Tess-

You are right on the mark. They are excellent. Deborah Kink is a real task master and has a loyal and talented group. I am somewhat surprised that this site and our neighbors are not interested in this sort of thing. It is also strange that despite the increasing population in the last ten years, I think that there are actually fewer singers from the neighborhood than ten years ago.

Publius

Actually, I thing re-assembly is more feasable than you might think. These sorts of buildings will not be replicated in our lifetime. Ralph Adam Cram was probably the best of the neogothic revivalist. (He also designed Princeton's Chapel for instance). The materials here are top notch. The stone pillars are not faux, as everywhere else, but are the real thing. Of course, the best thing would be for the Archidiocese to act Christian and stay committed to that neighborhood and keep the buildilng where it is an evangelize the place.

Ita (that is: thus it is, the latin mass pre-1968 as it was more less back to say 500 AD).

Full choir with chamber orchestra will sing Haydn's Missa Brevis, No. 7 in B Major this Sunday at 10:00 AM. Holy Rosary is at 344 Sixth Street. A special shout out to BrightMoment, Cankicker, and TRP3 who are all warmly invited to this Pentecost Mass that celebrates the birth of the Church.

Also called the little organ mass for the way in which the organ accompanies the soloist during the Benedictus. This is a joyful and beautiful work that telescopes the prolix Gloria and Credo while extending the Kyrie, Sanctus and Angus Dei during the liturgical action. Hymns and chants ancient and modern will also be sung. The men's schola will sing the propers from the Liber Usualis, that font of Western Music.

See you there. Bring a friend. And btw, we are always welcoming new singers.

Posted on: Today 11:45

Brewster:

So on principle you are against privatization? I guess on principal you are for a European model public sector. If you look at your Jersey City history, it was the socialist Hague who destroyed the City making it a backwater that no one wanted to go business in but assuring himself of life long tenure. Fact is, nothing is perfect, but the flaws of an expanded public sector tend to dwarf those of private enterprises. Schundler awoke Jersey City Municipal government from its dogmatic slumber and made the City more liveable. Obviously, the City swims with the tide and did benefit from the current at that time. However, it is even more important to have a smart honest mayor in the event that this Recession becomes long and deep.

Isn't privatization kind of an accepted way to make government more efficient? I mean, I think it gets out of control, but both sides of the aisle are practicing it (Democratic governors have been trying to privatize the Turnpike since Whitman). I understand that the theory is that by privatization, the enterprise will be better run and the labor costs reduced. The accounting aspect may have some holes, but its not vodoo. Still, I have to ask; why does the mere mention of Schundler bring such howls of indignation when Cunningham when the City was being run by out and out crooks and Heely when the City is not being run at all other than as a conduit to take care of friends and family, there is criticism, but nothing heated or organized. It's got to be because teachers, cops, fireman, the gatekeepers of waterfront development do not want their good thing messed with.

Schundler was the only mayor in a hundred years to leave office poorer than when he got in. And aside from the Corrados, none of his inner circle benefited (the same can't be said for the nomenclatura who Schundler mistakenly thought he could bring around and who got the lions share of perks). Fact is Schuncler did a lot of good- JCPD was more efficient, NID improved quality of life, etc. The anti Bret venom is just a cover for those who fear good governement. I mean how else to explain the angry tone that surpasses any of the criticism of Healy or Cunningham who have been absolute disasters?

I had noticed that the smell returned about two months ago. I think there is something cyclical since last fall was the worst time for the smell also. If you get off the Turnpike at 14B and go west to Garfield, you get a nice view of the smoldering mountain which is now twice as big as last year- so much for responses from the City and State. Last night the smell was the strongest I have smelt at Pacific and Lafayette. I don't know how the families living along Garfield directly over the plant can stand it. Thanks for the numbers above. I'll start calling again.

Is the fact that Corzine paid $135 a day for "campaign workers' cited as proof that the whole system is rotten, or that when Corzine does it, its not buying votes. Street money is a staple of Democratic campaigns around the country and is nothing new. Those with long memories may recall the brouhaha that ensued when an enebriated Whitman campain manager (Rollins? or something) bragged about street money to black ministers in Camden. The hypocritical outrage from the Democrats was deafening. (As a coda, there was an investigation that revealed the boast was braggadacio and not true). But why is everyone beating up on Justiciero?

I don't understand. I thought that the Chief was appointed outside the Merit System and not a civil service position- that's how the JCPD is. Also, the Chief should not be in a Union. He is management.

On the other hand, if it is civil service, the City can utilize the so called rule of three to skip candidates on the list- it lets you skip two people on the list to get to a third. Since the other individuals on the list are said to be uninterested, it would work. Another strange thing here- the article says the Fire Director solicited an opinion from an outside firm. This sounds like insubordination. The Fire Director has no authority to solicit a legal opinion from an outside firm. The Fire Director has to go the Corporation Counsel who issues opinions that bind the City. I wonder who paid this outside lawyer? Outside legal bills have to be approved by the City Counsel. Also, this firm, I think, has a reputation as a union side shop- not the place the Mayor should be getting the skinny on the relevant law.

I agree with Mr. Rogers. Open Jersey Avenue now.

I thought this when I lived in Harsimus Cove and I think it now that I live in Lafayette. The City should have done this 20 years ago. The Friends of Liberty State Park are against it because they don't want anyone to use the park except birds. Mia Scanga's against it because she and her crowd don't believe that the City has really given up on the old idea of completing 440 by having it connect to Jersey Avenue (right now it sort of dead ends south of Port Liberte). But that really is dead.

Yes there is a lot of commuter traffic in the morning and evening, but I think most of it heads to Exchange Place, not the Holland Tunnel. Thus an opened Jersey Avenue is going to dump onto Grand not to the Van Vorst neighborhood. Also, I believe the plans for the Mocco/Hyman property call for a boulevard along the Morris Canal. Thus, an opened Jersey Avenue's first outlet would be to that eventual boulevard. Penultimately, not opening the street would be another failure of nerve like allowing the construciton of gated commuities like Port Liberte and Avalon Cove. Lafayette might not be a field of lilies yet, but its trying and keeping Jersey Avenue closed would be a slap in its face. Finally, Pacific and Garfield are in despeate need of being relieved of carrying all north south traffic. This would help.

Well, scuttlebut is that the one constant in the administration is that the Mayor takes care of his family, friends, on down the line. There is no other ideal guiding the administration. This is what has guided hiring and promotions at great cost to the taxpayer.

Now non, and other defenders, I don't have the statisitics at my fingertips. But this is what I observe and what I hear.

In this instance, it is absolutely certain that the city will be liable, perhaps to the tune of millions of dollars for hiring a chronic drunk, scofflaw. This guy must be so juiced that he's rarely sober. I mean if a cop has this many DWIs, he must drive blasted daily. So if Healy did not put in a fix, it would even be more outrageous. That would mean that the City regularly hires drunks as cops.

But of course, as Mr. Rogers said above: Healy had his buddy Troy make sure his cousin got hired. Thus, it is quite possible that a Sec. 1983 lawsuit will be filed holding the City liable for exponential amounts beyond the terrible injuries in this accident. Its called reckless disregard or deliberate indifference.

It is a proud and fine tradition to take care of one's own and theirs, but it cannot be done by circumventing the law, by being reckless and callous with the public's interest. And the sentiments of Non strike me as that of a ringer more than this camp's.

BURINING IN PLAIN SIGHT

So a month goes by and I make several complaints to very nice inspectors who tell me they dutifully go down and make an inspection, and nothing happens. I was driving by last night so I made a quick detour into the facility to take a look and see. It's like a vision of the underworld, Charon like figures dumping on a huge (two block long by three stories smoldering mountain of mulch from wooden pallets. There is no way that this is an appropriate use in the middle of a City. I have also noticed that the smoke gets worse on weekends and in the evening after the local inspector go home. Call the state hotline if you notice this. Their number is
DEP 1 877 WARNDEP

In my neighborhood, the smoke smell was back last night stronger than ever. I called the county number which is listed above. Please call today if you smell it because they, reportedly, need several complaints to write up a violation.

Not that there seems to be too much interest in this issue, but I got a call today from DEP and was told that, in fact, there is a stubborn fire at Reliable Recyling but that it is in its terminal stage. This was somewhat comforting since it suggests that the permit for the recylcing of pallets did not envision this by product. I was also told that Freeholder- mad dog- Manzo is on it.

Smoldering Smoke Source Revealed !

Yes, you are right, it is the recyling place. Per the City, the source of the smell is Reliable Recyling at the foot of Pacific Ave and Caven Pt. Rd. NJDEP gave them a permit to recycle wood pallets into mulch. The process generates the burning smell. Call the county and the state to complain since it will take a lot to get anyting accomplished since it was already permitted. The County number is 201 223 1133; the State number is 877 927 6337, case #061129 0849 33.

I don't know a whole lot about the Pulaski fire other than what you mentioned. The fire is out now and that is why it is being considered for redevelopment finally and why the options for it are somewhat limited. I do remember hearing that at the fire's hight in the 70s, that there were bitter complaints from the faithful parishioners at St. Alyosius parish on West Side Avenue whose territory bordered the site. It was particularly hard for them to sit through the episcopal visitations when the Archbishop would go on about saving the world while he allowed this property to burn and ruin the neighborhood and Lincoln Park.

Anybody notice the smell of a smoldering fire in the Lafayette Section over the last month or so? It smells like it is a fire that is just about out, but I keep smelling it. Saturday night it was so strong that it permeated my whole house. I hope this is nothing like the underground fire that burned at the foot of the Pulaski for more than 20 years.

Can we expect anything good to come out of the JCRA's involvment. Maybe they will finish the project on the cheap so that it will match all the other stuff the City put in north of Johnstone. Or maybe yet another housing project? The City screwed up the Mocco and Hyman sites around the boys club and it has been 20 years and the project is still not done mostly because the developers just insist on obscene profit margins and there is, often enough, someone in City government to facilitate it.

Thanks for the information Parkman. Do you know if the City of Jersey City or the State of NJ has inteveened in the lawsuit? (Like I said, I heard there was a lot of public money sunk into the project so that I would think that the government would have standing. However, if the developer is cushy with the pols, they are probably protected shocking as that may sound). Alternatively, the City if it holds a Note on the project should agressively move to foreclose so that the project can be auctioned off. I think you are right that the project has the potential for falling apart quickly and becoming a blight on the entire area of the city rather than a catalyst for renewal. Why are not all the people with the leases suing and screaming?

Anyone know what disaster has befallen the Whitlock Cordage Project- that's the loft style development/redevelopment at the Junction (where Grand and Communipauw meet)? Occupancy was suppossed to start last April but work came to a standstill in March. This developer got loads of public money too. Also, the cobble stone street next to the developement was torn up about four months ago by the developers and there seems to be no movement to replace the stones.

Does anyone know anything about the work being done on Manning Avenue in the Lafayette section? A trench was dug down the middle presumabley to bury a line or a pipe, but no care seems to have been taken to put back the cobble stones. This is one of the few cobble stoned streets left. It may be that the City is doing the work as its Public Works Department and Engineering Department have shown a consistent hostility or at least invincible indifference to the cobble stoned streets in the past. Does John Gomez still cover this stuff?