West New York, Union City would more school aid in proposed formula
The West New York school district would gain an additional $1.7 million in state aid to education, a 1.8 percent increase, if the school-funding compromise struck by Democratic legislative leaders gets enacted. Last year the district received $94 million in state school funding.
The Union City school district stands to gain an additional $2.3 million in state aid to education, a 1.3 percent increase, compromise is enacted. Last year the district received $179 million in state school funding.
The proposed formula wouldn’t change aid for the coming year for 74 districts – but statewide would mean aid increases of 10 percent or more for 70 districts, and aid reductions of 5 percent or more for 50 districts.
Those changes reflect proposed differences from what districts were promised in early March, when the state Department of Education sent aid notices shortly after Christie proposed the budget in a speech to the Legislature. Districts have adopted budgets based on those figures.
The changes would require the agreement of Gov. Chris Christie, who had asked lawmakers to come up with a school-funding fix by early June but isn’t yet convinced of the merits of the current plan.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said school funding is one of the most important things the Legislature needs to focus on.
“This is step one, and we said this was going to be a multiple step process to get to full funding,” Sweeney said. “Step one was to start getting the formula back into play.”
Step two, presuming Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy wins in November, is a hike in income taxes for the rich.
“Next year, January, and we will do it when the new governor is sworn in, the day the new governor is sworn in, we will put up a millionaires tax. It will generate a minimum of $600 million” and bring every district in the state over 70 percent of full formula funding, Sweeney said.
“It’s a process. It’s going to take time. But in two years, we are going to really make an enormous amount of progress. So for me, this is the beginning,” Sweeney said. “… We’ve said it’s going to take five years. It might take seven years. But we absolutely can fully fund the formula, and we will fully fund the formula.”
PSE&G upgrades aging gas lines in West New York
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) has finished upgrading a portion of its aging gas lines in West New York. Now that the ground has settled, crews will be paving the roads from June 19 through July 7, weather permitting.
“These upgrades are part of PSE&G’s three-year program to replace 510 miles of aging gas infrastructure throughout New Jersey,” said Joe Forline, vice president of gas operations. “We appreciate the patience of our customers and excellent partnership with local officials as we complete this work. Our goal is to restore roads with minimal impact to residents.”
Police will be directing traffic around work areas, and residents will be able to drive on the roads once paving is complete. For a full street list, please visit www.pseg.com/gaswork.
“The cooperation throughout the past year between PSE&G, the town, and our community has been incredible,” said Mayor Felix E. Roque. “We are continuously working to improve the health and safety of our residents, all while working to improve our local roads.”
If residents have any questions about the work, they may call and leave a voicemail with the Jersey City Gas District at (201) 420-3922.
Hudson County CASA is seeking volunteers
Learn how to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and help foster children find safe and permanent homes. The next information session will be at Little City Books at 100 Bloomfield St., Hoboken, on Tuesday, June 27 at 7 p.m.
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures.
For further information, visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Hovnanian loses $9 million suit to condo owners
A group of condominium owners has been awarded $9 million in a lawsuit against builder Hovnanian over construction problems at a six-story building on the Hudson riverfront, NJ.com reported.
The 132 condos in Grandview I are within the sprawling Port Imperial waterfront development complex.
The suit was filed in 2013 in Superior Court in Hudson County by a group formally known as the Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association. Five different Hovnanian companies were named as defendants including K. Hovnanian at Port Imperial, K Hovnanian Holding LLC, K. Hovnanian Development of NJ, and others.
The Grandview plaintiffs’ lawyers said the $9 million award includes punitive damages for violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The law entitles plaintiffs to recover attorneys’ fees, costs and prejudgment interest, and the lawyers said the award could ultimately exceed $20 million.
The jury verdict included $3 million in liability, which was tripled under the fraud statute.
The jury also found the project architect, RTKL, liable for $1 million in damages.
Cottle and fellow attorney Matt Meyers said the problems came to light after Grandview opened in 2007, and owners eventually took control of the condominium board from Hovnanian.
The judgment came after a six-week trial before Judge Jeffrey Jablonski.
Princeton University recognizes local teacher
Mr. Peter Drozd, Robotics and Engineering Teacher at Union City High School’s Academy of Enrichment and Advancement, was honored on June 6 with the Princeton Program in Teacher Preparation Award. This award was established in 1959 by an anonymous alumnus for exceptional teachers. The award comes with a personal check of $5,000 and $3,000 for the school’s library. Peter Drozd was selected among other outstanding entries from around the state for his dedication, presence, work ethics, impact on the school community, and “believing in the power of his students to make a better world.”
“We are proud that Mr. Drozd is a part of our Union City Board of Education family,” said a press release, “a true credit to his school and the teaching profession.”
Free outdoor series on Weehawken waterfront begins June 28
A diverse and eclectic program of Wednesday evening summer concerts returns to the Weehawken waterfront as the Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center, Inc. (HRPAC) presents Summer Concerts on the Hudson 2017. The free series is co-sponsored by the Hudson Reporter.
This series of concerts starts on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. and will feature top artists from many different musical genres, including Motown, Latin, Jazz, Bluegrass, and Flamenco.
On June 28, the band Shadows of the ’60s will pay tribute to The Four Tops, one of Motown’s greatest groups.
“For 14 years, Summer Concerts on the Hudson has presented world class artists in concerts that are free of charge to the public,” said Bruce Sherman, HRPAC’s executive director. “What could be better than listening to great music on a beautiful summer evening in a spectacular riverfront setting!”
The concerts are family friendly. Concertgoers are requested to bring a lawn chair or blanket and encouraged to pack a picnic and enjoy the pastoral setting of Lincoln Harbor Park.
All performances take place at Lincoln Harbor Park and begin at 7 p.m. Rain dates, if necessary, will occur the following night after each scheduled performance. For information, directions, and late breaking concert news and updates, please check the HRPAC website (www.hrpac.org) or call the concert info line at (201)716-4540.
FBI and U.S. Attorney General join investigation into Tonnelle Avenue police chase
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and representatives from the U.S. Justice Department have joined the investigation into the events surrounding the vehicle pursuit involving the Jersey City Police Department which ended in a fiery crash on Sunday, June 4.
Investigators from the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Internal Affairs Unit are working jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of New Jersey and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each agency will contribute to the investigation by providing a different area of expertise, according to a press release.
“We welcome the participation of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI in our investigation,” said Suarez. “This cooperative multi-agency effort will provide that which justice demands – a fair, expeditious, thorough and impartial determination of all facts. I continue to ask the public for patience as we review this matter in its entirety.”
The press release outlined the following details:
On Sunday, June 4, shortly after 11 p.m. Jersey City Police Officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Ocean and Cator avenues in Jersey City. The vehicle fled the area and was pursued by officers.
The driver, Leo C. Pinkston, 48, of Jersey City, was allegedly involved in at least two separate automobile crashes. The first crash occurred as he attempted to drive between two lanes of traffic while traveling on Tonnelle Avenue.
Multiple shots were fired at the suspect by Jersey City police officers. Several blocks later, the man crashed into a utility pole causing a fire and injuring a male victim who was also driving on Tonnelle Avenue. The victim, Miguel Feliz-Rodriguez, 28, of West New York, was transported by Emergency Medical Services to The Burn Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Anyone with additional information or video about this case is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at (201) 915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County
Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ . All information will be kept confidential.
