Moody’s upgrades Bayonne credit rating
In its review of the city’s financial position, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Bayonne’s credit rating from Baa1 to A3. This upgrade comes after an outlook upgrade from “stable” to “positive” last year.
Explaining its reasoning, Moody’s stated in the report that, “City management has taken strong steps to improve Bayonne’s finances. Notable recent successes include weaning the city of cash flow notes and materially reducing the structural imbalance.”
“This is great news for the city, and shows that all of the time and effort we put toward moving Bayonne in the right direction is paying off,” Mayor James Davis said.
Redevelopment, a key component of Davis’s agenda, was also cited by Moody’s as a reason for the upgrade. “The city’s tax base will begin to grow given its access to employment opportunities in the New York City area, average demographic indicators, and extensive ongoing development,” the report stated.
“Development and redevelopment remains a top priority for us. It’s what will cure the structural revenue deficit we inherited and face at the start of each new year,” Davis said.
Barry Kushnir selected to fill Piechocki seat
Barry Kushnir, a New Jersey Turnpike Authority employee, was selected on Monday, March 21 to fill the seat of former Bayonne Board of Education trustee Christopher Piechocki, who resigned due to family matters.
Twelve people applied for the unexpired term.
The other candidates were Michael Alonso, Rafael Augusto, Mitchell Brown, Jack Butchko, John Cupo, James Deveney, Lina Drillman, Christos Genes, Gina Irizarry, Sharma Montgomery, and John Sebik, according to Board Secretary Gary Maita.
The board committee met with Deveney, who was the only new board candidate. The others had already applied for either the seat of Ava Mitchell or Will Lawson, who both resigned prior to Piechocki.
Each candidate present was given the opportunity to address the full board at the public meeting.
Marist one of 15 U.S. high schools receiving funding
The NFL Foundation, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Gatorade, and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society on March 15 announced the winners of the Athletic Trainer Initiative, a national grant contest to expand access to athletic trainers in underserved high schools and improve youth athlete safety.
Marist High School is one of 15 schools in the nation to receive the grant. The schools each received $50,000 to develop athletic training programs that will provide nearly 5,000 student athletes with consistent access to this valuable resource. The announcement was made at the seventh annual Youth Sports Safety Summit.
Marist currently does not have the funds to employ an athletic trainer and has minimal athletic trainer coverage for its sports programs. With the grant, Marist hopes to establish a formal athletic training program with a fulltime athletic trainer, training facility, and proper supplies and equipment to improve care for its student athletes.
“This effort addresses a critical need and provides the means for these high schools to establish athletic training programs that will enhance the health and safety of their student athletes,” said Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of health and safety policy.
A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that the presence of athletic trainers resulted in lower overall injury rates, improved diagnosis and return-to-play decisions for concussion and other injuries, and fewer recurrent injuries for student athletes.
Bayonne artists’ group holding show
The Art Circle of Bayonne will hold a spring show with the work of more than 60 artists from Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10 at the Bayonne Community Museum.
The show is free and open to the public.
All types of media art forms will be displayed, including glass blowing, jewelry, sculptures, dolls, woodworking, paintings, and photography.
The opening reception will take place on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. Additional viewings will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10.
The museum is at 229 Broadway, corner of 9th Street.
The Arts Circle is supported by the city of Bayonne.
For more information, call (201) 424-4016.
Real estate leaders to meet in Jersey City for summit
On April 14 and 15, top real estate industry leaders will come together at The Westin Jersey City in Newport as panelists, moderators and keynote speakers, to discuss and educate about current and contemporary issues in the real estate market.
The 1st New Jersey Real Estate Summit, presented jointly by Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty and the Asian Real Estate Association of America, launches two days of networking, breakout sessions, and opportunities relating to the trends in the U.S. housing markets and, particularly, the influx of Asian capital.
Speakers at the NJRE Summit are scheduled to include Philip White, CEO and president of Sotheby’s International Realty; Mitchell E. Rudin, CEO of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation; Lawrence Yun, chief economist of NAR, Sherry Chris, CEO and president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC; and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.
“The 2016 New Jersey Real Estate Summit in Jersey City is bringing together some of the sharpest and most influential minds in our industry,” said Charles Oppler, chief operating officer and owner of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty.
The NJRE Summit will offer a portfolio of topics to be discussed, including the “Role of China in U.S. Real Estate,” “Secrets of Top Producers,” “Foreign Buyer Financing and Tax Solutions,” and “What Asian Investors are Looking For.”
For more information and event registration, visit njresummit.com or areaa.org