Woman’s body found off Jersey City waterfront
The body of a Caucasian woman in her late 40s to early 50s was taken out of the Hudson River on the 14th Street side of the Holland Tunnel air vent near the Newport Green Park at about 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, said Gene Rubino, spokesperson for the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
“The woman’s body was recovered by the Jersey City Fire Department and the Jersey City Police Emergency Services Unit,” Rubino said.
The Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit also responded and is currently investigating the matter.
Jersey City council member Yun seeks $40K raise for council members (from $35K to $75K)
Ten months into his office, Councilman Michael Yun is looking for a raise. The councilman, who has been representing Jersey City Heights since July 1, Yun asked that City Council salaries be raised from $35,000 to $75,000 and increase in salary for their aides from $15,000 to $40,000.
This would put Jersey City council members and their staff more in line with salaries paid to elected officials in the largest New Jersey cities. Council members in Newark received $85,000 a year – although they have also asked for an increase recently.
In smaller cities like Hoboken, council members receive salaries in the low $20s and do not hire aides.
Under Yun’s proposal the council president would see a salary jump from $36,000 to $80,000. The council president in Newark earns about $92,000 annually.
Nothing is written in stone, since the proposal is a suggestion, and not yet something that has been presented formally to the City Council.
The change would need approval from the state legislature that currently has salaries for aides limited to $15,000 for Jersey City.
Mumps outbreak on Stevens campus confirmed
Eight cases of mumps have been confirmed at the Stevens Institute of Technology, according to a press release from the city issued Thursday evening.
The students affected have been vaccinated, the statement said. The cases were suspected for the first time last week and have since been confirmed by health officials.
There have not been any subsequent confirmed diagnoses.
“The city’s Health Department has been working closely with Stevens since the beginning and we are thankful for their responsiveness and proactive efforts,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of the public. The best way to prevent mumps is vaccination. Members of our community should follow the recommendations from health officials and contact their doctor if they believe they may have symptoms. We will keep the community informed of any new developments.”
According to a separate statement released by the university, the cases were found in students ranging in age from 18 to 21. Each was given two doses of the mumps vaccine. The statement noted that mumps outbreaks have occurred in other vaccinated college communities, including at Ohio State University and Fordham University.
All Stevens’ students are required to have several vaccinations before arriving on campus, including the mumps vaccine.
“Stevens is encouraging students and staff, or anyone who may have recently visited the campus or had close contact with a Stevens Institute of Technology student/staff member to visit their healthcare provider if they are exhibiting the following symptoms: swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face, fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite,” said the statement.
For more information about mumps, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/mumps. – Dean DeChiaro
Fulop announces pedestrian plaza plans for Newark Avenue
Mayor Steven M. Fulop proposed a plan last week that would convert a portion of Newark Avenue into a pedestrian plaza to enhance the city’s vibrant downtown commercial and cultural district and support the city’s growing “Restaurant Row.”
Fulop wants to close the roadways to vehicular traffic and design a pedestrian plaza – specifically, Newark Avenue between Grove Street and Barrow Street and Erie Street from Newark Avenue to Bay Street – that would allow restaurants to set up outdoor dining and create additional performance spaces.
The area already hosts more than a dozen outdoor concerts and performances annually through the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District’s ‘Groove on Grove’ concert series, JC Fridays and the Creative Grove Arts Market.
The administration will present the measure to the City Council at their meeting next week.
The ordinance, which will go into effect for the summer months and serve as a trial run for up to one year, would also create more foot traffic in the downtown area, stimulating the local economy. The measure has gained the support of the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District, which is partnering on the creation and on-going maintenance of the new promenade.