City council votes down ordinances to stop health benefits for JCIA, MUA board members
The City Council at Wednesday’s meeting voted 5-3 against reintroducing ordinances to take away health benefits for people serving on the boards of the Jersey City Incinerator Authority and the Municipal Utilities Authority, both autonomous agencies.
The ordinances were crafted by City Councilman Steven Fulop early this year as part of his initiative to cut health benefits based on the fact that both boards have part-time members that meet at a minimum of 12 hours per year, or one hour per monthly meeting. He estimates that over $400,000 would be saved.
The council had defeated the ordinances back in February, with the council voting instead in March to get JCIA and MUA board members to pay 20 percent of their health insurance costs instead of zero, and limiting benefits to just board members and not including family members.
City Council members Fulop, Willie Flood, and Viola Richardson voted in favor of stopping the benefits, with Fulop explaining exactly what the ordinances entailed. Voting down the ordinances were council members Michael Sottolano, Nidia Lopez, Bill Gaughan, Peter Brennan, and Ray Velazquez.
Sottolano said that the ordinances should return for a council vote early next year when the Incinerator Authority is expected to change its structure when Public Works jobs are folded into the agency.
Police chase nabs robbery couple after crash
Jersey City police said on Tuesday that a Jersey City man and woman were arrested and charged with a street robbery Monday night that had occurred about four hours before a police pursuit of the couple in an allegedly stolen vehicle.
Police said Malik Higgins, 27, and Lisa M. Buchek, 38, of Arlington Avenue, were taken into custody shortly after 8 p.m. Monday after the car they were using to flee from police was surrounded in a Cornelison Avenue parking lot that belongs to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
The pair was charged with robbery, aggravated assault on police officers, and eluding police/resisting arrest. Higgins’ bail was set at $100,000 and Buchek’s at $50,000, both cash and/or bond. Both appeared in court on Tuesday to hear the charges.
Police did recover items taken from the woman during the street robbery inside of the car, officials said. No police were injured during the incident even though three cop cars crashed during the incident.
Acclaimed actor and activist Edward James Olmos at HCCC Lecture Series
Edward James Olmos, the award-winning actor, producer, director, and social activist will be the guest speaker in the second installment of the Hudson County Community College 2010-2011 Community Lecture Series on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The event will be held at the HCCC Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center, 161 Newkirk St., Jersey City on the College’s Journal Square Campus, just off Sip Avenue and two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Station. It is free and open to all members of the community.
Seating is limited; tickets are available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the HCCC Office of Student Activities, 25 Journal Square (Room 104). For more information, call (201) 360-4195.
Get a tree through the city
Mayor Jerramiah Healy and the City Council in conjunction with the Department of Public Works/Division of Parks and Forestry have kicked off the 2010 Fall Tree Planting Project.
Trees will be planted in front or adjacent to homes based on a request from the homeowner. The supply of trees is limited and orders will be accepted on first come first serve basis. A variety of 100 3” to 3 1/2” caliber trees included in this citywide planting are: Acer Miyabri, Prunus Colmnar Sargent, Sierra Glen, Red Sunset Maple, Prunus Snow Cloud, Autumn Blaze, and Zelkova Musashino. The city requires residents to keep all trees well watered.
There is a $100 fee to the homeowner for the cost of opening the sidewalk and planting the tree. The deadline for the application is Dec. 5.
Interested residents can request an application by calling the Division of Parks and Forestry at (201) 547-4449 or by visiting jerseycitynj.gov.
Homeless artist shows off work
Jersey City homeless artist Alfonso Daniels will be exhibiting his work on Monday at Raph’s Plaza – African Market and Café, 709 Bergen Ave. from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Daniels’s sketch artwork will be displayed at Raph’s Plaza for the entire week.
The art exhibit’s opening night party is co-sponsored by the Jersey City Peace Movement for Homelessness Awareness Week. The event is free and open to the public.