Hoboken’s next-gen smart bikes approved; should start in spring
The last major roadblock in the path of the Hoboken-Weehawken bike share has fallen, and the program is expected to roll out in the next three months, though perhaps not as soon as originally planned.
German manufacturer NextBike has been certified by the Federal Communications Commission, paving the way for its hybrid “smart bike” technology to be deployed in a planned system in Hoboken and Weehawken, according to a Feb. 15 press release from the company.
The specially designed bicycles, which use smart docking stations but can also be locked to any structure, will also be installed in Pittsburgh and West Palm Beach this year.
Despite the approval, an official start date for the Hoboken program has yet to be announced.
The city had pegged the bike share to a March 2015 debut last December, but earlier this week, city spokesman Juan Melli would only specify that the program will launch in “early spring.”
Originally scheduled to debut last summer, the Lower Hudson bike share was held up by an abortive search for private funding and the departure of partner municipality Jersey City, which now plans to join New York’s CitiBike system, possibly by this year.
As Hoboken expands its bike share offerings, it will also be expanding its network of bicycle-safe areas on city streets. A new $530,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, announced by the city this past week, will fund striping for nearly 15 miles of dedicated bike lanes and shared bike lanes in long-lasting thermoplastic paint.
Once implemented, 75 percent of municipal roadways in Hoboken will have either bike lanes or shared lane markings. The city will also realize cost savings on maintenance since thermoplastic paint has a life expectancy up to 8 times longer than standard road paint.
“Bike lanes don’t just benefit bikes,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “They have traffic calming benefits that make streets safer for everyone and are one part of an overall transportation approach to make getting around Hoboken safer and more convenient for those who walk, bike, take public transportation, and drive.”
“Hoboken continues to be the example all other municipalities should follow in its efforts to reduce congestion, decrease carbon emissions and improve connectivity with alternate modes of transportation,” said Jay DiDomenico, director of the Hudson Transportation Management Association.
“Since the inception of our bike lane program, residents have taken to using bikes more and more to commute about Hoboken, to tend to their chores, to transport their children to one of our many schools, to enjoy a meal at one of our many restaurants and best of all to enjoy the jewel of the city, our award winning waterfront,” said Brian Wagner, lead advocate for Bike Hoboken. “This grant will enable Hoboken to further enhance the growing network of bike lanes, ensuring greater safety for our residents and many visitors who ride their own bike or start using our new bike share bikes.”
Amount of Hoboken’s settlement with former environmental services director revealed
The city of Hoboken paid its former environmental services director Jennifer Maier $95,000 last August to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit she had filed against the city. The previously undisclosed monetary value of the settlement was contained in city documents provided to The Hoboken Reporter via an Open Public Records Act request on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
A previous OPRA request for the amount had been denied.
The settlement is one of a number of settlements the city has paid over wrongful termination lawsuits since Mayor Dawn Zimmer took office. Two weeks ago, the City Council approved a $700,000 settlement with Angel Alicea, the former Hoboken public safety director, whose suit was appealed by the city after Alicea won a $1.2 million total award by a Superior Court jury.
The settlement for Jennifer Maier was approved by the Hoboken City Council on Aug. 6 with six Council members in favor, council members Beth Mason and Tim Occhipinti absent, and Councilwoman Theresa Castellano abstaining.
Maier had been hired by Zimmer from out of town, and was not involved in Hoboken politics before her hiring.
In her complaint against Hoboken, Maier alleged she was fired after Zimmer learned of a dinner Maier had with Alicea.
At the dinner, according to paperwork, Alicea allegedly told Maier he had been forced to resign after complaining about alleged untoward activities committed by Hoboken police. Maier said in the complaint that she told Alicea “to do whatever he felt was necessary to clear your name, and to go ahead against Zimmer by filing the lawsuit.” Sources have said that another individual was present at the dinner.
Following the meal, Maier said she was accused of trying to “sabotage” Zimmer. She claimed the city subsequently limited her responsibilities and fired her.
Recently, Maier has served as the borough administrator in Union Beach, N.J., where she has been cited in newspaper articles as helping the area recover from Hurricane Sandy.
As a condition of the settlement agreement, Zimmer and the city of Hoboken did not admit to any liability or wrongdoing.
Visit ‘The Dream Home’ with Mile Square Theatre
One time only, this Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m., Mile Square Theatre will present a free reading of “The Dream Home,” a play by Jon Marans, at its new second space at the Edge Lofts, located at 14th and Clinton streets.
A short synopsis: “Wealthy Susu Ziegler has purchased an exclusive Manhattan raw space apartment overlooking the Hudson and had hoped to have her architect husband design this tricky space. But with their marriage almost on the rocks, she forces him to compete against a younger, hotshot architect. This sexy, funny tale is told in a heightened theatrical style, compressing and playing with time and space, and ultimately examines what makes a marriage work. Or not work.”
Jon Marans’ works include “The Temperamentals,” which was nominated for a Lucille Lortel & Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway play, and “Old Wicked Songs,” a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama. Marans is a recipient of a 2013 Guggenheim Fellowship. For Mile Square Theatre, Jon directed the play ART and wrote Banner Yet Wave for the 7th Inning Stretch.
For more information, call (201) 683-7014 or email info@milesquaretheatre.org.
‘Vagina Monologues’ reading will benefit fighting domestic violence
The Stevens College of Arts and Letters Literature Faculty and the Stevens Women’s Fencing Team will sponsor a 15th Annual V-Day reading of Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues,” Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. at the DeBaun Performing Arts Center, 24 Fifth St., Hoboken. The reading will be done by Stevens students, faculty, and a few female business owners from Hoboken, and will last about 90 minutes. Tickets are $5 at the door, or from a member of the Women’s Fencing Team, and the proceeds will benefit the Domestic Violence Program. There will also be raffles for prizes like apparel and gift cards. The auditorium phone number is (201) 216-5000.
Support Hobokenites displaced by fire at Feb. 26 fundraiser
This Thursday, Feb. 26, the Hoboken Rotary Club and hMag will host a fundraiser to benefit the eight families and restaurant owner who remain displaced after a January fire at 918 Willow Ave.
On New Year’s Day, an electrical fire broke out in the apartment above D’s Soul Full Café, causing extensive water and smoke damage throughout the building. As of today, the displaced families and business owner still don’t know when they will be able to return. The families lost all their possessions and remain in temporary housing.
The fundraiser will be held at The Elks Lodge, located at 1005 Washington St. starting at 7 p.m. on the 26th. It will feature an open bar, refreshments from food truck Dark Side of the Moo, and live music from Dave Calamoneri, Debby Schwartz, Las Vandelays, The Fave, Allison Strong, and Karyn Kuhl. The suggested donation is $50.
If you’d like to purchase tickets in advance — or you’re unable to attend but still want to donate — you can get more details at stephenbailey.com
Dromedary Records are also donating proceeds from all sales up until the night of the show to the victims.
Public hearing for social services in Hoboken on March 2
What kinds of child care, job training, welfare, veterans’ services, and other programs should Hoboken have?
The City of Hoboken Department of Community Development will conduct a public hearing regarding its 5-Year Consolidated Action Plan for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds on March 2. The public comment session will gather public input on the content of the Consolidated Action Plan, which will direct funds for public service activities in-line with HUD CDBG rules and regulations for a five-year period.
Public service activities include, but are not limited to: child care, youth services, health care, job training and creation, literacy, recreation, public safety, homeless services, drug abuse counseling and treatment, veterans’ services, and welfare.
The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hoboken Multi-Service Center, located at 124 Grand St. Public input will inform the City’s anticipated 5-Year Consolidated Action Plan, which the City intends to submit to HUD for review and acceptance in May of 2015.
Persons requiring special accommodations to participate in the public hearing may call Department of Community Development Principal Planner Christopher Brown at 201-239-6642 or email him at cbrown@hobokennj.gov.
Register your child for Hoboken Little League today
Online registration with the city of Hoboken for the 2015 Little League season has begun!
Children aged 9 through 12 can register between Jan. 12 and March 1, and children aged 4 through 8 can register between Jan. 12 and March 6.
Tryouts for ages 9-12 will be held at the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St. on the following dates: Feb. 22, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Feb. 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; March 1, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
7 and 8-year-olds can try out at the Multi-Service Center on the following dates: Feb. 22, 3:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.; March 1, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; March 8, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
All other ages will be notified by the Recreation Department.
Register at www.hobokennj.org/departments/recreation/.
Looking at data to see if PATH closing would result in people moving
Open JC will hold a PATH Data Jam, a CodeAcross National Hackathon event on Saturday, Feb, 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the McIntyre Conference Center, St. Peter’s University, 2641 JFK Boulevard, Jersey City.
“The reason for this event is to contemplate questions revolving around the previously proposed closing of night time PATH service to Jersey City, Hoboken and Newark,” according to the organizers. “One question being explored is whether residents would still live in New York City, Newark, and Hoboken if the service was suspected.
“The PATH Data Jam is the first opportunity for residents of these areas to use the power of data analysis to uncover possible answers to this question. We are bringing together different segments of the community (students, residents, professionals) to investigate trends, create visualizations, and make accessible the insights locked up in select data on the PATH, and other regional transportation systems.”
The PATH Data Jam is designed to offer an immersive way to look into open data in a way that invites collaboration between developers, artists, students, community activists, kids, and many more.