More than 70 firearms turned in on first day of JC gun buyback
JERSEY CITY – More than six dozen firearms were voluntarily turned on Saturday as part of Operation Lifesaver II, the city’s second gun buyback program.
Under the program Jersey City residents were able to trade in illegal firearms for money. Residents who turned in rifles and shotguns received $100, while those who turned in handguns and automatic weapons received $150.
Residents will again be able to turn in weapons for cash this Saturday, July 23, from noon until 4 p.m.
During the first day of the gun buyback, approximately 30 handguns, rifles, and other firearms had been turned in as of 3 p.m. at the Mary McLeod Bethune Community Life Center, according to Jersey City Police Det. Rhudell Snelling. Snelling and Police Officers Dejon Morris and Corey J. Parson collected the weapons from residents who ranged in age from people in their 20s to senior citizens.
The Bethune Center was one of three sites where guns were turned in Saturday. In addition to the Bethune Center, residents were also able to turn in firearms for money at St. Nicholas Church and Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church Community Center.
Residents who missed the first day of the gun buyback can still turn in illegal firearms this Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 511 Pavonia Ave.; Monumental Baptist Church, 121 Lafayette St.; and Heavenly Temple Church, 15 MLK Drive.
Operation Lifesaver II, the city’s second gun buyback in six years, is being co-sponsored by the Jersey City Police Department and the Interfaith Ministerial Alliance. The city’s first gun buyback, held in 2005 and dubbed Operation Lifesaver, took 897 guns off the city’s streets.
The city raised $70,000 from the local business and corporate community to fund Operation Lifesaver II, a Healy spokesperson said last week. – E. Assata Wright
Southwest park discussions heat up in Hoboken
HOBOKEN – The issue of a new park in the city’s southwestern 4th Ward has been plastered across campaign literature over the last few elections in Hoboken. However, after years of discussions, the 4th Ward is still seeking a park of its own.
Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti released a statement on Monday calling on Mayor Dawn Zimmer to re-route $3 million in unused grant money from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund for a new park in southwest Hoboken.
“The Southwest Park can become a reality and over the past few months the city has made progress towards the creation of the park,” Occhipinti said in a statement. “We have a golden opportunity to put unused money towards a much-needed project in the often-neglected 4th Ward and I’m afraid we are going to lose out.”
In a release, Occhipinti said the county is giving municipalities a “one-time chance” to redirect funding and seek an extension for a grant.
Zimmer, who was reached while on vacation, said she wasn’t ready to comment publicly on Occhipinti’s release.
“A park in the southwest is extremely important to me,” Zimmer said. “I’ll be making my position on the $3 million clear in a memo to the council [before the meeting on Wednesday].”
Zimmer, who is politically at odds with Occhipinti, said the councilman never reached out to her directly about the issue, and said she doesn’t believe in communicating with council members through the press.
Occhipinti said in the release that he’s urging Zimmer and her council allies “to make this park a priority.”
The issue will likely arise on Wednesday at the City Council meeting. – Ray Smith
Pigeon takes NY Waterway ferry every day
WEEHAWKEN – Expect a lot of media outlets to fly with this one. Apparently, the same pigeon has taken the NY Waterway Ferry from New York to Weehawken every day for the past three years.
According to a report this past Monday in the New York Daily News, the pigeon is “nicknamed Tony” (is his real name Anthony?)
The story notes: “ ‘I’ve been working this job for 23 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,’ says senior deckhand George Schumpp. ‘Three years ago, this pigeon shows up and starts going through the cabin and eating crumbs. Next thing you know, he’s here every day at the exact same time. And he does more work cleaning than my partner.’ “
Apparently, Tony boards the ferry at Pier 79 on West 39th Street during rush hour and exits at every stop to look for food, but gets back on.
To read more about Weehawken and Hudson County, New Jersey’s other towns, click on hudsonreporter.com. To read more about Tony, check the NY Daily News’ “Pets” section.