The Weehawken Township Council met in person at the Municipal Building at 400 Park Avenue, with a virtual viewing option via Zoom.
At a meeting in late January, the Weehawken Township Council adopted an ordinance that permits early voting ahead of the May 10 municipal election.
While the state has authorized early voting for municipal elections, in order for the township to partake, it must first pass the ordinance, according to Mayor Richard Turner.
“We have to pass an ordinance authorizing early voting, in addition to vote-by-mail and everything else,” Turner said.
There were nine days of early voting for the General Election in 2021, but there will only be three days this time around. The three days of voting will take place the weekend prior to the election.
“Early voting for municipal elections are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the election,” Turner said.
For the upcoming May municipal election, this would mean early voting will take on Friday, May 6, Saturday, May 7, and Sunday May 8. There will be no voting the Monday before Election Day, on May 9, and then regular voting would take place on Tuesday, May 10.
“This is a new law that the state passed,” Turner said. “We’re taking advantage of it along with neighboring towns that have upcoming elections.”
The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance. Throughout Hudson County, Weehawken now joins Union City in allowing early voting again. The move to allow early voting for the May municipal elections follows the success of the recent early voting implemented by the state and county in 2021.
Mayor Turner has not yet officially announced his reelection bid, but is likely to run to keep his position. He was first elected in 1990 and last reelected in 2018, and would be seeking his ninth term. Turner, who has overseen the Weehawken for decades, last faced a challenger 20 years ago in 2002.
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].
Rodrigo Rivera, age 65, image via Prosecutor's Office
A Union City man has been arrested on charges he allegedly sexually assaulted a girl when she was between ages 6 and 8, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez. On Jan. 27 members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Rodrigo Rivera, 65, of Union City.
The victim is now 28 years old and reported the assaults occurred inside a Jersey City residence.
Rivera has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault, a crime of the first degree, and Sexual Assault, a crime of the second degree.
Rivera was arrested in Hackensack at approximately 5:20 p.m. and was remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.
The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a Detention Motion which is scheduled for Feb. 2.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit with the investigation and arrest.
Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234.
The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent 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].
The old senior center has been demolished and remediated. Photos courtesy of the town.
Plans for the Secaucus’s new senior center at 101 Centre Avenue are currently being drawn up. Town Administrator Gary Jeffas told the Hudson Reporter that the new building design is being created by the project architect.
“It’s in architectural design,” Jeffas said. “So the architect is finalizing his plans.”
The plans are obviously necessary before any construction can begin. Meanwhile, demolition of the old center and environmental remediation of the site is complete.
“The old center is demolished, so the lot is all clear,” Jeffas said. “We’re ready to go, but we have to wait for architectural plans so we can go out to bid for the project.”
Jeffas said the town is still a couple of months away from having architectural plans in its hands to take review and approve. Then it will be time for the town to find a contractor to build the new senior center.
“Once we have the architectural plans, then we’ll put together a bid package,” Jeffas said. “We’ll have to bid it out, award it, and then obviously the construction can start.”
The contaminated soil was removed so that construction can eventually begin.
The timeline is to have awarded the contract by the early summer, barring any delays.
“I don’t know if I’m too hopeful, but we’re hoping by early summer to be through that process and at least having her awarded the job,” Jeffas said. “If we get it done sooner, that would be great, but I would say we’re probably still probably at least six months away from getting through a bidding process.”
New $7.8 million senior center
In August of 2021, the Secaucus Town Council voted unanimously to adopt a bond ordinance to cover the cost of the new senior center totaling $7,818,670. While the bond will foot most of the over $7.8 million bill, the town has received a number of grants and is using other monies to supplement the project such as from town reserves.
The move came after the town realized that oil tanks underneath the old center had been leaking for a number of years. Environmental remediation work needed to be done at the three buildings that composed the old center.
It was cheaper to level the old center and start from scratch then remediate the existing structure.
Because some of the contamination leached under the foundation, Jeffas said it was cheaper to start from scratch then to remediate the existing center. The old center was demolished before contaminated soil that was formerly beneath the building was removed. Now plans are in the works for the new center.
While the new building will primarily serve as a senior center during the day time, for the rest of the day and evening the facility will serve as a community center for residents to hold events and meetings. When the new senior center opens, it will be larger and more accessible to the handicapped. Amid the ongoing construction, the community center on Front Street is functioning as a makeshift senior center.
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 Weehawken Township Council met in person but also offered virtual viewing options for its Jan. 26 meeting.
The Weehawken council has introduced an ordinance that would issue bonds for $2.6 million for various municipal projects, including recreation facility upgrades and new police equipment.
The council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance at its Jan. 26 meeting. Approximately $1.6 million would go toward improvements to the municipal waterfront pool complex among other park upgrades, according to Mayor Richard Turner.
“Part of it is going to be the bubble. We’re putting the bubble over it for fall, winter and early spring,” Turner said. “And then there are also various park and playground improvements.”
Of the nearly $1.6 million, approximately $800,000 would be for the resurfacing of Weehawken Stadium and another approximately $600,000 would be for the installation of the “bubble” over the pool. The remaining approximately $200,000 would go toward the various park upgrades. However, the “bubble” may not be ready this year until after the weather renders it unnecessary.
“The bubble is very difficult because you can’t get any supplies for it,” Turner said. “So we were hoping to have it partially opened, but we don’t think we’re going to because of the delay in materials and supplies.”
The “bubble” may likely be ready by next winter, however. In regards to the resurfacing at Weehawken Stadium, Turner said it would start as soon as the weather allows following the ordinance’s adoption.
“The repairs will start as soon as the weather let’s up,” Turner said. “We have to try and get it done before the middle of March when baseball season starts. If not, we’ll make arrangements with the neighboring town, as we let them come to our stadium when they’re doing their repairs and resurfacing. It’s an $800,000 job.”
The field is now overdue for a resurfacing, according to Turner: “We stretched it to be 12 years, it’s usually only good for ten years.”
Police equipment and emergency IT services
Under the bond ordinance, approximately $980,000 would go toward communications upgrades to the Weehawken Police Department.
“The police department is in need of a complete communications upgrade,” Turner said. “It’s very expensive, they need new radios and new repeating systems. It is very expensive, it costs $980,000 for an entirely new system.”
Another $20,000 is included in the bond that will support the purchase of new furniture for the police.
“The other part is for furniture for the police annex,” Turner said. “The total bond will be $2.6 million.”
The council also passed a separate resolution authorizing emergency IT services for approximately $28,000.
“This was because our system crashed,” Turner said. “We had to spend $28,338 to get the system back up.”
The ordinances introduced will be up for a vote and public hearing at the next Weehawken Township Council meeting.
The council will meet next on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Second Floor Council Chambers in the Municipal Building at 400 Park Avenue. Members of the public can attend in person of via Zoom. For more information, go to weehawken-nj.us.
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].
Janulis worked at the victim company and let Schmidt inside. Image via Shutterstock
Two men have been arrested for alleged inside job burglaries in Secaucus.
On Jan. 12, at 9:30 p.m., the police arrested a 47-year-old male, Trent Janulis of Secaucus, and a 48-year-old male, Michael Schmidt of Jersey City.
Both face four counts of burglary, four counts of conspiracy to commit burglary, and three counts of theft. Janulis was also charged with criminal attempt to commit burglary, defiant trespassing, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) believed to be Suboxone, and possession of a prescription drug believed to be Viagra. Schmidt was also charged with possession of a CDS believed to be Suboxone.
Both Janulis and Schmidt were issued their complaint warrants and were subsequently transported to the Hudson County Jail.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Secaucus Police Department in relation to numerous reported burglaries and thefts that occurred at 2 Day Transportation located at 901 Castle Road. According to police, the thefts occurred on Dec. 19, 24, and 25 of 2021, and Jan. 10 of this year.
Janulis was employed at the victim company, allegedly using that to allow himself and Schmidt to gain access. According to Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller, the two stole over $200,000 in perfume and laptops.
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 Taltys have been searching for a live donor for over a year
Secaucus resident Nancy Talty, currently suffering from stage 5 kidney failure, is still in search of a kidney.
Second Ward Town Councilman James Clancy has been trying to help the family locate a donor, reiterating the need for the vital organ at each meeting of the town council. Nearly a year after the Hudson Reporter first highlighted her need for a donor, Talty has not had any luck yet and the clock is still ticking.
“That family is still looking for someone to possibly donate a kidney,” Clancy said at the Jan. 25 meeting. “Time is running out for the person that needs the kidney.”
Potential donors can call any of the following numbers to contact the family including: (201) 407-8267, (201) 240-7562, or (201) 865-3477. Or donors can contact Clancy through his office at the Municipal Complex. He urged as many people to come forward as possible to help with the chances.
“It’s been at least a year that I’ve been making this announcement,” Clancy said. “Time is running out and unfortunately, and they could really use someone to come forward. Not just one person, but six or seven or ten, because it’s very selective when it comes down to the testing that’s involved for the donor.”
In urgent need of a donor
Nancy’s husband Bernie previously told the Hudson Reporter that Nancy received a kidney transplant more than 50 years ago from her identical twin sister Mary Ann in February of 1969, but that kidney has since run its course, and she is in need of another transplant.
Doctors have said that the ideal treatment for her is a living donor. Receiving a living donor kidney would mean a greater chance of the kidney working immediately, lasting twice as long as a deceased donor kidney, and offering an improved quality of life.
Due to kidney disease on both sides of her family, Nancy’s sons cannot donate, nor can Bernie because of underlying health conditions, he said. With 100,000 people on the waiting list for a deceased kidney, only 11,000 people getting a transplant each year from someone who has died and donated their organs. He said that a live kidney donor would also mean Nancy would avoid five to seven years of waiting for a deceased donor kidney.
“I am praying and hoping that my sweetheart will find a living donor and avoid dialysis,” Bernie said.
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 Jersey City Council handled a sleuth of legislation on Jan. 26. Photo by Mark Koosau.
The Jersey City Council has undertaken a variety of legislation, adopting ordinances on a new women’s advisory board and requirements for the cannabis board, and introducing ordinances for council member’s aides and a redevelopment plan.
Women’s advisory board and cannabis board regulations created
The council adopted two ordinances at their Jan. 26 meeting. One will create a city Women’s Advisory Board, and the other wrote new regulations for the city’s Cannabis Control Board. Both were adopted unanimously.
The Women’s Advisory Board will “help women improve the status of women in Jersey City and create awareness of women’s issues within the city,” according to the ordinance, where they will advise the mayor and the council on women’s issues and recommend policy and guidelines.
The board will consist of 11 members appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council, and will consist of a majority of women. “Best efforts” will be made to appoint at least two who are social workers or attorneys. Each term on the board lasts for two years.
“It’s long overdue, but it is the right time because there are so many changes that are happening in the country concerning women,” said Council President Joyce Watterman, the chief sponsor of the ordinance. Watterman is the ctiy’s second female council president in it’s history, as well as the ctiy’s first ever African American woman to have held the position.
“Some days it feels like we have got pushed back instead of moving forward,” she continued. “I believe the Women’s Advisory Board has the potential to serve as a forum for political advocacy, to provide a real opportunity with women organizations, to empower women who do not have agencies to advocate for them, and to recognize and promote accomplishments of women in a community.”
A few public speakers commended the creation of the board, while also noting that it will need to take the right direction to see results.
“Women earned the right to have an advisory board, and we are very happy about that,” said resident Eiko La Boria, who nevertheless said a board with no funding or power to push for change cannot be expected to perform at the highest levels.
“It is our hope that although this is a great step, it is the first step that must move forward the great agenda that is Jersey City women,” she said.
The ordinance that makes amendments to the city’s cannabis board, which reviews and approves cannabis establishments and distribution, will expand the number of board members from three to five.
Three members will be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council, and two will be appointed directly, one by the mayor and one by the council president. The mayor’s appointees will serve for one year, two will serve for two years, and the last will serve for three years. All appointees by the council president will have a term of three years.
The board will be required to provide a quarterly report on their work, including the number of applicants and locations of any approved facilities, the number of employees and qualifying microbusiness identifiers, and “the percentage of ownership for each beneficial owner, and if applicable intermediary owners, as well as LLC members, partners, public or non-public shareholders displayed in an ownership structure chart.”
The report will also list the proof of residency in New Jersey, as well as the owner’s gender, race, nationality or ethnic group. Lastly, the board must review and approve any applications that were approved by the state within 60 days.
Ordinances introduced
The council introduced a number of ordinances for first reading, with a few of them potentially affecting the council members’ aides and the Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan.
One ordinance would allow council members to hire more aides as well as increase an aide’s salary. According to the ordinance, it would make the city code consistent with state laws and would match the salary ranges in Newark, with Jersey City’s population nearly equal to Newark’s after the 2020 Census. It was introduced unanimously.
Council members would be able to hire up to either four full-time aides or eight part-time aides, and could divide a full-time position into two part-time jobs that will be counted as one for the ordinance’s limit. The aides’ salaries would also increase, from $22,500 to a range of $15,000-$35,000 for part-time aides, and from $45,000 to a range of $50,000-$85,000 for full-time aides.
Another ordinance creates amendments to the contentious Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan, in particular to the Morris Canal Park Manor at 417 Communipaw Ave.
The amendments, if passed, would create a 17-story residential mixed-use building and community center on the former site of Steel Technologies, which would come with a recreational center, incubators for women or minority-owned businesses, and a public plaza.
A number of residents have expressed concerns over how the project would affect the surrounding area. Councilman Frank Gilmore has been critical of it, but the area slated for the manor is set to be taken out of his jurisdiction after the new ward map moved it from Ward F, which he represents, to Ward A.
“I really want to reach back out with the current developer and have further discussion so we can have more clarity on exactly what’s slated to take place,” said Gilmore at the meeting.
June Jones, the president of the Morris Canal Community Development Corporation, asked the council in a statement read by the city clerk to table the ordinance and to give the community a chance to meet with them and the developer.
“Do not enforce this out-of-place project against the will of the people; be courageous, vote your conscience and do what is right by your constituency,” read the statement by Jones.
The ordinance passed the first reading with a 7-2 vote, with Gilmore and Councilman James Solomon voting no.
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.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco and North Bergen officials swear in four new police officers on Jan. 26.
The North Bergen Board of Commissioners has introduced an ordinance that would amend the hiring practices for entry-level law enforcement officers, essentially making it easier to become a police officer.
According to the ordinance, the hiring practices of the township are governed by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and the New Jersey Administrative Code. On Feb. 4, 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law amending the Civil Service Act to permit municipalities to hire police officers who have not taken the civil service law enforcement examination, but are otherwise qualified.
New hiring practices for entry-level officers
“That allowed towns to hire police officers, even if they hadn’t taken the civil service exam, provided they take a course that is known as the full Basic Police Course for Police Officers,” Township Counsel Tom Kobin said at the Jan. 26 meeting.
Under the new state law, which took effect in August of 2021, hiring authorities will be permitted to appoint candidates who have successfully completed a full Basic Police Course for Police Officers training course at a school approved and authorized by the New Jersey Police Training Commission.
“So if someone had taken that course, we can hire them even though they didn’t take the civil service exam,” Kobin said.
According to the ordinance, the township and police department are in compliance with the law’s requirements to have adopted conflict of interest and nepotism policies. The township is seeking to enact this new police officer hiring option “for the health and safety of its residents, to fill critical positions, and to further enhance the North Bergen Police Department’s existing diversity.”
New law amended recently
According to Kobin, in Jan. 18, 2022, the legislature amended the law, and opened it up to include other positions.
“Last week, they modified that law in a couple ways,” Kobin said. “They opened it up to sheriff’s officers, to corrections officers, county police, and other law enforcement. The other thing they did is they said that we can hire officers before they take that course that’s approved by the state police commission.”
Under the amended law, Kobin said that the township can hire officers prior to them taking the full Basic Police Course for Police Officers. They would be temporary employees standing for the force with pay. Then, when they complete the course, if they meet all other requirements, the township can convert them to a permanent employee.
However, the amended law doesn’t kick in until later in the year. So the ordinance will phase in when it becomes effective, according to Kobin.
“The law passed last week doesn’t become effective until six months from now,” Kobin said. “So the ordinance we’re introducing we’ve got to consider and incorporate into it, the new law.”
‘More reflective of the community’
Mayor Nicholas Sacco said the ordinance aims to help the police department better represent residents.
“The genesis of the law is to make the force more reflective of the community,” Sacco said.
According to Sacco, the township already has a residency requirement for the police force. However, North Bergen is looking to bring more residents onto the force “without having to go through the strenuous test,” he said, adding that it would be on a case-by-case basis.
“We’re pretty diverse as it is right now,” Sacco said. “This doesn’t hurt us, it helps us.”
“I think it’ll help us tremendously,” Police Chief Peter Fasilis added.
The ordinance will be up for a public hearing and vote at the next meeting of the North Bergen Board of Commissioners. The commissioners will meet next on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Municipal Building 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].
A rendering of the planned playground for Washington Park in West New York.
West New York is planning an ambitious program of park renovations throughout 2022 and 2023.
Special Projects Manager Jonathan Castaneda laid out the new and ongoing initiatives during the Capital Plan Midterm Review for capital projects, including the park upgrades at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 12. Castaneda said the town has been proud to renovate parks, working to increase the total available parkland open space for residents.
“We fixed about 75 percent of our available open space, with renovations that have a direct impact on not just the lives of our residents, but most importantly, the lives of our youth.”
According to Castaneda, the town has replaced all of the backboards on all of the town’s basketball courts and is working to fix the playground surfacing of some parks. While some of the commissioners on the board had considered these upgrades during the administration of former Mayor Dr. Felix Roque, they did not move forward until Rodriguez came to power, he said.
“In the past, these projects had been at the forefront of Mayor Rodriguez, Commissioner [Margarita] Guzman, and the Board of Commissioners,” Castaneda said. “But we’ve only had the ability to tackle this due to the support of the governing body over the course of the last two years.”
Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez said that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of things on hold that are now kicking back into gear.
“We have been very, very patient in wanting to do some of these projects that have been put on pause, obviously due to the pandemic,” Rodriguez said. “But now that things are moving forward, and we’re starting a new calendar year, I am happy to come share our plans with the community.”
Miller Park
Miller Park, located on Jackson Street across from Miller Stadium, is slated for an overhaul. The commissioners introduced an ordinance that would bond $2 million toward the second phase of the project.
“It is the largest park in town by far, and one of the largest municipal owned parks in the county,” Castaneda said. “It is in complete disrepair.”
The overhauled park will include a special needs playground area, something Castaneda said is new to the town, a passive green open space, a dog park, a mini-soccer field, and security upgrades. He estimates the project to complete in September of this year.
Some residents and members of the public, such as Hailey Benson of NB Earth Talks, urged the town to establish a community garden as well as compost bins: “North Bergen’s compost bins has diverted over a ton of food waste since the beginning of August.” She added that in addition to the compost bins in Braddock Park, North Bergen is contemplating a community garden as well: “It’s a really great opportunity for West New York.”
In response to the requests for a community garden, Castaneda announced that plans for Miller Park include a community garden. While there are no plans for compost bins, the town redirected Benson to discuss the topic further with Environmental Co-ordinator Rosemarie Suarez.
West New York’s plan for Washington Park.
Washington Park and Weigand Park
According to Castaneda, the town has been working to renovate Washington Park, located between 66th Street and 67th Street and Palisade Avenue and Hudson Avenue.
“Weve been working very hard to get this to a point of construction and we’re very very soon nearing that juncture,” he said.
The initial design includes a general maintenance, improvements to the retaining wall, a conversion of the playground to the north to a turf half soccer field, and a conversion of the southern playground and expansion of that playground to where the water features are outlaid.
“The water features have been defunct for over 10 years and we’re very excited to get this project going,” Castaneda said.
Between the water park and the playground, there will be a rock climbing feature. Castaneda said the project is estimated to be completed spring of 2023. The introduced ordinance would bond $3,812,036 toward the renovations with $537,964 covered by Green Acres funds.
Castaneda added that Weigand Park will also be getting an upgrade. Weigand Park is a smaller park in West New York between 53rd and 54th Street and Broadway and Park Avenue.
“Weigand Park is one of the smaller parks, but in my opinion, one of the most beautiful because of the outlay of the trees,” Castaneda said.
The project will include a new playground, fixing the trellis and the fan, and a couple of other upgrades. The renovations are estimated to be complete by August of this year.
Plans to renovate Weigand Park are slated for the upcoming year.
Pedestrian walkway and McEldowney Field
The town is also looking at some improvements to the pedestrian walkway that is connected with Port Imperial. The planned upgrades include upgraded stair access, safety enhancements, and a diversion of the natural creek formation that will prevent the accumulation of water. The current wooden stairs will be removed and replaced.
“The installation of new and modern stairs that will support pedestrian transit and incentivize economic, cultural and social activity between the waterfront and the upland,” Castaneda said. He said the town hopes to have this completed or near completion by the winter of 2023.
Meanwhile, improvements to the Patricia McEldowney Field between Boulevard East and Anthony Defino Way, including to the tennis courts and skate park, have been underway. Significant investments were made to the park due to the topology of the area, according to Castaneda.
“This is a very important park for Boulevard East residents and really all residents of the town because of its magnitude and possible uses,” he said.
The skate park at the back of the northern end of the park has been refurbished and outfitted with modern features. When McEldowney Field is completed, the park will also include a new softball field with two new mini-soccer fields, one of them being for toddlers, new tennis courts, new handball courts, and new pickleball courts. There will also be new lighting and security components.
There’s still some items pending, including the fencing of the park, but Castaneda is estimating it will be completed by April of this year.
The completed renovations were included in the presentation to the commissioners on Jan. 12.
Centennial Field and Miller Stadium
Castaneda highlghted the town’s investment in youth recreation through the completed renovations to Centennial Field on Port Imperial Boulevard.
“This is our field on the waterfront,” Castaneda said. “It supports not only a recreation soccer team, but also our travel team. It also supports our high school soccer team in practices.”
The field was upgraded recently to include a new drainage system, he said: “Those who have played at the field know that this is a field that flooded on numerous occasions. It really prohibited our youth and our soccer team from practicing on this field. The new field highlights our colors. It’s a new turf field that includes two half soccer fields which allows for expanded use for our soccer teams to play in.”
Castaneda also highlighted recently completed upgrades to Miller Stadium, between 57th Street and 59th Street and Jackson Street and Madison Street. The upgrades included a new turf baseball field, new locker rooms, new concession stands, upgrades to the bathrooms, and other upgrades that will “allow the stadium to survive yet another one hundred years.”
“Historic Miller Stadium on 57th Street is not only the home of the Memorial High School baseball team, but it also has a historical significance because of the memories that this place has,” Castaneda said. “Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig both played here, and Bruce Springsteen recorded his ‘Glory Days’ song in this very stadium. This is one of the last urban ballparks in New Jersey, perhaps one of the last several urban ballparks in the country.”
He stressed the importance of the stadium not only to the town but to the community: “It was in disarray when this administration took over, but we have worked to bring this multi-million dollar project and this ever-important historic Miller Stadium back to its glory days. No pun intended.”
An ordinance bonding for some of the new park upgrades will be up for a public hearing and vote at the February meeting of the West New York Board of Commissioners. The board will meet on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. For more information, go to westnewyorknj.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].
Erick Solis appeared by videoconference on Jan. 20, as opposed to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Courthouse in Newark.
A Weehawken man has been charged with enticing a minor victim online to produce images and videos of sexually explicit conduct, and producing child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger.
Erick Solis, 25, is charged by complaint with one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct and one count of production of child pornography. He appeared by video conference on Jan. 20 before U.S. Magistrate Judge André Espinosa.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from July 2020 to February 2021, Solis used a social media application to engage with two underage victims in sexually explicit conversations.
Solis ultimately instructed both victims to take sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him. At least on one occasion, one of the victims complied.
The count of online enticement carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to these charges. He also thanked the Weehawken Police Department and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Violent Crimes Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is 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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