Don’t know about you guys, but myself and countless people I’ve personally spoken with – have noticed a sudden increase in the amount of BROKEN GLASS on Hoboken sidewalks. Not just one isolated area, but all over town.
And even Hoboken411 Mascot Oscar has suffered, slicing the pads on one of his paws WIDE OPEN last week. Now he’s limping around like a sad puppy. (don’t worry, I cleaned it out, tweezed the glass, ointment, etc. – just takes a while to heal)
Why aren’t the shards of sharp glass cleaned up immediately?
Where are the Hoboken sidewalk sweepers? Budget cuts?
What about property owners? Do they not give a crap?
Even if they’re on vacation – what about their neighbors?
Does anyone care about their own sidewalks anymore?
PS – if you have images collecting dust on your camera or hard drive – send them in for eventual inclusion on Hoboken411! Please state how you’d like to be credited in your email, and a description – if desired!!
There’s no doubt that many Hobokenites are out of work (with the national “official” unemployment rate at around 10%) – so this event might be useful for quite a few of you regular readers.
Taking place tomorrow morning at 10:30am is a free “Winning Resumes Workshop” at the Elysian Charter School at 3rd and Garden (the Rue Site). Brought to you by HOPES CAP, Inc.
Description – “We specialize in condo sales within Hoboken and downtown Jersey City. Search Properties, sign up for New Construction Alert emails and our E-REALTOR Service.” Website – www.HudsonRealtyGroup.com
Address – 79 Hudson Street (part of Halstead Property LLC), Hoboken, NJ 07030 Telephone – 201-805-7403, Fax – 973-556-1361
Sorry for the “multiple story post” – didn’t think these stories would blow up the way they did… But here’s a good news update for the Hit & Run incident that was included here…
Hit and Run Driver Arrested by Hoboken Police
“Hoboken Police have made an arrest of a driver who struck a pedestrian, and fled the scene on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 235 River Street, right near the W Hotel entrance. The victim was a 44 year-old male resident of Ramsey, NJ. The victim sustained injuries requiring medical treatment at the Jersey City Medical Center.
Witnesses at the scene provided police with a description of the driver as well as the vehicle that fled and a license plate number. Police traced this information to a 2009 Nissan/Murano, color/gray to a person in North Brunswick, NJ. The subsequent police investigation was also aided by the utilization of video from surveillance cameras in the area that confirmed the witness’s statements to police. A BOLO was sent to the North Brunswick Police Department to attempt to locate the vehicle and driver who fled.
A short time later, North Brunswick PD did notify Hoboken Police that the vehicle was located, and had damage consistent with a recent accident. Detective Arturo Gonzalez then contacted the driver, who initially denied being in any accident or striking a pedestrian in Hoboken. A short time later the driver, identified as: Mario G. Barbato, Age 45 of North Brunswick, NJ appeared in the Detective Bureau and when confronted with the evidence, gave a full and voluntary video confession indicating he did strike the victim and fled the scene of the earlier accident. Mr. Barbato was arrested and charged with: 1) Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident 2) Assault by Auto and 3) Endangering/Leaving an Injured Victim in addition to a motor vehicle summons for Leaving the Scene of an Accident by P/O Adam Colon.
Mr. Barbato is scheduled to make an initial appearance in court this week. According to Lieutenant Mark Competello, Detective Bureau Commander this is another instance where technology and assist from the public culminated in an arrest, “Anytime citizens provide police with this type of information, it adds another tool to aid police in making an apprehension or arrest of an individual, or in this case a vehicle.” The HPD is grateful for the assistance of these citizens, who surely aided the investigation and the swift apprehension and arrest of the actor.”
2/5/2010 Update:
Third dog present, no involvement with mauling
An update to last night’s Pit Bull mauling…
Neighbors living at Constitution Court gave Hoboken411 some additional information regarding the crazy scene last night. First of all, the Pit Bull “Giant” was owned by a tenant named “Hutch,” who is an Applied Housing employee. He had adopted this dog, believed to be in the neighborhood of about three years old within the last 12 months. His 26 year old girlfriend “Tash” (Natasha) was one of the victims that was injured. She had her own dog, a cute grey Terrier named “Gracie” (pictured below.) During the whole frenzy, the ASPCA was going to take her away too, but Paul Michael apparel shop owner graciously (no pun intended) took in the dog until it can return home. Apparently, Natasha’s mother is coming to Hoboken from her hometown in Pennsylvania.
The second Pit Bull (name unknown) was not a tenant of the apartment, but rather was visiting with a friend.
Details are a bit unclear as to exactly how the mayhem began, but area neighbors believe it was a “aligning of the planets” kind of situation, where drunken and slightly agitated humans, mixed with multiple dogs in the same apartment led to the unruly and bloody incident. Others told 411 that they felt the owners were unfit to care for these dogs.
In fact, if you followed Hoboken411’s Twitter Page, you would have seen that this same Pit Bull bit a roommate back on January 29th – so this incident came as no surprise to anyone.
Here’s a shot of the Gracie – who said “I had nothing to do with this incident – I just wanted to sleep!”
SEE MORE ABOUT THE PIT BULLS AND A SAD HOBOKEN FATALITY AFTER THE JUMP…
[This week's post series is "Hoboken411 Product Reviews," which will feature one item each day that may be of general interest to the readers. Each product is already owned and purchased by Hoboken411.]
Skechers Shape Ups – Hype or Real Deal?
Many of you who watched last night’s Super Bowl saw the many commercials for Skechers Shape Ups – sneakers that claim to “get you in shape” while walking.
These are fairly expensive (around $100 give or take), and not the most stylish shoes in the world. However, they seem to be taking off with customers. Essentially modeled after the original MBT shoes – by having a softer, curved sole – they’re designed to promote better posture, reduce joint strain, increase core and calf strength, and burn more calories while you walk. Customer reviews are quite positive.
I actually bought mine immediately after seeing a commercial on TV on New Years Eve.
Well, do they work?
I’ll get to that in a minute – After receiving my first pair – I was so thrilled at how comfortable these shoes were – that I instantly bought a second pair. Yes, that comfortable.
But after reading some of the reviews comparing them with the original MBT models, it appears that they don’t have the same “health benefits” that the latter models do (i.e., they don’t work the muscles as intensely.) However, those MBT’s are much more costly (3x more), and need to be re-soled often as they wear out quickly. I read that others have suffered the same fate with the Skechers brand, but instead of paying another $80 to fix them, you can just buy another pair.
As far as the physical benefits – I haven’t lost an ounce with these suckers yet (although I’ve only been wearing them for a month), but have noticed slightly increased calf strength and modestly better posture (I’m a sloucher). The warning messages about “getting used to” these new sneakers wasn’t necessary – you can walk just fine in them right away. No need to “practice.” But one thing you want to keep in mind is the fact that the soles are a bit thicker, and you might drag a foot or two accidentally in the beginning if you don’t watch the slope of the sidewalk… But I never tripped and fell like an idiot (yet).
But I walk between 5-10 miles per day on average – and have to say that the positive difference in terms of fatigue or joint soreness is incredible. Worth it for that reason alone.
They’re definitely “dorky” looking shoes, but who gives a darn what other people think. It’s your own comfort that counts!
Anyone else own a pair of either the Shape Up or the MBT shoes? Your thoughts?
Hoboken411 reader Matt took a great photo of yesterday’s fire at 128 Park Avenue – which captured the feel of the commotion…
Hoboken411 reader photo of the day – 2/8/2010
[Stay tuned for the next Readerpix entry! - Note: one reader's photo(s) will be featured from time to time. Unless your photo is time-sensitive - it will be published in the order it was received! Additional note: Your pictures will have a better chance of being published if they're in "landscape" mode, as opposed to the taller "portrait" modes... ]
“For the following reasons Fund For a Better Waterfront (FBW) opposes the variances given to Stevens Institute of Technology for its garage and adjacent sites. FBW is appealing the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s decision to the Hoboken City Council on Wednesday evening, February 10th at 7pm at City Hall. Please join us.”
The Stevens zoning variance will widen Frank Sinatra Drive increasing vehicular speed and capacity.
Hoboken should be planning to make Sinatra Drive more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
For too long developers have made a mockery of the Hoboken Zoning Code by using the Zoning Board of Adjustment to give out variances like candy regardless of whether there is benefit to the city or not.
Stevens is requesting 19 variances in all.
The hearing was a mockery before the Zoning Board. Fund For a Better Waterfront was not allowed to review submissions made before the hearing, nor was it allowed to present its own witnesses.
We want the City Council to take back its rightful powers as the body responsible for zoning.
Let’s finish a public waterfront park stretching from one end of Hoboken to the other. We’re 80% done now.
9/23/2009 Update:
Zoning Board Approves 15 Variances
Shortly after one o’clock this morning the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 6 to 1 in favor of Stevens’ plan for two new buildings connected to the Babbio Center. The meeting started at 7pm with a full house. The crowd conveniently dwindled before the board approached the time for “Public Comments” around midnight. An attorney hired by the Fund for a Better Waterfront asked the board to adjourn before closing the hearing at the late hour so that it could be picked up with more expert testimony at a later date, but the request fell on deaf ears.
In exchange for all the variances -which FBW’s Ron Hine characterized as “Tossing out the zoning code” – the board included the stipulations ranging from allowing public access to the roof of the parking garage to offering (very) limited free parking for soccer and baseball parents in Stevens lots. The top of the building will be built to accommodate a seasonal ice skating rink, but the city will have to foot the bill for it. Stevens will not contribute toward construction of the public rink. The Fifth Street stone wall will also be repaired as part of the re-routing of the street for Stevens’ convenience.
Members of the Zoning Board were seen huddling over the wording of the conditions with Stevens’ attorneys, which led to some grumbling (inset).
There are real questions about when and if any of this will be built because Stevens’ financial situation and the State Attorney General’s lawsuit seeking to remove the school’s President and Board Chairman.
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