Some years are just more significant than others, and looking back, 2010 will be seen as a year of dramatic change, with the opening of a new mall, the swearing in of a new City Council, and a change of direction regarding development.
Businesswise, the year opened with a bang with the reopening of a newly constructed ShopRite on Avenue C. A major mall also began to open on Route 440. But the Acme supermarket that serves the uptown section of the city announced it would be closing its doors.
Chiappone pleads guilty
In January, the Bayonne Community News reported behind the scenes testimony that had been used by a state grand jury to indict Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone and his wife on charges of having misused campaign funds in 2005. The testimony led to Chiappone pleading guilty in June to one charge in exchange for a year’s probation and charges dismissed against his wife. This also led to his resignation in August from the state Assembly, and Bayonne Democratic Chairman Jason O’Donnell being named in his place, a seat O’Donnell then won outright in a special election in November.
The indictment did not, however, stop Chiappone from running for mayor in May against incumbent Mayor Mark Smith.
Smith went on to beat Chiappone and Leonard Kantor in the May elections, carrying in three of his five council candidates – Terry Ruane, Deborah Czerwienski, and Joseph Hurley, on the first round. In runoffs in early June, Smith was able to also lead Agnes Gillespie and Ray Greaves to complete a sweep of all the seats. This was a dramatic change in the makeup of local government since Ruane – who was later named council president – was the only one of the five council candidates from the previous council. This election saw councilmen Vincent Lo Re, John Halecky, and Ted Connolly step down. Gary La Pelusa lost to Greaves in the 3rd Ward run off election.
In June, Smith was also named chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, making him a political force on the county and state levels.
Bank scandal and merger
In January, Bayonne saw two of its banks in conflict over a merger deal. While Pamrapo and Bayonne Community Bank would merge, the year would also see other banking issues including the indictment of prominent banking officials and the stiff fines paid for past problems.
Bayonne saw two of its banks in conflict over a merger deal.
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In June, federal authorities indicted Brian Campbell, a former executive of Pamrapo, for allegedly embezzling $681,000.
Change of direction for development
Perhaps the biggest change in development came in February, when the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority announced a change in emphasis from residential development to commercial at the former Military Ocean Terminal on the waterfront.
This threw open the door to even more dramatic news later in the year when the BLRA sold two development districts to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in a blockbuster $235 million deal, setting the stage for development of a possible container port there.
BLRA Chairman Howard Fitch stepped down as chairman, with Henry Sanchez named to replace him.
The opening of Bayonne Crossing mall on Route 440 in December was one of the biggest changes in the city this year – although a second mall proposed for the Military Ocean Terminal’s Harbor Station Mall did not materialize.
Gov. Christie comes to Bayonne – twice
Republican Gov. Christopher Christie took office in January, which had a profound effect on Bayonne. Christie made several trips to the city over the year, and Bayonne was his first stop after he unveiled his economic recovery plan for the state. Later, he returned to announce the $1 billion funding for a solution to the troublesome Bayonne Bridge raising. A commission was supposed to release its recommendations by year’s end as to whether it would replace the bridge, raise it, build a tunnel or install a lift in it.
Banner year for the schools
The Bayonne School District received another Blue Ribbon award from the federal government early in the year when Washington Community School joined the elite club in February.
In May, newly named Commissioner of the state Department of Education Bret Schundler toured Washington School to learn firsthand about the impact of proposed cuts in state aid. Schundler was fired by Gov. Christie later in the year over mistakes made in an application to the federal government, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid. But the state cuts had an impact. In early July, the Board of Education cut 19 teachers and accepted 60 retirements, part of its effort to keep school taxes flat.
In September, Public School No. 14 was renamed in honor of Nicholas Oresko, one of two men from Bayonne to have won the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in World War II,
The year also saw the passing of legendary Marist basketball coach Bill DeFazio.
Marist High School saw a change of principals when Brother Stephen Schlitte was transferred to The Bronx in July and Brother Donnell Neary took his place.
Holy Family Academy also saw a new principal named after a search committee chose veteran Hoboken educator Mary Tremitiedi in September.
Gas line opposed
Percolating for most of the year, residents finally exploded at a public meeting in August, coming out en masse against the proposed gas line to run through Bayonne. Public outrage was fueled by an explosion in California, leading to fears that a similar situation could occur when the new line passed residential houses, playgrounds, sports fields, and the Bayonne Bridge. By the year’s end, Spectra Energy proposed a modified plan that would install the line at a deeper level than first proposed.
Celebrities come to Bayonne
This year was not short on celebrity appearances. Hoboken’s Cake Boss joined “Jersey Shore’” housemate Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi for a uptown reality show shoot at Buon Appetito Restaurant in June.
Leading up to the Major League Baseball’s All Star Game in July, the Simpson Baber Foundation for autism hit a home run when it was among the charities featured during the game.
Former President Bill Clinton returned to Bayonne in August to pay a visit to a new eatery owned by a former White House chef.
In May, the proposed Bayonne Community Museum took another step towards its eventual opening.
Old time businesses close
The year saw the loss of several long time businesses, including Pride Bakery and Lucky’s Hardware, and the closing of Bayonne’s only book store, Unique Books. The Chodash cleaners was also sold this year, ending 103 years of family ownership. It will stay in business under the new owners.
Census taken
The year also saw the city gearing up for the national census as city officials and other groups tried to get the population counted in order to protect the federal and other aid that often hinges on census figures. New Jersey apparently was one of the states that grew least in the nation over the last 10 years.
Notable police actions
Bayonne police had a busy year starting in January with the seizure of 595 pounds of marijuana, the largest quantity in the city’s history. Near the end of the year, they launched a massive manhunt for two men who shot a gas station attendant in the chest during a robbery on Route 440.
A year of dramatic rescues
The fire department had a busy year, starting with the dramatic rescue of a 92-year-old man from Kill Van Kull in January and ending the year with a stubborn fire at the Bayonne Dry Dock that took nearly 24 hours to extinguish.