Construction work in North Bergen is now limited to certain hours during the week, and explicitly banned on Sunday. Photo of unrelated construction in Bayonne by Daniel Israel.
North Bergen has revised its work hours regulations for construction and other types of work that may be noisy or intrusive.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners adopted an amended ordinance regulating hours during which certain work may be done. The commissioners present voted unanimously to do so at the October 26 meeting, after it was introduced on October 12.
Previously, the commissioners adopted an ordinance in April of 2006 regulating construction work hours. The township has since determined that it was necessary to repeal and replace that ordinance.
The new ordinance prohibits “any person, firm, or corporation to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued any excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others within the limits of the township.”
Regulating hours for construction and motor vehicle repairs
Operating any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work is considered a violation other than between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. The ordinance applies to demolition as well as construction, including any site preparation, assembly, erection, repair, alteration or similar action.
There is no construction allowed on Sundays or legal holidays. The only exceptions are for emergency work for public service utilities or by permit.
The ordinance also regulates when motor vehicle work can be done. Repairing, rebuilding, modifying, or testing any motor vehicle is considered a violation except between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The only exception is for work on private residential property on a motor vehicle or motorboat for the personal use of the resident. The ordinance applies to motor vehicles including: passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, semi-trailers, campers, go-carts, snowmobiles, motorboats, and amphibious craft.
The penalty for violating this ordinance is a fine up to $1,000 for each violation. Each day a violation occurs is considered a separate offense.
Town attorney explains changes in ordinance
Town Attorney Tom Kobin explained the ordinance at the October 26 meeting, at the request of Sacco. He said that the new ordinance specifically bans construction work on Sundays.
“It makes it a little more explicit when construction work may occur, explicitly barring it on Sundays,” Kobin said. “If you’re doing construction outside the permitted times, then it would be defined as a violation.”
Kobin also noted that the language of the ordinance was changed to mean that working during those hours was banned, as opposed to previously only being loud construction work.
“Whereas, the other one I think it had to be construction in a loud way in order to trigger the ordinance,” Kobin said. “It’s hard to describe what’s loud, unless you have something to measure the noise like a decibel meter.”
Kobin added that the ordinance also prohibits the time during which vehicle repairs can be done. This has some exemptions, such as local homeowners making repairs to their vehicles.
“Then this also adds vehicle repairs,” Kobin said. “It prohibits those on Sundays. It does say explicitly in there when you can do it. And it exempts out the local resident just working on their personal car. That can still happen on a Sunday. But as far as the other vehicle repairs, they’re not allowed on Sundays.”
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].
Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Secaucus Town Council met in the council chambers at Town Hall on Tuesday, October 25. Photo by Daniel Israel.
Secaucus has updated fees for after hours building inspections, as well as part-time inspectors.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Secaucus Town Council have adopted an ordinance that does so at its October 25 meeting after it was introduced in September. The council voted unanimously in favor of the measure, except for Second Ward Councilman Mark Denhert who was absent for family reasons.
According to the ordinance, the mayor and council recognizes that the safety of all residents and the protection of human life, buildings and structures is of great concern. Secaucus addresses inspections and Certificates of Continued Occupancy through the town’s Construction Department in the Town Code, Chapter 64.
Secaucus’ Construction Department conducts Building Code and Certificate of Occupancy inspections in multi-family dwellings in conformance with the state standards in the public interest. Sometimes, the department performs said inspections after regular business hours as needed, and the fees for said inspections are recommended to be updated to cover said costs, according to the ordinance.
Fees for after regular business hour inspections and per diem Construction Code Inspectors are updated under the adopted ordinance. Building Code Inspections and Habitability Inspections conducted after regular business hours, and the rate of per diem Construction Code Inspectors are increased to $50 per hour.
The rate was previously $37 an hour, and it used to only apply to dwellings consisting of four or more units. Otherwise, there are no other changes to that chapter of the Town Code.
There was no discussion of the ordinance when it was introduced nor when it was adopted. After the October 25 meeting, Town Administrator Gary Jeffas told the Hudson Reporter that the ordinance aimed to primarily benefit part-time inspectors.
“We have, associated with our Health and Construction Departments, part-time inspectors,” Jeffas said. “The plumbing, the electric, and the building inspectors, there’s some part-timers that work there. Our prior ordinance said that their maximum rate was a maximum of $37 an hour for that kind of work. We upped it to $50 an hour.”
Jeffas said the rate change was bringing Secaucus up to speed with rates offered by surrounding municipalities.
“All the going rates in all the towns around us are higher,” Jeffas said. “So it just made it problem for us when part-timers retire or leave us. So the ordinance updates that the fee structure would be different and allow us to offer a higher hourly rate.”
The next Town Council meeting will be held on November 9 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at Town Hall at 1203 Paterson Plank Road. For more information, go to secaucusnj.gov.
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 speed limit signs were already in place on Riverside Station Boulevard, but the Town Code needed to be updated to reflect that. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Secaucus has lowered the speed limit on Riverside Station Road, the main thoroughfare through the Xchange residential development.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Town Council have adopted an ordinance that amends the Code of the Town of Secaucus, Chapter 127 “Vehicles and Traffic” to lower the speed limit on that road to 15 miles per hour. The council voted unanimously to do so, except for Second Ward Councilman Mark Denhert who was absent for family reasons.
According to the ordinance, the mayor and council recognize that the safety of all motorists, passengers, pedestrians, children, residents and visitors is of utmost importance. The town previously enacted an ordinance to assist in alleviating dangerous situations on the town’s streets, promote safe passage, address traffic flow, and specify penalties for violations
Upon the review and recommendation of the Police Department’s Traffic Division, modification of the speed limit on Riverside Station Boulevard Drive to 15 miles per hour is recommended in the interest of public safety in light of the roadway’s purpose, use and traffic volume.
The council did not discuss the ordinance at the September 27 meeting when it was introduced, nor when it was adopted at the October 25 meeting.
After it was introduced, Town Administrator Gary Jeffas said the ordinance brings everything into compliance for the proper speed limit on that block. Residents may know that there are already 15 miles per hour speed limit signs on Riverside Station Boulevard, but this ordinance was necessary to make it official.
“The speed limit signs were up, but in our formal ordinance, it didn’t say 15 miles per hour,” Jeffas said. “Most residential streets are automatically 25 miles per hour under our ordinance. It was always the intent to have that speed limit, but we had to put in our ordinance so that if anyone was ticketed or anything, then our ordinance matches the street signage.”
Other ordinance amends residential parking
Meanwhile, the town is also looking to add another street to its residential parking program. At its October 25 meeting, the council introduced an ordinance that would amend Chapter 127A of the Code of the Town of Secaucus entitled “Residential Parking.”
According to the ordinance, Gonnelli and the council recognize that the safe parking of vehicles for all residents, visitors, and motorists, is of utmost concern. The town has a residential parking program that was developed to alleviate unfavorable parking conditions and address conditions created on residential streets.
The mayor and council have determined based on resident needs and review by the Police Traffic Division that updates are need to add locations and correctly reflect the zones areas. There was no discussion of the ordinance by the council when it was introduced, but after the meeting Jeffas explained that this would add Gary Terrace to the residential parking program.
Gary Terrace will now be codified as a residential parking only road. Image via Google Maps.
“Everything on that list was already on our residential parking, except Gary Terrace,” Jeffas said of the list of streets that are part of the residential parking program. “So that was added to it.”
According to Jeffas, in addition to contemplating making Gary Terrace a residential parking only road, the ordinance would also remove all references to older ordinances in the residential parking program. They have not been updated in some time, he said.
“The main reason that was redone was because of the ordinance it was referencing,” Jeffas said. “Some of them are referencing older ordinances that haven’t been updated since that time. So we crossed out all the older ordinances and readopted it in the ordinances that have all our street parking and permitting and stuff in there.”
The next Town Council meeting will be held on November 9 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at Town Hall at 1203 Paterson Plank Road. For more information, go to secaucusnj.gov.
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 two new towers will be 49 and 55-stories high in Journal Square. Screenshot via Jersey City Planning Board application.
In perhaps a decade from now, those who live or walk in the Journal Square neighborhood will be looking up more after two new skyscrapers were approved by the Jersey City Planning Board on Oct. 11.
The approved 1,189-unit mega project will bring two towers, one that is 49-stories tall with 595 residential units, and another that is 55-stories tall with 594 units, on a 2.21 acre site across from the Journal Square PATH Station and near the Loew’s Theatre.
The project will be developed by Kushner Real Estate Group, who also developed the Journal Squared project, and Silverstein Properties, who developed the World Trade Center site in Manhattan, over a decade in two phases, first with the 49-story tower, and then second with the 55-story tower.
The applicant’s attorney, James McCann, explained during the board’s Sept. 6 meeting that the project will include public benefit improvements such as open space and walkways.
“Our project that we are presenting to you tonight will provide and focus on some really incredible open space, landscaping, artwork and art walk that will link the developing arts community in Journal Square,” said McCann.
Going over the project, Leonard Savino of Langin explained that the project will be on five lots totaling 2.21 acres that they will subdivide into two lots. He said a four-level parking garage and separate parking lot on the south part of the site will be demolished to accommodate the development.
He said phase one of the project will start on the south side with the 49-story tower, which will have 235 parking spaces below grade and an overall footprint of 50,049 square feet. The phase will also include a second building that will have a gallery, cafe and rooftop pool, as well as a parking garage entry.
The first phase will also include a vehicular turnaround area to the north of the tower and a pedestrian plaza.
Phase two of the project on the northern end will have the 55-story building that will include 131 parking spaces and a footprint of 10,486 square feet. All the way to the north of the site will be a dog park and other open space.
Gary Handel from Handel Architecture then explained the project will be completing a connection between Journal Squared and Mana Contemporary via an art walk that will begin at JFK Boulevard and go through the project site.
The new project will also include an art walk throughout the whole site. Screenshot via City of Jersey City on YouTube.
He also explained that all of the parking will be below grade in three levels, which will also have bike storage rooms and bike racks.
For the amount of residential units, 34 percent will be studios, 51 percent will be one-bedrooms, 13 percent will be two-bedrooms and three percent will be three-bedrooms. Each tower will also have an upper sky lounge on the top.
During public comment in the Sept. 6 meeting, resident Saro Cutri said that while he thought the application was a “pretty good project”, he voiced concerns over how the property line of it goes right through his property at 810 Pavonia Ave., which he said had gotten Planning Board approval about a year-and-a-half ago to do a four-story building there.
“What they’re proposing here has a pool that’s going to wrap around and essentially abut the front of my building,” he said. “So this plan looks like it’s the separation of those two phases; looks like it’s done at where they’re presuming my backyard is on that property. But that’s actually going to be a building.”
Cutri was specifically referring to a pool deck on the north tower that would enclose around his property. McCann said that he wasn’t aware of the issue or the building that Cutri had gotten approval for, but later said he could discuss the issue with him.
The board then carried their applications to Oct. 11, to which the applicants then returned to say that they met with Cutri and made changes to accommodate his own plans.
Stephen Sheng of Handel Architect explained that they pulled back the face of the terrace to align with the 810 Pavonia Ave. rear property line, which he said will allow the entire side length of the side yard there to be unobstructed by the new terrace.
“We may or may not lose parking spaces, and the reason that we can’t give a definitive answer on that tonight is we were still working with the structural engineers in order to figure out how we would create this span,” he said, estimating that they could lose between zero to three parking spaces with the changes.
Cutri then returned to say that he was withdrawing his objections, saying that KRE were “incredibly generous and fair with me.”
“They’re obviously a bigger company than me,” he said. “I’m trying to do a small development project, and they’ve treated me fairly throughout. So [I’m] very happy with the outcome.”
The board ultimately voted unanimously 8-0 to approve both the subdivision and final site plans.
“I appreciate the applicant meeting with Mr. Cutri and working everything out to everyone’s satisfaction,” said Chairman Christopher Langston. “I’m excited for it. I think it’s a great project. It means a lot to the neighborhood.”
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board at their Oct. 17 meeting. Photo by Mark Koosau.
The Jersey City Cannabis Control Board has approved the applications of three retail cannabis operations, tabling two others for a later date.
The three applicants approved by the board on Oct. 17were Golden Door Dispensary in Journal Square, Kushklub NJ on Tonnelle Avenue, and Community Wellness Center of NJ, which is right under the Pulaski Skyway. The two tabled were Legacy to Lifted, which could locate on the West Side, and Lifted Vision, which could be in the Heights.
Opening the doors
The first applicant approved in an unanimous vote (with Commissioner Stacey Flanagan recusing herself) was Golden Door Dispensary, who are looking to open a store at 638 Newark Ave. in Journal Square.
The owner of the business, Brett D’Alessandro, is a retired Marine Corp sergeant who runs a non-profit called “Backpacks for Life” that coaches and mentors veterans who are homeless. He talked about how a friend introducing him to cannabis helped him get off of drugs that were issued by Veterans Affairs.
“It really saved my life,” he said. “I mean, I witnessed it firsthand. I also started to give out CBD products, working with other CBD companies and manufacturers, to vets who can’t afford CBD products. Really focusing on this holistic approach working with vets, and that’s kind of the first part of many, many cannabis endeavors that really got me interested.”
He and his attorney, Stephanie McClure, went over how the store will occupy the first floor of the building, and that he’s engaged with architects and contractors to do a “real facelift” of the building itself by redoing the outside storefront as a beautification-type product.
Brett D’Alessandro (right) is a veteran looking to open a store in Journal Square. Photo by Mark Koosau.
D’Alessandro then said that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New Jersey Reentry Corporation to hire at least 10 percent from them and donate two percent of their net profits to them, and are also working with an MOU with Hudson County Community College to have job expos, cannabis classes and scholarships.
He also said that they will have up to 10 employees with $18 per hour pay, add other benefits such as health insurance and paid time off to do volunteer work when they’re “financially stable”, and that expungement initiatives will also go through NJRC.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevy, who’s the chairman of the NJRC, appeared himself to endorse D’Alessandro and Golden Door Dispensary, saying that D’Alessandro is “a tireless, indefatigable advocate for veterans, for the disenfranchised and the marginalized.”
“As Brett had said, cannabis is recognized as a treatment therapy for those suffering from opioid use disorder, and that’s why we’re strongly supportive, respectfully, of this application,” he said.
Former Gov. Jim McGreevy appeared to endorse Brett D’Alessandro and his Golden Door Dispensary business. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Another applicant that was approved unanimously (with Flanagan again recusing herself) was Community Wellness Center of NJ, who are seeking to create both a medical and recreational cannabis store at 220 Broadway.
Their attorney, Michael McQueeny, explained that they had received provision approval to be a medical dispensary by the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission in 2021 (with a potential opening early next year), and are seeking to expand to recreational sales.
“There was originally a restriction on the medicinal license, and so they had to be operational for one year prior to doing that,” he said. “That restriction got lifted sometime early summer, and that’s part of the reason we’re here today.”
Jonathan Bednarsh, the Board Chairman of Community Wellness Center, said that they’ve been focused on New Jersey cannabis since 2018, and came from other careers such as entrepreneurship and being the founder of a real estate tech company.
His partner, Adam Hershey, is a mentor and investor in the finance industry; Bednarsh said that the two of them met five years ago and realized that they were both interested in cannabis as the next step in their lives.
Jonathan Bednarsh, the Board Chairman of Community Wellness Center (center) is planning to create a retail and medical dispensary under the Pulaski Skyway. Photo by Mark Koosau.
“The reason for that was beyond the economic opportunity,” he said. “We were at a point in our lives and what struck us both was that we saw it as a generational opportunity to really give back and make an impact in our communities, and do something that we could be proud of.”
Bednarsh explained that the store will be 4,500 square feet big, and are planning to partner with Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker at Team Walker to offer commitment to their vocational program, as well as signing an MOU with AngelaCares, which is run by Assemblywoman Angela McKnight.
He also said that they plan to work with Hudson County to provide educational and reentry opportunities, as well as expungement support for those affected by the war on drugs. They plan on having 20-25 jobs, with about 70 percent being diverse and a $17-$19 an hour pay with benefits.
Chairwoman Brittani Bunney said that since they are going to be doing medical services, it wouldn’t make “any sense for us not to grant them the ability to also do retail, especially considering that they shared with us even if they’re approved for retail, they will still have the two dedicated cash registers to serve the medical community.”
The kush gets through (barely)
One applicant that the board narrowly approved was KushKlub NJ, who are looking to create a store at 550-560 Tonnelle Ave.
Henok Abraha, a cannabis retailer in Washington state, will be the full-time owner and manager of KushKlub. He explained that he launched stores in Everett and Shoreline, Washington, as well as in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada.
Jeffrey Middleton of North Bergen, who works for NBC Sports in advertising sales, will be a five percent owner of the business, and explained that he had met Abraha a year ago via family connections.
Explaining why they chose Jersey City for a store, Abraha explained that it was because of the “regulatory aspect of it,” mainly in that the cannabis board was controlling who was getting licenses, that there was no limit, and that stores have an impact on the community.
“The population in Jersey City was a strong determinant,” he said. “There’s a large workforce that we can draw from. There’s a very diverse resident population that we can also draw from that isn’t reflected in all the markets that we serve.”
“It came down to also that we wanted to live here and we felt like this was a place that we can place roots and grow our business on the East Coast,” he continued.
Henok Abraha (seen center right) is a cannabis retailer from Washington state who’s looking to create a store on Tonnelle Ave.. Photo by Mark Koosau.
When discussing their application, the board had a few concerns about the lack of local connections, with Bunney saying that she was worried about multi-state operators having that trait, and inquired on what personal connections Abraha had locally.
Abraha replied that he plans to move to Jersey City, create roots and be part of the community, but Bunney replied later that she felt that his answer had “no soul.”
Another point of content brought up was whether the building for the store would exist entirely. James Marttine, who owns the proposed site, explained that they were contracted to construct a new building on old car space, and that he also got city approvals to construct there.
“I’m investing a large amount of money with these men to open his business on Tonnelle Ave., developing old car space which I owned myself for 20-something-years,” he said. “I bought that [when] it was a rock.”
Flanagan said that she was concerned that the application was premature because they don’t have the space, and that while she appreciated having someone that’s committing to build for them, “You set yourself up now to come back to us in a year, that you’re not going to have accomplished anything,” she said.
On the other side of the coin, Commissioner Courtney Sloane said that the property owner had commitment, particularly in developing a part of the city that could create jobs. “This is significant, and his organization has the opportunity, should you choose to step into it, to take on some social responsibility here,” she said.
In the end, the board voted 3-2 to approve KushKlub, with Bunney and Flanagan voting no.
Lifted down
Two applicants, Legacy to Lifted and Lifted Vision, were tabled by the board after concerns were raised over what their business vision would be like.
Legacy to Lifted had gone up first, and would be located on 490 West Side Ave. with about 1,500 square feet. The owner of the business, Christopher Broderick, is a lifelong Jersey City resident who runs a trucking company, and said that he was affected by the “cannabis war” due to his “love for the plant.”
He plans to oversee the employees, scheduling and community outreach. He also said that he plans to hire at least 10 employees (with at least 10 percent from SCORES’ reentry program), and offer expungement services with attorney Michael Hoffman.
Broderick also said that he plans to hire a number of friends from Jersey City that also had prior cannabis charges. ”I come from a social group of cannabis smokers, and we all just grew up together and in the shadows, hiding, just funny stoners that want to just now come to the light,” he said.
Christopher Broderick (right) is looking to create a store on the West Side, but had his application tabled by the board. Photo by Mark Koosau.
After testimony for Legacy to Lifted ended, the board deliberated over their application, with some questions being raised about what their business vision is.
“It’s almost like, ‘What is the vision, really?’,” said Sloane. “Each one of you are enrolled because he’s your friend, and so you’re there, because that’s your brother, and that’s your boy, you’re like a bunch of bros, we just have been smoking. We love flowers.”
“I get all that, that’s wonderful,” she continued. “But who really at the end of this exercise when counsel is not in; what’s the ‘there’ there? That’s what’s missing.”
Vice Chairman Jeffrey Kaplowitz suggested to the applicant’s attorney, Micci Weiss, that they discuss potentially tabling their application so they can bring in their experts (who would’ve been there that night but weren’t due to various reasons) to testify more about their vision.
After a short break, the board decided to table them for a later date. Soon after, Lifted Vision, who could be on 481 Central Ave. and were also represented by Weiss, were also tabled after Weiss said they also didn’t have experts to testify that night.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
The Jersey City Council at their Oct. 18 special meeting at City Hall. Screenshot via City of Jersey City on YouTube.
After about four months since its initial introduction and an hour-long reading by the Deputy City Clerk, the Jersey City Council adopted the city’s new $724.8 million budget at a special Oct. 18 meeting, which comes with a 50 percent increase to the municipal tax levy.
The budget is overall a $104 million increase from last year’s budget, and the tax levy is increasing by $111.7 million to $335.3 million. Because of the increase to the levy, it will lead to a .082 percent tax rate, and in turn increase property taxes by about $1,188 based on a $461,925 property value.
According to the budget, the biggest items that the city will be spending on are $106.9 million on police salary and wages, and $101.4 million for employee group health insurance.
The budget will pile on more tax increases in the city after the Board of Education adopted a $973 million budget that came with an average $1,611 tax increase per household.
No public comments were made on the budget. Before casting their votes, a number of council members voiced criticism of the upcoming tax increase. Councilman Yousef Saleh said that they were being asked to make a “Sophie’s choice” between increasing taxes and causing furloughs and layoffs.
“We can’t continue to squeeze blood from a stone,” he said. “In this city, the taxpayers are hurting, and we criticize the Board of Education for the tax increases, and here we are. I don’t feel good about this vote, I just want everyone to know that because essentially, we’re going to be raising taxes on ourselves and it’s going to hurt the most vulnerable.”
Councilman Rich Boggiano also said that he was “tired of paying taxes”, and said that a number of neighbors told him that morning that they were “furious and they’re blaming us here on the council for this.”
“No, we’re in a crisis here in the city, and next year, it’d better get straightened out,” he said. “I’m going to be around for three more years, and I’m not keeping my mouth shut no more.”
Councilman James Solomon also called the budget “unacceptable,” saying that they were so many months overdue that he had to play detective to find out what was going on. “It’s a collective failure,” he said. “We didn’t do enough oversight; [the] administration produced a poor budget.”
The budget was ultimately adopted 7-2, with Solomon and Councilman Frank Gilmore voting against it.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
Over 21 Hispanic countries were represented in the parade in 2022. Photos courtesy of North Bergen.
Bergenline Avenue was host to a massive Hispanic State Parade on Sunday, October 16. The event was postponed from two weeks earlier.
The parade is one of the many ways that North Bergen and the other North Hudson municipalities celebrate Latin culture and history during Hispanic Heritage Month.
This year was the 47th Hispanic State Parade of New Jersey, having been a tradition since at least 1976.
On that sunny Sunday, thousands of people were estimated to be in attendance. The parade saw participants from across the state represent 21 Hispanic countries.
Crowds thronged both sides of the avenue as dozens of floats and countless dancers, singers, performers, and others passed by.
The parade marched down Bergenline Avenue beginning at 79th Street in North Bergen, proceeding through both Guttenberg and West New York, and culminating at 43rd Street in Union City.
Among the honored guests leading the festivities were North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Union City Mayor Brian Stack, West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez, and Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner.
From left to right: West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez, Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco
Also leading the parade were Commissioners Hugo Cabrera, Julio Marenco, and Allen Pascual, Township Administrator Janet Castro, Police Chief Peter Fasilis, Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, Assemblypersons Angelica Jimenez and Pedro Mejia, 8th Congressional District candidate Robert Menendez Jr., and many other local and state officials.
After the parade, Sacco said: “Had a wonderful time at the 2022 Hispanic American parade of New Jersey. North Bergen and Hudson County is so diverse and we are proud to celebrate all of the nationalities and cultures that make us who we are!”
A helicopter performed a flyover of the parade.
“It was an incredible honor to march in this year’s Hispanic State Parade as the Hombre del Año,” Menendez added. “The parade spectacularly celebrates our diverse, civically-engaged, and successful Hispanic community in the 8th Congressional District, which I am so proud to be a part of. And I am especially glad that we were able to stand alongside our friends from across the county, Union City, Mayor Stack, North Bergen Mayor Sacco, West New York Mayor Rodriguez, Weehawken Mayor Turner, officials from Guttenberg and their teams and my great friend Assemblyman Mukherji.”
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].
Thousands of people were estimated to be in attendance for the proud display of different Hispanic cultures.
The surface parking lot off of Park Avenue between 66th Street and 67th Street. Image via Google Maps.
West New York is moving forward with plans for a fourth parking garage in town.
A mailer was sent out by the town in September touting the parking spaces that would be created by the garages. The town had already outlined plans for parking garages on existing parking lots at 51st Street, 54th Street, and 57th Street.
The 51st Street Parking Garage will be eight stories with 495 parking spaces at 51st Street to 52nd Street between Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Avenue. The structure is expected to be fully completed by December of 2022, opening shortly thereafter in January of 2023.
The 57th Street Parking Garage will be three stories and provide 270 parking spaces at the surface lot between 57th Street to 58th Street behind the old Modell’s off of Bergenline Avenue. The town plans to break ground on this garage after the 51st Street garage is open to the public in January of 2023.
The 54th Street Parking Garage is still in the design phase, but will provide 235 parking spaces at the surface lot on the corner of Park Avenue and 54th Street.The town also announced that a new three-story parking garage at the surface lot between 66th Street to 67th Street and Park Avenue is in the design phase that will provide 270 parking spaces.
In total, the town will add 1,000 parking spaces, according to Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez. This includes not only the garages but other parking projects in town.
“Parking has been a challenge for many years in West New York and my administration has been committed to greatly increasing the number of available parking spaces by maximizing our existing spaces in creative new ways, partnering with private entities, and heavily investing in new parking infrastructure,” Rodriguez said in the mailer.
“I am thrilled to announce that when completed, our parking plan will have created over a thousand new parking spaces for residents and visitors of West New York!”
West New York also touted angled parking the town has completed and plans to implement. In December 2021, it completed the transition to angled parking on Broadway from 50th to 52nd Street.
The town is continuing to explore locations where it can transition existing parking into angled parking. West New York already has designs from Park Avenue from 62nd Street to 66th Street, Park Avenue from 52nd Street to 54th Street, Dewey Avenue from 62nd Street to 63rd Street, 60th Street from Broadway to Hudson Avenue, and Hudson Avenue from 50th Street to 59th Street.
The move comes as West New York was already implementing angled parking in town. It also followed calls for more angled parking at the August meeting of the Board of Commissioners by resident Frank Miqueli.
Miqueli is behind a petition seeking for more angled parking in town, also including Anthony Valdes, Anthony DeFino, Doeinne Auriemma, and Vipul Parekh. Both Auriemma and Parekh recently unsuccessfully ran for the school board, and Parekh is a frequent critic of the current administration at Board of Commissioners meetings.
West New York officials failed to respond to Hudson Reporter requests for comment on the matter.
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].
Dr. Brian Beebe, photos courtesy of Bayonne Chapter of Unico National
The Bayonne Chapter of Unico National has named long-time member Dr. Brian Beebe as our 2022 Man of the Year.
It is not often that we are given an opportunity to show our appreciation for those among us who make life a little better by touching the lives around them.
In addition to honoring our Man of the Year, the Bayonne Chapter of UNICO National will also be recognizing the following individuals for their outstanding service to our community: Joe Bolowski, Joseph P. Tagliareni Community Service Award; Rosemarie Martinez, Service Above Self Award and Steve Laszkow, Lifetime Achievement Award.
These prestigious honors will be bestowed upon our recipients at UNICO’s Awards Reception on Saturday, November 19 at the Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne at six o’clock in the evening.
The Officers and Membership of the Bayonne Chapter of UNICO cordially invite you to express your congratulations to our distinguished honorees by placing an ad in the Souvenir Journal being prepared to accent this festive
evening.
Your donation is tax-deductible and will be remembered by all the officers and members as well as our honorees.
The proceeds of the souvenir journal will be administered by the Bayonne Chapter of UNICO National to help assist the many local charities which UNICO has supported for over 72 years.
The success of this souvenir journal will benefit so many in our community.
Please consider this when deciding on your level of support. For event tickets, sponsorship information or journal ads, please call Brian DellaBella at 973-493-7303.
NRIA is a major redeveloper in the area, involved with projects including The Grand at 508 51 Street in West New York. Image via NRIA.net.
The president and a top officer of the Secaucus-based real estate investment company National Realty Investment Advisors LLC (NRIA) have been charged for their roles in a scheme to defraud more than 2,000 investors in a $650 million Ponzi scheme, and with conspiring to evade $26 million in tax liabilities, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger has announced.
Thomas Nicholas Salzano, aka “Nicholas Salzano,” a 64-year-old of Secaucus, and Rey E. Grabato II, a 43-year-old of Hoboken and the Republic of the Philippines, are charged in an 18-count indictment unsealed on October 12. Previously, in June the New Jersey Bureau of Securities issued a Summary Cease and Desist Order to NRIA.
Both men are charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Salzano is also charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of tax evasion, and five counts of subscribing to false tax returns.
Salzano was arrested on October 12, and appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre on October 13. Grabato remains at large.
Also on October 13, Arthur S. Scuttaro, a 62-year-old of Nutley, the former head of sales at NRIA, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in the same scheme. His sentencing is scheduled for February 23, 2023.
‘Fraudulent marketing campaign aimed to hoodwink investors’
Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) condemned the scheme and applauded the charges.
“As charged in the indictment, these defendants schemed to create a high-pressure, fraudulent marketing campaign to hoodwink investors into believing that their bogus real estate venture generated substantial profits,” Sellinger said.
“In reality, their criminal tactics were straight out of the Ponzi scheme playbook so that they could cheat their investors and line their own pockets. Our message from today’s charges is that we remain deeply committed to rooting out all types of financial fraud schemes. These schemes undermine our markets and erode the public’s trust in investing. Together with our enforcement partners, we will continue to prioritize investigating and prosecuting financial crime in all of its forms.”
“This case should serve as a cautionary tale to the consumer,” FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Before you entrust your hard-earned savings to someone, do your research on the trustee and the product they are selling; become familiar with the red flags that can alert you to a fraud; don’t let dollar signs cloud your judgement; and remember the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
“Slick pamphlets, flashy commercials, and ads that feature celebrities do not add up to the most important element – credibility. The FBI works diligently to protect the American public, arrest lawbreakers, and recoup whatever stolen funds haven’t evaporated. The sad fact is the consumer is rarely made whole. Skepticism and analysis are still the best protection.”
“This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions,” Tammy Tomlins, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office, said. “These defendants prioritized their own greed, stealing $650 million from investors, while conspiring to evade $26 million in tax liabilities. The indictment sends a clear message that the IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
Alleged $650 million Ponzi scheme busted by authorities
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Grabato was president of NRIA and Salzano was the firm’s shadow chief executive officer.
From February 2018 through January 2022, Salzano and Grabato defrauded investors and potential investors of NRIA Partners Portfolio Fund I LLC, a real estate fund operated by NRIA, of $650 million through lies, deception, misleading statements, and material omissions.
These included false representations about NRIA’s financial position, how the defendants and their conspirators used fund investor money, and Salzano’s managerial role at NRIA and his history of fraud.
They executed their scheme through an aggressive multi-year, nationwide marketing campaign that involved thousands of emails to investors; advertisements on billboards, television, and radio; and meetings and presentations to investors.
Salzanoled and directed the marketing campaign, which employed deception, material misrepresentations and omissions, and falsified documents to manipulate investors.
The marketing campaign was intended to mislead investors into believing that NRIA was a solvent business that generated significant profits. In reality, NRIA generated little to no profits and operated as a Ponzi scheme, which was kept afloat by new investors.
Despite investing almost none of their own capital into the business, the defendants misappropriated millions of dollars of investor money.
Salzano concealed his true managerial role at NRIA while using Grabato as a stand-in CEO in an effort to avoid scrutiny by investors of Salzano’s prior guilty plea to defrauding small businesses in Louisiana through a large telecommunications company.
Salzano and Grabatoalso orchestrated a separate conspiracy to defraud the IRS in its effort to collect $26 million in outstanding taxes Salzano owed to the U.S. Treasury. Salzano and Grabato are alleged to have lied to the IRS, used a web of nominees, opened bank accounts in the names of phony entities, and used false and fraudulent company documents.
Defendants facing large fines and many years in prison
The conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States counts charged in the indictment both carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The securities fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud counts are both punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The tax evasion counts both carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The subscribing to false tax return counts each carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft counts carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
In a separate civil action, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint on October 13 in the District of New Jersey against Salzano, Grabato, Scuttaro, and others based on the allegations underlying the Ponzi scheme alleged in the indictment and information.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office, for its cooperation and assistance during the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Fayer, of the Economic Crimes Unit, and Lauren E. Repole, Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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].
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