Here's the latest version of the ordinance. Contrary to Chico's claims on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ChicoRamchalJC/status/532531906320293888), the ordinance does allow for tree removal so long as you get approval.

"... no existing street tree shall be removed to create a driveway without prior approval by the Jersey City Division of Parks & Forestry."

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47 ... Chapter%20345-%20copy.pdf

Are you a Twitter user? You can respond to Chico's call for support here: https://mobile.twitter.com/ChicoRamchalJC/status/532315836460310528

The Dept of Planning's memo to the Planning Board opposing the idea -- I agree with every point:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/77fza9krph61 ... %20Memo%20Signed.pdf?dl=0

The Harsimus Cove Association has published their observations on how to improve the process of installing a new stop sign. http://www.harsimuscove.org/news/new-stop-sign-rollout

Yeah, that's what the world needs, another TV bar.

"The culture in Hoboken is driven by TV now. A lot of the bars downtown are fighting with each other for who has the most giant TVs. That's what Hoboken nightlife has become."

http://pitchfork.com/news/51004-hoboken-venue-maxwells-closing

Ditto on the SeeClickFix recommendation. Here's a direct link to the report form:

http://seeclickfix.com/downtown_hudson/report

Note that the city doesn't monitor SeeClickFix (yet), but I take care of reporting all issues to the city. We've been using it in the Harsimus Cove neighborhood for over a year as a way of tracking our quality of life issues and it's been a great tool.

http://www.harsimuscove.org/news/seec ... rt-stats-and-observations

Put the app on your phone:
http://seeclickfix.com/apps

Talk to your neighbors about the issue and get them to also call in to the non-emergency JCPD line (201-547-5477) when the parties are occurring. Coordinating so that your calls are to the police are being made within 15 minutes of each other *will* get their attention.

If you own a business and are a jerk to the very people that have made the location you're opening a business in a thriving social center, then you deserve be called out. It sounds like those chalking this up to JCList negativity didn't read the back story.

(Blaming JCList negativity is easy to do-- I hardly ever come here due to the trolls. But this topic was too important to ignore.)

The folks that organize the farmer's market have been very accommodating. The food trucks are now at the other end of the plaza, ZipCar moved, there was a huge and inviting corridor to his restaurant.

Quote:

All of this speaks to appropriation, simulation. The references to casinos.. yes folks.. that's all bullshit to numb your senses. God forbid an authentic venue that is what it is: A basement with a stage, a bar and a sound system. There is nothing wrong with that!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation

Alas, this is only a minor grievance. The guy just needs to play nice with others. That's all I'm asking.

There used to be a park bench 20 feet in front of his establishment. He cut the bolts and moved it. Yes, this is the person we're dealing with. And now he has a liqueur license. If you think it's bad now, just wait until he starts terrorizing the residents of Bay Street with his "wine bar" entrance and then his so-called "speakeasy." (Pro tip: If you advertise a speakeasy, it isn't a speakeasy. It's simply a club in a basement.)

Jeff needs a serious attitude adjustment. He needs to understand that success of his business is directly related and reliant on the social capital built by organizations such as the HDSID that produces the farmer's market and Groove on Grove. And if it wasn't for the community efforts of the Harsimus Cove Association, there would be no Fitzgerald-Holota Plaza for him to profit off of.

I've been watching Jeff build that place out for months. He's put a lot of work into it, a great vision. That location has been empty for years and desperately needs a community-minded social business to complement the plaza.

The Harsimus Cove Assocaiton was satisfied with neither the location nor the time of the public hearing regarding the closing of the Pulaski Skyway's inbound lanes for two years while the span is repaired. We wrote a letter to Assemblyman Ruben Ramos who represents the 33rd District and also sits on the Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities committee. We have asked for another hearing.

http://www.harsimuscove.org/news/pulaski-skyway-hearing

http://www.harsimuscove.org/sites/def ... ay%20Closure%20Appeal.pdf

On the evening of March 17, the Harsimus Cove Assocation (HCA) distributed 80 letters to Fifth Street residents on the same block as of 238 Fifth Street. (Read the letter.) Verizon is applying to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to get approval for this project. There are issues with the appropriateness of this project given that it is visible from the public right of way from many vantage points and that it would compromise the integrity of the Harsimus Cove historic district.

About 20 residents showed up to the meeting and half of those spoke out against the application during the public hearing. After more questioning by the HPC largely based on the points we made, Verizon decided to withdraw their application and to come back in the future with revised plans.

Verizon has since submitted revised plans and they are on the next meeting's agenda.

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Monday, April 22, 6:30 PM
Council Chambers, City Hall, 280 Grove Street

It is imperative that all concerned parties appear at the meeting and be prepared to make remarks during the public speaking portion of the meeting.

Verizon's revised sims and plans:

Architectural drawings of the plan: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3LZdDqM81uqa2pJRE4yNEtrbk0/edit
Simulation of the roofline from the east: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3LZdDqM81uqQ0QyRXFtTWdCVW8/edit
Simulation of the roofline from the west: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3LZdDqM81uqNnQ0aEpXV2VEMW8/edit

Some things to note:

1. The number of antennas has been reduced from 12 to 6. That makes it 2 per cluster instead of 4.
2. The shed has been removed and will no longer be a visual obstruction from the Erie/5th vantage point
3. The cluster that was on the SW corner has been pushed back but still on the very edge of the building. It will now be referred to as the west cluster.

NEW JERSEY STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE (SHPO)

I've been in touch with the SHPO based on the following tip from this blog, "What to Do if a Cell Tower is Proposed in Your Neighborhood."

Neighborhoods listed as historic districts by the National Historic Preservation Act may have more protections against a cell tower than non-historic neighborhoods. A tower cannot be placed in a historic neighborhood if it can be demonstrated that the tower negatively affects the neighborhood's historic quality. The Irvington neighborhood was designated a historic district last year, and Kirk Ranzetta helped the neighbors appeal the issue to Oregon's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Ranzetta says wireless companies are required to file an application with SHPO, and SHPO has to agree that the neighborhood will not be adversely affected. "The applications are not always full or not always as accurate as they probably should be," Ranzetta says. Neighbors can then file a notice of objection to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "It's a little bit more of a legal challenge," Ranzetta says, and the FCC is legally required to respond to the objection.

According the SHPO, Verizon and any other mobile carrier who wants to install antennae in a historic district, they must go through the Section 106 process as defined by the Historic Preservation Act. This process requires that the applicant conduct an "alternatives analysis" whereby the applicant demonstrates their justification for the chosen location with regard to other options. According to the SHPO, Verizon has not yet submitted their alternatives analysis, but this is not abnormal. Applicants often conduct it after community consultation has happened. Given that several members of the community specifically asked about this topic at the last HPC meeting and the given that Verizon has not conducted the alternative analysis, the HCA will request that the analysis be done before any City agency, board or commission grant approval. In short, we have unanswered questions this analysis would answer.

AT&T'S SEEKS TO INSTALL ON THE SAME BUILDING

On the heals of Verizon is AT&T. While they are not on the agenda for Monday's meeting and we have not received any plans or sims, we are in touch with the attorney representing their application. I bring this up now so as to give you an accurate vision of the scope of what's going on at 238 Fifth. Will T-Mobile be next?

Another vote for Star at Newark and Coles. They are friendly and, when they didn't quite get it right a couple of times, they were more than happy to do it again.

According to HarsimusCove.org, the building is not within the historic boundaries of that neighborhood. Unless it has a specific designation elsewhere, it is not protected. And while I am no expert, I can't see any redeemable, historic qualities to preserve. Any historically significant attributes seem to have been altered out of existence years ago.

http://harsimuscove.org/neighborhood-map

I've never felt uncomfortable in Harsimus Cove. And don't worry about the homeless folks, they stick to themselves. Sure, there are some smash and grabs and iPhones being snatched out of the hands of the unsuspecting (at Grove PATH Plaza nonetheless), but these incidents are rare given the population.

If you want to get a better idea, come to a east district captain's meeting. They are every 4th Tuesday of the month. More information:

http://www.harsimuscove.org/event/jer ... ptains-meeting/2012/06/26

Are these the project renderings? http://www.slcearch.com/current-projects/provost-square/

Despite Chevron's concerns, and all the concerns put forth by various agencies, governments and community groups, FERC has issued the EIS today as scheduled. Now the fight gets very serious. Become a member of NO Gas Pipeline who needs your support to make the case for standing when they sue FERC for their expected decision to approve the pipeline: http://nogaspipeline.org/membership

Call Mayor Healy to ask him to issue an executive order that mandates that all non-emergency, city-owned cars have decals placed on their doors per the ordinance that the city council recently passed but does not have the authority to mandate. 201-547-5200. You will be transferred to "scheduling" to leave a message for the chief of staff.

Statement by Mike Francisco President, Harsimus Cove Association, Regarding the Proposed Sale of 8 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ

May 6, 2011 ? ?Recent coverage of the proposed sale of 8 Erie Street, better known as Jersey City Police Headquarters, has focused on the construction of a parking structure, yet no such land use has officially been proposed. Rather, the issue of immediate concern is the apparent haste that the City is showing in selling the property. It strikes us as odd that the City would be satisfied with selling 8 Erie and an adjacent parking lot?prime real estate in historic Downtown Jersey City? for a pauper?s sum of $4 million. Anybody who has recently looked at the price of a single-family row house knows that the stated sale price of 8 Erie and the adjoining parking lot is alarmingly low.

?Most troubling about this situation is that the proposed sale of this landmark building in the heart of the Harsimus Cove Historic District has not been opened up to the public. The residents and business owners in Harsimus Cove and Downtown Jersey City should have a say in what ultimately comes of this property. For example, the Jersey City Board of Education?s Department of Early Childhood Education has for years looked for available space Downtown. And perhaps local businesses could make a strong argument for the construction of a parking garage on the existing lot. We will not have the opportunity to find out until the City engages in a fair, transparent and public vetting of all redevelopment proposals.

?The Harsimus Cove Association wants to guarantee the highest and best use of 8 Erie Street for all of our residents. As bad as the City is in need of money, the purchase price of $4 million is hardly adequate or ?fair market value.? We must begin to think long-term and not throw away the opportunity to do what is right for our neighborhood?not just for today, but for the future. The process must be open and transparent, with input from this association and the residents of Jersey City.

?We urge Mayor Healy and the City to make this the transparent and open process Jersey City deserves. Please don?t sell our neighborhood and our future short.?

http://www.harsimuscove.org/news/8-erie-statement

Several Jersey City residents have made us aware of a post card that is being sent out by Spectra Energy, claiming "safety" and featuring the image of a child. Exploiting the image of a child to emotively sell their dangerous pipeline ? this should tell you something about how they operate and the credibility of their claims to safety and stewardship. They will say anything.



http://nogaspipeline.org/2011-01-08/t ... -their-propaganda-arsenal

They used to have a nice veggie burger and the dropped that. I guess it didn't have enough demand, but you'd think that a restaurant like that in a market like this would keep it on the menu.

Politicos take note. Never accept the cash in hand. Have them throw it into your back seat.

Great... right in the path of the proposed pipeline.
View Spectra Pipeline Blast Radius in a larger map

I recycled batteries this weekend. Here's where to go:

Staples: batteries
Target: mobile phones, MP3 players

BTW, if anybody is every looking to recycle textiles, you can do so at the Union Square farmer's market.

I have some worn-out rechargeable batteries. Is there any place downtown that takes household batteries for recycling? Thanks.

With all the attention these days on the natural gas pipeline and the perils of natural gas drilling, it makes me wonder how many of PSE&G power plants are powered by natural gas and how many are planned for conversion from coal to natural gas?

Seems like a mass switch over to green energy would be an important "put your money where your mouth is" activity.

Fear of reprisals is very serious. How about surveillance cameras so that nobody has to be put in that situation. Most of the residents in housing developments such as this are held hostage by a handful of thugs.

There's a sad irony about this. This new project is along the path of the pipeline. There's the blast radius map below. You think people interested in green living are going to want to live next to a natural gas pipeline? And, oh right, a metering station is planned to be a block away.
View Spectra Pipeline Blast Radius in a larger map