Thus far 2017 is not off to a good start crime-wise in Jersey City

Shootings, a triple murder, an NJ Transit bus hit by stray gunfire filled with passengers, now a daylight beating/robbery near McGinley Square. A man was knocked down (probably the gutless way of coldcocking him) them kicked and beaten and robbed of his phone, cash and his shoes.

Not a good start for the JCPD and Mayor Fulop who is running for his job later this year. This is where it looks extra bad to pull cops off active duty to put them on construction/private detail because then it gets flung back at you at times like this eh JCPD?

McGinley Square redevelopment is a go

Wednesday night (we're timely aren't we?) the Jersey City Council unanimously approved the plan that will bring bowling alleys, restaurants, businesses and other commercial shops to McGinley Square. Unlike the first proposal that so many found insulting where the city would resort to eminent domain to take what they didn't want to pay for, this plan does not allow for eminent domain use.

We sure hope this plan works. Too often city officials are eager to do something, anything to make the city look like it's moving forward. Taxpayers pay through the nose for things like this and nothing ever comes from it.

Here's hoping it's all done in 5 years and showing benefit in 10.

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.