BRIEFS

Mayor asks for public’s help following shooting at 16th Street Park

Mayor James Davis issued a public statement following the shooting of an 18-year-old man at DiDomenico-16th Street Park on Sunday evening, April 26, asking for the public to step forward with any information it may have.
Bayonne Police Department units had responded to the report of a shooting at the park at 5:06 p.m., and arriving police officers had found a man who had been struck in the shoulder by a bullet, according to the statement.
“Our Detective Bureau is currently investigating the incident and following up with multiple witnesses [who were] present at the scene,” Davis said.
Multiple shots were reportedly fired from a black sport utility vehicle before it sped off.
The mayor asked that anyone with information about the shooting call the Bayonne Detective Bureau at (201) 858-6925 or the tips hotline at (877) 900-8477.
The injured man had been rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center, was in stable condition, and his injuries did not appear to be life threatening, according to the release.

Mayor, Assembly candidate release statements on weekend traffic backup

Mayor James Davis issued a statement on April 27 regarding the delays and traffic congestion that impacted Bayonne the weekend of April 25 to 26. Delays started on Saturday, April 25, due to the closure of the Bayonne Bridge and one lane of westbound traffic on the turnpike extension.
“I understand that the Turnpike Authority cited the repairs being conducted on the Bay-Extension as ‘emergent,’ but in terms of traffic, the domino effect it caused in and around Bayonne is simply unacceptable,” Davis said.
Restricted westbound travel translated to extreme traffic congestion on main thoroughfares and local side streets that they feed from, according to the mayor. The Bayonne Bridge closure lasted until 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 26. Construction on the westbound lanes of the Turnpike Bridge was formally completed early Monday morning, April 27.
“There always needs to be a feasible way in and out of the city, and that was not the case this past weekend. There simply has to be better coordination between these two agencies,” Davis said of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the Turnpike Authority.
Davis said he had called a meeting with the two organizations.
Assembly candidate Nicholas Chiaravalloti also called on the state’s leading transportation agencies to resolve the traffic congestion at Exit 14A of the New Jersey Turnpike.
“One-hour delays to cross the Turnpike Bridge are simply unacceptable,” Chiaravalloti said. “We need the DOT, the Turnpike Authority, and the Port Authority to all get on the same page. Right now, that’s just not happening.”
Chiaravalloti called on the three agencies to host a joint town hall meeting to address the traffic concerns, and made recommendations on how to improve the flow of traffic.
Among the recommendations Chiaravalloti made were opening up the shoulders on the eastbound and westbound sides of the interchange; utilizing law enforcement officers to direct traffic, and providing message signs to provide real-time updates.

City woman and daughter died of overdose, official says

The Bayonne woman and her daughter found dead in their home in January died of an accidental drug overdose, according to an online report.
Both Melanie Polito, 35, and Ashley Baez, 19, were found dead inside their first-floor apartment on West 10th Street on Jan. 27.
“The medical examiner has determined that the cause of death of both … was drug overdose, and the manner of death for both was determined to be (an) accident,” nj.com quoted Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino as saying.
Drug paraphernalia had been found in the apartment, Rubino had said previously.

Port Authority announces Bridge closures

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced closures of the Bayonne Bridge as part of the “Raise the Roadway” Navigational Clearance Project.
The remaining multi-hour closures for this week are: Thursday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.; and Friday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, May 2.
The authority suggests motorists use the Goethals Bridge as an alternate route.
When completed, the Raise the Roadway project will elevate the bridge’s roadway 65 feet to 215 feet, to allow larger vessels to pass underneath it.
Closures are weather dependent.
For email alerts on project closures and other information, subscribe to eAlerts at www.PA.alerts.com.

Child advocate group holding informational session

The Hudson County CASA (court appointed special advocate) is recruiting volunteers to advance the best interests of abused and neglected children.
An informational session, addressing the program and the role of its volunteers, will be held on Tuesday, May 5, from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 901 of the Hudson County Administration Building, 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City.
For more information, call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org or visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.

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