Third Hudson County brush fire of the week damages school van
Smoke could be seen for miles from the International-Matex Tank Terminal (IMTT) on Sunday afternoon when a two-alarm brush fire was reported around 3 p.m. at East 5th Street and Isabella Avenue, according to city officials. The blaze was isolated to the waterfront, and started 20 feet from the shore. The main section of the fire was put out in 25 minutes, and the FDNY sent over a fire boat to help. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire threatened nearby Board of Education buses and damaged one van. Recent dry weather has put Hudson County at a high risk for fires. Three brush fires occurred in one week, in Secaucus, Kearny, and Bayonne.
Victim identified at global container terminal
The man who was killed in an accident at GCT Bayonne has been identified as Hon L. Lok, 53, of Brooklyn, NY. He was struck by a passing vehicle while standing next to his truck, according to Port Authority officials. A second Brooklyn man, 58, was also struck and sustained non-life threatening injuries. He was treated at Jersey City Medical Center. The vehicle involved in the fatal accident was impounded. The Port Authority Police said that no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
Recall petition officially underway
The group that filed a notification of intention to recall Mayor James Davis was displaying its new petition following Wednesday night’s council meeting after City Clerk Robert Sloan approved the petition that day. The group leading the way, which includes Michael Alonso, Donald Baran Jr. and Patrick Desmond, are longtime opponents of the mayor and hope to unseat him in a special election. The New Jersey State Constitution states that a petition to unseat a mayor needs to be submitted within 160 days of filing, and needs signatures from 25 percent of the total number of registered voters. That means that Michael Alonso has until September 27 to convince 8,178 people to sign the petition to remove the mayor. If they achieve that required number of signatures, a recall election will be held, which will cost the taxpayers of Bayonne $200,000.
Bayonne High School security guard arrested for serving alcohol to minors
A security guard for the Bayonne High School was arrested on April 12 on charges of alleged child abuse, allegedly endangering the welfare of a child and allegedly offering an alcoholic beverage to an underage person last week, according to Bayonne Police Lietenant Janine Foy. A five-week investigation followed allegations made on March 2.
Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 30
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the Bayonne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will participate in Take-Back Day. The event will give the public an opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Take-Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents are encouraged to bring their medications for disposal to the front lobby of City Hall, 630 Avenue C, between 27th and 28th Streets.
The service is free and anonymous. Residents are encouraged to remove their names from medication bottles. Law enforcement recommends removing prescription labels that contain any personal identifying information.
The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps objects. Only pills and patches will be accepted. Americans are advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose safety and health hazards.
Mayor Davis said, “Take-Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. I urge all residents to take part in this event if they have prescription drugs that should no longer be in their homes.” According to the DEA, medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription abuse in the area are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website, which is www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.