Pictured Left to Right: Librarian Dolores Reyes, Assistant Director Kate Davis, Director Terry B. Hill, Bob Jablonski, Chief Librarian Hussein Odeh, Librarian Julie Metri
Bob Jablonski grew up in the Pavonia section of Jersey City. He attended Ferris High School and graduated in 1949. In 1947, at age 14, Bob visited his school library, James J. Ferris High School Branch, and checked out Hitler by Oden Rudolph, a novel warning the world about Adolf Hitler.
It was not until recently that Jablonski, who will turn 90 in April, discovered the book while reorganizing his family home. Wanting intensely to return the book, Jablonski reached out to JCFPL to begin the return process.
Staff anxiously became curious to see the book’s condition and learn more about Jablonski’s library experience in 1947. He does not recall the exact details but returned the book in perfect condition, with its original reference card.
In March 2021, the Jersey City Free Public Library eliminated overdue fines, making it the largest fine-and fee-free institution in the State of New Jersey. The Library’s Board of Trustees voted in favor of this policy change to reduce barriers and provide equal access for all.
“The Jersey City Free Public Library decided to go fine free when we realized we were losing patrons who might have owed money for books they lost years ago,” said Assistant Director Kate Davis. “We want patrons in the library, and we do not want fines to discourage anyone from coming back to visit us.”
JCFPL and other public libraries exist to serve the community based on the concept of sharing resources and services. Under this recent policy change, JCFPL has removed all pending overdue fines for past-due books and other materials and has received a number of outstanding returns since its inception. Still, librarians in the Library’s Lending department said no book this old.
Davis continues, “If anyone finds themselves in a similar situation to Mr. Jablonski, do not worry about owing thousands of dollars in fines – even after 70 years, Mr. Jablonski returned the book without owing anything, and so can you.”
About Jersey City Free Public Library
The Jersey City Free Public Library has served as a cornerstone of the community since its founding in 1889. With over 130 years of service excellence, the Library remains committed to meeting the demands of its growing and diverse population by keeping pace with the changing interests, trends, and needs. Today, the Jersey City Free Public Library is the largest municipal library in New Jersey with 10 locations, a bookmobile, and 144 experienced and dedicated staff members.
Secaucus police arrested a man after a racist outburst against Asian Americans at the Xchange in Secaucus. Image via the Secaucus Police Department.
Secaucus Police have arrested and charged a man with bias intimidation after he allegedly yelled racist slurs at an Asian couple earlier in the month, according to Chief Dennis Miller. Alfred Viggiano, 69, was arrested on August 6.
Racist onslaught in Secaucus
On August 1 at 7:51 p.m., police responded to the area of 200 Riverside Station Boulevard on a report of a person driving around the area yelling racial slurs out of his vehicle, Miller said. This is located in the Xchange part of Secaucus, a high-density residential area with a large Asian American population.
Upon arrival, police spoke with a male witness to the interaction outside of 200 Riverside Station Boulevard. According to Miller, the witness stated that he saw a male in black car pull up to an Asian couple, a man and woman walking outside nearby the building.
The witness said the male in the car, later identified as Viggiano, yelled “gook” at the Asian couple before speeding away. The witness said he yelled to Viggiano to slow down, and Viggiano yelled back at him, “Go back to your country.”
The witness told police that Viggaino pulled up to them, rolled down his window and held up a small sign that read, “F**k you.” Viggiano waited a moment and yelled, “You, f**k you,” while pointing at the couple.
According to Miller, Viggiano then yelled, “Take off your mask and go back to your country.” Viggiano then sped away, the witness told police.
On August 6 at 12:58 p.m., in furtherance of an investigation conducted by the Secaucus Police Detective Division in regards to the bias incident, the police went to Green Valley Court and arrested Viggiano for bias intimidation. He was issued a complaint warrant and was transported to the Hudson County Jail.
Culprit is a repeat offender
This is not Viggiano’s first run in with the law this year.
On March 22 at 4:28 p.m., Secaucus Police responded to Green Valley Court on a report of a theft. During the investigation, the police arrested Viggiano for allegedly receiving stolen property. He was served a complaint summons and was released from police custody.
Additionally, Viggiano had multiple run-ins with the Secaucus Police Department in 2021.
On September 17, 2021 at 1 p.m., in response to a suspicious incident that occurred at Green Valley Court on September 16, police went to Green Valley Court and arrested Viggiano for unlawful possession of weapons, specifically a hammer, and for violation of the regulatory provisions relating to permits to purchase firearms. He was issued his complaint warrant and was subsequently transported to the Hudson County Jail.
Prior to that, on August 8, 2021 at 3:19 p.m., Secaucus police responded to the area of Buchmuller Park located at 150 Plaza Centre Road on a report of a male trespassing on the property. During the investigation, the police arrested Viggiano of Secaucus for defiant trespass, resisting arrest, and resisting arrest by flight. He was issued a complaint summons and was released from police custody.
And on January 14, 2021 at 5:37 p.m., Secaucus police responded to the parking lot of Hudson Wines located at 865 Roosevelt Avenue on a report of a male who had threatened an employee with a knife. During the investigation, the police arrested Viggiano for unlawful possession of a weapon, specifically a small handled axe; unlawful possession of a weapon, specifically a pocket knife; possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose; terroristic threats; and simple assault.
On the same date, at 5:27 p.m., Secaucus police responded to Green Valley Court on a report of harassment. An investigation was conducted and Viggiano was further charged with bias intimidation and harassment. He was served a complaint warrant for both incidents and was subsequently transported to the Hudson County Jail.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
Reuven Alonalayoff, image via the Secaucus Police Department.
Secaucus Police Department detectives have arrested the marketing director of Hudson Regional Hospital. His arrest on August 7 follows an investigation that led to the seizure of multiple firearms and ammunition, according to Police Chief Dennis Miller.
Reuven Alonalayoff, a 46-year-old of Elmwood Park, is charged with Possession of an Assault Firearm, and two counts of Possession of a High Capacity Magazine. Miller said he was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport with assistance from the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
Investigation launched after bomb threat
On July 18, at 3:10 P.M., Hudson Regional Hospital, located at 55 Meadowlands Parkway, received a phone call that a bomb was in the hospital. According to Miller, Secaucus police responded to the hospital along with bomb detection canines from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and Bayonne Police Department.
During a safety sweep of the hospital, the bomb detection canine gave a positive indication on an unlocked closet within an office, Miller said. Upon entering the closet, police discovered a large cache of rifles, shotguns and handguns, along with assorted ammunition for the firearms.
A total of 11 handguns of various calibers, and 27 rifles and shotguns were discovered. A Kriss Vector .45 caliber semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine was also recovered and determined to be an assault rifle.
Additionally, a 14-round high-capacity handgun magazine was also seized. The bomb threat was later determined to be a hoax.
“The unsecured storage of a large cache of weaponry, especially in this location, certainly creates a risk to public safety,” said Miller. “I commend the efforts and professionalism of all the police personnel involved in this investigation and am thankful this situation was resolved without anyone being harmed.”
These charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Hudson Regional Hospital addresses situation
On August 9, Hudson Regional Hospital released a statement elaborating on the incident.
“During a search of Hudson Regional Hospital related to a bomb scare hoax, firearms were discovered in a locked office on an administrative floor of the hospital that was occupied by a non-employee consultant,” a spokesperson for Hudson Regional Hospital said. “The items were immediately removed from the site and were impounded by Secaucus Police, who found no other presence of firearms in the building. Law enforcement subsequently has not approached Hudson Regional Hospital at any level regarding any legal issues related to the impounded items. If requested, we will provide further support to law enforcement regarding the continuing investigation into this matter.”
The hospital is now reviewing safety measures to avoid such issues in the future.
“The presence of weapons in a hospital is inexcusable beyond comprehension and contradicts our mission of care and our commitment to the safety of our community of staff, patients and the extended community,” the spokesperson added. “While regrettable, this incident has given us occasion to review security protocols and we have taken steps to assure that it will never happen again.”
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
Councilwoman Amy DeGise has faced scrutiny over her hit-and-run last month.
In the three weeks since footage was shown of Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise’s hit-and-run and calls for her resignation have grown, multiple media reports had shed light on her income status as well as an ignored payment to a veterinarian.
The at-large councilwoman has been charged with hitting a cyclist with her vehicle without stopping, and not reporting the incident until six hours after. Since the footage was publicized, a number of people have called on her to resign, though she said via a spokesman that she does not plan to.
But despite resisting calls to step down, a number of reports have revealed how her income status compares to an apartment she rents, and a missed payment to a veterinarian.
The Jersey Journalreported on Aug. 3 that DeGise lives at the College Towers apartment complex near New Jersey City University. The complex is intended for low-to-moderate income families, but DeGise was reported to have nearly $200,000 in yearly income.
$105,000 of it came from working at the Hudson County Schools of Technology, and $85,000 came from her job as a councilwoman.
The report continued that she also paid $290,000 for a house on Seaview Avenue in the city in 2020. Her spokesman told the Journal that she and her fiancé had bought the house with plans to move into it, but was delayed due to renovations since 2020.
The Journalalso reported that she was ordered by a Hudson County court order to pay a nearly $3,000 veterinarian bill at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, who won a default judgment against her earlier this year.
DeGise then said via her spokesman that she was unaware of legal action until the school district told her that the court ordered her wages to be garnished to pay the bill and an additional $500 in court fees.
Other reports have also revealed that she attempted to dispute her vehicle from being towed in Hoboken last November after having parked in an illegal spot and her vehicle registration having expired, as well as having not paid numerous parking tickets.
DeGise was elected to her at-large seat last year under Mayor Steven Fulop’s ticket last November. She is also the former chairwoman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization and is the daughter of County Executive Tom DeGise.
So far, Councilmen James Solomon and Frank Gilmore are the only two council members that have called on DeGise to step down, along with a rally being held last week to call her to do so. The Jersey Journal’s editorial board have also called on her to resign.
If DeGise resigns before September 15, under state law a special election would be held in November to let the voters choose her successor. If she resigns after that date, the majority on the City Council allied with Mayor Steven Fulop would make the choice.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
Officials physically break ground on the Portal North Bridge project on August 1. Photo by Edwin J. Torres for the Governor's Office.
Several federal, state, local officials and project partners gathered on August 1 in Kearny to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Portal North Bridge.
Although this is the third groundbreaking for the project thus far, this ceremony marked the official physical groundbreaking. The first ceremony was held back in 2017 for the bridge that will cross the Hackensack River from Kearny to Secaucus, with the other being more recently when President Joe Biden visited the site of the project in October of 2021.
Reducing gridlock and increasing capacity
Construction of the new Portal North Bridge aims to reduce gridlock caused by critical operation and maintenance issues of the existing 110-year-old swing bridge and improve service, reliability, and capacity for rail travel along the Northeast Corridor. The bridge is a major part of the larger Gateway Program infrastructure project, and officials saw it as a testament to the prioritization of infrastructure investments by the Murphy and Biden administrations.
“The esteemed elected officials, transportation executives, and union members gathered here today to celebrate a national milestone are evidence of what we can achieve when we band together as Americans in pursuit of a common purpose,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.
“Safe, reliable, and modern infrastructure is about more than just getting to work on time. It’s also about the thousands of good-paying jobs this project will create and the families they support. By improving connectivity, we will also promote economic opportunity, not just for New Jersey residents and commuters, but for the Northeast Corridor and our nation. The new Portal North Bridge symbolizes our lasting legacy and our commitment to the welfare and prosperity of all New Jerseyans.”
“This project turns the Portal North Bridge from a choke point to an access point. It modernizes the way that people and goods get to and from this region that is responsible for 20 percent of America’s economic product every year,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
“I hope that this bridge will not only bring people to work and loved ones to where they need to be, but brings renewed confidence in our ability to get things done together. We are entering into a true infrastructure decade.”
Modern bridge replacement on the way
The current Portal Bridge will be replaced with a new modern two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge that will improve service and capacity along this section of the Northeast Corridor. The new Portal North Bridge will rise 50 feet over the Hackensack River and will allow marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic.
The Portal North Bridge project will eliminate the over a century old swing bridge, which has been the enduring source of major service disruptions for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers traveling on the Northeast Corridor. The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak.
“Today, we turn the page. When the new Portal Bridge opens it will be fixed in place and high enough for marine traffic to pass below unimpeded. It will spare hundreds of thousands of passengers each day from malfunctions and delays,” said Sen. Robert Menendez.
“For travelers, it will mean less time stuck on a train and more time with their families and loved ones, and at their destinations. For our region, it will help us double rail capacity between Newark and Manhattan as part of the broader Gateway program. And for our communities, this project is directly tied towards more jobs, higher wages, and greater productivity.”
In January of 2021, Governor Murphy announced the signing of a Full Funding Grant Agreement which secured $766.5 million in Federal Transit Administration funding to support the project’s construction. Prior to that in October of 2021, Governor Murphy and NJ TRANSIT announced the approval of a $1,559,993,000 construction contract awarded to Skanska/Traylor Bros PNB Joint Venture (STJV) for the construction of the new Portal North Bridge. The contract represents the single largest construction award in NJ TRANSIT’s history.
Officials applaud advancing the project
Hudson County’s congressmen praised the ground breaking event, including: Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a longtime advocate for this project who represents the 9th Congressional District of New Jersey, which includes Secaucus; and Rep. Albio Sires. who represents the 8th Congressional District of New Jersey encompassing most of Hudson County.
“History is happening today,” said Pascrell. “For years New Jerseyans have waited patiently for relief at the Portal Bridge over the Hackensack. Because of congestion and delays at this choke point, countless dinners, outings, and hours of family time have been sapped by interminable commutes. Our groundbreaking today marks a titanic step to keep the Northeast Corridor moving and relieving one less cause of stress for countless North Jerseyans. Our federal, state, and local leaders have worked assiduously to reach this moment. I cannot wait for the new Portal North Bridge.”
“I applaud Governor Murphy and NJ Transit on the groundbreaking of the Portal North Bridge, which is a huge step towards reducing gridlock and improving safety for rail commuters between New Jersey and New York City,” said Sires.
“As a senior member of the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have long advocated for funding to replace the bridge and to complete the other parts of the Gateway Program. We have made tremendous progress, and I will continue working with my federal and state partners to get this project over the finish line.”
Sen. Corey Booker, and Reps. Donald Payne Jr., Mike Sherrill, Frank Pallone, Tom Malinowski, and Josh Gottheimer, were among the many officials present at the ground breaking who praised the commencement of the project. Officials from NJ Transit, Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Federal Transit Administration, and other related entities also applauded the move, as well as union leaders from the Hudson County Building and Construction Trades Council, the Regional Plan Association, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825.
Construction to take half a decade
The Portal North Bridge project spans 2.44 miles of the Northeast Corridor line and includes construction of retaining walls, deep foundations, concrete piers, structural steel bridge spans, rail systems, demolition of the existing bridge, and related incidental works. The Notice to Proceed (NTP) given to STJV in April of this year signified the start of the construction contract, which is anticipated to take approximately five and a half years to complete.
As for the other aspects of the Gateway Project, such as the Hudson River tunnels, a funding agreement was signed between New Jersey and New York in July.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
Image courtesy of the North Bergen Police Department.
Authorities are investigating a crash in North Bergen that left two people in critical condition, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
On Wednesday, August 3, shortly after 2 a.m., members of the North Bergen Police Department responded to the intersection of River Road and Bulls Ferry Road in North Bergen on a report of a motor vehicle collision with injuries.
Upon arrival, responding North Bergen Police Officers found a collision involving two vehicles with multiple injured individuals.
The initial investigation by the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the North Bergen Police Department revealed that one of the vehicles, a 2020 Honda Accord was traveling southbound on River Road when it collided with a northbound 2015 Mercedes Benz CLA as it was turning onto Bulls Ferry Road.
The driver of the Mercedes-Benz, a 31-year-old female resident of North Bergen and the passenger in the Honda, a 21-year-old female from North Bergen, were both injured in the collision and subsequently transported by Emergency Medical Services to Palisades Medical Center.
They have both been transferred to Hackensack University Hospital where they are listed in critical condition.
The driver of the Honda, a 22-year-old male from Jersey City was also injured in the collision.
Due to the seriousness of the injuries, the matter will be investigated by the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit with assistance from the North Bergen Police Department.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
Councilwoman Amy DeGise was involved in a hit-and-run last month after hitting a cyclist without stopping. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Jersey City Council member Amy DeGise has filed a police report about harassment and death threats she’s received following her involvement in a hit-and-run last month when she struck a cyclist without stopping.
According to her spokesman, Phil Swibinski, DeGise had received a number of threats via email and social media, including comments attacking her position as a woman and a Democrat, as well as “numerous vulgar telephone calls” to her employer, a public school.
“It is reprehensible for anyone to make these kinds of direct threats of violence and we hope that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he said in a press release.
Swibinksi said that DeGise reported the threats on Monday to the Jersey City Police Department, and that an investigation has begun to find the source of the messages and “whether criminal charges are appropriate.”
He also added that depending on the results of the investigation, DeGise may be entitled to police monitoring “or other standard procedures to ensure her safety.”
DeGise has been charged with leaving the scene of the accident and failing to report it to police for six hours.
The majority of the threats shared by Swibinski with the media were obscenely-phrased wishes that DeGise should be injured, or killed, and seem driven by anger that as a public official she is, in the minds of her attackers, somehow evading justice.
“Guess lawmakers can avoid the law after a hit and run,” said Cooper Alterio. According to Eduardo Garcia, “U need a bullet in your head.” At least one appeared to come from a conservative poster called ‘Hitch’ who weighed in with, “You f**king Devilcrats think you can get away with anything,” while ‘Dr. Keith’ warned, “You actually think your (sic) not going to receive retaliation?”
Other posts were too strong for publication, but The Hudson Reporter has also received a few comments from people angry that we published letters to the editor pointing out that the bicyclist ran a red light just before being struck.
“This situation has created strong feelings in many people, but no one should condone these kinds of violent threats and this should be a reminder to everyone to tone down the rhetoric and refrain from inflammatory actions that could have real world consequences,” Swibinski continued.
A Jersey City spokesperson did not respond for comments on additional details about the police investigation at the time of publication.
Since last month, the councilwoman has become embattled after hitting Andrew Black, a cyclist who ran a red light, on the intersection of MLK Drive and Forrest St. on July 19 without stopping, and had not reported it until six hours later.
DeGise has faced calls to resign, with a rally being hosted in downtown Jersey City last Saturday calling for her to step down, although Swibinski said last week that she does not plan to.
Recently, a report by the Jersey Journal revealed that DeGise had at least nine overdue, outstanding tickets, including eight in Jersey City, on Monday morning, but were apparently all paid for later in the afternoon.
Gov. Phil Murphy also said on Monday that DeGise’s incident “is behavior that’s unacceptable,” but stopped short of saying that she should step down, adding that he’ll “leave the actual politics to the local realities.”
DeGise was elected to an at-large seat on the City Council last November on Mayor Steven Fulop’s slate. She was also the former chairwoman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, and is also the daughter of Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
Dylan Rodriguez. Image via the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.
A North Bergen man has been arrested for a 2019 deadly home invasion after perjuring himself during a related trial, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced.
Construction worker Dylan Rodriguez, a 21-year-old from 74th Street in North Bergen, was arrested on charges of felony murder; hindering apprehension; possession of weapon for unlawful purpose; and conspiracy to commit, perjury, and tampering with evidence.
The arrest is the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love, which is a continuing investigation of the murder of David Duque-Soto which occurred in Fairview on June 29, 2019.
Perjury during related trial leads to charges
The perjury charges are based on the March 2, 2022 testimony of Rodriguez at the trial of Lexie Burke in Bergen County Superior Court for the murder of David Duque-Soto.
Rodriguez, who was sworn to testify truthfully under oath, perjured himself, specifically by providing false information during the trial, including about his role in the murder of Duque-Soto.
An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit revealed that Rodriguez provided a handgun that was utilized during the murder of David Duque-Soto on June 29, 2019, contrary to Rodriguez’s sworn testimony.
On July 24, Rodriguez was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder; first-degree accomplice liability to commit armed robbery; second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose; second-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery; third-degree perjury; third-degree hindering apprehension; and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.
First court appearance pending
He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
Andrew Black, the cyclist hit by Amy DeGise's vehicle last week, speaks at a rally in downtown Jersey City. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Rallygoers gathered in downtown Jersey City on Saturday afternoon to call for the resignation of Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise because she had hit a cyclist with her vehicle on July 19 without stopping or reporting the incident for several hours.
Headlined by a number of progressive figures from Hudson County as well as the cyclist himself, a crowd gathered with signs and bikes on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza calling for DeGise to step down, although a spokesman for her said Friday that she does not plan to.
“Hey hey, ho ho, Amy [DeGise] has got to go!” chanted the crowd.
Speaking throughout the rally was Hector Oseguera, a former congressional candidate who’s one of the leading progressive figures in Hudson County.
“The worst thing you can have in a so-called civilized society is somebody who believes that they can commit crimes against you, and nothing will happen,” he said. “Because they’re part of a system that will shield what they’ve done, and hide what they’ve done.”
Hector Oseguera, standing in front of Andrew Black, is a leading progressive figure in Hudson County, and also took aim at the city’s and county’s establishment at the rally. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Andrew Black, the cyclist who was hit in the incident, appeared before the crowd to big applause, saying that he was humbled to be at the rally and was grateful for being alive. “I’m not here seeking out a vendetta, I’m not out here seeking any of that,” he told the crowd. “All I’m seeking is justice, and how we get justice is right here today, look at us.”
Jimmy Lee of SafeStreetsJC also spoke at the rally, saying that all hit-and-runs “deserve the utmost condemnation.” “It is never acceptable to leave the scene of a crash,” he said. “It is a crime for leaving. It is also inhumane, immoral, and reduces the chance someone injured gets timely, life-saving aid.”
Oseguera and other progressives such as Ron Bautista also took the opportunity to take aim at the city’s and county’s political establishment.
“We here because we have a very broken and corrupt political system that only caters to certain people, said Oseguera. “It’s not the people in this crowd. These people care about two things: they care about money, and they care about power. Those are the only things they care about.”
What happened at the hit-and-run
DeGise’s hit-and-run was captured by CCTV footage provided to the Hudson Reporter by the city, showing what took place at the intersection of MLK Drive and Forrest Street at around 8 a.m. on July 19.
The videos capture Black bicycling south on MLK Drive, crossing a double yellow line to pass a stopped car on the left, running a red light and looking away from oncoming traffic before being hit by a black SUV from his right.
The impact knocked him over onto the road, but the vehicle continued to speed east without stopping.
Black then makes his way to the corner as a number of pedestrians come over to check on him before resting on top of an ice cooler, and his crushed bike is on the other corner.
Black said in an interview after the rally that he saw two vehicles in the front “in the box” and thought that he could reach the yellow light if he went “a little faster.” “When I look up after I’m looking left, I realized ‘oh no, I’m going down a one-way street,” he said. “And I’m hit faster than I can even think”.
“I should have never ran a red light,” he continued. “But that was just a mistake on my part. But the big thing we’re here for today is the hit-and-run. The fact that [DeGise] just drove away, that’s what I’m worried about.”
Before footage of the incident was publicized, DeGise had acknowledged the incident and said that she was “thankful that no one was seriously hurt” and was issued traffic summons, but has not made any other comments on it herself since then.
Her spokesman, Phil Swibinski, said that she “fully intends to speak out more when the legal process is concluded.” He did not respond for additional comments about today’s rally at the time of publication.
Despite increased calls to resign, a spokesman for DeGise said that she does not plan to do so. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Since the initial CCTV footage was publicized, more surveillance footage obtained by multiple media outlets showed that DeGise did not report the incident until six hours afterwards at around 2 p.m. on the same day at the Jersey City Police Department’s West District precinct.
Police body camera footage obtained by Hudson County View also showed her on Nov. 16 of last year attempting to dispute her vehicle being towed in Hoboken due to having parked in an illegal spot and having an expired registration from 2019.
The calls for DeGise’s resignation came in after the initial CCTV footage was released. Councilmen James Solomon and Frank Gilmore, two of the council’s progressive members, have been the only people on the governing body so far to call for her resignation.
Former Councilman Chris Gadsden, who was present at today’s rally, had expressed interest in running for DeGise’s seat, though he said in an interview with the Hudson Reporter today that he’s currently focused on getting her to resign.
Who is Amy DeGise?
Amy DeGise is an at-large councilwoman currently serving her freshman term, but she has been involved in politics before then and has connections to some of the most powerful people in the county.
For one, she is the daughter a political family in Hudson County; her father, Tom DeGise, is the County Executive and considered one of the most powerful politicians in the county, and her aunt, Lois Shaw, also served as a Jersey City councilwoman in the 1970s.
She had also served as a trustee in the Jersey City Board of Education. But her profile was raised when she became the chairwoman of the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization in 2018 after a contested battle between her and Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack.
Amy DeGise is the daughter of Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and was also the chairwoman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Her two-year term as the chair was extended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ultimately ended in June as she was succeeded by Hudson County Board of Commissioners Chair Anthony Vaineiri.
In the beginning of 2021, DeGise was announced as a slate member with Mayor Steven Fulop for an at-large seat in the City Council elections that year. It came after then-Councilman Rolando Lavarro, once an ally with Fulop, had broken ties with him and became one his most vocal critics. DeGise ultimately went on to unseat Lavarro in November.
As DeGise faces scrutiny over leaving the scene of the accident and failing to report it in a timely way, she is not set to appear before the public until the next City Council meeting on Aug. 17.
It’s unknown if she’ll do so. Meanwhile, the calls for her resignation grow louder.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
One bus stop on Meadowlands Parkway in Secaucus will be deleted to cease confusion, officials said. Image via Google Maps.
Secaucus is planning to remove a bus stop on Meadowlands Parkway.
The Town Council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance at its July 26 meeting. Mayor Michael Gonnelli was absent from the meeting, so Third Ward Councilman Bill McKeever chaired the meeting.
The ordinance would remove a superfluous bus stop on Meadowlands Parkway, near the intersection of the street and Harmon Plaza.
Following the introduction of the ordinance, Town Administrator Gary Jeffas explained the crux of the change in an interview with the Hudson Reporter.
There’s a bus stop by Krauszer’s Food and Liquor at 40 Meadowlands Parkway and another by the Harmon Square shopping center at 38 Meadowlands Parkway. The town is consolidating the stops into one.
“We’re eliminating one of the bus stops,” Jeffas said.
According to Jeffas, the reason is that the bus stops are very close to one another on Meadowlands Parkway.
“It’s confusing,” Jeffas said. “They have two bus stops on a corner and on a corner. So we’re just formally deleting the one, so anybody who wants to take the bus knows they can go to one central bus stop.”
The solution to qualm the confusion would not be a major detriment to any riders, since the stops are in close proximity.
“It’s 40 feet away,” Jeffas said. “You basically just cross the street and it’s right there. So that was a kind of a redundancy and there was some confusion about people waiting in various locations.”
The ordinance is up for a public hearing and vote at an upcoming meeting. Gonnelli and the Town Council will meet next on August 23 at 7 p.m. in the first floor 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 disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
A Jersey City development project on Martin Luther King Drive, which has been stalled for years, has now received a critical one-year extension.
The planned...
After her sudden passing, her colleagues and community honored the late Hoboken Council President Jen Giattino.
Known for her kindness, hard work, and dedication, she...
The Union City School Board’s meeting on November 14 was full of important updates since they discussed school safety, staff changes, student trips, and...
U.S. Representative Rob Menendez has announced $286.4 million in federal funding to improve rail infrastructure.
This major investment will bring much-needed updates to aging systems...
