Clerk: no violations for candidates
Four objections were filed with the Hudson County following the deadline for Hoboken mayoral candidates to submit petitions to run for office, but the clerk’s office said last week that all of the objections were unfounded.
Candidates Kimberly Glatt and Patricia Waiters filed objections regarding Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegedly “missing” signatures, and Waiters also filed an objection over Councilwoman Beth Mason’s partially late time-stamping on her documents.
Resident Matthew Caliccio also filed an objection against Zimmer.
County Clerk Barbara Netchert said all of the issues were “curable,” and in Zimmer’s case, she said there was no legal requirement for the extra signatures that the county requested of her.
Netchert’s office said last week that the county ruled there were no grounds to dismiss the petitions, although appeals can be sought in court.
Arts and music festival today (Sunday)
The Hoboken Fall Arts and Music Festival takes place on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It features over 300 artists, sculptors, photographers and craftspeople from all around the tri-state area. The vendors line Washington Street from the southernmost tip of the street to as high as Seventh Street.
The 16th annual festival offers live music, fine art, great food, and much more.
The headliner this year is musician and songwriter Leon Russell.
For more information and the schedule of events, see our story inside this edition of the Reporter. The Reporter is a co-sponsor of the event.
You may also call (201) 420-2207.
Dual language charter school approved for Hoboken
HoLa!, the contentious dual-language program that the Hoboken Board of Education decline to approve for the public schools, had it’s charter application approved by the state along with seven other applicants.
Gov. Jon Corzine announced last week that the state has accepted the Spanish-English charter school to become a public school in Hoboken.
The school is anticipating 132 new students from kindergarten to fifth grade eventually, but will start in 2010 with kindergarten only. Another grade will be added each year after.
The school will be situated inside the Boys and Girls Club of Hoboken, mainly funded by the school district (as charter schools are), and free to all residents (space permitting).
For more information, visit www.holahoboken.org.
Walkway now open 24 hours
Officials announced Monday that the Long Slip Pedestrian Bridge connecting Jersey City to Hoboken will be open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The previously restricted portion was built by big-time Jersey City developer LeFrak Organization. Jamie LeFrak, managing director, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday that his concerns about liability were cleared up by the state and his hesitations in regard to public safety on the structure late at night were cleared up with Jersey City’s assistance.
The city will install closed-circuit cameras and call-boxes along the riverfront path.
Waterfront activist Helen Manogue, a vocal proponent for the open access, was present. She also wanted to clarify a statement she made in last week’s Reporter. Her statement, “The walkway was funded by taxpayer dollars,” actually should read, “The bridge with its segment of the walkway was funded by taxpayer dollars.”
Family planning awards dinner
Hoboken Family Planning will hold its annual Distinguished Person’s Award Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
The event will be held at Casino in the Park, Lincoln Park, Jersey City and all proceeds from the dinner will go toward Hoboken Family Planning’s cancer screening program for uninsured persons.
This year’s honorees are Dr. Jorge Verea, who will be honored for his continued service to the Hudson County community; Dr. Candido Africa from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, N.J. Cancer Education & Early Detection program, and Pedro Rodriguez from Bergenline X-Ray Diagnostic Center for their commitment and service to Hoboken Family Planning’s cancer screening program.
For additional information or reservations, please call Hoboken Family Planning at (201) 963-0300 or Joyce Adams at (201) 774-5701.
City responds to rent control decision
The city said a rent control-related decision by a Hudson County judge last week will only affect a very small portion of the rent control population in town. It also will not overturn the city’s Rent Control Ordinance or close down the Rent Control Office.
“Contrary to what some have claimed,” the city said, in a release, “the court has firmly rejected a demand to [stop] the city’s rent regulation office from making future rent calculations and did not find the [original rent control] ordinance itself illegal, unconstitutional, or improper in any way.”
Buildings from 1987 or older in Hoboken are generally bound by the city’s 1972 Rent Control Ordinance, which limits rent increases to a few percent each year, but allows certain exceptions. Lately, a taxpayers’ group has tried to change a rule that allows tenants to seek back rent when they found they have been overcharged, even if the overcharging took place many years ago.
They have also complained about poor record-keeping in City Hall for certain decontrols.
“The decision involves a minor procedural issue involving a very small number of rent controlled properties,” the city said. “More specifically, it impacts properties where there was a vacancy decontrol form on file prior to 1985, but no corresponding annual rent registration certificate for that year.
“The rent regulation office required both forms to be on file in order to grant the 25 percent vacancy decontrol rent increase. The court found that the 25 percent increase could be granted for pre-1985 vacancy decontrols even in the absence of the annual registration form. The decision does not affect vacancy decontrols filed in 1985 or thereafter, for which both forms are still required.
“For the overwhelming number of tenants and landlords, this decision will have absolutely no impact whatsoever on rent control within the city of Hoboken, and the rent regulation office and rent leveling board will continue to operate normally,” the city said. “However, the city is analyzing the decision carefully as to whether any further legal proceedings are necessary or warranted in this specific matter, and will continue its already ongoing review of the Hoboken rent control ordinance.”