Month: January 2016

News

Community Invited to Special Council Meeting on Washington Street Plan

Community: Community Invited to Special Council Meeting on Washington Street Plan
Dear Horsey & MSV readers,

All members of the Hoboken community are invited to attend a special meeting to be held on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 7:30pm in City Council chambers to discuss the final design for the Washington Street plan. The meeting will include a presentation by T&M Associates, the engineering firm developing the final design. A resolution to approve the final design will be on the Council agenda for Wednesday, February 17. Once a final design is approved, final engineering drawings and bid specifications will be completed, and the project will be bid out for construction.

Washington Street is Hoboken’s most dangerous corridor, with more than 300 crashes between 2013 and 2015, including a pedestrian fatality. The final design incorporates complete streets principles and builds upon the conceptual design developed in 2014 through an extensive community planning process.

The plan will also modernize all elements of infrastructure along Washington Street. The 100-year-old water main will be replaced, green infrastructure will be incorporated to capture stormwater runoff and alleviate flooding as part of the Rebuild by Design strategy, and conduit for the backbone of a microgrid will be installed to improve energy resiliency for critical infrastructure.

In addition to the complete repaving of the roadway, key highlights of the plan include:

• Complete streets design provides safe access for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
• Pedestrian countdown timers, curb extensions, ADA ramps, and new brighter street lights improve pedestrian safety.
• Corridor travel times and emergency response times are expected to improve 12% to 15% through new optimized traffic signals and an emergency vehicle preemption system.
• Protected bicycle lanes take bikes off sidewalks by providing safe access for all skill levels. Retail sales have been shown to increase after adding protected bike lanes to retail corridors.
• The addition of loading zones, short-term parking spaces, and other policy changes increase parking availability for commercial activity and reduce the amount of double parking by delivery vehicles and those running quick errands
• Parking capacity is preserved by increasing the angle of parking on the east side of the street (uptown) and relocating fire hydrants to corners as part of the water main replacement.

Typical cross section and plan views for the downtown and uptown segments of the road can be viewed at: www.hobokennj.org/docs/transportation/Washington-Street-Plan.pdf.

News

Joint Statement from Mayor Zimmer and Chief Ferrante on Waterfront tragedy

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Friday January 29, 2016

City of Hoboken

   

Community: Joint Statement from Mayor Zimmer and Chief Ferrante
Dear Horsey & MSV readers,

Our deepest sympathies are with the Genovese family as they mourn the loss of their loved one, Matthew, a young Hoboken resident at the prime of his life. The Hoboken Police Department did everything possible to locate Matthew when he was reported missing by his family.

This unfortunate loss of life on our waterfront has raised concerns within the community and we write to clarify a few important issues.

First, while this particular case remains under investigation, it is important to understand that in this case and in all past cases of entry into the Hudson River from Hoboken over the years, there have been no indications of foul play in any instance. Every case has been determined to be accidental or voluntary entries into the river. In the several unfortunate situations where death arose from the incident, the State Medical Examiner’s Office has determined all of those to be death by accidental drowning and in some cases drowning aided by intoxication. The State Medical Examiner’s Office makes the final determination on all deaths. In the case of Matthew Genovese, the Medical Examiner’s case is still under investigation until toxicology reports come back, which can take several months.

It is also important for the public to understand that the security cameras, which were operational when Matthew went missing, are intended to help the Police investigate what has occurred after the fact. While the cameras can help with an investigation, the cameras unfortunately cannot save lives. The City is conducting a review of the camera system to determine where additional cameras might be appropriate and helpful for future investigations.

Under Chief Ferrante’s leadership, a new Waterfront and Parks Unit was established last year which operates 24/7 along our 1.3 mile waterfront and 20 parks to ensure that our waterfront is as safe as possible.

News

SLAPP-suit: Lane Bajardi fails journalistic ethics

Yesterday, Grafix Avenger marked the passing of one year since the Hoboken SLAPP-suit trial tolled featuring some choice moments and legal testimony about a phantom email.

The testimony of Lane Bajardi’s and Kim Cardinal Bajardi’s attorney Jonathan Z. Cohen about said phantom email runs into a roadblock as the Honorable Patrick J. Arre, the trial judge on the matter of said SLAPP-suit is less than pleased with the lack of evidentiary proof.

Apparently no one told the former plaintiffs running a political operation on Hoboken411 is not equivalent to running a political operation on a trial of Hudson Superior Court. Read More...

News

Hoboken411 fears lawsuit over parking director hit job in 2011

People have been asking with the new year if MSV plans to continue running the popular series Friday Night Lights?

After more reader inquiries, it’s become apparent the series is missed and the Hoboken public can’t get enough seeing from the inside how a zany political lunatic fringe operated in Mile Square politics trying to advance the absolute worst political elements in town.

With that, Da Horsey wishes to formally apologize to the Hoboken public for the delay between FNL episodes.

Below is a timely reminder the ten years of good government support from Kurt Gardiner did not make him a favorite with everyone. Read More...

News

Pupster on the brink of sewerage extinction

Frank “Pupie” Raia, the decades long commissioner and current chair of the North Hudson Sewerage Authority is facing extinction on the HudCo board.

Multiple sources indicate all paths are closed for Raia’s return.

Other NHSA municipalities: possible avenues for re-entry to a sewerage authority seat such as West New York and Weehawken are reportedly closed off. MSV wrote last fall in its popular Grist for the Mill series about a deal with Councilman Michael Russo seeing Raia drop out of the third ward council race. Read More...

News

HCV: Old Guard looks to recruit reform oriented council members

With the climate change delivering record snowfall hitting in our area, John Heinis of the Hudson County View published a feature on the come from behind appointment of Kurt Gardiner to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority.

In the aftermath of Gardiner’s appointment, the commissioner-elect stated three reform oriented council members indicated they intended to vote for Frank “Pupie” Raia: Dave Mello, Peter Cunningham and Ravi Bhalla. If joined by affirmative votes from Michael Russo and Ruben Ramos, three decades on the NHSA for Raia would be assured with a five vote council majority. Read More...

News

DISCOUNTED GARAGE PARKING EXTENDED; PARKING PROHIBITED ON SNOW ROUTES

City of Hoboken announces:

=&0=& Discounted garage parking for $5/day in municipal garages will be extended through Monday, January 25 at 8:00pm for residents who are already parked in the garage..

“Thank you to our entire team for working 24/7 to keep our city safe,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Employees from Environmental Services, Office of Emergency Management, Police Department, Fire Department, Parking Utility, Hudson County, and the volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team did an amazing job throughout the storm. Thank you to Stevens Institute of Technology for advising us on the risks of coastal flooding from a storm surge. Today and in the days ahead, we will be focusing snow removal efforts on clearing snow emergency routes to ensure the safety of our community. I urge residents to clear their sidewalks and corners and to help neighbors who are unable to clear their sidewalks. I also ask residents to keep fire hydrants clear for the safety of our community.” Read More...

News

City: Travel ban in Hoboken (Yes, that means you.)

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A state of emergency and travel ban remains in effect in Hoboken until further notice. The Hoboken Police Department will be very proactive in enforcing the travel ban and removing non-emergency vehicles from the roadway. As plows continue to operate throughout the night, pedestrians are urged not to walk in the street for their own safety and so snow removal crews can properly clear our streets and emergency personnel can continue to respond effectively. Read More...

News

Hoboken State of Emergency

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Saturday January 23, 2016 9:20 AM

City of Hoboken

   

Alert: State of Emergency and Travel Ban in Effect
Dear Horsey & MSV readers,

The Hoboken Office of Emergency Management has declared a State of Emergency. Driving is prohibited except for public safety and essential services (government, utilities, medical personnel).

Residents may call the Command Center at 201-239-6644 to report unplowed streets, unshoveled sidewalks, or other non-emergency issues. Please do not call the Police Department with non-emergency issues. For all emergencies, please call 911.

Vehicles parked on snow routes are subject to towing. Drivers should remain off of snow routes until further notice. Crews are working throughout the storm with 9 municipal trucks and 9 County trucks salting and plowing roads, and 2 power brooms clearing parks and public property. Snow removal is expected to begin along emergency routes following the end of the storm.

Snow Emergency Routes & No Parking Permitted:
· Washington Street – Both Sides
· Willow Avenue (West Side) – Observer Hwy to 11th St
· 3rd Street (North Side) – Jackson St to River St
· 4th Street (South Side) – River St to Jackson St
· 5th Street (South Side) – Clinton St to Hudson St
· 9th Street (North Side) – Clinton St to Hudson St
· 13th Street (North Side) – Hudson St to Madison St (Snow route + Temporary No Parking Signs posted from Hudson Street to Washington Street and Willow Avenue to Madison Street)
· Observer Highway (Both Sides) (Temporary No Parking signs posted)

Property owners/occupants are reminded that they have six hours after the completion of a storm to remove snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property, along with adjoining wheelchair ramps or curb cuts. Snow and ice must be cleared from gutters a width of 2 feet into the street. It is illegal to shovel snow back into the street or on a fire hydrant. Residents in multi-unit buildings with management companies should ensure that they are aware of City regulations in order to avoid fines. Residents are encouraged to assist elderly or disabled neighbors and to clear snow from fire hydrants.

Additional details on city code regarding snow removal for property owners can be found at www.hobokennj.org/snow. To report an unshoveled sidewalk, visit www.hoboken311.com or use the Hoboken 311 mobile application for iOS and Android.