Korean War vets salute deal to access memorial
Thursday, October 19, 2006
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The battle over the Korean War Memorial at the foot of Washington Street in Jersey City has ended with a compromise.

Local residents, who have enjoyed a street sealed off from normal vehicle traffic for more than a decade, will get to hold to this open space, and nine parking spaces are being set aside next to the monument for public use, the local councilman said yesterday.

"The end goal is to give the veterans complete access to visit it (the memorial) and increase open space for the city," said Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, who plans to introduce an ordinance next week to carry out the change.

"In reality we are growing the roster of open space," he added. "It's going to be a win for the veterans."

Former Army Sgt. Joseph Swinson - one of the members of the Korean War Veterans of Hudson County who had fought to reopen the street - gave the compromise a thumbs up.

"I think it's going to be good," Swinson said. "They are going to open the memorial from 8 in the morning to 8 at night. And there's going to be parking for anybody who wants to visit the monument."

Gerry Bakirtjy, president of the Historic Paulus Hook Association, explained that six of the spaces are strictly for the visiting the memorial. The three handicap spaces can be used for visiting the memorial as well as the nearby waterfront and Liberty National Park, he said.

The parking spaces should be in place within the month, Swinson added.

Not everyone endorses the plan.

"We are totally adverse to this," said Sonia Maldonado, president of the Newport Waterfront Association. "It will be used to give exclusivity to (the) Portside (complex) and the Paulus Hook residents, which increases their property values. They want to keep everyone else out."

This issue is politics at its finest, nothing more.

All right!! Now we're talkin.

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Ditto to that - and why is it in the middle of the freakin' road?

Also, we need an articulating bridge, so that residents can walk to Liberty State Park without hiking 3 miles through the ghetto.

(Articulating so that boats with masts can gain access to the marina) - they have one at Avon-on Sea - I think we can afford it.

Come on Healy, put down your Wild Turkey and do something!

I would like to know how often these vets visit the memorial that they are putting their needs above the neighborhood kids riding their bikes, etc?

Not wanting to put a dampener on this issue, but you will still need a barrier next to the memorial.

The glaring problem here is that the memorial is in the middle of the road and there are 2 seating benches mounted into the road. I don't think we would like neither to be hit by a car attempting a U-turn.

Litigation seems to go with everything 'U.S' - what happens if someone does hurt themself on or around the memorial? What if a child climbs it and cracks their head if they fall?
I hope JC has paid their insurance to cover public liability?

I thought this could be an issue, considering the amount of advertising you see on T.V and newspapers from Law firms offering their service to victims of accidents on public or private spaces.

Agreement near on access to Korean War Memorial
Friday, August 18, 2006
By JOSHUA KEATING
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

An agreement may be near in the ongoing controversy over access to the Korean War Memorial on Washington Street in Jersey City.

The agreement - being worked out among the city, the Historic Paulus Hook Association and a group of Korean War veterans - would keep Washington Street open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to one of the participants.

"We're very close to a compromise and it's going to be a good compromise for us and the veterans," said Steven Fulop, the city councilman who represents the area.

The street - currently closed to cars - has been in a state of legal limbo for years, having been opened and closed several times by Mayors Glenn D. Cunningham and Jerramiah Healy. There has not been an ordinance adopted since 1995.

Fulop said he hopes to have a completed agreement by next week.

Korean War veteran Joseph Swinson, one of the so-called "renegades" who demanded the street be opened even after the Hudson County Korean War Veterans Association agreed to an earlier compromise, said he was satisfied with the talks.

"Fulop is discussing this with both sides now," he said. "Before he was just talking to one side. Now we're being listened to."

? 2006 The Jersey Journal

Look for the comments later today on the 25mc Blog