For the past two years I have been commuting to Montvale from downtown JC and it is horrendous. It has gotten considerably worse over the past 6 months or so. (139 down to 1 lane out in the morning and back in at night, 1/9 and Tonnelle Circle backs up at the light.). Long story short I am lucky if I can get there or back in an hour, usually it is close to an hour 20 particuarly on the return trip. Route 17 is basically a non option as it truly is a parking lot. I use to cringe when the PATH would be like 5 minutes late, now I love the days I can take it to work in the NYC office. I hate to sound like a downer but Ramsey would be a very trying experience!

Just curious....this week and last week, my husband and I witnessed our garbage and recyclables picked up and being tossed into the same truck, ie, not in a seperate recycle truck like the previous collectors. Are we not recycling anymore or are they sorting the trash after it's picked up? I was a little disheartened to see this happening and yes, I did have everything seperated correctly.
Has anyone else seen this go on or am I missing something??

Thanks for the info! My google searches kept bringing me to some site that did not provide as much info on this!

This is such a bummer!!!

Hi!
So I take the covered roadway to/from work. Since before the holidays one lane westbound in the morning has been closed and eastbound at night it is the same thing. Is this the new norm? Does this have to do with the pulaski closure? Today they said it was for pothole repair but it does not explain the past few weeks. I am curious if anyone has any info.
Thanks!!

It is my understanding now that no "201" numbers connect there anymore and you HAVE to call the 800 number. I found this out by finally getting someone half way knowledgeable on the phone at the 800 number. I had gone down there in person (another waste of time) because they returned one of my packages to the sender after one attempt of delivering it to me (when I was actually home on a Saturday waiting for it and it never showed up!) and last week I recieved mail on Monday, and not again until this past Monday!!!

formalforce I live on that block and just sent you a PM!

I will say that last night I took the 10PM train during this new schedule (which arrived late) It was absolutely rammed at 33rd and obviously just got worse as the ride went on and the typical stop in Hoboken didn't help. Though I will take the PATH over driving any day, it just makes the whole ride uncomfortable....

I am currently having the same issue and have used Castro. May be a bit pricey but they are great!

I have lived at two different properties on Monmouth for the past 7 years. In my experience it is completely safe.

The PP who mentioned the noise of sirens from the ambulances as well as the traffice cutting through when the Holland gets backed up is spot on, it is probably the most annoying part of this street.

The bars (Abby's and Barge Inn) though attract an eclectic crowd has in my opinion, really calmed down over the past year or so.

It is a busy block, lots of foot traffic & cars and ya, sometimes people can be annoying but I wouldn't call it unsafe at all, at least not in the terms of muggings and what not, though please do not be decieved, that can happen anywhere.....In my experience the fact that there are people around has just made me feel better walking home late at night.

found it!

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... ation_work_along_new.html

I feel like I noticed they were digging huge holes for piping...not just repaving. Anyone else notice or know what it might be for? We all know there's no way it's a sewer system update...

JadedJC,

There is a "package" or clause that we had added to our homeowners policy for "sump pump back up" which proved to be something really important to us having in addition to the flood insurance we had to purchase (which was almost useless, even in the hurricane!). The sump pump back up will cover incidents such as a sewer back up that the sump pump in essence, can not handle. Our insurance company came through for us with this and did not at all give us a hard time when we had to make a claim.

Unfortuantely when I brought my place no one ever told me it flooded to the levels that it has. I knew we were in a flood zone but I was unprepard and not informed of the sewer issues JC has. We have taken extreme measures over the years to protect our home, and more so after the hurricane though I don't truly believe anything is 100% the JC sewer system. I'm worried I won't be able to find a seller down the road even though it really is the city that needs to make upgrades, not homeowners spending thousands to protect themselves from their outdated and overworked systems, flood zone or not!

I am curious about other JCLister's experience with these lately...

I came home from work to an inspector putting a tag on my door saying he would come back Friday afternoon. I asked why he couldn't just do the inspection now and he told me he "wasn't prepared" but that if I wasn't there Friday at that time he would inspect it from the outside...I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not but I can't exactly take time off to sit home for his 4 hour window!!!

Any thoughts on if it is better to let them inside or not???? I was so annoyed he wouldn't just do what he had to do when I say him!

For a camera inspection I highly recommend Bill of Affordable Sewer Cleaning. He is fabulous 201-562-2395. We learned so much from him!

I have to give a strong recommendation for Sally Duvall. She made up myself and sisters for my wedding and she is just fantastic. She is based out of Westfield but will travel. I can't say enough wonderful things about her!

I like the camera idea, thank you! And as for Fire Prevention I really didn't think about the fact that the fabric on my chairs could in fact catch fire....... I'm going to give it a try!!

Thanks Again!

I need a suggestion...my backyard backs up to an apartment building with balconies looking over it. For years, we NEVER had any issues but about 6 months ago a new tenant moved in and ever since then I have (daily) been picking up trash, cigarette butts, food scraps, you name it it has been in my yard.

I have asked the landloard multiple times to do something (he says he does but can't do anything unless he sees them throw it), I have written letters, and have asked them (when I have actually seen them do it) to stop and it hasn't. I just spent 5K fixing the yard from hurricane damage and this morning, found cigarette butts on my brand new pavers.

Is there ANY WAY I can get these people to stop? Will any one in one of the city offices actually do anything about it? It may sound trivial but it is really so gross to pick up cigarettes, food, and everything else they feel like throwing overboard!!!

I am actually in the middle of repairs from the hurricane with Basil McGregor (who has been recommended multiple times on this site). My situation is a bit different than yours but he is doing stucco on our wall inside the house. This was an idea he had since stucco can get wet, god forbid we flood or get water again, it wouldn't crumble.

Like many residents on this site I can not receommend him highly enough. He has been just wonderful to work with. He is talented, his work is meticulous, he is reasonably priced and him and his crew are timely, non-intrusive and professional.

I think he would be worth giving a call!

Someone stole our pumpkin during the storm (Monmouth St.) Of all things, and yes I was one of those who had plants stolen over the summer..shame on whoever decided to jump my gate and take it, I mean, really.

I highly recommend American Body Work up on Tonnele. They were excellent when I had to have my bumper completely redone. Their work was perfect and I found their pricing to be very reasonable (I too had also heard good reviews of Serrino's over by 440 but their pricing was astronomical in comparison). ABW was very quick in getting the job done so I could get my car back!

teacher...so sorry you came home to that...I know the feeling all too well as a house connected to mine left sewer lines open and I have come home to sewer water on more than one occasion.

One small suggestion that may help, I installed these things called Flood Guards (you can find them on Amazon for about $20) in my floor drain and shower drain prior to Irene since I was nervous. They are suppose to act as a back up check valve (if you have one that fails or if you don't have one at all) by dropping down a rubber guard type thing if water tries to come back up through the drain.

I'm assuming it worked during irene since the only place I had water come up was from the toilet, not the floor. It's small consulation I know but maybe that could help going forward!

Thank you both for the advice! Ironically I did try asking this to the construction code office and talked to two different people and they couldn't answer the question for me! (which is very reassuring, of course) I was told "probably not". You are correct, as we are not changing the structure of the house, just repairing and replacing what is damaged. Thanks Again!!!

We finally have worked out our flood claim from Irene and need to start fixing our finished basement. We have to replace dry wall, insulation and cracked tiles. Our contractor said we didn't need a permit but I keep hearing mixed reviews on this...plus the house next to me is under full gut reno (with permits) so the city seems to be here often and I am concerned if I don't have one I might get in trouble (though really I don't want to go through the hassle of getting it if it truly is not needed). Does anyone have any opinions on this one?

Thanks!

I almost wish they could come to my house now, it is still in such disarry since the hurricane there is no way they'd have a choice but to classify it as crappy (if that is what they are really doing) and maybe my taxes would go down (ya right )

I had emailed these two address (posted in another thread) prior to the hurricane, they were very responsive, they came out the next day!

t.harrington@jcmua.com
pandes@jcnj.org

I have had (and still have) MAJOR problems getting my mail. We have never recieve birthday cards, postcards, and other random mailings we are told to expect and never arrive. I am also lucky if I have mail that is delivered more than 3 days a week, the whole thing is just crazy to me.

That said I have dealt with the Inspector down at the facility many times and she really does try and help (sends test mail pieces, follows up in a timely manner and she apparently even fired a few people during her investigation on our situation). She really is the only one who has their act together down there and recognizes there is a serious problem.

PM me and I can send you her contact info if needed!

I've had good experiences with Joe's Auto Electric (41 Maxwell, off of Columbus). They were quick, efficient and honest!

sussexst Thanks for posting the Tide Chart, it was really accurate, as soon as the high tide came in that is exactly when we had a problem yesterday.

I got nailed, I had a foot of lovely sewage water, and water from my negligent neighbor who tore up his house without a permit and has since stopped construction so all his water seeps over to my place (he dug right through the cement slab, tore down the wall and left it as is and has no pump at all). I had 6 pumps going yesterday, I'm freakin thrilled!

increasing the current price by a whle $1 each way is completely unfair and should not even allowed it is too much all in one shot even if u have the discount! this really angers me!