Kushner Co’s. $800 M redevelopment agreement with city may be voided
The Jersey City Redevelopment Authority has notified the Kushner Companies that a plan to develop One Journal Square may no longer meet the city’s redevelopment requirements.
Changes in the plan as well as changes to the original partnership, and failure to submit an annual administrative fee due at the beginning of April, have the JCRA reexamining the agreement with Kushner Companies.
One concern, city officials said, is whether the company can raise the necessary funds to complete the project. The project’s financing came under scrutiny last year when the company attempted to use a controversial funding mechanism to raise funds from China.
Mayor Steven Fulop confirmed that the JCRA will review the agreements with the firm. Published reports suggest the project is relying on a potential tax break which many not materialize, putting the massive project at risk.
According to the original agreement, the project was supposed to break ground by Jan. 1, 2017. But lack of financing at the time delayed it.
The site of the project has been a political football for more than a decade, and figured prominently in the 2013 election as a symbol of the lack of progress being made in redeveloping Journal Square. Although other projects have begun in the area, the One Journal Square site remains as an undeveloped vacant lot in the middle of an area that includes bus and PATH terminal as well as buildings connected with the Hudson Community College.
JCPD seized 100 guns so far in 2018
Mayor Steven M. Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea have announced the Jersey City Police Department recovered its 100th gun so far this year when police officers responded to Stegman Street on April 15.
“This marks the 100th handgun seized by JCPD in 2018,” said Fulop. “Removing such a large amount of dangerous weapons off of our streets just a quarter of the way into 2018 is a notable task. Oftentimes these are illegal guns seized at the police officer’s own peril. This milestone should serve as a reminder to us all just how dangerous an officer’s service to the public can be.”
“We’ve seen improvements in just about all areas of public safety since 2013, ultimately reducing and deterring crime,” said Public Safety Director James Shea. “This year alone, we’ve also seen a major decrease in shooting incidents and shooting victims, at nearly half the numbers we saw this time last year. Since Mayor Fulop took office, we’ve added hundreds of police officers to our department’s total. This has allowed us to deploy manpower more effectively, focusing on some of our most important goals such as taking as many guns out of the hands of criminals as possible.”
Fulop said gun seizures are up 6 percent over this point in 2017
“There is always heightened attention towards access to guns after a mass shooting but the challenge is daily on illegal guns in the cities across the country,” Fulop said. “Each one of these guns is owned by someone who has no objective of using the gun for anything lawful and most of these guns were obtained outside of NJ. Thankfully so far this year each of these recoveries has been done safely by the JCPD.”
Opioid conference scheduled for April 24 at St. Peter’s University
Hudson County residents will view the opioid epidemic through both a national and local perspective if they attend this week’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.
Local experts on the issue will be joined by United States Attorney Craig Carpenito and Dennis E. González, acting regional director and executive officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 in the Mac Mahon Student Center at Saint Peter’s University, 47 Glenwood Ave., Jersey City. The program will be held in collaboration with Saint Peter’s University, CarePoint Health, the CarePoint Foundation, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Other speakers at the Town Hall will include Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez; Mariel Hufnagel, executive director of the Ammon Foundation; Dr. Tucker Woods, chief medical officer and senior administrative officer at CarePoint Health Christ Hospital; Rebecca Alfaro, deputy director of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism Drug Abuse; and Assi Amos, director of substance abuse services with the Giant Steps Program.
All Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Halls are open to the public and free of charge. A dedicated website, knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org, includes the full schedule of countywide town hall meetings and registration information. Knockoutopioidabuse.drugfreenj.org also provides local, county and state substance abuse prevention and treatment resources available.
HCCC will feature award-winning ABC Journalist Martha Raddatz on May 2
ABC News acclaimed Global Affairs Correspondent and Co-Anchor of ABC’s This Week Martha Raddatz will share firsthand accounts of her career during an appearance at the next installment of the Hudson County Community College Lecture Series.
The free event takes place on Wednesday, May 2, at 12 noon at the College’s Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk St. in Jersey City two blocks from the Journal Square Transportation Center. Tickets are required and may be obtained at www.hccc.edu/tickets.
Raddatz’s career includes providing coverage from the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House, as well as Africa, Europe, Asia, the former Soviet Union, the Philippines, Haiti, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.
A veteran foreign policy and conflict zone reporter, Raddatz’s news experience features exclusive coverage, which is also detailed in her bestseller, “The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family.” The memoir is about the Sadr City, Iraq ambush in 2004 that turned the U.S. mission from peacekeeping to fighting insurgents. Raddatz also covered a combat mission in an F-15 fighter jet over Afghanistan in 2004. Other exclusives include her reporting on the U.S. air strike resulting in the death of former al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2006, and the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Additionally, Raddatz’s work as a moderator in political debates has been praised for her pointed questions and assertive control over conversations on domestic and global issues. In 2012, she moderated the only vice presidential debate between Rep. Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden. During the 2016 election, Raddatz co-moderated the Democratic and Republican primary presidential debates, as well a presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Hudson Chamber partners with local organizations to better serve county businesses
The Hudson County Consortium for Business Growth and Development has been newly formed by five county organizations dedicated to building the capacity of local area businesses. The consortium intends to support business growth and development through the design, planning and coordinated delivery of educational programs to better serve entrepreneurs, start-ups, early stage, and mature businesses.
The consortium, which will provide access to educational programs throughout Hudson County, is comprised of the following founding partners: Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, Hudson County Community College Center for Business and Industry, Hudson County, Economic Development Corporation, the Hudson County Office of Business Opportunity, and NJ Small Business Development Center at New Jersey City University.
The consortium also intends to support the Hudson County Office of Business Opportunity in its efforts to assist businesses in becoming eligible for certifications and in gaining access to procurement opportunities at the county, state and federal levels and in the private sector.
“The chamber is excited to partner with organizations that have a proven track record of delivering excellent educational programming for area businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Maria Nieves, president & CEO of the Hudson County Chamber. “This partnership enables us to be true to our mission to provide our member’s with access to the best resources in the community, assist them in becoming certified, and at the same time, support the good work of our partners.”
The consortium’s first initiative is the launch of spring educational programs that include classes in basic financial management, accounting fundamentals, QuickBooks, and Excel for business and finance professionals. Spring classes began in March and will continue through June and are open to the public. Information about class offerings, dates and locations, as well as how to register is available at www.hudsonchamber.org. For information about the Hudson County Chamber, please call (201) 386-0699 x 220 or visit www.hudsonchamber.org.
Hudson County Sponsors a 5K Walk to combat veteran suicide
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise has asked residents to take part in “Forward March!” a free 5K Walk/Run to Combat Veteran’s Suicide to be held Saturday, May 19 at 10 a.m. in Lincoln Park in Jersey City.
Participation is completely free.
“I hope anyone who has time, or can make the time, will join us,” said County Executive DeGise. “We will walk, run and ruck to help all those who need to hear from us.”
Check in for “Forward March!” will begin at 9 am at the Lincoln Park Fountain Circle with step off scheduled for 10 am. Pre-registration is encouraged.
A post-event area will be set up offering resources for vets and their families dealing with mental health related concerns.
“Forward March!” is sponsored by Red, White & Que Smokehouse (providing post-event food) Catholic Family & Community Services Veterans Outreach, and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The event is being conducted by the Office of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with Partners in Prevention and American Legion JE Frobisher Jr. Post No.99 in Kearny.
For more information call Hudson County Coordinator of Veterans Affairs Joann Northgrave at (201) 369-5280 ext. 4258.
Mysterious matters at Secaucus High School
Multiple sources said on Thursday that the Secaucus Board of Education suspended the principal and assistant principal at the Secaucus High School/Middle School complex.
Several school officials refused to comment on the matter, as did Mayor Michael Gonnelli. They redirected inquiries to the school board.
Some said that the matter pertained to the handling of a potentially criminal incident involving a student, but that could not be confirmed by press time.
Former school board member Tom Troyer – who is friends with Principal Robert Berckes – speculated that his suspension was politically motivated.
“He’s a straight-up guy,” Troyer said, of Berckes. “He’ll speak up. They don’t want that.”
Media reports on Friday said a security guard in the school had been reassigned, as well.
Berckes could not be reached by press time for comment. When the high school was contacted on Thursday, they said he was not in school that day. A secretary could not say when he’d be back.
Watch hudsonreporter.com for updates, or follow us on Twitter at @hudson_reporter.
