Gene Mariani (spelling?) of Congressman Sires' office said he has not heard from anyone regarding the pipeline. If you want to be heard, call 202-225-7919.

http://www.spectraenergywatch.com/blog/

So the irony here is that this pipeline which is going to go to New York City will help "reduce emissions" but will destroy their drinking water and our drinking water. Wonderful.

I spoke to Omar Perez in Healy's office. He said that Healy met with Christie to try to get him on board. It sounds like Healy's office is trying but they have limited resources and a staff with low morale.

Omar said to call 201-547-5218 if you have ideas or time to devote to getting people out to the August 4th meeting. I suggested that Healy should go down to the Grove Street and Newport PATH Stations if city workers won't go.

Homeland Security Main Number:

202-282-8000

I just left a message for David Kontny of DHS, the Chief of Staff for Infrastructure at DHS.

703-235-3946

david.kontny@hq.dhs.gov

or

david.kontny@dhs.gov

I also called the governor's office and sent an email.

609-292-6000 - I asked for the aid's office.

http://www.state.nj.us/governor/contact/

I assume Jersey City will still have to pay someone to train its police officers. Is the $1.3M the net savings to close the academy or just the cost to run the facility?

They need to go after the big costs - salaries, pensions and health insurance. If they reduced the health benefits significantly, they could probably cut the deficit in half. But someone is probably getting a kickback from a health insurance company to keep the insurance the way it is.

Other than the additional expense to conduct a search, what are the arguments in favor of keeping Epps?

And what do some of the board members have to gain by keeping Epps? Are board members' friends and relatives employed by the school system?

Thank you Sterling. You make me proud to have voted for you.

I am a neighbor of Crescent Court (literally) and have lived there for 4 and 1/2 years. It is a 13 minute walk to the PATH. I walk down 1st Street to get home and have not had any problems. When I first moved to the area, I walked further down Newark before cutting over. But then I decided that I didn't like the people on Newark in front of the bars and delis.

It is pretty quiet in the area and, for the most part, I feel comfortable. I would not want my wife walking home alone late at night but I do it all the time.

There have been some incidents in the area but nothing more or less than any other area in downtown JC.

My biggest complaint now is the number of dogs in the area and the fact that people still do not clean up enough after the dogs. Prior to Crescent Court it was the prostitution on the corner of Merseles and First!

Attention Crescent Court owners. The proposed gas pipeline will be your neighbor unless you do something. The meeting is this evening.

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

3 years ago they boasted about selling 320 condos. Aren't you supposed to sell more units over time, not less? Kind of pathetic.



55-story Trump tower touches sky

Saturday, June 16, 2007
By JARRETT RENSHAW
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Less than 18 months after the shovels went into the ground, city officials yesterday joined with the developers of Trump Plaza Jersey City to celebrate the topping off of the 55-story building.

The project, which broke ground in February 2006, is a joint venture between Hoboken-based Metro Homes and real estate mogul Donald Trump, who has made several high-profile visits to the site since construction begun.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy was on hand to celebrate the "topping" of the first of two towers to be built. Construction on the smaller, 50-story second tower, which was slowed by financing concerns, is now scheduled to begin in the fall.

Trump Plaza Jersey City will feature more than 900 condominium residences in two towers, making them the two tallest residential buildings in New Jersey - that is until the nearby Metropolitan is built.

When built, the $200 million Metropolitan would become the state's second tallest building, after the 781-foot Goldman Sachs building on Hudson Street. The tower is one of several that may be built in the 18-acre shopping area currently anchored by a Shop-Rite supermarket and a BJ's Wholesale Club.

Sales at Trump Plaza Jersey City have been going quickly, with roughly 320 units sold in less than eight months, officials said

I am not making anything up. Walk by at night and you will see that there simply are no lights on. It is obviously better for the neighborhood if this place sells out.

I do have one criticism though. I thought it was ridiculous that it took 6 months to finish repairing the broken stone and window in front of the building. Was it an insurance issue that caused the delay?

The whole place looks dark at night. Perhaps there are 5 residents?

I don't know if anyone watches the show, bu I thought that The Bachelorette showed a scene filmed at Liberty State Park last night.

If people think this is realistic, then I am all for it. I don't think it is realistic to gather the required number of signatures. We missed our opportunity at election time. I think people are better off going to every council meeting and speaking out than doing this recall. Articles about the council meetings state that there are only 20 residents at each meeting.

If the recall is simply being used as a vague threat to exert pressure on the council members, then that makes more sense to me.

Is that more than the actual number of people that voted???

How many signatures are needed?

If 5 firefighters are generating $30,000/month in overtime costs, there are clearly structural issues in the system.

It was not so much a threat as a fact. We have a 25% abatement for a couple more years. I did not know of this rule. I wasn't looking for much over 25% so it made sense to withdraw.

I had my tax appeal hearing yesterday. I actually withdrew the appeal because they said they would take away my abatement if I went through with it.

Anyway, it is interesting. The council seemed very fair and friendly. Even the Jersey City representatives seemed fair. A couple of people came in without comps and said "I would like my taxes reduced. They are too high." They barely spoke English. The Jersey City reps would offer 20% off or something. Then the council would interpret and say "Sir, they are offering to reduce your taxes." The resident would then say "ok" and sign a stip.

I agree that this would be good for business, but wouldn't we need a big parking lot next to our pedestrian only street?

Unless there are destination stores, I do not see how the area makes sense for commercial establishments. There is no parking and the area is not that densely populated. People can just drive to Newport.

If people are in the area for business, how will they get back to the hotel at night? Cab from Manhattan? The ferry is not going to run all night.

Who would stay at a hotel at that location? I can understand the Westin at its location. But why would a person stay at this particular location? There are more convenient options for both business in Newport and NYC.

I saw a moving truck outside the building today so my conclusion is "yes."

I bet Red Bulls Stadium and they call it "Jersey City." Then they can have the auditions that make it on TV at the Hyatt overlooking the water.

Was there someone there to argue against your comps? What was the basis of the towny telling you the property was worth 30% more?

I have my hearing next week and I do not believe anyone has tried to call me. I am wondering if I should call the city or just show up at the hearing. I am reluctant to negotiate but I do not know how these things work.

Has anyone gone to one of the hearings? Who speaks on behalf of the government? How does the hearing work? Can we call beforehand to negotiate?

Thank you!

Is anyone moving into this complex sometime soon?