Alleged incident with Bayonne teacher being investigated by DYFS
Bayonne school officials said Friday that state law prohibits them from commenting at length on the recent suspension of a history teacher at Bayonne High School. However, published reports have said that History Teacher Lawrence Sangi has been suspended for an alleged incident involving a student.
Assistant Superintendent of Bayonne Schools Robert Craig confirmed that Sangi has been placed on administrative leave with pay while authorities investigate, which could take up to 30 days. No criminal charges have been filed against him.
In a show of support for Sangi, many Bayonne High School students wore paper moustaches at the school a week ago Thursday.
“When we have a report like this, unfortunately, we don’t get involved in the investigation,” said Craig. “The entire investigation is in the hands of DYFS and the county prosecutor’s office.”
The state Division of Youth and Family Services generally investigates matters that involve allegations of abuses against children.
Several students who called the Bayonne Community News defended their teacher, saying that he has been wrongly accused.
Bayonne tenant advocates kick off referendum petition driven
Vowing to overturn what they termed a “rolling repeal of Bayonne rent control,” tenant advocates kicked off a referendum petition drive this past weekend to force a special election on a newly-enacted ordinance that terminates rent control on apartments as they become vacant.
“This disastrous ordinance will not stand,” said Betsy Parks, one of the five-member Committee of the Petitioners which, under state law, is responsible for the circulation and filing of the petition.
The submission of a petition signed by 845 voters by Dec. 5 will prevent the ordinance from taking effect, said Howard Moskowitz, attorney for the committee. The City Council then has 20 days to repeal it. “If it fails to do so, it goes to the voters at a special election.”
Parks noted that during the spring 2010 municipal election campaign, neither Mayor Mark Smith nor any of the five successful City Council candidates claimed dissatisfaction with Bayonne’s 40-year-old ordinance or intention to revise it.
“It was misrepresentation by silence,” said Parks.
Parks further pointed out that there is “not a scintilla of truth” to the statements attributed to unnamed city officials in the Jersey Journal report of Nov. 10 that the amended ordinance “protects seniors, disabled persons, and income-qualified families.”
“There are no such protections,” said Parks. “None.”
Work to begin on Avenue B sewer repair
Stacey Contracting of Clifton, N.J., which is working on behalf the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority, will commence an open cut repair of the authority’s sewer main in Avenue B at West 48th Street. The repair is necessitated by a partial collapse of the clay main. The repair is expected to cost about $150,000.
The Avenue B Sewer Repair Project consists of the replacement of the deteriorated and partially collapsed clay sewer in Avenue B from West 48th Street to the mid-block of West 49th Street/West 50th Street with a new 15-inch diameter PVC plastic pipe. The work also includes connecting 36 sewer laterals into the new sewer from the properties in this section of Avenue B.
The sewer replacement has to be undertaken in an open excavation since using a trenchless technology system was not feasible. Residents are asked to be mindful of the excavation and planned work and to pay attention to the revised traffic patterns during construction. Persons with questions or comments about the project are welcome to contact the Authority at (201) 339-3200.
Work on the sewer replacement is scheduled to commence on Monday, Nov. 28, and work will be completed on Dec. 20 (weather permitting).
Blockbuster to collect toys for Head Start
The Bayonne Blockbuster at 493 Broadway will be collecting toys for children 3 to 5 years of age every day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. for children at the Bayonne Head Start program. Delivery of the gifts is expected to take place in mid-December. For more information, call (201) 436-9711.
For those hungry on Thanksgiving
Friendship Baptist Church is serving dinner on Thanksgiving Day from noon until 4 p.m. at 41 West 20th St. This event is free and open to all.
Transportation will be available. The first pickup schedule is 30 East 50th Street, 11:15 a.m.; 535 Avenue A, 11:40 a.m.; 537 Avenue A, 11:45 a.m.; 50 East 21st Street, 12 p.m.; and 159 West Second Street, 12:20 p.m. The second pickup schedule is 30 East 50th Street, 1:30 p.m.; 535 Avenue A, 1:55 p.m.; 537 Avenue A, 2 p.m.; 50 East 21st Street, 2:15 p.m.; and 159 West Second Street, 2:40 p.m.
Transportation, however, is not wheelchair accessible, but the church delivers dinner to shut-ins.