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alanwright

Re: State-funded crackdown

#61

Home away from home

Quote:

JC_Man wrote: April 21 - June 30 = 71 days 250 tickets/71 days = 3.5 tickets/day WOW!! Some "crackdown" What do they do when they're not cracking down?

I'm sorry, but I don't think we have enough information to make that conclusion. That said, I understand the cynicism about police officer overtime. First, the numbers: April 21 is the 111th day of the year. June 30th is the 181st day of the year. Let's call that 70 days for a rounder number. So, about 3.50 tickets per day. But, there are ten weekends = 20 days. 70 days - 20 days = 50 days. So, that's 5 tickets per weekday. I didn't include Memorial Day or other reasons enforcement would not happen every weekday. But, we still have no reason to think ticketing was done every weekday... though it clearly could be. The police have many other priorities. Realistically, maybe this work is best done during rush hour mornings, lunch, or rush hour evenings to increase it's efficiency. So, is that 5 tickets per morning? Ok. Fine. Maybe that's not enough even. But writing each ticket and running background checks for summonses takes 10-15 minutes away from the enforcement aspect. When you spread the cost of enforcement against statewide taxpayers, the citizens of Jersey City will be made (marginally?) safer through driver re-education, and will no longer need to bear the burden of bad drivers on their own. I hope this programs expands and continues while becoming more efficient: * Better corner selection. * Better signs indicating the law * "Don't Block the Box" enforcement. * An undercover radioing a motorcycle / bike cop half a block down. * More state funding Give real traffic enforcement some bone-gnashing teeth and cut the city deficit. Pedestrians and cyclists out there are spilling blood so drivers can talk on their cellphones, sit in air-conditioning, and walkie-talkie their way to the job site turn-by-turn. Driving like that in urban areas is detestable, and such drivers deserve no respect or leniency.

Posted on: 2010/7/15 14:57

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alanwright

Re: Jersey City cops have issued drivers hundreds of tickets in state-funded crackdown

#62

Home away from home

Quote:

Toonces wrote:
Quote:

alanwright wrote:

I'd be willing to bet that a solid 75% of the people who roll down Grand, Montgomery, Jersey, and Newark Avenues are not downtown residents. They might not even be urban residents.

Yeah, but they're probably also not reading JCList.com, either.

Come on!

Posted on: 2010/7/14 22:20

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alanwright

Re: Jersey City cops have issued drivers hundreds of tickets in state-funded crackdown

#63

Home away from home

Quote:

DTNJC wrote:
Beware, I have seen someone who looks like a bum stumble into the street on Montgomery and the trap is right after that. He will jump out from the center island and than the police are waiting. I asked the cop about it and he laughed but was giving out tickets.....

Come on, man.

The idea is TO TICKET people who don't yield to pedestrians... no to warn them of the traps so they'll never learn to change their ways.

I'd be willing to bet that a solid 75% of the people who roll down Grand, Montgomery, Jersey, and Newark Avenues are not downtown residents. They might not even be urban residents.

Irresponsible drivers DESERVE tickets and points on the licenses.

Posted on: 2010/7/14 21:07

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alanwright

Re: Female jogger harassed/assaulted by roving band of teens - Jersey and 4th

#64

Home away from home

Quote:

heights wrote:

Quote:

alanwright wrote:
Political change will come at the next election. Then, a new police director will be brought in just as Cory Booker did for Newark.

Steve Fulop will run for Mayor and win. The downtown vote will overpower the other districts through it's population density (will we have the Census results by then?). In any case, the other districts will support him too.

Thats only if they are registered to vote. A lot of the residents in all of the Newport towers are either there temporary because of their jobs or a gig they have in this area, along with many being foreign born and have not registered yet. I would see how many votes you can garner before you count your chickens, remember what happened in the last election and what hatched.

You're right about Newport.

Still, a lot has changed since the last election. For instance, everyone around the Mayor has been rounded up and he has admitted to being Official #4 in the related schemes. Hell, he might be indicted before the next election. Even recalls are possible, though not likely. Special elections will probably come along as well.

The changes we're talking about are all in the gestation and incubation stage.

Posted on: 2010/7/14 20:25

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alanwright

Re: Volunteers needed for Jersey City Recall

#65

Home away from home

Can the OP please get us back on track here?

Posted on: 2010/7/14 12:34

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alanwright

Re: Female jogger harassed/assaulted by roving band of teens - Jersey and 4th

#66

Home away from home

Quote:

shadrack wrote:
I called the police and gave a pretty good description of the group as they traveled toward Newark Avenue on Jersey.

Because the young woman was okay, this is the most important part of the whole thread. The laurels go to Shadrack.

If YOU see this crap, call the cops. Don't be Charles Bronson and try to go fubar on them.

"If you see something, say something." (Never have stupider words been truer or meaninglesser).

Calling the cops will have to do for now.

Political change will come at the next election. Then, a new police director will be brought in just as Cory Booker did for Newark.

Steve Fulop will run for Mayor and win. The downtown vote will overpower the other districts through it's population density (will we have the Census results by then?). In any case, the other districts will support him too.

Posted on: 2010/7/14 12:27

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alanwright

Re: Just 15 minutes ago: Female jogger harassed/assaulted by roving band of teens - Jersey and 4th

#67

Home away from home

Thank you all for the laurels but unfortunately Braiterman and T-Bird are right.

Quote:

T-Bird wrote:
Quote:

corybraiterman wrote:
it only took two replies for this thread to get derailed into a political turdfest. sometimes you impress me, jclist.

What amazes me, given the turdish nature of the overwhelming majority of our politicians, is that the "fest" is limited to snitty comments on a message board. Hard to believe not even a year has passed and no one is asking "hey, when is Mariano Vega going to have his trial?" or "why was Mariano Vega's trial delayed twice and no reason was given" or "why the hell isn't Mariano Vega in jail?" Look like in the end you win

corybraiterman.

Totalitarian systems rely on fear to suppress dissenting voices.

Democratic systems rely on apathy, voicelessness, and divisiveness.

I feel better after my rant, sure. But in terms of activating policy changes or good governance, such acts are a wet noodle flung at the Kraken monster of municipal intransigence.

Posted on: 2010/7/13 18:06

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alanwright

Re: St. Peter's College area: 49 Russian and Turkish students lived in one single-family house

#68

Home away from home

Quote:

jerseymom wrote:
Wasn't there a recent thread about a similar scenario - a neighbor saw a lot of activity outside of a house but wasn't sure what to do? By alerting the city, a potential tragedy, however remote, has been avoided.

I hope they throw the book at the homeowner. I also believe that the tenants have recourse in court against the landlord to recover back rent and then some for paying for an illegal residence.

Here is the story you're referring to: http://jclist.com/modules/newbb/viewt ... id=246461#forumpost246461

Let's follow up with Ray to see how it went.

Posted on: 2010/7/13 10:22

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alanwright

Re: Just 15 minutes ago: Female jogger harassed/assaulted by roving band of teens - Jersey and 4th

#69

Home away from home

This is terrible.

Until young, single women feel safe in this town, Jersey City is going to be wading in it's own shit. I've been saying this for years.

Every night we see these kids out being punks. Every night the park on Wayne Street is racous and disgusting.

I used to be sympathetic to the concerns of folks who oppose gentrification. IanMac might now that about me; I'm not sure.

Right about now, I simply do not give a damn. I feel like Travis Bickle: turn on the tap and wash away the scum. If you can't enforce the existing law and existing regulations, folks will adapt work-arounds to skirt the law and do selfish, self-serving, destructive behaviors. Unfortunately, police resources are few and they have made priorities. (Do we use CompStat in this town?)

Most of us have lived in this town for 4-10 years and we see few improvements beyond a few restaurants, sidewalks, planters, etc.

Individuals have pushed for change through business ventures. Developers for residences. Andit seems Steve Fulop bashes his head against a wall of inept colleagues and city structures.

But these kids walk the street every night and their antics are neve stopped. The city can't handle Wayne Street Park, so they remove benches. The city has no solution for dumping, so they remove public garbage cans. The city can't figure out how to get folks into town, so they build the Columbus Autobahn. The City couldn't install a traffic light on Grand/ Barrow for 6 months. The City decided to drag their feet on Hamilton Park until... A WEEK before the election and then ruin last summer and fall with their slow work. The City sees the Green Acres money to acquire the Embankment, but they ignore it for years. The City sees schools failing and school board ineptitude, and there's a new contract for the bozo in charge.

Mostly, I've recited downtown inconveniences and problems of the past several years. Ask the folks in the Heights, Mosquito Park, Westside, JSQ, Lafayette, Bergen Hill, Greenville... their problem are worse and the solutions are fewer.

Yet, mostly we see foot-dragging, corruption, and penny-ante misbehavior from the Hudson County Democrats and their public-employee minions.

This IS a political problem. Ian didn't make it so.

BTW: Webmaster, this is another reason this website shouldn't be exclusive with it's concern. Problems and solutions can cross the imaginary border between Wards.

Posted on: 2010/7/13 9:53

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alanwright

Re: Trees along Christopher Columbus drive

#70

Home away from home

Quote:

ianmac47 wrote:
This is what happens when you let drunks run the city.

Here are some photos with illustrated expressions of the "improvements":

Illustrated photos

And some more details from the seemingly incompetent city planning office: Project Details

No one at the city can produce information on traffic flow. I suspect the city took it upon themselves to widen the road without the state required studies and planning, which is also I suspect why the city insists its a streetscape improvement and not a roadway expansion.

But hey, why would anyone in city government bother to understand basic planning principles.

Hey. I hadn't seen these. Good work!

Posted on: 2010/7/10 19:27

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alanwright

Re: Items that scream "Jersey City!!"

#71

Home away from home

You've got to get something related to railroads and/or Ellis Island... maybe Central Railroad of NJ related... the gift shop near the parking lot in Liberty State Park has some great stuff.

That's the stand-alone building on Audrey Zapp Drive... not the one inside the terminal itself.

Posted on: 2010/7/10 14:48

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alanwright

Re: Items that scream "Jersey City!!"

#72

Home away from home

Look around at Powerhouse events this wknd.

Some schwag from WFMU.

The Colgate Clock.

Posted on: 2010/7/10 13:32

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alanwright

Re: $500 reward to identify thief in Van Vorst Park

#73

Home away from home

i live near VVP, so i will keep my eyes open

Posted on: 2010/7/9 3:57

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alanwright

Re: Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Charles T. Epps Jr. $300.000.00/year

#74

Home away from home

this website has a list/ photos of the JC Board of Ed. they're not monsters. but, perhaps it is time for some new blood

http://www.jcboe.org/administration/board-members.aspx

Posted on: 2010/7/9 3:57

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alanwright

Re: Items that scream "Jersey City!!"

#75

Home away from home

Kobrick's

And of course there are several books about JC.

Mysteries of my Father
A Cycle of Power
The Boss: Hague
The Powerticians
Five-Finger Discount.

Posted on: 2010/7/8 19:38

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alanwright

Re: Items that scream "Jersey City!!"

#76

Home away from home

Hudson Art Supply (1st and Coles) have funny JC t-shirts. And many shops on Nwk Ave have I<3 JC t-shirts.

Posted on: 2010/7/8 17:34

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alanwright

Re: Can anyone shed some insight on the Newport Mall lockout of Hamilton Park?

#77

Home away from home

Quote:

Slacky wrote:
You're complaining that a mall built in the 80s is hindering your journey between a recently gentrified neighborhood and a light rail system that opened in 2000.
Unbelievable.

I agree with you.

The OP has valid observations and concerns and is seeking more information to keep hope alive for some future, different Jersey City. Amazing, really.

But, the concerns are 20+ years too late, as it was s/he who arrived on the scene more recently... and is still free to move to find more convenience elsewhere.

If waterfront/ PATH access through the mall parking lot was easier, would we hear complaints that the Mall was sucking us dry of all our disposable income? If the walkway was pay-to-play ($1 toll turnstiles), surely we'd hear about that being a burden, too.

But to answer the OPs question, I think the mall could do a slightly better job with a walkthrough or on-top-of the mall parking lot.

For direct transportation access, I think the best solution is for the light rail to run along 6th Street, north of (but not ON) the Embankment, en route to the Heights.

For obvious reason that's not in the works at the moment.

By the time that happens, the OP will have relocated to West Orange.

P.S. Robocub - your website is really cool.

Posted on: 2010/7/8 12:32

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alanwright

Re: Can anyone shed some insight on the Newport Mall lockout of Hamilton Park?

#78

Home away from home

Quote:

Slacky wrote:
You're complaining that a mall built in the 80s is hindering your journey between a recently gentrified neighborhood and a light rail system that opened in 2000.
Unbelievable.

I agree with you.

The OP has valid observations and concerns and is seeking more information to keep hope alive for some future, different Jersey City. Amazing, really.

But, the concerns are 20+ years too late, as it was s/he who arrived on the scene more recently... and is still free to move to find more convenience elsewhere.

If waterfront/ PATH access through the mall parking lot was easier, would we hear complaints that the Mall was sucking us dry of all our disposable income? If the walkway was pay-to-play ($1 toll turnstiles), surely we'd hear about that being a burden, too.

But to answer your question, I think the best solution is for the light rail to run along 6th Street, north of (but not ON) the Embankment, en route to the Heights.

For obvious reason that's not in the works at the moment.

By the time that happens, you'll have relocated to West Orange.

Posted on: 2010/7/8 12:32

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alanwright

Re: Hamilton Park Renovation - Update

#79

Home away from home

Quote:

chiefdahill wrote:

This one, this one right here. This was my dream, my wish. And it didn't come true. So I'm taking it back. I'm taking them all back.

Sean Astin. Goonies.

Posted on: 2010/7/8 5:24

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alanwright

Re: Barrow Street Bar Trivia Night

#80

Home away from home

Hey. I don't know you or anything, but I know you're fairly rational and insightful on these boards. Or, at the very least you tend not to descend into irrational and petulant fights on here. So, I would suggest that you do not go to Barrow's trivia night.

The questions are too few and the house/ club music is cranked wayyy to loud. Barrow has other problems too.

I suggest you try Trivia Wednesdays at O Pub (McConnell's) at Montgomery and Warren... a quick two blocks behind City Hall.

That is: tonite and each Wednesday. Today is the first day of their month-long contest. The winner at the end of the month gets some dough.

There, the host is a real Charlie Hustle... asking 50 questions over ten rounds (on paper), with each round pegged to a theme from pop culture, current events, music, movies, literature, art, etc. Pretty diverse selection.

The only knock on their trivia is that the trivia host is working so hard but their bartender ain't.

Posted on: 2010/7/7 19:44

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alanwright

Re: Jersey City's Gang Members Practice Safest Internet Browsing Habits in Nation

#81

Home away from home

Come on... change the title of this thread.

This story probably tells us we have safe high-end and institutional users and insufficient networks/ prices for residential users. In this town, lots of folks aren't even computerized or networked b/c of cost.

Posted on: 2010/7/7 13:54

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alanwright

Re: Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Charles T. Epps Jr. $300.000.00/year

#82

Home away from home

Quote:

Long-time board member Sue Mack, the vice president, and newcomer Sterling Waterman voted against the contract. Carol Lester, who was elected alongside Waterman in April, abstained.

...

Angel Valentin, who ran with Waterman and Lester, called for a nationwide search earlier this year, but said yesterday he didn?t realize how costly it was.

Valentin was one of the six members to support Epps? contract extension. He said Epps presented restructuring plan, which impressed him.

...

Board President William DeRosa, said the board planned to extend Epps for one year, but their attorney said statutorily it had to be two years. He also said he didn?t realize how costly a search was.

...

Lester, who abstained, said she wanted to extend Epps one year while a search was conducted and was caught off guard when that wasn?t an option. She said she also thought the board had more time. A prior attorney, whose contract was not renewed, told the board it only had to give Epps 90 days notice, not one year.

Quote:

ShelleySkinner wrote:

The board's decision to extend this contract by purposely side stepping the public is the height of irresponsibility. Only 50% of high school seniors were able to pass the HSPA (the high school exit exam) in 2009. Only 38% of low income 3rd graders were proficient in Language Arts. Whose interests does the JC Board of Ed, who voted yes, really have at heart here?

Shelley Skinner

Valentin voted for it and Lester abstained. I wouldn't suggest they therefore don't have the interests of the children at heart, though. I think such a suggestion is common in Hudson County, but that doesn't necessarily get us very far to declare "irresponsible behavior" is tantamount to self-interested, corrupt, or snaky behavior.

The real problem here began with a procedural failure (insufficient public notice), compounded by bad or incomplete legal advice (contractual obligations to Epps re timeframe) or at least advice to which the Board did not defer (public notice).

The actual substantive decision (extending the contract) is an unfortunate one and should be overturned for reconsideration on the basis of the procedural problem.

But whatever the result on reconsideration, that will not change the fact that Epps is and will continue to be an abject failure as a Superintendent... it simply delays the inevitable as folks jocky for position and he's out the door.

Thus, the question is when that ouster will occur considering the mayoral elections.

As I see it, this will refocus attention on the un-political process in JC and Hudson County and highlight the failures of our schools. Hell, it might even invite Bret Schundler back in to take state control. (Not sure what that could mean, though!)

So... this short-term setback will be a long-term good for the cause of change.

Posted on: 2010/7/7 12:47

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alanwright

Re: Folding bicycles on PATH

#83

Home away from home

Quote:

brewster wrote:
Quote:

ianmac47 wrote:
Quote:

brewster wrote:

I hate fuzzy thinking.

Ironic.

Really? Making one of the 2 tunnel lanes for bikes and pedestrians actually makes sense to you? Or you got some other bone to pick?

Because cats are fuzzy? Or furry and definitely irrational anyway.

Posted on: 2010/7/5 17:33

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alanwright

Re: Peninsula Park in Jersey City eroding away

#84

Home away from home

Quote:

GrovePath wrote:
Historic Paulus Hook Park slated for major renovation to serve community for recreation

Monday, July 05, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Shaded areas to sit, space for children to play, and eye-catching gardens are high on the wish-list for a redesigned Jersey City's Historic Paulus Hook Park, according to a survey conducted by the Historic Paulus Hook Neighborhood Association.

The survey was conducted in February and March and 395 people responded, officials with the association said.

On June 23, the City Council voted unanimously to have the park - located on all four corners of Washington and Grand streets in Downtown - redesigned by members of the association working with city officials. The new agreement would also allow the association to raise and donate funds to cover the cost of the new park.

This has nothing to do with the public space at the waterfront.

In any case, the Paulus Hook Park was assessed under the 2008 parks master plan.

http://www.jerseycitynj.gov/administration.aspx?id=2452
(link to long PDF, item #42 on page 91).

Posted on: 2010/7/5 17:23

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alanwright

Re: OPEN JERSEY AVENUE TO LIBERTY STATE PARK!!

#85

Home away from home

here is the link to the PDFs from the Jersey City Regional Waterfront Access and Downtown Circulation Study
(JCRAS), produced by Stantec Consulting, in association with AKRF, Stump/Hausman, and Medina Consultants.

http://jerseycitynj.gov/hedc.aspx?id=2310
(Section 5.1 in PDF Part 3 addresses Jersey Ave. The Executive Summary does as well, of course).

Also, on this page is the Circulation study from T&M Associates.
http://jerseycitynj.gov/hedc.aspx?id=1170

But, I cannot find the old report from Dresdner Robin...

Posted on: 2010/7/2 20:35

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alanwright

Re: Coming soon... HEALY'S TAVERN!!!

#86

Home away from home

Quote:

coronalime wrote: Quote:
eggzbenedict wrote: Quote:
geezer wrote: what a joke.
why is that?

white mayors can't jump

Posted on: 2010/6/30 23:48

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alanwright

Re: OPEN JERSEY AVENUE TO LIBERTY STATE PARK!!

#87

Home away from home

An interesting point-counterpoint. I'd still like to see the traffic studies if anyone has them... for what they're worth.

With the extension of Jersey Avenue, how long until a "Liberty Harbor West" plops onto the scummy end of "Aetna Drive."

One property at the corner of Aetna/ Jersey has already been put through a DEP clean-up of late. If the state or local thumb comes down on the west end of the marina canal and cleans it up we have more downtown which abuts the Turnpike extension and could even jockey for its own light-rail station.

Or, alternatively, the light rail will push across Jersey Ave and cut out the loop-around they added as a necessity at the time.

(P.S. Goodbye to the skate park that's tucked down there somewhere).

Posted on: 2010/6/30 23:44

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alanwright

Re: Dr. Epps Contract Extended

#88

Home away from home

This guy is going to fail upwards.

Vote Epps for Mayor: Don't Change What Nobody Believes In!

Posted on: 2010/6/30 1:14

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alanwright

Re: Parents oppose Superintendent Epp's plan to move principal as part of a districtwide shakeup

#89

Home away from home

She's doing such a good job that he wants to spread her goodness around to fix other schools?

That's frustrating or untrue.

Posted on: 2010/6/29 14:04

Topic | Forum

alanwright

Re: Blacktop be poured at the end of Jersey Ave.

#90

Home away from home

Convenient perhaps, but there are already way too many drivers at that intersection of Phillips and Zapp. Now folks are going to just use it as a cut-through even more often.

In NJ even our parks have traffic jams!

Posted on: 2010/6/29 13:31

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