Information surfaces about alleged ‘Russian spies’ in Hoboken
HOBOKEN – Various newspaper outlets reported Monday that the U.S. government was pursuing 11 people who allegedly were dispatched to the U.S. to fit into American cities and suburbs and obtain secrets for the Russians. One pair of alleged spies lived in Hoboken for a time.
The New York Times reported: “An FBI investigation that began at least seven years ago culminated with the arrest on Sunday of 10 people in Yonkers, Boston, and northern Virginia. The documents detailed what the authorities called the ‘Illegals Program,’ an ambitious, long-term effort by the S.V.R., the successor to the Soviet K.G.B., to plant Russian spies in the United States to gather information and recruit more agents.”
Although 10 people were arrested by Monday, an 11th was being pursued.
One couple at first lived in an apartment in Hoboken, but in 2008 moved with their school-aged daughters to a house in Montclair, according to the reports. The FBI complaint against Richard and Cynthia Murphy indicates that they lived in Hoboken since at least 2004. It mainly details the federal government’s allegations that Richard obtained computer equipment and took trips allegedly in order to pass along state secrets.
A passage from the complaint says that on Sept. 23, 2004, law enforcement officers “intercepted aural communications taking place inside the Hoboken apartment.” The complaint said that Cynthia told Richard to “improve his information-collection efforts” by finding a way to connect with important people high up in government, since his background documentation was not strong enough for him to get a high-level government job himself.
Later in the document, the federal government says that Russia’s SVR (the modern KGB) suggested that Cynthia use colleagues in the education field to help her get a job, and find out information about students who apply to the CIA.
Union City mourns as 6-month-old girl killed in freak NY zoo accident
UNION CITY — A Union City family was posing for a photo at the zoo in Central Park with their 6-month-old daughter Saturday when a tree branch suddenly fell on them, killing the girl instantly.
The baby’s mother, Karla Del Gallo, 33, tried to get away from the falling branch, but it was too late. The baby, Gianna Ricciutti, was not moving after the branch fell on the pair. The two were posing while the father, Mike Ricciutti, 41, was trying to take a picture, according to news reports.
The baby was pronounced dead at New York Presybterian Hospital, while the mother was in stable condition.
A nearby nurse performed CPR on the scene, but was not able to resuscitate the infant.
Several tree limb accidents have injured and killed people in New York City this year, the newspapers reported.
Stack bill regarding hospital disclosure moves forward
HUDSON COUNTY — A bill introduced by NJ State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack earlier this month related to hospital disclosure — after his mother had problems with a hospital during her radiation treatment — was approved on Monday by the full Senate.
The legislation will require hospitals to hold quarterly public board meetings with time set aside for public participation.
“Hospitals, especially those receiving taxpayer funding, should be accountable to the community members they serve,” said Stack in a press release statement. “The board meetings required under this bill will ensure just that, giving residents more regular access to top hospital officials and providing them an opportunity to ask questions or voice concerns about care.”
Stack introduced the bill (S-2020) after discovering first-hand the difficulty of getting answers from a local hospital, that cancelled his mother’s radiation treatment for lung cancer the morning of her appointment.
After making several phone calls, the senator learned he was unable – in his individual capacity – to address board members at Hackensack University Medical Center to inquire about hospital policy. Stack said he believes countless others are experiencing similar problems at hospitals across the state.
“I’m particularly concerned about some of our most vulnerable residents who have nowhere to turn when they encounter roadblocks in their attempt to get information,” said Stack in the release. “Attending a public board meeting would be a last resort, but at the very least it would provide a method of recourse for people who are stonewalled.”
Current state law requires hospitals to hold just one public meeting a year. The bill would require all hospitals receiving state or federal funding to hold a quarterly public meeting of their boards of trustees. They would have to provide public notice of the meeting at least 14 days in advance by posting a written notice in a public location of the hospital and on the hospital’s Web site.
The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 36-3. It now heads to the Assembly for consideration.
Kite show to fly on Fourth of July
JERSEY CITY – On Sunday, July 4, Liberty High Spirits (LHS), a group of New Jersey-based professional kite fliers, will host a kite show at Liberty State Park.
The public and kite fliers are welcomed and encouraged to come to the show, which starts at noon and ends 6 p.m. The show will be held on the “Green Lawn” at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
The show will feature kites of all sizes, kite demonstrations, and kite entertainment and education in a fun, friendly and family environment. Also, the professional kite flying team, Rev Riders, will be on hand to entertain attendees by performing kite acrobatics to music with various professional kites.
For more information, call (201) 921-5518.
New development highlighted at Hoboken-JC border
JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN – State and local officials – including Rep. Albio Sires (D-13th) and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy – were on hand last Monday for the groundbreaking of the soon-to-built Van Leer Place development on Hoboken Avenue near the Jersey City-Hoboken border.
Hoboken Brownstone Company will transform the 7-acre brownfield site at 110 Hoboken Ave. into a new sustainable development expected to become a model of energy efficiency for new urban mixed-use residential projects in the northeast United States and beyond. Van Leer Place will be the first in the state to be developed within the Urban Energy Technology Demonstration Project program under the New Jersey energy master plan.
Once completed in early 2013, Van Leer Place will include more than 400 homes in two buildings, 8,700 square-feet of retail space and on-site parking.
Sires commended the developers for embarking on such an ambitious project. “It takes innovative developers using state-of-the-art technology to accomplish these goals,” he said.
Restored schooner docking at Liberty State Park
JERSEY CITY – Jersey City architectural firm LWDMR & Associates, P.C., will join with the Bayshore Discovery Project to bring the A. J. Meerwald to Liberty State Park. The 115-foot restored 1928 oyster schooner will dock on Thursday, July 1 at Liberty State Park and remain moored through July 13, offering tours and a range of instructional, family-friendly programs to residents and tourists.
The renovation of the ship began as a green demonstration project, utilizing energy efficient and environmentally friendly components to ensure a minimal impact on the environment. Reclaimed lumber and recycled structural elements were used for the wharf and shipping sheds, and the access bridge to the museum was built from existing, locally sourced materials.
The ship employs geothermal heating and cooling units, solar photovoltaic electric, long life roofing, low VOC coatings and wind power, making it one of the few low-impact structures on the coast that also meets the requirements of the Department of Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation.