Public invited to discuss how Hoboken should be developed
T he Hoboken Planning Board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Basement Conference Room of City Hall, 94 Washington St.
The board is in the process of preparing the Reexamination Report of the Master Plan and the City’s Development Regulations. In plain English, they are looking at the “master plan,” which was developed in 2004 and is a guideline for how all parts of town should be developed over the next two decades.
The Planning Board welcomes members of the public who would like to add their thoughts as to what the city’s land use goals and objectives should be going forward and what new land use policies would help guide the city in the proper direction.
The meeting is an informational meeting only, and no formal action will be taken. The current Master Plan is available online at: http://hobokennj.org/docs/communitydev/HobokenFinalMasterlist.pdf.
Fourth Ward councilman prepares to ‘defend’ his seat
Relative Hoboken newcomer Tim Occhipinti, who has become run for office and involved in some charitable events around town, plans to run in the special election for Hoboken’s 4th Ward council seat in November against incumbent Mike Lenz. Lenz was picked last year to replace Dawn Zimmer in the seat when Zimmer won a special election for mayor. The 4th Ward is the southwest area of town.
June may be a bit early to start campaigning for a November seat, but it’s the only election going on in Hoboken until all six ward seats are up in May of 2011.
Last week, Lenz’s allies announced Monday that they’re “preparing to defend Mike’s 4th Ward seat” and planned to hold an election fundraiser this past Thursday. They said they planned to defend the “reform majority” on the City Council (a reference to Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s five council allies, including Lenz.)
Alleged Hoboken con man, ‘Dr. Dexter Davis,’ arrested
Last month, students at Hoboken High School complained that a man calling himself “Dr. Dexter Davis” met with them at the school and had them raise money by selling raffle tickets for what allegedly turned out to be bogus scholarships. An internet search found other incidents of a man with that name allegedly causing problems.
Over this past weekend, according to the Hoboken police, Davis was arrested by the Cherry Hill police. Davis will eventually come back to Hudson County Superior Court to answer the charges, according to the Hoboken police.
According to the Cherry Hill police report, three men in Cherry Hill had complained about Davis this past Saturday, alleging that he asked them to sell raffle tickets for a bogus raffle. On Sunday, one of the men spotted Davis in a Cherry Hill Dunkin’ Donuts and called police. The police found out there was a warrant out for him in Hudson County and arrested him.
Hoboken hospital to hold sale next month
Hoboken University Medical Center’s auxiliary thrift shop plans to hold a “Christmas in July Sale” on two days in July.
The thrift shop, 536 Garden St., will feature Christmas decorations and ornaments during the sale. The sale will take place from 12 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28 and Friday, July 30.
The auxiliary raises money for important hospital programs and departments.
Library to hold ‘chick lit and cupcake night’
Want to learn how to get your novel published, or ask questions of two Hoboken-based female novelists who did so? Local authors Kate Rockland and Caren Lissner will be featured in the Hoboken Public Library’s “chick lit night” on July 22. Refreshments will be provided, including cupcakes from local bakery Sweet. Coffee will be available from Empire Coffee.
The authors will read from their novels and answer questions about getting published.
Rockland’s novel, “Falling is Like This,” debuted in May. It follows the exploits of a twentysomething music writer who breaks up with her live-in boyfriend and falls for a rock star. For more information on the novel, see www.katerockland.com.
Lissner, who is also the editor of the Reporter newspapers, will see her successful 2003 “chick lit” novel, Carrie Pilby, re-released this July 1 under the Harlequin Teen imprint. The novel centers on a confused 19-year-old genius who graduates from college and has no idea how to fit in on dates or at work. For more information on the novel, see www.carenlissner.com.
The event will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, on the second floor of the library, 400 Park Ave. Call (201) 420-2347 for more information.
Weehawken, Hoboken may be able to charge lower sales tax
Soon, Weehawken and Hoboken may be able to charge a lower sales tax and get more state funds to improve their business districts.
Right now, certain urban towns in New Jersey are eligible to charge a low 3.5 percent sales tax in order to lure shoppers to their districts. These “Urban Enterprise Zone” towns also get state funds from the state sales tax, which come back to the districts for beautification and public safety projects. However, towns with high average per capita incomes, like Hoboken and Weehawken, are ineligible. Nearby towns like North Bergen and Union City already have UEZs.
But this may change soon, as Assemblyman Ruben Ramos’ bill A2572 successfully passed the New Jersey General Assembly by a vote of 52-25-1. This bill allows a municipality that is adjacent to two or more municipalities with UEZs to receive assistance from the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority.
The matter may be irrelevant however, as this year, Gov. Chris Christie froze those UEZ funds to urban towns.
Assemblyman Ramos, a Hoboken resident, said, “This bill will offer a positive impact for both Hoboken and Weehawken, as both municipalities border two Urban Enterprise Zones. As the state experiences a budget crunch, we are excited by the prospect of additional funding for qualifying municipalities in the district.”
The bill was passed by the Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk.
Greenpeace report says Hudson County chemical plant has highest risk in U.S.
The non-profit environmental group Greenpeace says they recently conducted a “citizens’ inspection” of a chemical plant in South Kearny that holds containers of chlorine gas for use in producing liquid bleach.
They said that they obtained photos and other information suggesting that the plant is vulnerable and could leak the gas for miles if attacked by terrorists.
The Greenpeace report starts off saying that according to “[The] chemical company’s own reports to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), its South Kearny New Jersey facility puts 12 million people at risk in the New Jersey-New York City area due to the bulk storage of 2 million pounds of chlorine gas. This plant puts more people at risk of a chemical disaster than any other plant in the U.S.”
They also say that the plant is aware of “safer chemical processes that could eliminate these risks.”
To see the report, go to: http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2010/06/22/new-york-chemical-plant-puts-12-million.