"How many people at this meeting actually said they wanted this north/south plan? Like, maybe 5 cantankerous old people?"

Hey, there is nothing wrong with us "cantankerous old people".

[quote]"the appropriate forum to air these grievances is either at one of the VNA meetings or a city council meeting."[quote]

Been there, done that and had my ideas poo-pooed upon. Born and raised here. I am 100% legitimate.

Thank you for sharing your notes from the last VNA meeting. They are very helpful and informational and cast a very different light than what is circulating.

I will be waiting for the ballots to cast my vote.

Candice, if you are reading this, will you also canvas the elderly and shut-ins in the neighborhood? Many are afraid to voice their opinions or do not have Internet access or own computers or know how to use a computer. I have first hand knowledge that us old timers are really upset about what is going on in the Italian Village where we grew up. We were proud. it use to be beautiful filled with hard workers and good families. Now look at it. The streets are a mess, there are wires hanging from buildings and on the ground, nails all in the street, dumpsters sitting around for months and months, dust everywhere, vermin and other pests, rude construction workers they piss everywhere and play their loud music, etc. etc. You should take a visit and see for yourself. Also, there is no where to park our cars. I'm not trying to run this in the ground but we are old and sometimes we have to park in the back by the school and park at night where it's dark. It's spooky back there. It's not even worth the risk to going out anymore.

What makes you think that we haven't been to those meetings to voice our opinions? They do nothin. This is the next place I know to raise my concern about the Village. I was born and raised here 67 years ago. This is my home. I guess I'm one of those unmanly complainers who is also remains totally invisible to the VNA.

[quote]
DanL wrote:
activist or troll ....

you have not bothered to explain what is wrong with the VNA's position. people new and old that have come together, and organized themselves to make a better community for those that actually live there, not trolls, or developers or speculators. they made that area exciting along with embracing long time residents and businesses. its is VNA that directly or indirectly gave you First Street Park, 4th Street Arts, a cleaned up Mary Benson Park and contributed to a rejuvenated PS 5. It is they, not the city, planning or developers.
[quote]


The VNA single handedly provided all of these services and single handedly cleaned up the neighborhood? Yah right. Let's not forget the old man Angelo who day in and day out cleaned all of the streets in the Village by himself for decades free of charge because he couldn't stand the trash or the sight of what was happening to this neighborhood. Or the big fairs we use to have in the park. Or the neighbors who shovelled snow for the elderly Village residents. How about the neighbors who actually know their neighbor's name and how many kids they have and keep a look out for their families. Or the neighbors who looked after each other during Hurricane Sandy. Those who shared power and helped clean out basements and offered food and bottled water. BTW thank you. Where was the VNA?

What about the businesses who are really struggling to keep their doors open but have decided to make the sacrifice for the sake of serving the community. The VNA does nothing like what they did in the old days (the 70's) to help businesses nor even in modern times like the other NHAs do for the merchants in their neighborhoods. If you so happen to listen to some of the resident stories back in the day the Village you'd learn that this neighborhood was filled with proud hard working families who supported one another and you'd also learn of how beautiful and vibrant the Village once was.

I have to ask myself what has the VNA done for me lately or ever? Okay the park? Thanks but how much Jersey City tax payer money was spent on it? Couldn't we have asked a developer to contribute or pick up the bill if the Village is selling its soul? Let's not forget that the VNA went to City Hall five years ago and advocated for the very same developer they now complain about who build numerous 4, 5 and 6 story buildings next to existing one and two family homes. What they did to third street is ashame! The VNA didn't care what the neighborhood had to say about it then -- so long as it didn't affect their homes. We were told that it was a good thing. It's a disaster threatening to destroying the neighborhood. Now the VNA wants to play hero in its attempt to restrict further development South of Newark Ave. Why? My speculations is that they're now losing control of the Village against the developers which has a very realistic potential of directly affecting their homes (which are South of Newark) and reputation.

VNA you can't undo the damage that has displaced so many families and friends because of greedy landlords and even greedier developers. The Village was once a charming quite part of town and the last affordable Downtown neighborhood. Now long-time residents (good people) can no longer afford to live here anymore and are being replaced by residents of the four, five and six storied luxury apartments being built. What single family two story home can compete against that?

I even had to come come out of retirement and go back to work in order to pay the rent in this neighborhood. The rent is still hard to meet and I am worried about the next time my landlord wants to increase the rent so I am deciding whether I should move out of Jersey City so I can live out my retirement without financial worries but I leave behind my family, friends and neighbors. I lived here all my life and I know of nowhere else. I know you are going to say that I should have bought a home and stop complaining but that still doesn't make things right.

Thank God for the HDSID. I'm more hopeful that they can do something for the Village residents and the struggling businesses than the nitwits who are running the VNA. We once supported them and trusted their wisdom but it hasn't gotten us nowhere since they made a deal with the devil, I mean developers.

They bake at night (around 8:00pm), so the heavenly morning smells may be wafting from Golden Grill or somewhere.