West New York is looking to help small businesses with the new program.
West New York has launched a grant program to support small businesses. The town will accept applications through June 3 for their Small Business Grant Program. Awards of up to $5,000 per business may be granted.
Do you qualify?
In order to qualify, businesses must be owned by an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company that is up-to-date with all federal and state payroll, sales, and income taxes; must be located in West New York and registered with NJ Department of Treasury; and have no more than 25 full time employees.
Applicants must also be able to certify that their business was negatively impacted by COVID-19 because of partial closure, full closure, or major disruption to business operations. The business must also be open at the time of application and make a “good faith effort” to remain so for at least 12 months after grant receipt.
Applicants must also disclose whether they have previously received COVID-19 relief funds from any other county, state, federal, or private sector program. Non-profit organizations, real estate holding companies, home-based businesses and businesses behind on their federal tax payments are not eligible for this grant.
For more information on the program or to apply, small business can call 201-295-5100
Helping small businesses in wake of COVID-19
The program aims to alleviate the financial hardships placed on many local small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez.
“The last couple years have not been easy for our small businesses and this grant program seeks to help ease some of the financial burdens affecting our small business owners.” said Rodriguez. “Small businesses are vital to our community and we want to encourage every eligible business to apply for this grant program.”
The West New York Board of Commissioners first adopted a resolution in March authorizing a contract to use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to establish the program. However, the commissioners approved another resolution in April rescinding that one and authorizing a contract for “extraordinary unspecifiable services” to establish the Small Business Grant Program using the ARP funds.
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 board reversed their decision after having previously cited concerns over potential obstruction of the Katyn Memorial. Image via Melillo ▪ Bauer ▪ Carman in planning board application.
In a reversal from two weeks ago, the Jersey City Planning Board has voted to approve the Exchange Place redesign and ruled that the overall plans are consistent with the city’s Master Plan.
The change in the board’s decision comes as the Exchange Place Alliance is looking to redesign the plaza, and after the board unanimously voted not to recommend the designs at their previous meeting on April 26.
The concerns from the board at the time came from the potential obstruction of the Katyn Memorial, where it’s proposed to have a semi-circular bench on the west side of the statue. A number of residents, including those from the Polish American community, had voiced their opposition to it’s obstruction.
The statue commemorates the 1940 massacre of more than 22,000 Polish soldiers and prisoners of war by the Soviet Union, and was planned for relocation four years ago to make way for renovations in the plaza until being called off following a backlash to the plan.
At the board’s meeting last night, Donald Pepe, who spoke on behalf of the Exchange Place Alliance, had filed a motion to reconsider, according to board counsel Santo Alampi, and that Pepe was not asking to present any other evidence or testimony.
“My point was I think that a lot of the vote that took place at the last hearing was related to design elements, specifically related to the Katyn Monument, and didn’t really get to the heart of the issue, which was [if] the plan [was] consistent with the Master Plan for Jersey City,” said Pepe.
Alampi later explained that the plan was under a Section 31 review, meaning that it’s a courtesy review on whether or not the plan was consistent, and that the applicants can go ahead with their plans no matter what the board says.
Chairman Christopher Langston, who had voted for not recommending the redesigns at the previous meeting, said that his comments back then “may be more appropriate for a site plan review rather than a Section 31 review.”
He later said that while he did have some reservations about some of the design elements, he said that the park does comply with the Master Plan. “Maybe I led the board astray with my design element concerns at the last hearing,” he said.
“I hope that your clients will look at the comments that were made by the public and adjust them, but my vote is aye for this project,” added Commissioner Joey Torres.
The board voted 5-0 to recommend the redesigns, with Council President Joyce Watterman recusing herself, as she is the City Council representative on the Exchange Place Alliance.
“We appreciate the Planning Board’s serious consideration and resulting clarification,” said EPA Executive Director Elizabeth Cain in a statement. “We are very excited to move forward with Exchange Place Plaza which will add greater vibrancy to the waterfront and become a community hub.”
Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said that the vote is “great news and will be a much-improved park for all of Jersey City as it will make Exchange Place a more aesthetic and beautiful public space.”
“The plaza will significantly improve residents’ and visitors’ experience along the waterfront while making infrastructure updates and creating public space designed to safely host large community events,” she said.
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.
Jonathan Haughey-Morales, via the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
A West New York man has been sentenced to 71 years in New Jersey State Prison for a 2019 shooting that killed one man and injured three others, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced.
Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre has sentenced Jonathan Haughey-Morales, a 30-year-old of West New York, for the 2019 mass shooting in North Bergen that killed Carlos Garcia and seriously injured three others.
According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Haughey-Morales was sentenced to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison for Murder and three consecutive seven year sentences for Aggravated Assault as to the surviving victims, which is subject to the No Early Release Act. An additional five year sentence will run concurrent for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
Sentenced for shooting three years ago
On Sunday, May 5, 2019, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the North Bergen Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at 2033 46th Street in North Bergen.
Responding officers found four individuals, including an unresponsive male with an apparent gunshot wound to his torso, shot in the home. The male was later identified as 40-year-old Carlos Garcia.
Garcia and the additional victims two males and one female were all transported by Emergency Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center. Garcia was pronounced dead at approximately 4:25 a.m.
Haughey-Morales was identified as the suspect wanted in connection with the shooting and apprehended in South Whitehall Township, Pa., the following day. Haughey-Morales was convicted on all charges by a jury on Wednesday, March 2, following a two week trial.
The State was represented in this case by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Najma Rana.
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].
NJ Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Photo courtesy of AG's Office.
Indictments have been made in two cases of alleged state employment benefits, New Jersey Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced on May 9. The indictments are the result of a joint investigation with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL).
Brianna Larkins, a 34-year-old of Secaucus, was indicted on a charge of third-degree theft by deception for allegedly stealing $19,659 in Unemployment Insurance benefits. She allegedly filed an unemployment claim in the State of New Jersey while being employed full time by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.
According to the allegations against Larkins, she illegally collected unemployment benefits in New Jersey while being employed full time in New York. Had the New Jersey Department of Labor been aware of Larkins’ full-time employment, which she allegedly intentionally failed to disclose, she would have been ineligible for unemployment benefits. Larkins collected benefits for the claim period beginning on March 20, 2020 through December 5, 2020. Subpoenaed records confirm that throughout the claim period, Larkins was employed full- time in New York.
The other indictment was against Richard Hockenberry, a 71-year-old from Hawthorne, on a charge of fourth-degree failure to provide Workers’ Compensation coverage for an employee injured on the job. As a result, the New Jersey Uninsured Employer’s Fund was made responsible for payment of Temporary Disability benefits, medical benefits, counsel, and other fees totaling $194,582.
Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Protecting taxpayer-funded employment benefits
The cases stem from an ongoing initiative in which the AG’s Office and NJDOL are aggressively investigating crimes that siphon money from taxpayer-funded employment benefit funds. The state grand jury indictments were secured by the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau as a result of joint investigations with NJDOL.
“We’re working hard to stop criminals from illegally siphoning money from New Jersey’s employment insurance benefits,” said Acting Attorney General Platkin.“These are crimes against the taxpayers who fund the benefits, and against honest New Jersey workers who count on these benefits to sustain them financially when their jobs are lost through no fault of their own or when they suffer injuries at work.”
“These critical funds are available to help the workers of our state in their time of need,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “These indictments should serve as a reminder that we, along with our partners in the Attorney General’s Office, will work together to ensure that unemployment benefits are available to those entitled to them, and those employers who fail to procure Workers’ Compensation coverage to protect workers injured on the job will be held accountable.”
“The defendants in these cases allegedly stole thousands of dollars in benefits from the funds that serve as a vital financial safety net for New Jersey workers and their families,” said Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We are putting offenders on notice that this type of unlawful conduct will be criminally prosecuted through our strong partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor.”
Platkin and Asaro-Angelo urged members of the public and employers to report cases of suspected fraud by visiting the NJDOL online portal or calling the NJDOL fraud hotline at (609) 777-4304.
Deputy Attorney General Danielle Scarduzio is prosecuting the cases and Detective Brianna Perea investigated the cases for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Jacqueline D. Smith and Bureau Chief Erik Daab.
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 member of the Union City Police Department hands out a gun lock and educational pamphlet to a resident. Photo courtesy of the UCPD.
Free guns locks are available in Union City, according to the local police.
The Union City Police Department has partnered with The New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs to offer free gun locks to residents who need one.
Creating a safe home environment for those experiencing suicidal thoughts can significantly reduce the likelihood of death by suicide.
Even if there is no one at risk for suicide, homes are safer when firearms are stored safely.
Residents do not need to be a veteran to receive a gun lock.
Through this initiative, anyone who receives a gun lock will also receive an educational brochure that provides information about firearm safety and reducing access to other household risks.
The goal is to help ensure everyone is safe at home, according to the Union City Police Department.
Mental health referral information is available for both veterans and civilians.
“You are not alone!” the department said in a statement.
The locks are available 24/7 at the Union City Police Headquarters at 3715 Palisade Avenue.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Councilman Costantino holds up his tablet, explaining their purpose at the April 26 meeting of the Secaucus Town Council.
The Secaucus Town Council now uses electronic tablets for its agenda packets, saving paper and money in the process.
The council first appeared with the tablets at its April 26 meeting. First Ward Councilman Robert Costantino explained the reason behind the move.
“We have these tablets in front of us now,” Costantino“We’re not Googling. We’re not not paying attention.”
The agendas are now sent to the council online and are viewable during the meetings on the tablets. It was a environmentally-conscious maneuver, according to Costantino.
“The agendas are now scanned in and sent to us online,” Costantino said. “It should save us thousands and thousands of pieces of paper, a few trees a year hopefully… It’s pretty cool.”
After the meeting, Jeffas told the Hudson Reporter it was somewhat of a modernization of the council, essentially bringing them up to speed with the other modern systems and technology present in Town Hall.
“We were always using paper packets,” Jeffas said. “So I’ve been try to migrate over to something digital so we’re not wasting so much paper.”
Another aspect of introducing the tablets means easy corrections or changes to any items to the agenda, which also in turn also saves more paper.
“If there are corrections, it’s much easier to transfer those changes and get them over to the council members. So we upgraded and everybody got a tablet,” Jeffas said. “The council can work off of their tablets now on all the council agendas, all the updates. Everything can now kind of flow at a moment’s notice. If I’m making changes to agenda items and stuff like that, I can just input the changes in my computer in a common drive and then everybody would sync up.”
Jeffas said that the shift was not only an environmentally friendly decision that would save thousands of sheets of paper, but also one that will save the town money in the long run.
“It’s much more environmentally friendly,” Jeffas said. “In terms of overall costs, we are saving there. And it’s also good for a more efficient running of the meeting.”
And the council did not have any issues with the new tech, despite some of their ages.
“We brought all our council members’ technology up to the 20th Century,” Jeffas said. “I was afraid some would be a little reluctant because they’re used to that paper. But everybody was good with the tablets.”
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 at their April 27 meeting. Photo by Mark Koosau.
The Jersey City Council has approved a number of legislative items, including shuffling some city divisions, approving new cannabinoid and smoke shop regulations, and appointing the acting finance director to a permanent capacity.
City division reshuffling
The council voted to reshuffle a number of divisions within the city government. It moved the Division of Human Resources into the Department of Administration, created a new Department of Infrastructure, and established a Division of Traffic and Parking.
Most of the discussion at the last council meeting focused on the reshuffling of the Division of Park Maintenance, which was moved over to the Department of Recreation, and the creation of the Division of Forestry under the Department of Public Works.
The Division of Forestry would be responsible “for the regular maintenance of street trees and trees within city parks as well as ensuring compliance with city forestry standards.”
Santo Della Monica, the president of the Jersey City Public Employees Union Local 245, asked the council to table the ordinance enacting the shuffle, saying that there wasn’t any structure or manpower coming out of Park Maintenance and Forestry.
“You want to create new divisions and spend thousands of dollars on deputy directors when we need manpower,” he said with many union members sitting in the audience. “I have my traffic guards here today and they need a contract; they’ve been out of [one] for seven years.”
Local 245 President Santo Della Monica said that the city departments need more manpower rather than being reorganized. Photo by Mark Koosau.
When asked by Councilwoman Denise Ridley about the impact on Parks and Forestry manpower, Business Administrator John Metro said there wouldn’t be any layoffs or loss of manpower, and that all employees will remain with the permanent civil service titles.
“We’re gonna transfer right now with our current manpower split amongst the respective divisions, we’ll start our respective budget process within the next two or three weeks, and the directors of those departments will be requesting additional employees and resources for tools and equipment,” he said.
Councilman Frank Gilmore, who used to work in the city’s recreational department, was skeptical of the ordinance, and argued that the problem was less because of the division they’re working on, but more from a lack of individual productivity.
“I don’t think restructuring is going to provide better quality service seeing that you’re gonna have the same people there anyway,” he said.
The council voted 7-1 to adopt the ordinance, with Gilmore voting no, and Councilman Rich Boggiano absent from the meeting that night.
Cannabinoid and smoke shop regulations
The council then unanimously approved new cannabinoid and smoke shop regulations in the city intended to protect minors from cannabinoid products.
Under the new regulations, the city will make it illegal to distribute or sell cannabinoids, which are products that contain 0.5 milligrams or more of THC or adult-use cannabinoids, to those 21 or younger. It will also only permit face-to-face sales of cannabinoid products, and will suspend or revoke licenses for those that are caught violating the new rules.
The regulations also stipulate that smoke shops and tobacco stores in the city will have to register with the Department of Public Safety within 60 days from opening their store or qualifying as a shop, and will need to renew their registration every year.
All current smoke and tobacco stores currently operating will also have to register as one before receiving a permit by the city administration.
Natasha Athab, an employee of the Partners in Prevention of Hudson County, spoke on behalf of a statement by Executive Director Doug Bratton supporting the ordinance.
“With changing laws regarding cannabis and related cannabinoid products and legislation, it is more important than ever for us to ensure that young people are safe, healthy and substance free during their developing years,” she said
Other legislation
The council unanimously voted to appoint acting Department of Finance Director Carmen Gandulla into a permanent capacity. She was previously the Director of Community Development.
They also unanimously voted to adopt three ordinances that will allow the city to acquire or condemn, via eminent domain, three properties to create two new police precincts in the Heights at 117 Hutton Street and 18 Sherman Place, and in Greenville at 1 West Side Avenue.
The council also passed two resolutions for police equipment. One resolution approved unanimously green lights a $2.28 million purchase of FocusX1 body worn cameras and software maintenance. Another resolution approves a $515,200 purchase Blauer Flex Uniforms from Tomahawk Strategic Solutions, which was voted on 7-1 with Councilman James Solomon voting no.
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 compost bin as seen in Ellsworth Park in Union City.
A new compost bin has opened in Ellsworth Park in Union City. Officials, residents, and members of the general public gathered to mark the grand opening ceremony of the bin with a ribbon cutting on April 22.
The new public drop-off compost bin, located at the center of Ellsworth Park, is for Union City residents to divert household organic waste from landfills. This project was made possible thanks to the contributions of Mayor Brian Stack, Union City’s Public Works, Community Compost Co., and North Bergen Earth Talks.
Residents are encouraged to wear a mask and bring household compost to deposit.
Items accepted in the compost bin include all food, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, seafood, grains, shells and eggs, coffee grounds and flowers. The compost will also allow for some paper including coffee filters, napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, and tea bags.
Prohibited items include non-food such as plastic, metal, glass, chemicals, styrofoam, liquids, grease, produce stickers, staples in tea bags, compostable “plastics,” coated paper and molded fiber, diapers, tissues, menstrual products, and pet waste.
Pilot program launched
The location is currently under a pilot program with Community Compost Co. until October. During this time, the program could expand further North in Union City with dedicated community support and take full advantage of this opportunity.
A list of what can and cannot be composted in Spanish.
North Bergen Earth Talks worked in collaboration with Mayor Brian Stack and Union City’s Public Works, to generate the funding, assemble the drop-off spot, and organize the opening ceremony. They also worked closely with Andrea Rodriguez from compost collector and distributor, Community Compost Co., to bring the project to fruition. Community Compost Co. is a women-owned business based in the Hudson Valley of NY and Northern New Jersey.
“We are honored to work with Mayor Brian Stack to make this Public Compost Drop-Off Spot a reality. We hope to uplift the community in becoming an active part of restoring our local environment,” said a co-founder of North Bergen Earth Talks. “Most residents in Hudson County do not have the yard space to host a personal compost bin. Our communities deserve to have access to divert their food waste through this Union City-funded project.”
North Bergen Earth Talks has been working with North Hudson towns to launch and improve compost programs, with such initiatives existing in North Bergen and another planned for West New York among others. For more information on on the compost bin in Union City, email [email protected].
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 proposed redesign of the Exchange Place Plaza. Image via Melillo ▪ Bauer ▪ Carman in planning board application.
The Jersey City Planning Board has voted against recommending the redesign proposals for the Exchange Place Plaza at last night’s meeting, primarily because members of the board and the public took issue with the potential obstruction of the historic Katyn Memorial as part of the plans.
The Exchange Place Alliance wants to redesign the area, which would include a new service road, new greenery around the Katyn Memorial and a playground for the waterfront locale.
“Three years ago, when we began this process, the area surrounding the Katyn Monument was essentially a parking lot,” said Donald Pepe on behalf of the EPA. “Aside from being a parking lot, it was a dangerous place where cars were interacting with pedestrians on a regular basis. It’s a very busy area, it’s an entree to the PATH station.”
The major feature is for a pedestrian plaza near Montgomery Street, where it’s proposed to have a new service road on the south portion for the Hyatt House and the nearby service lot.
The proposed redesigns calls for a service road for the Hyatt House and the nearby service lot. Image via Melillo ▪ Bauer ▪ Carman in planning board application.
Pepe said that while the Port Authority wanted to provide “enhanced” security measures to protect the PATH Station, he said that the measures “looked a little bit like a prison” in some of the earlier designs and that they didn’t take aesthetics and pedestrian maneuverability into account.
The new pedestrian portion of the plaza would be guarded by security bollards, which Thomas Carman, Principal at Melillo Bauer Carman, said was one of the requirements to secure the PATH Station, and would include space to offer concerts, markets or festivals.
A playground would be added between the PATH Station and J. Owen Grundy Park, and the portion of Columbus Drive to the Hyatt Agency would be narrowed, and would include more greenery added.
The historic Katyn Memorial would remain unmoved, but would be surrounded by a semi-circular bench and greenery on the west side of the statue. Carman said that the bench would provide “ample” seating, and that the space would feel “intimate” when there’s a smaller amount of people.
Obstruction of injustice
Many members of the public, including those from the Polish American community, objected to the potential obstruction of the Katyn statue by the benches and greenery, particularly after many had fought four years ago to protect it from relocation.
The memorial, which commemorates the 1940 massacre of more than 22,000 Polish soldiers and prisoners of war by the Soviet Union, had been planned for relocation in 2018 nearly four years ago to make way for renovations in the plaza, but it was called off following backlash to the plan.
Resident Andrzej Burghardt said the redesigns look as if they’re going to obscure the monument “from public sight to the greatest extent possible” and that it would make gatherings and ceremonies difficult by eliminating space.
The board and many residents were opposed to the bench in front of the Katyn Memorial. Image via Melillo ▪ Bauer ▪ Carman in planning board application.
“It’s our duty to let it stand there permanently and with due dignity, to remind us to act in such ways that we and our future generations do not have to suffer from these horrors again,” he said. “The war in Ukraine today signifies that humanity forgets these lessons too quickly and easily.”
Resident Jeanne Daly also objected to the addition of a service roadway and said that they should preserve the public plaza for people and not for corporate interests.
“We need access to all our wonderful spaces,” she said. “We need to have access to the views of a waterfront. We need to have our events right there with the backdrop of the waterfront. Not some kind of berms/plantings that rise seven feet high.”
Planning Board objects
A number of Planning Board commissioners agreed with the public and said that they also disliked the obstruction of the statue.
“I don’t know why we need to put five-foot-tall benches on a berm around a statue,” said Chairman Christopher Langston. “That statue obviously means a lot to a lot of people. It’s a Jersey City landmark. I love that statute, I respect everything it represents.”
Langston added that while he’s okay with benches and flowers around it in general, he doesn’t think the current design is proper for the statue, as well as the safety concerns regarding it.
The review of the Exchange Place Plaza redesigns came almost four years after controversy over moving the statue began.
Commissioner Peter Horton echoed Langston’s comments and said that any additions should accent and highlight the statue instead of impeding it or block the view of the Manhattan skyline. “I think it should be open and enjoyable for everyone and be able to serve everyone for whatever reason they go down there,” he said.
The board unanimously voted on a motion to not recommend the design, with Council President Joyce Watterman recusing herself from the vote as she is the City Council representative on the EPA.
While the board voted against recommending it, the vote was only a courtesy review as part of a Section 31 review, and the EPA can still go forward despite their vote.
“The entire concept for the plaza has been around improving the individual experience to enjoy the waterfront, fix some of the old Port Authority infrastructure, and allow full festivals to return in a safe environment,” said Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione. “The new park was designed around allowing large stages to access the space and better serve the return of community events in 2023 once it is safe and complete.”
The Exchange Place Alliance did not respond for comment on the Planning Board’s vote.
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.
Omar was 42 years old when he died. Photos courtesy of the family.
More than a decade after a hit-and-run in North Bergen killed beloved bodybuilder Omar Monroig, his family is still searching for closure.
On March 23, 2012, Omar was struck by an early 2000s Toyota Camry as he crossed 51st Street and Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen on his way to grab drinks at a local Cuban restaurant with a friend. While severely injured, at times the 42-year-old seemed like he was going to pull through and his family hoped he would.
In an interview with the Hudson Reporter, Omar’s brother Jorge said he survived longer than most people would have. Following the accident, Omar had broken bones in his neck, two broken legs, a broken shoulder, and internal bleeding.
“Omar was a bull who wanted to live,” Jorge said. “It took him eight days to succumb to the injuries. Most people don’t survive that long.”
However, Omar ultimately died due to his injuries days later on April 1, 2012. His killer, the driver of the car that night, remains on the loose.
Omar Monroig displays his chiseled-from-granite body.
10-year cold case
While there was traffic camera footage of the fatal hit-and-run, it was low quality due to how dark it was in the area; only the vehicle could be identified, not the license plate. The family was able to attain the video through a private investigator who sent it to be enhanced in Alabama. However, the facility returned it free of charge since there was nothing that could be done to stop the pixels from breaking down further. This means it was unable to be enhanced, and that Jorge and the family were back at square one.
In March of 2017, five years after the fatal hit-and-run that took the life of Omar, the statute of limitations for the vehicular manslaughter charges in the case expired, the North Bergen Police Department confirmed to the Hudson Reporter at the time. However, Jorge said he wanted to learn more about the statute of limitations for the case and reached out to an attorney for more information.
Regardless, Jorge and the family has been urging the driver of the vehicle or anyone with any information on who that may be to come forward. He said the case remains unsolved, although the family remains hopeful that can one day get closure.
“We’re hoping that someday, someone comes forward because we want those answers that we never got night,” Jorge said. “When Omar passed away, we didn’t know why this person didn’t stop. It left a lot of unanswered questions. We want someday to find out who this person is. And we also want to shed some light on Omar’s story.”
An old photo of Nick, Omar, and Marybell.
‘A heart bigger than his biceps’
According to Jorge, Omar was very near and dear to those around him.
“Omar was my best friend,” Jorge said. “I didn’t know it at the time because we were brothers, but he really was my best friend. He’s an amazing person. I think of him it more all the time. I miss Omar. He used to love celebrating birthdays.”
It was just days after Omar’s 42nd birthday, on March 21, 2012, that he would lose his life. He was actually on his way to celebrate with a friend on March 23 when he was struck by the hit-and-run driver.
And it wasn’t just his birthday that he enjoyed. Omar was fond of celebrating others’ birthdays, such as Jorge, in similar fashion.
“Omar loved celebrating birthdays, that was a highlight and something we always enjoyed,” Jorge said. “I loved having dinner with him, breaking bread. Birthdays with him wouldn’t be just one day, it would be a week almost.”
Jorge and the rest of Omar’s family have certainly not forgotten about him.
“We think of him often,” Jorge said. “We have many portraits of Omar.”
According to Jorge, many people have sent positive information and messages to the family since everything happened. Omar left behind his wife Marybell and their son, Nick. According to Jorge, Nick stills lives and works in Butler where they lived.
“Nick is a chip off the old block,” Jorge said. “He’s also working as an volunteer firefighter and an EMT.”
Omar could have gone pro if he won the bodybuilding competition just weeks ahead of his untimely death.
Up-and-coming bodybuilder
In addition to his love for his family and general kind nature, Omar was also known as an up-and-coming semi-professional bodybuilder.
Jorge said what had started as a passion and grew exponentially from there. Prior to that, he was a successful contractor for a cell site company building towers.
“It started out as a hobby,” Jorge said. “He was just good at it.”
Omar was addicted to working out, exercising six times a week, twice a day. Jorge said he did cardio in the day and weightlifting at night.
What may have started as hobby, soon put Omar on a path to going pro. The Bloomfield Plaza Fitness gym he frequented sponsored him as a bodybuilder.
Omar, age 42, was just weeks away from the Garden State Classic Championships, which was later held in his honor. The 5’11, 256 pound strongman was a professional body builder with a number of titles and trophies in tow from various national bodybuilding competition, though Omar was not one to brag.
“Omar was one of the favorites,” Jorge said. “Muscle Maker Grill wanted Omar to come by and take pictures. He was one of the favorites for that event.”
According to Jorge, Omar’s soft nature and large stature made him something of “gentle giant.” This made it all the more bitter that the driver who hit him kept going, according to Jorge.
“I want this person to be ashamed of what he did that night, because it left a lot of unanswered questions,” Jorge said. “We want to know who this person was that was driving. We want to know why this person didn’t stop that night. We were stunned that he didn’t stop that night to help Omar. To drive off like that just made the wound deeper. “
A police sketch of the driver believed to have killed Omar Monroig. Image courtesy of the North Bergen Police Department.
Still searching for the driver
There are still no leads in the cold case, more than a decade later. The North Bergen Police Department recently dedicated a social media remembering Omar on the 10 year anniversary of his death, also sharing a sketch of the alleged driver that night.
While the case was an impetus for the township to upgrade its cameras to better suit low lighting, Jorge is still seeking the driver come forward. He also wants knowledge of Omar’s case to be shared to hopefully prevent any similar tragedies in the future.
“I know the township of North Bergen improved their system, but the person should have stopped as well too,” Jorge said.
Jorge and his family are not giving up on finding who was behind this, no matter how much time has passed: “We still want to know who did this regardless of the time frame. We want to shed some light on what happened ten years ago. And if it could help change some things where they have better lighting or cameras, like in the township of North Bergen, or other places that have similar, that would be good.”
He continued: “We are disappointed what happened to Omar was never solved.”
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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