Year: 2014

News

Sign of the Times: Das nightmare

The July City Council meeting is set for tonight but the third speck from a sun in the Milky Way is transfixed by a meltdown yesterday in Brazil. For an American audience it’s hard to explain what it means but sport is not the context to do so.

As one Brazilian said some years ago failing to win the World Cup, futbol is what Brazil gives to the world. If we don’t win, our self-esteem is awful. Or something along those lines.

In 1998, Das Pony was in Paris for the World Cup. Brazil played host France for the prize in what turned out to be the biggest party Paris had seen since World War II. After the win, jogging up the hill on Rue de Monge a few of the French walked about as if nothing had happened at all. But most of France got into the spirit of the moment. It was quite a party and Da Horsey had a birds eye view from atop the Bastille. Read More...

News

PSE&G to make major infrastructure upgrades in Hoboken

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July 7, 2014

City of Hoboken

   

Community: PSE&G To Make Major Hoboken Infrastructure Upgrades To Improve Energy Resiliency

** Paving, Sewer & Water Infrastructure Upgrades to Be Coordinated to Minimize Disruptions **

Starting on or about July 21, 2014, PSE&G will begin a major project to upgrade 60 percent of the gas lines within the City of Hoboken as part of the Energy Strong program. The project is replacing 31,000 linear feet of low pressure old cast iron mains in or near flood areas with new plastic pipe. The new pipes will be upgraded to a higher pressure that prevents water from entering mains, increasing the reliability of gas service.

Also as part of the Energy Strong program, PSE&G will soon begin work to combine Hoboken’s three electrical substations into two and raise the substations to protect them from flooding.

“We advocated strongly for the Energy Strong program and are thrilled that we have this tremendous opportunity to upgrade our infrastructure to be more resilient,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “I also recognize that this will be a major challenge for our community, and we ask for everyone’s cooperation and patience as we coordinate with PSE&G to minimize disruptions and complete these upgrades.”

The gas main work will take place in two phases. In 2014, work will take place to upgrade approximately 1,000 services south of (and including) 6th Street. In 2015, work will take place to upgrade approximately 1,500 services north of 6th Street.

The City of Hoboken is coordinating its planned road resurfacing projects with PSE&G, United Water, and North Hudson Sewerage Authority in order to minimize road openings, construction time and traffic disruptions.

The City plans to repave approximately 50 blocks of roadway, make pedestrian safety improvements to 11 intersections, and upgrade more than 350 handicap-accessible curb ramps later this year. Hudson County has begun resurfacing work on Willow Avenue from 11th Street to 13th Street on June 30. The work is expected to be completed by July 30. North Hudson Sewerage Authority will be replacing three blocks of combined sewer along Jackson Street, from Newark Street to 1st Street. The work is expected to last approximately 8 to 10 weeks.

A map of the planned resurfacing, gas line, and sewer infrastructure upgrades is available atwww.hobokennj.org/docs/env/Hoboken-PSEG-roads.pdf.

In order to shorten the length of the project as much as possible, PSE&G will have three crews working on the project in Hoboken. The work will involve digging trenches in the roadway, which will result in temporary closures and/or detours. If necessary, service lines that bring gas to individual homes and businesses will also be upgraded. This will involve digging in the street, at the meter, and in some cases, along the service line. PSE&G will contact property owners to arrange a date and time to allow access so crews can install new meters where existing meters are scheduled for replacement. Customers will be without gas service for approximately four hours while this work is completed. Upon completion of the project, PSE&G will restore the property to its original condition. Grass areas will be repaired and any concrete or asphalt will be temporarily patched until final restoration work can be scheduled. Customers will have access to their property at all time.

For the first phase of the project, PSE&G will be upgrading gas facilities in Hoboken on the following streets:

• Newark Street between Grand Street and Washington Street
• 1st Street between Adams Avenue and Washington Street
• 2nd Street between Grand Street and Washington Street
• 3rd Street between Willow Avenue and Garden Street
• 4th Street between Madison Street and Grand Street
• 5th Street between Willow Avenue and Frank Sinatra Drive
• 6th Street between Madison Street and Court Street
• Monroe Street between 3rd Street and 6th Street
• Jefferson Street between 4th Street and 5th Street
• Adams Street between 1st Street and 6th Street
• Grand Street between 1st Street and 2nd Street
• Grand Street between 5th Street and 6th Street
• Willow Avenue between 1st Street and 3rd Street
• Park Avenue between Newark Street and 4th Street
• Park Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street
• Garden Street between 2nd Street and 6th Street
• Bloomfield Street between Newark Street and 2nd Street
• Washington Street between Observer Highway and 6th Street
• Court Street between 4th Street and 6th Street

More information on Energy Strong can be found at www.pseg.com/energystrong. A customer service representative will also be available to answer questions at the PSE&G Customer Service location at 615 Washington Street. An FAQ on the gas main replacement project is available at www.pseg.com/family/pseandg/energy_strong/pdf/faq.pdf. A fact sheet on Energy Strong is available at www.pseg.com/family/pseandg/energy_strong/pdf/factsheet.pdf.For full details, view this message on the web.

=&0=& =&0=& =&2=&: Hoboken will likely see further linked efforts with other infrastructure re: water to leverage the improvements discussed above. The infrastructure efforts will cause a short term inconvenience but much needed long term infrastructure upgrades.
News

HUD intervention on HHA problems means little in probe

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In the video above, courtesy of our colleagues at The Hudson County View, a clash of procedure meets the immovable force in Chairwoman Dana Wefer and the verbally ample ED who is always ready with an excuse or an explanation in HHA ED Carmelo Garcia.

Wefer who refuses to yield during a roll call vote as HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia acting in his role as board secretary opts to ignore that responsibility and make a speech, causing a conflict illustrating perfectly the problems in the agency. Read More...

News

France knocked out 1-0 by Germany

Another standing room only crowd at the Pilsner Haus.

An immensely talented French team has been ground down by a systematic German team in a key World Cup Quarterfinal match.


At full gallop with a suspicious Argyle awaiting Messi’s next World Cup appearance.
News

HHA meeting: Special counsel investigation expansion tabled as HUD stalls investigation

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Last night’s special Hoboken Housing Authority meeting at City Hall saw the one resolution on tap tabled with the late afternoon arrival of a HUD letter from its Newark office calling the special counsel investigation’s authorization outside its procurement policy.

The HUD letter rejects approval of the special counsel authorization by its board saying there are “protest procedures,” remedies available to be exhausted before appealing outside of the Hoboken Housing Authority and there’s no indication presented such “protest procedures” within the HHA exist. Read More...

News

Carmelo Garcia issues another false flag operation

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Carmelo Garcia has HHA workman distribute false information on legal HHA meeting tonight

Here’s the latest “official” Banana Republic flyer approved and distributed by HHA maintenance men in its building locations.

Apparently, Carmelo Garcia is resting his hopes to confuse residents the special meeting called for tonight is “illegal.” Unfortunately, the meeting was noticed properly to the media (although the HHA office is following strict orders not to cooperate with the HHA Chair, among other professionals probing into the agency.)  How’s that working out for you Carmelo? Read More...

News

HHA Special Meeting @ 7:00 in City Council Chambers

Tonight a short meeting will be held at City Hall with a resolution weighing the addition of  administration to the scope of the special counsel’s investigative responsibilities.

The recent fiasco of agency checks not being cleared at PNC Bank turned out to be a simple administrative matter of rotating approvals to the new HHA Chair Dana Wefer.

Wefer publicly announced an unnecessary roadblock was due to HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia refusing to address the issue after a week of her effort to make the administrative change from the prior agency chair. Read More...

News

Reform taken to the woodshed?

The Hoboken Housing Authority has a budget of $17 million and feeding at the trough is a Hoboken Soprano pig out specialty. It isn’t however the reason a Beth Mason political operative interrupted MSV reporting duties at the regular HHA meeting to tell MSV not once, not twice but four times, “How’s your dead brother?”

That action has everything to do with Beth Mason and the “discovery” of her role in the SLAPP suit against Hoboken residents. She heard about it from 25 feet removing a smile from her face. Read More...