The Pep Boys/Bruce Ratner development could be in trouble

How funny would that be? Hey it'd hopefully save Jersey City from writing Bruce Ratner and Forest City a check from OUR city bank account.

James Riffin is a man who knows how to file a lawsuit. He's filed quite a few. He's filed one that seems to have the Forest City folks up in a tizzy, calling a legal claim he's filed on their property as "sinister." Riffin has made the following argument:

In his lawsuit, filed on July 20, Riffin alleges that because the lines of rail that formerly traversed the Metro Plaza property were never abandoned by Conrail, the developers of the high-rise don't have rights to the property. He says because he told the STB last year that he intends to acquire the entirety of the abandoned rail line, he could end up owning the site and re-starting a rail line on it. He wants construction on the residential tower halted until that federal matter is resolved.

Sure be a shame if that project just died. Have you seen that first building going up Jersey City? It'll make your eyes bleed. While this lawsuit stands little chance of success, it is trying to protect your eyesight because the architects who drew up that hideous look must have come from the Greg Brady school of design.

Six more shot this weekend and no comments really from anyone

Six more were shot in Jersey City this weekend adding to a rapidly rising total this fall. Our comments last week are the same; What is the city doing about this other than telling the media those who were involved haven't been the most helpful? We get that a lot of those who are involved in such matters won't talk to cops. It doesn't make it any less disturbing to have a city looking like a shooting gallery just because of those who are involved. Are we waiting for an innocent bystander to get killed? What are we doing? Nothing of substance from the mayor or his spokesperson about what is being done to protect innocent citizens or bring those guilty to justice.

We have cops standing at construction sites with hardhats on when they're not texting from their own cars. If we have money for millions upon millions in tax abatements and loans to Bruce Ratner we should have money for more cops on the streets. Are we doing this?

The administration that was gonna be all about communication must have only meant store openings and fun events.

As the stomach turns; Chico Ramchal charged with theft

Jersey City Ward B Councilman Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal stood mute when hit with theft charges related to an alleged "no show" county job. So a DUI AND a theft charge for a no show job.

Ward B can do better, much better. Let's think on this for a moment. If the charges are true, and Ramchal didn't say boo he merely stood there like the house by the side of the road, Jersey City has a serious issue inwardly and outwardly. This guy votes on bigger tax abatements (and outright loans to developers like Bruce Ratner of all people) all while, allegedly, stealing from all of us. He gives away money to rich developers at the mayor's behest (more on his sad part in this story in a minute) or just of his own lack of research all while getting free money. No wonder Chico doesn't mind paying down the higher taxes, he's paying for abatements he gave out using taxpayer money so in essence he cares so much about you Jersey City resident, he's happy to soak you twice so he can live on Easy St. He votes on city business to this very day.

Following a two-month investigation, Ramchal, 40, was fired June 23 from his job as an enforcement officer at the Hudson County Improvement Authority. 

The HCIA began its probe on April 8 after The Jersey Journal made inquiries into why GPS records from the car the councilman had been driving -- which was registered to the Jersey City Incinerator Authority -- showed him driving around Jersey City when the time sheets he submitted to the HCIA indicated he was working.

We haven't even talked about his DUI yet either now have we? So on top of allegedly soaking everyone for his lifestyle he then thought it'd be a good idea to drive drunk and wreck property owned by someone else AND injure innocent people. If you're a regular reader you know Johnny was a victim of a drunk driver at age 17 which altered his life in many ways. He has a very low opinion of people, especially where trains and taxis and Uber and Lyft are the order of the day here, who make this choice.

So yeah, ethically this guy still sitting on Jersey City Council makes the city look a lot like a big ugly Chet from Weird Science.

Resign Mr. Ramchal, for all of us. This is one time to not put yourself first.

As for the mayor on all this, well where IS the mayor in all this? Mr. Virtue and Good Government who has had nothing but nasty things to say when wrongdoing rears it's regularly scheduled ugly head at the Parking Authority or JCMUA has been publicly pretty silent. Like Mayor Goldie Wilson before him he was gonna clean up this town. Except the typical Hudson County pol will always look the other way when someone can do something, ie vote for all their programs and abatements. What does Steve Fulop have to say on this very troubling issue? Well, nothing, he sent Ryan Jacobs out again to deal with the important issues non ribbon cutting related. Jacobs assured us Fulop has privately met with Ramchal and told him if he goes to jail or is indicted he might want to think about stepping down.

Way to lead from the back Mayor. Did you privately meet with Oren Dabney's brother before court too? Oh that's right, he couldn't help you with Bruce Ratner or Lloyd Goldman.

The circus at 280 Grove continues it's amazing open-ended run...

Today is the day, now is the time

Contact your city councilperson and let them know that in no way do you expect them to approve a tax abatement AND bonds to Forest City and CEO Bruce Ratner, also an owner of the Brooklyn Nets. Johnny understands the economics here, he understand the PILOT payments and Abbott school funding, THIS is an extremely bad deal for Jersey City taxpayers.

Contact your city councilperson, tell them while certain tax breaks can be advantageous but this one is beyond the pale.