Mason vs. Zimmer and others in Hoboken race
In Hoboken’s upcoming November election, candidates Dawn Zimmer (the current acting mayor) and Councilwoman Beth Mason have already said they plan to run. Other candidates were required to file to run by the end of the day Wednesday.
Crime stats announced in Jersey City
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and the Jersey City Police Department released official crime statistics that show a nearly 18 percent drop in crime citywide during the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.
According to official crime statistics certified by the New Jersey State Police, through the first six months of 2009, Jersey City realized significant decreases in both violent and non-violent crime categories, with a 17.7 percent drop for six of the eight categories in crime overall for the first half of this year. Overall, violent crime dropped in the first half of 2009 by 18.9 percent, while non-violent crime dropped by 17.3 percent.
The most significant decrease in violent crime was in the category of robbery, which dropped 26.4 percent during the first six months of this year in comparison to last year at the same time. This steep drop was followed similarly in the aggravated assault category with an 11.3 percent decline.
In the non-violent crime category, arsons dropped by 51 percent, car thefts and attempted car thefts saw a 23.4 percent drop, home and business burglaries declined 18.1 percent the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2008, and thefts dropped 14.5 percent compared to the first six months of 2008.
However, in the violent crime category, there was no change in the homicide category, with 15 incidents for the first six months of both 2008 and 2009.
There were a total of 26 sexual assaults in the first half of this year, three more during the same period in 2008.
The crime decreases were impressive enough for Mayor Healy.
“Whenever you see crime, particularly violent crime, decrease, it is a positive measure of not only the effectiveness of police work, but also the success of the Police Department’s partnership with residents,” Healy said.
Meadowlands inaugurates Restaurant Week
No city or region has really been put on the map until it has either a “restaurant week” or a “taste of” event. Using that standard, the Meadowlands, which already hosts an annual “Taste of the Meadowlands,” has truly arrived. This week the Meadowlands Liberty Convention Center and Visitors Bureau will host Epicure, the Meadowlands’ version of restaurant week.
The two-week event begins Monday, Sept. 14 and runs through Friday, Sept 18, then picks up again for the week of Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 25. Restaurants will offer $20 price fixe menus during these dates.
Tredici 13, Mama Mexico, Grasshopper Also, Hunkar Mediterranean Kebab House, Gabriel’s Grille & Bar, CK’s Steakhouse, Mambo Tea House, New China Inn, Bonefish Grill, Stingers Grill, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Tomaso’s, Morton’s, The Steakhouse, Gaslight, Brass Rail, Trinity, 3Forty Grill, Dolce Novita, and Café Matisse are among the restaurants participating.
For more information, call (877) 652-8287.
Help the hungry
Still hungry after Meadowlands Restaurant Week? Fear not, the Third Annual “Taste of the NFL” is coming up on Monday, Oct. 19 at Giants Stadium. Hosted by Antonio Pierce, the event will feature a sampling of favorite dishes from area restaurants and silent and live auctions which will benefit ShopRite Partners in Caring, a year-round community-based hunger fighting initiative.
Several current and and former New York Giants players will also be on hand for the event. VIP tickets are $400, with general admission tickets selling for $250. To purchase tickets, visit www.giants.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Giants Stadium is located at 50 Route 120, East Rutherford, NJ.