1/30/2010:

What made the most noteworthy entries for the week ending Sunday, January 31, 2010?

Hot Topics

• DOOMED!
  One of Hoboken’s bigger retailers Barnes & Noble says bye-bye to the Mile Square!
• CRISIS?
  The new Governor of NJ is being told HUMC hospital will be shutting down in a few months – HUMC officials say otherwise in last week’s meeting. Many residents feel the “suits” running the show are lying through their teeth! I guess time will tell…
• TROUBLE-MAKER!
  The Hoboken SWAT COP ringleader gets in some hot water in Tampa, Florida.
• FLUSHED!
  The Hoboken skyline icon – “Big John” gets taken down to make way for a waterfront path.
• HISTORY!
  The closing of Barnes & Noble spawned a great story about days past in Hoboken…
• DOWNHILL?
  Many signs point downward for the state of the U.S. Economy. Hot air? or a good time to prepare to leave the country?
• LAME!
  Seems like no one good wants the job of Hoboken Superintendent of Schools. Would you want to be part of this circus? I didn’t think so.
• DOUBLE-DOWN!
  Chatter gets stirred up again about bringing a full-fledged casino to the Meadowlands. “Hit me?” or “Fold?”

Other Updates

• COMING SOON: The Turtle Club (formerly Goldhawk) should be opening this week! And a “dog boutique” called You Lucky Dog is slated for 10th and Washington.
• UPDATES: Stacks Pancake House had their grand opening event last week – and shared the griddle love!

Event Calendar

See what’s happening this week on Hoboken411 event calendar!

ON THE RADAR:

• Adopt Cats and Dogs with Liberty Humane! (TODAY!)
• The Hoboken Historical Museum begins their 2010 season – TODAY!
• And don’t forget – you can now buy POWERBALL Lotto tickets in New Jersey – Also starting TODAY!

Inspirational Quote of the Week:

“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.”

- T. Alan Armstrong

Technorati Tags: Angelo Andriani, Barnes Noble, Big John, Board of Education, Casino, current events, Economy, history, Hoboken, Hoboken411, Hot Topics, HUMC, Lottery, museum, New Jersey, News, NJ, Powerball, Recap, Stacks, Stevens Institute, SWAT, The Fabian, Toilet Tower, Turtle Club, Week in Review, You Lucky Dog

1/30/2010:

Melina’s Pizza spot finally gets renovated

Well, the corner of 6th and Adams Street is getting an upgrade!

Years after Melina’s (my favorite Hoboken Pizza place) was forced to close due to skyrocketing rent – work is has started at 534 Adams Street. It looks like it’ll be some kind of two-story restaurant with outdoor seating in the back mixed-use retail building (with apartments).

Maybe a delicious new Italian Restaurant?

(PS, everyone I spoke with seems convinced it’ll be a restaurant – but I’m having trouble seeing where the kitchen would go – and wonder if it’s going to be some other kind of retail business?)

Technorati Tags: 07030, 534 Adams Street, Capporino, construction, Hoboken, Melina's Pizza, New Jersey, NJ, Restaurant

1/30/2010 Reminder:

Don’t forget the Liberty Humane adoption van will be downtown tomorrow! Plus a special Valentines message!

“Have a Heart” Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Before you run off to the Hallmark Store to buy those expensive Valentine’s cards, would you reconder giving that money to LHS’ animals instead?

It’s easy to make your donation! Simply log onto www.libertyhumane.org and go to the donation page. In the memo section, put “Have a Heart”! Or, you can mail your check to Liberty Humane Society, 235 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City 07305.

1/13/2010:

Another Dog & Cat Adoption event downtown on one of my favorite days of the year! January 31st!

Downtown Hoboken, on Sunday, January 31st!

In case you’re in the market for a new animal to love in your life, one of the best ways to go about it is to rescue them!

Swing by near the Barnes & Noble bookstore downtown Sunday, January 31st from 11-4pm, where the Liberty Humane Society, with the cooperation of The North Shore Animal League, will have a mobile adoption van parked for you to check out the beautiful pets!

Technorati Tags: 2010, adoption, Barnes Noble, cats, dogs, Hoboken, January 31, Liberty Humane, Liberty Humane Society, Mobile Adoption, New Jersey, NJ, North Shore Animal League, Pets, Sunday, Washington Street

1/29/2010 Update:

Mason calls for transparency – for over 2 years now

Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason is calling on Mayor Dawn Zimmer (who was “Absent” from this weeks meeting) and the Executive Board of Hoboken University Medical Center to release all financial documents as well as their plan to keep the hospital viable in a video news release:

1/27/2010 update:

HUMC firm that there’s no worries

• CEO Spiro Hatiras insisted that HUMC absolutely will not close by any means.
• That the “10% salary give-backs across the board” will result in $11.5 million in savings,
• Coupled with the expected $7m from the state ($1m applied to 2009, and $6m for 2010) would,
• Result in a “surplus” of over $3m+ that would be used for capital improvements (elevators, etc.) – and not re-instating the employee salaries.

Your Mayor and HMHA board member Dawn Zimmer didn’t show up for this very important meeting.

First 15 minutes of the meeting tonight, where CEO Spiro Hatiras says “unequivocally were are not closing.”

ALL PREVIOUS UPDATES AFTER THE JUMP…

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

Technorati Tags: Beth Mason, Bleeding, Bonds, cash infusion, close, Dawn Zimmer, Deficit, Doomed, Harvey Holzberg, HMHA, Hoboken University Medical Center, HUMC, layoffs, losing money, Meeting, Red ink

1/29/2010:

A must-read article for New Jersey residents!

With the recent election of Governor Chris Christie – there has been much talk about what to do with New Jersey, and it’s fiscal problems that are squeezing the residents out of the state.

After Eileen Norcross’ article on Reason.com: “Exiting New Jersey’s Fiscal Nightmare,” you’ll certainly not wonder why so many people are loving their six-figure public patronage jobs anymore.

I’d suggest City officials start putting their thinking caps on now – because the days of relying on state aid to help mismanage run the city may be coming to an end soon!

Some interesting snippits:

• Since 1990 local governments have added 45,500 new jobs. Nearly all of them are represented by one of a dozen unions, which have helped secure some of the plushest public sector jobs in the nation. It’s easy to see how property taxes have grown at twice the rate of inflation over the past decade.
• The state’s pension plan is currently under-funded by $34 billion. The pensions for average teacher range from $1.6 million to $2.5 million, per retiree. For the average police officer, that range totals between $3.2 million and $6 million, per retiree.
• Christie’s real challenge is to stop this exploitation of the state’s treasury by the public sector unions. He can lead the charge in rooting out obvious public sector excess, such as massive cash payouts for unused leave, and paid time off for holiday shopping.
• He’s also proposed cutting back on wasteful programs which simply subsidize municipal mismanagement.

She sums it all up by saying:

• “Implementation is the hard part—especially in a political climate where patronage and rent-seeking seem to be the explicit goal of most policy makers. Chris Christie has his work cut out for him.”

How do you think Hoboken will fare once Christie rolls his sleeves up? Higher property taxes? Lesser services?

Technorati Tags: Chris Christie, Fiscal Nightmare, Governor, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, Patronage Jobs, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Reform, Unions

1/29/2010:

[Continuing the ORIGINAL Hoboken411 "Photo of the Day" series...]

Hoboken Photo of the Day – 1/29/2010

I recall some Hoboken residents were a bit miffed about construction in and around the in-progress Berkshire Building at 14th and Hudson (I forget what the issues were – I think noise, etc.)

However, it seems that the construction workers at the Berkshire may also have an issue as well – and drew this rather profane and disrespectful symbol that points right at area residents! What’s up with that?

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!!

Technorati Tags: 14th Street, Applied Housing, Berkshire, construction, Hoboken, Hobokenpix, Hudson Street, Middle Finger, New Jersey, NJ, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography, Profane, Real Estate, symbol

1/29/2010:

Some might say it’s “bad timing” to publish a post about suicide right after a comedy video – but this ain’t no joke! (Especially considering the man that took his own life earlier this month at the Hudson Tea Building, and Artie Lange with his giant knife.)

Tomorrow night, Hoboken411 reader Jeannine is hosting a fundraising event in an effort to raise awareness about this unpleasant issue many of us have had to deal with, and I’m sure some of you would be happy to contribute!

Support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

I am having a Fundraiser this Saturday January 30th at McCarthy’s Pub in Hoboken (104 Hudson Street) from 5-9pm. All are welcome!

Details: $10 cover (donation to the Overnight walk), plus $2.00 Draft Beers and half-off all well drinks. All net proceeds will go the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Technorati Tags: AFSP, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hoboken, McCarthys Pub, New Jersey, NJ, Out of the Darkness, Prevention, suicide

1/29/2010 Update:

BYOB Comedy Night a great idea!

In a rare appearance to one of the thousands of events I’ve promoted here on Hoboken411, I shot a couple video clips of the first few comics at last Friday’s Live Comedy Night at the Monroe Center. You know, the BYOB one!

I believe this event was definitely a by-product of our economy, and the first I ever heard of. Most comedy shows are at a bar or restaurant, and you’re stuck paying exorbitant prices for the booze. One thing that I found interesting at this show – was that many were not from Hoboken (but saw it on 411!), the age of the crowd (mostly around 25 or so), plus the alcohol of choice – which were cases of Miller Light mostly! I felt a little odd with my bottle of red wine!!

You should check out Rich Shultis the next time he’s in Hoboken (at around 1:10) – funny guy!

See previous updates after the jump!

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

Technorati Tags: 2010, Ali Wong, BYOB, Hoboken, January 22, John Moses, Live Comedy, Maddog Mattern, monroe center, New Jersey, NJ, Owen Bowness, Rich Shultis, Soul Joel, video