I had my daughter at NY Downtown last year. I'm due in Oct. and plan to have my second daughter there as well. My Dr. was Dr. Halpern from Downtown OBGYN Assoc., she was OK, but she happened to be on vacation when I delivered, so Dr. Wong (from same practice) delivered my daughter. He is AWESOME, I switched to him as my OBGYN since, and he is going to deliver my 2nd. I had lots of prejudices of having a male OBGYN, but he is really great. The most attentive and patient doc I've ever had. I highly recommend him.
NY Downtown is not a great looking hospital, but the delivery rooms have gone renovation in the last few years, and are not bad at all. The staff is pretty nice too. In every hospital, you will find that your experience in the delivery room will probably be better than your experience in the maternity ward afterward. We want just a little more care and attention after giving birth, but you won't get that in NY. Maybe in a small town hospital you would.
The best thing for me at NY Downtown was that they have a lactation educator on site, who came and spent several hours with me the morning after birth. That was truly great, it got me and my daughter on the right path to breastfeeding and she was available by phone for consultations afterward.
Getting to NYDowntown from JC is not bad. we actually ended up driving right during rush hour and it didn't take too long. you will have to park in a garage which can be a little costly, but it's easy and you don't have to worry about street parking.
Another thing I liked about NY downtown is that the practice is right there in the hospital, and the labs and everything, you don't have to go to different places during your pregnancy.
Good luck!

This info is as of Aug. 2008.
The outdoor pool on Pavonia and Westside Ave. is open for the summer and free for JC residents (they didn't ask for any proof).
the pool's number: 201.547.4692

it's not a bad pool, has a kiddy pool with a waterfall sculpture.
There is one designated swimming lane in the big pool.
There are no lounge chairs, you can bring your own chair or lay your towel on the concrete.
There are lots of kids!
My young daughter cought pink eye from going to the pool, so be careful and washwell after going there!