Democrats, Republicans run unopposed in 33rd District primaries
Democrats and Republicans will go to the polls this coming Tuesday, June 2, to pick their nominees for Hudson County executive and state assemblymen for the 33rd Legislative District in the November election, though they won’t have much choice in the matter. For each of the positions, the parties have unopposed candidates.
The winners of the primaries in the 33rd District will face Republicans in November. There are two Assembly seats in each district. The 33rd District includes Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, and part of Jersey City.
For the Hudson County executive seat, the incumbent executive Thomas DeGise of Jersey City is running for the Democratic nomination, and Ivan Sutherland of North Bergen is running for the Republican nomination. For the two state Assembly seats up for election for the 33rd District, the Democratic candidates are Raj Mukherji of Jersey City, an incumbent, and Annette Chaparro of Hoboken. The Republican candidates are Garrett Simulcik, Jr. of Jersey City and Javier Sosa of Union City.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 2. Polling locations can be found online at https://voter.njsvrs.com/elections/polling-lookup.html. For more information, contact the Hudson County Board of Elections at 201-369-3435.
Hard Rock Casino Meadowlands a possibility
Hard Rock International and Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment will hold a press conference on Wednesday, June 3 to announce their vision of potentially constructing a Hard Rock Casino in the Meadowlands.
According to a statement from the organizers, “A casino at the Meadowlands could generate more than $400 million in yearly revenue, which could fund critical priorities, such as property tax relief for seniors and veterans’ programs, in addition to helping rebuild Atlantic City and create more than 10,000 jobs in the area.”
For years, politicians from the Atlantic City area strongly objected to the idea of allowing gambling outside of the region, saying it would severely impact the struggling city, where four casinos closed in 2014. They cited a package of incentives put in place in 2011 by Gov. Chris Christie giving Atlantic City five years to show improvement before he would consider asking voters to approve casinos elsewhere in the state.
Those politicians have since reconsidered, contingent upon Atlantic City receiving financial support from gaming facilities in other regions. The Meadowlands are considered a prime location for casino gambling if it is allowed in North Jersey, with Jersey City also mentioned as a possibility.
Jeff Gural, chairman of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, reportedly told The Associated Press that a Hard Rock Casino in the Meadowlands would pay a 55 percent tax rate on winnings – equal to the Pennsylvania tax rate and seven times higher than the rate in Atlantic City – with revenue to be shared with Atlantic City to help them rebuild and recover.
There still needs to be a referendum on expanding gambling outside Atlantic City before any plans can proceed. The deadline for a November referendum is in June, so any decision may be pushed to 2016 or later.
Gural will be present at the press conference next week to discuss the casino plans, along with Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International. They are scheduled to unveil project details, video, renderings, and more.
Liberty Humane Society hosts free animal adoption event
Liberty Humane Society will host an adoption promotion event this Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at its 235 Jersey City Blvd. facility. Cats and dogs over four months of age will be available for zero-fee adoption to approved adoptive homes.
These events are crucial to the local non-profit shelter. As the summer season approaches, more cats and dogs will be brought in as stray animals. By hosting large promotional adoption events, the shelter not only provides a great opportunity for the homeless animals currently in its care to find their adoptive forever homes, but also prepares kennels for the those animals incoming.`
Liberty Humane Society focuses its attention on caring for and adopting out the homeless dogs and cats of its community, promoting an “Adopt Local” philosophy encouraging homes considering adopting a pet to look local first, and consider providing homes for dogs and cats found homeless in their own neighborhoods.
Pets under four months of age will be excluded from this promotion.` Please visit the shelter or log onto www.libertyhumane.org for more details.
Countdown to Hudson County Heart Walk
More than 2,000 residents, family members, company employees and survivors of heart disease and stroke from throughout Hudson County are expected to walk in the American Heart Association’s Hudson County Heart Walk on Saturday, May 30.
The walk will be a healthy walk around the downtown Jersey City water front and will begin and end on the campus of Jersey City Medical Center. Registration for the Heart Walk is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.
The Heart Walk, sponsored nationally by Subway and locally sponsored by Jersey City Medical Center, is the American Heart Association’s premiere event for raising funds to save lives from this country’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers – heart disease and stroke. Designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living, the Heart Walk creates an environment that’s fun and rewarding for the entire family.