Where is Mr Thomas and his coconspirator of this lawsuit? Many people were at the public forums not happy with the superintendent but kept saying let the contract expire. But they had to push her out in the way people said would cost us. Are they going to foot the bill? Where are they now that the bill has come due?

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I fully get the frustration and the sentiment but "honest" and "robots" can't go together. Robots will only do what they are programmed to do so the "honesty" will depend on the corporation that defines the "honesty". Kindof like right now ... only the corporations control DC and developers control local city halls. So in a way we do have robots with a facade of - we the people, of the people, for the people.

As in every tale the almighty fairy godmother says - be careful what you wish for :)

Or a better approach would be put TERM limits of 2 terms just like the office of the US President on every elected political office. Same people in the same office for years and what happens? eventually nothing and who ends up getting to foot the bill - we the people. Look at our city and school budgets and tell me are we getting what we pay for?

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Why the hell do we elect this deaf ears then?

I sincerely hope that only financially sound and capable people are able to secure a mortgage and not fall into the traps of "I make $10/hr yet I can get a $500k home" schemes that saw the ruin of many households.

Having said that, the prices jumping back is a good sign for existing home owners implying any (and there are many) under water homes are getting back into the black and equity is starting to rebuild.

Now if we can just do something about these damn property taxes. Just yesterday in the news the gov of NY in his state of union promised another cut in property taxes and we saw a hike just last year. Now the county is talking about a court house project with another tax increase. No wonder latest numbers show a migration of residents out of new jersey.

Hey all:

I am starting to believe that I need a security camera system outside my house monitoring and recording my property and its entrances. Having said that all I have figured out so far is that I need something with night vision. However, with so many options and choices ... any recommendations for both:

(a). Camera systems
(b). Installation cost (would need electrical wiring/network cables)

So far I have reduced my list to:

Wireless surveillance cameras

IP security camera system with 1080p cameras

Thank you all for making me feel not GUILTY for calling upon the JCPD. "love thy neighbors" ... esp. thanks HeightsBrat for pointing it out that they don't feel guilty in making life inconvenient for me then why should I.

Called the JCPA and sometime in the summer they will also come and paint the "No Parking" lines outside the property.

Hey fellow residents:

My neighbor has tenants that partially block my driveway. There are ample of street parking yet seem like purely driven by convenience they block their driveway and in process partially block me. I have complained to the landlord and the tenants but every so often the tenants change and gotta start all over again.

I can wiggle and pull my car out but that means that during rush hr my vision is potentially blocked on both sides while pulling out my car.

Suggestions?

Range Rover Sport is my dream car so should I stop dreaming for fear of being carjacked once my dream has turned into reality? Or a prerequisite is to be legally "packing heat" pre getting the rover?

Is it a coincidence that a 35 year abatement passes council chambers where the Deputy Mayor is quoted on the urgency and the need for the abatement. And then he resigns his post. Then again seems like I have been watching too many govt. politics corruption documentaries. That is all past Jersey City and now we are in a new era ... I think it was all a big coincidence.

Apologies got side tracked. For the amount of money we are spending in school we are proudly ranked #401 (http://www.schooldigger.com/go/NJ/cityrank.aspx). For a BOE that has has an operating budget of $661 million for 2012-2013 one cannot believe in a clerical error. How come there are no checks and balances and people to verify things?

I will give credit to where its due. The news article also states that the BOE did try to work it out with Bank of America but was told nothing from BoA could be done until the next day. So someone did catch the error and try to rectify.

However, I still have to wonder. At our workplace our accounting division goes crazy on us should we not submit our expense reports on time. But of course this is a public institution so hold it to a different yardstick.

And another thing, last administration was trying to bond $9 million and we were convinced by everyone that it was a bad idea. The bonding failed and after the elections were over our property taxes went up. Then I hear that city council just approved the $9 million bonding so now do we get our increased taxes reset? (http://hudsonreporter.com/bookmark/24 ... etirement-bond-font-i-br-)

Because it seems to me that the our taxes went up because we did not get the 9.5 million bond and then taxes went up and then we bond too. & our council prez that I support and voted for says he now has more faith that's why he supported the bonding?

The issue I have is not about "once in a blue moon". The issue I have is after the whole $4 million mess it seems that no one has ever learnt anything?

If your workplace made an error with your paycheck would you let it slide? But since it is a public entity ... give them a break right? It's a public entity that implies it is my money - my property taxes and my state taxes.

Since there is no hue and cry about the abatements given out last week, it is me who is on the hook because I don't live in an abated property and every year it is my taxes that are going up.

BOE sets property tax levies in an error (http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... omplicates-upcoming-vote/)

Quoting from the article -
The state?s position legitimates resident/watchdog Riaz Wahid?s request that the school board freeze property taxes after a spate of annual increases, just as neighboring Union City has proposed. Wahid has complained of cumulative school tax increases of 39.9 percent since 2005. Yet Vespucci did verify that, for the three school years beginning in 2008-09, state law did mandate former Abbott districts such as Jersey City increase tax levies by certain percentages.

The current proposed budget would increase the tax levy by $2.1 million to $106.4 million. Last year under a similar false premise, the board again approved raising the levy to the cap. For 2011-12, it climbed by $2.05 million, standing at the current $104.4 million minimum.
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Clerical error in BOE - How will it impact the tax payers? (http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index ... o_get_p.html#incart_river)

Cause:

"The school district sent employees a memo Thursday saying that, because of a clerical error, paychecks due yesterday won?t be ready until today. The mistake only affects teachers who receive their checks via direct deposit, not those who receive paper checks, said district spokeswoman Maryann Dickar."

Possible Outcome:

"JCEA President Ron Greco said yesterday that his office received more than 100 calls over the late checks. Greco said he hopes the district will make some arrangements to handle possible overdraft fees for employees who had automatic bill payments set up assuming they?d get paid today."

Points to Ponder:
Should the district make the arrangement how are they going to pay? Oh that's right the district gets funded on the backs of JC property owners and NJ taxpayers. Sure make the arrangement it's not like its coming out of your pocket right?

First a clerical error gets us $4+ million in additional property taxes and then this ... If they can't get their house in order there is a suggestion (the "O" word) - Outsource :)

Your State Rep's contact Info

There I even give you a way to find your rep. Call them email them and tell them that this is a bad idea for you, for your kids, for your neighbors that are legal immigrants, for NJ. This is a bad idea.

Why should a child born to a US citizen, US Veteran, living in PA and NY attending college in NJ pay out-of-state tuition while an "illegal" immigrant gets a free pass?
N.J. bill to offer in-state tuition, financial aid to immigrants in the country illegally gains momentum

From the article it seems that the bill S2468 will pass through the state senate and I only hope that our tough talking Governor veto the bill and the senate does not have enough votes to un-veto the bill.

I am an immigrant and I paid my dues followed the rules, yes paid out-of-state tuition and graduated. Don't tell me its about the children ... if that in indeed the argument then put a flat fee for everyone. The kids already got the taxpayer sponsored public high school education. I am going to stereotype and assume they already got the taxpayer sponsored federal and state aid for life's necessities.

This is not about being fair or the lack of. This is about an out-of-state LEGAL resident sending their child to study in NJ paying a premium while an illegal resident sending their child getting a subsidy. That is being un fair to the people following the rules.

The way I see it ... this is a long-term strategy to get future votes and nothing beyond that as every poll says residents are against it.

Wake up legal residents and call your state rep and ask them to vote NO. BTW if our kids went and studied abroad they would pay premium $$ ... no exceptions.

35 year tax abatement for a new developer with no funds towards school. Great so my taxes will go up ... Again. Talk about the democrats "fair share" mantra. Where the hell is my tax abatement? Forget about about abatement .. how about freeze my property taxes for the next 35 years. How's that for fairness.

I am just surprised that the other towns in the Hudson county don't say an iota about the abatements being given out in JC. Wake up people ... every damn abated building WILL raise the tax burden on existing property owners.

To the council members that thought they were voting on one thing and in reality voted for the other package ... an advice from my late engineering prof - "Reading is fundamental ..." I am going to assume they can read and comprehend the ordinances they vote on.

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Sadly no I don't believe that any additional revenue will be returned back to us. I also don't believe that just because the system has not worked till date it will be the same. (Believe me I am not an optimist so it took a pause to say that). Having said that, it would be pretty hard for any administration to justify a tax increase if the people can see an increase in the tax base/revenue.

I think if the voter base and the electorate is educated and motivated any administration can be held accountable.

In my opinion, the empty land at Journal Square would be a great location for a Whole Foods like the Union Sq location. There's the PATH right there so easy to transport groceries to/from store/home.

Don't know why the hell the restaurant row was demolished in the first place but it's been years since I have been seeing the empty land. Whole Foods would be a great business to have in the JSQ neighborhood.

Does every residential development in NYC have to provide parking? I don't think so. If there is an issue with parking let the entrepreneur come up with parking lots, share-a-ride, car/bike rental (zip car e.g.) ... I don't get it ... we are an urban district so why is everyone up in arms about parking? I lived an entire year giving up having a car for my family as my work had re-located to the city. ShopRite and FoodDirect delivered and the cab service provided us the mobility. We distributed the savings from car payments, gas, and insurance towards cab and delivery services.

A few days ago I believe I had read that the city was going to issue new cab medallions ... do more. Hey if you can bring down the cost of taking a cab from one end of the city to the other end for $5-$10 per trip that would be amazing.

The focus should be expanding the tax base by bringing in more revenue. The focus should be lowering down property taxes by increasing the tax base. If I have to give up my car today in lieu of a lower property tax bill I am up for it. If a developer wants to bring in mega residential buildings with "TAX PAYING" residents what is the problem? These tax paying residents will use the cab service or parking service or delivery service thus spending money with the local businesses.

My question is very straight - Would you rather have low property taxes or high taxes and a dedicated parking?

On the Whole Food question ... why not consider Journal Square for a Whole Food location? It's right by the train station and the taxi stand.

Foot traffic, Vehicle traffic, Parking Issues ... really? What about 87 new tax generators to pay into the city's vault? Every project also brings in revenue and should then lower down our property taxes.

As far as parking is concerned - pool in resources and purchase land or an existing parking lot and transform it into an +87 car park. Redirect some of the funds to build paid parking and generate revenue. Why does everyone have to park in the street ... they want to live Downtown ... they pay for parking. Premium location, premium amenities, premium prices.

Last I checked this was Jersey City and Steve is the mayor for the entire city, not just downtown. Please Steve, start growing the rest of the city beyond downtown and think about lowering our property taxes.

Came across this interesting study while surfing Google News.
The $7 Billion Problem of Low Wages

The article does seem to hold some truth in that when you drive by these fast food and stores with min wage workers, they seem more over 20+ folks on the payroll rather than the teens. Thus if these are folks with financial and survival obligations it would seem that the minimum wage needs to reflect a livable wage.

If anyone had read the recommended McDonald's budget tool it would seem that the on those "salaries" surviving in JC would just be a dream. Having said that the question is to raise or not to raise the min wage?

Another good read can be found in the swiss publishing - Weighing up the consequences of a minimum wage.

Again the question is to raise or not to raise the minimum wage? Perhaps it depends on the greater question in a free market driven capitalistic culture does "whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" have any place?

Thoughts, comments, ??

Look I sincerely believe that education is the corner-stone in the foundation of an effective and productive society. But sadly attend any BoE monthly meetings in PS#11 and you'll realize how political education has become. And as sad as that is, unfortunately the entire nation has become political about education. I wish I had a solution, i sincerely do, I would have proposed it on the table but I am not well researched in methods of teaching ... thus can only believe that the teachers in our schools are doing the best they can with whatever resources they got.

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Perhaps i'd suggest looking at the traffic patterns in jersey city and it seems that there is a awful lot of cars parked in our schools leave Jersey City after school towards bergen county and or other neighboring towns.

On the note of teaching ... please look at a comparison of the school budget and you'd be surprised where the increases are and the reductions are.

Well if the contract is already in place then ... suck it up until it expires or prove in court that the parties involved have somehow breached the laws or terms of the contract. Cause no court will uphold a contract where uploading the contract would mean breach of common law. And labor and privacy laws are already in place and practice. I mean isn't the whole NSA drama all about the privacy?

Google grabs more privacy info about me (from gmail to phone and anything in between) than NSA and yet we go after NSA and not Google. LOL only yesterday I got an email from LinkedIn about a job offer and I was not even looking. Perhaps LinkedIn pulled my email info from one of my contacts that are in LinkedIn and are actively searching.

I honestly fail to see the concerns ... Source4Teachers is a private contractor so the Public Employee and their supervisor didn't put the requirements and benchmarks into the contracts?

I know for a fact that if Verizon Business DSL fails to keep-up it's signed and agreed Service Level Agreements (SLA) they are penalized and have to pay retribution for breach of contract. Having said that why can't the Request for Proposals (RFP) have these clauses that they need to disclose such and such and need to abide by the laws and operating agreement of the BoE. I mean the BoE has legal staff on the payroll right?

If I had a firm I'd like to become a govt contractor (well not the feds :) no thanks Republicans ...) but having said that put it out in the RFP and in the SLA. Then it's just a matter of enforcement. So what's the big hoo haa about?

Now if you got unqualified public employees ... well that's a totally diff story cause under the unions I don't know if they can be fired for incompetence. We all JC property owners did fork over $4 mill over 2 budget cycles due to to the error of BoE.

http://www.nj.com/super-bowl/index.ss ... _status.html#incart_river

Thought I'd share this while the govt has shut down ... What and who are we choosing as our elected representatives? I think anyone going on the ballot should take a "US Nationalism Test" just like every immigrant on the path to US Citizenship takes a "US Citizenship Test". The needs of a few constituents and a common ideological ground should now have the power to shut down the entire US govt.

Wonder what other world powers might be thinking? Germany seems to be the power bloc of the EU ... wonder if the US' super power is now becoming a distant memory?

Wondering what both Booker and Lonegan have to say about the state of affairs esp when Lonegan gets the endorsement from the likes of Ex-Gov Palin.

Thanks for correcting me ... dates were wrong but my sentiments stay the same. ... :)

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