Ricardo Kaulessar, the Jersey City beat reporter for the Hudson Reporter newspapers, may come off as a mild-mannered scribe – but don’t let his calm exterior fool you. Beneath his mysterious mien is a rapier wit, a flair for covering one of the toughest towns in New Jersey, and a whole lot of talent.
Kaulessar was nominated by his peers as the Hudson Reporter newspaper group’s Employee of the Month for July.
Kaulessar knows his beat. He was born in Jersey City in 1972, the year after his parents immigrated to the United States from Guyana in South America. He attended Public School 30 in Jersey City and Marist High School in Bayonne. He majored in media studies across the river at New York University, where he focused primarily on television and film.
These interests have played into the creative writing that Kaulessar does on the side, but he has a flair for covering Jersey City’s fast-moving political scene as well.
“I wanted to be a writer since I was 16, but journalism was something I grew fond of in my twenties,” said Kaulessar last week. “I think the most interesting story was when I interviewed Jersey City Councilman Steve Lipski for a two-part article about his arrest [for public urination] last year, because he was willing to spend a long time talking about a painful subject. The story I was most proud of is one where I am scooping other newspapers, which is not often for a weekly.”
With typical modesty, Kaulessar left out that he won an award for “Story of the Year” from the Garden State Journalists Association last year for an in-depth article about the arrests of Lipski and other politicians for incidents related to their consumption of alcohol. The story can be found on our website, www.hudsonreporter.com.
Peer recommendations
Kaulessar has amused and enthused his peers at the Reporter, and several people nominated him for the honor.
“He covers a diverse and difficult city and always meets his deadlines,” wrote one colleague.
Kaulessar grew up in Jersey City and attended NYU.
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“He often engages me in conversation,” wrote a fellow employee. “This office is a tough crowd. If people gave him the chance, they would find themselves in a good conversation.”
The often cynical Kaulessar said he had a bit of ambivalence about the award. “I have mixed feelings, because being named Employee of the Month sometimes means you conform and ‘go along to get along,’ ” he said. “Yet I am honored and gratified that my co-workers thought enough of me to choose me.”
Personal
As with every writer who works at the Reporter, Kaulessar dreams big. “My ambition besides winning a Pulitzer,” he said, “is also winning an Oscar and the Mega Millions and to write at my own leisure.”
Kaulessar lives with his family in Jersey City, and he notes with some humor, “I am not married – ladies, I am available – but my nephew, who is my pride and joy, is like my son.”
Swoon!
Among other interests, Kaulessar says he enjoys Miles Davis, Beyonce, movies including “Die Hard” and “Goodfellas,” chicken curry with rice, butter pecan ice cream, and offbeat women.
So next time you see him ambling through downtown Jersey City, wave hello and give him a few good quotes.