Jersey City police union president blasts superiors’ union leader for ‘cozy’ relationship with administration

The president of the Jersey City police officers’ union blasted the new president of the superior officers’ union, claiming his “cozy” relationship with the city administration is hurting the hundreds of rank-and-file officers in his union.

In a March 31 letter to Police Officers Benevolent Association (POBA) members obtained by The Jersey Journal, president Joe Cossolini said the appointment of Andrew LaBruno from second vice president to president of the Police Superior Officers Association after Morgan Torres stepped down “is a major problem because LaBruno is clearly serving the interests of (Public Safety Director James Shea).”

https://www.nj.com/hudson/2022/04/jers ... -with-administration.html

Jersey City councilman urges state to study local income tax up to 1% to help fund $1 billion school budget

Jersey City Bergen-Lafayette Councilman Frank Gilmore is urging the state to study the feasibility of creating a local income tax of up to 1% to help fund the $973.8 million Jersey City school budget.

Gilmore announced Thursday afternoon his plan to present a resolution at the April 13 city council meeting. He wants to know how much revenue could be generated by the local tax.

https://www.nj.com/hudson/2022/04/jers ... illion-school-budget.html

Jersey City officials discuss potentially utilizing speed cameras to help reduce hit-and-runs

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

“We’re calling on you to develop a speed camera pilot program in Jersey City. We want to ensure it is fully government-controlled. No private contractors,” Colin DeVries, a board member of Safe Streets Jersey City, said at the City Council Caucus Chambers yesterday.

He cited a study done in Montgomery County, Maryland that saw speeding drop 19 percent when a camera was installed, also noting that the New York City Department of Transportation controls their own speed cameras.

https://hudsoncountyview.com/jersey-ci ... help-reduce-hit-and-runs/

Fulop, Tom DeGise, & Bob Menendez all in favor of Marion Street PATH Station in Jersey City

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“In understanding the economic impacts resulting from the pandemic, we will look to the developers to fully fund the construction of a two-platform, ten car above-ground station, with minor modifications to existing tracks previously constructed in anticipation of this extension,” Fulop said in his February 1st letter to Peter Simon, the chief of staff to PANYNJ Chair Kevin O’Toole.

“As discussed in recent years with the developers involved, we are confident that the proposed development in the area will pay for the necessary capital improvements … The Marion PATH Station would provide a critical juncture to tens of thousands of our residents and commuters to complement and extend Jersey City’s existing public transit infrastructure while filling the gaps in areas that need it most.”

https://hudsoncountyview.com/fulop-tom ... h-station-in-jersey-city/

Hitman who killed on orders from N.J. political operative gets 8 years for Connecticut robbery

A career criminal who admitted killing in 2014 in a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by a prominent New Jersey political operative was sentenced Tuesday to 96 months in federal prison in an unrelated bank robbery that year in Connecticut.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer sentenced George Bratsenis, 73, to eight years in prison during a hearing in a New Haven, Conn. federal court after Bratsenis pleaded guilty in 2019 to committing the armed bank robbery in Connecticut, his home state.

https://www.nj.com/news/2022/04/hitman ... -connecticut-robbery.html