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Re: Solomon has no resume
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Home away from home
 
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TFA has become a controversial organization. I know lots of long time teachers are concerned about them being used to depress wages and replace long term teachers with kids who leave after a year or two and replaced with another new kid. And it's founders, rather than focusing on service, have involved themselves in the debate over "education reform."
I think these criticisms are valid, but I wouldn't necessarily hold it against every graduate who joined. I know some who stuck around and made teaching a profession. Others did not but it was a way for them to gain perspective and try to help. (In a way, a lot of people signed up for the same reasons others go to law school. They don't really know what they want to do but think this may be interesting and fulfilling. And for TFA you don't have to take out oodles of loans. And you have the added benefit of not being a lawyer.....) Short of it. The criticisms of TFA are legitimate. I don't think that means James or the others who went through it should bear the brunt of that criticism.
Posted on: 2017/10/20 21:07
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Re: Solomon has no resume
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Home away from home
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James may have some savings or family wealth that allow him to do things like teach adjunct and take time to run for the campaign. That shouldn't be held against him.
On the one hand we have people complaining that one candidate is disqualified because of the job they took to make a living. On the other hand we have people complaining that someone doesn't have a "real job" or "real resume" but has some money set aside. Next thing we know people will be complaining that Nick Grillo has an unfair advantage because of the Zombie Army that he can raise. (Undertakers can do that, right?) None of these are issues in my book.
Posted on: 2017/10/20 16:46
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Re: Osborne endorses Symes in Downtown council race | Campaign notes
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Home away from home
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She worked for Housing Conservation Coordinators in New York City. They apparently did not hold her brief time at Dixon against her as they have held fundraisers for her. She is currently on the board of the Waterfront Project (and was on the board even when working for Dixon).
I am supporting her and have announced my support. She will be a great councilwoman. Not sure how supporting a candidate makes one a "shill." I've always seen that as participating in democracy.
Posted on: 2017/10/20 14:29
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Re: Solomon has no resume
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Home away from home
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I am supporting Rebecca Symes, but I won't participate in piling on James with unfounded allegations. I don't know the specifics of his resume but yes he has worked in the office of former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. I worked on drafting an Open Data ordinance for Jersey City and James was with me at meetings with Candice Osborne and city attorneys. He was a highly visible and high level volunteer with the Clinton campaign last year. He is teaching some classes now.
I can't speak for how he has earned every penny or if there are any "gaps" in time when he didn't have a position somewhere, but that doesn't matter. There is absolutely no basis to say James has inflated or misstated his resume. As for the Oakman, I have spoken with James about it. He agrees that Charles Oakley is in fact worthy of a tax break.
Posted on: 2017/10/20 13:58
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Re: Jersey City Native Serves 20 Years Navy Submariner
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Home away from home
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Thank you, Mr. Curtin, for your service!
Posted on: 2017/10/20 12:48
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Re: Osborne endorses Symes in Downtown council race | Campaign notes
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I am curious how many Ward E residents who criticize Symes for her brief tenure at Dixon have done anything to promote affordable housing or protect tenant's rights like she has.
Posted on: 2017/10/20 12:47
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Re: Rich Boggiano JSQ/Ward C City Council
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But it was well before these meetings that JCMC was speaking. Richard and the council did not speak up until the bids were evaluated and came out by a 3-2 vote for McCabe. JCMC, even before the evaluation was done, was taking out ads saying "Don't take away our ambulance service." They knew they might lose and were "working the refs" even before the game was called.
Posted on: 2017/10/20 1:56
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Re: Osborne endorses Symes in Downtown council race | Campaign notes
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I am supporting Rebecca's run and am glad that Councilwoman Osborne is as well. It's a great field of candidates although, as some of the threads below show, there is a nasty underbelly to this campaign.
Posted on: 2017/10/19 22:51
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Re: Rich Boggiano JSQ/Ward C City Council
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Quote:
Nonsense. The first person to speak against the EMS Contract going to McCabe/Carepoint from the Medical Center was....the Medical Center. Even before the review process was finished and the committee recommended McCabe, JCMC was taking out ads opposing the bid process. These ads contained the exact talking points that various "activists" used to oppose the contract when the results came in and gave a slight advantage to McCabe/CarePoint. The first people to oppose the freight rail through Greenville were residents of South Greenville. Also, no garbage would have been placed there. It would be transported on the rails instead of being transported on trucks through Jersey City like it is now.
Posted on: 2017/10/19 19:56
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Re: Symes and her machine forcing the City to Endorse Her
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No it's not. Candice speaks for Candice.
This thread was, from the beginning, an attempt to poison the well for Candice's upcoming endorsement. She did not keep it a secret from anyone that she was inclined to support Rebecca. So when it is about to come out, completely fabricate a story that "real estate interests" are demanding Fulop support, or at least have Candice support. But most people are smart enough to see through it, and recognize that Candice's endorsement is what it seems on its face. The incumbent councilwoman taking her job seriously and supporting a successor with the talent and work ethic needed to do the job well.
Posted on: 2017/10/19 17:34
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Re: Symes and her machine forcing the City to Endorse Her
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Quote:
She's not on the Fulop ticket. Fulop declined to endorse anyone in the race. Personally I think that all the candidates are good and should be able to promote themselves without attacking the integrity of the others. The others keep themselves above the fray, but their campaign staff and supporters do the dirty work for them. At the very least, Jacob fights his own battles in this regard and is willing to say such things personally. I like the candidates personally, but unless they distance themselves from these attacks and concede that they are wholly unfounded, I will have lost some respect for their campaigns.
Posted on: 2017/10/19 17:11
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Re: Symes and her machine forcing the City to Endorse Her
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Complete BS.
Posted on: 2017/10/18 17:57
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Re: Top Fulop allies on tape trying to steer city bid, court depositions say
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Quote:
If they were the Chief of Staff to the former Mayor and a regular political appointee to various high level positions? I would describe him as that "Chief of Staff to the former Mayor and his political appointee to various high level positions."
Posted on: 2017/10/14 23:53
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Re: Jersey City to Install Electric Car Charging Stations in Every Ward
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This administration has required amenities to go in every ward even if demand is higher in particular areas. That was the case with Citibike and is the case for the charging stations.
If the city didn't do that, the inevitable complaint would be "the city just cares about downtown." And yet when the city does that, the complaint is "the residents of those wards don't care about that."
Posted on: 2017/10/13 14:29
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Re: Top Fulop allies on tape trying to steer city bid, court depositions say
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"Career civil service employees"?
Really now.
Posted on: 2017/10/12 19:35
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Re: New York Times: Is New York’s Best Pizza in New Jersey?
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Sigh....I remember eating there....
Posted on: 2017/10/10 19:58
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Re: Gulls Cove 2 Condos
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It is still under tax abatement. But the abatement is based on the unit's purchase price. So that sounds about right. It will not change post abatement.
I've owned in the building since 2008, and the taxes for my 2BR apartment are actually higher than the taxes that entire brownstones pay. BUT when the reval comes that will likely change. It has been in the P.S. 16 zone ever since I have been there (as it happens my daughters to to P.S. 3).
Posted on: 2017/10/10 19:57
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Re: Dixon Leasing Cheating JC out of Taxes with the help of Rebecca Sysmes
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I consider both James and Rebecca friends.
They both came through the same organization, the New Leaders Council. They both put in their time working for political figures. Rebecca worked for Gillibrand. James worked for Menino. Both were involved in Democratic party politics here locally the past couple of years. Rebecca worked closer with the mayor's administration. James worked on the Clinton campaign. Because of this last issue, Rebecca is considered more of a supporter of the mayor and James is considered more independent. If you consider working with the mayor to be either an asset or a disqualifier, then the two can be distinguished on that fact alone. Certainly, the mayor's race takes center stage and many people consider any other race through the lens of their opinion of Fulop alone. But otherwise, with respect to background, James and Rebecca are the two most similar candidates, although each has their own views on issues and their own set of skills. So generally, when I see someone talking up one and trash talking the other, it's a good indication that it is a proxy for their views of the mayor.
Posted on: 2017/9/21 17:55
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Re: Car service to BK
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Home away from home
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If you want a call-ahead black car service as opposed to a Cab or a Lyft/Uber, I find Groundlink to be pretty competitive when you reserve from NYC to Jersey City or vice versa. An SUV will run you about $77 plus tip, tolls, etc. I am guessing you will come out to about $100.00. But remember that Uber/Lyft also tacks on a $20 fee if you cross the river so it wont be much cheaper. And for a wedding you want something a bit more reliable and fancy.
I do have a promo code below that should get both you and me $25.00 off. If the link doesn't work pm me and I can email it to you. https://goo.gl/bim6C8
Posted on: 2017/8/14 14:49
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Re: Jersey City Fireworks Celebration Changed to Exchange Place In Jersey City
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Crowded at a few "choke points" but it went off amazingly well. Particularly impressive that this was done as a last minute contingency plan.
Posted on: 2017/7/5 22:29
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Re: Cordero Principal Strynar retiring!!!
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Quote:
JCBOE Spokesperson Derrick Coleman responded "Well whoop de damn do!"
Posted on: 2017/6/22 1:18
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Re: Cordero Principal Strynar retiring!!!
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It's a good school, but an old building and no space for recess. The heat dismissal was district wide.
The principal ran that school with an iron fist. I suppose that had its benefits and its drawbacks.
Posted on: 2017/6/21 15:37
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Re: Support and Survival of the Arts in Jersey City
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I mentioned this on a FB thread started by one of the petition signatories. There are 2 events from the past that have to inform this discussion. The first is the Healy administration's decision to abandon the Powerhouse Arts District and allow the demolition of 111 First Street. That building was the center of the downtown arts community, and the settlement with Goldman essentially gutted the district and the arts scene down there.
Don't get me wrong, there are still lots of artists downtown and throughout the city, but that decision demolished the central facility, dispersed the community of artists, and made it clear that the city was not going to defend its zoning and planning decisions. The second is the collapse of the Jersey City Museum. The City, largely through the advocacy of former council President Vega, funded the museum, and required developers to contribute to the museum in exchange for getting the plans and the abatement that the developers wanted. The Museum had a professional staff with arts training. In other words, it had many of the things that are being demanded now.....and it ended up not being able to sustain itself and could not even account for its inventory. I believe funding for arts programs is reasonable, and we should be able to find some more money in a budget of over half a billion. However, there is a difference between giving an operating grant to help a group with a portion of theor budget and having a city guarantee funding for a group from soup to nuts (and I'm not saying that is what is being expected).
Posted on: 2017/5/18 15:20
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Re: Support and Survival of the Arts in Jersey City
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$200,000 is certainly a reasonable request.
I don't like the idea of dedicated funds, lockboxes, or the like, though, when funding is going to operating and program support. Funding should be through the regular budget and appropriations process.
Posted on: 2017/5/18 2:38
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Re: Mayor Fulop Signs Executive Order Dedicating 10% to Future Tax Abatement Payments to JC Public schoo
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Quote:
Except that much if not all of that money would have been met by a reduction in state aid. I agree that the tax abatement law, combined with School Funding Reform Act and the mandates under Abbott, create an incentive that administrations have abused to balance their budget. On the other hand, the laws could have been changed to require cities to allocate PILOT in the same proportion as tax revenue, to ensure that additions to revenue are not met by dollar for dollar declines in aid, and to allow Abbott districts flexibility in budgeting without having to submit school budgets to a referendum.
Posted on: 2017/5/14 19:39
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Re: Man Fatally Struck by Light Rail in JC
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Quote:
I don't use the light rail every day but use it quite often. I don't use it to commute. I use it to go to the Newport Mall, or sometimes to head over to the West Side or Hoboken. Sometimes I'll use it coming back from Shoprite at the Harsimus Cove stop. I am not going to say that my experience is typical. Certainly there is a lot of commuter traffic during rush hour, but the light rail is for a lot more than that. In terms of where it stops it does a very good job connecting different neighborhoods, not just commuter points.
Posted on: 2017/4/24 14:42
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Re: Man Fatally Struck by Light Rail in JC
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The light rail is flexible. It runs at street level in some areas, underground in others, on dedicated Right of Way in others, and elevated in others.
The light rail runs at street level mostly downtown, where it would be infeasible or at least extremely expensive to have built an elevated or otherwise cut off right of way. When it was built, some people questioned the decision to build the MLK stop at grade level. NJ Transit actually filled a right of way to do that. But that was the preference of the local community. Residents felt that a grade level stop would be less prone to crime, and would make it a more visible amenity. But in this case, that point is moot. The area in question is dedicated right of way. The pedestrian should not have been in that area at all.
Posted on: 2017/4/24 14:39
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Re: Wow - LSC's Updated Plans for SciTech Scity
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These are proposals that have developed over two years. In the most recent discussions certain councilmembers, the teachers union, and others said that they want the school to be a district school. That has been incorporated into the current plans.
I personally am skeptical of charter schools. Having said that, I do not think it is wise for the plan to commit the project to the district or a charter one way or another at this time. The school should go to whoever can appropriately manage it. The city previously tried to include pre-K space in the Gloria Robinson Homes and the Board said that the finances did not work and that the space was not where the board needed (wanted?) Pre-K space. So the project was built anyway and a Head Start program is using the Pre-K space. So if the district is unwilling to commit to the project, or unable to deal with it financially or otherwise, I would not rule out a charter or some other arrangement. (Edit - I am not saying I don't believe the current board is able to do so. I am pretty confident in the current trustees and superintendent's office as long as they work together).
Posted on: 2017/3/29 19:23
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Re: GoFundMe $$$ fill an Exploited LOOP-HOLE in NJ Open Public Records Act [OPRA] in <1hour !
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The requestor is not asking for project documents, but asking for any email or other communications between Donnelly Fulop, Corp. Counsel, and Paul Hoffman regarding the land transfer. It is cast as widely as possible and also encompasses potentially attorney client privileged documents involving Farrell.
Under NJ's extremely liberal OPRA laws, this is likely a valid request. But it also is taxing on city resources, especially given the gratuitous decision to include Farell in the search. This person and a handful of other "activists' have been filing OPRA requests for years and have essentially turned the city's staff into their personal gofers so they can try to find emails that they can selectively quote from. Remarkably, given the number of requests over the past few years, one would think that they could have found more. Asking her to compensate the city for the employee's time is more than reasonable in this instance.
Posted on: 2017/3/27 21:49
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Re: Wow - LSC's Updated Plans for SciTech Scity
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Going back to one of the original articles in the thread.
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _liberty_science_cen.html "The council's unanimous action amends an existing zoning plan to create what the city calls a "science and technology district." The changes allow for construction of research and development facilities, labs, hotels, office space, restaurants and more." I find it unbelievable that Boggiano and Yun voted to rezone, and now claim that they have to oppose a "giveaway" of "prime land." Appraise the property? Sure. Make sure LSC can make good on its commitments? Sure, and the contract has provisions for that. Consider other options? Done already. Proposals for residences, hotels, and a convention center have all been floated and received no traction. Do this by RFP? Why we LOVE RFPs! Except when they come out with results we don't like, such as the Ambulance contract, or the bid for Loews Jersey. Then, RFP's "don't take the important community connection into account" or something.* (* With respect to the above, I actually think the city made the wrong decision in those two instances. The ambulance contract likely ran afoul of federal law, and the Loews had a lease upheld in court. Nevertheless, the RFPs came up with results that opponents would prefer to ignore.) I fully understand concerns about the administration seeking to chase the shiny ring. While due diligence before and after the deal is necessary, the proposal is better than anything that comes along to date.
Posted on: 2017/3/21 2:48
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