"Even though you live right next door, you hardly have the first clue about those tenants personally. They would hardly be considered yuppies by any normal standard. "

THANK YOU!
I'm one of the tenants of 233 8th Street, and you'd really have to have an overactive imagination to consider me, or anyone who lives in the building, a yuppie. And even if we were yuppies or or yippies or hippies or any other type of people you don't like, does this mean it's okay to make a nasty comment about us, after we'd just had our house catch on fire? What on earth is wrong with you?

NB: My father was a volunteer firefighter and my step-father is a volunteer firefighter, and I would hardly be the one calling for any reduction in a firefighter's pay.

I really find it shameful that some people would use their neighbors' misfortune in this way.

I'm thankful that the neighbors -- strangers and friends alike -- who came to check on us today were kinder than some of the people who are posting to this list. What would you like people saying about YOU should you be on the receiving end of some misfortune such as this?

There was nothing wrong with the fire escape. I know this because I came down it myself when my house caught fire today.

Shame on you for spreading such nonsense.

My neighbor had a hard time coming down the fire escape because he was trying to carry his two dogs, who were terrified and squirming. We helped him the best we could, along with two kind neighbors who also helped. His difficulty had nothing to do with the condition of the fire escape, which was in working order.

If you have problems with the owner of the building, that's for you to work out, but spreading misinformation about an unfortunate event is rather pathetic.

Hello and thank you for reading my post.

I am in the process of writing my business plan and I'm not sure where to go for some of my questions, so I thought I'd plug into the Jersey City Brain Trust.

Would any small business owners in Jersey City care to share with me a few details on how much they pay for utilities? If so, read on...

I'm looking to open a small - no more than 500 sq ft - food shop/cafe in Jersey City. The cafe's menu won't be extensive and I plan to apply no heat to food other than maybe toasting bread. So it's not a full-service restaurant by any stretch of the imagination.

What I'm wondering is, about what can I expect per month for my water/sewer bill and electric bill? Gas and oil won't be much of an issue except for heat, as again, I won't have a stove. And does the city pick up commercial trash, or do we have to get a trash pickup service? If we have to get our own, can anyone give me an idea of what it will cost?

I understand nobody can guess the exact cost for my shop, but if anyone can give me an educated estimate, considering the info I've provided, I would greatly appreciate it!

This is the first time I'm opening a business and I honestly have no idea whatsoever what to expect for utility bills!

Thanks,
WML