Fair enough. Perhaps the comments that made an impact on me were read in isolation, and thereby misinterpreted. In any case, thanks for the clarification.

Good on you, Voyeur, for getting behind Monty. I do not know the guy, but I am disappointed at the number of JC List contributors who like to joke about businesses that are slow to get their doors open. It takes a great leap of faith and much financial and emotional strain to open ANY business. There are MANY forces to overcome. Delays are not a laughing matter. I took a glance inside in the spring. As far as I can tell, a beautiful, unique space is being created. We should all wish him well and thank him for further contributing to a great, diverse Downtown scene.

If only "the next decade or so" were enough to replace the trees... As we know, many of the parks' trees could and SHOULD outlive us several times over...

I sure hope the experts that called for the removal were NOT the same experts that conducted the removal, or affiliated with them. Now THAT would be a travesty...

The restaurant industry is a glamor industry. People will hock their mom's house to get in, in spite of the scary statistics on failure.

It follows that there will be operators - often first-time operators - willing to partner with landlords in order to get their dream off the ground. In Jersey City, an establishment with an attached, active liquor license is an even more enticing proposition.

This is not to disparage Caesar. I do not know him, the facts, or any of the involved parties.

When the street-cleaning cop gives me a ticket I'm as mad as hell.

However, these feelings subside quickly.

Those of us that give a f*** know that filth is a major problem for our city. It is a major turn-off for us and for the new residents we are trying so hard to court.

The decision to NOT ticket yesterday was made, presumably, to ease us back into to idea of moving our cars.

We should not need a grace period. It is reasonable to assume that cleaning has resumed. There is a website and a phone number to tell us.

The tickets that weren't issued yesterday would have acted as a wake-up to those incorrectly parked today.

We will now spend the weekend traversing side streets still partially caked in dog turd, cigarettes, soda cups...

The Resident Response Center says they will "definitely" ticket today. We shall see.

I am not a city fundraiser intent on more tickets! Just looking at the bigger picture.

Places like Bounce and The Ainsworth in NYC probably have MORE than 22 TVs.

They do very well; there is a demand for sports-intense drinking environments.

Although I personally go to lengths to avoid bars (and certainly restaurants) with TVs, I would in fact prefer 30 screens to 4 screens, assuming it is done "right" and the sports angle is carried through in a wholistic, cohesive fashion.

It comes down to doing what you do with conviction. Be focused. Be abundantly clear to your customer what you are about.

All landlords must maintain certain day and night temperatures for the designated winter period. Can't recall the figures, but they are readily available (google it). New construction, 150 -year-old shack, it makes no difference. Be sure to put your concerns to the landlord/management in writing. Even a text will do. I am not a landlord-hater, simply stating city/state law.

The Heights needs to be "broken up" into smaller neighborhoods. Just as Downtown is a collection of smaller parcels (Van Voorst, Paulus Hook, Hamilton Park, etc etc).

Anyone with an interest in the future of The Heights, realtors included, should lobby for this. The value cannot be overstated, I believe.

Smaller enclaves will foster civic pride and generate friendly competition. Realtors will find it easier to pitch houses and values will increase, in certain sections at first, but ultimately overall. There is an exciting sense of arrival and departure when, Downtown, you pass one of those attractive green signs that indicate a new region/neighborhood.

The Heights' character varies considerably throughout, and the new tags could capture this. Landmarks could provide the cues.

How about

Riverview
Pershing (or Reservoir)
Washington Park
Western Slope North
Western Slope South

Perhaps there is a more enticing tag for the Western Slopes?

How about Edgecliff, or something evocative of a mountainside?

The cost to the city would be minimal, just a bunch of signs. Then it is just a matter of time for the tags to enter the language of the city.

Other sprawling regions within the city would do well to be parceled out too.

Perhaps they ARE in fact adding pawn-broker to their already complex identity...?