Assembly Transportation Committee holds hearing on jitneys in Hoboken; Ramos, Sacco introduce legislation in Trenton
The New Jersey State Assembly Transportation Committee convened in Hoboken on Monday to discuss the ongoing issues of unregulated jitney buses throughout Hudson County, which have created what chairman and Hoboken mayoral candidate Ruben Ramos referred to as a “drag race atmosphere.”
The hearing was held about two months after an 8-month-old North Bergen resident, Angelie Paredes, was killed on Boulevard East in West New York when a jitney driver, allegedly using his cell phone, hit a street pole, which struck the child.
Since then, various elected officials, including U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.) have called for federal legislation regulating jitneys, and state legislators have introduced bills into the state Senate and the Assembly that would hold jitneys to stricter standards.
The hearing on Monday was called to hear testimony on an Assembly bill that would demand that jitneys adhere to stricter insurance guidelines and more licensing regulations. A similar bill has been introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Nicholas Sacco, who is also the mayor of North Bergen.
“The business practice … is why we see the Wild West, goosechases to pick up fares throughout the day every day, [and] why we see the drag race atmosphere on Bergenline Avenue, Boulevard East, Summit Avenue and Palisades Avenue and taking place throughout our roads in Hudson County,’’ Ramos said, according to a report on NJ.com. “This has to be addressed.”
According to NJ.com, the jitneys are subject to biannual inspections, but limited insurance, more similar to taxi regulations than those of commuter buses.
Palisades Medical Center holds Guttenberg screening
Palisades Medical Center will hold a health screening in Guttenberg on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 6823 Jackson St.
The screening and information session will include: blood pressure, heart rate, percentage of oxygen in the blood, peak flow/respiratory, body mass index, sugar and cholesterol.
For more information, please call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.
North Bergen Concerned Citizens offers Healthy Habits education
The North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group offers a host of free social services in an effort to fulfill its commitment of providing assistance and resources to township residents.
The next offering will be “Healthy Habits” by speaker Maripili Rodriguez, a healthy lifestyle mentor, on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
For further information or to register, call (201) 766-4108 or email: northbergencitizens@gmail.com.
Programs and schedules are subject to change. Check the group’s Facebook page or website, www.nbccg.org, for updated information. Classes are for informational purposes only.
Animal League holds wine tasting fundraiser
The Hudson County Animal League is inviting everyone to help them celebrate their 20th Anniversary of saving the lives of homeless and abused animals through a wine tasting event sponsored by Bridgeview Liquors of Bayonne.
The wine tasting will be held on Nov. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Bayonne Museum, 8th Street and Broadway in Bayonne.
Tickets, at $15, can be purchased in advance by contacting Barbara at bdevaney3@verizon.net or (201) 436-1848. You can also pay through PayPal by visiting the group’s “Donate” page. Tickets, at $20, can also be purchased the day of the event.
You can also help the Hudson County Animal League with the cost of caring for homeless felines by clipping cat food and litter coupons. Send them to P.O. Box 4332, Bayonne, NJ 07002 or P.O. Box 3589 Jersey City, NJ 07303.
People are also being sought to foster an animal until their permanent home is found. For more information on this, call Kathleen at (201) 895-3874 or Charlene at (201) 200-1008.
Youth group members are also being sought. If interested in completing 20 hours of volunteering, contact Lorma at (201) 437-7263. Adults can call the same number to volunteer.
Society sponsors trip to Amish Country
The German-American World Historical Society is sponsoring its annual bus trip to Amish and Mennonite country, Lancaster, Pa., on Oct. 19. The tour costs $60 for adults, and $45 for children ages 4 to 12. Refreshments will be provided on the bus.
For more information, call (201) 864-3245 or (201) 867-3585, ext. 249.