Blue Foundry Bank Opens New Branch Location in Jersey City

November 22, 2021

Blue Foundry Bank, a financial institution that offers a full service, crafted banking experience, announced the reopening of its reimagined branch location at 123 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey. The new design, by DMR Architects, reflects the bank’s reinvention and creates an unmatched banking experience for the modern-day movers and shakers of Jersey City that it serves.

Blue Foundry Bank looks forward to continuing to bring its dedication, service, and spirit to the communities and small businesses in Jersey City using its “Blue Is Here for You” personal touch service. Delivered by dedicated, knowledgeable Universal Bankers, clients will enjoy individualized support to help them meet their financial goals and get the most out of their Blue Foundry banking relationship.

“Our new branch in Jersey City is important to us as we continue to showcase our deep commitment to providing the best banking possible to the hard-working businesses and neighbors we serve,” said James D. Nesci, President and CEO of Blue Foundry Bank. “We remain dedicated to making a difference, not just through our banking services, but through our community-minded support as well.”

To celebrate Blue Foundry Bank’s grand opening in Jersey City, grants were provided to the following nonprofit organizations by the Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation:

York Street Project – Providing programs that shelter, feed, educate and promote the healing and independence of those in need, especially women, children, and their families.
Family Promise of Hudson County – Helping those who have already lost or are at risk of losing their homes to get back on their feet.
United Way of Hudson County – Protecting youth victims who suffer from abuse and neglect, advocating for resources to help people with special needs, and joining a nationwide alliance to end homelessness.

Blue Foundry Bank is a place where things are made, purpose is formed, and ideas are crafted. Dedicated to outstanding customer experience and personal support, Blue Foundry Bank offers a comprehensive line of products and services including personal and business banking and lending, to support clients’ financial goals and investment for growth.

Sires faces calls to sign on to ‘Medicare for All’ legislation

Hudson Reporter

November 18, 2021

11wnycaravan18-1 — The car 'caravan' paraded down Palisades Avenue.

Activists favoring expanded Medicare coverage are pressuring Rep. Albio Sires, a Democrat who represents the 8th Congressional District, to sign on to Medicare for All legislation.

Earlier this month, local volunteers with National Nurses United held a car “caravan” outside of Sires’ office in West New York to call on him to cosponsor H.R. 1976, the Medicare for All Act of 2021.

The West New York nurses and other community members from the town and Hudson County gathered at the Target parking lot on Tonnele Avenue before forming a “caravan” and heading past Sires’ office on Saturday, Nov. 6. Cars of different kinds were plastered in signs with the slogan Medicare for All, parading in front of Sires’ office on Palisades Avenue.

The car “caravan” was accompanied by a mobile billboard that read “Our health care system has failed. Nurses’ prescription for the pandemic: Medicare for All!” Additionally, a similar message was projected onto the side of his office which read: “Rep. Albio Sires, when will you do the right thing and cosponsor Medicare for All?”

Calling on Rep. Sires

Sires, whose district encompasses much of Hudson County, is not yet a cosponsor of the Medicare for All Act of 2021, although a majority of Democrats in Congress have signed on with a total of 118 cosponsors.

A billboard truck accompanied the “caravan.”

According to National Nurses United, there is large support for Medicare for All among voters in the NJ-08 district. Organizers have been reaching out to Democratic voters in the district over the last few months through texting, phone calling, and mailing regarding support for Medicare for All.

Anna-Marta Visky, with New Jersey branch of Our Revolution, told the Hudson Reporter she helped organize the event in West New York and called for Sires to take action.

“Sires is one of the four major priority targets this time around,” Visky said, describing why they want Sires to cosponsor the bill. “He’s part of the Medicare for All Caucus in Congress and he has cosponsored similar legislation in the past.”

In 2018 he cosponsored similar legislation, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act.

An activist stands in front of the projection outside of Sires’ office.

The for-profit system ‘excludes and exploits’

“There is really no reason why now, in the middle of a pandemic, he wouldn’t be on the current bill that would provide guaranteed health care to every resident of this country,” Visky said. “Medicare for All basically is a universal single payer system that guarantees health care to everyone.”

The current for-profit healthcare system isn’t equitable for all as it stands.

“In a district like New Jersey 8th Congressional District where the residents are majority Hispanic working class communities, we really need to stand with those who, either for immigration or financial reasons, can’t use the current for-profit health care system,” she said.

According to Visky, the current system “excludes and exploits people to enrich the insurance industry’s bottom line.”

“That’s the main reason why we are also in this district, because the demographics are such that he really should be standing up for every resident’s right to quality, guaranteed, health care,” she said.

The projection as seen from across the street.

Nurses on board

Nurses, such as the ones who joined in the car “caravan,” and other healthcare workers would also benefit from the system.

“Nurses are treating patients in hospitals where people who are uninsured are turned away from the hospital’s door, people who end up in the emergency room with conditions that could have been prevented if they would have had quality healthcare early on,” Visky said.

“Nurses are the front lines of our current healthcare system, seeing firsthand what it means to be uninsured or underinsured. The for-profit system honestly kills. And they are the ones who are standing up and saying ‘This is a really inefficient and inhumane system and we care for our patients. You need to care for us as well and for the entire community and make sure that we are able to carry out our profession in a manner that is humane.’”

And in West New York and the rest of the 8th Congressional District, Visky said that affordable and humane healthcare is necessary now more than ever.

‘Covering everyone’

“NJ-08 as a district has working class majority Hispanic communities, and these communities are historically more likely to be uninsured or underinsured,” Visky said. “The pandemic has shown that these communities are disproportionately affected and impacted by COVID. Black and brown residents are dying at a much higher rate than white residents. We should call on all our congress people, especially those who have been sympathetic to universal single payer legislation in the past, to enact this system. This single payer universal health care system will cover everybody, regardless of immigration or financial status.”

She concluded: “We are calling on Representative Sires, as someone who has sponsored legislation in the past, to put his name on the current legislation, the Medicare for All Act of 2021.”

Sires did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

North Bergen ordinance would amend salary ranges

Hudson Reporter

November 18, 2021

11nbBoC25 — The North Bergen Board of Commissioners listen to residents speak during the public comment portion of a meeting. Photo by Art Schwartz

The North Bergen Board of Commissioners has introduced an ordinance that would amend the salary ranges for a number of municipal employees.

The move at the Nov. 10 meeting follows similar recent proposed ordinances in Hoboken and West New York. The ordinance would amend the maximum and minimum salaries for an array of municipal employees, but does not grant anyone at Town Hall a raise.

According to the proposed ordinance, some “Schedule A” or competitive salary ranges include positions such as: Bi-Lingual Administrative Clerk ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $102,000; Assistant Fiscal Officer ranging from $50,000 to $130,000; Assistant Public Works Superintendent ranging from $50,000 to $129,000; Building Sub-Code Official ranging from $40,000 to $107,000; Clerk 2 ranging from $35,000 to $100,000; Director of Health and Welfare ranging from $75,000 to $250,000; Director of Community Improvements ranging from $90,000 to $150,000; Director of Automotive Services ranging from $30,000 to $137,000; Municipal Court Administrator ranging from $50,000 to $122,000; Municipal Park Superintendent ranging from $50,000 to $130,000; Public Works Superintendent ranging from $75,000 to $168,000; Purchasing Agent ranging from $85,000 to $142,000; and Road Repair Supervisor ranging from $60,000 to $115,000. These are just a few of the positions and their would-be salary ranges under the proposed ordinance.

Other salary ranges would be amended for “Schedule B” or non-competitive salaries. Under “Schedule C” or unclassified salaries, the ranges would be amended for a number of positions including: Chief Financial Officer ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $160,000; Deputy Director ranging from $30,000 to $140,000; Municipal Court Judge ranging from $50,000 to $176,000; Municipal Administrator ranging from $90,000 to $231,000; Municipal Clerk ranging from $40,000 to $116,000; Tax Assessor ranging from $25,000 to $117,000; and Tax Collector and Tax Search Officer ranging from $20,000 to $131,000.

A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. at Town Hall at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard. For more information, go to northbergen.org and click on the event in the calendar webpage.

New payment schedule for board members too

The board also adopted an ordinance that overhauls how members of certain municipal boards would be paid. The ordinance aims to account for attendance of chairpersons and members at these board meetings.

“This ordinance will have the impact of board members being paid per meeting they attended,” Mayor Nicholas Sacco said at the Oct. 20 meeting when the ordinance was introduced. “They used to be paid whether they attended or not. I think it’s a much better way and it’ll also get our attendance up.”

The payments are about the same, increasing slightly from approximately $62 to $75 per meeting for normal board members. Chairpersons also received a slight pay increase to $100 per meeting. However, members are only paid if they attend. The boards affected under the proposed ordinance include: the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Condominium and Cooperative Conversion Board, the Traffic Advisory Board, the Rent Leveling Board, and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Under the new ordinance, for the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Condominium and Cooperative Conversion Board, the chairperson will make $100 per regular meeting attended. Normal and alternate members will earn $75. For special meetings, all members will make $150. For the Traffic Advisory Board, the chairperson will make $100 per regular meeting attended. Normal members will earn $75. For special meetings, all members will make the same as regular meetings.

For the Rent Leveling Board, the chairperson will make $100 per regular meeting attended. Normal and alternate members will earn $75. For special meetings, all members will make $150. For the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the chairperson will make $100 per regular meeting attended. Normal members will earn $75. For special meetings, all members will make $150.

There will be no additional payment to any person serving in a vice-chairperson or acting chairperson position for any particular meeting. Under the ordinance, the township or a board can request that applicants appearing before a board for a special meeting pay the township for the special meeting attendance fees. The ordinance will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

State grant to pay for upgrades to Centre Avenue in Secaucus

Hudson Reporter

November 18, 2021

11seccouncil25 — The intersection of County Avenue and Centre Avenue, where the roadway improvements would begin. Image via Google Maps

A state grant will cover the costs of roadway improvements to a main road in Secaucus.

The town recently received a state grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to pay for roadway upgrades to Centre Avenue, according to First Ward Councilman Robert Costantino at the Nov. 9 meeting. The road runs through the heart of Secaucus.

“We received a NJDOT grant for local aid for $422,489 for improvements along Centre Avenue,” Costantino said.

Mayor Michael Gonnelli said the town would likely start at County Avenue and go from there.

“It’s not enough money to do the whole roadway,” Gonnelli said. “Well we really don’t know yet.

Town Administrator Gary Jeffas confirmed that the town would start there and work its way down the road.

“We’ll start there and go down,” Gonnelli said.

“We will phase it,” Costantino said.

State assistance to improve roadways

The over $422,000 is part of the $161.25 million in Municipal Aid grants awarded to 541 cities and towns across the state to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements. The competitive Municipal Aid grant program attracted 625 applications from 547 different municipalities with a total of $363 million requested. Project applications were evaluated and rated on their merits by NJDOT staff and reviewed by an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers.

Under the Municipal Aid grant program, each county is apportioned a share of the total funding based on population and the number of local center line miles. Municipalities compete for portions of their county’s share. NJDOT provides 75 percent of the grant amount when a town awards a contract and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project.

Secaucus received $422,489 of the $8,916,763 allotted to Hudson County in total.

In comparison, Jersey City got $1,768,519 for the West Side Avenue Improvement Project; Hoboken got $876,483 for the Sinatra Drive Roadway Improvements; Union City got $862,176 for roadway improvements to 13th Street, 42nd Street, and 47th Street; Bayonne got $821,963 for roadway improvements to Avenue A; North Bergen got $767,483 for roadway improvements to 4th Avenue, 85th Street, 88th Street, 76th Street, 77th Street, and 78th Street; West New York got $686,807 for roadway improvements to Dewey Street, Adams Street, 52nd Street, 59th Street and 66th Street; Weehawken got $451,585 for roadway improvements to Columbia Terrace, Fulton Street, and Hudson Avenue.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

At least 93 percent of adults are fully vaccinated in Secaucus

Hudson Reporter

November 17, 2021

11secvaccine25 — Those who live or work in Secaucus can schedule an appointment to get a COVID-19 booster shot at the Recreation Center.

In the town of Secaucus, vaccination rates are the highest in Hudson County, officials said. In an interview with the Hudson Reporter, Town Administrator Gary Jeffas broke down the numbers.

According to Jeffas, over 100 percent of adults have received their first dose of a vaccine. Jeffas said data from the Health Department actually showed that somehow “101 percent” of residents had received a first dose. At least 93 percent of adults were fully vaccinated.

“We’re the highest in the county, percentage-wise,” Jeffas said. “We consider that to be outstanding. We basically can’t do better than where we are.”

The town is administering vaccines from the Recreation Center at 1200 Koelle Boulevard. Jeffas said that vaccinations are available at the site every Wednesday from around 3 to 5 p.m. Whether it’s their first or second dose, residents can walk in.

Booster shots and youth vaccination

For third doses and boosters, residents must make an appointment by calling the Health Department at 201-330-2031 or by visiting secaucusnj.gov/vaccine.

“Most people are coming in for boosters,” Jeffas said.

In addition to boosters, the town has been offering vaccinations at schools through the school district.

“We’ve been doing days with the schools where we’re doing the 5- to 11-year-olds,” Jeffas said. “But those are set days with the school. We set it up with the school system and arrange that through them.”

Data on the vaccination rates for boosters shots and newly eligible youth is not yet available. However, in terms of boosters, Jeffas estimated a few hundred boosters had been administered in the weeks the town has offered them.

“We’ve been running clinics since it came out,” Jeffas said. “We’ve been doing about 140 doses every time, so I can safely say we’ve done boosters for about 600 people, based on my rough count.”

Get vaccinated

Secaucus offers both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

“We just started out doing all Moderna until we were able to do Pfizer,” Jeffas said. “Now it is both, so some people are coming in for Pfizer, most for Moderna.”

Those eligible for first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines include those age 18 and over for the Moderna vaccine and those age 5 and over for the Pfizer vaccine. Third doses of those vaccines are available for those who are severely immunocompromised and received their second dose at least four weeks ago.

Booster shots, which for Moderna is a half dose and for Pfizer is a full dose, are available to those who are 65 and older, those who are 18 and older who live in long-term care settings, or hav underlying medical conditions, or live or work in high-risks settings, and have received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago.

Those who live or work in Secaucus, and are eligible for the vaccine, can get the jab at the Recreation Center. For more information, go to secaucusnj.gov/vaccine.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

West New York ordinance would increase minimum wage to $15 for municipal employees

Hudson Reporter

November 15, 2021

11wnyboc25 — Employees at West New York town hall would make a minimum wage of $15 under the proposed ordinance. Image via Google Maps

West New York is looking to pay its municipal employees more.

The West New York Board of Commissioners have introduced an ordinance that would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour for all employees except seasonal part-time positions, and increase salary ranges of various other positions.

“The town of West New York is proud to introduce an ordinance that will increase the minimum wage of our municipal workers, allowing local families to grow, prosper, and invest back in our community and local economy,” Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez said. “The economic effects of the pandemic are still being felt throughout our community and so this is a much needed financial boost.”

The board will hold a public hearing on the ordinance Dec. 15 meeting via Zoom. For more information, go to westnewyorknj.org and click on the event on the calendar webpage.

Under the ordinance, the Mayor would be able to earn up to a yearly maximum of $30,000, up from $20,000, and minimum of $13,500. Commissioners would be able to earn up to a maximum of $29,000, up from $17,500, and a minimum of $13,050.

The Recreation Director would be able to earn up to a yearly maximum of $100,000, up from $90,000, and a minimum of $59,259, down from $60,000. The Tax Collector would be able to earn up to $135,000, up from $125,000, and a minimum of $60,000.

Police, EMTs, and fire

Law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and fire officials were also included in the pay changes.

Each year, a Police Captain would be able to earn up to a maximum of $190,000, up from $180,000, and a minimum of $133,848. A Police Lieutenant would be able to earn up to a maximum of $182,000, up from $155,000, and a minimum of $110,383.

A Police Sergeant would be able to earn up to a maximum $157,000, up from $135,000, and a minimum of $94,342. A Police Officer would be able to earn up to a maximum of $135,000, up from $110,000, and a minimum of $47,060.

A part-time Dispatcher would be able to earn up to a maximum $19 per hour, up from $15, and a minimum of $10 per hour. A full-time Dispatcher would be able to earn up to a maximum of $37,500 yearly, up from $35,000, and a minimum of $25,000, down from $27,000.

Yearly, an EMT would be able to earn up to a maximum of $60,000, up from $46,000, and a minimum of $35,000. At an hourly rate, an EMT 1 would be able to earn up to a maximum of $20 per hour, up from $18, and a minimum of $14.75 per hour. Likewise, an EMT 2 would be able to earn up to a maximum of $21 per hour, up from $20, and a minimum of $16 per hour.

A Supervising Emergency Medical Technician would be able to earn a maximum of $91,000, up from $46,000, and a minimum of $60,000. A full-time Registered Environmental Health Specialist would be able to earn up to a maximum of $75,000, up from $55,000, and a minimum of $25,000.

Other positions affected

A Building Inspector would be able to earn up to a maximum of $95,000, up from $85,000, and a minimum of $13,500. A Construction Official would be able to earn up to a maximum of $175,000, up from $140,000, and a minimum of $85,955.

An Electrical Sub Code Official would be able to earn up to a maximum of $88,000, up from $74,000, and a minimum of $54,680. A part-time Fire Sub-Code Official would be able to earn up to a maximum of $42 per hour, up from $40 per hour, and a minimum of $18 per hour.

A Truck Driver would be able to earn up to a maximum of $67,000, up from $62,000, and a minimum of $25,934. A Truck Driver Heavy would be able to earn up to a maximum of $72,000, up from $62,000, and a minimum of $25,000. A Crossing Guard would be able to earn up to a maximum of $18 per hour, up from $16 per hour, and a minimum of $10.75 per hour.

A Parking Attendant would be able to earn up to a maximum of $35,000, up from $30,000, and a minimum of $25,800. A part-time Parking Enforcement Officer would be able to earn up to a maximum of $19 per hour, up from $16 per hour, and a minimum of $11 per hour. A full-time Parking Enforcement Officer would be able to earn up to a maximum of $65,000, up from $51,000, and a minimum of $25,800.

The ordinance would also add a number of employment titles and salary ranges.

Public hearing in December

The salary ranges of the remaining employment titles shall remain unchanged. The ordinance, if adopted, would go into effect on Jan. 2022. According to the ordinance, all employees will have a minimum wage of $15 per hour except for seasonal part-time positions. The move is two years ahead of the state minimum wage increase to $15 by 2024.

“We are proud of making this happen two years ahead of schedule,” Rodriguez said. “Our community needs and deserves it.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

North Bergen eyes redeveloping part of Bergenline Avenue

Hudson Reporter

November 11, 2021

11nbBoC18 — A view of the Mariah building and the adjacent lot via Google Maps

North Bergen is looking to redevelop three properties in a prime area of Bergenline Avenue.

The North Bergen Board of Commissioners have approved a resolution authorizing a redevelopment study of 8505, 8515, and 8619 Bergenline Avenue. 8505 Bergenline Avenue is currently home to James Vincent Bicycles, 8515 is the Mariah Condominiums building, and 8619 is a currently vacant lot adjacent to the Mariah’s parking lot. The properties are directly across the street from James J. Braddock Hudson County Park.

The study will seek to determine if the properties can be designated as an area in need of redevelopment, the first step in redeveloping the site. The move authorizes the North Bergen Planning Board to conduct the study, hold a public hearing on it, and determine if the properties constitute an area in need of redevelopment. If the planning board declares it as such, the board of commissioners can vote to do the same.

Legal delays

According to township counsel Tom Kobin, this was tied up in court due to the neighbors behind 8619 Bergenline Avenue.

“We were in litigation with the property just to the north of this,” Kobin said of the vacant lot.

Kobin continued: “It was challenged by Larry Wainstein. It was important we got a resounding decision in our favor from the appellate division on this.”

Mayor Nicholas Sacco called it a “political stunt.”

“We had to go through the court, but we won the case,” Sacco said.

Sacco added that while some had complained that developing the land would block views to the park, he said that would happen regardless.

“A handful of people said that it was going to block the view of the park,” Sacco said. “Anything built there is going to block the view of the park.”

Trouble with the Mariah

Kobin said that the township is also asking the planning board to study an additional property to the south of 8619 Bergenline Avenue, the Mariah building at 8515.

“This is an additional property building that is really financially in the hole,” Kobin said. “They can’t fix the building.”

According to Kobin, the elevator has been broken for years and has not been repaired because the owners cannot afford to do so.

“This will be a good area study to see if we can get a redevelopment there,” Kobin said.

“The Mariah used to be a very nice building,” Sacco said. “But once it went to condos, that’s when the problems started where people didn’t want to maintain it.”

According to Sacco, the building conditions continued to go downhill.

“They need to fix the elevator, but refuse to spend the money,” Sacco said.

‘Unliveable’ conditions

Sacco also referenced an “absentee landlord situation,” adding it was “unbelievable and unlivable” to go that long without a working elevator. He said that short of outright condemning the property, the township has little options and is essentially “powerless.”

“We can fine them until they are blue in the face but they can’t afford to fix it,” Kobin said.

If declared an area in need of redevelopment, the township can condemn the property and seize it through eminent domain. However, this resolution only asks the planning board to consider if the properties are an area in need of redevelopment. This is one of the intial steps of redeveloping land.

The matter may be heard at the next North Bergen Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Town Hall at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard. For more information, go to northbergen.org and click on the link on the calendar webpage.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Jersey City Ward C council race is set for runoff

Hudson Reporter

November 9, 2021

Jersey,City,,New,Jersey,Usa,-,May,4,2021:,Old — The Jersey City Council Ward C seat will be decided in a runoff on Dec. 7. Image credit: James Andrews1 / Shutterstock.com.

Although this year’s elections in Jersey City are now a thing of the past, one final election looks to take place with a runoff in Ward C, as an incumbent will have to defend his seat from a challenger following a three-way race for the Journal Square-based City Council seat.

Councilman Rich Boggiano, who ran on Mayor Steve Fulop’s slate this year, will be up against challenger Kevin Bing, a community activist, in a runoff that is set for Dec. 7. The runoff comes after a three-way race in Ward C between the two and Tom Zuppa, a former Hudson County assistant prosecutor, in the general election, where none of them received a majority of the votes.

A runoff is triggered if no candidate receives a majority of vote (50 percent + 1 of the total votes casted) in the general election. According to unofficial results, Bogginao received 43.95 percent of the vote, while Bing and Zuppa split the challenger votes at 29.7 and 26.15 percent respectively. With only the top two candidates going to the runoff, Zuppa will be eliminated from contention.

Councilman Rich Boggiano will have to defend his seat for another term.

Boggiano ran on quality of life improvements in Journal Square such as parks and clean streets, and reiterated it again for his candidacy in the runoff.

“I have been fighting for residents in Ward C for decades, long before we had the luxury of worrying about how to manage the successful growth and redevelopment of the greater Journal Square area,” said Boggiano in a letter to the editor of the Hudson Reporter. “I have always been clear about what I care about: QUALITY OF LIFE.”

Bing ran as the progressive candidate in the election, focusing on traffic safety and affordable housing. Bing said that his campaign is reaching out to those that supported him and letting them know about the runoff.

“I don’t think this campaign is about Kevin Bing being a nice guy,” said Bing. “I think this is about what issues we can deliver on the City Council. I think voters get the picture that this campaign doesn’t end on Election Day, and that me, my supporters, and everybody who’s out there – we’re fighting for actually delivering on those issues.”

Kevin Bing came in second in the unofficial results of the general election.

Zuppa did not respond for comment on the runoff and has not said who he would support.

Regardless of the Dec. 7 outcome, the City Council will still retain a majority for Fulop, who won reelection for a third term as mayor. Most of the mayor’s slate members look set to defend their seats, with slate member Amy DeGise unseating Councilman Rolando Lavarro for an at-Large seat. Meanwhile, Frank “Educational” Gilmore defeated Team Fulop member Councilman Jermaine Robinson and Vernon Richardson in a three-way race in Ward F.

Voting registration for the runoff was open until Nov. 16. The runoff will take place on Dec. 7.

For updates on this and other stories, follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

Fraudulent licenses obtained in Hudson County used in vehicle-purchasing scheme

Hudson Reporter

November 8, 2021

11acMVC18 — The North Bergen Motor Vehicle Commission, via Google Maps

An indictment against nine defendants charged with conspiring to use stolen identities to obtain New Jersey digital driver’s licenses has been announced by Acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck.

The defendants allegedly used the licenses to fraudulently purchase and finance vehicles and water craft worth over $1.3 million at dealerships in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

“By diligently investigating cases of document fraud related to New Jersey digital driver’s licenses, we frequently uncover larger criminal schemes involving identity theft and financial fraud,” said Bruck. “In this case, we collaborated with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and federal law enforcement partners to bring these defendants to justice, pursuing evidence across five states and even overseas.”

State grand jury indictment

The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Specialized Crimes Bureau obtained a state grand jury indictment on Friday, Nov. 5, charging the nine defendants with second-degree conspiracy and other offenses.

“This far-reaching investigation is a great example of seamless cooperation across jurisdictional lines,” said Director Lyndsay Routolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “I commend the attorneys and detectives of our Specialized Crimes Bureau, as well as our federal partners and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. This 65-count indictment holds the defendants fully accountable for their alleged crimes in New Jersey.”

They were initially charged by complaint in September 2020 as part of Operation Export, an investigation by the DCJ Specialized Crimes Bureau that began with a referral from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) Security and Investigations Unit.

Alleged stolen identities and fake driver’s licenses

The defendants allegedly obtained New Jersey digital driver’s licenses from the Jersey City and North Bergen Motor Vehicle Agencies using the stolen identities of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico and fake Puerto Rico driver’s licenses, as well as other false documents, including Social Security cards, debit cards, and birth certificates.

From February 2017 through March 2019, they allegedly fraudulently purchased, financed, titled and or transferred 26 motor vehicles and three water craft with trailers including one boat and two jet skis. This was allegedly done using the fraudulently obtained New Jersey driver’s licenses and the identities and credit of the victims in Puerto Rico.

Ten vehicles were recovered in the U.S., but others were shipped overseas, including seven shipped to the Dominican Republic. NJMVC alerted the Attorney General’s Office after discovering that the Puerto Rico driver’s licenses that the defendants used to obtain New Jersey digital driver’s licenses were fraudulent.

Two-pronged strategy

NJMVC uses a two-pronged strategy to reduce the incidents of fraudulent documents being used to acquire New Jersey driver’s licenses. They conduct commission-wide training in advanced fraudulent document identification and assign a team of trained investigators to examine the authenticity of suspect documents.

When investigators detect an increase in the appearance of certain fraudulent documents, such as counterfeit Puerto Rico driver’s licenses, NJMVC field investigators give these documents greater scrutiny as they are presented in licensing centers.

“This is a reminder that a big part of our job at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission is to prevent fraud, including identity theft,” said NJMVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton. “I commend our Security and Investigations team for their diligence and skill in helping launch the investigation that ultimately put a stop to this.”

Alleged ‘washing’ of stolen vehicles

It is alleged that eight of the defendants listed below personally obtained New Jersey digital driver’s licenses using stolen identities and fraudulently purchased vehicles and/or water craft in New Jersey or other states.

The ninth, Reyfy Gonzalez, allegedly conspired in the document fraud and received and transferred stolen vehicles and water craft. Six defendants are charged with theft by deception for allegedly making fraudulent purchases of vehicles and/or water craft in New Jersey.

After buying a vehicle on credit, the defendants allegedly “washed” the vehicle title by creating a false lien release or fraudulent title indicating there was no lien on the vehicle. The fake document was used to obtain a clean title in another state. That clean title was then used to transfer ownership to another individual, often within the conspiracy, allowing the vehicle to be shipped overseas.

Federal law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and other states uncovered the same or similar criminal activity and are pursuing charges against several of the defendants listed below, as well as additional defendants. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Massachusetts and Northern District of Ohio also announced charges in September 2020 stemming from an investigation by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations’ Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has worked cooperatively with the federal agencies.

Nine charged in alleged ‘conspiracy’

The following nine defendants were indicted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau in Operation Export: Reyfy Gonzalez, a 33-year-old from Cliffside Park; Taina G. Perez, a 28-year-old from Methuen, Massachusetts; Jose M. Irizarry, a 45-year-old from New Haven, Connecticut; Ricardo Acevedo, a 50-year-old from Paterson; Andy A. Mazara, a 28-year-old from Lawrence, Massachusetts; Tirson Ruiz, a 51-year-old from Lawrence, Massachusetts; Alvaro J. Alvarez-Capio, a 46-year-old from Lowell, Massacusetts; Willie A. Samuel-Baldayaquez, a 39-year-old from Newark; and Guillermo Alex Cruz-Guerrero, a 43-year-old from Ohio.

For a list of the individual charges, read the indictment posted online at: https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases21/Gonzalez-et-al-Indictment.pdf

Irizarry and Acevedo are in federal custody in Massachusetts; Mazara, Samuel-Baldayaquez, and Cruz-Guerrero are in federal custody in Ohio; and Ruiz was previously deported. The remaining defendants were released from custody.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

The Waterfront Project’s 7th Annual ‘Justice for All’ Fundraiser

Hudson Reporter

November 8, 2021

HCDHCR Picture 2021 — The Office of Social Services at the Hudson County Dept of Housing and Community Reintegration works to end homelessness through innovation and collaboration with community partners

On Wednesday November 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. The Waterfront Project will host its annual ‘Justice for All’ Fundraiser. The Waterfront Project is a civil legal services nonprofit and HUD-certified housing counseling agency that helps Hudson County’s most vulnerable residents.

It will be the first fundraiser for the nonprofit since March of 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This year’s event is extremely important. After having to cancel our fundraiser in June of 2021 and June of 2022, we have a large budget gap to close” says Executive Director Rebecca Symes. “ We are $10,000 short of our fundraising goal, but there is still time for our community to support the event by donating, purchasing a sponsorship, or buying a ticket.” People can support The Waterfront Project by visiting https://www.thewaterfrontproject.org/justice-for-all-fundraiser/.

The COVID-19 pandemic has both drawn attention to and exacerbated housing insecurity in Hudson County. The Waterfront Project has been on the front lines keeping struggling families in their homes during these extraordinary times. They have fought illegal evictions, helped tenants and landlords apply for and obtain COVID-19 rent relief, sought emergency orders to address unsafe living conditions, and negotiated mortgage modifications allowing struggling homeowners to keep their homes.

The Waterfront Project was able to keep its doors open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in large part because it has strong community partnerships. As is tradition, The Waterfront Project will honor three of its partners at the November 10th event. The Waterfront Project will honor McManimon, Scotland, Baumann LLC for their years of financial support and strategic guidance, Katherine Brennan for her fearless advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, and the Hudson County Department of Housing & Community Reintegration for their extraordinary work in service of our most vulnerable neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrating their 50th Anniversary, McManimon, Scotland & Bauman, LLC (MS&B) is a well-respected law firm with a growing national reputation. With superior business-oriented legal expertise, professionalism, and a personal touch, the firm provides high-quality counsel to both the public and private sectors. McManimon, Scotland & Bauman, LLC is also committed to the community through a variety of altruistic endeavors. Giving back is in their DNA.

“The Waterfront Project has certainly been a beneficiary of the firm’s commitment to giving back. MS&B has been a supporter from our earliest days, when we were operating out of space donated by the Catholic Community of Saints Peter & Paul in Hoboken, NJ” explained Founder and Board Treasurer Monsignor Robert Meyer. McManimon, Scotland & Bauman, LLC will be honored as the 2021 Valued Corporate Partner.

Katie Brennan is a public servant working in pursuit of the belief that housing is a human right. She serves as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor of Housing and Economic Development in the Office of the Mayor of New York City. Katie previously served as Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

After being assaulted on the Murphy for Governor Campaign and a harrowing journey with the justice system, she publicly called for reform in the Wall Street Journal. Coming forward led to legislative hearings, dozens of reforms, and a $600,000 settlement donated to The Waterfront Project to launch a first-of-its-kind legal project dedicated to serving low-income survivors.

“Despite all that she has experienced, Katie Brennan remains resolutely optimistic that justice will prevail. She embodies the mission of The Waterfront Project” explained Board President Isabel Chou. “We are so grateful that she has entrusted The Waterfront Project to put her settlement funds to work for low-income survivors of sexual assault.” More details about the new project, including the release of a strategic plan, will be announced at the event. Katie Brennan will be honored as the 2021 Trailblazing Community Leader.

The Office of Social Services at the Hudson County Dept of Housing and Community Reintegration works to end homelessness through innovation and collaboration with community partners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they acted swiftly to shelter seniors and people with underlying health conditions in hotels. Their actions protected the most vulnerable members of the homeless population and reduced the threat of the virus spreading in our community. Those immediate hotel placements were then expanded to ensure social distancing in the shelter system. In addition, the agency administered various COVID-19 rental and utility assistance payments for over 1,724 (and counting) Hudson County households.

A state leader in homelessness prevention, the agency credits its success to a joint effort of elected officials, program staff, and partnering government departments. Monica Yeng, Social Work Director at the Office of Social Services elaborated “We couldn’t achieve these outcomes without the guidance of Director Frank Mazza, Deputy Director Susan McCurrie, County Executive Tom DeGise and the Board of Commissioners or the support of the Hudson County Division of Housing and Community Development, especially Katelyn Ravensbergen who promotes collaboration between our office, nonprofits, vendors, and provider networks and Kevin Llangari who analyzes our data to enable us to see what works and what doesn’t.”

Amy Albert, Managing Attorney at The Waterfront Projectm offered her gratitude for the Office of Social Services at the Hudson County Dept of Housing and Community Reintegration. “During the height of the pandemic the agency staff were working nights and weekends to assist as many people as possible. They went above and beyond. Their efforts resulted in better housing outcomes for the residents of Hudson County.” The Office of Social Services at the Hudson County Dept of Housing and Community Reintegration will be honored as the 2021 ‘In the Trenches’ Ally Organization.

Buy tickets or donate at www.thewaterfrontproject.org/justice-for-all-fundraiser.

About The Waterfront Project, Inc

The Waterfront Project, Inc. (WFP) is a free legal services organization and a HUD-certified counseling agency. WFP resists the forces of gentrification that displace low-income residents from their communities by providing information, advice, and free legal representation. At its founding, WFP primarily focused on fighting evictions through financial counseling, housing counseling, and legal services. In 2020, WFP launched the Foreclosure Prevention Project to help homeowners in distress. WFP also has a Senior Law Project, which educates low-income seniors on the importance of wills, powers of attorney, and advanced health care directives and provides free legal transactional representation. And, with a $600,000 donation, WFP will launch a Sexual Assault Survivors Rights Project in 2022.