Hoboken permit parking renewal extended until Feb. 28
The city of Hoboken’s Parking Utility will extend the 2011 residential parking permit renewal period until Feb. 28. Current 2010 resident parking permits in good standing will remain valid until the end of February.
“During this renewal season, [the Hoboken Parking Utility] is focusing its attention on correcting account records to accurately reflect household addresses – both street address and apartment/unit number,” according to a city release. “This effort is being undertaken to ensure that residents are not incorrectly charged for multiple vehicles in their household. The standard pricing for resident parking permits is $15 for the first vehicle in the household, $30 for the second vehicle in the household, and $90 for each additional vehicle in the household.”
Brian Stack, ex-wife put to ‘shame’ in TV report
Fox 5 News’ popular “Shame on You” investigative program ran a segment Wednesday night looking at the use of Union City vehicles by local officials, at least one of whom did not officially work for the city.
The segment began by pointing out that Katia Stack, ex-wife of State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack, uses a city-owned vehicle in her job working for a Union City day care facility and for personal use. The day care facility is private, but rents space in a city building at no charge.
Stack said in the segment that the vehicle is used by the day care for the benefit of the children. He said that he and the commissioners set the example by not being assigned city cars. However, the segment stated that they had footage of Stack using a city car many times, and that he was being driven around by a city employee.
The segment was part of an investigation the program said it conducted in the fall, including several days of surveillance. Reporter Arnold Diaz said in the segment that after Stack found out they were using surveillance, Union City police approached his producer.
Stack said in the segment that the complaints were political, likely coming from political opponents who couldn’t beat him at the ballot box.
Katia Stack also served as a city finance officer in Hoboken for a time.
To watch the segment, go to myfoxny.com.
Hospital Authority meeting re-scheduled for Feb. 2
The regularly scheduled Jan. 26 meeting of the Hoboken Hospital Authority (HHA) has been postponed to Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. in Assumption Hall at the Hoboken University Medical Center because of concerns over continued inclement weather, according to HHA Chairperson Toni Tomarazzo.
Tomarazzo said the authority’s next step in the potential sale of the hospital to HUMC Holdco will come “after the due diligence period” at the end of February.
NJ Transit shifts No. 87 to Hoboken route to ease traffic
“A traffic trouble spot in the 4th Ward will see some relief when NJ Transit re-routes the No. 87 bus downtown. The change comes as a result of a request from Hoboken’s 4th Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti,” according to a release from Occhipinti.
John Leon, New Jersey Transit’s senior director of government and community relations informed Occhipinti that, effective Monday (Jan. 31), the Jersey City to Hoboken bus (No. 87) traveling eastbound will no longer make a turn onto Monroe Street at Observer Highway. The new route takes the bus through the intersection onto Newark Avenue/Newark Street, until it turns right at Willow Avenue onto Observer Highway, according to the release.
Occhipinti said residents had raised the issue to him during his campaign this past November.
Prescription drug savings program launched in Hoboken
A new prescription drug savings program was launched in Hoboken on Tuesday.
The Coast2Coast Rx card allows all city residents to participate in the program and “save on the cost of their medications.”
The city was approached by the Heinz Foundation to discuss the program, and Hoboken jumped on board.
“There are no eligibility requirements, so the Rx card is expected to have a sizeable impact on uninsured residents, residents facing high insurance deductibles, and will allow savings for persons in need of prescriptions not covered by their current plans,” said Heinz Foundation President Jeffrey Lewis in a release.
Cards will be distributed free of charge at most participating pharmacies, government offices, libraries and health facilities, and may be used at all pharmacy chains and most independent pharmacies in Hoboken, and throughout the nation, according to a city release.
“With healthcare costs on the rise, prescription drug discounts will help ease some of the financial burdens Hoboken families are facing at a time when they need it the most,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer in a release.
Resident announces candidacy for 4th Ward council seat
Rami Pinchevsky, 4th Ward resident, filed paperwork with the state on Jan. 19 to challenge Councilman Tim Occhipinti in the May 10 Hoboken election, when six ward seats will expire.
Occhipinti defeated former Councilman Michael Lenz in November in a special election. Occhipinti must defend the seat and run for office once again this coming May.
“What we need is an independent voice representing everyone in the 4th Ward,” Pinchevsky said in a release. “For too long, politics and the status quo have stood in the way of real progressive change. We deserve the services that our hard-earned tax dollars pay for.”
After being reported first by The Hoboken Reporter on Jan. 21, Pinchevsky announced his intention to run for office on the evening of Jan. 24.
Hudson County Bar Foundation to offer scholarships to law students
The Hudson County Bar Foundation will award scholarships to students who are attending law school or who have been accepted to law school for the September 2011 to May 2012 term.
The Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship Fund is one of the oldest providers of financial assistance to Hudson County law students. Esteemed members and families of the Hudson County legal community have funded these 43 scholarships.
Students must be a resident of Hudson County, must demonstrate financial need, must provide two current Letters of Recommendation, and must account for appropriate academic standards.
Interested applicants can write to the Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship Committee, 583 Newark Ave., Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 or call (201) 798-4708 or send an e-mail to hcba.law@verizon.net to request an application. All applications must be received on or before April 15, 2011.