JERSEY CITY BRIEFS

Arrest made in Dickinson High School shooting

Jefferson Sencion, 18, of Jersey City, has been arrested for allegedly shooting another 18-year-old boy near Dickinson High School on Dec. 8.
According to Jersey City Police Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill, a dispute that began inside the school escalated to a physical altercation and the youths left the school.
“One of the actors, an 18 year old, was shot in the leg about a block away from the school,” Morrill said. “He sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center.”
North District Detectives received information that a person of interest was at a Jefferson Avenue apartment and Sencion was identified and arrested. Jersey City police arrested Sencion approximately one hour after the shooting.
Sencion was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes (firearms), unlawful possession of a weapon (handgun), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and providing false information/hindering apprehension after he lied to detectives about his age stating he was a juvenile.
“The fact that a disagreement between two students at a high school can escalate to gun violence speaks to how outrageous our culture is today,” said Mayor Steven Fulop. “Clearly, issues of open access to guns that plague every city in the country need to be addressed in the immediate future by Congress. Congress needs to act now to stop the flow of guns across state borders.”

Hudson Reporter writers win awards in NJ-SPJ contest

Writers for The Hudson Reporter newspapers recently won seven awards in the competitive statewide annual New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards.
The weekly chain, with offices in Hoboken and Bayonne, publishes eight newspapers: The Hoboken Reporter, Bayonne Community News, Weehawken Reporter, Jersey City Reporter, Secaucus Reporter, North Bergen Reporter, Union City Reporter, and the West New York Reporter.
The company also publishes the lifestyle magazines 07030, Jersey City Magazine, and Bayonne Magazine. Online versions of the publications appear at www.hudsonreporter.com.
Joe Passantino, in the category Photojournalism Spot News, won third place for his photo titled “Route78 fire photo” on hudsonreporter.com and in the North Bergen Reporter.
Carlo Davis was awarded the Wilson Barto Rookie of the Year first place award on the strength of three articles written for the Hoboken Reporter in his first year on that news beat.
Senior Staff Writer Al Sullivan, who writes for the Jersey City Reporter, won three first place awards, and a second place Deadline Reporting award for his story “A city on edge” that followed the killing of a police officer. His first place awards were for Best Local News, “They don’t want you to fight back;” Feature Writing, for “On A Mission From God;” and Review Writing for “Innocent people were prosecuted along with the guilty.”

Jersey City unemployment rate drops by nearly 40 percent

According to figures released ON Dec. 7 by the U.S. Department of Bureau and Labor Statistics (BLS), the City of Jersey City has cut its unemployment rate by close to 40 percent since the Fulop Administration took office on July 1, 2013.
The latest figures show that the unemployment rate stands at 5.2 percent in the city, down from 8.6 percent at the time the mayor was sworn in almost 30 months ago.
Jersey City added 2,291 net jobs in October alone, which is the latest month for which the BLS has data.
“The numbers prove what we have known all along: The choice between progressive ideas, like paid-sick leave, and a booming economy is a false choice,” Fulop said. “You can be pro-business and progressive at the same time.”
The release of this data comes at the end of a busy year in which the Fulop Administration has taken a number of actions to promote business, especially small business. In April, the Fulop Administration passed an ordinance limiting the downtown chains to allow for small business growth. In September, the mayor launched of a new loan program – the Jersey City Fund – aimed at securing financing for local businesses.
In total, the Fulop administration has seen 537 new small businesses open since taking office. In addition to these hundreds of small businesses, national and international companies like Goya, Nautica and Timberland, RBC, JPMorgan Chase, Imperial Bag, Peapod/Ahold, Forbes, Charles Komar & Sons, and Actavis are relocating to Jersey City or expanding their presence.
Under Fulop, the Jersey City Employment and Training Program (JCETP), has also offered a variety of new training and vocational programs, including an EMT certification course with the Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health, CDL and logistics training, and a construction skills apprenticeship program with the Hudson County Building Trades. The Fulop Administration has also created a model prisoner reentry program, known as Martin’s Place that in its first year, enrolled 178 residents, with 115 already gaining employment.

Murder suspect apprehended

Froylan Lopez, 28, of Jersey City was charged with murder and related charges on Dec. 6 in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old Jersey City man.
Lopez is accused of allegedly stabbing Troy Brandon near the intersection of Monticello and Storms avenues at about 10:15 p.m. on Dec. 5.
Police were dispatched to the area on the report of a man down. They found Brandon with apparent stab wounds to his torso. He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at about 10:55 p.m.
Based on the preliminary investigation, homicide detectives believe the victim, who lived in the area, was simply trying to intervene or render aid to an individual that was just assaulted when another individual stabbed the victim.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, Lopez was apprehended by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department. Lopez was charged with Murder, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (knife) and Possession of a Weapon (knife) for an Unlawful Purpose.
Bail for Lopez was set at $1 million cash.

Jersey City bicyclist struck by vehicle

Hudson County Sheriff Frank X. Schillari said a bicyclist that had been struck by a vehicle on Tonnelle Avenue on Dec. 6.
“On Sunday afternoon at approximately 5:13 p.m., my officers along with North Bergen Police responded to 10th Street and Tonnelle Avenue (RT 1&9) on the report of a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.”
A 19-year-old resident of Concord Street in Jersey City was on his bicycle and came down the 10th Street hill out into the traffic on Tonnelle Avenue without stopping. He was struck by a 2010 Dodge Charger, driven by a North Bergen resident. The driver stopped and called 911.
The victim was transported to Jersey City Medical Center by North Bergen EMS and JCMC Paramedics. Suffering multiple injuries and broken bones, the victim is still hospitalized and listed in stable condition after undergoing surgery.
The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit and no summonses have been issued, Schillari said.

NFL gets stylish at Newport Centre

The National Football League will launch their NFL Juniors Style Lounge at Newport Centre Mall on Dec. 12 from noon to 4 p.m.
Organizers say Style Lounges offers teens a fun, unique way to express their football fandom with NFL Juniors Apparel.
NFL Junior Style Lounges will feature interactive experiences including NFL team manicure decal and flash tattoo stations, photo booths to capture their stylish team pride, sketch artists, DJ and much more. Attendees will also be able to browse completely styled NFL Juniors outfits, showcasing a variety of on-trend ways to wear NFL Apparel. All items will be available for purchase at Kohl’s.
Each style lounge will feature a selection of the market’s team, including: the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and both the New York Football Giants and New York Jets.
“We’re so excited to give our fans access to NFL style in a unique way, while also pampering them a little,” said Natara Holloway, NFL vice president of Consumer Products Brand and Retail. “People often don’t realize that young women are football fans and with these lounges we wanted to show how much we appreciate our young fans.”

Heights library branch to reopen Dec. 21

The Jersey City Free Public Library Heights branch Library, 14 Zabriskie St., will remain closed an additional week to repair its roof and masonry. The Heights Branch is expected to reopen on Monday, Dec. 21.
Work will continue after the reopening, as the contractor has mostly outside work to complete, which includes masonry repointing, roof replacement, interior wall and ceiling repairs, and painting of interiors and the exterior. Expectation for this work’s completion is by Monday, Jan. 11, 2016.

Sheriff’s officers will conduct DWI check

Officers from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end of year “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign. Beginning Dec.11 and continuing through Jan. 1, 2016, there will be extra sheriff’s officers patrolling county roads and highways looking specifically for impaired drivers.
“This is a time to celebrate the holidays and enjoy your family and friends. We want to avoid the preventable tragedy of DWI related crashes,” said Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari. The patrols are made possible by a grant from the NJDOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“A crackdown on impaired driving is a necessary step to making neighborhoods across the county safer,” Schillari said. “The goal of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office is to limit the amount of intoxicated drivers on our roads and making sure Hudson County residents safely enjoy the holidays. It isn’t only a goal, it is my duty as your sheriff.”

Conservation poster contest

New Jersey’s Soil Conservation Districts are now accepting entries in a poster contest designed to raise awareness of natural resources and related issues among young people. The theme for this year’s poster is We All Need Trees.
Students may compete in the following categories: Grade 2-3; Grade 4-6; Grade 7-9; and Grade 10-12. First place winners in each category will receive $200; second-place $100; and third-place $50.
All first-place winners will be entered in the National Association of Conservation Districts poster contest.
The competition is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts and the state’s 15 Soil Conservation Districts, which work to conserve and manage soil and water resources in the state.
To find your local Soil Conservation District, go to www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/conservdistricts.html. All entries must be submitted through the local districts.
For more information and the entry form, visitwww.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/pdf/conservationpostercontest.pdf.

Sires resolution condemning attacks on press passes in House Foreign Affairs Committee

A resolution condemning attacks on press freedoms in the Western Hemisphere, introduced by Rep. Albio Sires, was successfully passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“Freedom of expression is the keystone that holds any democracy together. As a child in Cuba, I witnessed the deterioration of democracy as the Castro regime took over the island and systematically destroyed all aspects of freedom of speech and expression. Being able to speak without censorship is a right that should never be stifled Working to preserve freedom of speech and pushing back against those who seek to quiet their dissenters should be a top priority when engaging with our neighbors in the region,” said Sires.
The resolution supports a free press in Latin America and the Caribbean by condemning violations of press freedom and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to freedom of speech. It also urges countries in the region to implement the recommendations to Member States made by the Organization of American States Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. Lastly, this resolution urges the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of State to assist the media in closed societies to promote a free press.

Tourist helicopters could be banned in NJ

A bill that has the potential to ban all tourist helicopter flights in New Jersey passed the
Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee on Dec. 19.
Sponsored by Assembly Democrats Speaker Vincent Prieto, Angelica Jimenez, Raj Mukherji and Carmelo Garcia the bill would stop the Commissioner of Transportation from allowing helicopter flights in the state. This is aimed in particular at those over the Hudson River.
“Hudson County is home to a beautiful waterfront – of which anyone who has been to Weehawken and Hoboken can attest – along the Hudson River, and there are many apartment and condo buildings interspersed with businesses and restaurants,” Garcia said. ”While the visual beauty may be stunning, the aural conditions are much worse due to tourist helicopter activities which have become a major quality of life issue for our constituents.”
The matter will go to the floor of the Assembly for further consideration.

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