Jersey City Register

Archive for the ‘Jersey City Living’ Category

July 4th is one of the busiest holidays highlighted by fireworks (we have one in Liberty State Park, Jersey City). According to JCReader, PATH will add trains in anticipation of increased ridership:

From JCReader:

“… additional trains will be added between 6pm and midnight to accommodate travelers headed into and out of the city for the New York fireworks display sponsored by Macy’s, in the East River…”

Read more articles here.

Tenants of Grandview Terrace have been dealing with the bugs for 3 years already!

The Jersey Journal reports that there are bedbug infestations in Hudson County, and one of the buildings here in JC “had nearly 50 cases of bedbugs in the past three years.” The worst part is, the tenants are asked to shoulder the bill ($300) to exterminate the pests. The tenants of Grandview Terrace who earn on a fixed income, said they can’t afford it.

Personally, I would pay that amount under the agreement that the owner will reimburse my money or would deduct it from my monthly rent. However, there’s no guarantee that bedbugs will go away; they would simply transfer from one unit to another without you knowing it.

If you are having bites and do not know the cause, you might want to check out your sofa and beds/matress for bedbug presence.

Wikipedia describes the feeding habits of bedbugs:

“…Bedbugs are generally active only at dawn, with a peak attack period about an hour before sunrise. They may attempt to feed at other times, however, given the opportunity, and have been observed to feed at any time of the day…. After feeding for about five minutes, the bug returns to its hiding place….” more info…

Streetview of Broadway Gas Station (Broadway and Route 1 & 9, Jersey City)

I always go to ULTRA GAS STATION for cheap gas, but last Sunday, my father recommended Broadway Gas Station. He said they accept credit/debit cards. So I was annoyed when I went there and saw the signs that read: CASH ONLY. “When did this happen?” I asked the guy working there, and he said “two days ago.”

Streetview of ULTRA GAS/TRUCK STATION.

Result?

I drove 3-5 blocks for refueling at ULTRA GAS STATION. They have the same gas price ($3.86) as the Broadway Gas Station during that time, they accept credit/debit cards, and the place is much convenient for me.

Where do you go for cheap gas?

For illustration purpose only.

Same star, new antagonist.

Last month, our leading man Jersey City fire inspector Matt Barrett rejected a $500 bribe from the owner of the burnt building on St. Paul’s Avenue. Mr. Barrett called the cops and had the owner arrested.

Yesterday, Mr. Barrett was again offered a bribe despite the presence of a cop. 39-years old Kevin Bassit - owner of Fairmont Terrace - was arrested on the spot for trying to bribe Mr. Barrett hoping the latter would erase the violations found on the former’s building.

Here’s the kicker: Kevin had read the story of the failed bribery last month and was aware of the consequences.

Which makes me wonder: Why did he even try? Does Mr. Barrett look “bribe-able” (if there’s such a term) to him?

Data extracted from JCPD website.

For the past month, Assault, Burglary, and Larceny - Theft increased, while the rest of the offense slightly dropped. Altogether, Jersey City crimes went up from 777 (April 2008) to 780 (May 2008). Based on how you feel, do you think the report accurately reflects the crime situation here in Jersey City?

Read the rest for the JC Crime Stats table for May 2008
(more…)

YWCA Apartments at 111 Storms Avenue, Jersey City. Map here.

I swear when I read the news, it sounded like ABC’s popular reality show “Extreme Makeover Home Edition“, and a Marylanad-based company - Housing Trust of America Company (HTA) — played the role of Ty Pennington.

…HTA spent roughly $19,000 to perform a “moderate rehab” on each unit, said HTA President Wallace Scruggs.

In addition to the units, HTA spiffed up a lounge area on the first floor with carpeting, sofas and a high-definition TV, and added a new coat of paint, along with outdoor furniture on a seventh-floor outdoor patio….

The renovations made 86-year Gettie Williams happy. He’s been living there for 18 years. “The place is beautiful,” said Williams, showing off the new floors, kitchen, paint job, and upgraded lighting fixtures in her one-bedroom unit to the Jersey Journal writer.

Full news here.

Photo for illustration purposes only. Riders of Bergen Avenue Bus have to wait at least 40 minutes for the bus to arrive.

Commuters > Buses. Literally, and mathematically.

Due to repairs and maintenance needed, Bergen Avenue Bus Company only runs two good buses that transport commuters from Bayonne to Jersey City (JSQ). The commuters also have to endure the heat because of the buses’ lack of air-conditioning system.

“For the past two days, I’ve been waiting about an hour,” said Hudson County Community College student Emily Amparo, as she waited for a bus around 2 p.m. yesterday at the Journal Square bus depot.

“It’s been horrible,” Amparo added about the lack of A/C. “But I have no choice.”

The news said that there’s a roughly 17,000 monthly commuters who use this Bayonne-JSQ line. Wow. Makes me appreciate my old cranky car.

Full news here.

Prepare for a steamy weekend starting tomorrow, June 07, 2008. Forecasts say that the first heat wave in Jersey City will be arriving.

Let’s look at the numbers for the next five days:

Date	Temp
Sat (6/7)	96
Sun (6/8)	95
Mon (6/9)	94
Tue (6/10)	89
Wed (6/11)	83

I’m not a math genius, but by simply looking at the numbers above, I could tell that the average temperature for the next five days is above 90 degrees!

As a matter of fact, NJ’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) released an email to urge residents take steps to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“…The National Weather Service is predicting prolonged hot and humid weather on the East Coast that will begin Saturday and last through mid-week…”

Survival Tips to avoid health complications from excessive heat: (per DHSS)

• Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages.
• Make sure children and the elderly are drinking water, and ensure that persons with mobility problems have adequate fluids in easy reach.
• If you do not have air conditioning, spend time in air-conditioned places such as libraries, movies, malls or other public buildings during the hottest hours of the day.
• Wear loose and light-colored clothing. Wear a hat when outdoors.
• Reduce physical activity or reschedule it for cooler times of the day.
• Don’t leave children, a frail elderly or disabled person, or pets in an enclosed car — not even for a minute — as temperatures can quickly climb to dangerous levels.
• Talk to your health care provider about any medicine or drugs you are taking. Certain medications — such as tranquilizers and drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease — can increase the risk of heat-related illness.

For more information on preventing heat-related illness, please visit the DHSS web site at www.nj.gov/health/eoh/hhazweb/cool.htm.

Taken at Bergen Square. Right across is Martin Luther King, Jr. School (PS 11). Camera facing west of Academy Street.

Do you know when they were first installed? I just noticed the cameras on top of two traffic lights on Academy Street the other day. As a result, I tried to be as observant as possible when I drive around the city. So far, I hadn’t seen anything installed yet in other areas of JC.

Have you seen any cameras in Downtown, Jersey City?

So why are there cameras on Academy Street?

In front of C-Town Store. Camera facing East of Academy Street.

I suspect they were installed because of the bomb scare a couple of months ago at Martin Luther King, Jr (PS 11) which is located at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street. What do you think?

Matthew, a JC Resident, and a JCConstruction blog contributor, wrote the top ten reasons why Jersey City has proper Formula for a Great City…

I will only list down the summary, so head over his post at JCConstruction blog for his explanation. Let us know if you agree or not:

Top 10 Reasons why Jersey City has proper Formula for a Great City

1. Transportation
2. Accessible Airport
3. Low Sales Tax
4. Backyards
5. The savings Continue - $1.75 for a Path Train ride vs $2.00 for a ride into the heart of Manhattan (oh and we also have the shortest ride into Wall Street)
6. A Cool skyline
7. Donald trump
8. The Beacon
9. A Driving Range- Hiya doin Hoboken ! HA HA!
10. The Arts

(Photos will be added later, I’m stuck at work… )