whatever it states without recourse unless we act now. So of course we are concerned with all the issues, ESPECIALLY school violence, but the urgency of this issue relates to a definite time deadline and not to how we may view Epps as a person or a professional.

I don't think Dr. Epps would sign a contract without seeing its contents, why should we?

Sincerely,

Althea Bernheim
Co-organizer
Jersey City Families for Better Schools


P.S. Note that I do not live in downtown and that this group is anything but downtown based.

Here are the options I know about:

1. Hoboken league
http://hobokenadultsoccer.com
Play in Sinatra Park in Hoboken. You have to have prove you live in Hoboken to play.

2. Grace Church
http://soccerlearningcenter.com
Tuesday and Thursday night "soccer aerobics", in a small gym.

3. JCFC who play in the Garden State league.
They practice Wednesdays in Lincoln park and welcome folks to come down and join in, but you have to be reasonably good to get in the team.

Robin.

I see some new entries added. The "Story" field is for a link to a website article that describes the crime (i.e., Jersey Journal). I'll try to make the instructions more clear. I can add a description field if needed.

If this new place has a pool i'm totally joining!!!!!

Hey that's pretty cool... but if you end up being able to connect the dots into a giant arrow pointing to my house I'm outta here.

Mark.

(Reference - Simpsons 1F09 - Homer The Vigilante - thanks for playing.)

The $100,000 is to develop the plan, not to actually build-out the site.

$100K? that will buy you a few lamp posts for the street wanderers to sit on...try $100M..

it's still a dump

Its a small lot though. I would think 2 units per floor at most.

Hi all,

I created a google map app to start tracking crime incidents in Jersey City. I'm going to be talking about it at the next downtown jersey city watch meeting. Please have a look and let me know if you want to help track incidents.

http://www.jerseycityportal.com/crimemap.php

Thanks
Jason

Whether it was a real gun or a lighter, the kid should get a harsh sentence. The effect on the victim was the same.

The soccer field in Sinatra park in Hoboken looks like it's open to the public. I see some organized games every now and then but I think we can probably play in there.

Anyone know if there's a schedule somewhere?

He just did !!! He was in HP last week

I heard Epps speak at the McNair graduation last Tuesday - How'd this effing guy become school superintendent? He can barely speak English. Plus his facts are all wrong - stated that McNair Academic is Number one in the country. This guy smoking or what?

i know there's been a million of these threads, but i can't seem to find any so here's another...

it's summer and the weather is beautiful and i want to play some soccer! i am by no means a great soccer player, but i love playing and it's a great way to get a workout while doing something fun.

when i used to live in pittsburgh a bunch of us would converge at CMU every sunday and play for a couple hours. it was awesome. thing is i'm somewhat new to the area and the few people i do know in JC don't seem too stoked on the idea of getting together on a regular basis to play.

so this where i reach out to you JClisters and your infinite wisdom. do you know of any adult soccer leagues in the area that i could join? i would prefer something in the vicinity of downtown so i could walk, but i'm getting desperate enough that i'd be willing to travel. i'm not even sure where there are any soccer fields in JC, but i do know there's one on river road in hoboken where i've seen people playing.

i was even considering joing the NY coed soccer league, but their summer registration is already full and it costs $135.

Finally made it last night with the family - found parking on Grove, too.

Here's the review:

Appetizers:
- Calamar tough, not so good
- Roti - delicious you gotta have this, but no chicken pieces
- some sort of puff pastry, forgot the name, Excellent

Main:
- Crispy Duck with spicy sauce - Excellent
- Filet of flounder with mango sauce ( I think - had too much wine) - Excellent
- Pad Thai - Excellent

2 orders of Green Tea Ice cream, 1 of Mango

One bottle of Smoking Loon Cabernet, 4 thai iced teas


$135 including tip, great value.

Quote:

Did you write this story?

Still 'available,' fancy home's a star on ESPN

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

I n January last year, I wrote a story about an elaborate home in Jersey City that hit the selling block for $9 million, a figure believed to be the highest listing price for a single-family home in the city's history.

The onetime smoked meat factory - located on the 300 block of First Street - now boasts heated marble floors, a spiral staircase crafted from imported Chinese white jade tile, a wine cellar and an indoor pool, along with more than 300 light bulbs tied to digital switches.

Well, 18 months later, without any suitors, the house has come down in price. So, if you have roughly $5 or $6 million to spend, you may want to check out ESPN in the months ahead to get a preview of what the home has to offer.

That's because the ubiquitous sports network just wrapped up production of its second season of its reality television show called "Summer House," where six of the nation's top high school football players compete against each other in daily competitions while living under the same roof.

Each of the show's eight, 30-minute episodes begins and ends at the Jersey City home, and the winner of the day's challenge gets to sleep in the home's master bedroom, while the five other competitors are forced to share one bedroom.

The executive producer of the show, Joan Lynch, said the location manager scouted a number of places in the metropolitan area and decided to go with Jersey City for its easy access to Philadelphia, New York City and Connecticut - all places where they planned to shoot.

And, yes, there was the house, too.

"I was in shock when I saw the house. It was perfect. So many of the features, the pool, the roof deck and it's 11,000 square feet," Lynch said. "The kids were in shock. As soon as the door opened, one of the kids jumped in the pool."

The real estate broker for the house, Gershon Adjaye, from Keller-Williams Realty, said they leased the house to ESPN for $30,000 for the month.

He said the number was less than he wanted, but when he and the owner - Manhattan general contractor Simon Chan - took into account the exposure, they jumped on the deal.

"The house is going to be featured on the show, which will bring it some attention, and we thought that was worth money," said Adjaye. "We may put the house back on the market afterwards, but perhaps advertise more outside the region."

The series will run Tuesdays at 9 p.m., from July 31 until Sept. 18 on ESPNU, the network's channel dedicated to college sports, with repeat telecasts generally scheduled for Wednesdays, starting Aug. 15) at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Chris Spielman, ESPN college football analyst and an 11-year NFL veteran, will return this season as the "House Dad," coaching and giving advice to the players.

Oh well. Sounds like it will be in the range of 4-5 stories then (perhaps retail, lobby, & parking garage entrance on the first floor, and 3 additional floors of 4 units or 4 additional floors of 3 units).

In other news, it appears that the excavation phase has begun at 380 Newark Ave. I noticed that this monster building will border someone's (tiny) grassy backyard. Imagine having a 12-story building rising practically in your backyard? Totally whacked. (but I'm guessing that the people who live there have no idea what's going up next to them anyway).

$100G state grant for Journal Square plan

Tuesday, July 03, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The largest "smart growth" grant in the state belongs to Jersey City.

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has awarded the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency $100,000 to develop a comprehensive plan for Journal Square as an entertainment and retail hub, city officials said last week.

The grant is in keeping with the state's push to promote residential and commercial districts around mass transit centers, city officials said.

"We are very excited about this grant," said JCRA Executive Director Robert Antonicello. "It gives the city an opportunity to coordinate the growth of the (Hudson County) community college and other large-scale projects in the area."

The grant money will be used to hire the Princeton-based A. Nelessen Associates, an urban planning firm, and Hoboken-based architect and urban designer Dean Marchetto, Antonicello said.

The planners will be asked to help coordinate a plan for further entertainment and retail growth in the area, taking into account the new "City Center" towers being developed by Harwood/MEPT Journal Square, the steady expansion of Hudson County Community College, and attractions like Loew's Jersey Theatre, Antonicello said.

The "City Center" project is to have 120,000 square feet of retail, he said.

The city, through the state's Urban Enterprise Zone program, has set aside $1.2 million to make facade improvements in Journal Square.

Gun on boy 'robber' just a lighter: cops

Tuesday, July 03, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City boy armed with a gun-shaped cigarette lighter was charged with robbery yesterday after leading police on a chase through Lincoln Park, officials said.

The 17-year-old Kensington Avenue boy was arrested on Roosevelt and Mallory avenues and charged with robbery, resisting arrest and weapons offenses related to the cigarette lighter, police reports said.

Officers in a cruiser were responding to Gifford and West Side avenues at 3:01 a.m. on a report of an armed robbery when they heard a radio transmission saying another officer was chasing the boy in the park, reports said.

He was arrested on Roosevelt Avenue and when the cops spotted what appeared to be "a small shiny handgun" nearby, the boy said, "it's only a lighter," reports said.

The robbery victim, a 22-year-old Kensington Avenue man, and a witness identified the boy as the robber, and the lighter as the weapon, reports said.

The victim was robbed of $5 and a cell phone, reports said, adding that the $5 was found on the boy and was returned to the victim.

HEALY: A NEW JUDGE WILL SEE IT MY WAY
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has filed a notice that he will appeal his Bradley Beach disorderly persons convictions and predicted yesterday a new judge will see things his way.

"I am innocent of the charges, and a police officer who abuses his authority and position should not go unchecked," Healy said in a statement. "Everyone deserves to be treated with respect by the police - even in Bradley Beach.

"The state's witnesses were inconsistent and they brought reasonable doubt into the case," Healy added. "The burden of proof being what it is, and the amount of reasonable doubt throughout the trial, I know we have a good chance on appeal."

On June 22, Monmouth County Judge John Colannino found Healy guilty of obstruction of administrative law and resisting arrest stemming from an incident that took place June 17, around 2 a.m., outside a Bradley Beach tavern owned by Healy's sister and brother-in-law.

Healy was fined $828, including court costs, which he doesn't have to pay until his appeal is heard, said his Freehold attorney James Fagen.

Healy testified during the two-day trial he was trying to calm a dispute between a couple and when cops arrived he tried to explain the situation to them.

But the arresting officers said Healy was "clearly intoxicated" and "belligerent," and when Bradley Beach Police Officer Terry Browning asked him to leave the scene so he could interview the woman involved in the dispute Healy refused. Eventually, the officers physically subdued the 56-year-old mayor using pepper spray.

Several of the 10 defense witnesses testified that Healy was "Maced" after he was already on the ground and in handcuffs.

The first step in the appeals process is to obtain a transcript of the trial, which could take three to six weeks, Fagen said.

Based on the transcript, Fagen said he'll write a brief, which will be submitted to a Monmouth County Superior Court judge.

No additional testimony will be taken, Fagen said. The judge will make a decision based on the transcripts, briefs from opposing attorneys, and oral arguments made at a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing, Fagen said.

If Healy loses again, the next rung on the appeals ladder is the state Appellate Court.

Jersey City actually has the second highest rate of HIV infection in the entire country.

The national average for injection-linked cases is about 31%; in New Jersey it is 52%.

I think if HIV was spread through dirty martini glasses, this wouldn't be an issue.