Election night clusterfuck

Hudson County is having all kinds of problems getting anyone the Jersey City election totals so, sadly, Johnny is going to have to have an election result and analysis post tomorrow instead of tonight as he has to be up at 4 bells tomorrow.

So far though, so good for the adults being back in charge tonight nationally.

Snow Snow Snow, Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard

Do we have your attention. As much as Johnny and the crew like to have fun with big snowstorms, Tuesday is serious business. Accuweather, Wunderground, our good friend Weather Willy, and the National Weather Service have all begun calling for huge piles of snow and blizzard conditions. One forecasting service is saying, well, it's incredible. The call right now is 14-20" but some are easing that upwards of 24" inches with that one service calling for areas of northwest New Jersey to get 30+ inches of snow. All this snow (NWS has NYC pegged for 18 currently") will be accompanied with 30-40mph winds with gusts of 50-60 possible. It will be a LONG storm. Starting very late Monday night and ending very late Tuesday night.

If you need to set up care for a senior or older relative, or get to the store tomorrow instead of with the panic shoppers on Monday, make your plan on working from home Tuesday or just get a strategic parking spot, now is the time.

The Jersey City Desk Action Weather Team (and Accuweather) have a better fix on the storm

#WinterStormBowlingGreenMassacre will get to the Jersey City Desk viewing area early early Thursday morning. After a 60+ degree Wednesday, around midnight that starts to change and how. The storm will start as rain but the cold air will arrive now in time to give us a 3-6" of snow by the time it stops late afternoon Thursday. Hold onto your mittens kittens because after the snow leaves so do the clouds and it's going to drop into the upper TEENS. 60º to the teens in just under a day.

Stay tuned for any major changes.

Looks like someone else heard about the McGreevey lifetime giveaway

Ladwy the New York Post has lit into Hudson County as the home of, well, you're just gonna go have to read what was said. It won't take up too much of your time but it is a good screed about what goes on around here spending-wise and how those who feed at the public trough keep you or the rest of us from having a say on it with loophole this and invisible change that.

We have this one coming.

Johnny truly feels like a Garden Stater now

When Johnny arrived here from Michigan in November of 2008 (Yes, this shitty blog enters it's 7th year later in 2015) he well knew of New Jersey's reputation for graft and corruption. Well, to be fair who didn't. They teach it in Michigan public schools. To that end Johnny had been numbed by watching the Kwame Kilpatrick mega-ripoff of the city of Detroit that took a Democratic Governor to call pest control and pull him out of his burrow and into a jail cell. That was some pretty good corruption and lying right there.

Soon after Johnny arrived a lot of people all over Hudson County went to jail. It was his first big foray into writing about Garden State grifters but so much of it had been in the works and blew up before Johnny had a true understanding of the area. Somehow he felt cheated. He learned names like Dwek, Cammarano, Vega and Beldini but this wasn't HIS New Jersey scandal.

Fast-forward to Governor Christie and his scandal du jour and Senator Menendez being under federal investigation again and well NOW Johnny feels like a true resident of New Jersey. The Governor, who has a lot of scandals already on the boil had the slimy audacity to send in his team of lawyers to give Exxon, who was ready to pay the state almost $9 BILLION dollars for polluting OUR state and they "supposedly" elbowed out the lawyers who had been working in the best interests of we the people to cut a sweetheart deal of only $225 MILLION for Exxon. Sure the acting AG had investments with Exxon but he was also put in a horrible position to be loyal by Christie. Here's the kicker. Just hours after cutting Exxon the sweetheart deal Governor Gone was off to Georgia for a fundraiser hosted by.....are you ready New Jersey......Exxon. Torches and pitchforks people, torches and pitchforks.....if he ever comes back here.

Senator Menendez, where do we start? He's seemingly been one step ahead of one investigation or another for decades, but as Augustin Torres says in the Jersey Journal, Menendez is steeled in the rough and tumble world of sleazy Hudson County politics has always been a survivor. He's taken money from some pretty dubious sources if you ask Johnny. Not just Dr. Salomon Melgen, but far worse. Menendez as many of you know is a hard-liner on Iran pretty much wishing the USA would attack yesterday. But did you know that Menendez has also taken money from a group not long ago considered a terrorist group in the Middle East:

"...Iranian exile opposition group the Mojahedin-e Khalq, often referred to as the MEK, but known to most Iranians as the Mojahedin."

It gets worse:

Since being legitimized, the Mojahedin’s influence on Capitol Hill spread from the fringes of Congress to include more mainstream and respected Republicans and Democrats. Most of the group’s lobbying focuses on its members’ well-being in Iraq, said a current Hill staffer, who works in foreign policy. But, the staffer added, “undergirding this is all this neocon-friendly warmongering, this intense push for regime change, this intense hatred for [Iranian president Hassan] Rouhani — they’re not subtle about this at all.”

Menendez’s advocacy for the Mojahedin at the October hearing wasn’t new, but it signaled that by 2013 the group had come full circle: from an outlaw terrorist outfit to a player on Capitol Hill. How that happened is a classic story of money, politics and the enduring appeal of exile groups promising regime change.

So you better believe Menendez needs to be investigated again and again if he's beating war drums and taking money from a group that no doubt stands to gain from US military action.

So, yes, Johnny now TRULY feels like he lives in New Jersey, where government at all levels and associated state offices are the biggest crime syndicate anywhere. Now pass a chunk of that White House submarine sandwich.

Damn Johnny, you should have told us to wear sweaters today in your late night thread last night

Well yes, guilty as charged. But how exhilarating was that morning coolness and that northerly breeze? It does feel like fall out there today and we're guessing you have fall festivals on the brain just waiting to get out of work. Luckily, the Jersey Journal has you covered with this handy dandy guide to the fall festivals near and far in Hudson County. Get a cup of cider, maybe a donut or cruller, and have a look and plan your outdoor fall activities today!

So Jersey City, what are you doing this weekend?

Since the weather is going to be spot on this weekend, Saturday sunny and 70º and Sunday 76º and mostly, sunny Johnny thought he'd pass along this handy dandy guide from NJ.com as to what's going on in Hudson County this weekend that might interest you.

See you all back here tonight for the Music Series or as news breaks.

Tired of wondering when that next NJ Transit bus is coming? Those days are over

A new app for your smartphone or desktop computer has been launched by NJ Transit which gives you the ability to check your route and see where the next bus coming your way is at. If you'd like to leave the warmth of your home 10 minutes later because you can see the bus is running late, there you go. If you're leaving work and wonder if it's worth running to a stop to catch one you'll know if it's prudent to walk or run.

Johnny's gonna post a screenshot of the app in action. By hovering your mouse over a stop you get the info and you'll see flashing dots/red diamonds to show where the bus is. Here Johnny moused over Van Nostrand and JFK and when you click on this image you see the red diamond bus is coming your way. You can see the route by checking the arrow inside the diamond.

A great use of technology making it's way here. Remember times are estimated and traffic backups do happen. NJ Transit also advises the estimates don’t apply to buses leaving the Port Authority Bus Terminal between 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays.

Still, it's better than not having this handy app. Get to downloading so you can get down to the Denver and Seattle hotel rallies Sunday night.

"Remember that one 9/11 that was like 100 degrees?"

So 9/11 this year takes on a hot and steamy identity as Hudson County and NYC take part in the 12th anniversary of the attacks. One quick note on what struck Johnny about the memorial services today. Those 9/11 babies aren't babies anymore, they're going into junior high and or middle school this year.

That sure was a vivid reminder this morning.

OK Hudson County and the surround, today is Small Business Saturday

So give the big box stores a chilly shoulder today and especially avoid the one who doesn't want to pay workers too much and then hands then food stamp and welfare applications on payday, it's a Small Business Saturday. There is no shortage of wonderful and worthwhile small businesses to shop at around the area. They are probably hurting more than usual after the big storm.

If you're gonna drop some cash on a gift why not buy it from your neighbors? If they do better, you do better.

Here's where to beat the heat around Hudson County

It'll be a blast furnace out there through Friday kids so here is a handy link to pools, cooling centers and where sprinklers will be on round our fair county.

Also, please remember to check up on pets and get them inside if at all possible. Check on the elderly who might be having increased difficulty as the heat index rises to 100º and above.

Here is a list of the Memorial Day services around Hudson County

Jersey City will kick off the Memorial Day weekend tomorrow, Wednesday May 23 at 9 am, with a memorial service at the foot of Washington St. at the Korean War memorial.

Other events in Hudson County can be found here. It'll be a wonderful weekend around town so make sure you get out to a parade or Memorial Day service or simply take time in your own way to thank our Vets and those still serving our nation for all they do.

NJ Transit gets a report card they are proud of, but what say YOU?

What say you readers, does NJ Transit deserve this latest passing grade?

Granted, Johnny doesn't take NJ Transit often if at all so he is relying on your expertise on this matter.

According to reports, this is how the scoring is broken down:

On a scale of zero (unacceptable) to 10 (excellent), with 5 being acceptable, the agency on its latest survey got an overall satisfaction score of 5.8.

A 5.8, is this OK by you Hudson County? Remember, we're taking into consideration all of NJ Transit, busses, trains, light rail, and services for the disabled. 

Those score in the other categories came down like this:

Bus -- 5.9

Rail service 5.3

Light rail -- 6.9

Access Link service for the disabled -- 8.3

NJ Transit says 6.0 is their goal. We'd hope they would raise that goal as the scores now come in closer to the 6.0 they strive for. 

OK Hudson County, have your say. Grade the services in the comment section and do try to be fair as to what your experiences are.

A winter weather advisory has been posted for Hudson County and the surround

Well, it took long enough but no longer will Hudson County be able to hide from winter as 3-5" of powder is expected beginning after midnight tonight into late tomorrow morning.

We're pretty sure Delaware told Old Man Winter where New Jersey was hiding. Stupid Delaware...

Here's the list of 9/11 events in Hudson County

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal (Who need to learn to spell Weehawken apparently).

HUDSON COUNTY
Hoboken
9/11 Interfaith Memorial Service, 6 p.m. Sunday, Pier A Park, Frank Sinatra Drive and First Street. hobokennj.org or (201) 420-2207.

Jersey City
9/11 Memorial Ceremony, 8 a.m. Sunday, Grand Street at the Waterfront, Grand Street. cityofjerseycity.com or (201) 547-6921.

Bagpipe and Drum Exhibition, commemoration of 10th anniversary of 9/11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17, Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd. lsc.org or (201) 200-1000.

"Empty Sky" Memorial Dedication, formal dedication of memorial displaying the names of the 746 New Jersey residents who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, with Gov. Chris Christie, first lady Mary Pat Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, 11 a.m. Saturday, Liberty State Park, 80 Audrey Zapp Drive. libertystatepark.org or (201) 915-3440.

"From Across the River," exhibit of photographs by Sandra Swieder telling the story of 9/11 from the New Jersey perspective, through Sept. 15, Art House Productions, Hamilton Square, sixth Floor, 1 McWilliams Place. Call (866) 811-4111.

"Afterwards and Forward: A 10-Year 9/11 Reflective Art Exhibition," works by 18 artists on display at the Visual Arts Gallery, 100 Culver Ave. There will be an artists’ reception Sept. 12 from 4:30-7:30 p.m., and a lecture on "The Impact of 9/11 on Recent Art" by Dennis Raverty on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. (201) 200-2197.

9/11 Day of Service, Hudson County Bar Association and Foundation, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Bar Association, the New Jersey State Judiciary and other county bar associations volunteer program, with memorial ceremony at 10 a.m., educational programs at 5 and 6:15 p.m., Monday, William J. Brennan Courthouse, Hudson County, 583 Newark Ave. (201) 798-4708.

Secaucus
9/11 Memorial Ceremony, 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at the monument at Secaucus Public Library, 1379 Paterson Plank Road. secaucus.bccls.org or (201) 330-2083.

Union City
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, 7 p.m. Sunday, Liberty Plaza, 30th Street between New York and Palisade Avenues. ucnj.com or (201) 348-5755.

Weehawkin
9/11 Memorial Dedication, dedication of new memorial at the Weehawken Waterfront at Pershing Road, 11 a.m. Sept. 7. (201) 902-8787.

‘Tribute of Light’ views
"Tribute of Light," Municipal Art Society of New York’s 9/11 memorial with twin beams of light illuminating the lower Manhattan sky, positioned in two 48-foot squares echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers, will be visible from dusk on Sept. 11 to dawn Sept. 12. Prime New Jersey public viewing locations include Liberty State Park, Owen Grundy Pier and Newport in Jersey City; Port Imperial in Weehawken; Castle Point Promenade and Pier A Park in Hoboken; Boulevard East in Weehawken; Exchange Place in Jersey City; and Eagle Rock Reservation in Montclair. mas.org or (212) 935-3960.

Flood warning for Hudson County today

In case you live in a cave and even if you do you might have noticed the high winds and torrential rains this morning. Well it's about to get worse and the entire Jersey City Desk viewing area is under a flood watch until late today.

From Wunderground:
Flash Flood Watch in effect through this evening...
Wind Advisory in effect from 9 am this morning to 6 PM EST this evening...

Isolated thunderstorms. Rain and periods of drizzle this morning...then rain this afternoon. Rain may be heavy at times this afternoon. Windy with highs in the upper 50s. South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

If you were one of the lucky few not to be murdered here in Hudson County in 2009...

Here is a Jersey Journal pushpin homicide finder. What would we do without this every January? Reliving murders can be fun for the whole paper reading family. Incidentally for those scoring at home, Jersey City accounted for 31 of the 36 murders in Hudson County in 2009.

Flood warning part Pi

Hudson, Bergen, Essex, Passaic, and Union counties are all under flood watches until 10 pm tonight as the rains move through Northern and North central and central northern New Jersey this evening. 1-2" of rain are expected and some areas could see as many as 4" of water falling from the skies.

The more rain we get the higher the Hudson River rises and the more planes can be landed on it. Just not Saturday night, Johnny is taking the Mrs. out on a water ferry boat (NY Waterway Tours and if Johnny doesn't come back ala Leo DiCaprio in Titanic please avenge his death) to sit under the fireworks as they go off. First time here for the Macy's fireworks means Johnny has to go all out and get you the readers here some boffo imagery and video of the big celebration of Henry Hudson's discovery of the river bearing his name. Plus, drinks will be served and boating and drinking and watching fireworks with NYC serving as the backdrop is well, pretty nice.

The Clash said it best...

"Cause Jersey City is drowning and I, live by the river..."

Again with the flood watch Hudson County. From Wunderground:

Flood Watch in effect through Sunday afternoon...

This Afternoon
A slight chance of rain early...then periods of rain with a chance of thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Tonight
Periods of rain with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening...then occasional showers with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall. Lows in the mid 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of rain 90 percent.

That alarm you may or may not hear today in Bayonne is the Emergency Broadcast Network

While everyone else in Hudson County WILL hear the sirens from the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management between 2-3 pm today, Bayonne may not. That's why they test folks, as last time they ran the test sirens they were barely audible in Bayonne. The good news is we DID hear them here in Jersey City. So that sound you hear today (and tomorrow in Kearny, East Newark and Harrison) is just a test......we hope.