Outdoor bazaar starts in West New York this weekend
A new outdoor market in West New York will offer art, vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles, toys, antiques, and more. The market will take place every Saturday and Sunday on Port Imperial Blvd. in West New York, between PF Chang’s and the A&P.
The first market was scheduled to open this weekend on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A ribbon cutting and kids’ activities were scheduled for the Saturday grand opening.
The market will run through Oct. 31.
The market will include 50 to 150 vendors and will include some surprises. It is operated by the Hudson Promo Group, a new Fort Lee-based startup. If you are a vendor and want to set up there, contact hpg@consultant.
Charity accepting used coats through September
The Orlando Bru association is collecting used coats again this year.
You can bring your coats to 2112 Bergenline Ave. in Union City or call 201-865-0383 for a pickup.
All donations will be accepted until Sept. 13 and coats will be given out Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Federacion Mercantil Hispana 4113 Palisade Ave., Union City, and Sunday Sept. 22 at 185 Monticello Ave., Jersey City from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WNY Zoning Board meets on Felice development
Thursday night, July 11, the West New York zoning board was scheduled to meet on the Felice development application at 6025 Kennedy Boulevard East, the site of the earlier “Alpy” application. The proposed development will have 35 residential units.
Opponents of the Felice proposal are complaining about the 11 special variances that the complex has applied for. The proposal vastly exceeds the zoning board’s maximum density allotted. West New York allows a maximum of 80 units per acre for a given development. The Felice proposal averages to 166.4 units per acre, slightly higher than the long-dead Alpy proposal’s 148.
The results were not available by press time. But for prior coverage, see hudsonreporter.com.
Body found along Palisades cliffs over weekend
A dead body was discovered over the weekend in a makeshift shelter along the Palisades cliffs, according to a report on NJ.com. The area is known to be frequented by many homeless people who have made the cliffs in Union City and Jersey City Heights — up the hill from Hoboken and Weehawken — their home for the past several years.
Based on the report on the website, it is not clear whether the person found was in fact homeless. The name of the deceased has not been released.
The body was found near Paterson Plank Road and Congress Street, according to NJ.com. That area is near the Jersey City Heights/Union City border.
Hurricane Sandy grants for homeowners
Homeowner grants are available to assist residents whose homes sustained damage from Hurricane Sandy. Information can be found at www.renewjerseystronger.org.
Menendez: Failure to extend lowered student loan interest rate ‘a slap in the face’
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), an original co-sponsor of legislation that would have extended the 3.4 percent interest rate on federally subsidized student loans for an additional year, released a statement on Wednesday, July 10, after the legislation was blocked by a 51-49 procedural vote in the U.S. Senate:
“The failure to provide a one-year extension of lowered student loan interest rates is nothing short of a slap in the face of students and middle class families who are now carrying an additional $1,000 annual burden since interest rates doubled last week,” said Menendez. “It’s poor economic policy to overburden middle class families, students, and graduates instead of continuing relief for them while we work toward comprehensive ways to address the rising cost of higher education.”
‘American Dream’ developer sues Jets, Giants
The Jets and Giants were sued in state Superior Court on Tues., July 9, by Triple Five, developers of the American Dream project on Route 3, who contend that the football teams are doing what they can to “thwart” the project and prevent it from “ever opening,” according to a report in The Record.
The lawsuit, filed in Bergen County, alleges breach of contract by the National Football League franchises, citing a 2006 agreement in which the Jets and Giants received $15 million for allowing the entertainment and shopping project, then called Xanadu, to be built.
The teams are already in court with a suit of their own, attempting to reverse the N.J. Sports and Exposition Authority’s approval of Triple Five’s addition of amusement and indoor water parks to the project.
The Jets and Giants, who play across the highway in Met Life Stadium, have referred to a stipulation in the agreement that gives them the power to veto changes to the project that would generate “adverse” effects on the game-day activities of their fans.
Triple Five’s stance is that their project would benefit the football fans, giving them recreational activities prior to and following the games.
Supreme Court rebuffs governor’s elimination of affordable housing body
The New Jersey Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 10, rejected Gov. Chris Christie’s attempt to do away with the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), according to njbiz.
The court said Christie does not have the authority to abolish an independent agency like the council.
The Council on Affordable Housing was established in 1985, in response to the Fair Housing Act of that year and a series of New Jersey Supreme Court rulings known as the Mount Laurel decisions, which mandated that municipalities provide low/moderate income housing.
Developers are supposed to include a certain percentage of affordable housing in their projects, or give towns money to make up for it.
Housing advocates welcomed the July 10 ruling, stating New Jersey has a dearth of affordable housing and requires an independent agency to assist in remedying the problem.
The case dates back two years, when the legislature passed a Democrat-sponsored housing measure that included the council’s elimination. The governor vetoed the bill, calling it insufficient, and instead submitted a plan that abolished the council and transferred its duties to a state department.
That prompted a suit, and last year a lower court ruled against Christie. The governor appealed to the state’s highest court, but on Wednesday it upheld the lower court decision.
A lawyer for the Fair Share Housing Center said the court’s decision is important, because it provides for greater transparency when decisions are made about where homes get built.
New Jersey Meadowlands Commission offering pontoon boat cruises
Get an up-close view of the Meadowlands District’s scenic beauty and wildlife with a two-hour, guided pontoon boat cruise of the Hackensack River and its surrounding marshes.
Experienced NJMC staff will discuss the region’s human and environmental history and point out birds and other wildlife along the way.
Cruises are offered on Monday, July 15, and Wednesday, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. They are $15 per person, and for ages 10 and up. Pre-registration is required.
The boats depart from River Barge Park, 260 Outwater Lane in Carlstadt.
For a complete schedule, directions, or to register, visit www.njmeadowlands.gov/environment/tours.html or call 201-460-4640.