Could it be? It is, a Jersey City Desk News Roundup!

Howdy news fans, belly on up to the bar and let your fingers do the walking as you catch-up on news the Jersey City Desk way!

* The Jersey Journal asks if folks are still as enthused for the incoming Phil Murphy administration. Johnny's more excited by the outgoing of the Chris Christie administration.

* Sounds like NJDOT is prepping you for bad news about longer delays on something that was supposed to be done last year. The Pulaski Skyway project, job security for years.

* The Statue of Liberty is dimming her lights this week, raising the chances of a Krampus visit to Jersey City.

* The Islamic Center of Jersey City rightly suspended an imam who said Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque "remains prisoner in the hands of the Jews" and praying for the annihilation of "the plundering oppressors." Johnny's got no time for this nonsense and neither does any thinking person. Maybe suspensions can turn into terminations?

* Here's a nice story. A former Jersey City resident is now mayor of a small town in North Carolina and is trying ti apply lessons he learned here to his new town.

* Here's one for sportsball fans, today is college football recruit signing day. Find out where that guy who ran for 187 yards and 3 TD's and ruined your town's homecoming is going to college.

* Finally, more than you've ever wanted to know about a scrotum attack by a woman who just had charges downgraded in that case.

Governor Christie hits a cool 16% approval rating

Governor Beach Chair has now surpassed Jim Florio and Brendan Byrne on the all-time low approval rating scale for governors since approval ratings became a thing. Byrne and Florio had held the co-loser rating at 17%.

While we saw a lot of hangers on and family around Christie after he enjoyed his personal private beach weekend but not nearly enough to make up 16% of the voters in the poll. Who ARE these other people?

When you think about it, that's only 16 points higher than Johnny.

Get on those horses Jersey City, it's a News Roundup

OK, Johnny of course will be commenting on the fact Jared Kushner and the Kushner family who do lots and lots of business, despite their felonious history and now inside ties to Trump, managed to drop 100K into Mayor Fulop's SuperPAC (which aw shuckins he didn't know no nuthin' about). He needs proper time for proper research.

* Jersey City police caught the jackhole who stole from the firehouse last week while the firefighters were out on a call saving a life. As suggested before, rat bucket should be on the table.

* Chris Christie, who used to be a vocal opponent of ridiculous Muslim bans, and called those for them, "the crazies" has suddenly gone silent on the matter.

* You'll love this taxpayer. The State of New Jersey might be on the hook for $1.8 billion in payback to the Securities and Exchange Commission because -- dum dum dum -- The Port Authority may have misled them on the Pulaski Skyway dealings. It's late, it's over budget, and it might cost 10 times more.

* Another senseless and utterly unforgivable act of drunk driving has severely injured a Jersey City woman. Samaa Dessouki, do you have no shame?

* And finally, there will be an anti-Muslim ban rally tonight at 6pm at the Newark/Grove St  pedestrian plaza. Next week let's have one in Journal Square. The week after Greenville. All together now!

Say bunky, can you spare an idea

Chris Christie, our failed governor was musing today about his plans after he's done running our state as far into the ground as he can on his watch. We know the readers at the Jersey City Desk have some great ideas and we'd LOVE to know what you'd like to see happen with Christie after he's done being governor. Rock our comments box with suggestions.

This will probably not come as a surprise to anyone living in New Jersey

Governor Chris Christie has hit an all-time low in state history with his cool 19% approval rating. Yes those ten credit downgrades, defaulting on a deal he made himself with public unions, aligning himself with alt-right Nazi acolytes of Donald Trump, even becoming his cheerleader at the RNC Convention, more than likely outright lying about his dealings in Bridgegate while his cronies head off to jail, it's a real shocker isn't it?

Chris Christie and his policies have failed New Jersey and made him a laughingstock. For those of us here in Jersey City, Christie's greatest sin will always be not standing up for Jersey City and helping parrot Trump's lies about JC and 9/11 by not refuting them with all his gusto which we've all seen on display when he hears something he doesn't like. Gutless, to those in Jersey City he will always be gutless.

19%. Abject failure by our Republican governor.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno proving she knows as much about the economy as her boss

First, before the idea gets away from Johnny; New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno on her website aimed at a run for governor next year says New Jersey needs to create a more friendly environment for business. Um, again, check with your boss on that if you're having issues with how business gets done here after TEN credit downgrades on Chris Christie's watch. Perhaps you've met him.

Now, when Guadagno said yesterday that if New Jersey were to implement a $15 minimum wage we'd be forced to pump our own gas, for sure. Are we to live like savages? What kind of nation makes the citizenry pump their own gas? Yeah, every state but Oregon and here. If someone can make more money if Johnny has to pump his own gas, the line forms behind him. If Guadago understood the economy she'd know that someone getting a nice bump per hour isn't going to be setting up an eTrade account, that money will be going immediately back into the economy with a cell phone upgrade, maybe one more dinner out, a new laptop, a few extra credit hours, a better car and diapers ain't getting any cheaper. All things that help New Jersey's economy right NOW. What would happen to the local economy if suddenly thousands of people started buying these things? There you go.

Trust Johnny, getting your own gas isn't that bad and it's much quicker with one less middleman between your credit card and your bank. Tell Lt. Guadagno you're happy to pump your own gas if our friends and neighbors can get a real wage in today's world where there's always money for more abatements for Trump developments and bank bailouts, and auto company rescues.

Awwww, Jared Kushner is against Governor Christie as his father-in-law's VP

Local real estate pest Jared Kushner, son-in-law of GOP nominee Donald Trump is said to be very much against our failed governor as Trump's VP pick but not because Christie is a floundering mess, but because Christie actually did his job and did it well in 2004. Christie was a US Attorney back then and followed the law and the illegalities of Kushner's father Charles, a real sleazebag as it turns out and landed Kushner Sr in the clink. What did Christie catch the KRE maven doing you ask (since Jersey City has given so much to this family in abatements it does matter, know who you do business with) as he prosecuted the case?

In 2004, Christie as U.S. attorney for New Jersey prosecuted the government's case against Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, the real estate executive, philanthropist and political donor. The elder Kushner pleaded guilty in federal court to 18 felonies, including making illegal campaign contributions and evading taxes.

Nice right? Wait, it gets more desperate for Kushner:

The elder Kushner was also convicted of witness tampering after he hired a prostitute to seduce his sister's husband, who was cooperating the the federal government's case against him, and sent a videotape of the encounter to her.

So daddy got two years and Jared doesn't want Christie as the VP. Huh, wonder why...

Speculation, oh the air is thick with speculation...

...That Donald Trump will at some point next week name Mr. Nine Credit Downgrades On His Watch Chris Christie as his GOP running mate.  Yes, nine credit downgrades for the state of NJ and the guy who helped bankrupt Atlantic City on one ticket.

Say goodnight Mr. Christie, say goodnight

On your ridiculous idea. We really really don't want nor need you back to be honest.

Tell you what, pick up a mop and make yourself useful.

In the State of the State address tonight...

Governor Chris Christie took credit for saving the state economy. Let that sink in. Saved. Highest taxes anywhere, nine credit downgrades and he saved it.

What a piece of shit.

Is Chris Christie a Jersey City Desk reader?

We know from time to time via IP addys someone from Trenton and government related has shown up once in a great while. The reason Johnny asks is the amount of times Johnny has used the term "half measures" to hear the Big CC use it to describe the legislature's attempt at an override of a gun bill, well it makes us go "Hmmmmm." Johnny brought that term back from it's deathbed and now, coincidentally it gets used by the Governor? Pish posh.

Imagine of you will, a pedestrian bridge linking Jersey City to lower Manhattan

Now, make it cool. Make it start at the 6th Street Embankment and slowly rise up and make the Hudson River walkable with elevator access and stunning views all the way into lower Manhattan.

Wanna see it put into action? Sure it's a pipe dream right now but Jersey City resident Kevin Shane and Jersey City architect Jeff Jordan the drawing and concept are VERY real. Head on over to Jersey City Digs and read the rest of the idea and see the amazing images of what could be.

Never hurts to dream big Jersey City, Chris Christie and Steve Fulop aren't gonna be around to hold us back forever.

Know who has been Governor of New Jersey the most this year?

Interesting article from Paul Mulshine at the Star-Ledger that starts over the comment Christie made at the last debate ..."When I was the governor of New Jersey..." and Mulshine found out he's not kidding. According to the NJ state Constitution, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno has been the Governor of NJ the most in 2015 thus far.

Click the link to find out how that happens.

Governor Asshat will be in Jersey City today

He'll be at the opening of the new Goya HQ, Goya as you'll recall announced they were moving their HQ to Jersey City a couple years ago.

Let's see what we can't to to make Gov. Asshat feel really unwelcome because frankly, he's not welcome in Jersey City. Oh he's free to come here, but we're not gonna hold doors for him either.

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.

Governor Gone delays all state offices opening until 11am today

From New Hampshire, where he has been elected after running for and not winning the Iowa governor's seat, Chris Christie has declared that state offices will delay opening because of this powdery easy to drive on snow.

Just wanted to give you aheads up Jersey City, like if you were going to get your drivers license renewed or what not. Not 'til 11.

Governor Christie's bad form over PATH cuts pisses off his own transportation chief

You'll recall that Governor Christie, along with as of yet unindicted NY governor Andrew Cuomo, came out with a plan to save a mere $10 million a year (all while the Port Authority cops grab tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases passing their salaries in unneeded overtime) by cutting PATH service from NJ to NYC from 1-5am. It's a stupid plan and it reeks of Christie trying to punish Jersey City and Hoboken's mayors for now supporting his dumb ass when he ran for re-election. It cuts property values in NJ. It inconveniences thousands of Garden Staters. Basically it was a stupid idea to begin with.

The mayor or Jersey City and Hoboken and Newark and state congressmen and woman and state senators have all said this is a BAD idea. Know who else agrees? Chris Christie's Transit Chief, Jamie Fox:

"This is not the way I would save money," Jamie Fox, who once served as deputy executive director of the Port Authority, told a meeting of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. "Mass transit is the future of this state."

There you go Governor Gone, another person who thinks you're a vindictive idiot. So far that makes everyone.

Let's kick things off this week with a News Roundup!

Giddyup!

* State Senator Nick Sacco joins the growing list of elected officials and residents all over what we like to call "Johnnyland", Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison and Newark, as well as those who just understand reality, the nighttime closure of the PATH would be ruinous to residents and taxpayers on so many levels.

* Dude, remember how you wondered if you touched anything and might have left fingerprints during that home invasion you did back in 2002? Turns out you did.

* Governor Christie and his brother are feeling the heat for CC's jump around with the Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in Dallas last night. We deeply respect the governor has favorite teams and cheers for them unconditionally. That being said if Christie campaigns in Michigan someone's gonna hit him ala Nancy Kerrigan as he leaves a speech.

* Remember in the last election how Mitt Romney said he'd get gas down to 2$ a gallon if he were elected? Johnny thinks we owe a big round of applause for President Romney on the 2$ gas.

* 1"-2" onches of snow tomorrow morning into the afternoon then it's gonna get c-c-c-c-c-cold.

* Seton Hall is getting some top 25 love after their win over formerly #6 Villanova. The Pirates are up to #19.

* Kushner Companies announced they have bought a plot of land next to Journal Square for $27 million dollars. We'll see if and when it ever gets developed.

* And finally, Atlantic City, where they spent more on parking employees than they made in parking meters.

On a quick note...

Though we've had our differences with the mayor, we fully support Mayor Fulop in his comments about Governor Christie and Cuomo's shortsighted and toothless Port Authority suggestions. To close the PATH system on weekends from 1Am til 5AM? Way to make this side of the Hudson an overnight parking lot, dumbasses. All to save $10 million? How about we cut back on some of the graft at the Port Authority and get a forensic accounting of their books. Then we can go root out the incredible amount of overtime they seem to chew through. Screw the PA.

Fight on Mr. Mayor, and Mayor Zimmer et al, we have your back on this.

After a long weekend is the perfect time for a News Roundup!

* As Dan Levin pointed out on Twitter, Mayor Steve Fulop has lost control of the police department. His promises about having to live in Jersey City to work here, his promises about cutting waste and departmental graft is just nowhere to be found. As per usual when tough questions need answering Steve Fulop is nowhere to be found. Here's a question for you Cool City, under Mayor Healy you always knew who was in charge of the JC police. Who's running the show today, right now?

* Yet another shooting in Jersey City. The Mayor sure talks big about this kind of thing but nothing much seems to change does it Jersey City?

* Jersey City Councilman-at-large Daniel Rivera was part of a book bag giveaway for local kids going back to school AND arranged for barbers to donate over 130 haircuts so kids can look their best!

* Everything dies baby that's a fact. But maybe everything that dies someday comes back. Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City, where nobody will be...

* Governor Christie is threatening to do the right thing and end New Jersey's foray into the graft-laden world of red-light cameras. All over the country companies who run these shams are being caught making the bribes to municipal workers to get them set up. Yes, they even bribed people in New Jersey to get these cameras in place to soak you the taxpayer who never asked for them to begin with.

* It's September and that means...haunted house time? Really? Guess haunted things season normally reserved for October is getting a kind of Christmas-creep attached to it.