Council to weigh courthouse condos abatement deal
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Perhaps the third time will be the charm for developers seeking to turn the old courthouse building on Montgomery Street in Jersey City's McGinley Square into a 39-unit condo complex.

The developer, Imperial Properties of Pine Brook, approached the city several months ago seeking a 25-year tax abatement, paying the city 12 percent gross annual revenues. The standard tax abatement deal in the city is 20 years and 16 percent "payments in lieu of taxes."

The city's tax abatement committee, chaired by City Council President Mariano Vega, gave a thumbs up to the 25-year term, but kicked up the PILOT payment to 14 percent.

But when the matter came before the council last month, several council members balked at giving the project such a generous package.

The matter was tabled, renegotiated, and then at Monday's council caucus, the developers proposed a 20-year, 15 percent PILOT arrangement.

But several council members still weren't impressed.

"My fear is once you set a precedent you're stuck with it," said Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan. "I just want to know why this (project) deserves a discount."

The developers left the room for a huddle, and then returned to announced they'd agreed to a normal 20/16 tax abatement.

According to a chart prepared by developer's attorney, Eugene Paolino, the difference between this project paying 16 percent PILOTs and 15 percent PILOTs over the course of 20 years amounts to roughly $250,000.

The abatement is scheduled for introduction at tonight's meeting, starting at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St.

War over car seizure plan
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Downtown Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop blasted Police Chief Tom Comey as a "political hack" yesterday for raising questions about his proposal to seize the cars of "johns" and drug buyers.

"This is politics," Fulop said. "The guy (Comey) doesn't get paid to make excuses. He gets paid to confront crime.

"It really comes down to the fact this is being pushed by me," Fulop added. "That's why he's pushing back."

At a caucus meeting of the council Monday, Comey raised several concerns about Fulop's proposal to crack down on drug dealing and prostitution by requiring police to seize the cars of their customers.

Located near Liberty State Park, the city's car pound has a capacity of 700 cars and takes in roughly 300 every month, Comey said.

Comey said he'd also have to see what effect the additional legal work would have on the Prosecutor's Office and court system.

In addition, Comey raised legal concerns about seizing the car of an individual who simply lent their car to a friend or family member.

"I'm trying to do what's in the best interest of the city," Comey said yesterday. "I still have a job to do. I think I'm acting prudently as the (city's) chief law enforcement officer."

City Council President Mariano Vega said Fulop's proposed ordinance is likely to be yanked from tonight's meeting and a council committee would be formed to explore it further.

Fulop proposal is based on "Operation Losing Proposition," a police effort in New York City implemented in the early 1990s to crack down on street prostitution, had as its hallmark the seizure of the cars belonging to "johns."

According to a Harvard University study, the arrests of street prostitute customers rose from 196 in 1992 to 2,756 in 1994. The total revenue produced from the forfeitures to the Police Department increased from $322,538 in 1992 to $940,821 in 1994," the study said.

Location Column - Jersey Journal - Jarrett Renshaw - 4/11

The Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association, or PADNA, is seeking donations to fill its war chest, anticipating a costly legal battle over Toll Brothers' plans to break from the area's redevelopment plan.

Among PADNA's concerns are Toll Brothers plans to demolish the historic Manischewitz building to make room for high-rise residential living, a process that requires substantial deviation from the Power House Arts District Redevelopment Plan.

The plan also calls for the eradication of one of the city's last remaining cobblestone streets, which would be turned into a courtyard.

A host of city officials, including Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Planning Direct Robert Cotter, are expected to meet next week to try to decide what to do with the proposal.

The meeting doesn't strike me as the beacon of democracy, and the players would be smart to consult the redevelopment plan, which was approved through a democratic process.

If Toll is so happy about the merits of their proposal, one has to ask why they have repeatedly declined to discuss the plans with this columnist.

If you can't measure performance, there is no way you can manage it.

The basic challenge of the JC BoE is holding the system, its managers, and the BoE itself, accountable for the performance they deliver or fail to deliver -- qualitatively and financially.

Without an effective system to measure performance of the school system and performance of its board (collectively and individually) against objectively established criteria, and regular report cards (a radical notion here) of performance against the criteria, publicly disclosed, there can be no accountability. (What I'm suggesting here goes far beyond the standardized performance tests students are already required to take.)

The use of performance measurement systems is standard fare in properly managed medium and large sized corporations and institutions. With a budget measured in the hundred of millions, not having such a system in place by the time full control reverts back to the JC BoE would be an omission of the greatest proportions. (Perhaps the same statement can be made also with respect to the administration of Jersey City, as well.)

All the best.

G

That's funny, because I just got that stupid magazine too and the first page says "Jersey City, It's An Oasis". Then towards the bottom there's a picture of Mayor Quimby himself and a quote about the reservoir:

"The development in our city is storied and has been the key to our renaissance here, but it is just as important to provide open space for passive recreation, walking, jogging, and an opportunity for people to fish, canoe and appreciate nature."

Interesting.

Just wait until all the new residents and dogs make their way to Van Vorst Park and Hamilton Park from those residential complexes east of Marin Blvd and south of Grand.
You will need a ticket to enter the parks and be time restricted - then again the front of City Hall would make a great green area and dog run!

It would make a good reason to extend Jersey Ave to LSP for access.

Mayor Healy is quoted on page 42 of the recent issue of JC Magazine as saying " I think we have enough open space. I think anyone who's coming to Jersey City and wants to partake in lounging and walking nature's paths, I think they've probably come to the wrong place".

It must be nice that Mayor Healy has a summer house and can get out of the city. That is not the case for many of us who live in one of the states most densely populated areas. The ratio of park space to people is one of the lowest in the nation. The recreation master plan states that Jersey City does not have nearly enough park space and states that open space acquisition should be the city's highest priority.

This is a very dangerous comment that the Mayor makes and we should make him answer for it.

I heard good things about the Ale House and tried it out about a year ago. Terrible food, mediocre service, odd crowd, and crummy atmosphere. The bars in Paulus Hook are 1,000 times better. Not sure why so many people like (liked) the Ale House. A mystery to me.

I think the place has made a bit of change for the better. The music is fine (never heard any BJ) and the food pretty good. They always accommodate special requests, the wait staff is friendly and so is the owner - always get taken care of when I go there. In the 5 years I have been going to this place, I count on one hand the times the owner came up to me said hello. Maybe its good that a someone from South Jersey took over the place

First and Grove-- I believe there was a sign saying a Soul Food restaurant was going in there.

The paper is down from the windows. Won't be long now.

This was posted by GrovePath in another thread, but I thought I would post it here since this is where the main discussion is taking place.

by GrovePath on 2007/4/8 9:28:39

Their chance to stand out in the crowd
9 school board candidates talk issues at debate

Saturday, April 07, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

With two of three incumbents up for re-election dropping from the contest, the Jersey City school board election has stoked more interest than usual. And the presence of an ex-mayor and former hoops star on the ballot hasn't hurt.

Nine of the 11 candidates vying for the three seats up for grabs in the April 17 election participated Thursday night in a forum at School 37 organized by the Jersey City Families for Better Schools, a newly formed parents group.

Moderated by New York Times reporter John Holl, the two-hour event gave candidates an opportunity to score points with the roughly 60 persons who attended.

Except for former Jersey City Gerald McCann, former City Councilman Ben Lopez, and school board incumbent Angel Valentin, the hopefuls have never held elected office.

Three of the candidates - Valentin, Jenny Garcia and Jenny Campbell - have children enrolled in Jersey City public schools.

Garcia - a mother of four students with learning disabilities - offered the most heartfelt "I don't know" of the evening when she was asked what she'd cut to save money in the district's $600 million school budget.

"How do you tell a parent we're going to cut this and that?" Garcia said. "If you don't have a child in the system, you can't make an informed decision."

Campbell admitted she hasn't lived in the district since December, but says she'll move back as soon as work is completed on the foundation of her Astor Place home. She says she expects the work to be done by September.

Former NBA star and St. Anthony High School standout Lennox "Terry" Dehere offered up the novel idea of hiring more employees to save money.

Reacting to stories in The Jersey Journal about excessive overtime payments to custodians and painters in the district, Dehere argued if the district had more employees there'd be less need to pay overtime.

Seeking vindication, Michael Esposito, president of the Hudson Gardens Council, claimed he was "robbed" last year when he ran for the board and lost by 40 votes. "We need to take politics out of education," he said.

McCann elicited the night's biggest chuckle when a Jersey City resident who teaches in Bergen County asked what the candidates would do about bad administrators.

"I've fired more people in Jersey City than everybody here," McCann said. "I've fired cops, so I can easily fire teachers."

Moses Ballon, a project monitor with the city's Division of Economic Opportunity, promised if elected to create "focus groups" to determine remedies for the school system.

Lopez, who runs the county's Department of Family Services, said the board needed to act as an "Inspector General" to identify "efficiencies" and root out waste.

Arnold Williams, a former city employee, had the most Oprah-ish moment of the evening when he revealed he's a former crack addict and was a victim of sexual abuse. Now addiction-free, he can relate to "on the brink" students, he said.

Let's not add to their view counter.

ask sonia and janet over at the NWA website. they engage in some stunningly deep discourse about all of the relevant, pressing issues on the minds of JC residents.

Quote:

How come Fulop is not endorsing any of the candidates? I remember he did endorse three candidates last year -- but I don't think any of them won. I agree with alb that it would be great to have endorsements from JCFBS. Re Althea's question, I don't think it's useful for an organization to endorse more candidates than it's possible to vote for -- most people will use the endorsement because they don't have time/energy to do the research themselves; if several candidates were endorsed, the voter would still have to decide amongst them.

wow you are correct

i now understand that i have no clue what tax abatement really means

this issue needs much more study time

I think you misunderstand the nature of the tax abatement - for more info see this thread:
JC List

Theoretical question:

Say in the coming years JCFBS comes up with their own candidates... not just endorsing candidates, but fully running candidates, should JCFBS only endorse and/or run three candidates?

I have been thinking and it seems to me that the public would want to know and have endorsed by JCFBS any and all candidates that meet the JCFBS criteria (whatever that may be). This might be 2 candidtes or 5... It just seems completely unfair for anyone to endorse just three or always three.

Does this make sense?

Althea

That is really sweet. However, i would be in the category of "passionate and well intentioned, but knows nothing!" That's not what we need right now. We need candidates who can hit the ground running. We need a candidate that can say, "the last superintendent had 9 administrative staff and this one has 34, let me see the books!"

Too bad I can't be in some clerical position where I can have access information, legally public information that is and get a better sense of how things work. Now that would be useful. We need informational booklets for parents. Hopefully this will be one of the next steps.

Althea



Quote:

Just to be clear here. JC Family Intiative is a wonderful, but non-profit (meaning non-political) parenting group for families living in Jersey City. They will never endorse or run candidates for the elected positions as per their tax status.

Jersey City Families for Better Schools (JCFBS) is a newly formed group with the sole purpose of creating an excellent schooling system in JC. This organization was founded and run by Shelly Skinner and JC Family offers this organization any and all support possible. JCFBS is able to go way beyond JC Family's limitations and focus on one goal.

Alb- When I asked about Fulop and putting all our eggs in his basket, he's not running or endorsing a slate of candidates either. I'd like to think that since Fulop is a representative that is genuinely interested and willing to help, that he is more of one of the partners in this fight for a better school system.

where do we stand on this issue

have the abatements down their job?

are new abatements simply tax breaks for the wealthy?

what would happen if jersey city stopped giving these tax breaks

would development come to a screaching halt?

would that be a bad thing?

should jersey city use the abatement to wring concessions from lefrak and others for ...say more park land for instance?

could a politician win in jc with a platform of "no more tax breaks for the wealthy" ?

April 6, 2007


Re: Toll Brothers Development Plans for the Manischewitz and Caputo Lots in the PAD

Dear Friends,

As you know, the Powerhouse Arts District (PAD) is being redeveloped at lightning speed. As a neighborhood, our residents expect ?indeed welcome ?development. However, we believe this development should be done with an understanding of the intrinsic character of the neighborhood, a sense of history, and the wishes of its residents in mind.

As many Downtown residents recognize, the City?s failure to support its own laws as they related to the 111 First Street settlement established a precedent that developers could effectively negate zoning law which impacts their ability to maximize profits.

This precedent is now having a ?domino effect? on other planned development in the PAD. A proposed development for the Manischewitz Matzo Factory lot and the adjacent ?Caputo? lot (directly East) could represent the next domino to fall.

Toll Brothers, a national developer, is circulating a proposal to City Council and City Planning for the Manischewitz / Caputo sites that would radically change the look and feel of our growing neighborhood. If this proposal is approved, it will forever alter the scale and character of the PAD ? and not for the better. The Toll proposal will among other things,

? Demolish irreplaceable historic warehouses,
? Double the building density permitted by law,
? Build four times higher than permitted by law,
? Appropriate and destroy one of the last cobblestone streets in Jersey City, and
? Cast large portions of the neighborhood into permanent shadow.

Developers, the City Administration, and the Planning Department agree that this proposal violates the PAD Redevelopment Plan ? a long-term plan adopted by the City to encourage sensible and stable development of the area and to create a lively arts district to benefit all Jersey City residents. To date, the Redevelopment Plan has been very well received, spurring the development of a number of very successful projects.

Moreover, neither Toll nor the City has conducted environmental impact studies on how Toll?s proposed doubling in housing density would affect existing sewer, water and electrical service, traffic and parking within the immediate and surrounding neighborhoods, and overcrowding at the Grove Street PATH station and on trains.

Over the past several months, PADNA has worked diligently to make our concerns known ? meeting with various City politicians and employees, members of the press, and repeatedly attempting to meet with Toll. In addition, we are conducting a door-to-door voter registration drive to ensure that we have a strong voice in the future of our neighborhood and the City in the next election.

However, we also have come to realize that we will need legal counsel to help us understand our options and the strategies we can use to enforce existing laws and the goals of the PAD Redevelopment Plan.

Accordingly, we are appealing to you to support the PADNA Legal Fund by donating $500, $1,000, or $5,000. While we will likely need tens of thousands of dollars to be effective, any amount that you or your organization is able to contribute will help us reach our goal. Any donated funds will be used solely to aid us in addressing the Toll Brothers proposal that intends to eviscerate a historic area of the City and other similar ill-advised future development.

Additionally, we encourage you and your members to get on our email list by writing to us at padna.communication@gmail.com. We will keep you up to date with all breaking news. Please visit our new website at www.padnajc.org

If we don?t stop the Manischewitz/Caputo domino from falling, the Powerhouse Arts District, as sensibly envisioned in 2002, will cease to exist. There are many dominos located throughout Downtown. We can either choose to stand up now or look forward to fighting this battle elsewhere as
the same sort of developer greed creeps into other historic Jersey City neighborhoods.

Sincerely,



Rich Tomko
PADNA President

P.S.: Please make checks out to ?PADNA?, with ?Legal Fund? written in the memo section, and mail to the PADNA, PO Box 3834, Jersey City, NJ 07303-3834. Please contact us at
padna.communication@gmail.com with your comments or thoughts. The Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association is a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation, and all contributions are non-refundable and tax-deductible; we will send you a receipt for tax purposes.

PADNA Board
Janine Berger (VP, Marketing), Jill Edelman (At Large), Sanket Khanna (VP, Communications), Kevin Pollack (At
Large), Kara Tomko (Secretary), Mike Wentzel (Treasurer).

PADNA Development Committee
Jill Edelman,- Head, Development Committee (Architect), Evan Gourvitz (Attorney), Brian Gustufson
(Artist/Professor of Art NJCU), Robert Koch (Artist), Kathy Kocian (Graphic Design), Kathryn Leonard (Media),
Margaret Santos (Architect/Professor, Temple University), Antonio Santos (Architect/Professor of City Planning
NJIT)), Marc Simon (Architect/Commercial Real Estate Broker), Leigh Smith (Attorney), and Rich Tomko (Media)



Toll Brothers Development Plan Summary

The following is a summary of what Toll Brothers is permitted to do under existing city law (the PAD Redevelopment Plan) and the details we have been able to gather regarding Toll Brothers? new development proposal.

As you will note, Toll?s development plan is in direct conflict with the language and the spirit of the PAD Redevelopment Plan. It shows a complete disregard for the scale of the neighborhood, as well as the texture and character of the existing warehouses.

March 2006. Toll Brothers - a national luxury housing developer - purchased the Manischewitz matzo factory (Lot 171).

Fall/Winter 2006. After the City?s settlement of the 111 First Street lawsuits, Toll Brothers also acquired a majority stake in the adjacent lot (Lot 140, commonly called the Caputo Lot), through a joint venture with Hoboken-based developer Fields Development Group.

December 2006. Toll Brothers began circulating their vision for the development of the Manischewitz/Caputo sites which includes:

- All existing structures on both sites, including the two historic warehouses, would be demolished.
- The Manischewitz and Caputo sites would be joined, tearing up Provost Street - one of Jersey City?s last remaining cobblestone streets. Toll proposes to replace the
cobblestones with a 200? x 200? concrete plaza between the two building bases.

Manischewitz Lot (Lot 171):

Permitted by existing law:
- The 6-story warehouse (formerly the A&P Annex) at the eastern side of the site would be rehabilitated. The remainder of the site could be leveled and built new.
- New construction would have a maximum FAR (Floor Area Ratio) of 7, a height limit of 90? (excluding setback penthouses) and maximum lot coverage of 80%.

Tolls Development plans:
- Demolish the historic A&P Annex building
- Erect a 200? x 310? five-story retail and parking base, filling out almost the entire block.
- Two wall-like towers on top of the parking base, oriented East/West - essentially blocking all sun to 150 Bay Street.
- Both towers would rise from the lot lines and have no setbacks.
o The southwest tower would rise 409 feet ? more than four times the legal limit.
o The northeast tower would rise 329 feet ? more than three times the legal limit.
- A proposed FAR approaching 15 ? more than twice the legal limit.

Caputo Lot (Lot 140):

Permitted by existing law:
- The 5-story J. Leo Cooke warehouse at the eastern edge of the site would be rehabilitated and turned into residential units and ground floor retail and galleries.
- The 2-story warehouse at the southeast corner of the site would be rehabilitated and converted into a black box theater.
- New construction up to 170? high, without setbacks of residential units, would take place on the site of the former parking lot. There will be ground-floor retail and galleries as outlined by the PAD plan.

Tolls Development Plans:
- Demolish the historic J Leo Cooke warehouse building
- Erect a 200? x 200? seven-story retail and parking base, filling out almost the entire block.
- One wall-like tower across the entire base, oriented East/West, blocking all sun to 140 Bay Street.
o The tower will rise 288 feet - almost twice the legal limit.
o Provost Street, one of the last cobblestone streets in Jersey City, would be taken over and torn up by Toll to create a 200? x 200? concrete plaza between the two bases.

For visual representations of the proposed Toll Brothers plans for the Manischewitz and Caputo sites and the legally approved development rights, click here http://www.padnajc.org/Keeping_the_PAD.html

Prosecutors say he shot a man to death but got 11 years because witnesses were....SCARED SILENT

Tuesday, April 10, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Family members of a dead Jersey City man were outraged yesterday by the 11-year-sentence meted out to Tyrone Rush in a cold-blooded killing, but prosecutors say it's not their fault - their case was weakened because witnesses were too afraid to testify.

"He's a murderer and I hate his guts, and (the sentence) is too short," said Adriane Parsons, the sister of Tyrone Parsons, who prosecutors say was gunned down by Rush on Dwight Street on Nov. 16, 2005.

Prosecutors said Rush, 23, chased Parsons while firing at him until Parsons went down, then pumped more rounds into his back, killing him. In the end, Rush pleaded guilty to being an accomplice in the shooting.

A handcuffed Rush smiled several times during the sentencing. Rush, who has already served one year and 4 months, must serve an additional seven years and 10 months before he has a chance of parole.

As Rush was led from the courtroom, one of Parsons' family members angrily told Rush: "Back to the hell hole."

Rush has been arrested 11 times as an adult and he had contact with the juvenile system 14 times. He has previous convictions on drug and weapons charges and was in prison from May 30, 2003 to April 22, 2005 and from June 30, 2005 to July 25, 2005. Yesterday he was also sentenced for robbery and weapon offenses.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Lakomy wanted a longer sentence.

"It's unfortunate that due to the Rush name, the Rush family, that the victims recanted, claimed they identified the wrong people, said they were not willing to come forward," Lakomy said. "The state has tried to do everything to seek justice under the circumstance."

Tyrone Rush's attorney, John Caruso of Newark, agreed that the case was weak but said there was no evidence any witness was intimidated.

"Only one man claimed to be a witness to the shooting. He only gave the statement when he himself was facing prosecution, and there were indications he was claiming he was forced to make the identification and was going to recant," Caruso said. "The only other eyewitness who claimed it was Rush identified someone else in a photo lineup."

Caruso, in asking the judge for leniency, claimed Rush was on drugs at the time and had a rough childhood.

Rush was taking eight tablets of the drug ecstasy a day, Caruso said, adding that Rush's father was abusive to his mother, stabbed her and once set their house on fire. The defense lawyer said his client dropped out of school in ninth grade and has two children, an 8-month-old and a 3-year-old child.

Tyrone Rush's cousin, Shawnatrayer Rush, claimed he was innocent.

"I think the court system failed us," she said. "The case was too weak to even bring him to court. I think they did it to accommodate the victim's family. He's not a saint, I know that, but he's an innocent man."

Miracle Moore-Rush, another cousin, said: "He was brought (to jail) as a boy and he'll come out a man. Thank God he won't be on the streets because he wouldn't survive."

Quote:

My understanding is that this is really a national phenomenon, too. Gang and/or gang-like activity is cropping up all over the place. Maybe Jersey City is actually a little ahead of the curve in dealing with this issue because people here went ballistic so early.

this whole thread really irks me. it seems like there's a disconnect between what is really happening with these kids and what some think about what is really going on. we're talking gangs....they're downright dangerous and increasingly out of control. very few parents or guardians are part of this scenario. it's a group think mentality in which the family exists within these units, and there's a lot more going on here than "kids" just "rumbling".

i think these kids need voices they can hear....ex gang members, those who have been through it, those who can try to steer them in the right direction. i applaud those in our community who are already doing this. i don't propose to fully understand, but i also realize it's a lot more serious than just "letting the kids fight it out."

honestly, when i see a group of kids on the street, i am super careful. i don't trust what can happen.
i see this as an issue that is only growing deeper and think that the opinions i've read in here so far do not fully grasp the seriousness of the issue....

Why don't you run, Althea? You have certainly shown more commitment and initiative than any of the candidates currently running.

If I know my vote wouldn't be wasted, I would put you in the "personal choice" vote.

I remember the first time I voted in JC for the BOE elections. Voting was held in a school and I made the mistake of getting there just as school was about to let out. I thought I would have to wait in a long line of parents. After all, this was staged in a school!

I was the second person that day and there was no line.

Seemed strange to me.... i mean, it was at a school where adults come to pick up their kids. It was right there.

Apathy.

Quote:

I will make no excuses for anyone and your concerns are very valid.
I will ask her to get in contact with you and with her permission I will post why she has been " absent" the last 2 months from anything other than O.E.M or family matters.

Please someone tell me something good about our Mayor and the politics of our fair city. Please. Quick. Just one thing will do.

Anything.

Please.

Quote:

Not quite.

I am not opposed to additional traffic in downtown -- I am opposed to additional traffic in Liberty State Park.

A boat marina and a golf course have already been contructed. In the case of the boat marina, this used to be the location of a grassy "Great Lawn" -- now gone.

I like Sam Pesin's comparison of Liberty State Park to New York's Central Park.

Let's keep cars the heck out of there and give the thousands of new people and Jersey City oldtimers a chance at a breath of fresh air.

Right now, people can "walk" into the park via Jersey Avenue. A cleaner/sturdier walking bridge would be nice.

But the concept of "walking bridge" ain't broke and it don't need fixin'.

I feel for the folks over in Bergen/Lafeyette and agree they need a break (and there are suitable alternatives available). However, ruining the park is not a reasonable solution.

-M