First, let me say to the families of the victims, how awful many of us feel about the accident on Grand Street. It was a terrible thing for many of us to witness that evening. The bravery of the persons that tried to help should be applauded. Unfortunately, the accident was inevitable and only a matter of time. For many residents, school guard officials, policeman, and school children, crossing Grand Street everyday is dangerous. It is common knowledge that Grand Street at; New Brunswick, Jersey Avenue, Barrow Street and Grove Street is a dangerous killer. It was not too long ago that another innocent was killed right in front of the hospital. A hit and run that the mayor made very public on the evening news. The residents along Grand Street have seen many changes to the street. Liberty Harbor residents moved into their homes with the promise of parking along both sides of Grand Street. It was promoted that the effects of parking on both sides of Grand Street was an effective way to slow traffic down. After most of the homes along Grand Street were sold, the street quickly converted to a 4-lane raceway. After the hit and run on Grand Street, just West of Jersey Avenue, the police presence on Grand Street increased for a few short weeks. The police personnel that I spoke to during this period were frustrated that the business people on the waterfront, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, ect. were undeterred by the 25 speed limit, the hit and run accident, and bewildered that the Jersey City police were stopping them. One woman even had to be scolded about her dangerous behavior, and how it jeopardized the lives of the school children present at the time of her many infractions. Speeding along Grand Street, she failed to yield the light, preventing children from entering the intersection. The policeman stated, ?They, (the drivers), don?t even care about the children, their priority is getting down the waterfront to their jobs on time.? So, the first thing to change about Grand Street is the perception that it is an exit to the waterfront. There are people on both sides of Grand Street with families, lives, children, and loved ones. Persons that cross Grand Street in fear of the cars, buses and trucks that speed, fail to yield to the lights and pedestrians.
What is to be done? First, contact the East District. Captain Joseph Connors, East District Commander
Tel. # 201‐547‐5470 Police Officer Dina Reilly, East District Community Relations Officer
Tel. # 201‐547‐4370 E‐mail: policeeast@njjcps.org JCPD Official Website: www.njjcpd.org
Captain Connors has a community meeting ~ East District Commander?s Mtg. meets fourth Tuesday each month, 7:00 p.m., M.S. 4. He is terrific about listening to the neighborhood residents.

Contact the Mayor?s Office. Let him know that this is the second tragic event on Grand Street under his watch and changes must be made to prevent it from happening again.

Contact Steven Fulop, Ward E . We have contacted Steve?s office in the past to request better street lighting at Grand and Grove Street. The street is a dangerous intersection and not well lit. The explanation for not having better lighting at the intersection was given?as a disagreement between what the city and the developer of Liberty Harbor were willing to contribute?. Let?s put aside the concern about money, and demonstrate concern for the health and safety of the residents in our community. The adult voters and parents of children at Gull?s Cove, 225 Grand, Liberty Harbor, and the Boy?s and Girl?s Club would like to see some real changes immediately!

When the developer explained to the residents of Liberty Harbor that he had paid a considerable amount of money to reconfigure Grand Street, allowing parking to return in front of Liberty Harbor, we were relieved to have a buffer between the community and the speeding buses and cars.
Many of the residents in Liberty Harbor have reported to law enforcement and city officials, that bus drivers have been clocked at 40 to 50 miles an hour on Grand Street. Some bus drivers even have been seen texting and talking on their telephones. The police department?s response was for residents to write down the time, day and bus number. Really?
Vehicles often ?jockey? for position on Eastbound Grand Street to jump ahead of other cars vying for one of the 2 lanes continuing to the waterfront. The street narrows dangerously right in front of the Boy?s and Girl?s Club. Car horns are prevalent every morning beginning at 6 AM. Due to the excessive speeding from Jersey Avenue, through the Barrow Street traffic light, drivers are often surprised by the change in the street and screech on their brakes to avoid each other. The homeowner?s association president at Liberty Harbor has complained about the speeding traffic in front of his home in the 300 block of Grand Street. ?Jersey Avenue to Barrow Street has become a Formula 1-Race zone?. The city engineer that designed this area should be applauded for his ability to design something better adapted to Monte Carlo. Vehicular traffic must swerve to miss parked cars and then accelerate to make the green light at Barrow. Often, the green light is a hue of Orange/Red. Pedestrians often must wait several seconds after the light changes to cross safely. Is this the next HOT spot on Grand Street?

To everyone that uses Grand Street. Be careful. Grove Street at Grand Street still is a very dangerous intersection. The lack of proper street lighting in the intersection, the deplorable engineering of the street and intersection, the vehicles that fail to yield to pedestrians, the vehicles that speed through the red traffic light, all lend to a very dangerous and toxic situation. It is time to take action. Liberty Harbor residents plan to petition the Mayor?s Office. If you are interested, we will have the petition at the next meeting with Captain Connors in February. Contact: Police Officer Dina Reilly, East District Community Relations Officer Tel. # 201‐547‐4370 E‐mail: policeeast@njjcps.org for the full details of this meeting time and place.

Thanks for your addition of the complete article. Your opinion is a minority one as regards Liberty Harbor.

The majority of homeowners at Liberty Harbor are thrilled with their new homes and the quality of workmanship.

The development is a wonderful addition to Jersey City. I have personally toured many other sites, ie. Pier House, Sugar House, Trump, 77 Hudson, et. all. and the construction materials, high end appliances, amenities and neighborhood at Liberty Harbor Development surpass these other properties.

Unfortunately your conclusions rregarding the effects of "nonpayment" to the contractors or trades is not accurate.

The State of New Jersey requires a New Home Warranty for new construction. This typically is 10 years in New Jersey.

Please see the following website for details:

http://www.state.nj.us/dca/codes/newh ... ranty/pdf/2008_nhw_pg.pdf

The homeowners and renters have nothing to worry about regarding the quality of construction.

Overwhelmingly it has been confirmed, by reliable sources, that the housing color is not acceptable. City Hall identified Joe D'Sousa as the responsible individual representing the JC traffic and engineering department. Please direct any future litigation conversations toward Mayor Healy's office.

Please make a point to encourage residents and Beer Garden friends to contact Joe D'Zuza, Mayor Healy and Steven Fulop regarding the activation of the traffic light at the corner of Grand Street and Liberty View Drive/Barrow Streets in
downtown Jersey City.

This is an important first step to improving the safety on the street.

Joe D'Zuza 201 547 4530 JC Traffic and Engineering
He is the guy responsible for turning the traffic light on. My understanding is that the light is electrified. Mr. D'Zuza is refusing to activate because the light is black and not yellow like the other traffic lights in the city. This seems like a ridiculous reason to put people's lives in danger.

PLEASE CONTACT JC Traffic and Engineering, Mayor's Action Bureau and Councilman Steven Fulop. Your input will make all the difference in making our neighborhood a safer place to live.

DEMAND THAT THE LIGHT BE ACTIVATED NOW!

Mayor's Action Bureau
City Hall, 280 Grove Street
Room 105
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Tel: (201) 547-4900/5555
Fax: (201) 547-5749
Web: Online Help Center
Jack Carley, Director

Councilman Steven Fulop
PO Box 13025
Jersey City, NJ 07303

info@stevenfulop. com