Jersey City arrests 12 alleged ‘violent offenders’ in response to ongoing gang retaliation
The Jersey City Police Department’s Gang Task Force conducted an early morning operation on April 5 executing arrest warrants on a dozen of what the city calls its most violent offenders, according to a release from city spokesperson Jennifer Morrill. Several of them are teenagers.
The task force was formed in November 2015 by Chief Philip Zacche and Director James Shea in response to the ongoing violence between two rival factions in Jersey City.
The task force commanded by Lt. Stephen Trowbridge (Street Crimes Unit) and Lt. Michael Gajewski (Major Case Squad) was a joint operation consisting of officers from the JCPD Street Crimes Unit, the JCPD Major Case Squad, the JCPD Cease Fire Unit, the JCPD Criminal Warrants Squad, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Gang Unit, the N.J. State Police, and the United States Marshals.
The release said the operation combined traditional policing techniques along with innovative technological advancements in an attempt to dismantle the gangs’ leadership and damage its ability to illegally sell narcotics and weapons.The five-month-long investigation into the rival gang activities has resulted in 134 arrests and the recovery of 14 illegal handguns as well as large quantities of illegal narcotics. This investigation is ongoing and future arrests are expected by the task force.
According to the city release, Daquan Edwards of Van Nostrand Avenue, 19, Rashaun Bell of Princeton Avenue, 19, and Frederick Barnett of Bostwick Avenue, also 19 were charged with Gang Criminality. All three were born within a month of each other in 1997.
Other people charged are as follows — noting that thus far, these are only allegations: Stefan Alexandre of Seaview Avenue, 21, unlawful possession of a weapon, minor in possession of a weapon; Frederick Thomas of MLK Drive, 20, conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon, possession of CDS; William Conyers of Wegman Parkway, 20, gang criminality, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault; Kenny Harrigan of Clerk Street, 19, conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon; Rafael Gomez of Summit Avenue, 18, conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon, possession of a firearm by a minor.
Also charged were Samuel Washington of Myrtle Avenue, 27, gang criminality; Gerald Hagood of Pearsall Avenue, 20, conspiracy to possess CDS; Laquan Clark of Woodlawn Avenue, 31, three counts of conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon, Gang Criminality, conspiracy to possess CDS, conspiracy to possess CDS with the intent to distribute, possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS within 1000 ft of a school; and Jamie Franklin of Dwight Street, 17, gang criminality, conspiracy to possess CDS with the intent to distribute, six counts of conspiracy to unlawfully possess weapons, six counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, four counts of conspiracy to possess CDS, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
Prosecutor launches operation ‘Slow Down, Save Lives’
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced on April 8 the Launch of Operation “Slow Down, Save Lives.” The objective of the operation is to curb speeding along the roadways in Hudson County, enforce laws that require drivers to yield to pedestrians in walkways, and to prevent jaywalking.
This joint initiative is set to commence on April 12, and will continue through the summer months. Local municipal police departments from Bayonne, Jersey City, Union City, West New York and North Bergen will work in conjunction with the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and the prosecutor’s office to monitor and enforce laws. Specific enforcement will take place along John F. Kennedy Boulevard from Bayonne at the southernmost point and span northward concluding in North Bergen.
Prosecutor Suarez said: “Our community has suffered the tragic loss of lives in recent weeks and we must make every effort to ensure pedestrian and motorist safety. The message we are conveying to drivers on our roads is excessive speeds and distracted driving will not be tolerated.”
WFM presents ‘The Lion King’
Waterfront Montessori’s 2016 Theatrical Production will present “The Lion King” on Sunday, April 17 at 3 and 5:30 p.m. in the MS4 Theater, 107 Bright St. in Jersey City. Tickets are $10 each and will be available at the door. This fee offsets the cost of theater rental. The production is being presented by the WFM Elementary and Middle School students.
St. Peter’s screens free documentary on economic inequality on April 10
St. Peter’s University Social Justice Program is sponsoring a free showing of the film “Inequality for All.” Robert Reich’s award-winning documentary is a passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, and explains the current state of growing income inequality in our nation in a very entertaining and human way.
Professor Reich, who is currently the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, is a Rhodes Scholar who has served in three administrations. He’s written a dozen books about America’s economy, among them the bestsellers “Aftershock,” ”Supercapitalism,” and “Beyond Outrage.”
“Inequality for All” will be shown Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Pope Lecture Hall at 115 Glenwood Ave. in Jersey City. Free parking is available at 900 Montgomery Ave. or 830 West Side Ave. St. Peter’s is a ten-minute walk from the Journal Square PATH Station.
For more information, go to www.inequalityforall.com or contact dstump@saintpeters.edu or ddouthat@optonline.net .
HCCC to host open house at its North Hudson Campus on April 23
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will host an open house on Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the College’s North Hudson Campus, 4800 Kennedy Boulevard, Union City. The HCCC North Hudson Campus is adjacent to the NJ Transit Bergenline Avenue Transit Center.
The open house – one of two scheduled for April – is available to all those interested in earning an associate degree or certificate at HCCC.
“This is a great opportunity for those who are about to graduate high school, those who have already graduated, and those attending other colleges who are interested in transferring, to learn all about Hudson County Community College,” said HCCC President Glen Gabert, Ph.D.
Dr. Gabert said that the open house attendees will be able to learn how they can save thousands of dollars on college tuition by earning an associate degree at HCCC for a fraction of the cost of four-year colleges and universities.
Members of the HCCC faculty and staff will provide information to prospective students about the college’s academic and career programs, including Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, Nursing, Business, Accounting, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Criminal Justice, and other studies. There will also be information about the HCCC Dual Admission programs with Saint Peter’s University and New Jersey City University, which not only save money but also time.
Those who attend the April 23 open house will be provided with information on scholarships and financial aid, and the how-to’s of setting up a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) account.
The college will also have representatives from their award-winning students support services team at the open house with information on how the team assists HCCC students in attaining academic success. In addition, HCCC student ambassadors will lead tours of the HCCC North Hudson Campus and talk about the full roster of campus events available at the college throughout the year, including the free HCCC cultural events that are open to all the residents of Hudson County.
As a bonus, the $25 application fee will be waived for prospective students who attend the open house and apply to HCCC.
More information may be obtained by emailing admissions@hccc.edu. Those who wish to attend the April 23 open house are invited to RSVP at www.hccc.edu/openhouse.
The college has scheduled an additional open house at the Journal Square Campus in Jersey City on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a “Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Open House & Marketplace” from 12 to 3 p.m.
Brunch to highlight cancer prevention is May 7
The Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation for Cancer Prevention is holding a “Brunch to Crunch Cancer” on Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. at the Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne. Men and women are welcome. Between 10 a.m. and12:30 p.m. there be vendors for your shopping pleasure. This year’s guest speaker is Dr. Julie DiGioia. Dr. DiGioia is an attending breast surgeon at Overlook Medical Center in Summit and Jersey City Medical Center. She is the chief of surgical oncology and is the medical director of the Christie Kerr Women’s Center at Jersey City Medical Center/Barnabas Health. Tickets are $50. Call (20) 437-9100 to reserve your seat.
The Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make cancer prevention programs available to the community. Its focus is to grant access to the tests and/or screenings necessary to those individuals who may otherwise be denied, those who are uninsured and above the poverty level. It is the foundation’s goal to make Mammography, PSA,Colonoscopy, Oral and Skin Cancer screenings available to them.
County approves nearly $12 million for road projects
The Hudson County Board of Freeholders approved last week an ordinance providing for various road projects and bridge improvement projects and appropriating $11,761,968 in state and federal grants to finance the cost. The road, bridge, and transportation improvements include resurfacing, reconstruction, excavation, milling, paving, curbing, sidewalk improvements, the acquisition and installation of pedestrian indications, traffic signals, guide rails, demolition, excavation, improvements to superstructures, substructures or culverts, approach, drainage, landscaping work, and roadway painting.