Several years ago, the present pope was attacked by a crazy woman during a Mass, this was the second time she did this. The pope forgave her, realizing her mental condition, he has the same compassion for his butler. This 85 years old pontiff, had a stroke in 1991 plus many other health problems, his doctors do not want him to fly on planes, a requirement for the job in this age. I watched this pope during the Christmas Mass, he had a hard time walking. Benedict has the humility to recognize he cannot do the job the way he wants to. There is no conspiracy since popes, even bad ones are not impeached.

This is ridiculous, John Paul 11 also forgave the person who shot him, is that a coverup? Benedict X16 also mention retiring from active duty when he was a Cardinal but he credits the former Pope keeping him active. I believe his age and health problems is stopping him from leading an active life as a pope. For those who follow him, he has appointed more cardinals outside of Europe which means there might be a Latin American pope, or an African Pope, although many people are hoping Dolan from NY will be the next Pope.

The $100,000 "Eye in the Sky" continues to sit at 14th & Jersey as it has since January 16th. It is symbolic of a waste of taxpayer dollars and an apparent lack of concern on the Police Departments part that the public sees it here doing nothing in the war on crime. This device should be anywhere but where it is now. Journal Square, MLK Drive, the Heights, Lafayette. Move it around every week. Concerned citizens should press the PD on this issue.

FBI agents lost jobs over similar charges and I don't believe the hookers were underage. Let the investigation begin, if true then Gov. Christie will pick another Senator.

On December 11th Mayor Healy & the JCPD introduced its "Eye in the Sky" surveillance tower at the HUB on MLK Drive. This $100,000, 40 foot tower, was to be placed in strategic spots around the city to help combat crime. Since last Wednesday, January 16th, its sitting at the intersection of Jersey Avenue and 14th Street adjacent to the ramp leading to the NJ Turnpike with its light blinking. This is hardly a high crime area and is also patrolled by the PAPD so what is it doing at this location and for so long?

Let me repeat myself, St. Peter's is now closed. It was my parish for 35 years. The building is the Prep cafeteria now.

St. Peter's Church does not exist, it is now the Prep's cafeteria. You didn't say where you live since Downtown is large, if you have a car attending Holy Rosary or St. Anthony is ideal because parking is easier in that neighborhood, 6th Street. If you are on the waterfront, then OLC is nearby, the other churches are part of Resurrection Parish (St. Michael, near Newport, St. Mary's, on Erie and 3rd, and St. Brigid, on Montgomery St, Ferris High School. I suggest you attend different Catholic Churches to see your preference.

Moloney has hot and cold sandwiches plus they make a different soup every day.

I recorded this video for two reasons: It was the Friends of Liberty State Park who spearheaded the use of this neglected land for an attractive use. It is truly public and private funds that went into these pavilions. The second reasons, some people who visit this site ask the question where can they rent a facility for an event. Well here it is, these pavilions have great views, clean restrooms, electric current, and is affordable.

This video is basically about the ribbon cutting for the pavilions at LSP but that only last 19 minutes so I added Councilman Lavarro speaking on the need to have a crime study a the council meeting. I need 30 for Comcast. It is playing on Channel 51 Mondays @ 10:30 pm and Tuesdays @ 9:00 pm.

LSP City Hall 1 from Speak NJ on Vimeo.

I did not make the connection until I saw the picture on her flyer at Fulop fundraiser (Yes, I attended). Since my show is only 30 minutes, I chose interesting speakers and unfortunately, she didn't make the cut. The public speaking lasted several hours and many people spoke ,over thirty. It was the first time I saw Esther Wintner and she made an impression so she made the cut. Sorry, if you make one appearance at a meeting when hundred gathered, then you don't make an impression. I also want to say I wasn't the only one videotapping, Candice didn't the cut in their videos too.

T-Bird, that picture was taken in 2010 when 300 people packed city hall over a massive tax increase. I did videotape that meeting but I did not include Candice in the final cut. I did include Esther Wintner who does attend council meeting. Esther like Dan has made a difference. Dan is responsible for 'play to play' and Esther is responsible for finding funding to hire cops. Healy mentions the hiring of cops in his letter but he didn't give her credit. We need activists on the council, not people who attended a meeting in 2010 and is not remembered. By the way, Esther asked the City Council to amend pay to play to include the Board of Ed. What did Candice do?

T-Bird
Please keep attacking renters because it was renters who put Anthony Cucci in office in 1985, I remember when McCann stopped renters in the projects from voting and renters from all over came out to vote. The city has a higher renter population than homeowner population. When I think of all the high rise buildings in Ward E who are renters or renters living in 2, 3 or 4 families row houses they would want a renter to represent them. Also, T-Bird, you couldn't answer the question on what ordinance did Candice speak. Following your logic I guess you prefer to go to a doctor who didn't attend medical school but learn his craft as "on the job training."

To JPhurst
The council agenda is on line, I have never seen her name on the printed agenda for public comment. I haven't missed a meeting in a long time. Also, ordinances are recorded, when did Candice speak on an ordinance? Part of the reason, we have high taxes is because mayors in the past put newbie people on their slate and they don't know what they are doing. Candice would not be voting for Ward E, she would be voting on issues effecting the city. I don't want a newbie, I want a person who know how to ask intelligent questions and not to be told what to do. I personally find it appalling that anyone one runs for office and not attend the budget hearing, since the budget is one of the main jobs of the council.

To Bright Moments

I have never seen Candice at council meetings, although she has a picture of herself on a flyer saying she spoke against taxes, really? While crime is an issue so is development, traffic, taxes, abatements, city's bonding debt, etc. I could go on and list more. The public has not heard from Candice. Which is the reason I do like Dan. I have to cut this short so I can now donate to Dan's campaign.

At least Dan Levin attended the council meeting on the plan affecting Van Vorst Park area, but where was Candice? Not attending meetings after you announce for office tells a lot about commitment. I just see commitment just from Dan.

I want to congratulate Dan Levin, it is difficult to win without being on a ticket unless you have deep pockets. I, too plan on voting for Steve Fulop but it is nice to know that Mayor Healy is smart to place Dan Levin on his ticket. I know the whole city will be better if more activists serve the city.

This is actually an excellent idea. You don't see police officers in the streets unless they are doing an off duty job, protecting a job site. The police department needs a better organization with more patrols.

To jcboyz

I don't always check with JCList so I don't know what article you are referring to but I will give you many reason why this abatement is wrong:
1) There is nothing in the JC charter on the city's incorporation which was written around 1640 that JC taxpayers are responsible that developers make a profit. Canco had an abatement but like Crystal Point they went crying to JC gov't that they weren't making a profit so the city gave them a better deal, which is another reason why 77 Hudson St sued JC because they felt discrimination against.
2) I remember the original agreement which was reported in the Hudson Reporter and written by Ricardo Kaulessar. The original deal stated the condos would sell for $200,000 range, the condos are selling in the $350,000 to $450,000 range.
3) Abatements are not ratable. Which means the county which has the legal obligation to create the tax bills, do not add abatements in the ratable base. The greater the ratable base the smaller the tax bill for everyone and the lower the ratable base the larger the tax bill for everyone. The ratable base after the 1988 reval was higher then than it is now because our mayors (McCann, Schundler, and Healy) gave away the ratable base.

The person running for mayor and his at-large candidates are bracken together on one column, the Ward candidates are separated in a different column. Which gives Dan Levin a true shot to become Ward E councilperson. Plus, the geography of Ward E is now smaller, giving an independent a true shot. People from Ward E can still vote for Fulop and Levin. There is no conflict.

I forgot to mentioned, Dan Levin was also at the Planning Board meeting. This is his example of commitment to the public.

I am not attacking Candice but I am promoting Dan. In terms of good government, I want to thank Ms. Lopez who was the only person on the Planning Board to voted against a hotel being planned at the foot of York St. While the design is great, the building is exempted from parking. Ms. Lopez voted no because parking was not part of the plan. If the council approves this then, Paulus Hook residents will have to deal with 250 potential cars in their neighborhood. I believe in supporting council people who serve the public. Dan Levin does serve the public.

I love what you said, she doesn't have time to attend council meetings. I have a real problem with any one who is running for council and that person does not attend council meetings. When he or she is elected what is their reference when they vote on an ordinance or resolution? They vote according to the dictates of the sitting mayor. This is the reason we have bad government, they don't have a clue! The reason I support Dan Levin, he does attend council meetings. He doesn't need to be told how to vote!

Let me give you some history of the area, especially around St. Peter's Church. The first structure circa 1850 collapsed during construction, the second building which was similar to St. Francis Church on 32nd St was condemned by the city, and the third building which went up in 1960 still stands today but is only one story. The land is a marsh that was an active waterway in the past. There were many waterways throughout downtown. The land was filled in. There were many canals in downtown that took people to Paulus Hook, then from Paulus Hook they took a ferry to New York.

The term is called water displacement, in order to support these tall buildings, pilings must be placed underground, which is similar to placing a baby in a tub of water. The water rises. But I guess, some people are too lazy to look at historical maps. By the way, as a former parishoner of St. Peter's Church, the building is now the Prep's cafeteria, I remember water bubbling up the floor during Mass. The water table was rising and it came right through the floor. The bubbling floor started in the mid to late 1990's after some of the development in Paulus Hook. It was not a problem before. I attended that church for 35 years. St. Peter's Church was 3 block from from Van Vorst Park.

I make a comment earlier that Van Vorst Park area would suffer water problems when the water tables are raised. Some of you have questioned this. I suggest you go the the Main Branch of the Public Library and review the historical maps of JC. I have seen them. There were many waterways from ran from Layfayette to Paulus Hook. In fact, I saw a map that had Paulus Hook as an island. I remember when the Gregory Apt. were built, now called Metroplis. They found parts of a boat as they were digging the ground. I have been here longer than most and I know the history (J. Owen Grundy, city historian) was a good friend. Stop throwing mud and do your homework.

I do not know Candice so it would be wrong to judge her. But I have been attending council meetings since the 1970s and have learned a few things. When an unknown person wins a seat, their alligiance is to the person who placed him or her in that spot, the public comes second. In my opinion Dan Levin has always put the public first.

Just for the record, Nidia Lopez, councilperson for Ward C who ran on the Healy ticket, is a great councilperson. She listens to the public before she votes. Like Steve Fulop, she responds to the public on many issues. Don't get caught up labels, vote the person not the ticket.

That type of development will require massive pilings which will raise the water table. That area already floods. I was raised in Hoboken before the developments, it rarely flooded then. But the buildings in Hoboken has raised the city's water table and it floods on a regular basis. This massive development will cause more flooding to the Van Vorst Park neighborhood.

Dan Levin is a fine human being and would be an excellent Ward E councilperson. If Steve Fulop does not become mayor, you would need a knowledgeable person for downtown. The upcoming revaluation will take a toll on Ward E, so who do you trust to help residents after the revaluation, an unknown?