Does anyone know when the one in the Heights is closing? I want to get an adaptor for a really old TV.

I cover that area. In addition to walking dogs under my own name and for another company, I both volunteered & worked for Liberty Humane Society for ten years and worked as a groomer's assistant at Furry Tails Dog Spa & Boutique for two years. Feel free to check out my site, www.animalauntie.biz or www.Facebook.com/animalauntie.

I do not know that. However, if you are in need, I have been doing both since 2004. I service these areas:

Pet-Sitting: Jersey City: Downtown Jersey City, Journal Square, 5-Corners, JC Heights/Western Slope; Hoboken, Lower North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken

Dog-Walking: Jersey City Heights/Western Slope, Hoboken, Lower North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken.

I periodically advertise on JC List and have just posted an ad. Best way to r each me is by the contact information listed in the ad.

Hope to hear from you soon!

I hope my last two posts encourage people to either add more cats and dogs (or rabbits, for that matter) to the adoption board or to foster a pet.

If one is not able to make even the short term commitment of fostering, there is a deep need for volunteers to transport /handle adoptable pets to off-site adoption events, serve as adoption counselors both off-site and in the shelter or make follow-up calls to adopters.

At the very least, don't depend on secondhand information. particularly when some sources can't make up their mind if they love or hate the shelter.

Liberty also relies on foster homes. I have volunteered at Liberty seven years. I am fostering cats for LHS right now and have met other cat and dog foster parents. Could LHS have more animals in foster care? Heck, yes.

The problem is that, as in the case of many other nonprofts, LHS may have a lot of volunteers n their roster - but only a small percentage actually do anything, much the way LHS Uncensored mourns euthanized animals but doesn't do anything to help adoptable dogs.

One local rescue group, led by a woman who alternately champions and bashes LHS on JCList (under two different names, no less) has even signed over her cats to Liberty when she has had them too long. (Usually, it is the other way around.)

I am sure LHS, thanks to Niki Dawson's relationship with the NYC Mayor's Alliance, will be the only NJ group at "Meet the Breeds" in NYC in mid-October. I wonder how many people will volunteer to transport and adopt out adoptable animals? It isn't as much fun as lighting up candles in front of news cameras. However, it certainly is more productive.

"Word has it that...." It seems to me an awful lot of people rely on second hand information.

Adoption goals have been set and are on display in the lobby. The names of all the cats and dogs adopted out are also prominently displayed. (Rescue and fosters are displayed separately.)

Nathan is not completely informed.

Liberty Humane Society has weekly off-site adoption events at PetSmart in Secaucus. Cats are there weekly. Dog attendence has been spotty because it has been difficult to find volunteers consistently willing to bring dogs to PetSmart. However, it looks like a dog crew has been formed.

In addition, LHS is the only group outside of NYC represented at the CFA Cat Show yearly, precisely because of Niki Dawson's relationship with the Mayor's Alliance there. As a volunteer, I have seen a great many cats adopted there.

Considering the fact that New York City has the 4 shelters: CACC, the ASPCA, Bide-A-Wee and the North Shore Animal Leauge - to say nothing of dozens of rescue groups: Mighty Mutts, Kitty Kind, City Critters, etc., etc. ; Liberty does get a fair number of adoptors from NYC. Liberty has adopted animals out to homes as far away as Massachusetts. I am handling an inquiry from a woman in Philidelphia!

Yes. There is nothing HUMANE or SHELTERing about those conditions. Since dogs, particularly active breeds, develop kennel crazies quickly in far better shelter conditions, I wonder how many of the dogs who have been euthanized came in as good dogs but turned because of these conditions?

Cats can also be hit with this, although the conditions at the cattery are better than those at the kennel, because cats use litter boxes.

I am distressed by much of what has been posted on this thread. I guess it really is true that we kill the things we love.

Are the same people who are focusing on the 11 dogs who were euthanized equally aware of the number of dogs sent to rescue - in large part by people who have been crucified on this same thread? A number of cats, including a three-legged, FIV+ cat has also gone to rescue. In addition, if you look at the Liberty Humane Society site, there are a lot more dogs in foster care than there were only a few weeks ago. Obviously, there are volunteers out there who instead of talking the talk, walk the walk and are fostering dogs. The lives saved surpasses the lives lost handily. (Considering the number of animals warehoused and today's economy, it is amazing that so many groups were willing to help.) However, when the facts do not support an agenda, why bother posting them?

I hope both lists are presented tonight, so those who prefer to focus on the lives lost instead of all the animals who have been saved, can not claim they haven't received full disclosure.

Having been to the shelter, I could also post my two cents about the conditions of the kennel area, which put me in mind of a Union City poultry market (and let's face it, chickens deserve better!) I can also tell you of volunteers who left BECAUSE of those conditions. However, things are changing. Donations, such as larger enclosures, have come in, despite the absence of a development person. Other help is on the way. Very dedicated volunteers are helping the understaffed kennel workers clean the kennels. Considering adopters have walked out because of the stench (and again, it is impossible for the few staff workers there to do it alone), I take my hat off to these special people.

In my opinion, many of these posts are more about politics or power than about the animals. Considering that past mistakes may lead to state takeover of Liberty Humane Society by the end of this week, I hope people come to tonight's Interim Board meeting with an open mind, instead of agendas. Otherwise, after the state takes over, the number of deaths will far exceed anything posted on this thread. Cats and dogs (and the occasional guinea pig, rabbit, chicken or goat) will come in alive and exit after their seven days are up in a body bag. Is THAT what we want?

Mickey Lee, who has cut hair for both men and women in the JC Heights, (Bowers off the Blvd) will close shop this Sunday. I remember how surprised and pleased he was when I told him that a JC Lister advised someone considering moving into the Heights to talk to Mickey Lee to get the scoop on the neighborhood because - and I am paraphrasing here - the man knows everything.

A good man who grew up in Jersey City and kept his business to maintain his roots, Mickey Lee is another victim of "change you can see" - rising taxes with little to show for them.

If you want to say good-bye to Mickey, he should be open from 8:30 to noon on Sunday the 23re, his final day of business.

A JCLister posted: "I know for a fact that he has given multiple hours over the years at all times of the night and weekend. For, as the boss over at Animal Control he takes his job seriously and if he can't get a ACO - he goes himself. He gets NO OVERTIME for this since he is a Management employee."

FACT: In an article covering the feud between Joe Frank and then director of Liberty Humane Society Director several years ago, Niki Dawson, Joe Frank told the The Jersey City Reporter that he was in fact not envious of her job because with all the OT he puts in, he made nearly double her salary. The figure he gave the reporter was in the low nineties.

FACT: The Jersey City Independent, an online news source, just reported that a second shift would be created at Animal Control, which would save them money in OT. Now, who do you think they are paying this OT to?

Another poster says that an investigation by the authorities has proven that posts made concerning Joe Frank are slanderous. As someone who has followed the adventures of Animal Control since 1980, I am curious as to which posts have slandered Joe, whom Anrold Diaz artfully exposed as speaking with a forked tongue in his second "Shame on You" interview.

A JCLister posted: "I know for a fact that he has given multiple hours over the years at all times of the night and weekend. For, as the boss over at Animal Control he takes his job seriously and if he can't get a ACO - he goes himself. He gets NO OVERTIME for this since he is a Management employee."

FACT: In an article covering the feud between Joe Frank and then director of Liberty Humane Society Director, Niki Dawson, Joe Frank told the The Jersey City Reporter that he was in fact not envious of her job because with all the OT he puts in, he made nearly double her salary.

FACT: The Jersey City Independent, an online news source, just reported that a second shift would be created at Animal Control, which would save them money in OT. Now, who do you think they are paying this OT to?

Another poster says that an investigation by the authorities has proven that posts made concerning Joe Frank are slanderous. As someone who has followed the adventures of Animal Control since 1980, I am curious as to which posts have slandered Joe, whom Anrold Diaz artfully exposed as speaking with a forked tongue in his second "Shame on You" interview.

Some of my clients in downtown and the Heights with cars but little time get deliveries from "Just for Pets" in Weehawken. For orders of $25 and up, delivery is free. They have large (13.2 oz.) cans of Evo and Felidae catfood also, which works for me. I also buy 13.2 oz. cans of Petgard from two health food stores in Hoboken, Hoboken Farmboy and Basics, and until very recently, when some of my cats developed a sudden aversion to Wellness after years of gobbling it down, 13.2 oz cans of Wellness from Village Tropical. You can get good deals on litter at Target's.

I have been pet-sitting since 2003. My territory includes Downtown and I can give you references from there and other locations. I will pm you.

As The Jersey Journal warned, it was tabled although the reason given was not that oversight was no longer necessary but legal reasons. It is significant that the new version comes out AFTER Election Day. When one speaker pointed out the obvious, they hastened to cover their butts by blubbering they are all not running on the same tickets.

The one bright spot is that although the same amount of people were present, there were nine or ten speakers. In addition, everyone present did all they could to make the Council aware of how many of us were there and supported this. Best presentation hands down goes to Tim or Tom R, who told a story that would have made a stone weep.

Someone has already posted the article. In my opinion, the Council. who initially treated this as a joke - Brennan actually referred to killing these as EUTHANASIA at one point - regretted their light-hearted approach as the speakers kept on coming.....Even someone who came to speak about another issue decided to chime in. The Council became more placating and gave us a partial preview of what was to come in an attempt to do damage control.

Although we will not have the same leverage we have after the election, the pressure should be kept up all the way through to May 20th. Even if you do care about animals, AC's mishandling of stray animals are public health and safety issues, too. The more cats dumped into parks, the more likely your garden will be hit. The more calls regarding stray dogs are ignored, the more likely a child will get mauled. If you haven't written or emailed your representatives, do so and keep doing so. Complain to the Mayor's Actionline. Write or email letters to the local media - The Jersey Journal and The Hudson Reporter.

This last one is particularly important for those who do not live in Jersey City but have an interest in the proper resolution of this issue. Even if you can not vote, your words can influence those who can.

Yes - please come - because it is obvious from this late-breaking news from NJ.com (a.k.a. The Jersey Journal) that the established politicos do not take animal lovers seriously even in an election year. Read this and weep:

Jersey City council may table Animal Control ordinances
by Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
Monday April 20, 2009, 8:41 PM

Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop, left, argues in favor of his proposed Animal Control Commission at tonight's City Council caucus meeting at Jersey City Hall.
Two ordinances designed to provide oversight for the Jersey City's Division of Animal Control were vigorously debated at tonight's City Council caucus and may be pulled from Wednesday's City Council meeting agenda.

The ordinances come two months after the notorious Daisy-the-Cat incident in which two animal control officers dumped an escaped pet in Lincoln Park instead of taking the cat to a shelter.

One ordinance would create a 19-member Animal Control Commission that would oversee the city's Division of Animal Control,including evaluating the job performance of animal control officers.

The second would create an Animal Control ombudsman within the Mayor's Action Bureau to handle animal control complaints on a day-to-day basis.

Both the commission and the ombudsman were recommended by a City Council committee headed by Councilman Steve Lipski that was formed in 2006 to investigate a dispute between the Animal Control Division and the Liberty Humane Society.

Harry Melendez, director of the city's Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Division of Animal Control, argued against the ordinances, saying they were no longer necessary since there is no longer any friction between Animal Control and the Liberty Humane Society.

He also said the commission's power would get in the way of his ability to oversee the Division of Animal Control.

But Councilman Steve Fulop, who sponsored the ordinances, disagreed, pointing to a recent letter from the state that said Daisy was not an isolated incident. Rather, the letter said, the city has a policy of dumping strays, which is in violation of state regulations.

"It is an outlandish policy," he said. "There clearly is a problem."

Fulop said that the board would serve in an advisory capacity, similar to the Historic Preservation Commission. "The director is not losing any authority, but at the end of the day you are going to have animal activists who are involved in the city say 'Hey, maybe we can do it better,'" he said.

Several Jersey City residents argued for the ordinances at a City Council meeting earlier this month.

Lipski supported the ordinances but recommended several changes including reducing the commission to seven-to-nine members and changing some of the descriptions of the commission's tasks including "handling complaints."

Although Fulop agreed to the amendments, officials were concerned that they were substantive enough that the ordinances would have to be held to the next meeting in order to give the public proper notice. The city's legal department would make a final determination tomorrow, officials said.

How many people on this thread have seen Joe Frank's 15 minutes of fame on "Shame on You"?

How many times did he deny that dumping cats is a city policy? Was it five times?

When Diaz probed, asking if it wasn't a dept. policy, why were the two suspended officers insisting otherwise; Joe suggested they were protecting themselves, as it is against policy to dump cats. Apparently, Joe was hanging them out to dry, throwing them under the bus, etc.

Then again, according to the information on the City of Jersey City web site, AC is supposed to pick up ALL stray animals, not all stray animals EXCEPT cats. They have explain to callers cats are considered free agents and wild animals, yet they pick up RACCOONS! Am I missing something here? How many people walk raccoons? How many people see raccoons sunning themselves in windows? Are they domesticated animals? (A friend in the Marion section who called about a raccon in her home said the officer was so inept she ended up asking him to leave and shooed the raccoon out herself. Too bad that no one from AC showed up for that free session on handling wild animals Liberty Science Center had a few years back.

I was for remedial training but maybe it is time for a clean sweep, so instead of parking outside of the Central Avenue Dunkin' Donuts, AC officers can work there. They probably know more about Dunkin' Donuts policies than they do their own....

On Friday, May 1st, 6:30 to 9 PM; Liberty Science Center, in joint venture with Liberty Humane Society, is holding "Single, Mingle & Bark" (What, no purrs? )

It will be held within the Liberty Science Center. Since attendees are invited to bring their dogs or borrow one from LHS, attire is casual. (I suppose other pets are also welcome. However, let's face it - the average cat, bird, small and furry or reptile doesn't travel as well as the average dog - especially in noisy, crowded venues - although one can make a case for some ferrets and parrots.)

There will be a wine tasting and light fare, a cash bar for the thirsty, music, a silent raffle and a 50/50

Tickets are $25 if purchased by April 25th - $30 at the door.

The rain date is June 4th.

If you need a bauble for the evening, come visit the Liberty Humane Society Sidewalk Sale at the shelter - 235 Jersey City Blvd. - right across the street from the Science Center - this Saturday, April 18th, 10 am to 3 pm.

I am glad to know the Jersey Journal was saved. I remember its glory days, when it was a broadsheet and had some heft to it.

No matter how thin it is, we need it. It is the only way we can get up to date news on Hudson County. (In addition, the Saturday Letters Column, taken from messages left on the phone, is always interesting and sometimes unintentionally hilarious reading.) NJ.com's Hudson link is the Jersey Journal.

I am sorry to hear about the the departures of the five editors, particularly Earl Morgan and Rebecca Markley.

The Star-Ledger and the Jersey Journal are owned by the same company and the Ledger, while more robust thatn the Journal, has had its own troubles with sinking advertising revenue.

I have received permission to post this from Diana Jeffrey - Daisy's Lawyer and will e-mail the State Dept. of Health letter she mentions to anyone upon request.

I am sure you will all feel the same rage I did upon reading this letter. This is a fine waste of your tax-paying dollars, as well as mine when I lived in Jersey City. Who knows how many animals (I would not be surprised to learn other kinds of pets were dumped) have met the same fate?

This could happen to any of OUR pets if they get out. (Hey, I live close enough to the border for my cats to wind up in Lincoln Park.)

Our council members were supposed to set up a committee to oversee AC TWO YEARS AGO. With the exception of Steve Fulop, even in an election year, these people are too smug to take animal lovers seriously - or to care about the public and safety issues such indiscriminate dumping creates.

Read and take action. It is an election year, so we may be taken seriuosly this time.

Of course, Jersey City is not the only city in Hudson County with Animal Control Officer problems, (although it is the only one to have the dubious distinction of appearing on "Shame on You".) Hector's next. There has to be a way to get him, too.

Read on:

THE CITY LIED TO YOU WHEN IT SAID THAT THE DUMPING OF DAISY IN LINCOLN PARK WAS AN "ISOLATED INCIDENT."

In a letter dated April 9 (Lindad will email the letter, which was attached to the original email, to anyone upon request), the State Department of Health and Senior Services states that its own ivestigation "discovered that Jersey City has a policy" of routinely failing to pick up stray cats. What's more, the DHSS found that when stray cats are picked up by Jersey City ACOs, they are not always impounded at the animal shelter (as required by law) but released into public places.

The DHSS says that Jersey City officials admitted this was its animal control policy -- while at the same time, Jersey City officials were publicly telling YOU that the dumping of Daisy was an "isolated incident."

Moreover, City officials put Joe Frank in charge of investigating himself -- when they KNEW this policy was his own creation! Then, they suspended the officers who dumped Daisy for 5 days without pay -- when they KNEW the officers were just following Frank's illegal policy. Council members told people with great satisfaction that the matter had been "dealt with" and no further action was needed.

No more action needed. Oh, really?

There's a phrase for this -- it's called a COVER UP.

It's pretty clear to me that greater oversight of the Division of Animal Control is desperately needed. If this were any other municipality, they would toss Joe Frank out of that job IMMEDIATELY. We all know the history with this guy:

--In 2001 the SCI report revealed that Frank took a loan from SPCA president Ed Pulver, then "repaid" the loan by working there under an assumed name. All the while, Frank looked the other way as animals were abused and mistreated.

--In 2004, Frank seized 3 Shih Tzus from the apartment of a women who had been arrested. He took two to the shelter but took the third home -- after having it groomed and deflea'd at the City's expense, apparently to give to his wife as a gift. He failed to tell shelter personnel there was a third dog. When this was discovered, Corporation Counsel forced him to return the third dog to the shelter, but no disciplinary action was taken against him. The woman reclaimed all three dogs later.

--In 2005, Frank told his officers to enter a tenant's locked apartment and remove her dog, as a favor to the landlord (a friend of his wife) who had tried unsuccessfully to remove the dog through legal channels. Two officers (Ross and Perez) refused on the grounds that this would be theft. The third (Machado) entered the apartment, snared the dog on a pole and cut its mouth, leaving a trail of blood up the stairs. He falsely signed it in at the shelter as a "stray." He failed to leave the tenant a note as required by law. Later, Machado had a pang of guilt and told a mutual friend where she could find her dog. But not until he issued her three bogus summons to cover up his misconduct. Those summons were all later dismissed by the prosecutor. A public outcry ensued to oust Joe Frank. After months of promising he would be gone, City officials let this peter out. No disciplinary action was ever taken. The Appellate Division ordered the DHSS to revoke Frank's certification for his role in this illegal act, but so far, nothing has been done.

--Also in 2005, Joe Frank filed bogus animal cruelty charges against the former shelter manager of LHS, Niki Dawson after threatening and harassing her for years. The charges were dismissed by the prosecutor. No disciplinary action was ever taken against Frank.

--In 2006, the City Council investigated Animal Control. Evidence was provided by animal advocates demonstrating Frank's long record of violating the procedural requirements of the Dangerous Dog law and animal cruelty laws. In case after case, Frank is seen to be seizing dogs without probable cause, without issuing the required notice to the owner of his/her rights, and without notifying the court timely of the need for a hearing. Most people he targets are low income and people of color. Despite the overwhelming evidence of habitual violations of dog owner's rights, no disciplinary action is ever taken, and no greater supervision or oversight is imposed upon him.

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, I urge you to contact your counsel representative, as well as Council President Vega, and demand the pass the Animal Control Commission/Ombudsman ordinance. You can find contact info at www.cityofjerseycity.com.

The fact that Mr. Frank still has this job is honestly, beyond my comprehension. He should be suspended until a complete audit of AC's records can be conducted by the Commission to determine how many other people's pet cats ended up in Lincoln Park or God knows where else.

Best Regards,

Diana Jeffrey

One of the earlier posts stated the salary of one of the AC officers as being in the low thirties after eleven years. A later post said that was akin to volunteer work and that people get what they pay for. I understand the point that was being made. However, I feel there is no way a city employee who can pretty much do what he wants, probably receives many health benefits and also a lot of paid vacation time can be compared to ANY real volunteer, from those who join the Peace Corp to those who freely donate their time to hospitals, homeless and animal shelters, etc.

No one stays at any job for eleven years without some sort of pay-off and here is one that is on record in one of our local papers.

A few years ago, there was a running feud between Joe Frank and Nikki Dawson, the LHS Mgr. at the time. Some thought that Joe, who acted as the defacto LHS mgr. very early on, resented that someone else had received the job permanently. In a Hudson Reporter article, Joe foolishly boasted that since after overtime he made over $90K a year, there was no way he would want Nikki's job, as it paid "only" in the low fifties! Since AC is not very responsive to many calls regarding stray, injured or abandoned animals, particularly after hours, when one is supposed to be on call, and is a little confused about what constitutes an animal in the first place since cats are not consitently considered part of the animal kindgom. I'am not sure how Joe racks up all this overtime. I'm also not sure if the officers under him rack up as much money in overtime.

Since this is going back a few years, who knows how much Joe Frank makes after OT now.

I notice that when Morgan called, she was told that Animal Control does not pick up cats. In "Cats n Dogs" last post, it was explained that AC has an unwritten policy regarding cats, claiming that cats are regarded as free agents (wild). If this is the case, why does Animal Control respond to calls about raccoons? (A friend who lives in the Marion section recently told me that she had called AC one summer evening to remove a raccoon from her home. She got so frustrated watching him that she asked him to leave and shooed the animal out herself.)

Therefore, as a public service to the residents of Jersey City, I am pasting information listing the services Animal Control provides from www.cityofjerseycity.com, the official web site of Jersey City: Division of Animal Control 1 Journal Square Plaza 2nd Floor Jersey City, NJ 07306 Tel: (201) 547-4888 Fax: (201) 656-9310 Joseph Frank, Animal Control Officer Description The Division of Animal Control provides a variety of services related to the well-being of animals and residents who come in contact with them: Picking up stray or abandoned animals Issuing dog licenses Responding to animal nuisance/cruelty complaints Picking up and disposing of dead animals After hours complaints/calls, please contact the Jersey City Police dispatcher at (201) 547-5477 to page Animal Control. Online Help Center Service Requests Report animal cruelty Report constantly barking dogs Report a dead animal Report a stray or abandoned animal Get dog license information Get free rabies vaccination information Please not that the first service listed is picking up stray or abandoned ANIMALS. Apparently, the people who answer the phones at JC Animal Control are unaware of the fact that a cat is an animal - something most kindergarten kids would know. They would be way over their heads if they appeared on "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

If they do understand that cats are members of the animal kingdom, perhaps Jersey City should update their site to read "Picking up all stray or abandoned animals EXCEPT cats".

As to some of the other posts:

An excellent resource for people who have lost their indoor only cats is www.catsinthebag.org. They also include links to other worthy sites.

All my cats wear safety collars which will either break away or stretch if they get snagged on something. All tags read "Indoor Cat" and list my cell phone #. Only one of my cats is successful in getting out of her collar - and she will be the first cat I get micro-chipped.

If you find a cat in the street that is friendly, it is far better to bring it to Liberty Humane Society than to leave it on the street. Liberty is an open admission shelter, which means it has to accept all animals rather than skim the most adoptable ones and reject the rest as an ASPCA, North Shore or Bide-A-Wee. However, as someone who has volunteered at the shelter for a number of years now, I can vouch for the fact that every effort is made to give adoptable cats a happy ending, including weekly adoption events at PetSmart, which is one of my regular volunteer activities. I can also report that cats who were not the most adoptable animals, most recently a declawed fourteen year old tortoiseshell called Pebbles, have made it out alive. This is not to say there are always happy endings, but they try. The fact that too many humans regard their pets - ESPECIALLY cats - as so readily disposable - is not the shelter's fault.

On the other hand, a feral cat is for all intents and purposes, is a wild animal. It is not adoptable, so if you bring it to any shelter expecting them to keep it forever and ever, think again. That cat will be euthanized as it is as adoptable as an adult squirrel or raccoon.

The only way one should bring a feral cat to a shelter is as part of a T(rap), N(euter), R(eturn) Program in which the cat is vaccinated, fixxed, ear-tipped and rereleased. It will be able to live out the rest of its life relatively peacefully, relieved of the burden of either birthing and rearing babies or fighting over a mate - and much less likely to be attarct unwelcome attention by humans for caterwauling, spraying all over shrubs, etc. Since unwelcome attention is at best a rock and more likely a pellet gun or poison, the less attention a feral draws to itself, the better......

Too true - and rather amusing, considering you can walk to uptown Hoboken in 15 minutes. However, not all of those half empty buses go through Hoboken. A good percentage of them go through downtown Jersey City. I think they might go through the Newport area although I wouldn't swear to it.

It is the residents of the JC Heights, Journal Square and Bergen-Layfayette areas who get screwed.

Well, it helps if the problem is exposed, rather than covered up, as appearsto be the case in yesterday's story. However, point of fact was it did'nt happen at the LCS Light Rail Station or the dark and dangerous overhang one has to pass through to get to the Sciennce Center. The four on one, behind the back assault happened on the brightly lit sidewalk outside the parking lot. If a couple wasn't walking past with their dog, it might have gone much worse.

I have to agree. Althoughthe southbound (JSQ/Gates Ave) #87 runs well, during rush hour the Hoboken bound ones run four in a row every twenty minutes instead of one every 6 to 10 - and they don't always stop to pick up passengers, either. Kind of negates the advantage of the 15 minute HOB-33rd Street ride.

The 99S/10 is horrible, too, especially the Jersey bound evening ones. on the eastern end of the Heights are the Bergenline Avenue-Newport Mall vans. (Even the vans to New York suck although in all fairness to them, I think there are only two.

While the #123 (or is it 124?) does stay onschedule, there aren't many of them, either. The only thing on wheels that runs well on the eastern end of the Heights are the Bergenline Ave-palisades-JSQ-Newport Mall vans.

When I lived on Palisade near Franklin, I biked back and forth to Hoboken via Moutain Road. After dark, I'd bike to the 9th Street-Congress Avenue Light Rail Station and take the elevator up.

I don't know hwo you hould complainto. Neither Coach USA or NJ Transit gives a damn.

The first victim was not attacked at a "Johnston Avenue" Light Rail Station. I don't even think there is a Johnston Avenue Light Station. She was near the LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER Light Rail Station.

However, that was not not where the actual crime took place. She was walking along the brightly lit sidewalk outside the Liberty Science Center Parking Lot. I don't know whether this was an error on the part of the reporter or an attempt to avoid giving LCS any bad publicity, although considering the attack took place just before 7, the Science Center was probably closed. (Since the crew was nabbed at 7:15, the cops did a remarkable job.)

She was much luckier than the second victim. Nothing of value was taken and all she had to show for it were abrasions and cuts. I am apalled at the level of brutailty shown in the second attack. Although the neighorhoods surrounding the Science Center are rough, it is interesting to note these creeps came from Bayonne.

NOOOOO. Your best bet is to take the Light Rail one stop further and get off at the 9th Street-Congress St. stop. Better yet, if it is feasible, take the #87 bus home late at night instead. It turns down Franklin towards Central Avenue. If memory serves me, there is a stop near Sherman & Franklin.

When I moved to Palisade btwn, Franklin & Ferry in 2003, I found out that a man was murdered walking up Mountain Road after his shift at a restaurant ended. (On top of that, it took forever for police to get there because the dispatchers didn't have maps showing Mountain Road.) There are several shantytowns behind the fences - men have been spotted scailing the fences to get to their homes after dark. There is also gang activity, particularly up and down Franklin Street, which is why I recommend the #87 above all if it is possible. Do not let all the condos being built there fool you. This is a very rough neighborhood. Several years ago, a curfew was created to cut down on drug and gang activity in several parts of JC. Three areas in the Heights were included - North Street from Palisade to either Liberty or Terrace, Palisade Avenue from Ferry to North Street and Franklin from Palisade to Central. (The Stop & Shop is allowed to stay open later because it has security.) Since I lived on Palisade between Franklin and Ferry, life was interesting, to say the least. Although expensive condos are being built, James Vincent has opened a store and rumor has it that an organic grocery is opening, the 'hood remains, for want of a better word, lively. (Last summer, I remember observing a bunch of men and women having quite the party for themselves on a couch oon the sidewalk right undera window of a condo on Palisade between Franklin and Hutton. It wasn't even dark yet.)

I do pet-sitting at a neighboring street and have often eated at Grilled 8. Although the block appears nice and quiet, I have often noticed a lot of seedy sorts passing through, especially evenings.

As far as I know, the only place in that neighborhood where you can buy cigarettes is the Stop n Shop - and that doesn't open til 6:30 in the morning. If there was bad blood between him and others, perhaps they lured him out and ambushed him?

A terrible story.... My sympathy to the family.

That sounds vaguely familiar. It was kind of like a Schrafts....I thought it awesome, too.