Deadline for Mayoral Election Filing Petitions Expires

Yesterday was the deadline to file petitions for candidates seeking municipal office. Come May 12th, residents can replace the full council slate as well as the mayor. Currently mayor Jerramiah Healy is seeking re-election as well as several others.

Perpetual candidate and former Assemblyman Louis Manzo has filed to run again, although absent from this year's ballot is his brother. The two have waged a political battle for the same office in years passed.

Also certified is downtown resident Dan Levin, a political new comer and L. Harvey Smith, who served a short time as mayor following the death of Glenn Cunningham and serves in the state senate.

Hudson Now has a list of other candidates certified to be on the ballot.

Christ Hospital Still Going Broke

In recent years, Hudson County has had a few too many hospitals. Two years ago, when a private hospital in Hoboken was finally succumbing to market forces and faced closure, Hoboken bought it out and turned it into Hoboken University Medical Center. Greenville Hospital faced the same problem. Now Christ Hospital on Palisade Avenue faces a similar problem. Hudson Now writes that the facility is losing between $300,000 and $400,00 a year.

Paving Project Receives Funds

Journal Square JC points out that new funds have been allocated for street paving including Sip Avenue west of Journal Square as well as Newark Avenue extending east as far as Coles Street.

NJCU Softball Win

NJCU's softball team beat Saint Vincent's 18 to 1.

Toxic Legacy

Much of Jersey City was once put to use for heavy industry. While most of that industry has moved away, the toxic chemicals are still left behind. Jersey City Independent writes about chromium left at a site on Garfield Avenue.

Duck at Grand Sichuan

Matt over at I Blog What I Eat has some pictures from his recent meal at Grand Sichuan, a New York chain of fine Chinese food that happens to have a downtown location.

New Mural by Ron English

Left Bank Art Blog has a bit on a new mural under creation by artist Ron English in the downtown. The mural is going up at the Hudson Art Supply on First Street, just west of Newark Avenue. The mural is part of a larger project to create public paintings in Jersey City.

Sleepyz Opens in Square

Journal Square JC notes that a new Sleepyz opened a few days ago on Bergen Avenue.

Developers Hit by Slow Economic Times

The Wall Street Journal Blog writes that sales at the K Hovanian residential tower 77 Hudson Street are being hurt by the slowing economy. The luxury waterfront high-rise near Exchange Place have the highest per square foot asking prices in Jersey City with views of Manhattan. Also attached to the tower is a rental building.

Police Cuts Planned As Healy Runs on Crime Issues

Budget cuts will bring few if any new police on Jersey City's streets this year. Mayor Healy, who is seeking reelection in May, has been running on a platform of lower crime. Residents are skeptical of his claims, and the planned reduction in the city's police probably won't help.

Downtown Hilton to Break Ground this Summer

A Hilton hotel planned for the Liberty Harbor North redevelopment zone could break ground as early as this summer. The original plan called for building a hotel, apartments and parking garage, but now the project will be broken into two phases of development. The hotel and parking garage will come first. Jersey City's hotel market has continued to show strength with occupancy rates above the national average. The Westin Hotel on Washington Blvd opened in February.

Ferries Want Bailout

NY Waterways is looking for more money despite falling fuel prices. Perhaps the biggest problem faced by the ferry company is an expiring lease on equipment coming due in September, which won't be renewed by owner CIT Group looking to minimize risk.

Meanwhile, as passengers tighten their belts, the $1.75 PATH ticket might just be a savings commuters can't pass up.

NY Waterways is looking for a buyout from one of the region's transit agencies claiming the service, like mass transit, is a crucial piece of infrastructure. In one sense, the owners are right. Not only were the ferries the first to rescue passengers from the downed US Airways jet, but the ferries carried passengers off the Island during the blackout in 2003 and on September 11th. On the other hand, maybe if the ferry service goes bankrupt, the regional transit agencies could buy up the company on the cheap.

Jersey City Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Jersey City's Saint Patrick's Day is a bit more laid back then neighboring Hoboken's. By laid back, we obviously mean a lot less defecation in the streets. Photos from the event are available from:

JC Register
Journal Square JC
Hudson Now

Megan Gülick Getting All the Internet Love

Jersey City artist Megan Gülick opened a show last week at downtown bar LITM. The Jersey City Independent has an interview with her. Aside from the the bunny rabbits hanging up in LITM, Gülick is working on a graphic novel that need only two words to describe its awesomeness: Granny Ninja.

Everything Festival Coming Back

Jersey City Height's Everything Festival is coming back this year on May 16, 2009. The event is a Central Avenue spectacular drawing attention to the Height's neighborhood and attracting several thousand people.

Council Meeting: Budget, Affordable Housing

The Jersey City Independent writes up this week's city council meeting. One of the most important issues was the city's most recent budget, only seven months late. Well done, council members. Other issues addressed include affordable housing and open space grants.

Traffic Light Installation Must be a Patronage Job

Journal Square JC asks about a Baldwin Avenue traffic light fail. Two of the traffic signals are directed at a building on Baldwin Avenue, as evidenced on Google Maps Street View. There are two signals pointed east towards the building where no driveway or road exists.

School Principal Ejects Journalists from Meeting

Parents have been wondering why, after fund raising for months, new school playground equipment hasn't been installed. During a Tuesday PTA meeting, the School 3 principal, Ruth Hernandez-Vega, shut out the Jersey Journal's photographer and reporter, leaving us wondering what the school is trying to hide.

New Retail Roundup

New York's Sixth has mentioned a number of new retail establishments in the downtown recently:

Tasti D-Lite
Organic Dry Cleaning
A new deli
Legal Beans Cafe

Still no Whole Foods, yet.

More Fading Ads

Photographer Frank Jump likes taking pictures of fading ads as we pointed out last year. Well he's been around Jersey City again and posted more Jersey City fading ads. Always interesting, the old ads are a reminder of what the city once was.

One Time Congressional Candidate Indicted

Joe Vas, the Mayor of Perth Amboy and one time candidate for the 13th Congressional district, was indicted on corruption charges yesterday. The 13th Congressional district includes larges parts of Jersey City; most of the downtown and areas south of Journal Square are in the district. Vas entered the democratic primary in 2006 when the seat was vacated by Bob Menendez who was appointed to the Senate. The 13th District is largely, though not entirely in Hudson County. Vas, a Middlesex County politician, lost to current Congressman, Democrat Albio Sires, the former mayor of West New York.

Vas is charged with appropriating funds from the City of Perth Amboy, mostly small amounts for personal items like a bathing suit and running shoes. He also is charged with rigging a low income housing lottery to assist his driver. He is also serves in the state assembly.

NEW's New PATH Train Video

We Are New has a look inside the Port Authority's new PATH cars, in case you haven't seen them for real just yet. The new train will be alternating between lines each week until more of the fleet arrives. The new trains are incompatible with the existing, 40 year old rolling stock.

Crafty Folks Needed

Go Go Distro writes that the Jersey City Craft Mafia (Craft Mafia?! Who knew!) is looking for volunteers for an upcoming art attack (This all sounds like very violent DIY). The April event will be held in Club H and present all sorts of arty, crafty things.

Developer Joins Board of Liberty Health

Joseph Panepinto, Jr., joins the board of Liberty Health, according to a a press release. Panepinto Properties most recently developed the tower at 50 Columbus in downtown Jersey City. Liberty Health runs the Jersey City Medical Center.

Damn Glad

Jersey City band Damn Glad gets a shout out from The Aquarian.

Construction Continues on Monaco Towers

NJBiz.com writes that Roseland Properties' Monaco Towers project on the corner of Sixth and Washington Blvd will be completed by 2011. The double tower residential project will include 524 apartments and 12,00 square feet of retail space.

The project received an amended abatement last year with the condition that the project break ground almost immediately. Monaco towers broke ground late last year.

St. Patrick's Day in Journal Square Next Sunday

The blog, Journal Square JC mentions next Sunday will be the 47th annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Journal Square. The parade kicks off at 12:30 in Lincoln Park.

JC Fridays Tonight

Tonight is a JC Fridays event. The downtown will be abuzz with events at area restaurants and gallery openings.

Jersey City's New Deal Architecture

The Jersey City Independent writes up an interesting piece on the city's new deal era buildings including Roosevelt Stadium, The Jersey City Medical Center, and the Harry Moore School.