Cooling centers and water facilities are open
Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announced that the city is opening three cooling sites from Friday, Aug. 12 to Sunday, Aug. 14 as temperatures are expected to reach into the high 90s. The weather forecast indicates that in addition to the high temperature, people must be aware of increased humidity levels and poor air quality.
The Mary McLeod Bethune Community Center, 140 Martin Luther King Drive, will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. all weekend for residents to cool off. The city’s two senior centers – the Joseph Connors Senior Center at 28 Paterson St. and the Maureen Collier Senior Center at 335 Bergen Ave. — will be open as well from10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
All residents, especially the elderly, disabled people, pregnant women and children under the age of 2, are encouraged to stay indoors or take advantage of the cooling facilities if necessary.
“In preparation of yet another weekend of excessive heat and humidity, we want to remind residents to remain safe, and also to continue to keep watch of the elderly and disabled who may need assistance,” said Mayor Fulop. “We are offering full access to our community centers and municipal pools, and we strongly encourage those in need to take advantage of them throughout the weekend until the uncomfortable weather subsides.”
In addition, all city parks and pools are open for residents to enjoy. For a full schedule of pool and sprinkler locations, please visit: http://jerseycitynj.gov/swimming/sprinklers/
The Jersey City Free Public Library system is also open for residents looking for a cool place on weekdays and Saturdays. For a full listing of library hours, please visit: http://www.jclibrary.org/hours.
Drowned boater identified as East Orange man
A body found floating in the marina near Liberty State Park on Aug. 9 has been identified as Roger Brown, 64, of East Orange, according to city spokesperson, Jennifer Morrill.
Brown was reported missing from his boat on Aug. 7, which was docked in Liberty Harbor.
Bill would require court order before garnishing wages for student loans
Legislation requiring the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to obtain a court order prior to using certain collection practices for defaulted loans under New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program will be introduced by State Senator Sandra Cunningham and others.
A companion piece is also expected to be introduced in the state Assembly.
“HESAA’s policies are taking advantage of a system that has no ethical protocol,” said Senator Cunningham (D-Hudson). “We need to enact stricter procedures and we will start by requiring that the agency obtains a court order before taking certain actions.”
A recent New York Times investigative report in conjunction with ProPublica detailed an agency with onerous loan terms that has employed aggressive tactics in the event borrowers were not able to make payments. The Times article profiled a mother who, despite her son’s killing, was informed by HESAA that she was not eligible for loan forgiveness. The article noted aggressive collection procedures, even causing a college graduate to declare bankruptcy at the age of 26.
The article suggests one reason for the aggressive tactics is that the state depends on Wall Street investors to finance student loans through tax-exempt bonds.
Borrow a necktie from ‘Tiebrary’ at Miller Branch Library
Since late spring, the “Tiebrary” at the Miller Branch of the city library at 489 Bergen Ave. has received many compliments on the display and the array of its neckties available for borrowers, but has not received as many requests lately. They’re available for those going on job interviews or other occasions.
Renee Moody, manager of the Miller Branch, believes that will change come the fall, when more job-seekers tend to borrow ties.
The library is starting various initiatives to make people aware of this services. If this Tiebrary is successful, the Jersey City library will expand the tie-borrowing service to the Five Corners, Greenville and Cunningham branches.
Starting with 178 ties in early June of this year, the Miller Branch continually accepts donations of ties for the Tiebrary, which is located on the first floor near the Circulation Desk, in order to provide a large and varied selection.
There have been multiple donors and many who wish the program much success.
“We have had retired doctors, lawyers and some retired teachers from New York, Bayonne, as well as Jersey City, all who thought the Tiebrary is a great idea and would like to see those in need make good use of the ties,” said Miller Branch Head Renee Moody.
“The library system is very appreciative of all the people who have donated their neckties,” added Library Director Priscilla Gardner. “We thank our donor and welcome our library patrons and those from Hudson municipalities who need to borrow the neckties.”