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I've always wondered about the revolving door policy that exists for sociopaths and other scumbags that slip through the cracks in the judicial system. It costs time and money to deal with these specimens of humanity, so I propose a more simple solution to wean them off of society's back. For repeat offenders (and by that I mean the only the worst of the worst--i.e., convicted serial killers, deranged arsonists, child predators, sideshow clown flunkies, and the like), I suggest internment in a 9' x 9' cage for the duration of their sentence. This would be an economical means of deterring "bad behavior." Here are some potential benefits:

1. The cages would be stackable (probably 3 or 4 high), freeing up valuable real estate for more useful development (i.e., Trump Plaza II).
2. Cost to taxpayers = $0.00* maintenance per year, every year! Without having guards on duty 24/7, electricity, running water, or anything bearing a semblance to creature comforts really, inmates would eke out a spartan existence twiddling their thumbs.
3. Lots of fresh air (unless the guy above you has some bad gas) and sunshine (except for the occasional thundershower/dust storm/locust swarm).
4. Excellent visibility for passersby and aspiring hoodlums to think twice before finding themselves in a similar housing situation.

*This round number represents recurring costs after funds are allocated to procure the metal cages, but this would be a one-time expense. If an occupant is released and/or dies during their term of incarceration, just a little bit of Clorox and old rags will return the cage to its previously pristine, just-like-new, move-in-ready condition.

This "cubicle farm prison" would serve as an effective deterrent because it breaks from the traditional model of 3 square meals a day provided by the state and free outdoor exercise equipment subsidized by taxpayer funds. Instead, upon incarceration, once the cage is locked, said inmate would have to rely on his/her OWN friends and relatives to bring them their meals, empty out their Porta Potty, and have fireside chats with them during the snowy winter months. You'll find out who your true friends are/were after keeping up this regimen for just a few weeks. Murderous Mitch won't seem so tough when his main squeeze bails out on him after becoming nauseated from having to empty his chamber pot during her daily visits... Kermit the Knife will sigh in despair while picking at his empty plate since his beloved son decided to go on a last minute vacation without leaving him some MREs.

There is no reason for these incorrigible criminals to continue to be a ward of the society they have inflicted such pain and suffering upon. The welfare mentality should stop. If you have repeatedly proven yourself unfit to be a part of civilization, then it is time for you to be treated like the barbarian that is your true nature. If this farfetched, ridiculous idea were ever to be implemented, I bet that most (certainly not all) forms of crime would vanish. The idea of shivering in a frozen cage while being tormented by snowballs hurled by neighborhood schoolchildren on winter recess does wonders for the ego of a criminal in training.

Toodles, aspiring scumbags everywhere!

I wonder if I could get a part-time job on the PATH board of directors... I doubt my ideas would be any worse than the ones they've already come up with. For instance, why not hire "white glove" handlers to help out on the platforms (especially NWK and JSQ) during the morning/evening rush? These friendly folks would assist passengers in squeezing into the packed metal tin cans as they prepared to be whisked away to their intended destinations. This plan would provide gainful employment to sociopaths and other scumbags who would otherwise waste their days lounging around the JSQ fountain and has already been implemented successfully in Japan. Look forward to HOPE and CHANGE*, courtesy of your PATH leadership!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk2R_mqV4ts

*Note: due to the proposed plan, patrons will incur a $3.00 - $5.00 monthly surcharge to offset the cost of training and housing said handlers. Thank you for your continued patronage!

I thought the units were kind of small for the listed prices. There is also no on-site parking (I was assured of ample rental available nearby). The staged model units I looked at had windows in the bedroom facing inward, so you get to see the side of an adjacent, older brick building and also someone's backyard, complete with children's toys and trash strewn all over the place. I guess the biggest draw is its proximity to the Grove Street PATH. The biggest negative would be the building's proximity to the PATH.

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I agree, JCbiscuit. I would also generalize this overall decline in civility to much of the northeast. It's during confrontations like the one you described that I am reminded people really are no different from animals. If you take away the saving grace of rational thought, I'd rather be dealing with a stray, rabid dog than a self-absorbed punk lacking any shred of a conscience--at least with the former, you expect that kind of behavior.

I really think it is a northeast phenomenon. Every time I've been out west (California), I never experienced any similar "meltdowns". It could be the environment and the frenetic pace of life that generates all this negativity. Of course, that's not to say that there aren't any assholes lurking out west--you find those sub-humans/things everywhere.

To echo the sentiments of our recently departed fellow American and unsuspecting, honorary publicist of the LAPD: "Can't we all just get along?"

Newark Ave must be the crappiest roads I've ever seen. I've driven and walked along the stretch between the schoolhouse and under I-78 constantly worrying about whether the tires would blow out from under me due to extreme stress or if the sidewalk would cave in after taking my next step. I think that dirt roads in Somalia would put this poor excuse for a street to shame--at least they didn't require taxpayer funding. I've always wondered if the road was purposely left in its decrepit state in an veiled attempt to separate DTJC from JSQ... Just head a few blocks west and it's almost as if you've finally left this showcase of a Third World facade behind.

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I suppose "horrifying" may be a bit of an exaggeration, but let's just say I wish that our roles were reversed. It is frustrating to stumble across the few, semi-decent listings that trickle onto the market only to be greeted with a potential bidding war already in progress. As you say, that's just the nature of the market with low inventory all around, but it sucks if you're suddenly staring down price increases that were nonexistent just months earlier. Glad to hear that you were able to sell your unit successfully this summer though. I guess some of us are just better in tune with the market...

It's funny that you posted this today. I was in the neighborhood yesterday for an open house in this very building. The line of prospective buyers (some with agents in tow) waiting to do the walkthrough was insane... The listing agent gave us his spiel, allowed us to look around for 10 minutes or so, and then tried to get us out the door to allow the next mark--er... "interested parties" to have a gander at his wares. The potential buyers were literally waiting outside in the hallway, while two or three groups were allowed in the unit at any given time (to avoid trampling/suffocation I assume). The area seemed nice and the unit itself was in good condition. As for your question, yes, the building is under tax abatement: 13 years remaining on the original 20 if I recall correctly.

This experience was HORRIFYING... Images of bidding wars flashed before my eyes and I wanted to throw up. I saw the realtors all giddy with excitement while exchanging notes with one another on the short elevator ride down (only 4 floors in the building). I guess I missed the market turning. Again... Or maybe it's because J.C. has notoriously low inventory. I think it may be time to start looking beyond J.C.

I find it ridiculous how the PATH reps set up a little kiosk at the WTC turnstiles on the first Thursday (or thereabouts) of each month just to hand out these plastic cardholders. I've amassed a colorful collection of these things over the last year or so. Why in the hell would an organization that constantly bleeds money blow even more dough on useless gimmicks/PR campaigns like this? This also creates a little bit of a bottleneck for folks streaming out of the crammed tin cans as they head for the escalators during the morning rat race. If the PATH has the money to waste on plastic trinkets, why not just fix the "signals" that always seem to experience intermittent "signal problems" at the most inopportune times? Totally misguided... Is it any wonder that this mismanaged organization needs to constantly hike fares to offset its incompetence?

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http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... path-fare-toll-hike-plan/

Seriously? This is what kids do to get their "kicks" nowadays? Wave weapons at others? What the hell happened to playing sports or learning an instrument? This is beyond disturbing... It just seems like there is a total, pervasive disregard for common decency in today's society.

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Once, when I was in the second car with the conductor, this fool suddenly started blaring music (maybe noise is the better word choice here) from his boombox. The other passengers, aside from his cackling posse, were visibly irritated at the 20 decibels of aural pollution flooding the car. I grimaced at the thought of sitting for another few minutes with this lovely background music. All of a sudden, the conductor marched over to said hooligan and engaged in a 10 second stare down contest, at the end of which he remarked, "You're gonna turn that off right now!" To this, the sound assassin feigned incomprehension and gestured at the unsightly monitor headphones draped over his ears (why he was even wearing those things I'll never know). "I can't hear you," or some similar gibberish slipped from his lips as he grinned back in defiance. The tension wafted through the air for a few awkward moments as neither side seemed willing to submit. Surprisingly, an all out brawl failed to materialize because the conductor had to return to his position and open the doors for the next stop.

I'm not sure how you can stop scumbags from being scumbags, but we shouldn't give them the satisfaction of imposing their stupidity over us. I wish there were more people willing to stand up to these degenerates. I wanted to shake the conductor's hand and thank him for attempting to impose a nominal standard of decency in the car, but by the time I turned back, the train was already in motion. I wonder if there was a Round 2?

I've seen idiots blow through stop signs and red lights like they were in some GTA-induced state of (un)consciousness. The threat of getting a ticket won't stop those fools. On the flip side, there are also some intersections in Harsimus Cove where you have to literally stick your head out the window (or roll halfway into the intersection itself) to check for oncoming traffic because of strategically placed obstacles. They should replace all stop signs with traffic lights in these situations, but of course, that assumes people will be watching those lights in the first place instead of texting their buddies that they're almost at their destination and--just ran over some little old lady... What do(n't) they teach in Driver's Ed these days anyway?

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Lincoln Park is not too bad, but it's about 10 blocks south of the PATH station along 440. I passed by one evening and it seemed a little eerie, so your best bet is probably to go during the daylight hours. There is even a track to run on and several baseball diamonds scattered throughout the premises.

FDS, I agree that the "occupants" by the JSQ fountain leave much to be desired. For the most part, they just talk smack and waste the hours away while getting a healthy dose of UV radiation. Aside from the occasional off-color remarks hurled at unsuspecting passersby, they seem to be harmless. When the OWS crowd set up a makeshift satellite site at JSQ, I saw some of these "locals" actually try to talk with them. How's that for solidarity?

As for a time frame... Who knows? Maybe we'll see the changes within our lifetime, maybe not, but that's why it's called an investment, eh?

In all honesty, I have found the PATH to be a much more reliable means of transportation than its country cousin, NJ Transit. I fondly recall getting stuck on freezing platforms during the winter months and having my snot freeze up while desperately waiting for a train to arrive. I'll take the occasional "signal problem" over the dysfunctional dinosaur called NJ Transit any day, or its even more hopeless neighbor, the MTA... I guess it all really depends on your perspective. Commuting blows in general, but given the choice, I would choose the lesser evil time and again. The PATH runs a shorter route, is somewhat more consistent, and costs less. I'll just have to put up with the scumbag elbowing me in the stomach while jostling for my position on the PATH during rush until someone invents a teleportation device or I get some jet skis to whisk myself over the Hudson.

In my building, our mail carrier has seen fit to stuff our letters/packages/magazines into the corresponding pigeon holes while forgetting to lock the bracket that secures the face of the mailboxes. So, in theory, my neighbor(s) could help themselves to my 401(k) statements, subscription to Mad Magazine, and Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes notifications whenever they felt like it because without the front being locked in place, it's just the same as not having a secured mailbox in the first place! And all it would take is an extra 3 seconds for him to check and lock the damned thing. Of course, this has happened multiple times over the last year and a half, but bringing the issue to the attention of building management has been just as useless. "Yeah, we'll let him know next time..." These "incidents" continue to highlight the rampant apathy within the Postal Service. All you have to do is deliver the mail, but if you can't even manage that... {shudders} Seems like a rarity for anyone to take pride in doing anything nowadays.

Robin: I think I've been to that Vietnamese restaurant before, but I can't remember the name of it for some reason.

Cde: I agree that fried noodles and soup are about as authentic as microwave dinners with ice cream.

Heights: Where was the Canton? Seems like it was before my time.

Nemo: Secaucus isn't too far, but it will have to be a weekend trip probably.

Thanks for the advice and commentary, everyone!

Thanks for the background, Jaded! In a sick way, this all kind of makes sense. This cesspool of integrity continues to reinforce in my mind that my true calling should have been a J.C. slumlord... =P

I've been wondering about this myself. Even the application of these abatements seems to be nonsensical... I haven't been able to figure out why Crystal Point, which is virtually 10 feet from the river's edge, gets a staggered 30 year abatement, while a similarly appointed building 200+ feet inland, 77 Hudson, has to make due with the standard 20 year term. Is it because the developer was afraid a tremblor would send the glass structure crashing down into the Hudson and wanted to hedge its bets? I don't understand how the city could allow such favorable terms to one project while denying them to others. On second thought, maybe it isn't that hard to fathom or even surprising, but it's still bad business. And here I am thinking of purchasing on the "Gold Coast." Ha!

Been frequenting Grand Sichuan by the Grove St PATH lately and have started to become immune to all the spicy fare there... In the interest of giving my stomach ulcers a break, does anyone know of a decent, semi-authentic alternative in the area without having to trek across the Hudson into Chinatown? I'm assuming the answer is no, but in the off chance... Thanks in advance, y'all.

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I wish it were the case that money was no object, but... =)

I agree that any sound seeping in from my neighbors' would totally defeat the purpose of purchasing a space downtown (I already deal with this on a daily basis in my rental building and know it sucks). Aside from GC, have you had any "noise experiences" in the other buildings I noted in my initial post? I made a point to pound on all of the shared walls between units while walking through them, but that probably isn't the most foolproof way to determine whether or not I'll have to listen to my neighbors' conversations at 3 in the morning while tossing and turning in my own bed. I suppose it's the nature of the beast--living in cramped conditions sort of creates this microcosm where peace and quiet is a luxury in and of itself, but that's one "amenity" I will not budge on. I can't imagine developers being able to put up these massive buildings just to skimp on sound-proofing, but it wouldn't be the first time common sense took a backseat.

JSQ is supposedly an "up and coming" part of town, especially near the PATH station. Of course, ever since they razed the "Three Guys" and other collection of mom and pop stores adjacent to the station, the new construction slated for that prime real estate has been in limbo. I see armies of pissed pigeons congregating there every morning on my way to the PATH, but little else behind the chain link fence. It surprises me that no major projects have taken root here in the last few years, but I suppose things operate at their own relative speeds. There is always a lot of traffic (vehicular and foot) along the main stretch of JFK, so it certainly is not a desolate place. The area is pretty safe, though you have the losers heckling passersby at the fountain and get the occasional hooligans acting out at 1 in the morning in front of the McDonald's or panhandlers in front of Rite Aid (which never seems to be able to keep all of its block letters lit at the same time), but hey, this is still technically a "city". Rents here are increasing, which is one reason I'm looking to purchase downtown. JSQ could see real development in the future, but I'm not so sure about the immediate 3-5 years. Haven't been down to Greenville, so I will defer to others with specific knowledge of the area.

After renting in the JSQ area for the last few years, I've finally decided to take the plunge and look for my own place. I've mostly explored newer 1BR+ construction (77 Hudson, Trump, Montgomery Greene, Crystal Point, A Condos, Shore Club, etc.) closer to the waterfront, but inventory seems to be limited. My realtor is not very pushy (a rarity), so I wanted to ask the veterans on this board if anyone knew of other similarly appointed locations that may have slipped my mind during this search. Ideally, there would be some kind of parking arrangement available and the building should be within walking distance (no more than 10 blocks) to PATH/Lt. Rail, etc. Let me know if I am straight up out of my mind.

Also, specifically regarding Condo A, does anyone have any more color on this article? (http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _man_falls_to_his_de.html)

Thanks in advance for all of your input!

America Collision
1405 Kennedy Blvd, North Bergen, NJ 07047
(201) 863-7741

I had a mishap in a cramped parking garage that left a nasty gash on the side passenger door. Went to get estimates from Sip Auto Body and was floored by how ridiculous the number was (~$3,000 and a 1 week turnaround)! A buddy referred me to Roger at this place and I figured that it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion. I literally paid less than 1/3 of Sip's outrageous quote for an excellent repair job in 2 days' time! I recommend America Collision very highly if you and your wallet want to be treated respectfully. No gimmicks or bullshit.