JERSEY CITY BRIEFS
3/14/10

Former Assemblyman Manzo to release info about supposed prosecutorial misconduct in NJ corruption investigation Former Assemblyman Lou Manzo, who was among those arrested last July in a major government political corruption sting known as โ€œOperation Bid Rig,โ€ said last week that he will hold a press conference Monday to make accusations against the federal government …

3/14/10

All (not) on board
Residents fear NJ Transit service cuts, fare hikes

Jon Salmanson spent his evenings last week riding NJ Transitโ€™s 4:40 p.m. train from Hoboken to Suffern, N.Y. asking his fellow riders to sign his petition. โ€œTheyโ€™re thinking about eliminating this train,โ€ Salmonson told commuters. The petition demands that NJ Transit โ€“ facing a $300 million budget deficit for FY2011 โ€“ keep the 4:40 p.m. …

Residents fear NJ Transit service cuts, fare hikes

Attack on tax increase
Downtown residents lead protest; over 2,000 signatures on petitions

Angry words flew at Jersey Cityโ€™s recent City Council meetings in light of the cityโ€™s ballooning $507 million budget and the 24 percent property tax hike approved by the council in January to help balance said budget. Residents are not taking the situation quietly. Recently, Amy Ertel, a downtown Jersey City homeowner, along with a …

Downtown residents lead protest; over 2,000 signatures on petitions

What makes Bret qualified?
Former Jersey City mayor considered for state education post; doubts linger

Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, who is Gov. Christopher Christieโ€™s choice to be the stateโ€™s new education commissioner, moved closer to assuming the post after the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted 11-0 in favor of sending his nomination to the full Senate for a vote. Schundler was grilled Monday afternoon in his second …

Former Jersey City mayor considered for state education post; doubts linger

Whatโ€™s for dinner?
Local culinary team goes to championship this week

Here whatโ€™s on the menu: filet de sole floreal; a baby microgreens salad with goat cheese; crusted herbs and paprika seasoned with ancho chili vinaigrette resting in a parmesan cheese basket; baby beets with some fat; herb cream-cheese stuffed chicken breast with potato, butternut squash, and mushrooms; sautรฉed haricots verts with almonds, and for dessert, …

Local culinary team goes to championship this week

Helping Haiti
Downtown Jersey City native, a Navy officer, assists relief effort

The earthquake that devastated the Caribbean island of Haiti and killed more than 200,000 people is still on the minds of residents who are sending supplies and heading there to help. In Hudson County, a number of fundraisers have been held in recent weeks to help. Last Saturday, a fundraiser in Jersey City was organized …

Downtown Jersey City native, a Navy officer, assists relief effort

JERSEY CITY BRIEFS
3/7/10

Jersey City charter high school to close June 30 Acting state Education Commissioner (and former Jersey City Mayor) Bret Schundler announced on Monday that CREATE Charter High School in Jersey City would close on June 30, saying the school had been โ€œunder reviewโ€ by the stateโ€™s Department of Education for poor test scores and other …

3/7/10

Stormy hearing over tax increase
Hundreds attend feisty JC budget meeting

The Jersey City Council faced three hours of criticism Wednesday night โ€“ some of it angry and some it seemingly sad โ€“ from about 350 residents who showed up for a hearing on the cityโ€™s proposed $507 million municipal budget. Many of the speakers complained about the 25 percent tax increase in their bills starting …

Hundreds attend feisty JC budget meeting

Thank God itโ€™s JC Fridays
Citywide art event returns this week

JC Fridays, the four-times-per-year citywide celebration of free arts and culture, is back this coming Friday, March 5. The series was launched in spring 2005 by a group of Jersey City artists, arts organizations, and business owners to better promote the arts in the city. Since its inception, the number of participating venues has increase …

Citywide art event returns this week

Schools could lose $62M in aid next year
Could mean 1,500 layoffs โ€“ or a tax increase

Jersey City Board of Education member and former Mayor Gerald McCann foresees a dire scenario for the city school district: 1,500 school employees will have to be laid off before the next school year if Gov. Christopher Christie makes good on a recent warning. That is, unless the school district decides in their April budget …

Could mean 1,500 layoffs โ€“ or a tax increase