8/29/2008 Update:

Construction is not moving as quickly at the Clearview Cinemas site uptown. They’re slowly working on laying the foundation, but that’s about as exciting as it gets.

See all previous updates (including snazzy groundbreaking video) after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

8/28/2008:

Here’s a notice sent to Hoboken411 about a Barack Obama “watch” party tonight.

They didn’t specify in the note what you get for $25.00. Not sure if it’s “open bar” or not. If not, there was no mention who the donation is for.

From the Mile High City to the Mile Square City

The Hoboken Democratic Organization Holds Democratic Convention Watch Party
The Hoboken Democratic Organization welcomes all to attend its Democratic Convention Watch Party. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama will make his acceptance speech and other prominent Democratic Party figures will be addressing the major issues of today.

When: Thursday, August 28, 2008 7pm-10pm
Where: Willie McBrides 616 Grand Street Hoboken, NJ 07030
Donation: $25.00
For more information: 201.659.DEMS

Over one hundred supporters and featured guests of the watch party to include the following:

• New Jersey State Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, Jr., who spoke at the 2002 Democratic Convention at age 24;
• Union County Freeholder and former City Council President of Plainfield Rayland Van Blake;
• Chairman of the Hoboken Democratic Party Jeffrey Barnes, a native of Indiana who has been with the Barack Obama camp since 2007 and Co-Chair of Hudson County Volunteers for Obama;
• Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons, a veteran Democratic City Chairman and coordinator of presidential campaigns since 1984;
• Vice Chair of the Hoboken Democratic Party Ann Graham, a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter and Co-Chair of Hoboken4Hillary campaign;
• and other elected officials.

Colorado’s own Coors Beer will be on tap and Rocky Mountain Chocolates will be served.

Specially created Hoboken for Obama T-shirts will be available for sale.

8/25/2008:

It’s rare that I find a letter to the editor in the weekly paper that says so many things that need to be said that I take the time to bring it to the much larger Hoboken411 audience.

Jake Stuiver has written such a letter.

In it, he takes on one of Hoboken’s best-known political opportunists, Michael Lenz. The kind of guy who thrives on the saying “you can fool some of the people some of the time” in the way he sucks in new residents looking to do good, only to fool them into thinking he has Hoboken’s best interests at heart. More on that later, but first a few words from Jake:

Dear Editor:

The real reason Lenz is against Mason

After reading last week’s article on prospective mayoral candidates, I felt compelled to respond to county employee and Hudson County Democratic Organization ally Michael Lenz’s regrettably sexist and derisive remarks about Councilwoman Mason’s bona fides as a reformer.

Having been heavily involved in Carol Marsh’s mayoral campaign four years ago, I proudly worked alongside Lenz and a united Hoboken reform movement toward attaining change in Hoboken. By the time the movement splintered, I had enrolled in an intensive grad-school program, which I saw as an ideal opportunity to stay out of politics and above the fray for the time being. I valued the chance to maintain good relations with a wide range of people who were no longer on good terms with one another, and perhaps even help to eventually get people back on the same page.

Watching and listening to events over the past year, however, I have felt myself coming down off that fence and no longer able to give Mr. Lenz the benefit of the doubt. I truly am sad to say this because Michael is someone whose company I once sincerely enjoyed. Unfortunately, he is also someone who has repeatedly proven that any grandiose talk of a “greater good” he stands for appears to be mere cover for what he’s really out for - himself.

Lenz, who four years ago created a textbook example of how to lose a perfectly winnable election, did one thing extremely well during the Marsh campaign - he chased out the door numerous people with strong talent and desire to help us. I am not referring exclusively to one incident in particular, but rather a steady string of volunteers who came into the campaign office eager and able to help and left jaded and turned off. I would even count myself among people who came off that debacle feeling used, abused, under-appreciated and in no hurry to get back into politics anytime soon. Observing Lenz’s behavior in many of these instances, I came to suspect that he would rather lose an election than win without getting full credit for it.

Now, Councilwoman Mason is making waves in Hoboken, making a difference and making a name for herself, quite deservedly. She is bringing a level of commitment to public service I have not seen in this city in the seven years I’ve lived in the area. She is not aware that I am writing this letter. Because she’s gotten to where she is without Michael Lenz running the show, he appears to be resorting to spewing envious bile when he should be lauding her for accomplishing things he once claimed to stand for.

Instead, all he seems to stand for these days is old-boys-network jobs, sexist “Roberts in a dress” jabs and hypocritical accusations of machine alliances. I find it curious that Lenz would invoke Mayor Roberts as a negative point of reference being that he managed his first campaign, inadvertently (if not intentionally) helped re-elect him in 2005 and now works for the organization that backs him.

Jake Stuiver

Burn!

Hoboken411 and many readers have had our own run-ins with Mr. Lenz over the past few years. At first he ignored the site. Then when he saw how many people were reading, he and a few minions attempted to take control of all political discourse. When told to lay off, they just kicked it into a higher gear. When told they were breaking the site rules, they persisted until they were no longer welcome.

Since then, Lenz and his small crew have tried in vain to damage Hoboken411 through a smear campaign on other boards, trying (and failing) to “out” those who post here and generally disrupt the course of business of the site. They have failed on all counts, as Hoboken411 continues to grow at a blistering pace.

Who is Michael Lenz?

Watching Lenz speak during a typical city council you may be fooled into thinking he is a typical Hoboken resident who is sick and tired of the status quo. Hardly. He is actually a big part of the problem. Following a brief but disastrous run on the Board of Education which set back the cause of “reform” politics for a decade, Lenz returned to the scene shortly before the 2001 Mayoral Campaign claiming he was going to run for Mayor under a “reform” banner against incumbent Anthony Russo. At first Lenz told people he didn’t think the likely challenger at the time – Sixth Ward Councilman David Roberts – would do enough to reform if elected. At the time Russo dismissed Lenz as a challenger, and said his race would be against Roberts. He was right.

Read the rest of this story after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

8/23/2008:

Dr. Anthony Petrosino, who runs the Hoboken Curriculum Project blog, reports that the Hoboken High School has recently made great strides:

HHS Among Top Five Improved NJ Schools

“New Jersey Monthly recently posted an article on the most improved high schools in the state. Hoboken High School had the second largest increase, moving up 121 places in this year’s rankings. Proper caution and perspective must be taken with any such rankings as it is often very dependent on the methodology employed. We are confident that Hoboken High School, and all our other campuses, are part of a good district striving for excellence. The recognition is certainly welcomed and reflects the collective efforts of many people over a period of multiple years.”

HOBOKEN HIGH SCHOOL
2008 rank: 139
2006 rank: 260
Change in rank: 121

Continue reading the rest here.

8/21/2008:

For all the recent residents, I wanted to revive this ridiculous story from over seven years ago, back when Anthony Russo was Mayor.

For those that were here in 2001: Remember that crazy political stunt?

Looking back, if any of the current politicos had any “vision” whatsoever, they’d manage the congestion from within, by preventing all the high-rise towers from being built!

From the NY Times:

Hoboken’s Plan to Ban Commuters Stalls

“It was a simple idea: there’s too much traffic in Hoboken, N.J., so keep drivers who don’t belong in the city off the streets.

‘’It was just an insane, insane plan,'’ said State Senator Bernard F. Kenny, who represents the area, last night after spending much of his day trying to fight the measure.

Later in the story:

‘’Commuter traffic has increased significantly in the past few months due to construction in lower Jersey City,'’ Mr. Russo said in the release. ‘’To alleviate congestion at the southern end of Hoboken, we plan to restrict vehicular access in Hoboken. The negative effect of commuter traffic has become a burden to Hoboken residents.'’

Nevertheless, the “plan” never panned out. You can read the rest of the story here.

8/21/2008:

You ever get the run-around from a city department in Hoboken?

Many of us have, and today, Hoboken411 reader Dan shares his story about the runaround his friend received about a motor vehicle summons:

Hoboken is mismanaged

“My name is Dan and I have been a fan of this web site (and citizen of Hoboken) for a long time. Keep up the good work.

I am writing you to let you know of a very frustrating experience with the City of Hoboken. On July 21, 2008, a visitor of mine receiving a minor traffic violation. It required her to call up the Municipal Court to receive a court date and the amount of the fine. As of today (over 3 weeks later), the court has no record of the violation in their system. My visitor called the court 6 times in the last three weeks and has received the same response each time.

Upon requesting the reason behind this, the court stated that this happens all the time and the police offers often wait until their ticket books are “full” before submitting them to the court. Therefore, it might take over a month for a ticket to be submitted to the court. During the City’s financial woes, it seems ridiculous that tickets are not submitted promptly (and therefore, payment collected promptly). If it takes a month for the ticket to be submitted to the court, it will take an extra month to collect the potential fine. Also, with the exorbitant salaries listed on this site for police officers, it seems ridiculous that police officers can not fulfill such a simply part of their job. The specific officer who issued this ticket is listed at $94k per year.

The purpose of this email is to see if you or any of your other visitors have had this experience. To me, it seems like a perfect example of mismanagement in this city. I called up City Hall to see what can be done and most people were indifferent and unwilling to help. Now, we are using this as part of non-guilty plea when we ultimately do get a court date.”

8/20/2008 Update:

One last picture to show you what Elysian Park is supposed to look like at night. A few more lamps need attention, and the lighting job will be complete.

The dog run is next on the list, WE HOPE.

SEE PREVIOUS UPDATES AS TECHNICIANS TACKLED THE JOB AFTER THE JUMP…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

8/20/2008 Update:

Hearing adjourned to September 24th

It took until 11:30 pm for the Zoning Board to get far enough into it’s agenda to begin to hear the TCR application to tear down Neumann Leather. Following some introductory comments from a single witness, the matter was adjourned to a Special Meeting at 7pm on September 24th in the City Council chambers.

A large crowd stayed in the cramped quarters until 12:15 am. It may be even larger at the next meeting, which may be devoted exclusively to the Neumann question.

Read more about the Mayor’s position on the issue below…

8/19/2008:

Looking for a statement from Mayor Roberts about the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting tonight on the proposal to tear down the Neumann Leather complex?

Roberts isn’t saying anything today about the doomsday plan to evict the tenants and drive a street through the complex, but he sure wasn’t quiet about Neumann during the spring 2005 Mayoral campaign. In fact, Roberts was falling over himself making campaign promises to “protect the artists, artisans and architecture of that building.” Just take a look at this full color glossy campaign mailer that Dave Roberts, Ruben Ramos, Terry LaBruno and Peter Cammarano sent out to the city in 2005:

The flier says “Mayor Roberts wants to preserve and improve the building and protect all artists and businesses,” joyfully adding “Mayor Roberts is working on a plan to preserve the building and protect the neighborhood!” The flier claims “The Roberts Plan” will include public gallery space – a public plaza – and support for non-profit organizations.”

Tonight, the Zoning Board (hand-picked by Roberts) will be asked to do what the Mayor claimed would never happen: grant many variances to a developer who will pulverize the Civil War-era building and replace the businesses and artists with more “Luxury Apartments.”

2005: Roberts puts Neumann in the crosshairs

Dave Roberts got the Neumann wrecking ball rolling in early 2005 because of – you guessed it – a huge budget gap. With an $8 million hole in his budget and a council hesitant to sell the Municipal Garage without a new one in place, Roberts cooked up a scheme to sell the Muni Garage immediately to a developer by changing the zoning to allow up to 14 stories on the city property and Neumann Leather. An outcry followed from neighbors, Neumann tenants, longtime Hobokenites tired of seeing their history torn down, and even the Sinatra family!

Roberts backtracks, claims to be Neumann savior

With the whole city (and the Sinatras) against him, Roberts did a 180 and changed tactics. Instead of changing the zoning on Neumann he proposed a redevelopment zone for the site that he claimed would fix everything. Roberts put out a statement carried by the weekly paper that said:

“I am fully committed to the preservation of the Neumann Leather building and support the continued use by the many tenants who occupy the historic structure. Over the past few weeks, I have met with representatives of the building’s owner and tenants leaders in an effort to work out a mutually acceptable accord.” – David Roberts, April 2005

READ THE REST AFTER THE JUMP!

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

8/20/2008:

Hoboken Democratic Committee Chairman Jeff Barnes sent this note to Hoboken411 about a Barack Obama fundraiser tomorrow, August 21st at 6:00pm:

“There is an Obama fundraiser this Thursday, August 21 at 6:00pm featuring Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. The event will be held at 12 Hudson Place, across the street from the PATH station in Hoboken.”

You can download the registration form here.

8/19/2008:

I knew someone would chime in on this!

Hoboken411 reader Reformerus_Gianticus shares his interesting viewpoint on yesterday’s congratulatory full-page HUMC ad that appeared in a local magazine:

Spin Doctors give themselves an award

“I checked NJBIZ and it does appear that Hoboken University Medical Center has won the Healthcare Heroes of the year award. The Hoboken award is on page 12.

Here is the blurb on the award:

“During the nomination process, companies and individuals nominated themselves or others. Nominees were then asked to describe their heroic actions based on the category description”. To be eligible, individual nominees must work in New Jersey and organization nominees must have offices in the state. They could not be a member of the judges’ panel, a member of a judge’s immediate family or a previous Healthcare Heroes award winner.

In other words the spin doctors at the HUMC they are able to say what they did to improve the Hospital and get an award. How carefully are the entries cross-checked for validity? To me this sounds like a pat yourself on the back award and the winner is whoever can spin the best story.

Don’t get me wrong, I want the hospital to succeed but a little more transparency might take away the skepticism I have given the performance of other hospitals in NJ as well as the Mayor’s track record of openness and competency in assessing government financials.”