Police-involved shooting in Jersey City follows alleged auto theft
An alleged car thief received treatment at the Jersey City Medical Center after a police-involved shooting Thursday morning, Jan. 28, a press release from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said.
“Shortly after 12:30 a.m…two Jersey City plainclothes police officers attempted to stop [an allegedly] stolen vehicle at [the] intersection [of Ocean and Virginia Avenues in Jersey City],” reads an excerpt from the press release. “During the stop and encounter, one of the officers discharged his service weapon striking the driver of the stolen vehicle, who was the sole occupant.”
The driver, 30, whose name was not disclosed, was treated at the Jersey City Medical Center for gunshot wounds to his upper body. He is listed in critical, but stable condition.
Both officers were also transported to the hospital and have since been released – one sustained a physical injury, according to the press release. The shooting is currently being investigated by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and additional information was not immediately available.
Groundbreaking takes place for 79-story Jersey City tower; will be largest
A developer has broken ground in Jersey City on what will be the state’s tallest building — a 79-story residential tower that will be home to nearly 800 condominiums.
According to the website NJ.biz, representatives of the firm, Chinese Overseas America Inc., were joined Thursday by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and other city officials for a ceremony to kick off construction of the planned 900-foot tower. With completion slated for 2018, the project at 99 Hudson St. will also include some 18,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, plus additional public spaces and plazas.
The building, which is slated to have 781 condos, will rise above the 781-foot Goldman Sachs tower on the Jersey City waterfront to become the tallest in the state, according to a news release. The city also is home to Trump Plaza, a 532-foot tower that is currently New Jersey’s tallest residential building.
“This is a transformative project. It will dramatically reshape New Jersey’s skyline, but more than that, it is symbolic of our continued growth as a world-class metropolis,” Fulop said in a prepared statement. “The fact is, more people than ever want to call Jersey City home, and more businesses than ever want to invest here.”
The ceremony also drew members of the Chinese consulate. The developer is a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corp.
Survey says Jersey City is lowest in DUI-related deaths
The website ConsumerAffairs.com has analyzed traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to create an interactive map displaying the safest cities for drivers in the United States, and Jersey City is ranked number 1 in the nation for lowest DUI-related deaths.
To view this data go to the map and “Quick Facts” card for Jersey City using this link: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/car.html#safest-drivers-dui-nj-jersey-city
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 6.1 million police-reported crashes in 2014 nationwide (the most current available data).
– 32,675 people were killed and 2.3 million injured in motor vehicle crashes
– 31 percent of fatalities were alcohol-related
– 28 percent were caused by speeding
– 10 percent of fatalities were caused by distracted driving
Even though traffic fatality rates are dropping, those numbers are still alarming. So where’s the good news? Jersey City is one of the safest cities for drivers in the U.S.
Two toddlers have died from TV’s falling on them; check before Super Bowl
Millions of people around the globe will be spending next Sunday watching the Super Bowl.
Whether their hopes are with Peyton Manning and the Broncos or Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, chances are the last thing they will be thinking about is the safety of their television set. Yet, every 45 minutes in the United States, a child is rushed to the emergency room for injuries caused by televisions that are not appropriately secured.
In Jersey City, toddler girls died in separate incidents in 2012 and 2009 after TV sets fell on them.
To bring awareness to the problem and educate parents and caregivers on the simple things they can do to make their homes safer, Safe Kids New Jersey is launching National TV Safety Day on Saturday, Feb. 6, the day before Super Bowl L, the biggest TV event of the year.
“We don’t want any parent to have to endure the loss or injury of a child due to a TV tip-over” said Marissa Fisher, RN, Injury Prevention Manager for the Trauma Division at Jersey City Medical Center, a Barnabas Health facility. “National TV Safety Day is a time for families to conduct a quick TV safety check and learn what to do with older TVs that can be dangerous for young kids.”
Many TV tip-overs, said Fisher, are a result of televisions not being properly secured or placed in an unsafe location. From 2008 – 2012, 12 children in New Jersey under the age of five were killed and 33 children were hospitalized due to TV/furniture tip-overs. Nationally, nearly 2,000 children under age five visited ERs during this period due to tip-overs.
Safe Kids encourages families to include TV safety as part of their childproofing plans by placing CRT TVs on low, stable pieces of furniture. If families no longer use their CRT TV, consider recycling it. For families with flat panel televisions, Safe Kids recommends mounting TVs to the wall to reduce the risk of TV tip-overs.
“This is a time of year when many people buy new televisions because they want to watch the game at home on a large screen TV,” said Fisher. “That’s why it’s so important that the TVs are mounted properly. If you’re unsure, get professional help in installing it. You don’t want to look back and say ‘If only I had done this properly.’”
European retailer Primark to be among tenants when American Dream mall opens in 2017
Primark, a leading European retailer of women’s wear, men’s wear, children’s wear, and home goods, will open its first store in northern New Jersey at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford. The retailer will open as part of the American Dream grand opening, scheduled for 2017.
“We are delighted to be joining this superb location in the New York metropolitan area,” said Paul Marchant, Primark chief executive. “The opening of our store at American Dream is a notable step forward in our focused momentum in the Northeast, and we look forward to continuing to provide our amazing fashion at amazing prices to new Primark customers.”
Founded in June 1969, Primark has 299 stores and approximately 60,000 regular employees in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France, and the United States. In addition to two stores currently open in the Northeastern U.S., Primark has announced plans to launch six store locations in 2016.
The 3 million-square-foot American Dream complex will contain a shopping mall with anchor tenants Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, along with over 450 retail, food and specialty shops, complemented by North America’s largest fully-enclosed indoor DreamWorks Water Park, Amusement Park, and a 16-story Big Snow Indoor Ski & Snow Park.
There will also be a 1,500-seat live performing arts theater, a 285-foot-tall observation wheel, luxury movie theatres by Cinemex, a 70,000-square-foot Sea Life Aquarium & Lego Discovery Center, a NHL-size ice rink, and an18-hole miniature golf course. The center also features The Collections, a 460,000 square foot luxury and fashion area, and The Dining Terrace, a collection of 15 full-service restaurants.
PSE&G customers can apply for payment assistance with winter heating bills
With chilly weather here, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) reminds customers that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is accepting applications for the 2015/2016 heating season. LIHEAP is a program run by the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that helps low-income residents with their heating and medically-necessary cooling bills.
“We want low income families to know that help is available,” said Greg Dunlap, vice president of Customer Operations for PSE&G. “Under LIHEAP, those who are income eligible may receive an average of $300 toward their heating bills.”
LIHEAP eligibility is based solely on the prior month’s household gross income and household size. To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the applicant’s household gross income must meet specific monthly income guidelines. For more information, to download a LIHEAP application, or to find out where to apply, visit pseg.com/help or call the New Jersey Home Energy Assistance hotline at (800) 510-3102. Applications are also available at PSE&G’s 16 walk-in Customer Service Centers. Applications and copies of all requested documents must be submitted by April 30.
The LIHEAP application is also an application for the Universal Service Fund (USF). USF is a program created by the State of New Jersey that can lower the amount low-income households pay for gas and electric bills with a monthly credit of $5 to $150. Applications for USF are accepted year-round. Seniors over age 65 or disabled adults collecting Social Security Disability may also be eligible for the New Jersey Lifeline Credit program. NJ Lifeline provides a $225 yearly credit on your PSE&G bill.
PSE&G households who are not eligible for low income programs and are behind in their PSE&G bill should visit pseg.com/help for other programs like the PAGE and TRUE Grant or NJ SHARES.