when i went, i had no obgyn because of insurance dropping me at nearly 8 months along (i was 30 weeks and had been seeing dr. cheryl carter up until that point), and no other doctor would pick me back up. so i went to the medical center and was given an obgyn/deliery doctor...who was EXCELLENT with me. the staff met my needs and treated me kindly, despite my less than perfect circumstances (had no obgyn AND had preeclampsia)...i delivered a perfect baby girl and although i had a very traumatic birth experience with her, having good doctors made it much better for me. i wouldve had the problems no matter WHAT doctor i went to...because my body responded badly to the drugs (which i asked for). in addition for being no nonsense with the birth of my baby (which was GREAT because they allowed me to both shower while in labor with a nurse present and walk to ease pain), they also:

treated my family with courtesy and respect

allowed me an awesome amount of privacy

immediately responded to my needs and questions concerning medications as well as hospital facilities and usage of amenities

allowed my baby to stay the entire time with me for breastfeeding and bonding

didnt interrupt my breastfeeding schedule and provided me with a lactation specialist

gave me a ton of goodies for being a breastfeeding mom, including double servings of ALL meals, which (at least at that time) were actually pretty tasty for hospital food

a special dinner for me and my dad (i was a single parent at the time) for the birth of my baby.

when my husband and i decide to have another (if we do), i will purposely seek out a doctor that practices at JCMC and make that my birthing hospital. i have no interest in living in one city and traveling to another (let alone another state) to have my child when there is a hospital in walking distance that's just as good and professional as any other and has transporting abilities should the need arise for me to go somewhere else.

gotta admit, i wonder what some people here are dealing with when they go into JCMC. i have had nothing but an excellent birthing experience there. if i should become pregnant again, i will find a doctor and deliver there again.

the doctors are excellent, well trained and courteous. the waiting times and organization has gotten MUCH better within the last year (ive been to the emergency room 3 times in the last 3 months and was out within 1 hour EVERY time).

definitely my first local choice.

im not confusing newport with downtown. MUCH of downtown is a travesty, not just newport. same old look, same old feel, blah blah blah. from grand street past the jc medical center to hoboken is whodiditandran. yes it's uniform and all one look and that makes it neat...but that's all it is. neat. much of the cultural diversity has been sapped from the entire downtown area. there used to be way more culture there years ago. but i digress. bela has many cultures still living, and expressing themselves in the area and it's an enjoyable part of jc to live in. again, if that whitewashed feel from the (general) downtown area hits us here in bela, i will be sorely disappointed.

now i do agree, there is less culture in bela than in journal square...but we still have a lil bit here, and i enjoy that very much. one reason i refused to leave jc when i had my children was because i wanted them to hear the different languages, eat the different foods, and have a feel for all of the different cultures and people we have here. my first experience with people "different" than i was in the bela area, and i was always grateful for the experience.

vindication, we dont have homeless people littering our streets nor do we have run down properties taking over in bela. nearly every area is planned for or will be planned for, and i havent seen a homeless person sleeping anywhere on the streets here in YEARS. even the homeless people i do know that grace the area only do so during the day, and they aren't hanging around. they're in the libraries using the internet, or in the shops eating or the laundromat washing the few clothing items they have, etc.

and society hill is FAR from a new development. it simply has wealthy people living there. doesn't make it new, and there are quite a few people who wouldnt want to live there.

my church recently held an event at the 120 person pavillion, and we had a beautiful time, it was worth every penny we paid. it was not difficult to rent the area and the rules to rent are very easy to follow. i think the pavillions would make LOVELY wedding reception areas or retirement party areas, etc.

the bathrooms are very clean and the grassy areas are well kept too. there is plenty of parking and the area is off from the main road, so traffic is nil.

my only complaint is the grills. they are strong, but aesthetically unpleasing and very inefficient. but its a small price to pay, especially if food will be catered to the area.

i definitely think the price they're asking for all day availability is fair. and liberty state park is so beautiful, it's worth it.

ive been living in bela nearly all my life, and the minute it big D develops to become like downtown (newport area) jc, i am out of here. that area has been absolutely ruined by those ugly, towering buildings and the limitations of cultural diversity imo. i used to LOVE all of downtown jc, now i don't even like to be in the newport/exchange place area unless i have to be.

we don't need skyscrapers and a trader joe's to have an improved quality of life here in bela. we simply need more concerned, caring people to take care of our community and each other. and honestly, i see that happening slowly but surely.

im hoping bela continues with its individuality, cultural and personal diversity and low for the most part traffic areas.

this area IS developing nicely. i don't go outside at night without being in my car here, but then again, i wouldnt do that in ANY area in jersey city (not even the newport area) and to be quite honest, any surrounding city as well.

i honestly don't think the three murders were related. it was just an unfortunate series of events. the 27 year old who died was close to many of my friends and he suffered from what appeared to be a mild mental retardation, but he was a jokester and comedian, making everyone around him laugh. i honestly don't believe that he was the original target for any killings. if something happened, it mustve been a heat of the moment thing where the killer was either upset or hit the wrong person. he was not the kind of person to hang around the wrong crowd or bring negative attention to himself.

and im also wondering, exactly what is wrong with "those areas" thats not wrong with any other area in jersey city? is it a jab at the socio-economic conditions of the people living there? this city is how it is and the "good" and "bad" are mixed throughout. some places are just more "hidden" and more "quietly kept" with their drama than others...but ALL areas in this city become rowdy if you pay enough attention!

i agree with PP...withold your judgements until the FACTS emerge!

i've been a member of the freecycle community for well over 4 years, the hudson county group for nearly 2...and there's no way that craigslist is a better place to get or give free items (and i don't trust anything on anyone's curb these days). in my 4 years of freecycling i have never once brought a bedbug, roach or any other creepy crawly into my home (you have a way better chance of bringing home bb's from both trashpicking/taking what others leave on the curb and from craigslist, or what i call freaklist), and ive been most active on the list for the last 1.5 years. as a matter of fact, my home is nearly completely freecycled--about 85-90% of what i own was gently used by someine else and given to me for free from my freecycle groups. and i have a pretty nice (small but nice) home, completely furnished and comfortable.

the people are wonderful and ive actually made good connections and even a great friend or two from the group.

also, almost nothing is impossible to see listed on freecycle. i have seen everything from antigue guitars to a minivan listed on the group. i have also seen people give away laptops, newer model flatscreens, yes ipods, baby grand pianos, and entire apartments (i myself received someone's entire apartment from freecycle--everything from the refrigerator to the living room set to their music collection). altogether i would say i have gotten well over $15,000.00 (and that's a VERY conservative total) in free stuff from the list and given away roughly 60 or so items in free stuff within the last 2 years (unfortunately i don't have much to give materialistically but i do give all i can to freecycle first)...and even though it's all usually used, most people can't tell since it's been taken care of so wonderfully. if something is asked for that seems to be a far fetch, i'm never surprised when it's actually received by a member.

having to apply to the group is an excellent idea...for safety purposes and the fact that it's a yahoo group so you must be a member (that's how most yahoo groups work) it keeps out spammers and accounts are closely monitored for safety practices and the like. it's a small group which is great...way easier to navigate and maneuver and you really get to know people. the only downside is the stuff gets taken so quickly you need a cell phone with email connected to it to keep up with the items, or you'll hardly ever get anything.

freecycle has been a godsend to people all over the world, and i'm hardly a snob and have yet to meet a snob on the group (at least they put on a sweet front when pickups are in progress) there's no way craigslist's freebie forum can ever compare. i have yet to see anything as remotely as good listed on CL as i see on FC daily.

HAAMember:

"That same person has, as part of HAA, been leading the effort to get animals into rescue groups and foster homes so as to bring the numbers down to a level where the animals are not living in squalor. Squalor which, by the way, only started after she left."

SO true. as i said...some current lhs employees need to just do us all a favor and resign...or be fired.

im not sure if the people im talking about are gone. if no one but the ED has been replaced since the creation of this thread, then they arent.

"We have also not refused to release any adoptable animal to any trustworthy rescue, foster home, or adopter. In fact, 60 dogs were adopted, rescued, or placed in foster homes in just three weeks."

and this is supposed to make up for the discrimination the front end at lhs engaged in throughout the last 12 months? i have seen adoption applications trashed because certain people didnt like the "look" or "dress" of the person filling out the applications.

i have seen employees talk down to other employees/volunteers of certain races while speaking respectfully to those of other races.

i have seen employees repeatedly step OUT OF their job description at unwarranted times and for inappropriate reasons.

i have seen employees debate tactlessly with potential adopters and decline adoption applications based on those debates.

i suppose equal opportunity looks good on paper but it's difficult for some people to persue once they get a tiny bit of power and a few "friendships" going, however lhs is not thriving, and it cannot take the stress these people bring to it. no establishment can honestly.

but i am happy these so called great changes have been in effect for the past 3 weeks. now if it continues lhs may actually begin to benefit animals in the manner it should. however, some lhs employees need to follow behind the last board and just resign if they havent done so already...and save us ALL the headache.

my children attend public school in jersey city and they are doing very well, but like another poster said, that's because i give them support. any child can excel anywhere with the proper parental support. my oldest daughter has adhd and she was maintaining straight c's in the public school system before i even knew what she was dealing with, so for me to be able to say that is a GOOD thing because people hear many bad things about the schools we have here however she WAS maintaining there with other delays and issues. my younger daughter maintains straight a's and the occasional b.

i definitely think you can give ps 28 a try, however do not let a month go by when you don't ask about your child's progress IN PERSON, and don't be afraid to speak up for her when you are unsure about something pertaining to her grades, behavior, dress, etc. my mom just retired aqfter 30 years in jc public schools as a prek-3 teacher, and she gave me those and other tips...and they really will help you along.

if push comes to shove and you want to change her school, then you are allowed to do so under no child left behind IF public school 28 is labeled as a failing school in need of improvement, which it is i believe. if they give you a hard time, don't be afraid to go to the board on claremont avenue and voice your complaint. i have done so before and my daughters teachers know that i mean business when it comes to them and their education. once they know you mean business, they will begin to regard you as a caring parent, believe me. most teachers here are well qualified for the position they are in and are deserving of a chance of teaching your child. so dont be afraid to give them a try!

i am a newbie *hi everyone!!!* but i definitely have had my experiences with LHS, and i have to admit, i knew this mess was going to happen at the end of 2009 when i left my position as a volunteer there. i was actually one that called the manager a hoarder of animals (im not saying thats the statement they read, however i know it was in anemail i sent to the board)...and i emailed the entire board a few months before they resigned (this was during the time frame of june 2009 and december 2009)...i shared perhaps about 4-5 emails with the members, but that was the last i heard of the situation before this sudden resignation story popped up. does anyone have any information on how many of the employees have left/resigned/been fired since this situation began back in july? i am interested in returning as a volunteer but not until they change managers and executive staff members. i have been a volunteer there for well over 1.5 years STRIAGHT, donating well over 20 hours a week to the shelter when im there, and easily over 500.00 total, but the staff members got so ridiculous that i had to leave. and it was a shame because i developed some great relationships with the people and animals there, and honestly, i miss it. my only requirement is to get respect and be spoken to with respect, and that lacked sorely the last time i was there, and the last time i checked, i didnt get paid to be there more than most paid personnel....so i am wondering if it's improved? ayone know?