April 2007

Flood Damage Assessment

30

April


4/30/2007 Update:

If you were affected by the massive flooding we had a few weeks ago, see below for more information, or Download the PDF if this is hard to read.

FEMA hoboken flooding

[Click to continue reading the rest....]

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  • Reader Mail: Another Caddy!

    30

    April


    The Cimmaron is gone.

    “Tired” said:

    “After years of neglect, the Cimmaron is GONE! Thanks for your help. The car was there so long it stained the cement where the tires used to be, and when they moved it there was a tree growing between the wall of the Muni garage and where the Caddy was parked. I don’t know where they put it, but the Caddy is no longer on the sidewalk. Thanks for helping us beautify the neighborhood by getting rid of this eyesore.”

    caddygone2.jpg

    [Click to continue reading the rest....]

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  • Reporter Roundup – 4/30/2007

    30

    April


    suggestion-box-shredder.jpgContinuing the ongoing series, here are some highlights from the 4/29/2007 edition of our local paper, The Hoboken Reporter.

    Today’s installment was graciously donated by new 411 guest contributor: “Hoboken Interloper”.

    He’s a long time Hoboken resident, and no stranger to the local goings-on in the City.

    Here’s his take on this weeks edition:

    Politicspalooza

    It’s “Politicspalooza” this week in the Hoboken Reporter. There are no less than 15 political ads from 12 candidates in this week’s edition. Beth Mason alone has 3 ads in this week’s edition. This is expected as we creep closer to “e-day”. What’s the over/under on next weeks paper?

    The Hoboken Democratic Party paid for a hitjob ad on Brian Stack and Michael Russo. Seems they think that Stack has been a big meanie to Bernie Kenny and, in case you didn’t know, Michael Russo’s dad was really corrupt and owes Hoboken a lot of money.

    Frank Raia has a full page ad claiming that Michael Russo wants to take our ShopRite away, more on that later.

    Ron Rosenberg, showing that he’s his own man, is going with the HDC’s “Russo’s dad is corrupt” theme as well. Of course it’s a little tougher because his opponent is merely a cousin of Russo’s but apparently it is Castellano’s fault that Anthony Russo hasn’t paid back $350,000 to Hoboken yet. Rosenberg pledges to make Tony pay with his money quote at the top being “I will make Anthony Russo repay the $350,000 he stole from Hoboken. My opponent, his cousin, will not.” No word on how he plans to deal with minor issues like balancing the city budget and rising city employee costs.

    Peter Cunningham has a family and likes to show family pictures. Chris Campos likes kids too.

    Perry Belfiore’s ad made me doze off. He was saying something about over-development but I have developed an immunity to Hoboken politicians talking “tough” about developers.

    Nino Giacchi
    spends his ad money on a gossip column informing us that ARod may move to Hoboken and apparently Nino’s wife approves of Nino.

    In Other News

    Michael Russo is upset about Frank Raia’s claim that he wants to take away the ShopRite. He’s not even sure how he COULD get rid of the ShopRite. When Pupie was asked about the flyer that said that Russo is threatening the ShopRite he responded..” “I think that’s your opinion. I can’t control what’s in your head.”. Clearly Pupie has been taking notes from Tony Snow. Teresa Castellano lets the cat of the bag regarding Raia “”Mr. Rosenberg and Mr. Kurta are running a political campaign financed by Mr. Raia, an admitted developer,”. Ewww, an admitted developer? It’s one thing to be a convicted felon or a booze hound. But a developer? Have we no standards?

    Apparently Mr. Roberts has hired a new shyster, Steven Kleinman, to be the city’s new corporate counsel (411 reported this back on 3/28/2007). And Mr. Kleinman didn’t waste anytime and immediately went into Alberto Gonzales mode and rejected a recent verbal resolution terminating all legal and engineering contracts. The resolution was probably in response to the fact that the the city is over $100,000 overbudget on legal fees to be paid to Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe. Kleinman doesn’t say why it isn’t valid just that it is.

    Sal Vega claims that the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue was going to create a new position for Brian Stack where he would be paid $75,000 a year as a part time executive director for education. Mr. Stack claims he was never interested in the job and that Vega was just grandstanding. In a typical Hudson County “coincidence” North Bergen decided that the position wasn’t, in fact, needed and eliminated it.

    There will be some candidate forums this week. On April 30th the 2nd, 5th, and 6th Ward candidates will be available at St. Matthew Parish Hall at 57 8th St from 7 to 9:15. On May 1st the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Wards will be available at the Multi Service Center on 124 Grand St. from 7:30 to 9:30.

    Go watch the candidates avoid answering questions!

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  • Hoboken Citizen Parking Authority

    28

    April


    Time to take action. With the advent of recent “dead cars”, such as the one Cadillac with the flat, or the other Cadillac that’s been sitting dead on the sidewalk for years, here’s another step we can collectively take as residents of this fine City.

    Citizen issued parking violation notices.

    What to do if you see a similar situation:

    1. Download this PDF file.
    2. Fill out both forms.
    3. Tear on the dotted line. Attach one on the offending vehicle. Mail the other half to:
        Hoboken Citizen Parking Authority
        Attn: Mayor Dave Roberts
        94 Washington St.
        Hoboken, NJ 07030

    That’s it! Hopefully, if the Mayor receives enough of these, some kind of action will take place. Additionally, if you have supporting photos, you can send them here, or even to the Mayor as well. Not sure if this can be used for other circumstances, but use your imagination.

    Here’s a classic Beatles song that puts me in a good mood and supports this concept.

    hcpa-screenshot.gif

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  • Reader Mail: Commuting Rant

    27

    April


    Here we have an obviously irritated resident expressing her concerns about the absolutely inconvenient mess that our modes of transportation dish out week after week.

    What are your suggestions to help her out?

    nj-transit-hoboken-bus.jpgWHAT IS GOING ON WITH HOBOKEN MODES OF TRANSPORTATION!!! IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! i have not had a comfortable and/or reliable day of travel into and out of the city in at least 3 months…i am a monthly bus pass person and the buses have been a disaster lately– the real back up is on that little bridge from Hoboken that goes towards the Lincoln tunnel, because the HOV lane doesn’t start until way after you get over it….so the buses are stuck in the middle of all of the other traffic and it really starts to make you think “I should’ve taken the path” but when the path breaks down twice in one week and you are sent back and forth to jersey city and a 14 minute ride becomes an hour—is it just me or am i like pig pen from the peanuts comics…just walking around with a cloud of dust following me wherever i go???

    Why cant we change one of the Hoboken-bound lanes on that little overpass into an HOV lane for rush hour??? why not?? there are 4 lanes on that overpass, 2 going each way…and the jersey turnpike does this during rush hour every day!!! i moved to Hoboken so that my commute would not be over an hour every day! –my commute was an hour every day from CENTRAL JERSEY! anyway i feel like a lot of people feel like this and everyone thinks we just have to deal with it…can’t we CHANGE it?!?! i am sitting on a non-moving bus on that little bridge watching the ONE guy in the world who commutes TO Hoboken FROM the city to work just fly by in that completely empty space.

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  • 900 Monroe

    27

    April


    Here’s a little tidbit about the abandoned warehouse at 900 monroe that received Zoning Board approval for the first high-rise in the Northwest area of the city.

    Right near the homeless “Shanty Town” village, Tarragon got the go ahead for a 12-story blob to further stress Hoboken’s infrastructure to the limits. Just as a note, I don’t have issues with nice buildings, friendly tenants, and more economic injection to our city, but when all this building takes place with zero regards to what impact it may have to: traffic, sewerage, parking, quality of life, (and so on – ad infinitum) I start to get worried.

    Have 5th Ward Council Candidates addressed this issue yet? I’m sure many residents are wondering what all this development will mean. I suggest that parking regulations be re-organized. For instance, if a building has 112 units… they should build 400 parking spots on-site (for visitors, multiple vehicle units, and even public parking) but that never happens. Which is why each new building that goes up they just build to the “maximum”, thus further stressing that neighborhood further and further?

    WHEN WILL SOMEONE GET THIS?
    Do we need a complete overhaul of our City Council for this to happen?

    Tarragon, URSA Get Approval for 112 Unit Hoboken Multi Family

    April 23, 2007
    By Adam Perrotta, News Writer

    Tarragon Corp. and locally-based URSA Development Group have received the necessary approval to begin construction on a 12-story, 112-unit condominium project in Hoboken, N.J. On Friday, the city’s zoning board of adjustment granted final site plan approval for 900 Monroe, which is to be the first luxury high-rise development and seventh residential building in Tarragon and URSA’s Upper Grand community.

    With the approval in place, the developers will begin construction in June of this year. 900 Monroe is planned to include one-, two- and three-bedroom units, including 10 two-bedroom duplexes. In addition, the building will feature 7,600 square feet of retail space and an outdoor café. The development will be located adjacent to the 9th Street light rail station. In February of 2007, the Upper Grand community was awarded the National Association of Homebuilders’ Best in American Living Award for “Best Urban Smart Growth Neighborhood/Community.

    Tarragon develops both rental and for-sale multi-family housing, concentrating its activity in the Northeast, Florida, Texas and Tennessee. The firm is currently involved in the development of three other multi-family projects in the area: the $115 million mixed-use project in East Hanover, N.J., which will include 200 townhouses and condos along with 100,000 square feet of retail; a $350 million, 783-unit development in Ridgefield, N.J., which will feature 220,000 square feet of retail as well as a 150-room hotel; and a $125 million, 167-unit condo project in Stonington, Conn.

    As of this afternoon, shares of the publicly-traded firm were trading at $9.71 on NASDAQ, down 1.32 percent.

    900 Monroe Hoboken 1
    900 Monroe Hoboken 2

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  • Hoboken Unleashed

    27

    April


    8 votes, average: 3.38 out of 58 votes, average: 3.38 out of 58 votes, average: 3.38 out of 58 votes, average: 3.38 out of 58 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5 (8 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)
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    As of April 1, 2007, new owners have taken over the previous Graceland Doggie Day Care and will be running under the name “Hoboken Unleashed”.

    I had a chance to visit the other day to check out the operation. It seemed like a well-run facility with ample staff to care for the dogs. During “play time”, the pups were allowed to run around in various walled-off areas. They have provisions for larger or smaller dogs, and canines that don’t get along with others. All the dogs I saw were having a grand ‘ole time frolicking in the main play area. Each section was well maintained with someone supervising the whole day, as well as frequent clean-ups.

    Hoboken Unleashed also plans some site improvements over the upcoming weeks. One is an industrial strength de-humidification system which will help reduce ambient humidity and result in a cooler atmosphere. Upgraded Plexiglas doors to replace the chain-link fences and even expanding the grooming options once they get the trained staff in place.

    Description: Doggie Day Care, baths, clippings and grooming (coming soon)
    Hours: M-F: 7am-8pm, Sat: 7am-6pm, Sun:10am-2pm and Special Late Night Sunday Pickup Service available during the summer season from 8pm to10 pm from June 3rd to August 26th. (Office is closed between 12pm and 2pm except Sundays.)
    Address: 716 Clinton St., Hoboken, NJ 07030
    Telephone: 201-798-6300 Fax: 201-798-6375
    Website: www.hobokenunleashed.com
    email: mike@hobokenunleashed.com

    Here are a few pictures. See more plus a few videos of the dogs in action after the break.

    hoboken-unleased-interior-dogs-going-nuts-1cs.jpg
    hoboken-unleashed-exterior-cs.jpg

    [Click to continue reading the rest....]

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  • Election mudslinging and trolls

    27

    April


    Just an FYI here for the readers that care about the upcoming election on May 8th.

    Be careful in regards to what you read here in the comments section. On top of the mudslinging that already happens between candidates, there is a growing surge in people signing up with multiple email accounts in an attempt to bad-mouth candidates.

    As difficult as it is, I’m trying my best to keep this in check. For example, in the last 48 hours alone, one person has attempted to gain access with EIGHT different email addresses, in an apparent effort to attack Fourth Ward Candidate Dawn Zimmer. Using usernames as “Not4dawnzimmer”, “DawnZimmerAntiChrist”, “HobokenNot4Zimmer” and a few others. It seems logical that it may be from an opponents camp.

    411 has been very open and commenters have been reasonable for the most part. I do not want to have to prevent people with free email addresses such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo or AOL from signing up, but if this continues, I may have to temporarily restrict new user sign ups, or at least manually approve them before they’re used.

    At the very least, if I see different user accounts coming from the same IP address, I will not hesitate to ban and delete all comments they’ve made.

    I don’t care if you have an opinion one way or another about a candidate. Just keep it to ONE account, and stop trying to be a troll!

    please-do-not-feed-the-hoboken-trolls.jpg

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