Well, I will say this: I successfully fought a NYC parking ticket a year or two ago. It wasn't particularly onerous or hard to do so.

You don't have to go to court for parking tickets. Instead, they have an office (I went to the office in Downtown, a stone throw away from the WTC area) where you get some forms, a number and you wait. As I recall, I didn't wait too long to be seen/heard. I explained my situation, brought my "proof" and the official dismissed my ticket. I had to do a little oath thing and all was good.

Now, my situation was WAY DIFFERENT. I was in a legal spot. I was ticketed for not having a Unimeter ticket on the dashboard (failure to pay?) but I was actually across the street standing in line at a Unimeter to get my ticket (the one closest to my car was not working, and the one across the street was closer than the one all the way at the end of the block). As I coming back with my ticket, I saw the meter maid writing my ticket. I tried to reason with the idiot, showing her the parking payment stub I had just gotten, to no avail. So, off to contest the ticket a week or two later. It all worked out. The judge even mentioned that happens often (unimeters out of order, or people being ticketed while they are getting they are getting their meter tickets) so it was an easy dismissal.

Based on your circumstances, I don't think you have much of a chance to fight that ticket. It is a tenet of our legal system: ignorantia legis non excusat (ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse).

Count me in as another HAPPY and SATISFIED citizen with this city program. I took my dog to the last clinic held last year (in Arlington Park) and even though it was a little disorganized (there was some confusion regarding the two lines: one for license paperwork, the other for the shots) I think it was a very nice event. It brought together people from the neighborhood on a beautiful summer day, along with their pets, and the service being provided (FREE OF CHARGE!) was just great. And, as a result of the experience, I have become a supporter of People For Animals (PFA) and have encouraged other friends and acquaintances to use their services in the Hillside location. From the flyer posted below, it seems like Arlington Park is not getting a clinic this year. Hopefully one will be added later.

To bloodtv: not sure why you would be told that paperwork would be sent through the mail, when it was given to each person right after shots were applied. Heck, they even took the time to affix the label from the vaccine vessel to the paperwork, to ensure you would have the actual batch information as part of your paperwork!

Also, for any owner planning to do this, PLAN AHEAD. Bring a bottle of water and some food, as you may be in line for a while and your pet may need some sustenance.

Other than that, kudos all around. I have to say that this is a GREAT city program/service. I hope they keep it going forever.

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Don't get your hopes up... If prior history is ANY guide, we know it will NOT open by late March, as they indicate. Unfortunately (and, sadly) restaurant openings around JC tend to get delayed by months and/or years.

I can report that YESTERDAY a pre-built bridge was brought out to the vicinity of the previous bridge. I can't confirm this is the same bridge alluded to in the email you quoted, but I was wondering about the pre-fab bridge that was seen yesterday and it jives perfectly with what you were told. Could it be we get a bridge BEFORE April?? I would be impressed. Maybe another "home run" for JC...

Darn! I didn't even realize that RUB BBQ was closed until I read it here... that sucks. That place was AWESOME.

As for other good options, head west to Newark and hit up Dinosaur BBQ. Their brisket is very good, the pulled pork is perfect and the ribs are also very good. Plus, they have a ton of craft beers on tap. Definitely worth it. If you go by PATH, it is a short walk from Penn Station.

Based on the text of the article below, I come away with the impression that the reval *is* done and they are just sitting on the numbers. Am I off on this understanding? The writing is not very clear, of course.

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It positions the revaluation as ongoing ("however it turns out") but it then goes on to say that it will not go into effect until the second half of this year. Given the massive amount of data that would need to be processed and entered into the tax records, that would indicate that the reval is nearing completion, or is already completed. The Fulop allegations referred to in the article also seem to indicate that the reval is done, as his campaign is contending that the reval implementation is being pushed back for political reasons. So, does anyone know for sure?? And, if the reval IS done, can a homeowner request information on his property valuation for planning purposes?

Old thread, but came across an article about Miami recently stepping up efforts to enforce their teen/children curfew.

Does anyone know if Jersey City has ever attempted to enforce the curfew laws? I often see teens milling about late at night, even past midnight. What good could that be?

Miami enforcing curfew laws

The car inspection facility in Secaucus runs smoothly, with very short waits. The last time I did it, almost two years ago, was a weekday, in the early afternoon (~ 2:00 PM) and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes, including the inspection itself. The staff was professional and courteous. In fact, my entire experience with the NJ DMV over the past 2 years has been nothing short of pleasant. I think the state government must have made a concerted effort to improve what used to be one of the worst government agencies. The JC office over by JSQ is always clean and organized, and the staff has always been nice and pleasant.

Secondly, please be aware that state vehicular inspections are mandated to be done EVERY TWO YEARS. Not four, as stated by Heights. New cars get a five year inspection, after which they then have to be inspected every two years.

Here are state inspection regulations, and other related information:
NJ MVC Vehicle Inspections Website

Lastly, here is an example of how technology, when implemented right, can lead to much better government service: you can now look up average wait times at any inspection facility online!
NJ MVC Inspection Facility Wait Queue Time/Camera

Heights is INCORRECT in his statements.

Holders of dual citizenship can exercise the full rights and responsibilities of the countries for which they hold citizenship, including voting in elections. It *used* to be that US law stipulated that dual citizens couldn't vote in foreign elections, but that was struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1967, and the new law was codified by Congress in 1978.

But, as others have stated, you MUST be a US citizen (by birth, or naturalized) of 18 years of age (or, older) and a legal resident of one of the 50 US states, or the District of Columbia. Residents of Puerto Rico and other US territories are NOT allowed to vote in federal elections. The reasons are simple: US territories do not have voting representation in Congress (the congressional representatives of territories are only allowed to speak and/or listen, but not vote, during congressional sessions) and only US States (and, DC) have the right to send electors to the Electoral College.

Well, my car (2005 VW Touareg V6) has developed a problem with the driveshaft bearing and I will need to either replace the entire transmission, or get the bearing swapped. I am looking for recommendations of a local mechanic willing to do the bearing fix (preferably) or to replace the transmission. Based on previous threads, I called Joe's first, but they don't do this kind of work.

Can someone recommend a local mechanic that works on transmissions of European cars? Conversely, if there is someone I should avoid, please chime in!

Well, not to (in)flame the current mood and opposition against the gas pipeline, but news reports are just coming in about a huge gas blast in Kansas City, MO, in a high end retail complex. Apparently, a car hit a gas pipeline, which led to a serious, large explosion, followed by a secondary explosion. A restaurant was completely destroyed and there are reports of multiple injuries. Nearby residents are being evacuated.

NBC News link

Yeah, the guy recording the video *may* have a point, but his way of trying to get that across was just plain wrong. Getting on an officer's face, while they are already dealing with a tense situation, is just not the way to handle things. Honestly, from the video, it is not clear that excessive force was used, or that the police did anything but try and control/defuse a tense situation. But, we don't have all the facts.

Of course, leave it to the city government to improperly quote the municipal codes... :/

For those who don't bother to actually read these things, and simply are parroting misquoted information, here is the official code, which was also incorrectly identified on the City website:

296-1.1. - Duties of owners or occupants of residential property; time for removal.

Every owner, occupant or person having charge of a residential building or vacant lot shall, in case of a snowfall, clear such snow from the sidewalks and gutters thereof to the extent of one foot outside the curb in front of the building or lot, as well as on the side thereof where the building or lot faces on more than one street, within eight hours after the snow has fallen. If the snow has fallen during the night, removal shall be finished within eight hours after sunrise.

To the OP (MonmouthMan) why would ANYONE assume that the 8-hour clock starts at the beginning of snowfall??

To anonymess: I believe the Foundry could have done a better job of clearing their sidewalks, but they certainly did so within 8 hours of sunrise on Saturday. That's within the law.

I am going to make a HUGE assumption here: yours is the property listed in the classifieds section of this site, right? If so, I can tell you what could be a glaring issue with the house: 4 bedrooms, but ONE bathroom (!!) I have never understood that trend. I have seen many houses like that: plenty of small(isn) bedrooms, and a single bathroom. If 3 or 4 people were to share this place, can you envision the morning chaos? Assuming three people, none of which are romantically involved, sharing a single bathroom can be a HUGE pain in the mornings. Other than that, I can agree that the house is very nice looking and should generate interest. I have been to the area, and it is fairly quiet given the roads around it.

Good luck!

PS
Would you consider something like the other person posted: a LONG term contract for a reduced rate? Say, three years at $1350? Some people (like me) truly despise moving and once they find a place they like, they are willing to stay for a long time. I have never been a landlord, but I am pretty sure that, over the long run, a good tenant who stays around for a long period makes things easier, and more profitable. I am sure one of the JC Listers that's also a landlord can chime in with personal takes on that. My personal (biased) take: I have been in my place for 6.5 years. My landlord loves me: no headaches, no hassles, no miscellaneous expenses (I fix anything that breaks that doesn't require a "professional") and in exchange, they have never raised my rent. It's a WIN/WIN.

I *know* that's the purported reason, but that's a cop-out by the Pathmark management. They could get rid of the barricade and procure carts with radio controlled brakes that get triggered when taken outside a delineated, permitted zone. Target uses that type of cart, which is why you don't see red Target carts all over town. Of course, that costs money and Target is a company that is well known for their customer service.

This lot is hell on Earth. In fact, every establishment in that lot is an exercise in frustration. I absolutely despise ShopRite (people yelling from aisle to aisle, ever present crazy long lines, apathetic employees, belligerent cashiers, people pushing carts as if they were in a bumper car attraction) and BBB is not much better. Say what you will, but I rather deal with the ghetto trash at Parkmark on the Old Colony strip mall. Usually not as crowded and decent prices. Yes, I can't bring my cart to the lot (what's up with that?!) but then again I dont have to deal with errant carts all over the lot.

Soon after getting to JC 6.5 years ago, my car was hit (probably by a truck) and my engine hood was damaged and indented. I see people parking diagonally and taking one space and part of another, people backing into other cars, shopping carts all over the place, etc. Why would anyone put up with this crap? And, of course, it has to be said: never EVER go here at the beginning of the month. It is a ZOO, for obvious reasons.

Not to beat this topic to death, but there is also the issue of apathy by authorities and their minions. The grassy areas in the LSP Park and Ride lot are littered with poop, as well as the grassy areas around the ticket machines. I have approached the security guards that patrol the lot asking who can I contact to request some enforcement and my inquiries were met with blank stares. They don't know, and they don't care. Ignorance and apathy. No one cares and no one is willing to do anything about it. Maybe now that we have an election upon us, we might get some basic enforcement, but I SERIOUSLY doubt it.

As T-Bird points out, it's not just easier getting out to Millburn, it is also MUCH BETTER service. The employees are pleasant, the supermarket is never crowded or disorganized and you have Best Buy, Target and Home Depot all within a mile.

Even after paying the tolls to take the Turnpike Extension to 78, it is WORTH IT to not deal with the headaches of driving out to Edgewater. The only reason I ever drive out to Edgewater is if I want to hit up Mitsuwa (which is GREAT). Heck, I have been known to ride my bicycle out to Edgewater to not deal with the traffic. Sometimes, it takes me less time to do so than driving.

Also, as Tommyc_37 points out, TJs is great for the frozen fish. They have simple , plain fillets of at least 4 or 5 different types year round, in addition to two to four types already marinated in flavorful sauces. Indeed, the location on 21st Street is very convenient (especially if you are already in the city) but I commute by bicicyle and sometimes need to carry heavy items, or more than two bags. If I have to hit up both TJs and WF, and possibly Target as well, then I find it easier to drive out to Millburn.

BTW, this just in from the Dallas metro area:
Dog feces spat leads to shooting and double homicide

I am not saying this is a common occurrence, but this is exactly what I think about as a worst case scenario when I think of a contentious relationship with a troublesome neighbor. The way people behave around here, I can see something like this happening.

Quite honestly, this is a serious issue all over JC. The government's complacency by not even attempting to enforce the law on this regard is sending the message that it is OK to not pick up after your dog(s). I live in BeLa (or, whatever people want to call it nowadays) and some streets are littered from one end of the block to the next in dog feces in whatever little strip of grass is there. While some people here have indicated their willingness to call out random strangers for their failure to curb their dogs, I find the practice impractical and borderline dangerous. Not to come across as a sissy, but mouthing off at random people can be a risky proposition: you don't know if they are packing, if they are high, or willing to "make a statement" on their (bizarre) beliefs of (misplaced) rights or entitlements. In the end, this is a matter of civility and neighborhood pride. Sadly, we seem to be perpetually running low on both of those categories ALL OVER THIS CITY. And, you are not likely to teach them either by calling them out.

In the end, the proof is in the pudding: look around at all the trash being tossed on the streets by our very own neighbors and it is no wonder that dog feces are not picked up.

The other day, a neighbor of mine suggested creating a "volunteer clean up brigade" to take to the streets around the neighborhood to pick up trash, etc. I thought about it for a while and concluded that it would be an exercise in futility. I truly think that the streets (and, neighborhood) would be trashed again within days. In my immediate area of the neighborhood, I have personally witnessed: people dump trash (wrappers, cups, napkins, etc) from their cars onto the streets; a cop toss an empty coffee cup towards a sewer grate; someone dump a bunch of pennies from their car onto a sidewalk; people relieving themselves (in broad daylight) by peeing on walls; and, of course, your stereotypical ghetto hoodlum with a pit-mix dog walk to an empty, fenced in lot and let his dog run loose in there, relieve itself and then walk home with nary an effort to pick up after the dog.

One very important point that people seem to have missed is that American Express cards are not included in the settlement, so no such charge is allowed for AMEX transactions by the settlement. And, as a result, most merchants will not be able to charge the extra fee for Visa/MC transactions because the settlement also stipulates that any merchants wanting to charge any fees will need to do so for all credit cards accepted (not just Visa/MC) and since the AMEX terms of service prohibit any such fees, most merchants will be legally unable to charge the extra fee at all.

Another very important point from the settlement is that it stipulates that any merchant imposing any extra fees, will have to do so across all of their stores (they can NOT selectively choose to do so in one market and not other). And, because about 10 different states (NY is one of them, but not NJ) prohibit merchants from charging any additional fees, any retailers with outlets in one of those states will also be legally unable to impose any additional fees.

In other words, NO MAJOR RETAILER will be imposing extra fees. This settlement is really only applicable to small vendors, and only those that only accept Visa and Mastercard.

Heights:

If by "they" you are referring to the Australian REIT fund, you should know that they will not be voting for anyone because, legally, non citizens are NOT allowed to vote. With a very few notable exceptions, foreigners are not allowed to vote at ANY level of government. And none of those are in NJ.

For someone who is so brazen and cavalier in his attitude towards foreigners and immigrants, and who has no qualms in spouting xenophobic rants, you have a remarkably small grasp of laws and facts regarding those matters.

@Vergeofinsanity: Of course CanCo Lofts residents can park on the street. Why wouldn't they be allowed to do so? No law stipulates that you MUST buy a parking spot at the building, or lease one.

@Heights: You are assuming much. Some residents may own more than one car (think couples with two jobs, or roommates heading to different jobs, etc) and the Lofts only guarantees one spot available per unit, with a LONG waiting list for additional spots.

If you live in CanCo Lofts, with more than one car for your unit, you will have to park on the street, or find a parking lot where to keep your car. Also, keep in mind that the area is rife with car break ins. I know someone's whose car was broken into twice within a few months of moving in while parked outside overnight. Another resident had his FOUR (!!) tires stolen and his car was left sitting on cinder blocks. This happened right outside the building.

So, yes, you can park outside, but beware. Perhaps it is more cost effective to park in a lot, long term.

@Toonces: I find it interesting that some units pay different/variable rates for maintenance fees. Based on your numbers, indeed the rate works out to about 59 c, but the fees being quoted for that unit Malcontent is eyeing do approximate to 64 cents per sq. ft., which is pretty much how it worked out for my father, who also lives in CanCo Lofts.

As for the taxes being quoted to Malcontent, those can't possibly be right. The online tax records tell a different story.

Malcontent, who do you think is lying? The broker? Or, the county tax records??

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Malcontent, I think you are misinformed. Where did you get that information?

I don't personally live in CanCo Lofts, but I am very familiar with the financial details of living there because of acquaintances that do live there. I can assure you that the monthly costs of taxes + fees + maintenance exceed the one thousand mark, per month, regardless of unit. As someone else stated, the condo fees work out to about 60 cents per sq. ft. per unit per month. My experience is that the actual number is a bit higher (~65). IIRC, the tax rate that was quoted during closing was around 1.65%. In a 1300 sq. ft. unit, you would be looking to pay close to 800 in maintenance, plus your taxes, plus parking.

So, if you are looking at CanCo Lofts, do yourself a favor and get better information.

Surprisingly, I thought I had reviewed this place a few months back, but I can not find my review. Indeed, this is a local treasure. Unassuming (and, perhaps, uninviting) from the outside, but definitely great food.

As others have mentioned, the owner chef (Eddie) is a great host and his love/passion/dedication to this endeavor shines through. He is welcoming and makes an honest attempt to visit with each table while manning the kitchen and preparing the food.

The food itself is very good, plentiful and very well priced. I hope he succeeds!

Exchange Place will be a fun place today... All escalators will remain out of service today, until at least tomorrow morning, as per the PATH tweets.

Here is a copy: All three #PATH escalators at Exchange Place are currently out of service through tomorrow morning, 1/8/13. Please use stairs or elevators.

I try to avoid negative reviews of local places, as I really don't want see a local place, with local ownership, going out of business, but I had to chime in on this one.

I have also tried the Brightside Tavern on three occasions, all terrible. Every visit was at the bar area. Unfortunately, the experience described by tommyc_37 is, in many ways, exactly what it's been like for me.

The ambiance (on a football Sunday afternoon) was pretty dreadful. On a second occasion (also over a weekend, but can't remember if Saturday or Sunday) it was equally bland, devoid of any feel of a neighborhood bar, or tavern.

The food is almost laughable. On my first visit, I asked the bartender if the wings were any good, and I was assured they were excellent and really some of the best she had ever had. Well, those wings were probably some of the worst I have ever had: they were tiny, thin and overcooked. Yet, somehow, they were barely warm when they got to me. Even though I hate tiny wings, if they are at least meaty, I could forgive the lack of size. These things barely had any meat on them, and since they were overcooked, eating the little meat they had was like chewing on bone.

Also, the beers on tap were very much run of the mill stuff.

I really wanted to like this place, but I haven't been back in almost a year. I suppose I could give it a try again. But, I am in no hurry to do so.

I want to add my support for Honey Bakery! I got to try some of their food this past Friday at their stand in the Grove Street Plaza. The lady running the stand was super sweet and friendly and allowed people to have mini samples of the hot food items. I ended up buying a large container of their lamb pilaf rice (AMAZING, and a good deal at $6) and a lamb samosa (very good, and stuffed with lamb meat, $4). I didn't get any sweets, but I intend to go by their shop sometime soon to pick some up. I asked her if they would be back at the Plaza and she did indicate they would be there this week at the Monday and Thursday events. Good food, with a smile. I hope they succeed and I wish them the best.

Are we to believe that each of those stolen bikes was worth, on average, almost $800?? The 40K figure sounds high for bikes being stolen from the street. Unless they are are breaking into actual homes and apartments and stealing really nice bikes, I don't see how that figure is remotely close to accurate. I am sure people have enough sense not to leave expensive bikes chained outside. Or, maybe not?