City reval case gets setback
Superior Court Judge Francis B. Shultz has dismissed Jersey City’s counter suit against a West New York revaluation firm, in a ruling that may invalidate the basis for the city’s refusal to pay the remainder of the company’s fee, according to published reports.
Jersey City is being sued by Reality Appraisal, a West New York firm, seeking payment for a revaluation that the city halted in July 2013.
The revaluation had been approved under the administration of Mayor Jerramiah Healy. But when Steven Fulop took over as mayor in July 2013, he ordered the revaluation halted.
The appraisal company is suing the city for payment of about $1 million it says it is owed.
The city counter-sued, charging the company with a conflict of interest because it hired Brian O’Reilly, a former business administer for the city under the Healy Administration, and that this had influenced the city’s choosing of the firm.
Judge Shultz, however, said testimony from several city employees did not support the city’s claims.
City officials said they would appeal the decision. An adverse ruling on the appeal would likely pave the way for a new revaluation to begin. The last property revaluation took place in 1988.
81-year-old Jersey City woman found murdered
Lucila Cardenas-Viejo, 81, was found dead on the living room floor of her Lexington Avenue home on Feb. 7, the victim of a brutal attack, according to a report released last Monday by the county prosecutor.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said that at approximately 10:31 a.m.., Jersey City Police were dispatched to 64A Lexington Avenue on a report of an unresponsive elderly female, later identified as Cardenas-Viejo.
Upon arrival, police found the victim on the floor of her living room with multiple blunt and sharp force injuries to her body. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:53 a.m. Video surveillance footage retrieved from the scene depicted a person of interest attempting to gain entry to the victim’s residence.
The Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit is actively investigating the case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual depicted in the video. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at (201) 915-1345, or by leaving an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide
Civic JC to host property tax workshop on March 7
A New Jersey real estate attorney, Thomas M. Olsen, will be a featured speaker at a property tax workshop hosted by Civic JC on March 7 in the City Hall council chambers. The event will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will deal with issues such as how to plan for the upcoming city-wide reval as well as other pertinent issues. The event is free.
CarePoint lays off about 2 percent of its workforce
CarePoint Health has confirmed that the company has laid off employees from its three Hudson County hospitals. CarePoint spokesman Jarrod Bernstein said, however, the layoffs accounted for less than 2 percent of the total work force.
CarePoint employs around 4,500 people in its system that includes Christ Hospital in Jersey City, Bayonne Medical Center, and Hoboken University Medical Center.
Of about the 90 employees laid off, Bernstein said about two dozen were union members.
The cuts, however, will not affect patient care, Bernstein said.
Celebrating Women’s History Month
Women of Action Awards and Women’s History Month exhibition opening at City Hall on March 1 at 5:30 people will kick off a month of events celebrating women and their accomplishments. The March 1 event will feature singer Angel Ram. For more information and a schedule of events call (201) 547-5134 or go to www.jersetycitynj.gov.
Greenville Primary Care in the former Greenville Hospital building is now open
Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health recently opened Greenville Primary Care at 1825 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. This brand new primary care office treats a variety of illnesses and injuries in patients of all ages including children and seniors. They treat people with conditions including poison ivy, allergies, ear infections, sinus congestion, sore throats, minor burns, cuts, lacerations, acne and insect bites.
It’s also a place to go for a follow up visit from the Hospital Emergency Room, including stitch and suture removal. In addition, the Greenville Primary Care office will also provide wellness examinations, flu shots, screenings, physicals for school-summer camps and work.
If you need an appointment call (201) 942-4545. The office participates in the subsidized NJ Vaccine for Children’s Program. Currently the Greenville Primary Care Office is open Monday to Friday 9 to 11:30 am and 12:30 to 5 p.m. The practice is led by an Advanced Practice Nurse who is certified in Family Medicine. Most insurance plans are accepted and the office has established fees for those without insurance. Counselors are available to assist those without insurance find an insurance program.
Jersey City man charged with allegedly stealing $225,000 from his mother
On Feb. 17, Angel Fontaina, 45, of Jersey City, was taken into custody three days after a state grand jury charged him with theft by deception, identity theft, and passing bad checks, all in the second degree. Fontaina was also charged with three counts of fourth-degree forgery in the alleged scam that virtually drained his mother’s two fixed annuity accounts with New York Life Insurance Company, they say.
Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) announced in a press release that he was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $225,000 from his 85-year-old mother’s annuity accounts. The state alleges that Fontaina, who lives with his mother, siphoned money from the accounts through 10 withdrawals made between June 2014 and October 2014.