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Erica

Re: Credit Union Vs. Traditional Bank

#31

Home away from home

Quote:

JPhurst wrote:
A credit union is more accurately a cooperative, as opposed to a non-profit in the sense most people think of.

I'm not trying to be a snark, but the way that many people mistakenly use nonprofit and charity interchangeably is one of my pet peeves (I work and teach in the field).

Nonprofit is a broad category that includes any organization that is treated differently in the tax code. What nonprofits have in common is that they are generally prohibited from distributing profits to investors (note that this is different from being prohibited from earning profits, another point of confusion). So it's like squares and rectangles - all 501(c)(3) charities are nonprofits, but not all nonprofits are charities. (Note that if you're trying to make a charitable donation, you should make sure the organization is a 501(c)(3) and not a 501(c)anyother#.)

Cooperative ownership is separate from (but very compatible with) nonprofit status. It's what allows credit unions to distribute dividends - their member/owners = their customers by definition, so they're rewarding their customers whenever they reward their member/owners. (As opposed to a for-profit bank in which being a customer does not = being an owner (stockholder). So when a for-profit bank distributes dividends to investors, that's not a reward for their customers, although it's of course possible for customers to buy stock in their bank.)

Posted on: 2013/11/13 14:35

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Erica

Re: Bizarre Foods America: New Jersey's Phil Am Food Mart

#32

Home away from home

Jersey City got a LOT of love in this episode. He also visited Legal Beans (for the fantastic Filipino bbq) and Thirty Acres (for the locally-sourced awesomeness).

Posted on: 2013/11/13 14:07

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Erica

Re: Credit Union Vs. Traditional Bank

#33

Home away from home

Quote:

cousin wrote:
Just to clarify: Banks are for profit, and credit unions are not for profit (not to be confused with non-profit/charitable institutions).

There's no substantive or legal difference between the terms "nonprofit" and "not-for-profit". (The IRS says not-for-profit applies to activities, while nonprofit applies to organizations, but that's really semantics.) Charitable organizations are categorized as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, while credit unions are categorized as 501(c)(1) nonprofits (I believe) - but they're both nonprofit organizations.

You're right to point out that nonprofit status is a key difference between credit unions and for-profit banks. Credit unions - like all nonprofits - aren't allowed to pay out any excess of revenues over expenses (profits) to share or stockholders. The surplus must be reinvested in the organization.

So, if a for-profit bank charges its customers more than it needs to and makes a profit, its stockholders benefit and there's little incentive to ease the burden on customers. If the nonprofit credit union makes a profit, it has to put that money back into the business, which is collectively owned by its customers (members), who then benefit from the lower interest rates, fees, etc. that running a surplus allows. The incentives are much more on the customer's side with a credit union than a traditional bank.

Posted on: 2013/11/12 20:47

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Erica

Re: Plumber?

#34

Home away from home

I wanted to add another positive review for Byron at Hutch Mechanical. My experience with him was excellent. I found him to be extremely professional, diligent, and responsive. He fixed an emergency issue (leak) for us and also did some routine maintenance on our boilers. He found another potential issue and pointed it out without creating any pressure to have him fix it - just gave us the information and let us decide what we wanted to do. Absolutely no drama or upsell. I really appreciated his honesty and work ethic.

I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for an experienced plumber and will definitely be using him as needed again.

Posted on: 2013/10/29 21:50

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Erica

Re: Friends visiting from Manhattan...

#35

Home away from home

Quote:

VA2015 wrote:
Quote:

Frank_M wrote:
Quote:

Erica wrote:
It's weird to me where this thread went.

Weirder than asking for directions to your own home in order to help people who are pessimistic about visiting? Everybody has a different notion of "weird" I suppose.

Yeah this was an odd query. When I have friends visiting from anywhere out of town I just meet them where they are parked or where they get off the subway. Then I give them a little tour of whatever might interest them. Typically that includes Van Vorst park, grove street from grand to newark, and then the first part of Newark ave (usually I'll take them to eat at Skinners). If there's a farmer's market, art fair, etc. I'll show them that too.

Sure, I get that the OP's wording inspired the snark, I just meant that I don't think the underlying sentiment of wanting to figure out the best, clearest way to direct people is that crazy. (When my husband gives directions to our place he always forgets to tell people which stairs to come up, and more than one has ended up going through the tunnel to the other PATH entrance down Columbus and then being really confused about how to get back to where they're supposed to be.)

I also didn't understand all of the people suggesting tours of JC - if I'm having friends over for brunch or whatever, I don't feel compelled to prove that my neighborhood is cool by showing them around for half an hour first. (Of course, my NYC friends are more than willing to come to JC more than once, so I don't need to show them everything the first time.) It just seemed funny that people were giving the OP a hard time for not having enough JC pride and then bending over backwards to prove that JC is full of beautiful, hip awesomeness. I guess I just like my moves a little smoother - no need to hit me with every play all at once. ;)

Posted on: 2013/10/11 15:19

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Erica

Re: Friends visiting from Manhattan...

#36

Home away from home

Quote:

Garden wrote:
...so, I live in Hamilton Park. I'm inviting some anti-JC friends from Manhattan to come visit (lived in Manhattan for 10 years and NO ONE can understand why I left (of course - I do, but......). What kind of directions do I give them so they have a pleasant walk to my house on 7th from Grove Street PATH station (I live on 7th between Erie & Manila)? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

It's weird to me where this thread went. I feel it's just common courtesy to give friends a heads up when they're coming to a new subway stop - especially in non-grid parts of town. My friends and I do this all the time (for lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, JC, etc.) Doesn't mean we hate our neighborhoods, just that we understand it's easy to get turned around when arriving at a station for the first time. (And you look like an a-hole - or worse, a tourist - if you have to stand there with your smartphone blocking the flow of pedestrian traffic while you orient yourself.)

My Grove PATH directions for people coming from the NYC side (slightly edited to fit the OP's location) are:

Come up from the platform using the stairs toward the front of the train. Look for the escalator and continue up to the street on that side. You'll come up into a plaza, facing Duane Reade. Turn left to face Newark Avenue and cross Grove Street at the light (stay on the right side of Newark). Walk one block on Newark and make the first right onto Erie. Cross Bay and then 1,2,3 etc. When you hit 7th, cross (or don't cross) and turn right. We're at #123, top buzzer.

Posted on: 2013/10/11 14:25

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Erica

Re: sourcing ingredients in or around JC

#37

Home away from home

Quote:

CdeCoincy wrote:
Looking for loose (not canned) Mariage Frere Tea - especially Earl Grey French Blue, or a taste and quality equivalent.

This is going to sound crazy, but I order it from Paris (http://www.mariagefreres.com/). You can find tins at Dean & Deluca and Garden of Eden (sometimes also at Williams Sonoma and Barneys) but the selection is poor and the markup is huge. So, even with international shipping, buying in bulk straight from the source ends up being cheaper.

Posted on: 2013/10/8 14:31

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Erica

Re: November election

#38

Home away from home

Quote:

anonymess wrote:
I see there's a thread here on the school board. What about the other officials, where do I get info? And the public question? I have a mail in ballot and can't figure out when the deadline is. I have not kept up to date at all this year. I'm in Ward F, District 31. Thanks.

I like the League of Women Voters for things like deadlines and ballot questions. http://www.lwvnj.org/

Ballot Question 1: http://lwvnj.org/images/voting/2013_BallotQ1.pdf

Ballot Question 2: http://lwvnj.org/images/voting/2013_BallotQ2.pdf

Posted on: 2013/10/7 14:34

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Erica

Re: Gay marriage advocates lobby to override Christie's veto

#39

Home away from home

Yvonne - your concerns are absolutely not based in reality nor fact.

I am legally married in the state of NJ and my marriage is recognized by the US federal government (I'm straight). But the Catholic church wouldn't have let my husband and I hold our wedding in a cathedral and won't sanctify our marriage b/c we are not practicing Catholics. Both the state and federal government are fine with this. Religious institutions are not now and will not be forced to perform or sanctify marriage ceremonies that go against their tenets.

As for offering services such as baking a wedding cake to same-sex couples, I'm not sure what part of your religion tells you that's not okay. I'm also not sure how changing the legal standing of same-sex couples in NJ from civil union to marriage would make this issue worse, if the problem is simply interacting with gay people who, by definition, are not married in your church, no matter what the state says. I think you might be misinterpreting what your faith asks of you - I've never met a Catholic baker (or any other kind of worker) who has asked me if I'm Catholic or if I've ever committed any sins like having sex outside of marriage or working on Sunday before serving me.

[Also, just because I can't help but correct misinformation when I see it, Plan B is a contraceptive, not an abortion pill - it has no effect on an already-fertilized egg. The abortion pill(s) is an entirely different combination of drugs.]

Posted on: 2013/9/16 17:08

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Erica

Re: Gay marriage advocates lobby to override Christie's veto

#40

Home away from home

Quote:

Yvonne wrote:
So NJ voters will be denied the right to have their vote matter.

What are you even talking about? A majority of NJ's elected officials (on behalf of NJ voters) favor ending marriage discrimination, as demonstrated by their votes on the bill Christie vetoed. AND polling shows that nearly two-thirds of NJers favor ending marriage discrimination. How is the will of the people being ignored?

(This is ignoring the fact that one of the greatest things about the United States of America is that basic civil rights are not doled out according to the whims of voters by majority rule, but are simply guaranteed to all. Your assertion that it should be otherwise is astounding.)

Posted on: 2013/9/16 15:49

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Erica

Re: Waterside "first date drinks" locale?

#41

Home away from home

Quote:

tommyc_37 wrote:
How does a relationship get pear-shaped?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pear-shaped

As for the original question, lots of good ideas here but I'd need more info to weigh in. Is this a date with someone you really like? B/c that calls for a more fancy cocktails, quiet, candlelit, intimate vibe (maybe VU). Or is this a first meeting with someone you don't yet know if you like? B/c that calls for a more fun, busy vibe (Surf City if you want to go beer, maybe the outdoor lounge area at Maritime Parc if you want wine/cocktails). This is making me realize that JC needs more options that take advantage of the water.

Posted on: 2013/7/23 16:56

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Erica

Re: MetroCard Question

#42

Home away from home

This isn't exactly an answer to your question, but do you know about the EasyPay MetroCard? It's linked to your credit or debit card and automatically replenishes when you hit a certain threshold (dollars for pay per ride, date for 30 day unlimited).

I love mine. Now both my PATH card and my subway card automatically replenish and I never have to think about it. (I keep both linked to a credit card, not the debit card that's attached to my checking account, as I think it's easier to fight mistaken charges on a credit card. I've never had any issues, but I don't completely trust either PATH or MTA to not screw up.)

Info and link to sign up here: http://web.mta.info/metrocard/EasyPayXpress.htm

Posted on: 2013/7/2 13:20

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Erica

Re: March 18th snow: Healy unprepared

#43

Home away from home

Quote:

ahab wrote:
Has anyone notice the street sweeper this morning, 3/19/2013?

Street sweeping is suspended today, Tuesday 3/19.

(FYI - the number is 201 432 4645 x675.)

Posted on: 2013/3/19 14:33

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Erica

Re: Greenpoint's WORD Bookstore coming to Jersey City

#44

Home away from home

Quote:

JCmolly wrote:

Oh no.

From their website:

Finally, our favorite praise; the one that gets down to brass tacks: ?This is that quaint-looking book store in Greenpoint where hot hipster moms take their kids.?

Yes. Heaven forbid attractive women who are also smart enough to read should come to Jersey City. ;)

I'm glad to see Newark Ave attracting some great businesses and wish them the best of luck!

Posted on: 2013/1/11 22:19

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Catholic / Christian Priest needed for wedding ceremony at Liberty Harbor

#45

Home away from home

My brother became a Universal Life Minister for my NJ wedding. The process is very simple (probably something like 1 minute online) and my husband and I loved having our ceremony performed by someone we know and love (who knows and loves us). So if you don't already have a relationship with a minister/priest, why not look to your friends and family? (And if you do already have a relationship with a minister/priest, look to her/him for a recommendation.)

Posted on: 2013/1/10 14:28

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Debris Removal, FEMA?

#46

Home away from home

If you scroll down to the very bottom of the Jersey City homepage, it says:

Update 11/2, 4:58pm: Dumpsters!!!!
The Jersey City Incinerator Authority will provide dumpsters to flood damaged communities upon request (supply permitting) for the disposal of storm damaged materials. To request a dumpster, contact JCIA CEO Oren K. Dabney Sr. at 201-432-4645 ext. 600.

From some posts by Steve Fulop shortly after the storm, it appears that the dumpsters are free of charge. But you can (obviously) figure that out when you call. (And let any of your neighbors in the same boat know that the whole block can use the dumpster.)

Posted on: 2012/11/20 13:36

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Erica

Re: Golden Cicada, Taqueria, Edwards

#47

Home away from home

Quote:

jrsygrl wrote:
Quote:

jmiz wrote:
Didn't Taqueria threaten to close up and move to Brooklyn? Wonder if this flood is the final straw for them.

Please, no, I need my tacos!!!

I hope none of the businesses hit by Sandy are ultimately forced to close - and have been doing my part by eating out a lot lately. ;) First b/c we had no power, and then b/c we had no food...

On the tacos front, Taqueria Viva Mexico Kitchen Cafe on Morris got their power back the day before yesterday and started serving food again yesterday. I've been very pleased with their tacos and (sorry other Taqueria!) they deliver. The owners are super nice and I'm sure they could use the business after not being able to operate for a week+.

(Again, I'm not wishing ill to any of the businesses that are still closed and I hope Taqueria is able to reopen soon.)

Posted on: 2012/11/8 17:55

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Where to buy grass fed meat?

#48

Home away from home

Whole Foods carries grass-fed beef. There's one in Edgewater just past the Trader Joe's (and lots of other options, including Tribeca). Fresh Direct also has grass-fed beef from a local farm. (But, sadly, Sandy seems to have indefinitely put a hold on local deliveries.)

Also, Union Square farmer's market has grass-fed beef, as well as bison and lamb.

Posted on: 2012/11/6 11:50

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Erica

Re: Buses to Manhattan

#49

Home away from home

Quote:

user1111 wrote:

Statue Cruises will also begin temporary operations from Liberty State Park Marina to Lower Manhattan from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Ferry service from this location will be offered free of charge.

http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servle ... eTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2806

Just to clarify, I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be 4PM-8*PM* not 8*AM* - I don't believe the ferries will run overnight.

(And that's NJ Transit's mistake/typo, not @user1111's.)

Posted on: 2012/11/5 18:19

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Flooding in Jersey City

#50

Home away from home

Like @MDM, I thought EPA had cracked down on sewer overflows (and filed lawsuits via DOJ), forcing JCMUA to agree last year to begin repairing and upgrading the city's sewer system (over something like the next decade):

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/July/11-enrd-940.html

Is that not happening?

Posted on: 2012/7/30 19:17

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: New bike path from Lincoln Park to Newark

#51

Home away from home

Quote:

Bike_Lane wrote: Since the newspaper didn't provide an indication of where you can go to find maps/cues of the "bike path" route, here's a link to the map from the East Coast Greenway website: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=40.481462,-74.405366&sspn=0.563006,1.141205&q=http://greenway.org/maps/ECG-NJ.kml&ie=UTF8 Looks like a pretty rough route and a guaranteed tube puncture or two. And it dumps you onto Raymond Blvd, which isn't a very bike-friendly street. Oh well, it's something at least. I'll give it a shot, but I think I'll be sticking with PATH for bike trips to Essex Co. Edit: The link above keeps getting broken up. Plz copy the entire URL and paste into your browser.

Here's a clickable link: Greenway Bike Path Map

Posted on: 2012/7/23 16:21

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: CrossFit

#52

Home away from home

Quote:

Seagull wrote:
The median income per capita in Hoboken is 75K. If you build it....they will come.

Actually, according to the 2010 census, the per capita income in Hoboken is $69,085 and the median household income is $101,782 (average is $137,166).

While Jersey City looks much worse with per capita income of $30,490 and median household income of $54,280 (mean = $76,591), keep in mind that the approx. 1/4 of JC households with income greater than $100k is equal to the entire population of Hoboken. So there are more people who can afford higher-end amenities in JC than there are in Hoboken (although, admittedly, they could be spread out - but I'd guess that many of them are Downtown).

Posted on: 2012/7/18 13:22

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: lousy garbage collection

#53

Home away from home

Quote:

heights wrote:
Quote:

ECH wrote:
More garbage left behind on my block this a.m.
Looks like it's properly prepared.
Are we just gonna have to get used to this?

Today they took all mine and left behind someone
else's. Is there like only room for so much on the truck?

Call the J.C.I.A. at once (201) 432-4645 speak to whoever handles collections, leave the garbage out there so they can come back and pick it up. This is happening all over J.C. Plus it's Friday even though the private contractor works tomorrow thw J.C.I.A. does not so you will end up waiting till Monday morning at 9am to report this on going issue. Who wants to look at this all weekend long.

I've also had great luck using the online system to report uncollected trash (or recycling). (We live on a corner and put our trash near the stop sign but sometimes someone comes along later in the evening and illegally parks there, which I suspect makes it hard for the trash collectors to see our stuff.) http://mycusthelp.com/jerseycitynj/_c ... t.aspx?cat=0&sSessionID=&

Note: twice when my husband reported it online without logging in, we got no response. Every time we've reported it with logging in (probably 5 or 6 times) I received an almost immediate email and the truck was back within an hour. So an anonymous report might not work as well as one attached to a name.

Posted on: 2012/7/13 19:11

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee

#54

Home away from home

Quote:

dtjcview wrote:
Quote:

Erica wrote:
....... It's technically correct to call any citizen of the UK "British" but it could start trouble....

Technically its not correct. The front cover of a UK passport states "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The folks in Northern Ireland prefer to be called "Northern Irish" or "Ulstermen" (based on the province). Never "British".

I know - I'm Northern Irish, an Ulsterman, a UK citizen, but not a Brit...

I think you missed my point. By "technically" I meant: the dictionary definition of British is "of/relating to the United Kingdom." It is actually not simply "of Great Britain," even though that would make a lot of sense (and is more consistent with historic usage).

I pointed this out b/c I think an American could easily think that because the dictionary/technical definition of "British" includes anyone from the UK, it's okay to casually use it that way, without understanding the high likelihood of giving offense.

As I said and you confirmed, many (frankly, in my experience, most*) citizens of the United Kingdom do NOT like being called "British," including but not limited to citizens of N. Ireland.

*Interestingly, it's definitely true that almost every friend of mine from the UK strongly prefers English, Welsh, Scots, or Irish to British (obviously depending on where s/he's from; and my friends in Belfast strongly prefer "Irish" to "N. Irish" which probably reflects their politics). But that's apparently not the norm (although it may be that it reflects a difference in preference by age, as the majority of my friends are around my age - late 30's). In N. Ireland, for example, the 2008 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey found that 35% of people chose "British" to describe themselves, 32% chose "Irish," 27% chose "Northern Irish," and 2% chose "Ulster." I would have guessed the "British" percentage to be much lower and the "Ulster" percentage higher. I guess I would have been wrong. ;) http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2009/Community_Relations/NINATID.html

Posted on: 2012/6/6 13:35

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee

#55

Home away from home

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is a country (sovereign state) that is comprised of 4 countries, England, Scotland, Wales, and N. Ireland (they are not sovereign states). Most of England, Scotland, and Wales are on the island of Great Britain but these countries also include smaller islands surrounding GB (England includes 100+ islands, for example).

The 14 overseas territories (Bermuda, BVI, etc.) are under the jurisdiction of the UK, but are not considered "part" of the UK. The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of countries with historic ties to the UK that are not governed by the UK (almost all former colonies of the British Empire), such as Canada, Australia, and India.

Great Britain and United Kingdom are used pretty much interchangeably in the US (and much of the world), although Great Britain technically does not include N. Ireland. But the Olympics team from the UK is listed as GB (Great Britain), so there's really not even consistency there...

English and British are also often used interchangeably here, although this is not as accepted. It's incorrect to refer to someone born in Ireland, Wales, or Scotland as "English" - just as someone born in Wales is not "Irish" or "Scottish/Scots," etc. It's technically correct to call any citizen of the UK "British" but it could start trouble. I think most of us are aware of the continuing tension around the Irish/British debate, but people who were born in Scotland, Wales, or England may also prefer to be called Scottish/Scots, Welsh, or English instead of (or in addition to) British.

Posted on: 2012/6/5 16:11

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Torico's Ice Cream

#56

Home away from home

Thank all that is merciful and good in the universe (not to mention the JC planning dept), there's just one week left until Torico's is back. Woohoo! (Relatedly, does anyone know when the next bootcamp starts?)

Posted on: 2012/5/25 20:29

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: document shredding

#57

Home away from home

I'm pretty sure Staples does this. It's something like $.80/lb. (Obviously, I'd call to double-check before you head over.)

Posted on: 2012/5/24 20:05

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: New DMV Rules Begin Monday for Driver's Licenses

#58

Home away from home

Quote:

stillinjc wrote:
OP:

I clicked on your link and that's what I got:

Page Not Found

The page you have requested cannot be displayed because it does not exist, has been moved, or the server has been instructed not to let you view it.

Please try the search option in the navigation menu above to find your information.

The link worked fine for me.

Quote:

stillinjc wrote:
Anyway, what a PITA. The 6-point system worked (kind of). Now I will have to find my SS card. But I laminated it 30 years ago, which was/is against the law, and makes it invalid. I am screwed.

The NJ MVC has taken down the TRU ID stuff for now, but when I checked last week there was a list of acceptable forms of proof of SS# - it included things like tax documents (like a recent W-2) instead of a SS card. So, if/when this does get implemented, you won't necessarily need to find your SS card. (It's also not that hard to get a replacement card: http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ )

Posted on: 2012/5/8 15:06

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: Torico's Ice Cream

#59

Home away from home

I agree with those speculating that the backwards corruption of this city may be slowly killing Torico's. (Please let us all be wrong!) Which is sad, but not surprising. Although, from looking at Healy, you'd think he'd be pro-ice cream...

Posted on: 2012/5/4 17:46

Topic | Forum

Erica

Re: EZ PASS issued by NY or NJ

#60

Home away from home

Quote:

chiefdahill wrote:
Quote:

Erica wrote:
There's no difference in tolls for NY-issued vs NJ-issued EZPASS. (Obviously, you have to update your account to reflect your current address and license plate, etc.)

There are a variety of discount plans you can enroll in - most are only useful if you commute by car (although I believe there's one for hybrids). Just check the EZPASS NJ and EZPASS NY websites for lists of the plans and enrollment applications, if applicable.

There is a difference. If you have a NY EZPASS you get discounts on the tunnels and NY crossings. If you have a NJ EZPASS you get discounts on turnpike etc... I had mine when I lived in NYC and I called to make sure I keep the NY crossing discounts.

Sorry - I meant to say "there's no difference in *those* tolls." I was assuming the OP travels the extension for commuting during peak times (when there's no EZPass discount) and the Holland Tunnel discount is given to EZPass users generally, not just NY-issued.

Posted on: 2012/5/2 19:49

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