HOBOKEN BRIEFS

Police arrest two men on lewdness charges this week

Police arrested two men for separate cases of lewdness that alleged took place in Hoboken between June 26 and July 24 when the men allegedly masturbated in front of women in the area.
Hoboken resident Gary Capone, age 33, allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of females ages 14 to 35 years of age, according to a police press release. He was charged with five counts of lewdness, one count of criminal sexual contact, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
The release said that the women were able to describe the suspect, and police spent several days canvassing the area and following leads. The release also said he’s a chef at a local restaurant.
Bail was set for $9,000 and he was transported to central judiciary processing for his first appearance in court.
The detectives on the case were Adam Colon, Edward Lepre, and Arturo Gonzalez.
The second man accused is a 40-year-old resident of Fairview named David Lorente. Lorente allegedly approached a victim during the late night hours and “asked victim about engaging in sexual activities with him. The defendant [allegedly] began to expose his intimate parts and mastrubate.” When the victim called the police assailant fled the scene.
He was charged with one count of lewdness. He was released on a bail of $2,000 with the option of a 10 percent down payment.
The detectives on the case were David Dimartino, Robert Roman, and Sgt. William Vera.
Captain Charles Campbell credited the Investigative Bureau for bringing a timely resolution to the investigations.
See the ‘David Bowie Engagement’ live outdoors
In 1969, the hit song “Space Oddity” brought British singer David Bowie into the pop music mainstream. Since then, his art remained an influential force in music right up to his death on Jan. 10. He spearheaded new directions in rock and pop, and also created unique expressions of jazz, blues, and funk while maintaining the essence and respect for each genre’s form.
Along with his music, he also was respected as a painter whose works were presented at prestigious galleries in England and America, performed as an actor on the Broadway stage in “The Elephant Man” and in 23 motion pictures.
On Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at Sinatra Park, 401 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken, 35 musicians from the city’s fertile music community will join together to pay final respects to this seminal artist in a free concert.
The city of Hoboken, along with ALEOproductions, will sponsor the concert.
A cast of local musicians will each play a small handful of songs. Instead of going the normal route and having each artist or a band perform a rendition of a tune, specific tunes have been assigned to each artist to allow these musicians in the community to intermingle with each other. Essentially, there will be a unique band for each tune, made up of guitars, strings, brass and woodwinds, drums, keys, and a bunch of singers.

Liebler free speech suit against Zimmer and city to proceed

A First Amendment lawsuit by Hoboken resident and political activist David Liebler, a political critic of Mayor Dawn Zimmer, will go forward after a federal judge denied a motion by the city to dismiss the suit.
The suit against Zimmer and members of the City Council stems from an angry exchange during the public comments portion of a council meeting last Oct. 21 between Liebler and Councilman Ravinder Bhalla, a Zimmer ally who was council president at the time.
Liebler started talking about an article published earlier that day by PolitickerNJ that said Zimmer’s husband, Stanley Grossbard, had given suggestions to the Hoboken Housing Authority board in 2013 about how to terminate the contract of Carmelo Garcia, its executive director at the time. (The Reporter has also reported on the situation, see hudsonreporter.com for past coverage.)
“Stan Grossbard is the unofficial mayor of Hoboken!” Liebler charged. When Bhalla tried to silence him, Liebler demanded, “I want to know why you won’t let me speak.”
Bhalla said, “Because you’re a disgrace.”
On orders from Bhalla, Hoboken police officers escorted Liebler out of the council chambers.
Liebler’s lawsuit charges that the mayor and council members conspired to deprive him of his First Amendment right to free speech and his Fourth Amendment right to due process, as part of “a pattern and practice on the part of Hoboken, the Council, and each of the individual council members to suppress political speech they disagree with and/or disapprove.”
The defendants’ motions to dismiss the suit claimed that as public officials they were protected by “qualified immunity” against lawsuits for actions carried out in the course of their official duties. However, the motions were denied by U.S. District Court Judge McNulty in Newark in a July 21 order. McNulty ruled that officials can still be held legally accountable for clear violations of a plaintiff’s constitutional rights, and that establishing whether such violations occurred can require the kind of analysis of the facts “available only on summary judgment or a trial.”
City spokesman Juan Melli declined to comment last week.

Hoboken residents gain access to Stevens tennis courts

The Stevens Institute of Technology and the City of Hoboken have announced a pilot program which will allow Hoboken residents to use four tennis courts through Aug. 21.
Residents above the age of 18 will have access to the tennis courts located off of Ninth Street on the north end of campus from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
All residents must sign up at the Stevens Athletic Center for a Stevens visitor ID swipe card which will grant them access to the courts.
Please contact the Stevens Office of Campus Recreation for more information: Director John Maurizi, jmaurizi@stevens.edu (201) 216-8111, Assistant Director Will Emanuele, wemanuel@stevens.edu, (201) 216-8554, Reception desk (201) 216-8040.

Man rescued from Hudson River Sunday

A 35-year-old man jumped into the Hudson River from Pier 13 at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday July 24, police said.
A boat belonging to the Shipyard Sailing Club pulled him out of the water after witnesses told police he jumped in after drinking a beer.
Lt Jim Peck of the Hoboken Police Department said the man was taken to Hoboken University Medical Center for examination and for observation.
The number of young men found in the Hudson River has been a concern in the last three years, as two men have died after drinking in bars with friends and heading to the pier. In other cases, people have willfully jumped into the water for a swim, not realizing just how dangerous the undertow is in the area. And some have fallen in by accident.

National Night Out will take place on Aug. 2

The Hoboken Police Department and Stevens Police Department will host “National Night Out in Hoboken” on Tuesday, Aug. 2 in Church Square Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
America’s Night Out Against Crime”, is an annual, nationwide event that allows the community workers to give back to their community.
The event promises “a large slate of family and youth-oriented activities… to take place,” according to the Hoboken Police Department website.
Princesses Elsa from “Frozen” and Cinderella are scheduled to make an appearance and take pictures with attendees. The event will include a bounce house, free food, and giveaways including baseball tickets, gift cards, and a Burberry handbag according to the city’s website.
Free child car seat inspections will also be conducted by the police department in the parking lot of the AJ Demarest School located at 158 Fourth St.
For more information please contact Officer Daniel Simone at simoneda@hobokenpd.org or visit, www.Hobokenpd.com.

Public meeting to discuss possible playground construction

On Monday Aug. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. a public meeting will be held at the Hoboken Historical Museum located at 1301 Hudson St. to discuss planned improvements to Maxwell Park including the addition of toddler equipment adjacent to the existing playground.
The Seth Morris 9/11 Heroes Foundation and Apple Montessori School have donated funding for a survey and rendering for the project. If the project is approved, they will also be providing the funding for design and construction.
If the project is approved, the Seth Morris Foundation, together in partnership with Apple Montessori School, will donate the cost of installing a toddler appropriate playground as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Hoboken.
Those who cannot attend the meeting can also provide written comments to the Director of Human Services, Leo Pellegrini via mail at 94 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 or email: lpellegrini@hobokennj.gov.

Real-estate offices host food drive

13 Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty offices throughout Northern New Jersey has partnered with Move For Hunger, a national non-profit organization, to host a food drive.
Non-perishable food items will be collected at each of the 13 Prominent Properties locations in Northern NJ from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.
Hoboken has to locations in which donators can drop off food. They are 321 Washington St. and 306 Washington St.
All Donations will be picked-up and delivered by Ridgewood Moving Service to the Center for Food Action in Ridgewood. All Season Movers, Inc. and Main Street Movers will pick-up and deliver donations to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside. For more information contact Dan Beam at dan@moveforhunger.org

Professional soccer team practices on Sinatra Field

The F.C. Internazionale Milano known colloquially as Inter Milan is a professional Italian soccer club based in Milan. The team practiced Wednesday Morning at Sinatra Field before that evenings scrimmage against the Estudiantes de La Plata from Argentina at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison New Jersey.
The Italian team who stayed at The W Hotel had a “ a gentle session … to get the legs moving ahead of tonight’s encounter at Red Bull Arena in Harrison against Estudiantes de La Plata,” stated the team’s website.

Manhole covers dislodged as flooding occurs in Hoboken

Hoboken residents faced flooding on Monday July 25 during the storm as at least 15 manhole covers were dislodged.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning in the area on Monday in advance of heavy rain.
The city of Hoboken’s official Twitter page warned residents of the heavy rain and to be cautious.
“At least 15 manhole covers reported dislodged due to heavy rain. Do not walk/drive if you can’t see the road,” stated the tweet.
Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante posted several updates via Twitter urging residents to be cautious.
“If you see lines down or any flashes or sparks on the ground, do not go near. Do not drive into flood covered roads,” he wrote in a tweet.
At least one motorist was stranded during the flood near Second and Clinton streets according to Ferrante.
The St Ann’s festival was cancelled for the evening due to the weather and the Hudson Bergen Light Rail service was disrupted between Danforth Avenue and Eighth Street due to downed trees.
Ferrante thanked his officers for their work during the flood. He wrote in a Tweet, “Thank you to the @HobokenPD officers who are out there tonight in dangerous weather conditions, handling many traffic situations. “
On Friday, the National Weather Service issued another advisory as they expected rains and flooding again after a week of high heat.

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