Late night open thread

The Los Angeles Times:

Golfer sparked Irvine brush fire trying to hit ball, officials say; 150 firefighters respond
August 31, 2010 | 7:35 am
A golfer accidentally chipped a rock, setting off a 12-acre blaze next to the Shady Canyon Golf Course in Irvine, officials said.

More than 150 firefighters from around Orange County battled the blaze, with helicopters overhead and hand crews on the front lines, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown.

The fire spread across two hillsides in dry-as-tinderbox conditions.

"Usually, we're able to close out the fire season in the winters here," McKeown added, "but we haven't been able to do that since 2006. That's just how dry it is out there."

McKeown said no charges have been filed against the golfer, whose name has been withheld. Apparently, the golfer was in the rough and was trying to hit his ball out of it when he accidentally swiped at a rock, which sparked the blaze at 12:07 p.m. Saturday, officials said.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Are you men the police? No ma'am, Mall Cops

Two Willowbrook Mall security guards (hereafter known as mall cops) located in Wayne, chased a carload of shoplifters from their mall at speed, through at least one red light, amber mall cop lamps flashing as the mall cops stuck to the suspected shoplifters like glue into Montville, three towns over where the chase finally ended. Police in Montville actually saw the stop come to it's end and radioed their town dispatch that another town was ending a pursuit in Wayne. It wasn't until they drove up to assist the out of town lawmen they realized that Beavis and Butthead worked for the 'Willowbrook Mall Security' as was painted on their SUV.

The three female shoplifting suspects were not only unable to shake mall cops but now face some big charges. The Daily Record picks it up:

"Shaneeta Moore, and her sister, Shana, both of Bronx, Tiffany Ouedrago also of the Bronx, all were charged by Montville police with receiving stolen property and conspiracy to receive stolen property. Shaneeta Moore also was issued several motor vehicle summonses for improper passing, failure to observe a traffic signal, driving while suspended, careless driving and reckless driving."

And they couldn't evade the amber flashers. They will live with that forever.

The Willowbrook Mall management, you know, the guys who picked up the phone from Montville police and said "THEY DID WHAT?" aren't as amused as Johnny. They promised to handle the matter internally.

So NYC real estate offers many options, renting an apartment, buying a loft or condo, but a TREE HOUSE?

Yes, a tree house with room enough for a family of four can be found in the West Village. You may well be happy with your loft or luxury condo or find your smallish one or two bedroom apartments are just fine, besides, other than turkeys or monkeys or David Byrne, who really lives in trees?

You can find out the who, where and why by following this link.

Late night open thread

Music trivia night:

Which band originally auditioned under the name 'The Whoopie Cushion'? Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A food recall to warn you about his morning

Reading this in the morning can save you some issues later this evening. Ground beef tainted with a form of eColi has quite possibly made it's way into the NJ food chain, more specifically BJ's Wholesale Club stores. Here's more:

"The ground beef products of concern include 42-pound cases of GROUND BEEF FINE 90/10 with three 14-pound chubs each package, which was marked with "use/freeze by" date of "07.01/10" and an identifying code of "W69032".

The recalled beef products, produced on June 10, 2010, carry the company's establishment number "EST 9400" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The beef was shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut and Maryland where it was repacked into consumer-size packages and sold under various brand names."

The rest of the info on the recall here.

Late night open thread

Notable quotes night:

"Go, and never darken my towels again."
--Groucho Marx

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Desk proudly presents "Book Chat"

Although you wouldn't know it by the sizzling temperatures this upcoming week autumn is just around the corner as is the thought of curling up with a hot glass or mug of ____________, a blanket and a good book. Not being much of a fancy book learner (actually Johnny does read but really boring serial killer books or even more boring studies of ancient Roman legion battles) he's hoping you dear reader can tell us what's going to be a good read this fall or a book people will be talking about during the holidays. Perhaps you've read (or listened to with an audio book reader) something lately you'd like to recommend.

It was a dark and stormy night...

Are you just wishing Rutgers football would hurry up and get here?

Here's something to wet your appetite, a season preview from the Star-Ledger. We're also tossing in a Princeton football preview for free from one of the best college football bloggers in the country, Chuck Burton, the gentleman who runs Lehigh Football Nation.

Warning flares: Next weekend could get dicey around here with Hurricane Earl

Currently the projected path from the NOAA only carries the storm as far as next Friday morning at 2 am but at the 2 am Friday 'checkpoint' Earl is predicted to be a category 3 hurricane with winds around 120 mph sitting close to the North Carolina and Virginia state line. Now, what happens in the prediction from there is very important. Does it track off into the north Atlantic, does it skirt up the east coast and destroy everybody's Labor Day weekend or, more nefariously does it swing in towards land threatening the tri-state with huge wind and water?

Something to plan for and most certainly to pay attention to.

Late night open thread

T-minus one week to football. As Jersey City native Martha Stewart would say "That's a good thing."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City got quite the write up in the Wall Street Journal

According to the WSJ we're reinventing ourselves in a big way. It's got some nice restaurant mentions along with other places to go, see and do. A snippet:

"Just across the Hudson River from Manhattan and easily accessible by the PATH train, Jersey City is increasingly a popular destination for those who want to be close to New York City without being immersed in its bustle. Once a heavily industrial area, the area has in the past several years seen a surge in new development and in conversions of former industrial buildings into housing, office, retail and entertainment space.

The short commute, the views and the relatively low prices draw some Manhattan workers. Others both live and work in the area, creating a community dedicated to seeing the city thrive."

You can read the rest of Sushil Cheema's fine article on Wall Street West here.

Late night open thread

Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes...

STATESVILLE, NC (WBTV) - A man who was with about a dozen people who were looking for a legendary "ghost train" in Iredell County was hit by a locomotive and killed early Friday morning.

The incident happened on a train trestle at 2:45 a.m. near the 900 block of Buffalo Shoals Road.

Robin Chapman, a spokesperson for Norfolk-Southern Railroad, said the eastbound train consisted of three locomotives and no freight cars.

The train was rounding a curve and approaching a trestle over Boston Creek just prior to Buffalo Shoals Road when it struck a man on the trestle, Chapman said.

Christopher Kaiser, 29, died at the scene and two more people were injured, according to Iredell County Sheriff Phillip Redmond. Kaiser's body was found below the trestle down a steep incline, he said.

The injured patients were airlifted to a local hospital. Their condition was not immediately known.

"During the investigation, witnesses told deputies they were at the site in hopes of seeing a 'ghost train'," the Iredell County sheriff's office said in a press release.

The sheriff said the incident coincided with the anniversary of a train wreck that occurred at the same location in 1891.

Redmond said there were "12 people who were amateur ghost hunters caught on the trestle when the train rounded the bend" early Friday morning.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CARS!

Yeah baby, one of Johnny's all-time favorite bands. Those first three albums were a collective thing of beauty. Let's head back to a seminal song from the trillion selling first album with 'Just What I Needed' and also thereby reclaiming this great song from some corporate entity that feels the need to associate themselves with cool music because they really don't have much to offer.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JULIAN COPE!

Let's head back to the era of mall hair and Michael J. Fox with Julian Cope and his 1983 hit 'World Shut Your Mouth'. Cope, besides being a musician has also written four non fiction books. Johnny's not sure if intern Kiki has read four non fiction books in well, ever.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE HIGH NUMBERS!

As you'll soon see from watching this video taking you back to an exact era and place in time, the guys in The High Numbers look a whole lot like the guys from The Who which of course is spot on. The Who did evolve from the High Numbers but in their earliest days Pete Townsend was turning out nasty little hooks with swinging piano and a tremendous bass line. Sit back and enjoy this platter Mods, this one's a real finger popper.

The High Numbers with "I'm the Face'

Bret Schundler has been FIRED from his position as Education Commissioner

For overseeing a $400 million dollar blunder Schundler asked Governor Chris Christie to fire him rather than having Schundler resign so he can collect unemployment.

Phenomenal Governor, now you can shut your pie hole about being all about saving taxpayers every dime you can find.

Governor Christie, it's one thing to bungle a deadline costing NJ schools $400 million, it's quite another to invent reasons about why it got bungled

As many of you know (or can catch up by scrolling down this page), Governor Chris Christie and Education Commissioner Bret Schundler failed to follow simple instructions to garner a $400 million dollar federal payout for New Jersey schools. The horrid mistake meant Ohio would finish 10th in the race for the money and New Jersey fell 3 points short into 11th place.

Well Chris Christie is never one to accept blame for something his administration OBVIOUSLY bungled so almost immediately when the heat got turned up on this $400 million dollar error Christie tried the old tried and true chestnut that the reason New Jersey lost out was nameless faceless bureaucrats. Yes, bureaucrats did it. Then when that failed to get traction Republican Christie pulled out the right wing dog whistle and invoked the name of President Obama. Yes, it was not only the bureaucrats fault but President Obama's fault New Jersey couldn't fill out forms as directed.

Christie may have appeased his base with such platitudes and used them for cover were it not for a troublesome VIDEO proving indeed, Christie isn't telling the truth about ANY of how New Jersey lost out on the money. The video shows the panel asking EXACTLY the questions Christie blames the bureaucrats of not asking or offering help with. NJ.com takes it from here:

About one hour into the presentation, held on Aug. 11 in Washington, D.C., a soft-spoken reviewer asked for help locating missing information in the state’s application for Race to the Top funding. After a few moments of silence, New Jersey Education Commissioner Bret Schundler turned to the assistant commissioner to his left.
"No I cannot. I don’t, um..." said the assistant commissioner, Willa Spicer.
"We can come back to that, if someone wants to take a look, that would be fine," said a reviewer, one of five who would grade the state’s application.
Though Christie has portrayed federal officials as nitpicking and begrudging about the state’s application, the video shows that toward the end of the session, federal reviewers asked the New Jersey delegation a second time if they had found the correct information.
"No. No, we all searched," Spicer said.

It's one thing to make a glaring costly mistake. It's another thing entirely to make a glaring mistake and then try to blame others. In this case Chris Christie behaved like a 4 year old.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Get ready for those construction time lapse images

15 Penn Plaza was indeed passed last night by a vote of 47-1 by the city council. Johnny's not the biggest fan of the design but loves tall buildings on a skyline view. Jersey City needs a 100 story monster to bookend the Goldman Sachs tower. How about one just before the Holland Tunnel along the river?

Late night open thread

State trivia night.

This state is home to the U.S. Hamburger Hall of Fame, is credited with inventing the ice cream sundae, and the Loon Capital of the World is found here. The answer can be found here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Maybe if Governor Christie spent less time brewing his hate for teachers in school he would have learned to follow simple directions

Governor Christie and current Education Commissioner (and former Jersey City mayor) Bret Schundler have utterly and completely FAILED to secure some $400 million federal dollars for New Jersey schools. Gee Guv, maybe if you spent less time taking things out on public education and applied the 'paying attention to details' lesson you learned in the public schools that educated you here this wouldn't have happened. Public schools should wither on the vine seems to be your attitude.

First off, Schundler should resign and if he won't somebody needs to show him the door. He's Education Commissioner and thus this falls to him. Since he won't resign and Governor Christie most likely will give him a pay raise for his stupidity, somebody needs to show just what MORONS are running the show. Because of the Christie/Schundler failure, New Jersey can try to come up with an alternate $400 million dollars. Gee, we wonder where that will come from.

So what EXACTLY happened? Here's the sad truth:

New Jersey fell three points short of receiving "Race to the Top" funding, in part because of an error by the Christie administration in the state’s application, records obtained by The Star-Ledger show. One five-point question on the application asked for budget information comparing the 2008 and 2009 school years. However, the state submitted information comparing the current year to 2011.

So Ohio finishes 10th and gets money and New Jersey, who can't follow SIMPLE directions, finishes 11th and gets ZERO dollars.

Governor Christie, you and Schundler owe this state $400 million dollars. You have one week to find it before we send Paulie Walnuts to find you.

A pretty tall issue in NYC may affect Jersey City to some extent

The two and a half block distance between Ground Zero and the Park 51 Muslim cultural center is about to seem like small potatoes uptown where today a city council vote is expected to decide the fate of the 15 Penn Plaza skyscraper, as tall as the Empire State Building (give or take a couple feet) which would be located at the site of the old Madison Square Garden when that moves a block west, just two and a half blocks from the ESB. Now New Yorkers are up in arms and having kittens sideways over the proposed giant skyscraper so close to the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building management is having kittens sideways too saying it ruins the skyline which it made iconic in midtown. We understand this.

We also understand Johnny went down to the river and did a little surveying. If you're in Jersey City, the angle of view of Manhattan should not impede your view of the Empire State Building if 15 Penn is built. It'll be just enough left of the iconic skyscraper (and admittedly Johnny's favorite NYC highrise). So Jersey City will get to see the new 15 Penn, the Empire State Building, The Chrysler Building, The Met Life Tower and soon to rise above the lower Manhattan skyline, 1 World Trade. That's a great view and certainly adds money to Johnny's condo's worth with that view. Now sure, if you live in Weehawken or Hoboken your view of the Empire State Building will most likely be obscured. But that's what you get for living in Weehawken or Hoboken.

So fight it out NYC, Jersey City and more importantly Johnny wins either way you play it.

Here are a couple images provided to the media by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects of the 15 Penn Plaza development and what it MAY look like at completion:

Late night open thread

Movie trivia night. For two tickets to the gun and knife and homebrew show at the armory behind the Lard Lad donut shop on Route 440, name the movie the image below is taken from.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Tuesday morning open thread

Tell us what you're thinking in 5 words or less...

Late night open thread

There was a contruction worker who was working on a building when he fell 15 stories to his bloody death.

He arrived at the pearly gates and St. Peter said "Oh, I am sorry, my son. But you have been sentenced to hell."

The worker agreed - not like he could do anything else - and he was on his way.

When he arrived, the devil looked at him and said, "Ah! A new slave. We shall burn you and throw you in the fiery pits."

Then the worker replied, "That wall could use a bit of patching. I could fix it first and you could throw me in the pit afterward." So he fixed the wall.

Satan, intrigued, asked, "What else can you build?"

So the construction worker went about his job and made many improvements; in fact, by the time he was done, hell was a paradise. It had air conditioning, pools, balconies, you name it.

Within a few days, God phoned Satan and said, "I think there has been a mix-up. That worker was originally supposed to come to heaven."

Satan replied, "No way -- he's built all sorts of useful stuff for us. We're keeping him."

God then said, "Oh, yeah? Well, I'll see you in court. We're going to sue you for this man's soul and damages."

Satan just laughed: "And where are YOU going to find a lawyer?"

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Ice cream truck fight!!!

W. 60th at Broadway finds these two ice cream truck vendors swinging on each other. Place your bests place your bets as Mr. Softee takes on Softy Cream. (Bad language and racial slurs can faintly be heard so headphones are a good idea).


Let's get ready to rumblllllllllllllllle!

OK, listen up, Canada is NOT attacking the United States

Those fighter jets you're about to see and hear this week, beginning today, belong to US, they are on OUR SIDE. This week begins Air Force week around these parts and with Air Force week comes coolio jet fighter ripping up and down the Hudson River between Jersey City, Bayonne, FuHo, Weehawken and New York City. Unless you see one on fire and headed your way there is really no need to panic. Just look up, cover your ears and enjoy your tax dollars flying overhead.

Late night open thread

On this day in history in 1846 the United States annexed New Mexico. We took it, we simply just took New Mexico. Liked what we saw and just nabbed it. We should try the same thing today but only with Fiji.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Made with Love Artisan Bakery & Cafe joins our Links that Don't Stink

Links aren't just given away around here. You have to earn your way on. Johnny is adding the amazingly good smelling and equally fantastic tasting wares of Made with Love Artisan Bakery & Cafe as of now. Johnny had a blueberry scone in there this morning that was heavenly. They are located 530 Jersey Avenue. Almost diagonal to the crew at Wonder Bagels.

If you're any kind of jazz fan you simply have to check this out

The New York Times has a wonderful wonderful story on “The Savory Collection”, which consists of 975 discs by jazz greats:

"...with recordings of live performances broadcast by radio stations in the late 1930s, the height of the swing era, and into 1940. Recorded by audio engineer William Savory, the discs feature Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Bunny Berigan and Lester Young, playing in the relaxed setting of a nightclub or ballroom, rather than the confines of a recording studio, where songs could not exceed three minutes in length."

What a truly amazing trove of brilliant works by the jazz masters. Well worth some of your time on a rainy, dreary Sunday here in the Tri-State.

Pop goes the manhole (cover)

Dateline Atlantic City: At least five manhole covers have 'exploded' up into the air in what local firefighters are calling electrically charged manhole covers. All five that exploded have had electrical equipment beneath them. Now this sounds like family fun and no doubt the Atlantic City powers-that-be are looking to harness these electric blasts and turn them into ride revenue:

Fire Chief Dennis Brooks tells The Press of Atlantic City he saw a 200-pound cover shoot 10 feet in the air trailed by a yellowish-orange arc of electricity.

Think of the fun you could have standing on that manhole cover and being shot 10 feet in the air. These electrical glitches could now be used for revenue, God Bless America. Branding would help here. Johnny would advise against calling it "Ride the Manhole" and would think "Electric Street" might be a better name.

Late night open thread

Boy was the Puerto Rican festival downtown pumping tonight. What a vibrant scene. Great to see. It's a shame Sunday is supposed to be such a washout but it runs until 10 pm Sunday evening down by the river at Hudson.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday morning News-O-Copia

A wonderful little news roundup for your reading enjoyment:

Did tennis in America gain it's earliest foothold on Staten Island? This article may help clear that up.

Again with the Staten Island this week Johnny? Yes citizen, back to Staten Island. You may have read how there are some people dead set against the Muslim Cultural Center, Park 51, in lower Manhattan (If you are wondering Johnny is a strong YES on building it as religious freedom in this country does not apply in cases ONLY dealing with Christians like some like to believe), but now, with growing resentment at the growing Russian population, many there are dead set against a 10,000 sq. ft. community and day care center which the group proposing it says will be available to Staten Islanders. You can read more on this here.

Do you like beer bunky? Well then you're in luck. Take a few minutes to read up on a North Bergen brewery named New Jersey Beer Company. Would you be interested in learning they have times for free tastings? Click here for free beer.

A Superior Court judge in the case of Lee Anthony Evans, accused of luring five young boys into his truck 32 years ago then locking them in a building and burning them alive, allowed him to post bail and go free. Superior Court Judge Peter Vazquez lowered Evans' bail down to under 1 million dollars and his bail was posted. Gee Peter Vazquez is dumb.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with CHUCK BERRY!

One of the truly great events in America is happening in Detroit this weekend with the Woodward Dream Cruise. Oh the cars you'll see. All cruising up and down the main thoroughfare north and south from Detroit to the suburbs in the home of the automobile. It's a phenomenal slice of America. In honor of the Dream Cruise tonight we're featuring three auto related offerings. We're kicking it off with Chuck Berry who instead of extolling the virtues of a kind of car the master storyteller encompasses the meaning of the car with 'No Particular Place to Go'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND!

It's always easy to put a Bruce video up here. Johnny doesn't need to do any background piece on the singer or song. That Deeetroit influence hits Bruce here with 'Cadillac Ranch'. If there's a coolest car in rock and roll it's a Cadillac.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE BEACH BOYS!

We wrap up our cruise up and down Woodward Avenue with The Beach Boys with the classic 'Little Deuce Coupe'

Former Jersey City court administrator will be sentenced for dismissing her own tickets

First of all the amount of tickets dismissed by Virginia Pagan is staggering. Being a court administrator for Jersey City she logged into a computer and dismissed 215 tickets accrued by herself and her daughter. One wonders how in the hell you accumulate 215 tickets but that's the number she was convicted of dismissing. The amount lost to Jersey City for the fines was over $5000.

Pagan resigned in 2007 after her scam was found out. Prosecutors are pushing for a three year sentence in the clink.

Late night open thread

We'll bet you don't know what sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia is. Oh you've had it before alright. It's not some fancy name for the flu, it's not a scientific name for the common cold but you've had this malady. If you click here you can find out exactly what it is.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Desk, doing our part to keep you alive in NYC

Our friends at the Car Connection are reporting on some some interesting data via the NYC Transportation Dept. on pedestrian/car accidents and these findings might just keep you out of a NYC hospital.

Look out for male drivers, they're more likely to run you down in New York. Think that male will be a cabbie? Wrong bucko. They are less likely to hit you. They ARE professionals after all. Did you know if you jaywalk you are less likely to be hit in an intersection? It's a fact. But before you decide to make a career of jaywalking this too is a fact, if you're hit while jaywalking the injuries tend to be far more serious. And this:

"the study authors recommend, you take the sidewalk in the direction of traffic, as left-hand vehicle turns were particularly deadly for pedestrians."

It's not our business to tell you how to move along in the Big Appletini but the article is quite a good read and might give you a heads up BEFORE somebody yells "heads up" and your unfortunate accident winds up on YouTube.

Speaking of which...

Late night open thread

Tonight we happily dip into the Jersey City Desk email sack and play a long distance dedication. OK 'T', we'll play your request and we'll go you one better and dedicate it to everyone who has an annoying commute tomorrow morning. By the way 'T', we love how you think.

New York (What), Don't stop give it all you got. New York (What) don't stop

What have we got? Magnificence!

Johnny will agree with that as here's the only band that matters, The Clash with a rip snortin' zenith performance of 'Magnificent Seven'.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So you wanna compound a bad traffic situation after drinking? Start a fight

That's exactly what happened in North Bergen when Wadyd Montes-Calderon took umbrage at the way Danilo Ramirez crossed in front of him at 91st and Tonnelle and confronted Ramirez. Not getting the answer he was after, Montes-Calderon slugged Ramirez and the fight was on. Now fights in the middle of the street tend to draw police (funny how that happens) and when police arrived they smelled something. Yes it's something police are trained to sniff out on those who are fighting in the middle of the street after a traffic altercation. Breathalyzers all around was the call and BOTH drivers were found to be over the legal limit.

Our final score:
Wadyd Montes-Calderon -- disorderly conduct and a DWI
Danilo Ramirez -- DWI and a refusal to take a breath test

Late night open thread

On this day in history in 1969 Woodstock ended and a lot of hippies met their worst fear head on; trying to remember where they lived.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Oh mayor, say mayor old chap

Yes you Mayor Healy. The Jersey Journal had a very good point yesterday, where on earth is OUR 2010 State of the City address? As the JJ pointed out last year you gave a State of the City address as you were running for office and needed the votes of the citizenry. This year, after huge tax hikes and spikes in crime you're nowhere to be found.

Are you embarrassed by your administration? Are you ashamed of what you're done (or not done) for Jersey City? Are you hiding from the fact those inside your administration have been convicted of thievery? Why in the world won't you come out and talk to us and describe what it is you're actually doing to right the ship. Then, a nice sit down with someone who will ask the TOUGH questions is in order. If you'd like Johnny to ask those tough questions sobeit but nothing will be off the table, be ye warned.

First off come out from your Dick Cheney undisclosed location and talk to the people, you know, the ones you see all over town, yeah, that's US and we'd love to hear what you've been up to.

Late night open thread

That was some thunderstorm that cracked through here around the dinner hour. Fun to look at, we'll all pay for it tomorrow. Mmmmmm, humid sewer water...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Staten Island either has a race issue or a gang problem

Recent attacks on Hispanic and Mexican immigrants which they claim are racially motivated have Staten Island so not enjoying a long hot summer.

Isaias Lozano who was one of the attack victims claims indeed it was racially motivated:

"They hate us because we're Mexicans," he said while sitting at El Centro del Inmigrante, a center for immigrant day workers. "They aren't robbing just anybody."

Thus far there have been 11 attacks counted on Staten Island so far this summer but not everyone is convinced they are racially motvated by gang related:

Staten Island resident David Johnson said the attacks are more than likely gang related. Johnson blamed the incidents on drug addicts looking to rob people for cash to feed their habits. "They would do that to anybody," he said. "To jump toward bias issues is out of whack."

Racial instability has plagued Staten Island since at least 2003 when 21 day laborers were attacked with one being murdered in 2005.

Whether it's gang related or racially motivated Staten Island has work ahead of it. No doubt a comprehensive immigration policy would help allay SOME fears of the day laborers meeting up during the day at some places across Staten Island but it will be exceedingly difficult to really tell if these are drug related gang attacks or actual racist attacks.

Late night open thread

Notable quotes night:

"Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act."
--Truman Capote

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The rain's a comin'

Can Johnny get to Madison Square Park and eat at Shake Shack before it decides to wash out the day? Tune in later to find out.

Late night open thread

What a delightful day to grab exceptional french toast at the Beechwood Cafe on Grove St., hop on over to Van Vorst Park to the farmers market and then grab the PATH into New York for dinner in Chinatown. Life agrees with Johnny so much more when the temperatures are Earth-like and not like the face of Venus.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

What a gorgeous day here in the Tri-State

So get outside and revel in the fact it's not 93º and swampy. A high today of 80º cooling off nicely this evening means get out there and have some fun.

Late night open thread

An old couple were rocking on the front porch when all of the sudden the man slaps his wife and she falls out of her chair into the front yard. She got up and said "What was that for?" The old man said "For all those years of bad sex." So all of the sudden the old woman slaps her husband and he rolls down the porch into the front yard. He said "What was that for?"

"For knowing the difference."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GARBAGE!

Yeah baby, what a smokin way to start off the music series tonight. There aren't many contemporary singers Johnny enjoys quite like Shirley Manson. First off she's a redhead and Johnny has a severe case of redhead weakness. Next she's a dynamic performer. If the stage was on fire behind her, you'd still be watching Shirley Manson. Of course Butch Vig and the boys can do some serious rocking on their own and when the two are mixed, the magic happens.

The sign behind the bands says Montreaux Jazz Festival so yes this counts as a helping of fresh jazz. Here's Garbage with 'When I Grow Up'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DONNA SUMMER!

Johnny didn't have much use for disco music back in the day sans one brilliant beacon of a female voice in the vast wilderness, Donna Summer. That angelic yet very direct voice set to the pulsing Girogio Moroder bass lines really really worked well together. Here's the LONG version of this masterpiece, Donna Summer making her music series debut with 'I Feel Love'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with HAPPY MONDAYS!

The lads from Manchester England finish off tonight's music series. Manchester has had quite an impact in the musical culture by turning out a few big name acts. The Buzzcocks, Charlatans UK, Herman's Hermits, Inspiral Carpets, The Smiths, Lisa Stansfield, New Order, The Hollies, Joy Division, hell let's just call Manchester the Detroit of England. What an impressive lineup. Here are the Happy Mondays with 1990's 'Step On'.

Update on the bank robbery from earlier this week

As our regular readers will recall (or you can simply scan down the page) the Valley National Bank at the corner of Marin and Christopher Columbus was robbed on Monday. Jersey City police have released a picture of the wanted man. If you have any information you can email Johnny and he'll happily pass it along or you can call Major Case Unit Detective Jose Alvarez at (201) 547-5383 or the Jersey City police tip line at (201) 547-JAIL.

Happy Friday the 13th

Are you superstitious? Have any stories on superstition or Friday the 13th you want to share? Hit us up in comments

Late night open thread

Sorry kids, sometimes you just get busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny's all tied up today

So, sadly you'll have to entertain yourselves.

Late night open thread

Says here his name is Vince Clortho, lives on Central Park West


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Bayonne man denied master criminal cred; robs same home twice in a month

Really? Twice in the same month? Did you leave something of value the first time in which case you might well be the worst robber in all of Bayonne.

Not only was Steven Breyan arrested for the armed robbery of two deli's but also caught for robbing the same dwelling twice inside of a month. In the first deli robbery Breyan showed a knife at Bayonne Family Grocery and made off with $350. He then tried to rob Tiger's Deli but was beaten down with a stool wielded by the owner, Karun Togaru, who also happens to own Bayonne Family Grocery. No doubt those stool shots to Breyan felt pretty good to Togaru.

As for the master home invasion artist, Breyan twice broke into a home on West 20th Street both times taking assorted jewelry. Steven, what happened, did you leave the VALUABLE jewelry behind the first time you moron? Did you not think the homeowner would have contacted police AND the local pawn shops (which the owner did of course)? Almost all the jewelry has been recovered and returned.

Now Mr. Breyan will head off to prison where no doubt his tales of crime will be met with hearty guffaws from other not so master criminals who also got caught.

Late night open thread

Reader submission night with a hat tip to reader "J" on the Operation Rescue Jersey City from Team Healy.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Free Steven Slater!

Spectacular. That's how some are describing his "take this job and shove it" moment yesterday at JFK airport. For those who may not have heard, Slater was (we're guessing was as this is just too classic for him to keep his job no doubt) a flight attendant on Jet Blue airlines. As a plane from Pittsburgh was taxied up to the terminal yesterday a female passenger decided she wasn't waiting like everyone else to get her bags from the overhead. She decided she was too good for everyone else. As he was trained to do, Slater asked the woman to wait to get her bags from the overhead. Slater was met with a "F*ck You" from the woman who continued to rummage around the overhead until her bag came down hitting Slater in the head. He asked for an apology and was again met with a profanity (supposedly "motherf*cker").

That was pretty much it for Slater who walked back to the cabin PA system and announced "To the passenger who called me a motherf*cker, f*ck you... I've been in the business 28 years. I've had it. That's it."

Then came one of the coolest "I quit" moments in all of "I quit."

Slater grabbed two beers from the beverage area, opened the emergency exit, activated the emergency exit slide and slid away to freedom. Slater allegedly ran across the tarmac, ran inside, tore off his tie and then grabbed the AirTrain monorail to the JetBlue parking lot and was gone.

This is a new kind of awesome we tell ya.

Slater was later arrested at his home in Queens and charged with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Free Steven Slater!

Late night open thread

Movie trivia night.

During the filming of the Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was paid $35 a week while Toto got $125.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy 8/9/10 everyone!

Doesn't happen often so enjoy your 8/9/10 today

Pretty ballsy bank robbery this morning here in Jersey City

The Valley National Bank right near the corner of Marin Blvd and Christopher Columbus was robbed around 10 am this morning. As many may recognize that is really a high vehicle and pedestrian traffic area directly across the street from one of the Grove St. PATH stations. Police have not said if they think the perpetrator fled on one of the PATH trains of if they maybe had a car waiting or escaped on foot. No dollar amount was listed as being stolen.

Just us here at JCD but this is not exactly the bank you point out right away when deciding on which bank to rob, being you know like 4 or 5 blocks from city hall. PATH has cameras, the intersection has cameras, there are cameras outside stores there so we wonder if there might not be SOME inside job aspect to this one. Just a wild guess (and we can do that since we're a blog) but something about this one smells different.

Late night open thread

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night."
--Charlie Brown

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Officially they say 95% of trains in and out of NYC run on time; Reality says different

While officials of the transportation rail lines in and out of NYC boast a 95% on-time record, the actual record and riders perception sure seems to differ. The New York Times got hold of some never before used documents to lay this little white on-time lie to waste. In fact they found it was nowhere close to 95%, or 90%, or 80%. Read on citizen and feel free to share your commuting horror stories.

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Look up Jersey City and rejoice in the return of blurple.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City to celebrate all things Bolivia today with a parade

Bolivian independence will be celebrated today starting at noon at Jersey and Pavonia Avenues with a parade that will end in front of city hall. Yesterday the Bolivian flag was raised at Jersey City hall to help celebrate 185 years of independence.

All Johnny knows about Bolivia he learned in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'.

Late night open thread

We here at the Jersey City Desk love that can-do spirit in Hoboken. Tomorrow several areas will be without power as they upgrade the electricity in the Mile Square City

220, 221, whatever it takes


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE J.B.'S!

Give it up for the funk people. Ya gots ta gots ta gots ta. The J.B.'s, James Brown's old house and backing band with a funk beat so hot you'll burn your ears listening to this. Make sure you have this song in your head walking around the Big Appletini or right here in Wall Street West tonight.

The J.B.'s, making their Jersey City Desk music series debut with 'Giving up Food for Funk'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ROSANNE CASH!

Johnny could sit here and tap off some crap he learned on the internets on Rosanne Cash. He won't be doing that. He wouldn't insult you like that (as far as you know). Trixie Action Space Punk will be along at some point in her internet traverses to tell you about Rosanne and her brilliant music in comments.

Also making her Jersey City Desk music series debut here's Rosanne Cash with 'Radio Operator'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PAT BENATAR!

Wanna know who hated Nazi's? Pat Benatar hated Nazi's. So talented a singer and rocker was she that she was not only able to infiltrate Nazi strongholds, but take them out with the help of her band. Not only is Pat Benatar a great singer she's a great American. Here's Ms. Benatar with 'Shadows of the Night'. You even get a Judge Reinhold sighting at no extra cost.

No extra special tax abatements for 77 Hudson

The 420 condo units at 77 Hudson will have to do without special tax abatements the owner of the property, K. Hovnanian was seeking in Superior Court. Judge Mark Baber dismissed Hovnanian's suit brought against Jersey City which sought the same deal Crystal Point was offered which is an upping of tax abated years from 20 to 30.

These tax abatements (and mea culpa, Johnny has one) seemingly were given out along the waterfront like Johnny Appleseed was giving them away. While the abatements have helped in some cases to fill downtown buildings with residents and businesses, it does make one wonder how Crystal Point got their tax abatement raised from 20 to 30 years and 77 Hudson can't.

One wonders if the tax abatements near the Hudson River in Jersey City didn't start drying up about the same time the huge graft arrests happened last year and so many in the Jersey City government decided it was time to keep a closer eye on taxpayer monies.

Late night open thread

On this day in history in 1962 Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Hollywood bungalow. The cause of death was listed as suicide but we'd rather hear your ideas on her death.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Heat advisory today from 11 am to 6 pm

It's gonna be another firecracker Jersey City. Temps in the mid 90's with a heat index in the mid-100's. The corn on the cob being sold at the Grove St. farmer's market this afternoon might just start popping right there on the tables.

You just bring the butter.

Late night open thread

Famous last words edition:

"This is no time to make new enemies." (When asked on his deathbed to forswear Satan.)
--Voltaire 1778

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Natalie Tice, day-um girlfriend, you need to mind yourself

Dateline Vineland: Natalie Tice of Millville had herself quite a self induced meltdown involving assault, robbery, destruction of property and some pretty colorful threats. Our tale begins last Sunday when Tice got on a bus she was told she wasn't welcome on because of previous acting out. She ignored the bus driver when he told her she couldn't board, she then punched the 68 year old driver in the head, cutting him. Before long as would be expected, the Vineland police showed up probably having no idea how badly this arrest was going to go.

Police pulled Natalie off the bus and placed her under arrest. Natalie wasn't done by a long shot. Once in the back of the cruiser Natalie decided she was going to try kicking out a back window. Police asked her not to. She kept up. Police pepper sprayed her. She didn't slow down until that window was indeed kicked out. It was at this point Tice began issuing death threats to police officers. Back at the station Tice said she was going to defecate in her seat and then hurl the byproduct around the room at at police. Tice then said she was going to get an abortion so she could claim a miscarriage took place when she was arrested.

Now that's a full day for most people. It's also one reason Johnny doesn't spend a lot of time in Vineland.

Tice was charged with robbery and criminal mischief, with bail set at $100,000.

Rutgers is picked to finish 5th in the Big East by the media

The media who cover Big East football have slotted Rutgers 5th in the conference this upcoming year, giving the nod to Pitt as the team expected to finish first. Here is the breakdown on Rutgers for the upcoming season:

RUTGERS (9-4, 3-4)
The Breakdown: The Scarlet Knights could potentially have one of the best offenses in the league this season, with sophomores Tom Savage at QB and Mohamed Sanu at the Wildcat position. The only potential stumbling block? The offensive line. Between Anthony Davis (NFL), Ryan Blaszczyk and Kevin Haslam (graduation), the Scarlet Knights have to hope the replacements can keep Savage upright.

Even tough it's swampy and 90º right now, fall is on the way...

Late night open thread

Just, wow.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Man opens fire at Hudson Bergen light rail station

"He's hates these train cars, he's trying to shoot the train cars"


Gunfire broke out at the Richard Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Station later on Sunday as one man apparently was chasing, then opened fire on a small group who scattered during the incident. Luckily, the guy was a terrible shot and missed everything and everyone (Ever hear of glasses there tough guy?).

The gunman was described as being in his late teens, 5-foot-8, and wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans. If you have information on this shooter, please contact the Jersey City police at (201) 547-JAIL.

Mayor Healy's get tough on crime "We have a computer system that tells us where these incidents are most likely to happen and we spent a mint on it so naturally crime is up" plan is really reaping rewards. Johnny had the opportunity to talk with the erstwhile mayor as he ran for reelection last year. Every time the topic of crime would come up Healy would shrug his shoulders and pretty much blame the crime spike on society's ills (and Johnny would happily take a lie detector on this). Then, as now he's in over his head on this topic.

Late night open thread

From actual resumes:

"Personal: I'm married with 9 children. I don't require prescription drugs."

"Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as 'job-hopping'. I have never quit a job."

"Number of dependents: 40."

"They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 every morning. Couldn't work under those conditions."

"The company made me a scapegoat - just like my three previous employers."

"I was proud to win the Gregg Typting Award."

"My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I have no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage."

"Minor allergies to house cats and Mongolian sheep."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Group attempting recall of Mayor Healy ALSO now has gotten approval to take on 3 city council members

Should these brave Jersey City residents succeed in their recall efforts, not only would Mayor Healy lose his job but also Council President Peter Brennan, At-Large Councilman Mariano Vega and Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez. The wording is now approved and the real work of getting petition signatures will begin before too long. 30,000 valid signatures would be necessary to recall Healy, Brennan and Vega and about 4,200 to recall Lopez.

No doubt those at city hall who hate the hassle of answering to voters are plotting their dirty tricks to void the petition gathering.

Exceptional editorial on Mayor Healy's lack of leadership

Let's face facts, if the guy isn't trying to promote himself or save his bacon he's done NOTHING for the average citizen who wants smart leadership from the Mayor.

The editorial can be found HERE

Late night open thread

Close enough for government work...


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Ahhhh, August 1st

A young feller's mind can now turn to college and pro football. Thank you calendar.

Late night open thread

If your birthday is August 1st you share the day with two famous New Yorkers, Public Enemy's Chuck D. and late comedian Dom DeLuise.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark