Students disciplined after Dickinson HS fight
Jersey City school officials have announced that 16 students who were allegedly involved in a brawl at Dickinson High School on March 27 will be punished and the school district will establish a task force on violence in the schools.
Acting Principal Maryjo Trusso reportedly suffered minor injuries while attempting to break up a fight in the hall.
The incident was recorded on video and broadcast online, but no students reported injury as result of the violence. The 40-second video showed students swinging at each other.
While no police report was filed, the fight resulted in the school district establishing a task force to deal with teen violence.
Son of legendary prize fighter to speak at JC middle school
Sugar Ray Robinson II will appear at Franklin L. Williams Middle School on Thursday, April 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of a celebration of National Library Week.
Robinson II has given presentations to audiences on behalf of his father, champion prizefighter Sugar Ray Robinson, since he was a child, and has been a motivational speaker for years. Robinson will give out signed copies of his book, “Pound for Pound,” a biography of Sugar Ray Robinson, to the first 50 registrants in the Youth Boxing Program who come that evening.
Peter Stuyvesant statue set to return
Mayor Steven M. Fulop and Hudson County officials announced this week that a resolution authorizing a loan agreement with Hudson County to display the city’s statue of Peter Stuyvesant to honor of the state’s 350th anniversary will be presented at next week’s City Council meeting.
Peter Stuyvesant was the director general of the Colony of New Netherlands – which was the Dutch community that included New Amsterdam (now New York City) and the Town of Bergen (now Jersey City). Stuyvesant was the last Dutch governor of the colony, having surrendered to the English when they arrived in 1664. New Netherlands was then split down the Hudson River, with the eastern portion being granted to the Duke of York, becoming New York, and the western portion becoming New Jersey.
Jersey City’s Stuyvesant statue and Old Town of Bergen Monument were built to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Bergen, the state’s first permanent settlement, which was located around Bergen Square in Jersey City – near modern day Journal Square.
DeGise to moderate panels on transportation
County Executive Tom DeGise, who serves as chairman of North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, will be moderating two panels and speaking at a luncheon during the NJ TransAction Conference in Atlantic City on April 8-9. TransAction will feature 70-plus workshop sessions specializing in bus, rail, roads, bridges, goods movement, pedestrian/bicycle, paratransit, community transportation, ports and other topics related to transportation infrastructure in the Garden State and the larger region. Last year more than 900 transportation-related officials, planners, and elected leaders attended the conference. They included representatives from more than 20 states and several provinces of Canada
Jersey City native signed by NJ Giants
Robert Ayers, a native of Jersey City, has signed a two year contract with the New York Giants after he previously played for the Denver Broncos.
Ayers is considered a quality defensive end and recently returned to Jersey City and Giants Stadium for Superbowl XLIII. Ayers, who spent five years with the Broncos, was credited with 5.5 quarterback sacks last season.
Jersey City launches sewing operator training and job placement initiative
Mayor Steven M. Fulop has announced the launch of an initiative to train and employ up to 30 Jersey City residents through a partnership with Bethel Industries.
Bethel Industries is a Jersey City-based company that manufactures apparel items including uniforms for the United States military. The company was founded in 1992 and is owned by Mrs. Sun Kim. It employs approximately 200 individuals.
To ensure that the company meets the demand of its contracts, Jersey City Employment and Training Program (JCETP) employed an instructor and developed a curriculum that was approved by Bethel Industries. The individuals targeted for this program will complete an intensive four week training program that will be held on Saturdays. Then the individuals will complete a paid two week apprenticeship by the company. At the conclusion of this apprenticeship, those who are still employed will be awarded a certificate of program completion and have the opportunity to be hired by the company for permanent employment. Rebecca Posey, a teacher from Ferris High School in Jersey City with six years teaching experience and more than 15 years working in the fashion industry, has been hired as the course instructor.
Jersey City Employment and Training Program is still recruiting candidates for this opportunity. Interested applicants can contact Betsy Padilla (201) 217-7171 or Marilyn Ramirez (201) 217-7170 to schedule an interview and eligibility assessment.
Primary battles in six freeholder districts
In what proposes to be the most Board of Freeholder seats challenged in a Democratic primary race in recent memory, voters will be asked to choose between candidates for six of the nine seats.
Freeholders Doreen DiDomenico in District 1 that includes all of Bayonne and a small portion of Jersey City and Thomas Liggio in District 8 that includes all of North Bergen and a portion of Secaucus have decided not to seek reelection.
In District 1, Kenneth Kopacz, who has the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO), will be challenged by Rafael Augusto to fill the seat vacated by DiDomenico.
To fill Liggio’s vacated seat, HCDO-supported Anthony Vainieri, Jr. is being challenged by Enrique Henry Marrero. The winner will face off against Republican Francis Bruno in November.
In Jersey City, Freeholders Bill O’Dea (District 2) and E. Junior Maldonado (District 4) are running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Freeholder Jeffrey Dublin (District 3) in Jersey City is fending off a challenge by Gerard Balmir, who has support of the HCDO, Esmeralda Trinidad (of Women for Jersey City) and Arnold B. Williams.
Freeholder Anthony Romano in District 6 – which covers all of Hoboken and a portion of Jersey City – faces a primary challenge from Philip Cohen, who has support of the HCDO, and Adela Rohena Santiago.
Freeholder Tilo E. Rivas in District 6 – which represents Union City – is being challenged by Jose G. Falto
Freeholder Jose Munoz of District 7, which represents West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg, is being challenged by Caridad Rodriquez, who is supported by the HCDO.
Freeholder Albert Cifelli in District 9, which represents a portion of Secaucus and several towns in West Hudson, is running unchallenged.
Mayor’s Hudson-Bergen commission to push light rail expansion
Englewood Mayor Frank Huttle III and Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop will co-chair a newly-formed mayors’ commission to spearhead an ambitious plan to extend the long-awaited northern portion of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line (HBLR) through Bergen County, Mayor Huttle’s office has announced.
The Mayors’ Hudson/Bergen Light Rail Commission is comprised of all of the mayors from Hudson and Bergen counties representing towns along the rail line and its proposed northward extension, including Englewood, Jersey City, Palisades Park, Fairview, West New York, Weehawken, Leonia, Ridgefield, North Bergen, Union City, Hoboken, and Bayonne.
The commission unifies the municipalities along the HBLR line so they “speak with one voice.” It will coordinate ground-up planning and consultation between the local government entities within each municipality, both counties, and amongst stakeholders, while providing a direct conduit to NJ Transit, the lead agency in the project.
The move comes on the heels of Englewood’s recent adoption of a comprehensive new master plan that places a high priority on extending the light rail line through Bergen County and ending in Englewood in order to foster economic development and smart growth in one of the most densely-populated areas of the state.
“Hudson and Bergen counties are fully developed and host mature economies,” said Mayor Huttle. “For the most part, it’s not feasible to build new roads, bridges or tunnels for people to get to work between Hudson, Bergen and New York City. New Jersey is still struggling to rebound from the recession and lags behind New York and Pennsylvania in job growth. We need improvements in our transportation infrastructure to grow and create jobs in New Jersey and improve the quality of life for area residents. Light rail will do just that.”
Said Mayor Fulop, “We have seen the success the Light Rail has had in stimulating residential and commercial development in Jersey City and Hudson County, and know that a full expansion into Bergen County will only benefit Jersey City and add to commerce in our region.
“Providing more northern New Jersey residents access into Jersey City and Hudson County is good for development, job growth and small business alike. This commission will allow mayors along the route to have a more active role in this important transit system and its future growth.”
The restoration of passenger rail service to the Northern Branch of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Line has been under discussion for years. Huttle noted that Englewood has been working extensively with NJ Transit in recent years to hone the project to adequately meet the needs of the eastern Bergen County region it is intended to serve.
“The light rail service, if accomplished properly, will transform the region for the better, easing congestion, raising property values and providing myriad other benefits,” added Huttle. “A coordination of planning and consultation between local government entities will ensure the light rail service will be the best it can be.”
The Mayors Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Commission will serve as a semi-permanent body to fulfill the needs of the line communities, individually and collectively, through the following primary objectives:
• Connection of the two largest and most congested counties in New Jersey to promote transportation to and from Englewood to North Bergen, Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne, as well as NYC;
• Creation of jobs and development along the line connecting all residents living in Bergen County to Hudson County and NYC; and focus on economic growth.