So, last year, I went ahead and bought a Chevy Bolt. It's a fantastic automobile. Quiet, fast and really roomy for a very small car. Yeah, long trips can be a challenge when, after going a few hundred miles, you need to find a fast charger. But that's the exception. I'll never own another ICE car. It would be like going back to eight track tapes -- fun for hipsters maybe, but not me.

On the question of subsidies, I'd simply offer this to Yvonne and the rest of the critics. For a century, taxpayers paid for a military to keep the sea lanes open for Exxon/Essso, Chevron, Mobil et. al not to mention myriad other hidden subsidies and Middle Eastern wars. And that's putting aside the environmental externalities. So, if subsidies are required to break the hold of Big Oil, so be it.

So what I don't do is respond to attacks from people too cowardly to identify themselves.

The cost of the Mayor's purely political delay (the court called his claims "frivolous) is actually closer to five million dollars if you add the 1.2 million more charged by the second company. During the four years of this political stunt, a good part of the city (mostly the poorer parts) were over-taxed. That's what I call moving Jersey City forward. A true progressive.

"Could this have been handled better? Maybe? Probably?"

Come on T-Bird. You've got to be kidding! It wasn't handled at all. Bid rigging is a crime. How on earth do you justify keeping on staff two individuals who are caught on tape discussing a conspiracy to rig a bid? How is that remotely acceptable?

As to Matsikoudis, please dish the dirt on him. You owe it to all of us. It's not enough for you to pose as having some deep insight based upon your time with Fulop. Lay your cards on the table. If you've got the goods, let's hear it. It's your civic duty. I've certainly been explicit in my criticism of your friend. You should be equally explicit. If you're not, I'll assume you don't have a case.

Misrepresenting the color of one's shirt is hardly analogous to suggesting that someone is leaking tapes to the press. But, you're right, T-Bird is safe. I only meant to point out that it's easy to make defamatory statements on-line and one must be careful not to, both ethically and legally.

Sadly, JCList's defenders-o-Fulop (like Trump's defenders) are doing everything in their power to distract people from the undisputed fact that Fulop's top people were engaged in a scheme to rig a bid. Next they'll be asking for an investigation of Healy. It shows you that intellectual dishonesty isn't limited to Republicans.

Memo to T-Bird. Don't make potentially libelous statements on line (like I had something to do with releasing the tape, which I assure you I didn't) without some evidence.

I'm sure that there are many people who hope to hurt the mayor with this tape. That's the nature of politics. I don't see, however, how the fact that some people have a political motive in any way lessens the seriousness of the mayor's two top advisors appearing to rig a bid, and the mayor doing nothing. If this were Healy, Fulop would have been screaming bloody murder, as well he should have.

You're right, the mayor and I aren't best friends, largely because I believe he betrayed the cause of good government that got him elected. Early in his administration, I counseled him to live up to his promise. He chose another road. It's very sad to see his talent wasted.

The mayor has forfeited his right to another term. He wasted five million of taxpayer money on a frivolous lawsuit to postpone the reval for his political convenience. That money could have paid for all manner of city needs. It appears that he tried to throw the ambulance contract to a political supporter when it was clear that the Medical Center had one of the finest operations in the country. I could go on and on.

No one can know for sure, what a change of administration would mean. Many of us were surprised by Fulop's 180. What I do know is that he offers us more of the Hudson County self-dealing and corruption we all want to stop.

So we have two of the mayor's most senior advisors admitting to what may amount to a criminal conspiracy (who were kept on) and Fulop's supporters here say "what's the big deal?" Amazing. And Russia didn't try to swing the election to Trump either. What fools believe.

Here's the latest from the state.

Approximately 50% of properties have been inspected. The work should be completed within the next few months.

Preliminary assessments will likely go out in February. Property owners will have a period to informally challenge the assessment. The final tax list will be published by March 15th. If one doesn't like that number, they can file a formal appeal within 45 days. (Double check on this.)

Thanks. Is there any organized group pushing for this in JC?

What is the status of the car chargers? Are they on their way out? I'm thinking of getting a Bolt.

These arguments remind me of the NRA argument that "guns don't kill people, people do."

By Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal
on May 03, 2017 at 10:48 AM, updated May 03, 2017 at 12:17 PM
JERSEY CITY - London Johnson walks through the backyard of her Bostwick Avenue home every day. The yard connects the building she lives in with her grandmother's apartment and is considered a safe place to play in one of the city's tougher neighborhoods.
But on Sunday afternoon, London was viciously attacked by two pit bulls that got loose from a nearby yard. The 5-year-old was bitten so hard, doctors thought she was going to lose her leg. It was her 12-year-old brother, Jahmir, who is being hailed a hero for coming to his sister's help.

"These two dogs, came and just ran up, we don't know where they came from, they just started chasing my three little cousins, brother, and sister" Jahmir said.

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The incident, which has left London hospitalized at Jersey City Medical Center, is allegedly the third time the owner's dogs have attacked people, police said.

Jahmir, a fifth grade student at School 40, said at least one dog latched onto London's leg while he told his younger brother Tahir, 8, to jump a fence to get away from the dogs.

As the children were screaming for help, a neighbor threw his cane out of a window so Jahmir could use it to get the dog off London.

Their mother, Tyiesha Johnson, was inside cooking and realized the yelling wasn't the normal sound of children playing in the yard. When she knew her children were in trouble, she ran out of the house without her shoes to fight off the dogs, she said.

Johnson estimates the dogs were attacking for about five minutes before running back to a yard on Myrtle Avenue. Her oldest son carried London inside and police arrived at the building at about 3:30 p.m.

Police said there was a "pool of blood" in the backyard and saw three dogs were going in and out of the Myrtle Avenue home through a window. Two of the dogs still had blood on their mouths, throats, and chests, according to a police report from the incident.

When animal control arrived to help secure the dogs, one of the officers immediately recognized the animals from previous attacks. The owner, 37-year-old James Grant, was arrested on 12 open warrants, including six failures to appear in court on charges of having unlicensed dogs, according to a police report.

Dog bites off 8-year-old's ear during brutal attack
Dog bites off 8-year-old's ear during brutal attack
An 8-year-old boy was brutally attacked by a dog who bit his ear off while he played in the backyard of an Ocean Avenue home.

Grant's dogs have attacked people at least two other times, causing "serious bleeding," with the victims described as "bleeding very badly." He was issued 10 summonses for not properly licensing and caring for vicious dogs, police said.

At least one of the dogs involved in Sunday's attack has been euthanized, city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said.

Johnson said the dogs bit so hard that her her daughter's leg and knee were broken. She wants dogs owners to be held accountable when their animals brutally attack, especially young children.

"I want to make sure this doesn't happen to any more kids," Johnson said.

Last month, an 8-year-old boy had his ear bitten off by a pit bull while he played in a backyard on Ocean Avenue. Johnson hopes to start a petition to keep aggressive animals away from children.

Johnson said the children are shaken up from the attack, with some having nightmares of dogs biting them. London had a second surgery on Tuesday morning and doctors are hopeful she will be released later this week, Johnson said.

London, a kindergarten student, faces weeks of physical therapy and it's still not clear how long it will take before she has movement in her leg again, her mother said.

But despite the serious injuries, Johnson fears it could have been much worse had Jahmir not been there to protect his little sister.

"If it weren't for him, I don't think she would have made it," Johnson said while standing next to a walkway stained with her daughter's blood.

Asked how it feels to be a hero big brother, Jahmir -- who was also treated at the hospital for dog bites to his thigh -- smirked: "It feels good."

I just had my roof done by Mike at Zooguy Roofing. (908) 220-0845. Instead of the the old process of ripping up the existing roof up and laying down a new roof, they sealed my existing roof with silicon. I got a 20 year warranty and it cost me about 70% of the old fashioned way. It's also quicker and eliminates all of the debris. My sense is that this is the future of flat roof repair/replacement.

Snarky and clever but, ultimately, an unserious response.

I'm not quite sure what it will take for people to realize that there's no place in Jersey City for "fighting" dog breeds. Not only do they pose a serious threat to people and other dogs, but they require the resources of our animal shelter when they are abandoned. This is not to say that there aren't loving, gentle pit-bulls. There are. But, when they're not, they do much more damage than other breeds. (I would grandfather in, those dogs that are already here.)

Is there any evidence that the city actually enforces this ordinance? Two days later, at least eight lots on my block haven't shoveled. Pedestrians are struggling. It's dangerous.

? 296-1.1. - Duties of owners or occupants of residential property; time for removal.
Every owner, occupant or person having charge of a residential building or vacant lot shall, in case of a snowfall, clear such snow from the sidewalks and gutters thereof to the extent of one foot outside the curb in front of the building or lot, as well as on the side thereof where the building or lot faces on more than one street, within eight hours after the snow has fallen. If the snow has fallen during the night, removal shall be finished within eight hours after sunrise.

I think Moran is kind to suggest that Fulop remember "why he got into this game" in the first place. The "why" was self promotion, plain and simple. There were no core beliefs, only a lust for power. It's time that he return to the private sector where he will be free to cut deals that advance his interests, free from the inconvenience of considering the public good.

Bobby Kennedy worked for Joseph McCarthy. Did RFK = McCarthy? Thought not.

Gambling was such a success in Atlantic City. Please sign the petition. Let's keep that monstrosity out of Jersey City.
https://www.change.org/p/mayor-steven- ... o-gambling-in-jersey-city

For some people, payday loans are a godsend. Like anything else in life, including credit cards, they can be abused. I suppose it's too much to ask these two mayors to do their homework. But they could at least take a half hour to hear what people who've studied the topic have to say instead of shooting from the hip to garner headlines. They should start with this:
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/payday-loans/

Thank God for Terrence McDonald and the Jersey Journal doing what the press should do, holding government accountable.

What remains to be seen is whether an entry on the calendar that shows the mayor's meeting meeting with a vendor or developer will qualify as exempt private or "ACD" material. Hopefully not, but you never know.

When this issue first came up, I had a long exchange with the Mayor after I criticized him in the Jersey Journal. He felt that it was unfair to force him to go through 1600 entries and try to classify which were of a personal nature and which were city business. (I'm not sure he even understood that much of what he redacted might have been legitimately shielded by "executive privilege" which protects from disclosure certain communications related to the executive function.) What I tried to impress upon him was that a meeting with a vendor of copy machines would NOT be shielded from disclosure -- as opposed to someone giving him advice on a political or policy issue. I encouraged him to get out front of this issue and create a new standard of transparency. Obviously, he chose not to take my advice.

John T. is absolutely right. This mayor's request for input on casino expansion is a PR exercise mated to a fishing expedition for email addresses.

If he had wanted input he could have looked at the close to 500 signatures and comments we've amassed with our petition on Change.org. against casinos in JC. Go to:

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-steven- ... o-gambling-in-jersey-city

Or, the mayor could go to the lengthy discussion on Nextdoor.com where there are over 100 comments, the vast majority opposed.

If these two sources aren't enough, the mayor should gather feedback without gathering email addresses and should, in a transparent way, share the results with residents.

By Jersey Journal Guest Columnist
on April 23, 2016 at 9:00 AM, updated April 23, 2016 at 9:09 AM
By AARON MORRILL

The chickens have finally come home to roost on Mayor Steve Fulop's plan to kick the revaluation can down the road to Trenton. Superior Court Judge Francis B. Schultz has issued his long awaited ruling finding that Jersey City breached its contract with Realty Appraisal Co. when it canceled a revaluation of Jersey City properties begun under the previous administration.

Only days before, at a raucous meeting of community groups, a local pastor forced the mayor to defend himself against accusations that his policies favor downtown property owners.

As bad as these developments are for the mayor's reputation as a fiscally responsible progressive, the fallout for Jersey City taxpayers is worse. Taxpayers are now on the hook for the entire 3.2 million owed to Realty for now unusable services and, in addition, for legal fees that will, no doubt, grow to half a million dollars if the city appeals. In all, the city will have wasted close to four million dollars. But the costs don't end there.

In the three years that elapsed since the mayor's decision to cancel the reval, property values downtown have climbed sharply. Ironically, the very same affluent constituents that the mayor was protecting will see even bigger tax increases than they would have had he gone ahead with the reval three years ago. Recent buyers of the most expensive non-abated properties may well see their homes' values go down once the market absorbs their new higher tax burdens. Finally, for three long years, as the mayor pursued his ill-advised and losing court case, non-downtown property owners paid substantially more than their fair share of property taxes.

Fulop, Jersey City pastor spar over revaluation
Fulop, Jersey City pastor spar over revaluation
New Jersey tax officials last week ordered Jersey City to complete a citywide reval by November 2017.
It would be nice if the mayor had an excuse for creating this mess. But he doesn't.

His trumped up argument that a prior business administrator had improperly influenced the selection of Realty was contradicted by the city's own employees and emphatically rejected by the court. His argument that the reval would be "devastating" to property owners was disingenuous at best.

Yes, the mayor was right that taxes would go up downtown. But what he conveniently left unsaid was that residents of less affluent neighborhoods would actually see their taxes go down with a reval.

At every opportunity, the mayor has touted his credentials as a former Marine, a progressive and a responsible steward of the public purse. After cowering from the reval, can it be said that he lived up to the Marines' core value of courage?

By over-taxing less affluent neighborhoods, can he lay the claim to the mantle of a progressive?

And by wasting millions of taxpayer money, can he claim to be fiscally responsible?

The mayor should now ponder these questions.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Aaron Morrill is a lawyer, businessman and Jersey City community activist.

Hi Angelica,
It's nice to see a charter school emphasizing the arts. Can you give us any data on student performance so far? (I understand that the schools are quite new.)
Thanks!

Update: Tonight the city council defeated the parking ordinance.

Hi Guys:

Really, it's time to get over the food court controversy and move on. (Don't you have anything better to obsess about?)

So here are the facts, for those willing to hear them. (Several of you have shown not be interested in facts in the past, so I'll address those who are.)

1. This plan is being pushed behind the scenes by a few restaurants who feel that Downtown Jersey City homeowners and residents should subsidize their customers' free parking at night. If my motives are as suspect as you seem to think they are, I should be for the plan given that I own a restaurant. But, believe it or not, some people actually push for things that are against their financial interests. Amazing isn't it!

2. Giving out free parking (and in this case giving out MORE free parking) is the exact opposite of what intelligent city planners do. Listen to this Freakonomics podcast.

http://freakonomics.com/2013/03/13/pa ... eakonomics-radio-podcast/

Then take a look at Donald Shoup's book "The High Cost of Free Parking."

It's really an open and shut case. The plan is insane. People WILL park and ride (they're already doing it) and there will be less turn over of spaces.

If it makes it easier of some of you, try to imagine me as the owner of a different pizzeria.

With lots of love,
Aaron

Hi,

Some of you may already know that Councilwoman Osborne has submitted for City Council approval, a plan to extend free, non- resident parking from two to three hours in the Downtown. This plan will not only turn the Downtown into a massive "park and ride" lot where out-of-towners park and hop on the PATH train to shop and dine in Manhattan (three hours is plenty of time), but will reduce parking space turnover, meaning spots will open up less often for residents. The plan defies common sense and everything we know about curb-side parking. (See Shoup, The High Cost of Fee Parking).

If you disagree with this plan, please sign the following petition. Time is of the essence!

https://www.change.org/p/councilwoman- ... ition&utm_medium=copylink