Luxury Hoboken condo building to vote on policy banning big dogs
Over the next month, residents of a high-end condo complex in Hoboken’s northern end will vote on whether to bag their doggie policy. Currently, the Master Deed of the 526-unit Hudson Tea Building at Fifteenth and Washington streets bans residents from having dogs larger than 25 pounds or more than one dog. An ongoing vote-by-mail referendum asks whether they should eliminate the weight limit and raising the pet per unit limit to two.
Hudson Tea’s building manager says he is simply trying to settle an ongoing debate between residents who think the pet policy should be strictly enforced and those who think it should be replaced. But some argue that the poll is an excuse to seek the eviction of current dog-happy residents.
The building-wide pet plebiscite was announced by the Hudson Tea condominium Board of Directors meeting on Sept. 15. Two-thirds of all Hudson Tea condominium owners must vote in favor of the changes in order for them to pass.
Hudson Tea resident Pro Bose argues that the board initiated the vote “knowing full well that very few of the 500 units will actually cast a vote since they don’t feel passionately either way.”
The real purpose of the vote, he said, was to “provide ammunition” for a policy of stricter enforcement of the Master Deed.
Building Manager Vito Lanotte denied any animus against dog owners but granted that enforcement would increase if the pet policy was upheld.
“Apparently some people have taken it upon themselves to violate that rule,” said Lanotte in reference to current owners with large dogs and multiple dogs. Lanotte had been Building Manager from 2005 to 2008, and only returned to the job earlier this year.
If the current policy is upheld, said Lanotte, “we’ll stick with the old rules, and we’ll enforce them.” Current violators will be served with a “nice letter” asking them to come into compliance within 30 days, followed if necessary by a more strongly worded letter, then a fine. If an owner of large or multiple dogs continues to resist, Lanotte said he or she could be sued for non-payment, potentially resulting in liens or foreclosure.
In New York state, landlords are prohibited from evicting pet owners from no-pet buildings if they have kept their animal “openly” and “notoriously” for at least three months. No equivalent law exists in New Jersey.
For Building Manager Vito Lanotte, both the vote and any subsequent enforcement of the pet policy come down to fairness. “We have an obligation to the unit owners that moved in with the understanding that the Master Deed prohibited these things,” he said.
Bose claims that the Hudson Tea management office attempted to muzzle him by deleting a post he had made on the building’s online message board extolling the virtues of dog ownership.
In an email provided to the Hoboken Reporter, Assistant Property Manager Susan Fuentes explained to Bose that the message board was reserved “for items being sold or for recommendations.” But Bose retorted that the message board currently or had recently hosted posts on tourist helicopters, among other topics.
Ex-Hoboken cop indicted for allegedly defrauding nearly $23,000 from FEMA
A retired Hoboken cop has been indicted on charges of allegedly defrauding almost $23,000 in relief aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
On multiple occasions, 59-year-old Martin Kiely applied for FEMA aid to cover damages to a home on Fifth Street in Highlands, allegedly claiming that it was his primary residence, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. He received around $19,000 after Hurricane Irene and another $3,000 after Superstorm Sandy.
Though the building was owned by Kiely, it had been vacant and without electrical power since 2004, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed that Kiely allegedly actually resided in another home in Highlands.
Kiely retired from the Hoboken Police Department in 1992. According to DataUniverse records, Hoboken still pays him a yearly pension of $46,778.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Kiely could face 10 years in prison if convicted on both counts of theft by deception.
Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew S. Fried, the coordinator of the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force, has been assigned to the case. Kiely is represented by attorney John Casale of Belmar.
Clarification
The layout of the article “Did you know there’s a school board election in five weeks?” in the Sept. 28 print edition of the Reporter placed photographs of 2014 Board of Education candidates Peter Biancamano and Patricia Waiters adjacent to each other, which could lead to the misconception that they are running on the same slate. In fact, Biancamano is running on the Education for all Children slate and Waiters is running on the Parents for Change slate. The Reporter regrets any ambiguity.
Dennis Kelly appointed chief executive officer of CarePoint Health
CarePoint Health, which runs three hospitals in Hudson County, announced the appointment of Dennis Kelly as chief executive officer. Kelly formerly served as the chief strategy officer of CarePoint Health and is a healthcare veteran. He will oversee Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital, and Hoboken University Medical Center, CarePoint Health Medical Group, CarePoint Health Research Institute and its affiliated subsidiaries.
“I am extremely honored to assume this role for one of the most innovative healthcare systems in the country,” Kelly said. “I am proud to be a part of an organization that is committed to developing a new care management model for urban populations that puts patients and their community above all else.”
“We are excited to have Dennis assume this important role. He has the experience, the commitment and the leadership qualities to continue to move us forward. During his time as an advisor and as the Chief Strategy Officer of CarePoint, he has demonstrated clear strategic vision and the ability to implement this new model of care,” said Dan Kane, Chairman of CarePoint Health. “We believe that under Dennis’ leadership the CarePoint Health System will set a new, higher standard for the entire health care industry.”
Hoboken shelter serves its two millionth meal
After 32 years of serving Hoboken’s hungry and homeless, The Hoboken Shelter reached a momentous milestone when it served its two millionth meal this past Wednesday. The Hoboken Shelter is the only homeless shelter in Hoboken and is the only Hoboken location serving meals 365 days a year to the hungry, many who are the working poor and do not have sufficient funds to cover all their monthly bills. Jaclyn Cherubini, the Executive Director of the Shelter, said, “We always tell our guests, if you are in need, save your money for rent and come here to eat a healthy meal.”
The volunteer group that worked with the staff serving dinner on Wednesday is known as “The Chicken People,” a group who has been donating and serving a chicken dinner once a month at the Shelter for 30 years. Led by Mark Singleton, the group is a regular on the Shelter’s dinner menu and the tasty meal is always anticipated by the guests.
Formed by a coalition of faith-based and community leaders in 1982, The Hoboken Shelter has grown from volunteers and religious groups making sandwiches and soups to a fully staffed, 24 hour facility that serves over 500 meals daily, shelters 50 people nightly, and provides support services and workshops to help people become housed.
To keep serving meals every day, the Shelter needs a constant supply of disposable plates, cups, and utensils. The Shelter is asking for donations of these items, as well as monetary donations to prepare for the upcoming busy winter and holiday season. For more information visit http://hobokenshelter.org/.
Come to Pier A for the Hoboken Harvest Festival
Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the City of Hoboken are proud to present the Hoboken Harvest Festival, this coming Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Pier A Park. The event will feature lots of free activities including hay rides, a hay maze, pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, face painting, moonwalk, music, dancing, trackless train, puffy the dragon, craft activities, demonstrations and more. The event’s main sponsors are Astrahealth Urgent Care Center & Carepoint Health Medical Group.
Volunteers are needed to help with setup in the morning building a hay maze & pumpkin patch.
Contact Geri Fallo at gfallo@hobokennj.gov
Hoboken Comedy Festival raises almost $3,000 for Liberty Humane Society
Over seven days and 10 shows last week, the Fifth Annual Hoboken Comedy Festival raised $2,937 for the Liberty Humane Society, Hudson County’s leading animal shelter, doubling their contribution total from years past. The festival, which gave $1 per seat at all shows, and 100 percent of seats at one specific show, also implored audience members to give generously at each event. The more than 850 people in attendance gave an additional $1,265 to buckets and bins passed at each show.
“What a blaring success we had this year,” said Festival Coordinator Dan Frigolette, “more audience, more comedians, more donations all in the same year, I could not be happier.”
Frigolette said he would be delighted to partner with the Liberty Humane Society again in 2015 and keep helping whenever he can.
Those who did not get a chance to see a show have one more chance this coming Saturday, Oct. 18 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. when the Hoboken Comedy Festival hosts its Dog Friendly Event on Pier 13. Admittance can be secured with a $10 direct donation to the Liberty Humane Society on the Festival website, www.HobokenFestival.com.
Fund for a Better Waterfront Annual Fundraising Party offers Latin dishes, Latin music
The Fund for a Better Waterfront’s Annual Fundraising Party will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Hoboken Elks Club at 1005 Washington St. FBW promises an evening of music, dancing, entertainment, fine food & drink, all for a great cause. Emily Turonis and her quintet will provide the music, and Col. John Stevens, creator of the original plan for Hoboken in 1804, will make a special appearance. Enjoy a silent auction on such items as a harbor cruise, fine wine, a signed football jersey from Eli Manning, and more.
FBW will present its annual Riparian Award to honor Craig Whitaker for his exceptional contribution to the Hudson River waterfront. Zafra Restaurant will cater this event with its Little Latin Dishes. Buy your tickets for $75 online at http://betterwaterfront.org/connect-the-waterfront-past-present-future or for $85 at the door.
HOPES CAP to celebrate 50th Anniversary with Hoboken party
In honor of their half-century mark, HOPES CAP, Inc. will host a 50th Anniversary Celebration on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 15, 2014 at their headquarters located at 301 Garden St. in Hoboken. This is the first time the organization has hosted an evening fundraising event of this scale. Admission is $125 per person and tickets can be obtained via PayPal on www.HOPES.org.
Sponsored by Triple Crown Food, Electric Brigade and Minervini Vandermark Architecture, the evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and silent auction then flow into a sit-down dinner catered by Amanda’s, one of Hoboken’s premier restaurants. As one of New Jersey’s most impactful charities, the evening will be filled with inspiring stories from individuals who’ve benefited from some of their numerous community programs. In addition, live entertainment, drinks and dancing will cap off the night.
For more information about HOPES’ 50th Celebration Party or for tickets, please contact Dominique Tornabe at dtornabe@hopes.org at 1-855-OK-HOPES, ext.1107.
New Jerseyans abandoning suburbs in favor of urban living
New Jersey’s population has started to contract back toward its urban core for the first time since the end of the second World War, new research shows, in what could mark a death knell for suburban sprawl and foretell significant changes to the fabric of the Garden State.
A new study published by the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University reveals that between 2010 and 2013, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Monmouth Counties all suffered losses during this period. These counties all have one thing in common – they all exist on the far periphery of the metropolitan area – which researchers say is a signal that after decades of outward expansion, people are gravitating back toward cities.
During the same period, New Jersey’s urban counties have been growing at a far faster rate, a pattern mimicked in New York City and the counties of New York state and Connecticut that border it.
Hudson County, for example, has grown by nearly 25,000 people since 2010 after losing more than 90,000 from its population from 1950 to 1980. By contrast, Sussex County lost more than 3,200 people in recent years after posting gains of more than 80,000 from 1950 to 1980.
“The era of moving ever outward is probably now in the past,” said James Hughes, dean of the Bloustein School, and a co-author of the study. “It’s a potential threshold change,” said Joseph Seneca, a co-author of the study and professor at the Bloustein School. “And it carries a great deal of implications.”
Seneca said the shifts are being driven by lifestyle changes within America’s younger generations, who are rising to dominate the workforce as Baby Boomers continue to age toward retirement.
Should the trend continue, it could have major impacts on the state’s economy, infrastructure and real estate markets, he said.
Hoboken Historical Museum hosts lecture on healthcare and immigration
On Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m., the Museum welcomes Dr. Alan Kraut, professor at American University, to deliver a talk on “Caring for Foreign Bodies, the Role of Healthcare in the Transformation of Aliens into Americans.” Dr. Kraut is University Professor of History and an affiliate faculty member of American University’s School of International Service, and specializes in U.S. immigration and ethnic history, the history of medicine in the U.S. and the American Civil War. He co-directs AU’s Civil War Institute. He is the prize-winning author or editor of nine books.
Visit 10 magnificent homes on the Hoboken Historical Museum’s Annual House Tour
On Sunday, Oct. 26, the public has a chance to visit ten stunning Hoboken residences and a historic collection of Stevens family artifacts in the annual Hoboken House Tour, a fundraiser for the Hoboken Historical Museum. The tour offers a signature mix of elegant Victorian row houses, contemporary condos, and a few historic buildings, including a grand residence on the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology, and a chance to visit the Mary Stuart Stevens Baird room in the Samuel C. Williams Library on campus.
The self-guided tour takes about two to three hours on foot, with homes opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m. For convenience, tour goers may pick up a House Tour booklet and start the tour from either of two locations: The Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., or the Hoboken Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield St. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 the day of the tour (Museum members pay $30).
Tour goers can save time and money by buying tickets online, by visiting the Museum’s website, www.hobokenmuseum.org, or by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/HouseTour2014.
Hudson County History Fair is Oct. 18
“Where New Jersey City Began,” the Hudson County History Fair, is coming to New Jersey City University Gilligan Student Union Building on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. celebrating the 350th anniversary of New Jersey, featuring exhibits, lectures, films, appraisers, children’s activities.
Among 40 participating groups are Bayonne Historical Society, Bayonne Public Library, Joyce-Herbert VFW Post 226 Veterans Museum.
Admission and parking are free.