Residents who wonder where their state taxes go might be pleased to know that some of the money will end up right back in their communities, as Hudson’s state representatives have gotten funds in Gov. Christine Whitman’s recently-passed state budget earmarked for local projects. Department officials throughout Hudson County have recently appealed to senators Bernard Kenny (D-33rd Dist.), Nicholas Sacco (D-32nd Dist.) and Edward O’Connor (D-31st Dist.) to secure portions of the $20 billion state budget to help fund Hudson projects. The three senators were able to obtain a total of $1,409,000 for these communities. Sen. Kenny said that he’s proud of the state funds he helped secure for a host of projects in Hudson County. “As a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, I get a close-up view of the state revenues and expenditures,” said Kenny. “Fortunately, this was a good year for state revenues and I was able to secure important funding for a variety of worthy projects. My priorities are shaped by the goal of seeing where we can help those who most need help, especially in the areas of health care, public safety, children and senior citizen programs. Every program I sought funding for helped a significant number of people, and I was proud of the amount of state funds which was approved in the budget process for Hudson County.” North Hudson West New York mayor (and state assemblyman) Albio Sires asked the senators for $100,000 and received $75,000 for municipal improvements, which include new park and playground equipment and the landscaping of new trees. The funding will also go to improving the 66th Street Steps. Sires said that steps were recently renovated to a usable condition, but he requested funds to enhance the steps’ structure, add new lighting along with landscaping and stonework. Union City requested $85,000 and received $65,000 for a new fully-equipped ambulance. Public Safety Commissioner Michael Leggiero said that the city has two ambulances that are used 24 hours a day with a single back-up ambulance that is outdated and in constant need of repair. Leggiero also requested $15,000 to help the city’s seniors attend the Christmas Spectacular Show in New York City, and received $10,000 to purchase tickets. The township of Weehawken made a proposal for $100,000 to be used for park and playground improvements. The township received $75,000 to purchase new playground equipment, replace safety matting, repair and replace benches, add new litter receptacles and provide landscaping with new trees. The township of North Bergen requested and received $100,000 to repair the Recreation Center flooring and the Hudson County Park Stadium Scoreboard and to upgrade the 67th Street Field. Hoboken Hoboken secured the most funding this year, with $375,000 allocated to the city’s parks and programs. Lt. Daniel Simone of the Hoboken Police Department proposed the creation of a Park Patrol Unit to help address the quality of life complaints and criminal events in the city’s various parks. The police requested and received $75,000 to install two real time surveillance cameras in three city parks, with a total installation of six cameras. Simone insured that the cameras would not replace officers patrolling the parks, but will increase the amount of area covered by officers and record any evidentiary materials relevant for court proceedings. Hoboken’s Veterans Organization member Roy Huelbig requested $100,000 and received $75,000 from the state to renovate and restore Hoboken’s military monuments. The Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps President Thomas Molta requested and received $50,000 to purchase a new radio repeater system, which is a device that’s attached to ambulance radios to increase their frequency capabilities. Molta said that the Corps’ current radio system uses a VHF system, which cannot penetrate through the new steel and concrete buildings that have been recently constructed in Hoboken. Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski requested $125,000 to replace the sports lighting at the county tennis courts at Columbus Park in Hoboken. Janiszewski emphasized that all of Hoboken schools have recently been forced to use the tennis courts at Washington Park in Union City because of Columbus Park’s much needed repairs. Janiszewski said that the county uses the park to conduct tennis camps and clinics and that the high school uses the courts for an adult tennis program. He also said that his office has received many telephone complaints from Hoboken residents who use the courts after work and on the weekends for recreation. The county received $100,000 to help complete the project. Deputy Fire Chief August Schwartz of the Hoboken Fire Department requested and received $75,000 to replace some of the city’s fire equipment. Schwartz said that the new equipment to be purchased includes new diesel exhaust systems that will safely eliminate diesel fumes from the fire stations; portable radios for all on duty members so they are able to communicate other members if one is separated from the company officer; 30 self-contained breathing apparatus masks and 15 breathing cylinders to replace the ones that have been damaged during repeated use; and personal alert devices with an alarm that activates if a firefighter becomes still and motionless after a short period of time, and also activates manually if a firefighter is in distress. All-county programs The American Red Cross’s Hudson County chapter, located in Jersey City but services all of Hudson County, requested and received $50,000 to recruit and train 300 to 400 volunteers to serve in times of larger scale disasters and to purchase training equipment and volunteer uniforms with protective gear. St. Mary’s Hospital F.A.I.T.H. Services (Franciscan AIDS Initiative To Help), the only HIV/AIDS community-based agency headquartered in Hudson County, requested and received $50,000 to improve three of its programs. F.A.I.T.H. Services’ proposals included the upgrade and expansion of their Emergency Housing Services, a program that provides shelter for HIV and AIDS-infected people who were evicted from their homes and assists them in locating permanent housing; stipends and benefits for full-time volunteers to work with clients to insure they’re getting routine medical care; and the furnishing of new space and computer workshops for their Adolescent Outreach HIV/AIDS prevention program in the Hoboken Housing Authority complex.
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
