Frank_M, 10/22/12 15:19

Quote:
JerseyCityFrankie wrote:
...I believe the more cameras the better since they are an amazing crime fighting tool. I reject the notion that these cameras somehow erode our civil rights.


You?re probably correct about their potential usefulness, but is easing the job of law enforcement a crucial goal of a free nation, or of a different kind of nation? Keep in mind that the policeman?s task could be made even simpler yet. Where will you draw the line? You probably don't engage in felonious behavior, but if you wait until you?re affected by overzealous enforcement to object, it will be too late.

JerseyCityFrankie, 10/22/12 14:05

It seams to me that 99.9 % of what the cameras catch and record on tape is unlikely to ever be reviewed by anyone. They are there in case a crime takes place and is caught on tape. Only then will the relevant tapes be viewed. If your imagining an insidious underground bunker where scores of faceless watchers scan banks of television monitors, each with a live streaming feed from each of the hundreds of security cameras around town then I think you overestimate the budget for law enforcement here or anywhere. And we all know the way the cameras are effective catching criminals mugging people ect.

user1111, 10/22/12 12:57

Cameras are going up everywhere not just downtown, there are cameras all up and down Richard, Garfield, Danforth, MLK and Ocean... Still not sure if they are monitored. The one's near the light rail are monitored, but not by JCPD but by the PAPD.

brewster, 10/22/12 12:37

McNair is bristling with cameras, yet they were utterly useless solving separate burglary & murder right across the street. Maybe they're obsolete hardware, but I think it's security theater.

JerseyCityFrankie, 10/22/12 12:09

"Downtown JC is looking a lot more like London."... I would be delighted if any aspect of Jersey City looked anything at all like London. And I believe the more cameras the better since they are an amazing crime fighting tool. I reject the notion that these cameras somehow erode our civil rights.

This thread was lost in the board upgrade. I had a saved copy.

Opened by jmiz, 10/22/12 11:48

The first one I noticed was on a traffic light on the corner of Marin and Montgomery. Since then, cameras have been added to Grove/Wayne and up Grand Avenue. I imagine many more are to come in and around downtown.

These aren't red-light cameras, they're security cameras. It's the white globe type with the darkened glass at the bottom that houses the camera.

Do these cameras feed to the police station? Is it for traffic monitoring or pedestrian monitoring? Do the camera locations correspond to known trouble spots? Can footage be used by pedestrians in the event of a traffic accident? Are the cameras making up for the current/future lack of patrol officers?

Downtown JC is looking a lot more like London. Keep your eyes out, or else someone will do it for you.

Minor issue: recently-initiated thread "Cameras, cameras. Everywhere" missing from Crime & Safety.

First Posted on: 10/22 11:48, by jmiz
Last update happened sometime after: 10/23 21:55

After the upgrade, this thread was one of two displaying at the top of the HOME list with a title saying something about JCList upgraded.

Thanks for your good work.

Quote:

Not dead, but not really among the living. Look for it while you're trick or treating.

Eminent domain is off the table, thanks to focused opposition by neighborhood residents. No, that did not kill the project. Both St. Peter's and the designated developer accepted that. It never seemed truly necessary for the project, and would be a noxious use of eminent domain, condemning unblighted private homes simply to increase the scale of development.

The developer, Gary Flocco, continued to acquire parcels and recently told me he is actively working on moving the project forward. Although he has also recently listed his major parcel for sale.

St. Peter's University canceled its agreement with Mr. Flocco, citing financing issues, and has said it plans to move forward with its portion of the plan, 500 units of student housing. The University has not yet announced an agreement with a new developer.

See Terrence McDonalds's Jersey Journal article, McGinley Square project at St. Peter's College put "on hold", Wednesday, June 06, 2012.

Unless something else comes along, the next change on the horizon is the Montgomery Gardens Choice Neighborhood plan, with a major decision about funding due in December. Sponsored by the Beacon developers in cooperation with the Jersey City Housing authority, it is a finalist for a large HUD grant. If that is awarded, development possibilities for the area become very "alive" again.

This is not a place I would try based on looks, but John's, one block down the street at 553 Newark Ave (just past Baldwin), makes a pretty mean sandwich. Especially if it involves cheese and their grill.

Last time I was there I had a salad which was ok. Convenience to the courts a big plus.

The secret may be getting out. SPOON is a great addition to the neighborhood and the city. I visited today and there was a steady procession of customers.

Very inviting small space, with a coffeehouse-style area in front for dining-in. Andy and Jung are the proprietors, who were busy yet friendly enough to talk. Although Andy was mostly in the back smoking some chickens.

I had a good sampling, and everything I tried was good. The juice (pomegranate strawberry) was not too sweet, bright and refreshing. The simple salad was fresh, the lime citrus dressing complemented but did not hide the flavor of the greens and grape tomatoes.

I tried the smoked chicken sandwich, served on very substantial slices of homemade bread with caramelized onion and muenster cheese, then grilled on a panini press. The smoke on the chicken came through the other ingredients, and it all hung together well.

Delicious, welcoming, and I will be returning soon.

Two issues to note:

It's not fast food. Everything but the juice was hand-made to order, so it takes assembly and cooking time. But the few minutes wait was worth it. (The smoked meat and the grilling paninis mean the place smells great.)

Sterling Avenue is off the beaten track, only 5 blocks long, and a little bit south of NJCU. It's close to Kennedy Blvd, also Home Depot and the 440 Pathmark, but you have to find your way back onto the back streets. If you're nearby, though, you should give 'em a try. http://goo.gl/maps/wXtcB

SPOON111.com
SPOON111 on Facebook

Mayor Booker can certainly energize a room with his speaking, and can get off a good line. I was in Atlantic City this morning, and amidst health care and Newark-related issues, he did happen to mention that he's been doing some campaigning for President Obama, and mentioned that he's detected a similarity between Mitt Romney and Michael Jackson, perhaps the first time anyone has seen those two in the same light.

"Mitt Romney reminds me of Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk. He wants you to think he's moving forward, but he's really going backward."

The rationale for settling is bad law, bad policy, and just plain gutless.

Sometimes you settle for practical reasons. But when the guys you did a favor for then turn around and sue you because you won't re-write their contract and give them an even sweeter deal... that's just plain wrong. It's extortion, and you fight it, if for no other reason than to show the rest of the world you won't roll over when they threaten you.

Did I mention that the company doing this is the largest residential builder in NJ? Maybe it makes more sense to give in when the bully is really big.

Congratulations to Councilmen Fulop, Lavarro, and Donnelly for fighting for the people of Jersey City.

Unfortunately, this is another blown call (at best) for Mayor Healy, and for those councilmembers who supported him. I would expect some of these elected leaders to know better. Especially those who represent distressed communities which don't get sweetheart abatements. But this is a straight Team Healy vote. Expect more of the same.

Did anybody else see the Google Street View car in action today? Here it is parked on Mercer Street at about 2:30pm.

Building an Empire is a non-profit social service agency founded by Diane Coleman in 2000. They do street-level direct service to people in need, serving between 700-800 households yearly. "Building an Empire's mission is the restoration of human potential" through housing, human services like parent training, child care, employment training and counseling, and emergency assistance with critical needs.

Much of their work is crisis intervention, especially in housing. This year (1/1 to date), they've helped 264 households find housing, provided 114 households with direct financial assistance to avoid homelessness, and helped 401 families with emergency food. The vast majority of the people they serve live at or under the poverty line, with 80% of this year's client households making less than $20k/year and 98% under $30k.

How do I know this? I work in social services for a different non-profit. I have occasionally referred people to Building an Empire, and they occasionally refer people to us. Also, I know the stats because I called and asked, and they were able to give them to me pretty much instantly, no small feat for a small provider.

IMO, Building an Empire is a well-managed and professional agency. This is demonstrated by their numbers, and through their consistency and and growth in an environment which sees inefficient agencies struggle and go under. Their reputation on the street is also very good, in terms of services actually delivered, fiscal responsibility, and respect given to those they serve.

Building an Empire's office is located at 229 MLK Drive (near Bayview Ave), 201.536.8590, buildinganempire@aol.com. They're open 9am-12pm Mon-Fri for adult services, and 3pm-5pm Mon-Thu for children's services.

Any campaign-related issues, though, should be directed to Ms. Coleman personally or to her campaign office (sorry, don't know the address or phone, but it's also on MLK).

It's a good film and a great project. Tonight's premiere played to a full house and was very well received.

The genius of the project is in leading the kids to conduct an investigation of what Jackson Avenue used to be like, and what led to its decline.

For me one of the high points was the kids' trip downtown. They got to make some comparisons about the differences between downtown and MLK, and quickly figured out that it was not accidental that downtown is a more attractive community because of the great divide between investment downtown and disinvestment in central Greenville.

They clearly got it. When I asked what they saw downtown that they would like to have on MLK, the kids were quick to answer: shops, safe and beautiful parks, clean streets. Pretty simple.

The film will be traveling around the City and I urge you to take a look. Friends of Lifers did a great job to put this together.

Good thread and thanks for the suggestions. Mitsuwa is great fun and I have been going there since it opened as Yaohan. The schlep up to Edgewater, though, means it's a very occasional visit for me, to get groceries, good sake, and a treat for the day. But I have not been very impressed by the cooked food, although authentic enough.

I don't expect ba-sashi, but I would really love to find a good chawanmushi.

And while it may not be A-list, let me put in a good word for the neighborhood character of Sushi Tango, whose Mango Monkey has never disappointed - a genius American sushi creation.

Asif, my experience is pretty different. It's certainly true that there are tensions and suspicions between Coptic Christians and Muslims living in Jersey City. Since most are immigrants or second generation, they carry with them experiences from the home country, where Copts have suffered religious persecution and institutionalized oppression.

But it's also true that most Copts live in peace with their Muslim neighbors in Egypt, and here in Jersey City. The leader of the Coptic churches in Jersey City, Father David Bebawy, and the President of the Islamic Center, Ahmed Shedeed, have made special efforts to build relationships between their communities, and to stand together in times of crisis.

I have been inspired by the many examples I've seen of the two communities building bridges and working together. After the murders, they worked closely with one another to speak against the suspicions, to call for calm, and to bring Muslims and Copts together. As is so often the case, the fears were worse than the truth.

Prejudices are present in every community. But the reality is that Copts and Muslims in Jersey City both teach peace and love of neighbor. And they practice it daily.

Coptic icon of Jesus the Good Shepherd

Strong community voices called attention to the proposed sale of Christ Hospital and prevented a rushed sale with almost no guarantees about the hospital's future. Now that the hospital will be sold through an open bidding process in bankruptcy, community leadership will help to preserve hospital services.

COMMUNITY MEETING
Thursday 3/8 - 7pm
Second Reformed Church
940 Summit Ave at Zabriskie St
Parking at municipal lot, 1 block away
Central Ave at Griffith St
Map

Help demonstrate that our community is united around the preservation of Christ Hospital and quality health care.

Confirmed:
Sen. Brian Stack
Mayor Jerramiah Healy or Deputy Mayor
Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell
Councilwoman Nidia Lopez

We will also be announcing the endorsement of many other elected officials for our Principles for Christ Hospital's Future.

RSVP online.

Thanks for all who came out last night. We counted 120 in the room at one time for about 140 total.

Here's a link to the Jersey Journal article on the meeting: CEO defends deal.

Not mentioned in the article was the great presentation at the end of the meeting by Renee Steinhagen, an attorney with NJ Appleseed, who covered some of the legal structure to help protect the public interest in non-profit hospital sales.

It's clear there will be on-going activities about the sale, and there is a strong community core which wants to fight to help see that our interests are protected in this process. Thanks again to all the participating organizations, speakers, and community members who helped make this a successful event. (More details at savechristhospital.org and facebook.com/savechristhospital.

TONIGHT!
Wednesday 12/14 7pm
Abundant Joy Christian Center
137 Bowers St (at Central Ave)

Invited guests:
Christ Hospital Board of Trustees (CEO Peter Kelly confirmed)
NJ Attorney General (Representative confirmed)
NJ Commissioner of Health & Senior Services Mary E. O'Dowd

15 community organizations are participating in planning this meeting and fostering community involvement in determining the future of Christ Hospital.

Please come to hear real information about the proposed sale. We have 3 speakers giving brief presentations:
- Peter Kelly, CEO of Christ Hospital
- Ann Twomey, President of HPAE representing Christ Hospital nurses
- Jeff Kaplowitz, Community leader & concerned citizen

There will be 1/2 hour for questions & answers. Please see savechristhospital.org for more info and a map, also track the issue at facebook.com/savechristhospital.

Thanks for your engagement and support!

Thanks, Althea, for hosting a great meeting! I was really impressed with the quality of questions from all over the room. We heard again how much ordinary people have invested in this hospital.

There are other threads tracking news reports about the planned sale of Christ Hospital. Here's a place to discuss the impact of such a sale on our community.

Here are some of the major issues I see.

1. Quality & affordability of healthcare. For-profit hospitals typically seek to divert less-profitable patients to other facilities, and raise rates billed to insurers and patients.

2. Impact on Jersey City Medical Center. The sale of Christ Hospital would leave JCMC as the only non-profit hospital left in the area (St. Francis closed, Greenville closed, Meadowlands, Bayonne & Hoboken/St. Mary converted to for-profit). JCMC already struggles with the amount of service it provides to uninsured and charity care patients.

3. Conversion of real estate. This deal seems much more like a play for real estate than it does a plan for community health care. The prospective buyer has already said they will sell the real estate to a holding company, taking it out of hospital control and paving the way for a significant downsizing or closing of the hospital in the future.

4. Jobs. Christ Hospital provides good jobs to many local residents. The hospital has already sent layoff notices to 103 nurses, including the President and Vice President of the local union, which has been questioning the sale.

There are probably lots of other issues. I?d like to see an open review process with meaningful public involvement. Jersey City and the State of NJ have invested a lot in this hospital, keeping it off the tax rolls for 139 years precisely because of the way the non-profit hospital provided a valuable community service: healthcare not just to the privileged, but to the entire community.

What do you think?

savechristhospital.org
facebook.com/savechristhospital

Maybe this is a foolish question where our City's Administration
and Law Department are concerned, but wouldn't an agreement
like this normally be ON PAPER???

A virtual event: Facebook: Remember Me.

You will be given the name of a victim who was murdered on 9/11 sent to your Facebook inbox. This will include their age, employer and location at the time of the attacks. Post their name to your status on 9/11, or you may choose to do so before hand, with "Remember Me" written before their name. You can also request a specific name.

Ref: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/index.html to read about the person you are honouring.

Astor Place and Summit to Port Authority is an hour for sure. 20 minute walk to Journal Square, plus the bus. The NJTransit #87 bus is one block away from you and will also take you to Journal Square. I find the PATH much nicer and more predictable for almost all NYC destinations.

You could also do a 5 minute walk to the Light Rail which will take you to Exchange Place or Pavonia-Newport PATH stations, or a 5 minute walk in the other direction to Montgomery St and buses downtown to the Grove St PATH station.

As Qiu001 mentions, there is an established and moderately active Astor Place block association. There is also a well-organizes neighborhood planning association, Bergen Communities United. Astor Place itself and the neighboring blocks on Summit contain many long-term residents and it is a stable micro-neighborhood. Current and planned development nearby (Monticello Ave, the Beacon, perhaps McGinley Square) will only help this neighborhood. The new Key Foods supermarket on Monticello will help the neighborhood economy and walkable community.

Rentals are pretty good. I like the neighborhood a lot (live nearby on Duncan Ave and work in the surrounding neighborhoods). Friends are long-term neighborhood residents (on both Astor Place and Summit) and very happy with their choices to make this neighborhood their home.

Saturday, September 10th at 11:30am, Holy Rosary Church will offer a Requiem Mass in memory of those killed ten years earlier. The mass will be sung by Cantores Sancti Rosarii, directed by Harold Bott.

This is a moving and ethereal treatment of the Mass for the Dead. Cristobal de Morales' music is typical of the polyphony of the middle Renaissance, and the Requiem is a simple, contemplative presentation of the funeral mass. The central theme of the service is in the Requiem text: "Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine on them."

Holy Rosary Church is at 344 6th St (between Brunswick and Monmouth Streets) in downtown Jersey City (FLYER).

What will you be doing this September 11th? Will you be doing anything to remember the attacks of ten years ago?



(Please post notices of 9/11-related events in the September 11th observances thread.)

Please post notices of September 11th anniversary events here:
cultural performances, religious services, community gatherings,
etc.

I have been volunteering and working hard for Carol Harrison-Arnold (2A), Sue Mack (5A), and Marvin Adames (10A). I strongly believe that these people are individually the best-qualified candidates for the school board, and together have the best chance of moving the Board of Ed into a new era, focused on education.

I have known Carol for about seven years, through my work and in the Bergen neighborhood, and have come to know each of these candidates pretty well. Because of my involvement last year, Councilman Steve Fulop asked me to sit on a community committee to interview candidates for his endorsement. Carol, Sue, and Marvin stood out from all the other candidates. The more I see them in action, the more proud I am to be part of their team. I have found them to be open, responsive, capable, hard-working, and passionate about public education. They are clear that improving educational results is the Board's #1 priority.

Rather than give you bios which are available elsewhere, I would like to highlight the importance of voting for all three candidates together.

Individually well-qualified, they complement one another. Sue?s 15 years of experience on the Board ? most often as an independent parent-advocate ? is critical to helping newer Board members navigate the byzantine obstructions of a system which resists change. Through her work with her son and on the Board, Sue knows special ed like no one else at the Board level.

Having seen the Board?s attorneys mislead and confuse Board members and the public, I think Marvin and Carol?s legal experience will be very helpful to the Board. Carol?s long history of successful board service (in community development, affordable housing, and a successful charter school) will help the Board function better. Marvin uses his executive abilities to run a busy prosecutor?s office, and his passion for working with high school students is a very healthy grounding in the schools? real mission.

Last year I helped elect two Board members (Sterling Waterman and Carol Lester) who have begun to make a difference. If we can elect this team, there will be a solid majority finally capable of holding our imperial and out of touch Superintendent accountable for educational and fiscal performance.

Please consider giving your vote to the team of:

2A Carol Harrison-Arnold
5A Sue Mack
10A Marvin Adames

2 x 5 = 10 is the right equation for the school board.

www.facebook.com/Jersey.City.Board.of.Education

Find your polling place:
https://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/ ... Place/PollPlaceSearch.jsp

The polls are open from 7am - 9pm.

Paul Bellan-Boyer
Duncan Avenue

@Riaz, good points. I think that already we're getting the idea that a Fulop "machine" is not so machine-like. I have never heard Steve tell me or anyone else what to do. It's a machine which is maybe a little sloppy in that it respects differences of opinion. Sue took a bit of heat for her budget vote - but we don't elect votes, we elect capable people to exercise their best judgment.

I don't have any doubt that these three guys are capable of doing that on the Board. They listen and then they do what they think is right. I've seen them say yes to somethings, no to others.

An endorsement doesn't make you a puppet unless you can't stand on your own two feet. Again, look at the record. Does Steve Fulop look anything like Boss Hague? Has he told anybody how they have to vote? JCEA supports the budget question, most people working for these candidates do not.

One of the things which attracted me to these guys is their ability to lead. I want the Board to have some vigorous debates and to stop being a rubber stamp for anybody.