No true as to bicycles, Monroe. A collision between a bicyclist and pedestrian have often resulted in serious injuries and even death.

Is there a way to file a complaint against a law enforcement officer in JC, similar to CCRB in NYC?

We need to start taking pictures and filing official complaints if we see cops in those spots.

The problem is, it's one more thing to do in an already busy life. It should not have to be our job to make sure city employees abide by the law.

Has anyone complained to Candace Osborne or the Mayor about this?

I likethe idea of the bike racks. SOmething needs to be done. THis is such a safetly hazard and people seem to have no regard for it. It makes me so angry. This should be a priority for the parkig authority. They should start giving out $1000 tickets for parking in these spots.

Brewster - I agree and I have heard some good things about LCCS. But we also need to realize that physical structures are also important in terms of the environment children are learning in. It is now virtually impossible for children that are not siblings to get a spot in that school.
I recently toured one of the downtown elementary schools. I was very disturbed by the lead problems with the water and the total lack of outside space - not even a playground. All of the children (pre-k thru 8) vie for a half hour of play time in the one gym in the basement. I have also heard that there are asbestos issues in many old schools. While I was pleasantly surprised with the instruction, the physical structure is not good and its a huge turnoff. I work full time. I feel bad that my child will be stuck inside an old decrepid school all day without the opportunity to run and play outside and ge exercise like all children should. Even NYC has figured out a way to find outside space for their schools, and their real estate is certainly much more $$ than JC.

THis turns off a lot of parents, for good reason. Also, for those of you that are not aware, many of the JC schools have a huge issue with lead in the water - to the point where they have had to permantly shut the water fountains off. But the kids still brush their teeth with that water, wash their hands and food is cooked in it. The City has taken no steps to remediate the problem that I am aware of. I really don't know why the EPA isn't involved.

This City will never acheive that status until they improve the schools (including downtown). WIth the exception of a very few, most of the schools (including downtown) are in dismal shape. Many are seriously old, have lead and asbestos problems, as well as crumbling and outdated infrastructure, and have ZERO dedicated green space / playgrounds /outside space. It is a real embarressment and the reason most folks move away.

I am going to throw it out there that it is these middle class families that generally become the most active in communities and help to keep it looking good, clean and well run. WHen they move out, it becomes a transient city of young people, temporary folks, and empty nesters that are less vested in the community.

Improve the schools and the City will improve. Start with building new schools to replace the old, decrepit and embarressing structures.

I would also suggest the work culture in NYC and surrounding areas, including JC. There is a work at all costs mentality here - to the detriment of quality of life. Crazy work hours, plus long commutes. It is not this way in other parts of the country where I have lived. People are generally happier and less stressed when they have a better work/life balance.

I agree. Most of our JC schools don't even have ANY green space dedicated to the school - not even a play yard. I find it hard to beleive that this is even allowed - there should be some regulation that requires at least some outside space for recreation for children at school.

The government of JC doesn't appear to treat this quality of life issue as a priority.

JC-er, sent you a message to your inbox

I do have some recs for daycare in the downtown area if you want to PM me. I also have a rec for an in home daycare that is very reasonable in DT.
Also, if you have the space in your home, you could consider a live in au pair. A lot of my coworkers who live in the suburbs (and have the space) go this route. It is significantly less expensive that a nanny or daycare, but you must have the space to accommodate the au pair.

I second the JCmoms recommendation. A nanny is very expensive (think over 40K per year), especially if you do it properly on the books as you should. You might be able to link up with another family on JCmoms with a nanny share. Daycare is a "less" expensive option, though the cost in Jersey City is astronomical compared to the burbs. Also, there are waitlists, so you will want to start exploring options now. DO you work in JC? If not, perhaps explore daycares in the area where you work as well. I do this. Though I live in JC, I actually bring my child to the area of NJ where I work, as it is significantly less expensive than the options here.

And congratulations on your bundle of joy!

I think it would be interesting to have something similar to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in that location.
http://www.spac.org/venue

I am also wondering how the golf would figure in to this whole project. As I understand it, the Liberty golf course is incredibly exclusive and not open to the public. Would this change? I'd love to golf there!

I am not even Catholic - nor would I ever consider myself to be a traditionalist (or a Hipster, for that matter), but I do enjoy the latin mass at St. Anthony's. Particularly for the beautiful music. I like to bring my daughter there to listen and appreciate live music that is rare to experience. She is only 2, but she enjoys it as much as I do.

teachparentlove - Has EPA been involved? If not, it seems appropriate to call. THis water is also probably be used to preare and cook food. This is outrageous.

Agreed, Vigilante. WHat are people thinking? What if somebody was seriously hurt after this?

User has it exactly right. I liked OX. They have great food. But d?cor was blah, and it was pricey - more so than Skinners, for comparison. I can't remember now - were they BYOB?
I was sad to see OX go, but I do frequent Box on a weekly basis for their sushi.

2000 for food and discretionary is fine if you don't have kids. If you do, its a no go if both parents are working full time.
Fulltime daycare in JC starts at $1700 a month for 1 kid (most places are over 2 grand). Its crazy, but true. Most of us can't afford to take off a few years after having a child. I took a relatively long maternity leave for 5 months, but my child was in full time 9 hr. a day daycare from that point forward.
Many of the prices that you see advertised online for daycare are only for "schoolday" hours, from 9 to 2:30 or 3. If you need "early" and "late" hours, the cost is much more. Plus, you have to pay separately for summer camps, and coverage for all of those spring breaks/winter breaks and vacation days. ey yi yi.

I personally think you need to be making a combined family income of at least 200K to afford a home - and that would be really cutting it close. It all depends on many different factors. If your parents paid for college and you don't have loans to pay back, that changes the equation. If you have family that are giving you a sum of money towards your down payment, that changes the equation. If you have family that can provide childcare, that changes the equation. I know plenty of people who make less money but have generous families that are able to make it happen because of that.

So sad. This was a great place. I have a Polish heritage, and this stuff was the real deal. I am so sorry to hear of the owner's illness.

Another pizza place? Who is eating all of this pizza?!?

I'd love to see place that sells awesome salads. Not that make your own type you often see in the City, but super fresh, delicious unique salads with homemade dressing. It is so hard to find an amazing salad anywhere in NYC or Jersey!

JC also needs another diner. The Brownstone is always jammed.

EPA REgion 2 covers Jersey City

phone: (212) 637-5000

Main Regional Office
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007-1866

Edison,NJ Environmental Center
2890 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08837-3679

Robin: This still doesn't seem sufficient. It suggests to me that the schools have a problem with lead in their pipes. Are they using this water to cook food? Wash dishes? Are kids using htis water to wash hands, drink from sinks, etc? The quick fix is just that.

Why isn't EPA involved?

Is the EPA involved in this yet?

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They can't afford to live here and send their kids to private school. You can still get a house in the burbs for around 500K. You can barely buy a 1 bedroom apartment for that in downtown JC now. So, yes, they can't afford to live here anymore. Look - to each their own. It's not my choice or preference, but I can see the positive factors to suburb living.

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I don't think that is true. Many people I know can't afford to live in downtown Jersey City or Hoboken, and thus have moved to the 'burbs. There are plenty of decent malls in the 'burbs, where living is certainly cheaper. In fact, I have several friends that had kids and wanted to stay in JC but couldn't afford it. Where did they move? Westfield, Scotch Plains, Summit, etc. Haven't you read the studies that millennials don't want to live in the 'burbs anymore?

We also have incredible diversity in JC and that is something we should be proud of. This doesn't have to be a pretentious conversation about how our mall fits our "demographics".

More good ideas, heights! I'd love to see a YMCA and/or a community pool and park.

Good suggestions, Hamilton Park. I would love to see a Lord & Taylor and a Wegman's, along with some "regular" stores like Jcrew, banana, etc.

I do most of my shopping Short Hills out of neccessity. It is an OK mall. It has plenty of the "fancy" stores, but the mall itself is not great, parking is a pain and it has a bit of an obnoxious Jersey vibe to it.

I would gladly shop closer to home if they had a better selection of stores.

Anywhere in DTJC is very safe. I have been living here since 2001, when I moved to DTJC as a young 20 something straight out of college. I have never felt unsafe and I would make the walk to/from the train station at all hours of the day.

The Latin Mass at St. Anthony's is beautiful. The mass itself is quite conservative, but the music is beautiful. It is really the main reason why I attend. ;)

Monroe: Why do you post on JClist if you live in the suburbs? If you live here part time, why do you do that?

Nobody is shouldering my burden. The subsidy is because Cities require more funds in the way of cost of space, and taking care of the poor and immigrants, together with the unique issues that come with those responsibilities. Most immigrants can't afford to live in the fancy suburbs of NJ. Nice deal for the 'burbs, because it keeps the poor out of their neighborhoods- the way they like it. God forbid someone wants to build affordable housing in their neighborhood.

In any event, this is what we do in a civilized, first world country - we take care of our poor and our immigrants. Monroe, just be thankful that you live in a civilized, first world country. If you don't like it, find a country where they don't do that - perhaps Russia or India - where corruption among the elite runs amok and the poor die in the streets.

Monroe: in "tony" Millburn, the are also paying 19K in taxes for a house (often large) with a lawn and parking. They also get much nore in the way of services for their taxes. They are not paying 10K for an 800 square foot apartment with no parking.

So relatively speaking, Jc residents are paying more.

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If you can find a private preK for 10,000K a year, please spill the details. It is really more like 20K (and up). Yes, ridiculous. Many of these objectors probably grew up in families where mom stayed home with them. Guess what folks -- this is not the 1970s anymore. It is a colder, crueler world than the one you grew up in. Most of us downtown "yuppies" have to have two working parents in the household just to keep afloat. Us working moms are generally not out there working 50 hours a week because we want to - it is because we have to.