You judge: Is this Hoboken traffic violation dangerous?

Hoboken resident Steven sent in the following video and note:

“Witnessed this tow truck blowing through local stop sign saturday morning…. this was his fourth trip where he completely disregarded the stop signs….. decided to film it after he almost killed some poor woman on trip no. 3. I guess they get to collect $200 and pass right through “Go”

This happens regularly on sat morning as they pass down 11th street towards the west side. Come see for yourself!”

Do you think it’s all that bad? Do tow trucks have a better field of vision, thus can “protect the environment” by less stopping and starting? Or is this just plain bad?

Technorati Tags: 11th Street, Blowing stop sign, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, Reader Mail, Tow Trucks

Sybil’s Cave has a use finally: Geese-pad

Hoboken411 reader Dory sent in this shot of a Mom goose and her baby geese milling around near Sybil’s Cave.

According to Hoboken Police, they’re now disrupting traffic near the Castle Point skate park – putting themselves in harm’s way. Animal control was contacted to rectify the situation. Hopefully these little geese will be able to happily celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend!

Technorati Tags: Baby Geese, Geese, Goose, Hoboken, Mothers Day, New Jersey, NJ, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography, reader photo, Sybils Cave

An ominous “toxic” situation brewing at 14th & Bloomfield in Hoboken?

One Hoboken411 reader, who lives near the St. Louis building at 14th & Bloomfield, received a letter which concerned them greatly.

It was about a toxic situation regarding Benzene and other dangers currently being re-mediated in that area.

The letter wasn’t publicized anywhere, and it may cause concern for nearby areas due to the uncertainty of the situation. Read on…

Are toxic chemicals harming uptown Hoboken residents?

“Last weekend, my entire building received certified letters regarding a big clean-up at 150 14th Street (The St. Louis). I also see that the firm that is handling this cleanup was deposed in a lawsuit – “Onafets, Inc v. ExxonMobilCorp” in 2007.

The St. Louis was built on top of a parking lot that had previously been a gas station. When they started digging at that site, the stench of gas fumes was all over the block and into the apartments on the block. They were trucking black wet dirt out of there, truckload after truckload, just reeking of gas. The guy who used to own the gas station there kept saying he “spilled a lot of gasoline there, and he couldn’t understand how they could get permits to build residential units on the site.”

The St. Louis was completed and opened sometime in 2006. So, it appears within a year there was a lawsuit. I’m wondering what they mean in the certified letter when they say “subsequent investigative activities indicated that petroleum contaminated groundwater had migrated off site.” Has it leeched into the Garden Street Lofts Building next door? Are they getting fumes and having problems within the St. Louis itself? Are other buildings in the vicinity at risk from them?

The letter mentions very serious contaminants (like benzene). Shouldn’t more people know when there are pregnant women and babies all up and down the block? If you had smelled the horrible air when they first started digging the site, you’d understand my concern. In my apartment, with all doors and windows shut tight, you could smell gas.

What I don’t understand is if they supposedly re-mediated the site back in late 2005 / early 2006, why is the site still contaminated?

Sincere concerns! Here are some other questions to ponder:

• Exactly what are the risks here today? And why is no one providing maps, and perhaps informing other area tenants (including the Montessori toddler school next door?)
• Was there corruption or “payoffs” involved?
• How far do the “plumes” reach out? What other buildings are affected? Are the Puerto Spain, Dino & Harry’s and Healthy for Life restaurants included too?
• What about other “gas station” sites? Would those affect larger properties like 1450 Washington or the Hudson Tea Building too?

Hopefully, it’s not a major issue – but toxic chemicals are always reasons for alarm!

Technorati Tags: 150 14th Street, Benzene, environment, gas station, Health Risk, Hoboken, Leak, Letter to the Editor, New Jersey, NJ, Plumes, Reader Letter, Reader Mail, Remediation, St. Louis, Toxic Chemicals

Hoboken police car trashed after suspect drives to Jersey City

Early Saturday morning, a large melee was reported in the Hoboken Housing Projects on the western edge of town.

Both Hoboken Police and NJ Transit police were on scene trying to keep the situation under control – when it was found out that Hoboken radio car #104 had been stolen and rapidly left the city towards Jersey City. The driver with the stolen cop car crashed right outside of Hoboken, with potential head injuries (busted windshield).

The driver who stole the squad car is still apparently at-large. One of the witnesses of this incident revealed that this actor allegedly said “he’d be back to hurt someone” in the future.

Hoboken Police were on high alert last night, beefing up presence – but the neighborhood was otherwise calm. “You could hear a pin drop,” said one eyewitness.

Maybe Hoboken is a bit short-handed in the cop department?

(Thanks to residents Dan & Pat who contributed to this story.)

Technorati Tags: car, Fight, Hoboken, Jersey City, Melee, New Jersey, NJ, police, Police Blotter, Projects, Recent Crime, Stolen

Obnoxious trouble-maker nearly arrested at Hoboken Council Meeting

At Wednesday night’s Hoboken City Council meeting the unofficial photographer (and smear specialist) for the Zimmer Administration was booted out of Council chambers by a Police Officer at the request of Council President Ravi Bhalla.

One has to wonder if Bhalla and others are becoming increasingly agitated with the way the photographer harasses meeting goers and attempts to become the center of attention. With re-election looming, the Zimmer strategists must be wondering if this individual’s behavior is costing them more votes than it gains them.

Technorati Tags: Brice, Crazed Political Operative, Criminal, Dawn Zimmer, Delusional, Hoboken, Lunatic, New Jersey, NJ, Paid propaganda, photographer, Political Nutjob, Psychopath, Roman Brice

Grimaldi’s nice flower garden repeatedly destroyed

What do you think goes through the mind of a typical vandal? Some psychopathic power trip to fill an otherwise empty void?

Hoboken411 reader Caroline points out what’s been happening recently downtown:

“I live near the Grimaldi’s Pizza on the corner of Clinton and 2nd St. For the past few weeks on the weekends someone has been ripping Grimaldi’s flowers out of all of their flower boxes and throwing them on the ground at night. This is obviously the work of some drunk disorderly person. The first time it happened I was disturbed enough to see the beautiful flower boxes destroyed but when I saw it again last weekend I was completely enraged.

Grimaldi’s is a community restaurant and it is very upsetting that someone keeps doing this.”

Here’s a message for the vandal: How would you feel if something you created, paid for and took pride in was destroyed for no reason?

Technorati Tags: flowers, Grimaldi's Pizza, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, vandalism