K-Lo2 wrote:
Thank you for withdrawing your charge of racism.

caj11 wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:
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Dolomiti wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:

The neighborhood residents and their respective Neighborhood Association are two totally different things. Most NAs have their own agenda, set by their (usually self-appointed and unelected) board members. It's also no secret that they are very hostile to things a modern functioning city should have, like local retail and bike lanes. All in the name of protecting their free parking and restricting development to prop up their own home values.

Agreed 100%. I don't really care one way or the other about Prato Bakery but having lived in two different neighborhoods of Jersey City, I didn't feel that either NA represented my or even the majority of the neighborhood's interest. They were largely led by loudmouths who couldn't get elected on the city council to save their lives. Instead, they would become leaders of these NAs to get the attention they so desperately craved, showing up at every council meeting and grilling the council members with question after stupid question, making the meetings go four hours or longer when those of us who only want to hear about a few things or ask one question have to go to work tomorrow. They never spoke for me, or the neighborhood, just for themselves and what they thought was good for the neighborhood by virtue of having living in it so long.

In fairness, the NA in one neighborhood did organize social events from time to time and they did a good job of that. That's what NAs should do to help improve the area, but instead they just take up time at city council meetings and think they represent everyone in their neighborhood, when they don't - not legally or in any other way.

K-Lo2 wrote:
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Right now the VVPA is trying to prevent a Mexican restaurant from opening up, because their board and old timer members are scared of brown people congregating.

False. Absolutely false. The issue at 328 Montgomery Street pertains to historic preservation and changes made by the owner of the building, not the new tenant.

Yvonne wrote:
Nickie, again, you are the result of poor mothering. But then again, you probably attack the handicapped too. I know you think you are insulting me, but you are having a meltdown because you cannot have your way. You are afraid of truths. I suggest counseling because adults should know better than act like kids. You don't. You are an example of what I said about ISIS, they kill the body when they cannot have their way, you try to kill with words but I forgive you. You do not know better.

Yvonne wrote:
The below comments are the example of no tolerance for others. Some people here have the same 'tolerance' as ISIS. Their answer is - if you don't believe what I believe (ISIS) they will kill the nonbeliever. The so-call tolerant people who do not tolerant another point of view try to kill someone's reputation. ISIS kills the body, you try to kill the reputation with words. Personally, I hate no one, but I do feel sorry for people who are not tolerant to other points of view.

Dolomiti wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:
The OP (squeeg) seems quite elated they're leaving and is lauding the HPNA, indicating they had something to do with this decision.

So they drove out a very popular bakery that closes in the early evenings that most of the neighborhood really enjoyed. Wonderful. I hope the NA is happy with the hair salon/real estate office/some sort of preschool they'll wind up getting in its place.

I think you misunderstand squeeg's post.

Let's note that squeeg speaks for squeeg. Not for anyone else in JC, not for residents of the neighborhood, not the HPNA. S/he didn't even mention the HPNA. S/he said "Harsimus Cove community."

Squeeg also wasn't attacking Prato, s/he was attacking the landlord. From the post in question:

"Dear Prato - we love your coffee and your baked goods and we do wish you much luck in your new location....it was never about you or your products. It was always about your landlord who we punched in the nuts for their douchiness... "

Things have been good with Prato for well over a year now. The most recent news, as you can see in this very thread, is that Prato and/or the landlord tried to change the zoning from Cafe to Restaurant, which would allow a business there to apply for a liquor license. That was denied, but Prato did get a variance to expand from 20 seats to 34.

No one in the neighborhood has said or done anything opposing Prato since then. No one has tried to drive them out. Again, the owner said he liked being a part of the neighborhood. Despite a few issues, they've been good neighbors overall.

Or are you saying that people in the neighborhood buying coffee and sandwiches from Prato was a devious plot to kick them out of the neighborhood...?

Dolomiti wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:
The NA NIMBYs claim another scalp. These worthless organizations need to be dissolved.

Oh, whatever

I don't know what squeeg knows, but it sounds like it's the landlord who has chosen not to renew the lease. Prato has been doing a good business for quite some time now. Just last month, the owner of Prato was saying he liked being part of the neighborhood, and knowing their regular customers:
http://jerseycityeats.blogspot.com/20 ... et-vendor-prato.html#more

I see no indication that the neighborhood chased them out.

JCGuys wrote:
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squeeg wrote:
NEWS FLASH....PRATO BAKERY IS CLOSING AT THE END OF 2017!!!

Their lease was not renewed and as a result they are moving to a different location in Jersey City with more foot traffic.

I am soooo proud that the neighbors in the community and Harsimus Cove made sure the zoning board understood their grievances were about quality of life and privacy against the buildings landlord and not about Prato, coffee or baked goods!

BRAVO TO THE HARSIMUS COVE COMMUNITY FOR STANDING YOUR GROUND!

We will be sure to take the same fight to the front lines when a new tenant tries to move in and the landlord tries to do the same thing, although now that the "cafe law" is written in JC code the rules are clearly defined...

Dear Prato - we love your coffee and your baked goods and we do wish you much luck in your new location....it was never about you or your products. It was always about your landlord who we punched in the nuts for their douchiness... Prato was dragged into it because the landlord was not honest with you about the zoning laws before you moved in.

The landlord figured that because they are tight with the Mayor they could bully their way through without heading to the zoning laws and they used Prato to try and get their way. Good for you Prato for moving to a better location...!

Epic fail by the landlord!! (we're watching you)

Good luck Prato!!

To be continued...

XOXO

Congratulations Harsimus Cove...

Yvonne wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:
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Yvonne wrote:
You people are ridiculous, I posted a real story about a neighbor who had to use her car because surgery plus treatment left her chest sore, she told me she could not ride the PATH because the bumps from other passengers left her in pain. Yes, people do need cars. Luckily, she did recover. But your comments are ridiculous. People need their cars.
Cars are an improvements on the horses which lined the city before the auto. You didn't have to deal with the smell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0mk1b09NM

By the way, I receive no pleasure when other people have sorrow. I suggest you check your own conscience.

The only concern the fat slob Yvonne has is paying 0 or as little as she possibly can in taxes (though it's perfectly OK for everyone else to compensate and pick up her slack) and ensuring she encounters as little traffic and can find easy, free parking wherever she goes. The only concern here is for herself and becoming a power broker in the next administration and her crocodile tears about neighbors and "people she knows" only further that purpose.

So nickie, your mother raised a son with no manners. Personally, I would be horrified if my sons had your manners. So where did you get your doctor's degree? From the streets where low life make comments on the corner. You are a disgrace.

Yvonne wrote:
You people are ridiculous, I posted a real story about a neighbor who had to use her car because surgery plus treatment left her chest sore, she told me she could not ride the PATH because the bumps from other passengers left her in pain. Yes, people do need cars. Luckily, she did recover. But your comments are ridiculous. People need their cars.
Cars are an improvements on the horses which lined the city before the auto. You didn't have to deal with the smell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0mk1b09NM

By the way, I receive no pleasure when other people have sorrow. I suggest you check your own conscience.

bodhipooh wrote:
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brewster wrote:
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MDM wrote:
A factory conversion to lofts by me has many of the new tenants parking in the street. I talked to a few of the tenants was the parking fees are too high.

Used to have good street parking around here. Not anymore. JCPD has been upping the ticketing frequency due to neighbors complaining about illegal parking (too close to the intersections, etc.).

I also noticed it appears many of the residents of Cast Iron Lofts are using the road below Christ Hospital for parking as well. Cast Iron Lofts has an extensive parking deck. Parking fees too high as well?

Is this only an issue where there is no zoned parking? I thought residents of these new developments were ineligible to get parking stickers. The Cast Iron area is a clusterfuck, there is very little parking control at all, apparently they don't sweep the streets in that zone! The parking on 13th between Monmouth and Coles creates a hazard with the unnecessary 2 way traffic and the street dangerously narrowed.

More broadly, we should just let the market provide parking, and what it cost is what it costs. No one has a right to park their car in Manhattan and it seems to be doing alright. Hoboken is far harder to park than anywhere DT and it's doing alright too.

But if it's true those decks are underused, they should be forced to lower their prices till they're at 90% occupancy, and then let the occupancy rate dictate the price. Holding spots off the market is just stupid.

The parking permit regulations are quite clear: if your building has parking available, you are not eligible for a permit. They are fierce about enforcing that rule. The only possible out from that is the building parking is completely full and spots are not available to sell or rent, then you have to get a letter from the building management stating as much, and you can bring that along with the other requisite materials.

If there is a parking problem of residents parking on the streets when their building has parking available, complain to the Parking Authority and asked for stepped up enforcement of permit parking. But, don't conflate one matter with the other (not directed at you, Brewster!) as that only helps to confuse the matter at hand.

In the end, the real problem is that a bunch of NA old timers are always complaining about parking, and they are almost exclusively focused on that. It's a shame that so many other matters that should be handled with more urgency are getting short shrift because of the usual "OMG... parking! We are losing parking to newcomers".

Yvonne wrote:
They are half empty because they charge an arm and a leg to rent the spaces. They are not half empty at St. John's apt and Brunswich Towers. St. John's charges very little and it is FREE for Brunswich residents. The fees and or rents are high enough, people are not willing to pay more. If the city ordinance required those spaces to be free for its residents, they would not be half empty.

brewster wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:
an abated building is still better than a parking lot.

Not according to Her Highness Yvonne.

hero69 wrote:
people complaining about PATH crowding need to do a reality check. the city doesn't really care as long as it developes...and the PATH is never really that crowded compared to other major cities. we're not in kansas anymore!

Yvonne wrote:
Unlike you so call doctor, I am not fooled. I read the council agenda and I attend the meetings. I know what is being passed by the council. Very little on the agenda comes from the council members, it comes from the mayor. Spending is at a all time high. Healy's last budget $485 million - Fulop's budget $589 million. Spending is out of control.

caj11 wrote:
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Mao wrote:
Why gross? (Serious question)

Mr. Matsikoudis is nothing but what we call a Healy Holdover (HH). Yes, Fulop was disappointing but do you really want to return to a Healy-style administration with this HH?

hero69 wrote:
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Annod wrote:
@StevenFulop

So... looks like JC actually did better $ w/Exchange Place vs LSP. Most expenses were a wash but we doubled $ from the Carnival. Go figure

10:27 AM - 6 Jul 2017

https://twitter.com/StevenFulop/status/882969148527128576

maybe jc should consider using exchange place more often

DTNJC wrote:
Great use of taxpayers $$$$ Steve. Typical of HC. We all know there are some extra $ being exchanged behind diner doors on this one.

mfadam wrote:
Hey Dr - let's just stick to facts please. I'm all for smart commercial development. In fact a well planned out restaurant/ bar area no doubt raises property values on the whole. The key is "smart". JC has a very haphazard restaurant overlay and toothless code when it comes to distinctions between bars and restaurants. You think JCPD enforces noise code much?

So you get places like Gringos which would be far less likely to cause problems were it not surrounded by residential homes/condos. It's pretty tough to argue that a place like that open til 3am on weekends is going to be a net positive for neighboring residents. It's not much different than being close to a fraternity house or airport. People get discounts on real estate to compensate for all the negative externalities.

Furthermore being close to Chris Columbus is an apples to oranges argument. You think there's much noise coming from that road past 10PM? Nope. Plus any auto noise is much different that low end bass from bar stereos and the yelling drunks rolling out after last call.

mbrad52 wrote:
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MikeyTBC wrote:
4 Bros from hoboken open a taco shop named "gringos"

Isn't that exactly why they SHOULD call it Gringos? They aren't advertising themselves as an authentic Mexican restaurant. And I feel like if they did try and take that route they would get criticized for that too.. They aren't trying to pretend to be something they're not-they are putting it right out there with the restaurant name.

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't. There is plenty of room for another "mexican-inspired" restaurant in downtown JC. How many pizza places do we have at this point?

The more tacos the merrier.

mfadam wrote:
there seems to be minimal consideration for impact on residential neighbors with the bar boom occurring in DTJC.

Gringos looks like fun but the location is terrible in terms of the negative impact it will have on neighbors. They somehow got permits for a roof deck (neighboring rowhouse is 10 feet away) and outdoor seating by Coles.

All of those residential units within the noise footprint just took a 10% price haircut. Not sure that's what they signed up for when they bought...

If Gringos is smart they close at 11 and pay to police Maxwell Alley to keep drunken shenanigans to a minimum...

jc_dweller wrote:
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Yvonne wrote:
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CatDog wrote:
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Yvonne wrote:
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jc_dweller wrote:
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Yvonne wrote:
What hyprocrites, people say no censorship but there is censorship with the ban on chain stores downtown. Why is one fine but not the other?

To point out the obvious, one (art) is protected by the first amendment. The other (stores) is not.

Funny, how liberals ignore the First Amendment on other matters like the florists and bakers who do not want to cater a same sex wedding. Religion falls under the First Amendment before speech , assembly, etc. Returning to the subject, it is still mediocre art.

The law isn't stopping you from being a Catholic. It's just stopping you from treating other people like subhumans. Your arguments are identical to the ones made against interracial marriage, desegregation, and abolition, fyi.

Your concern trolling about the Constitution would make a lot more sense if you had the vaguest understanding of how it works, and if you weren't constantly harping on about nonsense like tiger murals scaring awful drivers.

The law requires people to call Jesus a liar on marriage. Jesus said, "A man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and the two will be one flesh." Religion does not stop when you leave your house of worship. Granted this is another topic. The Supreme Court also said Dred Scott was not a citizen. So why is the Supreme Court right now?

The Bible, in 1 Timothy 2:12, also says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet."

I don't see you being quiet here, so please stop cherry picking your verses.

MDM wrote:
My old neighborhood in Hoboken went under water. Have the check if the heaviest rain came during high tide.

brewster wrote:
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dr_nick_riviera wrote:
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Probably because there's a lack of adequate retail space that can accommodate such a large store, at least in Downtown JC. You can thank our wonderful neighborhood associations for doing everything they could to limit retail over the years.

True that. But TJ's is actually pretty small as far as these things go.

JonnyF86 wrote:
I've said this before but I just don't understand why JC cannot get a decent grocery store. Whole Foods/TJ's, etc, etc, etc are a dime a dozen in other parts of the country.

Why with all the new development here is this so hard!?

brewster wrote:
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Dolomiti wrote:
Tax abatements has nothing whatsoever to do with this. The problem is that JC hasn't done a reval since 1988, which results in massive imbalances.

You left out that Yvonne, with her hysterical drum beating about property taxes and horror stories of 88, is directly responsible for this delay by making the politicians terrified of doing it. And she cashed out of DT for 100 times her taxes.

Yvonne wrote:
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JCman24 wrote:
You're so terrible at critical thinking but also so vocal that it's actually kind of fascinating. Are you actually Donald Trump?

Critical thinking? You have narrow streets with lite rail cars on them. There are reported accidents every year. This is not Philadelphia that has wide streets and transit trains and cars share the same space comfortably. It is also compounded by the facts development is happening without parking so more cars cruise the streets looking for available parking. Where is the traffice study done by the city? There hasn't been one since the 1980s. Development is also under a redevelopment plans which eliminates the need for a traffic study. Cities with greater population size has less accidents with cars, people and lite rail.

tern wrote:
I checked and it is Rebecca Symes herself, general counsel for Dixon Properties, who is also president of the Harsimus Cove Neighborhood Association.

http://harsimuscove.org/board-of-directors

Robin.