Local officials and unions oppose NJ Transit fair hike and service cuts
Mayor Steven M. Fulop joined the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) on May 14 in their fight against NJ Transit’s proposed 9 percent fare increase and service cuts and in support of New Jersey working families at a press conference at the Exchange Place Light Rail Station. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Paterson Mayor Joey Torres, as well as New Jersey Working Families, also joined Mayor Fulop and the ATU in their effort to bring safe, affordable and convenient access to mass transportation for all riders.
Mayor Fulop, in partnership with ATU, has launched an aggressive campaign, “Fight the Hike,” a non-profit entity, to raise awareness about NJ Transit’s fare hike and service cut proposal, that would raise fares by 9 percent, the fourth increase since 2002, as well as cuts to two commuter train lines and six bus lines. ATU’s campaign highlights the damage the proposal would do to nearly half a million New Jersey working families, and provides real solutions and action items for the public to get involved.
“Fight the Hike” is encouraging New Jersey commuters to make their voices heard, and has a website, notransithike.com, which illustrates what is at stake, outlines the comprehensive plan to find a solution to the fare hikes, has an active petition drive on notransithike.com for all concerned residents of NJ to sign. NJ Transit will be holding public hearings for residents to share their concerns, and “Fight the Hike” is encouraging residents to attend the scheduled hearings which are posted on the website.
NJ Transit commuters already pay the highest fares in the country and increasing fares will serve to cripple New Jersey’s middle class and working families. NJ Transit’s fare hike proposal will result in costly and challenging commutes for almost half a million riders and one in 10 New Jersey workers.
Newport Spring Carnival will be held on May 17
On Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Newport Spring Carnival will be held along the Jersey City waterfront at Newport Green. This will mark the opening of the
Newport Carousel, and will feature a petting zoo for the first time.
The event will also include a bounce obstacle course, carnival games, miniature golf, face painting and more.
Jersey City Council supports increased funding for charter schools
Although not everybody who attended the May 13 meeting agreed with the resolution, the Jersey City Council voted on a symbolic resolution urging Gov. Christopher Christie and the state legislature to provide funding levels for charter schools equal to those of traditional public schools.
“Charter schools are public schools,” said Councilwoman Candice Osborne.
Ward F Councilwoman Diane Coleman and Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera abstained.
Charter schools receive about 66 percent of the $17,000 per student costs that regular public schools get.
Riaz Wahid, a critic of charter schools, said that they drain resources from regular public schools. Other critics of charter schools also believe they are less accountable to taxpayers than traditional schools, operating without public access to the budget process.
NJCU breaks ground on new student residence hall
New Jersey City University officials broke ground on May 14 on a new $50 million four-story residence hall next to the West Side Avenue campus. The new facility is scheduled to open in September 2016 and will include a resident lounge, community kitchen, game room, smart laundry, vending centers, multi-purpose classrooms, music practice rooms, outdoor courtyard, cardio fitness center and free wifi.
Armed Forces Festival will be held at Liberty State Park on May 16
The Liberty Run Foundation, a non-profit veteran’s organization, will host the New Jersey Armed Forces Day Festival this Saturday, May 16 at Liberty State Park. The festival will include a charity race, the Liberty Lightning 9K, and a 1-Mile Kids’ Run.
Both the Liberty Lightning 9K (LL9K) and Kids’ Run will benefit the Liberty Run Foundation, which provides veteran to veteran support to enable direct continued care and programs for the special needs of injured and recovering wounded veterans and their families.
The Liberty Lightning 9K will kick off at 9 a.m. followed by the NJ Armed Forces Day Festival at 10 a.m. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, will preside as the official race starter for the LL9K. General Alfred Gray, the 29th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, will be the New Jersey Armed Forces Day Festival Grand Marshall.
For more information about the Liberty Run Foundation and the New Jersey Armed Forces Day Festival, visit http://www.libertyrun.org.
Memorial Day serviced to be held at Holy Name Cemetery
Most Reverend Thomas A. Donato, bishop for Hudson County will lead a Memorial Day salute at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City on Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m.
For the third consecutive year, the Archdiocese of Newark Catholic Cemeteries, in collaboration with over a thousand Catholic Cemeteries coast-to-coast, will participate in the annual celebration, “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes.”
Church leaders invite active military personnel and veterans to participate in Mass at Catholic Cemeteries to serve as flag or candle bearers during the opening and closing processions, as Lectors, as participants in the presentation of gifts, and to recite uniform intercessions followed by a moment of silence. This program also is an ideal time for Catholics throughout the country to unite, remember, and pray for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Four women shot near Bostwick Avenue
Five people were arrested in connection with a May 10 incident on Bostwick Avenue in which four women were shot.
“Police responded immediately to the scene and witnessed a handgun being tossed from a fleeing vehicle, as well the discarding of another handgun from a separate vehicle in the area. Both handguns were recovered and five individuals were arrested on multiple weapons offenses. The Cease-Fire Unit continues to investigate and additional charges are pending,” said Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill.
One of the victims was from Bayonne; three others were from Jersey City. All were near Bostwick and Martin Luther King Drive around 11 p.m. when they were shot.
Police said they were dispatched to the area on report of multiple gunshot victims, and met the first woman, who had been shot in the leg. The 42-year-old Bayonne woman was brought to Jersey City Medical Center where she was treated for a wound to right hamstring area.
A second woman, 19, who had been shot in the right shoulder, approached the police a short time later. She was also taken to JCMC.
A third victim was carried by a friend directly to the hospital. She was wounded in the left foot and in the area of the pelvis.
Arrested were Decota Chisolm and Robert Warren, both 22, and Steven Howard and Hassan McNair, both 18, and a 17-year-old, all of Jersey City. They were charged with weapons-related crimes.
Alleged prostitution ring busted in Jersey City
Three Jersey City men and one man from South Carolina were charged on May 14 in connection with allegedly trafficking a 14 year-girl in a prostitution ring.
Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said four men have been arrested on first-degree charges of conspiracy, human trafficking, and promoting prostitution of a minor. He said their alleged prostitution ring operated in hotels in and around Hudson County. The alleged boss of the ring surrendered to authorities early on Thursday.
The men charged were Michael A. McLeod, 24, of Jersey City (the alleged “boss” of the ring), David Powell Jr., 28, of Jersey City, Tyree D. Jeter, 27, of Jersey City, and Demetrius James Hayward, 19, of Summerville, S.C.
McLeod surrendered to the Jersey City Police Department. Powell and Jeter were arrested on May 11 in Jersey City. Hayward already was in custody following his arrest on May 8 in Jersey City on an unrelated warrant.
The investigation began in April when the FBI Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that photos of the alleged 14-year-old victim, who was a runaway from South Jersey, were being used in ads for a “female escort” on backpage.com.
Police to crack down on drivers who ignore school bus stop signs
Mayor Steven M. Fulop and Jersey City Police Chief Philip Zacche announced this week that Jersey City Police have increased traffic enforcement for motorists disregarding the flashing red light “STOP” signs on school buses, through ”Operation STOP Sign,” after receiving complaints from concerned parents, school officials and members of the community.
“Operation STOP Sign” will target motorists who specifically disregard the flashing red light stop sign on school buses, which are intended to stop all vehicular traffic when loading and unloading children to and from the school bus.
Under current New Jersey motor vehicle laws, drivers must stop 25 feet from a school bus when the red stop sign is out, and keep their vehicle stationary until the child or disabled person has entered the school bus or reached the side of the roadway, and the flashing red light is no longer exhibited.
This stepped-up enforcement will continue throughout the summer, as Jersey City school buses transport children to summer camp programs and other activities.