tommyc_37 wrote:
How thick was the stone they laid at Grove Plaza? I'd bet it's an inch, max.

I have no idea how that material was spec'd for that commercoial project. It cannot withstand commercial traffic, and it shows through all the cracking.

When properly done, bluestone is beautiful. And as to why JC seems obsessed with it ... it's because bluestone was predominantly used in the 1800s and early 1900s, and therefore fits in quite nicely in the Downtown neighborhoods, many of which are historic.

JOGI wrote:
Agree again. Like the granite and bluestone we put in from Sussex to Montgomery on Greene? Thats on stone dust, I think it is better on a mortar base like we did by St. Aeden's church on Bergen Ave. Also the stone paving at Grove Plaza is thin, almost more of a slate. We bid that work as a subcontractor but we didnt get it. After seeing the stone they used I think I know why.

A magnesium finish, when properly done at the proper point in the pour, looks marvelous

As for the cross walks, it takes two thermoplastic stripes per crossing to create some form of safe space for pedestrians. It's unfortunate that the crossings remain a hazard while the City decides to decide.

Bluestone, when placed correctly and using actual bluestone, can look very nice

pooper wrote: Thumbs up on the free diet cokes. Microwave popcorn however is an abomination.

jennymayla wrote:
you could have lined the streets with gold coins and installed a real live cop, a flowery rose bush, and a diet coke machine dispensing free 20 oz bottles on each corner and people would still complain about it around here. it's what we do. it's chronic and it's a shame.

keep your sense of humor!

JOGI wrote:
... I just stuck my nose in here because it seemed like people really wanted some answers and I felt I could help out.

Home wrote:
I am a government servant living in downtown Jersey City though not part of the local or the state government. JOGI comes across as a decent and patient person, having had seen his approach in addressing concerns aired on this forum. His latest post, however, betrays some facts on the ground and the role of a contractor in commenting on tax payer-funded projects.

JOGI is the superintendent of the construction company of the eponymous name, correct me if he isn't, and should reasonably be aware that the taxes rendered by so-called complainants on this forum whom he paints as possessing "modest knowledge of any subject", is how he gets paid. It's not a conveniently phrased "local government"-- perhaps half of whom seem adept at pilferering public money and are now undergoing judicial scrutiny--that pays him. It's outrageous a contractor airs mocking comments vis-a-vis tax payers! This usually is the case when accountability is eroded in local governance. JOGI's sincerity could do with a dose of realism, first: own up the less-than-professional sidewalk construction. It's a civic betrayal, sir, to present the taxpayer with amateur construction, and none on this forum need knowledge of what a good job looks and feels like.

JOGI was way off line to blame listers, divving them into the genuine and not-so-genuine questioners. One need not have a degree in government to understand how government works. A flop show exposes itself.

That JOGI tackled unsafe vaults is not the issue, if he didn't, he should be fired; that he did, is part of the paid contract, and a pat on the back. The issue is "fancy cross walks", as he phrases it. I am sure JOGI must have seen the elderly or children in strollers or the handicapped crossing Jersey Avenue at the Mercado Park, for instance. Today, at 8.45 am, when the cross light was green, a girl had to rush across the street where the painted cross walk might have been, as a car, oblivious of the signal, swerved towards her. A cross wall empowers the pedestrian, re-assuring to whatever degree it can the sense of security, and right of way. Would it make a difference if the cross walk had been painted? A drunk driver wouldn't care less, but common sense says pedestrian safety is not up for debate, especially since grant money is meager!

While "fancy cross walks" are not painted, we find that no-parking zones and parking lines next to the coin meters are neatly painted within your budget! This, sir, is the local government's priority, and you are out to bat for them! Perhaps painting no-parking zones near road corners is a safety issue, but the local government doesn't think that that should be done at all road corners in downtown. The message this sends is that the local government, touting its long-life thermoplastic idiocy, wouldn't waste a day on revenue from painted parking zones, but is indifferent about pedestrian safety. "Interjection of truth", indeed. Someone said that one act of real usefulness is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world. You, sir, do come across like a person with a sense of responsibility and accountability and I hope you take this in the right spirit; and if a local government official is reading this, reign in the contractor's public laundry wash and you, bum, get on the forum and redress the problem. Thank you.

JOGI wrote:
It seems there are two types of people on this board, those who have genuine concerns or questions and those who search for any oppurtunity to complain or showcase their modest knowledge of any subject as if they are an expert. I'll address the former of the two.

All the crosswalks will be "painted" or more specificly, striped with long life thermoplastic. Some may have the fake brick effect but unfortunately not as many as the city had hoped they would be able to do. The money was budgeted but I'll explain it so it is understood. If you were the city and you had $250,000, would you repair unforseen dangerous sidewalk vaults or would you drop it all on some fancy crosswalks and hope for the best? Every project has comprimises and JC does their best to get as much as possible from the various grants given to them whether it be from the NJDOT, The UEZ, or the federal government. The image of them as bumbling idiots or wasteful is fairly amusing and statements to this end are mostly born from an ingnorance of the facts.

I am beginning to understand why this forum is so seldom visited by people with actual knowledge of city government. It serves a legitamate purpose and I dont want people to have to look for another outlet due to my interjection of truth. So, like I had said earlier, if anyone has any questions I'll be more than happy to answer them in person on the street.

You may now proceed with your bashing......

ianmac47 wrote:
Yes, there is an explanation. According to DPW didn't bother allocating funds for crosswalk painting when they contracted the paving jobs. They had been siphoning money from future jobs to pay for crosswalks where they repaved the streets but then decided to stop that. Maybe in next year's budget there will be an item in the budget for crosswalks, but good luck crossing the street until then. I contacted Councilman Fulop about the missing crosswalks, and he got the answers from the DPW.

In short: the DPW is grossly incompetent at fulfilling the basic tasks assigned to the department.

T-Bird wrote:
From Steve Fulop's quarterly update letter:

Newark Avenue Streetscape

... Still to be planted and placed mainly from Grove Street to Erie are 15 smoke bush trees, 4'-5' high planted in 48" diameter by 36" high concrete planters. Finally, there will also be 3 red maples 4" dia., 16'-18' high planted at Mercado Park in 5' x 5' tree pits which have already been installed. ....