A top notch gallery is making the switch from NYC to Jersey City

It's fantastic this is happening and Johnny is sure everyone who cares about the art scene in Jersey City thinks this is great news. Jonathan Levine is moving his Chelsea gallery, but would you like to guess where? Which part of downtown did Levine pick? He, he chose exhibition space in Jersey City's Mana Contemporary, in Journal Square. This is huge news for The JSQ and certainly will have tendrils in other galleries and artists moving to Journal Square to be part of that scene. The Artist Crawl just gets better and better. More on this story at this handy link.

A West Side restaurant row? An art community around Loew's? People are talking

Two ideas to build on momentum around Jersey City are being discussed at the highest levels; a possible art community/art friendly area around Loew's on Journal Square is an almost done deal and should be approved in a city council meeting tomorrow, two high rises with a lot of art spaces and art-doings behind the Loew's now, currently the home to parking lots and unused land. Johnny likes this idea. It helps let Loew's anchor a neighborhood, a great sign if spaces are building in around it. This is also the exact spot a ten year abatement would be a great idea, enough to get it done but not a budget buster. More on the idea here.

A West Side restaurant row is being proposed in new zoning that will also go in front of city council Tuesday and while the pieces aren't as far along as the Journal Square plan, it would allow for further plans to be drawn up and so far everyone is on board:

The 14 blocks where zoning requirements will be amended under the plan fall between Montgomery and Claremont streets. In addition to support from Fulop, the proposal has also earned the endorsement of the West Side Community Alliance.

"WSCA strongly supports this first step in an eventual restaurant row," said Jodi Drennan, President of the West Side Community Alliance. "As Jersey City's most diverse community, the possibility for great restaurants is really exciting. We have the best housing, the most beautiful park, and we look forward to boasting the City's best restaurants!"

More on the West Side restaurant row plan here.

Great ideas both.

Johnny just loves it when people outwit crooks by doing the simplest things

Long long ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth and Johnny was in college, like so many students putting themselves through school he had a part time job. It was at what in Michigan they call a party store, here a bodega. Think along the lines of a 7-11 or Mi-T-Mart from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Johnny often worked the midnight shift when the more colorful customers would drop by.

One evening a fellow looking really no different than most went to the back cooler and grabbed a 12-pack of beer in each hand but not before lowering his ball cap. This piqued Johnny's curiosity. Long story short, yes, he acted like he was going to set the beer on the counter but turned and ran out as fast as he could. One gentleman entering the store noticed and yelled at the thief to stop and chased a few feet but for whatever reason thought better and came back to the store. He gave a statement to Ypsilanti PD but Johnny's statement was one of those simplest of things stopping stupid crooks. The police asked what kind of clues they could gather and Johnny simply said the guy's name is "XXXXX XXXXXXX" and he graduated from XXXX high school in 19XX;

The thief had worn his high school varsity jacket to steal the beer. Once he pulled his ball cap down Johnny made note of his last name. When he walked to the front he got his first name above his graduation year next to the varsity letter with his school's name on it. 20 minutes later the cops pulled up with the same guy in the back of their car and asked is he the one? Yes he is. Bye boy bye.

In Journal Square a robber entered the 7-11 there and demanded money. A harrowing moment perhaps. Unless the clerk simply stepped backwards two steps into an office and locked themselves inside.

The loser robber left empty-handed.

A fine article on the development in Jersey City from the NYT

The New York Times is out with a full and complete look at the development and growth of Jersey City and what now makes it a very attractive place to be.

In the past these articles from the Times and elsewhere consisted of a formula, talk about JC's closeness to NYC, talk to mayor who glowingly praises all development and then the article goes on to discuss developers plans. This article is a full look at our fair city, from the issues to getting Bergen/Lafayette up and going to the new boom area of Journal Square. There is a quote from KRE saying downtown is done, nowhere else to build. Also in this article is surprise surprise, a counter argument to the development and the lies that were sold by both City Planning and others in the city government that chundered the look and feel of the Powerhouse Arts District. PADNA President (and friend of Johnny's mea culpa) Kathryn Moore basically gave a heads up to Journal Square to be on the lookout and get things in writing. And even then...

Anyhoo, a great full look at JC, well worth the read. It deals with talking with residents more than tiresome city officials.

Important, perhaps weather related PATH announcement

PATH service between Journal Square and Newark has been completely suspended at this late, wet hour according to the Port Authority as of 11:45pm:

PATH service from Newark-Journal Square, in both directions, is currently suspended.

Could be weather-flooding related. Could be White Walkers. We'll let you know when we find out.

Tomorrow, you have to go do this, for food's sake

Say Billy, do you like food? Really good food prepared the right way? Then friends tomorrow right at Journal Square the Egyptian Festival runs from 12 noon to 10pm. Falafel with that warm bread and off the grill amazing shish-kebabs with that sizzling meat and all kinds of Egyptian foods. It'll be 72º wonderful degrees so do yourself a favor and know you can be just a train stop or to from something like this in Jersey City.

That Jersey City PD "Eye in the Sky" tower at Journal Square really gives the place a certain ambience

It says "prison yard." Yes the 25 foot tall 'eye in the sky' complete with floodlights and cameras sitting at JFK and Bergen Ave. has a certain futuristic Robo Cop feel to it. It does bring questions. Is there a reason that particular corner is being watched? A threat? A bad guy seen in that area? To keep the holiday shopper in that area under control? 

When you're done losing money on it sitting in JSQ, how about you bring it to Johnny's neighborhood and write tickets for public urination to the many construction workers too lazy and disgusting to use one of the many porta-potties provided for them? A guaranteed money maker!

Once again a good deed goes wanting

Jerry Walker was putting on a public service/campaign event at Journal Square today and was run off by the JCPD. Now before you get all angried up here's what happened. Walker was holding a 'Haircuts for the Homeless' event and had three barbers giving away haircuts for the homeless near the 9/11 memorial. The event was shut down by Tom Comey's boys who said Walker needed a permit to give away haircuts apparently. There's a law on the books dealing with this must be. Certainly it has nothing to do with Mayor Healy not being happy with Mr. Walker for staying in the race and perhaps taking votes Healy was counting on now does it? Jerry Walker wouldn't blame the mayor for shutting down his event, would he?

“I wouldn’t blame it on the mayor,” Walker said. “But it’s the police department, he’s the chief in charge, right?”

Jennifer Morrill went all Radar O'Reilly on M*A*S*H* about proper forms and triplicate and regulations:

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said park permits must be obtained to host events in that area of Journal Square.

That area. Just that area? Ten feet one way or another? Is over here on spec? So another good deed goes undone in Jersey City where one week before the mayoral election we see the powerbrokers and their loyalists from all across the city (and now Hoboken) in several pitched battles on several fronts spending tens of thousands of dollars while those residents with lesser means can't even get a free goddamn haircut.

NOW you can get angried up.

No parking in front of Journal Square today

Police have decided in the wake of the Boston situation that cars will be ticketed for stopping or standing outside Journal Square. Yes, it's more than likely an overreaction, it's what Americans seem to be best at anymore but you still can't park or stand in front of Journal Square today and most likely until further notice.

We just hope the cabs will still come by and pick up commuters.

Healy and Fulop go toe to toe, mano y mano, one on one...

And this is the part where Johnny dissects some of what was discussed.

Something has been eating at Johnny since he read the debate stories where Councilman Fulop challenged our Mayor because so many of his closest political allies, his deputy mayor (and campaign treasurer) and others who did business with Mayor Healy (how are those pancakes at the Brownstone Diner tasting now?) are in jail, have killed themselves or resigned in disgrace. Mayor Healy's actual response on his meeting that day with Solomon Dwek, Leona Beldini and others:

“I should have gotten a gold medal for effective, honest, open government for that,” he said.

That wasn't The Onion making up that quote, no it was Mayor Healy himself.

You don't get a gold medal for not committing a crime. You're expected to not commit crimes all the time and everywhere you go. You do not get credit or a gold medal for all your closest allies going to jail while you weren't arrested. You're don't get to elevate yourself as some paramour of virtue because you weren't indicted and your pals were. 

Unless.

Unless you were one who helped turn state's evidence, secretly of course, once you found out just how out of control this vipers nest at city hall had become. Unless you decided to take a stand for honest and open government and made a phone call or two. See that would be how one would get a gold medal in all this. But as of press time you haven't claimed credit for helping in the investigation.

Back to Mayor Healy's very bad debate day (and remember last time when he didn't even bother to show up for a few of the debates because he knew he had Lou Manzo whipped already). When pressed by Fulop on how Journal Square becomes a priority two months before each election Healy basically said well it was better than the dump he inherited (and then ran three times to govern over it). Ah yes, it's not a swamp, it's only a bog. The very Journal Square theatre the debate took place in came up as a topic of debate. Healy said he wouldn't drop any taxpayer money into the 'in-progress' rehab of historic Loew's Theatre. Fulop said rehabbing Loew's is vital to anchoring the Journal Square area. 

Check local cable times for the debate to air in it's entirety. 

We'd like to pass along a "what a douchecanoe" aimed at Hudson Media Group's Pat O'Melia who decided that Jersey City mayoral candidate Abdul Malik wasn't allowed to participate in the debate. Again, douchecanoe. He's on the ballot. Who cares if YOU don't think he can win. How about we as a right-thinking city excuse this clown from further debate decision making?

Mayoral showdown at Loew's Theatre today at 1pm

Historic Loew's Theatre will be the site of a showdown between some of the Jersey City candidates looking for the top job. Mayor Healy will be there as will Councilman Steve Fulop. Jerry Walker has been invited but illness may keep him away. Candidate Abdul Malik wasn't even invited and actually wasn't even allowed to participate. That's shameful.

So get yourselves on that Journal Square train, or head in from Nidia's Neighborhood and see the fireworks beginning at 1pm.

Just saw one of Mayor Healy's ads on the teevee

It centered on the Mayor's tireless efforts to get guns off of Jersey City's streets. Thankfully he has taken this head on for years. The ad notes the drop in the murder rate. We sometimes don't spend enough time thanking the Mayor about this because it's his signature issue. We eagerly await the Mayor's next ad on something new, the city taxes, what is REALLY physically tangibly happening at Journal Square, and the merging of city departments to really save money.

A note to Councilman Steve Fulop. Should you be fortunate enough to win the keys to city hall we can only hope you'll put as much emphasis on the topic of guns as Mayor Healy has.

BREAKING: PATH to start up TOMORROW morning -- limited route and time

According to the TeeVee news (NBC New York if you must know) the PATH train will begin running at 5am from Journal Square to 33rd St. The PATH will NOT stop at Christopher St. and 9th St. The PATH will run until 10pm.

You can get more as this story develops at NJ.com and Channel 4.

That is all...

You can almost set your clock by these pronouncements -- The new high rises at Journal Square are coming!

In a refrain we have heard for years from everyone to the mayor to city council to developers, the big new super duper high rise/office space at Journal Square is back in the news.

Because every four months somebody has to bring it up to make the city seem like it is an imminent project, and shovel ready. It's not. Once again the Jersey Journal is willing to write yet another article filled with quotes from those who one day hope to maybe and perhaps build there. Read the article. Note the many words like "could soon", "hoping to break ground", "hopes to put a shovel in the ground", and "possibly transformative developments." So, in essence, nothing concrete. All STILL just talk.

When you go to read the article just look at the fancy model the KRE Group has built. Isn't that something? Guys, you could build it with matchsticks and enter it into one of those science fairs to see how much weight the structure would hold and it still wouldn't any more near "Shovel in the ground" status than it was five years ago.

Tell ya what KRE Group and Jersey City government, come back and be interviewed for an article on this the day you actually dig something. Until then, please don't bother us with how great this "might" be. In the words of Dieter on SNL's Sprockets:

"Your story has become tiresome."

Jackie Robinson statue stolen from Journal Square home

The magnificent statue of Jackie Robinson at Journal Square was ripped from its moorings and taken by what police describe as a 4 x 4 truck, possibly a Ford F-150. Police said security videos around Journal Square show the truck backing up to the statue with three men getting out around 4:00 am this morning (Sunday).

If you have any information on the whereabouts of this iconic Jersey City statue please call Jersey City police.

An interesting commentary about the Mayor's State of the City speech last night

Political insider at the Jersey Journal, Agustin C. Torres, made a whale of a point about Mayor Healy's state of the city address last night. He felt with all of Healy's talk about the great new business and restaurant expansion, new construction, and the Sixth Street Embankment as High Line that the true heart of the city, Journal Square was being ignored.

Torres noted Healy was asked about this and didn't seem any too happy to respond.

Healy has done a lot of things for the city........from Grove St. to the river, but what of Greenville, The Heights, Journal Square, India Square et al. Has Jersey City under Healy, like Torres suggests, become 1789 Paris in A Tale of Two Cities? Have most of Healy's building and business initiatives favored downtown?

How much is being spent where mayor? Where are the police assets being spent? Downtown? The problematic Greenville area? Journal Square? What about the tax breaks? What part of town is getting them and are they equitable?

Last year at this time we were all hearing about the grand new development plan for Journal Square. Huge condo towers with businesses on the ground floor surrounded all throughout the neighborhood by newly opened supporting businesses and a grand new upgrade of the Journal Square PATH station. If you bring up this issue today you get the sound of crickets on a warm summer night.

A fair point by Mr. Torres should lead to a fair and lively discussion we think. Tell us your opinion in comments.

PATH is running this morning

After a fire at the Journal Square station last night which caused signal failures and the entire PATH system was shut down. It's good to go as of now.

McGinley Square residents get eminent domain letters from the Healy Administration

Property owners and residents in McGinley Square got letters this week that the city is planning on possibly using eminent domain as a plan is in place for newer housing and a very necessary bowling alley. While redevelopments plans can be a good thing, eminent domain is simply a cheap way of screwing landowners out of a fair deal.

Remember, this is the Healy Administration and Jersey City Council we're talking about, where deputy mayors get convicted of felonies, council members wind up going to jail and where there doesn't seem to be much accountability (When was the last time the actual Mayor of Jersey City answered for ANYTHING). How much of a fair price do you think homeowners are gonna get?

Oh we have questions. The city says they have a redevelopment plan. Like the one that gathers dust on Journal Square? In this Journal Square redevelopment plan is the use of eminent domain being discussed or is that just McGinley Square's cross to bear? After the city takes over these properties are they going to turn around and give them to private business to develop? Wouldn't that be great, take someone's property on the cheap and then give it a private business to make money on?

You better believe that's what's gonna happen here, property owners will be lowballed as under eminent domain there is NO reason not to. "Take our best offer or we'll just kick you to the curb". Then the city will practically hand the property over to some slimy development company like Toll Brothers to get rich off of while the people who used to own it try and find housing with the pittance they were offered.

A LOT of questions need to be answered before Jersey City and their band of cronies try this route.

Looking for some good food around the Journal Square area? Try Culinary Cafe

A new breakfast and lunch option has opened up to those in and around Journal Square that uses not only local fresh produce, but local aspiring chefs as well. Rick Low of the Culinary Cafe at the Culinary Conference Center has a new spot open only on Tuesdays and only for breakfast and lunch but it offers more than just menu fare, it offers young chefs the ability to set a menu, use locally grown and fresh produce and run a restaurant if only for a day.

Said Low on his students:

"They wrote bios. They designed their own menu. I let them order their own food, project food cost. We got a lot of response from the community and the students really liked it."

So why not support local food and local talent? Besides, doesn't rosemary beef stew, orange glazed Cornish game hen, cinnamon roasted baby pumpkin and seasonal vegetables sound better than White Castles?

Well, we can see a new Jersey City bottomless pit-o-graft in the new Journal Square 2060 development plan

While we're hardly against refurbishing and re-doing Journal Square and a couple square block area in any direction, a plan that adds nine new zones and runs until 2060 is a prime candidate for graft. #1 this IS Hudson County. #2 This IS Jersey City. When you add #1 and #2 you tend to get slush funds, back room deals and sleazy individuals making a lot of taxpayer money they probably shouldn't have.

In all the excitement over the 50 year giant sized 60+ story building renaissance we failed to hear one important word that anybody from Jersey City should recognize, OVERSIGHT. If you don't like oversight call it accountability and right now we've heard no plans for that. We've heard about the nine new zones, the 57 acres of redevelopment, the jobs that will be created but nothing for this 50 years about stopping the sleazebags who have their hands out all over this fair county. From city council to the window contractor the potential of a lot of this money being misused is great.

Luckily we have a city council in Jersey City ready to stand up to graft and agents of graft. They will have to vote on this plan we're certain they'll make sure to ask about the points Johnny just made. Who are we fooling, they're moving boxes in their basements right now to make room for cash deliveries for special building favors. We've seen it for decades so why would this project be any different?

Johnny won't be alive to see this even completed. He hopes there are good paying jobs in construction to help the unemployment rate. He hope the Journal Square PATH station is a shining beacon. He would like to see 2 or 3 tall buildings of condos and apartments with businesses in the bottom floors. He would like to see some of the buildings reused and reclaimed like the Loew's Theater. He'd also like to know that if Jersey City residents pay for this they don't get robbed blind trying to do the right thing. Sadly, with today's Jersey City council and their cronies, that can't be counted on.