City Council adopts $535M budget with no tax increase
The City Council voted at a special meeting on July 28 to adopt the 2015 budget with no tax increase following 2014’s 2.13 percent tax decrease. This year’s budget is $535 million, $19 million more than last year.
For the second consecutive year, the city’s tax base grew substantially, increasing by $57 million in 2015.
“This year’s budget with no tax increase follows last year’s 2.13 percent tax decrease, a remarkable feat for a city in New Jersey,” said Mayor Steven Fulop. “We are proud that our administration, along with the City Council, put forth a budget for 2015 that has kept taxes stable while also making significant investments to expand public safety, community programming, and municipal services.”
In 2014, the tax base grew by $118 million. According to the Fulop administration, Jersey City now has the largest municipal tax base in the state.
“Our policies to attract investment and development to Jersey City are working, and with that comes new jobs, stable taxes and more and better services for our residents, said Fulop.”
16-year-old boy dies from gunshot wound
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced on July 24 that the 16-year-old boy shot on July 22 in Jersey City has died.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 22, Jersey City police responded to Monticello and Belmont avenues on a report of shots fired. Officers found the victim, Ronald Witherspoon Jr., 16, of Jersey City, with an apparent gunshot wound to his head. Witherspoon was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition until he was pronounced dead on July 23, at approximately 7:45 p.m.
No arrests have been made. The Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit is conducting an investigation with the assistance of the Jersey City Police Department.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at (201) 915-1345 or by email at hcpotips@hcpo.org. All contacts will be kept confidential.
Jersey City man charged with sexually exploiting girl
Felix Restitullo, 40, of Jersey City, was charged on July 30 with allegedly coercing a minor family member to engage in sexually explicit conduct while he photographed the abuse, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Restitullo was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Steven C. Mannion in Newark federal court and remains in custody.
Hudson County jitney owners charged with alleged violations of Angelie’s Law
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has issued Notices of Violation to 17 commercial autobus owners for failure to post public notices on the outside and inside vehicles about how passengers can report complaints and concerns to the Division. These commercial autobuses are commonly known as “jitneys,” “commuter vans,” or “commuter buses.”
Autobuses operating on public roads and carrying up to 40 passengers must have interior and exterior notices telling passengers how to report service complaints to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. The division’s telephone number must also be provided. These notices are required under “Angelie’s Law,” a state law enacted in memory of Angelie Paredes, who was killed in July 2013 in an accident caused by an autobus driver who was allegedly using his cell phone while driving.
“All travelers using commercial autobuses must be assured of their safety, as the law requires,” Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. “Companies operating these autobuses must be in full compliance with Angelie’s Law, and we will do all we can to make sure that these companies are protecting their riders by being in full compliance.”
“Each commercial autobus must post a notice informing riders of how to report service and safety complaints,” said Steve Lee, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. “This requirement, among others, is designed to protect the safety of both riders and the general public.”
Acting Director Lee also noted that in February 2015, the Division of Consumer Affairs issued a consumer alert about the public notice requirement of Angelie’s Law and also mailed an advisory letter to commercial autobus owners.
The Hudson County commercial autobus owners issued notices of violation include Emelys Transportation, LLC, North Bergen; Community Lines, Inc., Jersey City; Azael Alvarado, Jersey City; Walter Carranza, Jersey City; Victor Lara aka VL Services of North Bergen; Orlando Villanuevazurita, West New York; Samuel Salgado, North Bergen; Ekramy Elgendy, Union City; Jose Rodriguez, West New York; Luis Portalatinmendoza, Union City; Joseph Transporte, Inc. of Union City; Claudio Paguay, West New York; and NV Bus Service, Inc. in North Bergen.
The Hudson County Office of Consumer Affairs and the New Jersey State Police Motor Coach Compliance and Safety Unit participated in the inspections, along with the cooperation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit.
La Festa Italiana kicks off on Aug. 12
The Holy Rosary Church on Sixth Street in Historic Downtown Jersey City will celebrate 112 years of La Festa Italiana, an Old World Italian feast that honors the veneration of Maria SS. Dell’Assunta & San Rocco, and offer the Downtown community the opportunity to party with their neighbors.
This year’s La Festa Italiana will feature live bands, fun for the kids, food and souvenir vendors and traditional Italian delicacies made by Holy Rosary Church parishioners like Fresh Hot Zeppoles, Our Famous Rice Balls, and lemony Limoncello.
La Festa Italiana begins Wed, Aug. 12 and continues through Sun, Aug. 16, on Sixth and Brunswick streets. For those five summer nights, the neighborhood surrounding Holy Rosary Church will come alive with rocking dance music, games of chance, kids’ activities, and delicious Italian food and libations. La Festa Italiana runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday-to-Saturday, and on Sunday from 12 noon until 9 p.m., when the “Super 50/50” Raffle winner is chosen. Last year’s ticket-holder won over $12,200.
Every night La Festa Italiana has a five-star line-up of bands and a rocking DJ, too.
The music schedule includes The Toga Party Band on Wednesday Aug. 12; Nine Deeez Band on Thursday Aug. 13; The Shots on Friday Aug. 14; Total Soul on Saturday Aug. 15. DJ Dan of Blueline Production appears at 1 p.m. followed by William Pompeo & the Pros at 5 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 16.
Get your piece of the pie
Riverview Farmers Market will hold its peach pie contest on Sunday, Aug. 2. This even will also include “a peachy party” complete with prizes, live music, activities for kids and other events. The event is being held at Riverview-Fisk Park on Palisades Avenue (between Bowers and Griffith streets.) Judging starts at noon. For more information or application form visit www.riverviewfarmers market.org.
First Annual Goat Stock Festival
The Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery at 435 Newark Ave. will be holding a music festival starting at 3 p.m. on Aug. 2. Bands to perform included Life in a Blender, Lovari Lovari, The Porchistas, The Fave, Sea Otters and others.
For more information go to www.jerseycitycemetery.org.