Late night open thread

Johnny just read that 4,153,237 people got married last year. He's happy for each and every person but shouldn't that be an even number?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Welcome to Jersey City, give us all your money

A Georgia truck driver who got lost near the Marion Gardens complex was robbed at gunpoint when he stopped to look for a way back out around 2:30am Wednesday. More on the crime and how many gunmen there were is available here. Johnny knows from IP addresses he's got a huge following from Marion Gardens so he wants you all to give these guys up. That's no way to treat our guests.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Oh look, yet another delay in the Reval

You just KNEW this was gonna stretch past Fulop's reelection date of next November didn't you. Yep, more bullshit delays on the Reval. You can read all about it and go see why this time by clicking here. 

Delays on this have cost the city millions, so here's more.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Port Authority is paying PATH employees overtime to sleep

You wanna complain to their supervisor? He's sleeping on that desk over there. 

This is horrifying, people. PATH tells us they need to close tunnels on weekends for years at a time for our safety. They tell us there will be a need for emergency repairs so certain lines will be shut or shuffled with little warning. They tell us they still need time to clean up four years after Sandy.

Do they?

This report really shines a light on the fact just about every claim the Port Authority and PATH makes about why they close tunnels on certain lines for arbitrary amounts of times can be called into question. NO, The Port Authority do NOT get the benefit of the doubt that their claims have to be believed. Bridgegate, all their credibility lost right there. The fact the P.A. hands out your tax money in overtime pay to these slug-a-beds like Halloween candy should make everyone all the more upset. Only an independent forensic accounting of these layabouts will do.

We don't really do endorsements here but think about Port Authority appointees and who makes them in next year's governor's race New Jersey.

Late night open thread

Back to real life again tomorrow, drats!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Giants football GAMEDAY!

So, is the Giants game today on the shores of Lake Erie at the Factory of Sadness vs the 0-11 Browns a tasty helping of Thanksgiving leftovers or a hand grenade disguised as a piece of pumpkin pie? Sure that 0-11 Browns record looks like a tasty meal, at home or on the road, the Browns are inept everywhere. However, only two NFL teams have gone winless in the Super Bowl-era. Actually, before their loss to the Steelers a week back some computer sports group put out odds the Browns only had a 20% chance to lose ALL their games. This seems to be telling us that yes, indeed, there is a hand grenade aspect to today's game. If the Giants lose to an 0-11 team in basically what should be a free win, one wonders how that plays out over the past month of the season. Does everything go into the toilet?

Relax, Johnny's been a Browns fan forever and you Big Blue fans have nothing to worry about. Do you have serviceable, ne, good wideouts? Well then Eli Manning should carve up a suspect Browns secondary like cake. The Browns offer little to no pass rush, Eli should have all day to make things look good on the offensive side of the ball. The Browns can't stop the run either so make sure to throw some ball control in there too. Defensively the Giants will be going up against one of many Browns QB's; Is RGIII back? McCown? Kessler? Kosar? While they can't run the Browns can pass a little and have two actual NFL-caliber guys who catch what gets thrown, Pro Bowl TE Gary Barnidge and breakout former OSU QB Terrell Pryor. Pryor is a big target and strong, capable of breaking tackles. This IS predicated on the idea the Browns QB's have any time to throw the ball. Why do the Browns start so many quarterbacks? They all get ground up by the opposing pass rush. The Giants front four should have a field day.

Yeah, not too much to worry about today G-Men fans, unless they start fumbling the ball, Eli decides to play blindfolded, they drop punts or get lost before the game and head over to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fearless Forecast:
New Jersey Giants 31
Cleveland Browns 13

Late night open thread

It's the Saturday Night Scoreboard Show on a Rivalry Saturday

Ohio St. 30
Michigan 27 2OT
Whining about referees after last's week's aforementioned "Who's got it better than us!?" videos make the Michigan coach with the Woody Hayes glasses look like a sniveler

Ped State 45
Michigan State 12
Just awful a low-quality program like Ped State gets to play in the B1G title game

Pittsburgh 76
Syracuse 61
The highest scoring game in modern college football history

Georgia Tech 28
Georgia 27
The Rambin' Wreck with 14 unanswered points in the 4th quarter equals heroic victory

Vanderbilt 45
Tennessee 34
The Commodores with 14 unanswered points in the 4th quarter equals heroic victory plus breakfast at the Loveless Cafe

USC 45
Notre Dame 27
USC certainly is an unappealing bowl opponent at this point in the season

Alabama 30
Auburn 12
Meet the new boss...

New Hampshire 64
Lehigh 21
Lehigh, destined to win the Patriot League every year and get waxed in the first round of the 1-AA playoffs

Central Arkansas 31
Illinois State 24
Central Arkansas hung back at the dorm watching cartoons all morning and got a late brunch. They showed up for the 4th quarter, scored 24 points and went back home

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Wofford 15
Charleston Southern 14
Johnny did not have his Wofford shirt on when Devin Watson had two interceptions in the 4th quarter to give the Bulldogs the victory and a second round playoff game next week. For his efforts Devin Watson may loot and pillage Spartanburg SC for the next 24 hours

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

FYI, if you've enjoyed the song Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie on Thanksgiving, Johnny thought you might enjoy the story that started it all. Read the news story and then listen to the first part of the song and you're all caught up.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JEFFERSON AIRPLANE!

Ya know, every time Johnny uses the word hippie on the Jersey City Desk he gets a scolding email or two and catches shit for it. They remind him of their contribution to the culture and music. Sooooo, ok, here's some Jefferson Airplane and the classic and always welcome 'Someone to Love' and Johnny's not just leaving this here as some kind of bait for hippies to get lured here for a great tune and take offense at the word hippie because bait piles are not allowed by the state.

Eric Cartman would have a hard time being a blogger.

Hippies, they wanna save the earth but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad...

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE MOODY BLUES!

Johnny dearly loves this song and this line, written by bassist John Lodge, is one of his all-time favorites:

So if you want this world of yours
To turn about you
And you can see exactly what to do
Please tell me
I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band

The Moody Blues and 'I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock & Roll Band)'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS!

Now, since this terrific song landed in 1978 we haven't heard much from the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. We're not sure what kind of daredeviling they may have been up to lo these last few, well, decades or if they even still live in the Ozarks. What really matters, Johnny thinks, is the great song with the cool guitar riff running through it. 'Jackie Blue' wrapping up another Music Series. Just a helpful hint on this song though, keep to the studio version. You do not want to hear the singer singing this without proper technological magic. Go on, Johnny dares you.

SERIOUSLY, who decided, COOL, that's the band's name?

Also, this is the long version you've perhaps never heard. You might have a couple WTF moments if you're singing along ie THOSE AREN'T THE FUCKING WORDS!

8 years

Yes fans of the Jersey City Desk, Johnny has been putting down the stories that move Jersey City for eight years today. The big stories, the little ones, the quick mentions of those who make Jersey City a better place and the longer pieces on those who don't. Over these last eight years Johnny has tried to learn about the topics before speaking out of turn. To this end caution has been a good friend to Johnny as he lets stories play out, no assumption from all those years in Michigan at the Ypsi City Desk where he pretty much knew from habit what might happen. He's eagerly learned about things like bodegas aren't party stores, what freeholders are and New Jersey's quirky election set-up as well as oddities like in New Jersey citizens can't better their lives with ballot petition initiatives. He's done copious amounts of research on Jersey City and New Jersey.

In eight years Johnny has seen the good, the bad and of course the ugly. He'll keep on bringing you his opinionated version of events in New Jersey's hottest and coolest city. He'll never lie, he'll never make shit up but he will bring the thunder when necessary. Honest opinion, that's Johnny's promise to you.

Thank you for being part of Johnny's journey, readers, it's always ever been about you.

Late night open thread

Not so much a food coma, but more of an overall bodily malaise from eating.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best weekend of the year, for Johnny's money. Four days (and let's now count Wednesday night as a party night) to eat and watch sports and go to movies and see friends and family. It's the traditions that count and Johnny is all about tradition on Thanksgiving.

As always, on Thanksgiving morning a little ditty about Stockbridge Massachusetts, where the dump is closed today.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A little pre-Thanksgiving fun

Late night open thread

In honor of Lin Manuel Miranda's million gif day on Twitter...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's happening all over, Ward B's new councilman is not who was expected to win

New Ward B Councilman Chris Gadsden didn't just run against history in that if he won he'd become the first African-American to be elected to represent Jersey City's west side. Gadsen didn't just run against any opponent in incumbent John Hallanan. Gadsen also was running against the entire Hudson County Democratic machine as well as Mayor Steve Fulop who enjoyed his automatic support from Hallanan as well as the guy before him who had to hurry up and leave, court's orders and so forth.

Terrence T. McDonald tells us how the race was won:

Behind the scenes, political operatives are pointing fingers about who is to blame for Hallanan's loss. But most of them agree that Gadsden, with the help of friend Jerry Walker and political operative Joe Cardwell, outworked his competitors.

"He just went out and, the old-fashioned way, knocked on a bunch of doors," one Democrat said.

Welcome to Jersey City's new Ward B councilman, a refreshing choice.

Late night open thread

Those Devils fans sitting around waiting for the game in San Jose to start at 10:30 EST now know why Johnny was so happy when the Red Wings moved east. Imagine waiting for a 10:30 game that could go into two or three overtimes to start felt like.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Did you see the LEAKED Black Friday ads/deals from Walmart, Target, Macy's, and Kohl's?

More than likely leaked by Walmart, Target, Macy's, and Kohl's.

Since we here don't support this nonsense so we're not sharing it here, we just wanted to point out these things get leaked by the companies to move to the front of your shopping line so you can budget them in.

Now you know.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Wind damage sure came to Hudson County today

From Jersey City to Harrison to other points, the wind sure took it's toll around the area today. While it actually snowed early this morning it was around 6am when the winds came causing damage and power outages in Bayonne and claiming scaffolding on the Newark Ave. pedestrian plaza in downtown Jersey City. You can, as they say, read all bout it, at this handy link.

Late night open thread

It's the Saturday Night Scoreboard Show! We're running low on these things...

Ohio State 17
Michigan State 16
The Buckeyes did themselves no favors in staking a claim to a playoff spot without winning the Big Ten East

Michigan 20
Indiana 10
Michigan heads to Columbus next weekend with it all to do

Florida 16
LSU 10
Looking like Florida vs Alabama in the SEC title game

Western Michigan 38
Buffalo 0
Rowing the boat in the snow in Kalamazoo

Lehigh 45
Lafayette 21
Lehigh gets power up and wins the Patriot League and an automatic bid to the 1-AA playoffs. This friends is the longest running football rivalry in all of America, today checking in with the 152nd meeting

Stanford 45
California 31
Cal's not so tough without the band running around on the field now are they?

Ferris State 63
Midwestern State 34
The Bulldogs win a Division II playoff game and Johnny gets to give a shoutout to his brother-in-law's school

Florida State 45
Syracuse 14
The Orange were better this year but still a way off

South Carolina State 32
Savannah State 0
Wanna know what's cool? SC State running back Joe Thomas Sr. entered the game with about 4 minutes to play in the first quarter, and ran the ball for 3 yards. So what you ask? Mr. Thomas is 55 years old and enrolled with his son at SC State 4 years ago. His son now plays for the Packers but Joe Sr., now the oldest college player to play in a game in history, got something just as important we figure

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Kansas 24
Texas 21 OT
Kansas had not won a Big 12 game in over two years. They are pretty much regarded as the poorest Division 1 program going...But they beat Texas today (Costing the Longhorns coach his job) and for that, the entire Kansas team can loot and pillage Lawrence for the next 24 hours. In their honor tonight, carry on you Wayward Sons

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Tomorrow, well today, is the 50th anniversary of the famed Michigan State vs Notre Dame 'Game of the Century'. You may now go to bed feeling really old.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MARVIN GAYE!

In about 20 minutes Johnny is gonna take the dire wolf out for a late night walk. He'd better hear this coming out of every open window and people singing along because on this one, well, there's no excuse. 

 SING! 

 Marvin Gaye with "I Heard it Through the Grapevine'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with LINDA RONSTADT!

with CHUCK BERRY and KEITH RICHARDS and ROBERY CRAY but those won't fit and Johnny hates run on sentences.

This version should be the goddamned national anthem, we could all enjoy this before ballgames and get fired up. Please do appreciate the phenomenal voice of Linda Ronstadt here as she now has a condition that does not allow her to sing as much as one note of anything. A crime against nature. Linda Ronstadt and a cast of thousands on 'Back in the USA'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with HARVEY DANGER!

Remember back when MTV showed those short form vignettes over a song? Yeah, there was one point where this song was on like every third song.

Good thing Johnny likes it. Harvey Danger and 'Flagpole Sitta' putting the wraps on another Music Series.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Two Jersey City teachers win environmental teaching award

Mea culpa, Johnny comes from a family of teachers. Remember that scene in My Cousin Vinny where Marisa Tomei describes her character's expertise in car knowledge, "Well my father was a mechanic. His father was a mechanic. My mother's father was a mechanic. My three brothers are mechanics...." Johnny's grandmother was a teacher, his mother was a teacher, one of his aunts was a teacher, one of his sisters was a teacher... So stories like this are easy to like.

"Olatayo Wusu and John Flora – a science teacher and music teacher, respectively – were able to blend the two studies together to create an interest in environmental issues like urban ecosystems and school sustainability measures thus winning the annual Patricia Kane Environmental Education Award for their work in connecting middle school students with nature."

First, it's fabulous environmental education is being rewarded. It's about time the environment, especially after two hurricanes out this way, is shown how vital it is to our everyday fabric of life. Secondly, a true measure of smart people is to be able to meld good ideas together, in this case science and music. 

"This unconventional team of teachers embraced STEAM education, meshing scientific and ecological study with song writing, composing and creating musical pieces, and the results have been extraordinary," said Eric Stiles, president and CEO of New Jersey Audubon, the environmental education and conservation advocacy organization that presented the award.

Students participating in the program created their own songs and produced a video of their experiences, titled "Our City and Nature: Songs of Biodiversity."

Great job to the students and especially Wusu and Flora.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Desk will no longer be covering (or mentioning) the New Jersey Jets

Or New York Jets if you prefer but either way with Jets owner Woody Johnson being such a big Trump supporter and fundraiser, Woody and the Jets can go fuck themselves gently with a chainsaw. He takes piles of tax abatement money on his hovel of a stadium he shares with the Mara's but he's a Trump do-it-yourselfer, LOL. What an asshat.

Fuck you Woody Johnson, you self-centered fucknugget. If you only care about yourself and your holdings, that's fine, it's not very American, but fine. But remember, if enough people feel like Johnny does who love America, your media coverage and ticket sales will start to wane once more people know.

Sorry kids, for honor and the good of the Republic, Woody gets a finger in the eye.

Late night open thread

How long til breakfast?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mayor Fulop now has one official, if not unexpected challenger

Former Healy corporation counsel for nearly a decade, Bill Matsikoudis has announced he will be challenging Mayor Steve Fulop in next November's mayoral election. Matsikoudis has set out his issues with Fulop's choices and administration:

Some of the criticisms Matsikoudis hurls at City Hall in the video center around the very issues that propelled Fulop into office in May 2013, when Fulop unseated Healy. Matsikoudis says the city suffers from violent crime, neglected neighborhoods and a city government "bloated with patronage," all jabs Fulop once made about the Healy administration.

Johnny's quick analysis is that while there might be a few unions and Healy fans still out there it won't be enough to get Matsikoudis past Fulop even in this "throw them out at any cost" mentality sweeping America. Fulop could be beaten by the right candidate, Matsikoudis' points aren't all that wrong, you read about these issues here time and time again. His connection to the sleaze of the Healy Administration won't help him. At this point that out of the blue big change challenger might as well be Johnny, a loud, brash kind of guy who has definite ideas. Who is that person in Jersey City and do they want to run? So far, nobody.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

This got by us last week with everything else going on

Well, not by us, we did see it, we're just getting around to mentioning it here now. The city initiative to move the Jersey City May elections and fold them into November general elections passed, meaning all Jersey City related votes and initiatives will be in November from now on. Johnny was against moving them as you regular readers know but as we also all know democracy took one big shit last week on thinking people.

Late night open thread

Johnny can't remember when he's been more eager for a Monday to roll around because this last week was one of the worst ever for a myriad of things.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jets football Gameday!

Yes, just the Jets today. The Giants play on Monday soooooooooooo fuck them.

The future is here Jets fans, Bryce Petty, the second year phenom out of that dirty school of Baylor, is the new starting QB. With Ryan Fitzpatrick out with an injury it's Petty's start today vs the Rams over at the New Meadowlands at 1pm. Of course should Petty stink or get hurt the new NEW future arrives in the form of former Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg. Either way both look better than the god-awful idea the Rams had to draft Jared Goff who according to reports out of Los Angeles say he's just not good.

This is a hard game to get a prediction grip on as there are reports nobody's happy in LA and also there are reports all is not well in Jets-World as there are rumors of discipline issues coming tot he fore. Here's what Johnny will base his pick on. Todd Gurley was supposed to lead a battering Rams (heh heh) running game after last season's huge success but Gurley has no 100 yard rushing games this year. While the Jets have missing pieces up front they are still 4th against the run in the NFL We just do not see Case Keenum lighting up the Jets secondary in a way a top-flight QB might do even with lesser receivers.

The Jets simply need to play great positional football, stay away from stupid penalties ie early starts, offside, too many men, etc. They can't screw up special teams like last week. Can't happen. If the Jets follow these easy to follow Johnny rules they're going to get that 4th win of the year:

Fearless Forecast:
New Jersey Jets 21
Los Angeles for the time being Rams 10

Late night open thread

It's the Saturday Night Scoreboard Show!

When the Autumnal winds get to blowing, they blow down some big timbers.

Pittsburgh 43
Clemson 42
#2 Clemson goes down at home and former Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi has a program win in only his second season

Iowa 14
Michigan 13
#3 Michigan loses in Iowa City in a shocker. Remember that horrid video Michigan produced with Jim Harbaugh yelling "Who's got it better than us?!" Well, if Michigan loses in Columbus maybe Penn State has it better than you
The Michigan State parody video:

Ohio State fans made one too:

The Big Ten is some cutthroat shit

USC 26
Washington 13
#4 Washington goes down at home to the Trojans. Suddenly the playoff is wide open

Rice 22
Charlotte 21
It's a crime if Rice doesn't play in a bowl

The Citadel 30
VMI 20
The Citadel is 10-0 so why aren't they in the playoff discussion? Charleston SC in the house

Frostburg State 21
Salisbury 17
Winter is coming

Bethany (WV) 32
St. Vincent 31
Bethany scored 19 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to get power up and win the game

UNLV 69
Wyoming 66 3OT
Your PlayStation game of the week

Michigan State 49
Rutgers 0
MSU is only one year removed from a B1G tile and the playoff. Somebody was going to be made to pay for their awful season

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
William Carroll 31
Mount Union 28
The last time Division III Mount Union lost a regular season game George W. Bush was beginning his second term. The Purple Raiders were 222-1 in their last 223 games dating back to 1994. Incredible. But today it was Anthony Moeglin hitting William Woods with a 24-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds to play to win for Carroll. For their efforts, and throwing in the magnitude of the win, Moeglin and Woods can loot and pillage Alliance Ohio for 48 hours, up from the usual 24.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

A very special and happy Veterans Day today for all our vets.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE SMITHS!

America is a nation in turmoil and nobody seems to know the answer. Johnny knows one of them, MOAR MUSIC! Everyone loves music, every color, every party, every gender so tonight Johnny begins healing a fractious America.

Four songs. You read that right. This song here, 'Sheila Take a Bow' by The Smiths, oh it's only the first of four big songs tonight. Everyone can join in, have some fun and feel better.

So let's get started...

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BANANARAMA!

Johnny had SUCH a crush, we're talking big unrequited love for Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey back in the day. He crushed on her HARD. Stupid Dave Stewart; "Oh look at me, I'm cool and really creative and I'm in the Eurythmics with Annie Lennox and I'm a huge bloody success."

Sure, if you like that kind of guy.

A lot of places would simply play the Deep Sea Skiving version of this great song, 'Really Saying Something'. Pfffffft. noobs. This is the Jersey City Desk Music Series where music is to be held up like a fine jewel and treasured and discussed in an intelligent way. We're also healing a nation here. Tonight we get the very rare extended version for your listening pleasure.

First done by the Velvelettes in 1964, it's Siobhan Fahey and Bananarama with the aforementioned 'Really Saying Something'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with RICK JAMES!

BITCH!

Who doesn't love a good 'Superfreak'? Johnny's dated one or two back when the world was in black and white. They do keep you busy.

Some places just never recovered after the spandex mines dried up at the end of the 80's and music videos were forced to go to more breathable fabrics. FACT!

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE BABYS!

In keeping with our upbeat songs tonight here's a rocker from 1979, 'Head First' from the album of the same name. If you know it Johnny is sure you'll be singing along in no time. If you don't know it put it on loop and learn it, it's that good.

One bonus song to go!

Late night open thread

Remember that episode on The Brady Bunch when Bobby becomes a minion of Satan & tries to kill Alice with a rake? Mike & Carol were NOT happy...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny's breakup letter with Michigan

First off Michigan, it's not Johnny, it's you. We just need to set the parameters of this breakup, it's you.

Michigan, what the fuck is wrong with you? After Tuesday Johnny can no longer come back to you in good conscience (his elderly mother's health not withstanding) and stay or spend dime one with you fuckers. Not one dime. If the time comes when Johnny DOES have to come back for a sad last trip pertaining to his mother he's going through Canada so as to not spend dime one in Pennsylvania either (most knew the sister-fucking no-driving citizens of Ohio were already voting for the Cheeto-faced Shitgibbon). Michigan, you really really fucked up Tuesday.

First off, to any Michigan residents reading this, you've become a laughingstock along the eastern seaboard. Barack Obama bailed out the auto industry against great odds and at great political peril and this is how you thank him, with a guy who would have let you rot on the vine. Classic. Yes, most people out here Johnny has talked to are really thinking Michigan is filled with low-information goofs right now.

And look at you. You've re-elected a failed governor both economically AND morally bankrupt in serial poisoner Rick Snyder. You had a chance to throw him out Michigan and you voted for him again and then Flint happened not only on his watch, but on his coverup. He's STILL your governor. Sure, you may wanna throw Chris Christie back in Johnny's face and Johnny cannot and will not defend The Outlaw Jersey Whale, BUT Christie's faults are his own and apart from some traffic he's basically hurt himself whereas Snyder has hurt (and some of the Legionnaire's disease cases in Flint have died) men, women and children with his stupidity. Nary even a recall petition.

Michigan people are wondering where the yelling at them stops and where the breakup terms are discussed, fine, here you go, Michigan. No more. No more visits, no more trips to Mackinac Island, or Saugatuck or Kalamazoo or Ypsilanti. No more Zingermann's or Vernors orders to the house. No more Shinola watches, no more team jerseys or shirts ie MSU, Lions, Red Wings et al. No more domestic car buying. Ouch, that's right, no more domestic car buying. Well, not from GM, Chrysler or Ford anyway. Some other carmakers because of factories here claim to make 'domestic cars' even if with an asterisk. Seriously, Johnny has been a domestic auto buyer since he was 19. Never ever ever thought he wouldn't buy a piece of Detroit steel when the time came. No more. Why take it out on companies? Easy, what did they have to say about Trump during the election? They said nothing. Well, not nothing exactly, Ford did step up to the plate to defy Trump, but only to tell him they weren't moving to Mexico. Nothing about his tone, tenor, lies, sexual assault language, and nothing from Detroit's Big Three. Great, you said nothing, now deal with the consequences. It's odd as well because Johnny worked with (not for) GM Communications for many many years and knows how hard both Ford and GM were making outreach to the gay community and to other minorities a so-called priority, guess not huh? Nothing from them maybe because they didn't want to upset the union help. Johnny knows goddamned well how the UAW voted, he's seen these guys, broken bread with them, lived around these guys for decades, they were Trump voters. Oh yes, a lot of them were. Guys whom without the current Democrat would be living in the road eating from garbage cans picked a guy who in 2008 would have had them do just that. Fuck Detroit's automakers, silence is consent. Johnny's buying a Subaru next time, suck on that Wolverine State.

So, Michigan, you've fucked yourself to the point you've become a laughingstock. You did it to yourself, nobody helped you get to the place you're in today but you and your voters. You'll have to live with that in your own pathetic world because Johnny's not coming back. He and Mrs. Johnny always thought they'd buy a lot on a small secluded lake in northern Michigan and build a cabin on it and retire, the good years.

That lake just got moved to Vermont, or Massachusetts, or New Hampshire, or New Jersey or New York. Bye Michigan, hope your garbage cans are full up, with the guy you just voted for you're gonna need them to be. Maybe you can share with Wisconsin or Pennsylvania when you run out.

Some things are unforgivable, this was one.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City After Dark

Make sure you check back later today

Johnny has been working on his breakup letter with Michigan in his head today, getting certain ideas sorted out and getting the whole thing aligned which we'll have for you later today. It's a hard hard thing to think on but there are just some things that are inexcusable in life and Johnny don't play that.

Late night open thread

Simply horrifying. Johnny was wrong in his predictions as were so many. Oh he's not wrong, it's just for whatever reason, probably a myriad of things fueled the less educated racists and those afraid of their own shadow to get enough of them to the polls. In four years hopefully the Democrats will bring a stronger candidate and put and ceremonial end to the ugliest face of America we've ever put forth.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Remember this before you vote Jersey City

One candidate for President today lied about Jersey City residents and gutlessly slandered the residents that were here on 9/11. Think on that before you vote. One candidate said Jersey City residents cheered on the attacks on the WTC towers.

One candidate did not.

Late night open thread

Midnight on the eastern seaboard. Election day.

The board is set, the pieces are moving.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Remember this tomorrow

If you are in line to vote when polls close you MUST be allowed to vote. You cannot be turned away. Cannot. Turnout has already been high, even historical in some places in early voting. Garden Staters should expect lines tomorrow. No matter whom you vote for, stay in line.

Late night open thread

And Johnny's back. A quick trip to the City of Brotherly Love where Johnny got to meet and chat for a couple minutes with Lewis Black so all in all a pretty good weekend. An hour away by Amtrak, can't beat it.

Back to work in the morning.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Well kids, bad news, Johnny is heading down to Philadelphia for along weekend starting early tomorrow. After this last week he can't wait to get away, yes, even to Philly. So no Music Series this week but we're sure you can find a few songs in your own music catalogs and have a great musical night yourselves. Johnny will see you back late Sunday.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City truly has one of the most irresponsible police forces anywhere -- UPDATE

You all know the facts. You know the JCPD's history with illegal steroids, changing grades on tests, faking time sheets, not paying taxes on sketchy stand around jobs they solicit at construction sites, and of course, drunk driving. We have yet another case of the JCPD circling the wagons, and Mayor Steve Fulop doing nothing when Jersey City Police Lt. Robert Kearns, president of the Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association, as well as an ally of Mayor Steven Fulop, appeared to drive recklessly down John F. Kennedy Blvd. after leaving a bar in North Arlington, NJ. Just drove down the street KNOWING a professional courtesy ride was waiting if anything unexpected happened.

The JCPD drives drunk, they give out "professional courtesy" rides (Question, what IS the courtesy being offered? Teaching the cop in question drive drunk all you want, you got yer back, Jack?) and once again, Mayor Steve Fulop shows absolutely no moral core whatsoever in dealing with the issue. He fires people in departments he doesn't like yet he protects allies. Vincent Corso in Robbinsville? Fulop said boo. He was all-too quiet when his city ciuncil ally Chico Ramchal was tagged with a DUI while in a county vehicle after faking time sheets. While certainly not approaching anything even close to DUI, Fulop covered for an obviously inebriated Brooke Hansson a few years ago after a profanity-laced tirade towards certain Jersey City residents. How drunk and embarrassing, and how many times to JCPD officers get to put the public's safety at risk before the mayor shows a spine? Go watch this video and the excellent reporting by Michael Shurin at Real Jersey City.

This really just guts Johnny as he's mentioned here before a victim of a drunk driver, to look at these cops around town. Shameful. They really aren't up to the level residents are paying for and expect.

UPDATE 7:21pm -- Mr. Shurin has been kind enough to allow us to also post his video. It truly is a must see Jersey City Desk readers.

Late night open thread

Johnny was actually working on a story to post and darned if he didn't get caught up in the World Series game 7 with the Indians and Cubs like most of America. Time got away. Back at it tomorrow.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Johnny's alright, if anybody cares...

Actually he was in the middle of putting up yet more Halloween music last night when the power outage hit. When it finally did come back on it fried what was left of Johnny's nine year-old router. Points to Comcast who got the call this morning and came out by afternoon to replace it.

So, back we are.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark