Friday, July 5, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy Independence Day!
Today might be a good day to look at your dwindling freedoms under George W. Bush, Barack Obama, the NSA, the FBI, PRISM, and the Patriot Act. Seriously, are you just going to give away your RIGHT to not be spied on with dubious warrant claims? Are you just going to give away your FREEDOM to not have your phone calls listened or your internet searches cataloged? Are you going to let National Intelligence Director James Clapper lie to Congress and not go to jail over the depth and scope of the spying? Guaranteed if you lied to Congress you'd be in jail yesterday.
So while you watch the teevee specials today on great Americans who built this land and gave us our birthrights, and watch the shells bursting over the Hudson River tonight ask yourself if you're just willing to accept what you're told by the powers that be or if you're ready to hold them to account.
Again, Happy Independence Day and Restore the Fourth!
So while you watch the teevee specials today on great Americans who built this land and gave us our birthrights, and watch the shells bursting over the Hudson River tonight ask yourself if you're just willing to accept what you're told by the powers that be or if you're ready to hold them to account.
Again, Happy Independence Day and Restore the Fourth!
Late night open thread
The Empire State Building is all lit up red, white, and blue. The WTC is lit up tonight as well. And Johnny's gonna try to stay lit this weekend as well. America!
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The more things change, the more they stay the same -- UPDATED
Well well well, that took all of a day didn't it? The day after the wonderful swearing in of Mayor Fulop and the city council, Joyce Watterman who won an at-large seat on the council -- wait for it -- wants to hire a family member for her staff. Yes Watterman wants her daughter Jennifer to serve on her staff and be paid the commensurate $15K a year salary.
So there's part one.
New council President Rolando Lavarro wasn't quite sure what to say in his first big test. After getting after Bill Gaughan's use of a family member on staff (And be clear, Jersey City has a looooong history of this sort of thing) Rolando seemed a lot less troubled about Watterman's decision:
Lavarro said hiring a family member “is not the approach I would take." But Lavarro said it’s difficult to find someone to do all the work of a council aide on $15,000 a year.
“It’s their decision, at the end of the day,” he said, adding that he believes Jennifer Watterman is “qualified” for the job.
Rolando Lavarro, you have Mayor Fulop on line 1:
Lavarro called about an hour later to reiterate his position: "I don't approve of it. Period."
Good to know Fulop has the city council president on speed dial. Now, there's nothing legally Mayor Fulop can do about this choice. The council chooses who the council chooses. But Fulop did strike the proper tone on this slippery slope:
"While by law her aide is only her decision and Jen is great, I think the appearance is not something I would think is favorable for her," he said. "I think another route would be better."
We agree with the Mayor. We here at the Jersey City Desk have nothing against Jennifer Watterman. We're certain she's a tip top professional who would serve her mother proud. The heck of it is this is bigger than just an appointment. This is the old Jersey City we're all trying so hard to move beyond. It's unfortunate those before Joyce Watterman abused the system.
It just sends the wrong message.
UPDATE: Ms. Watterman has decided against hiring her daughter. We commend her choice and once again say it's not about the fact her daughter wouldn't do a great job. It's just the message it sends at this point in time.
So there's part one.
New council President Rolando Lavarro wasn't quite sure what to say in his first big test. After getting after Bill Gaughan's use of a family member on staff (And be clear, Jersey City has a looooong history of this sort of thing) Rolando seemed a lot less troubled about Watterman's decision:
Lavarro said hiring a family member “is not the approach I would take." But Lavarro said it’s difficult to find someone to do all the work of a council aide on $15,000 a year.
“It’s their decision, at the end of the day,” he said, adding that he believes Jennifer Watterman is “qualified” for the job.
Rolando Lavarro, you have Mayor Fulop on line 1:
Lavarro called about an hour later to reiterate his position: "I don't approve of it. Period."
Good to know Fulop has the city council president on speed dial. Now, there's nothing legally Mayor Fulop can do about this choice. The council chooses who the council chooses. But Fulop did strike the proper tone on this slippery slope:
"While by law her aide is only her decision and Jen is great, I think the appearance is not something I would think is favorable for her," he said. "I think another route would be better."
We agree with the Mayor. We here at the Jersey City Desk have nothing against Jennifer Watterman. We're certain she's a tip top professional who would serve her mother proud. The heck of it is this is bigger than just an appointment. This is the old Jersey City we're all trying so hard to move beyond. It's unfortunate those before Joyce Watterman abused the system.
It just sends the wrong message.
UPDATE: Ms. Watterman has decided against hiring her daughter. We commend her choice and once again say it's not about the fact her daughter wouldn't do a great job. It's just the message it sends at this point in time.
Late night open thread
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
-- Marcus Aurelius
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
-- Marcus Aurelius
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
It's July already and the Super Bowl is only six months out -- Let the price gouging begin!
The Seville Motel, conveniently located on the rough and tumble section of Tonnelle Avenue, and where rooms rent for can $45 for three hours (call it the secretary special rate) is already getting walk-ins and calls about rooms for the Super Bowl (They don't advertise on social media and have no website). The cost for those rooms come Super Bowl weekend? Rooms will be $200-250, with a three-night minimum, said manager Ashok Panwala.
How's THAT for making some quick coin? We don't begrudge them. Hell all the hotels around here are doing this. Should some kind of Biblical miracle happens and the Lions make the Super Bowl Johnny's house is going to become a Motel 6.5 with all the Michiganders who'll flock out as if to see the image of Jesus on toast or the Virgin Mary in syrup. You better believe he'll make sure tributes are paid.
So, what kind of gouging are you finding or have you heard of dear readers? Anything really out there?Or perhaps you've chanced across someone who doesn't plan on upping the price of a burger from $9.95 to $16.95 at their restaurant.We'd sure love to hear about those places most.
How's THAT for making some quick coin? We don't begrudge them. Hell all the hotels around here are doing this. Should some kind of Biblical miracle happens and the Lions make the Super Bowl Johnny's house is going to become a Motel 6.5 with all the Michiganders who'll flock out as if to see the image of Jesus on toast or the Virgin Mary in syrup. You better believe he'll make sure tributes are paid.
So, what kind of gouging are you finding or have you heard of dear readers? Anything really out there?Or perhaps you've chanced across someone who doesn't plan on upping the price of a burger from $9.95 to $16.95 at their restaurant.We'd sure love to hear about those places most.
Late night open thread
A very nice ceremony and good speeches from Senator Menendez, Governor Christie and the new Mayor himself. The old boater hats in the audience was a nice touch.
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
Monday, July 1, 2013
A very nice piece on Jersey City and Mayor Fulop in the New York Times today
As you prepare your zodiac boat or maybe a canoe or a bass boat to take over to Mayor Fulop's inauguration, please take a few minutes of quality indoor time to enjoy a nice write up on our fair city by Kate Zernike at The Times. We think you'll like it.
Senators, governors, congressmen and women, citizens and fellow nere-do-wells, Welcome to Jersey City!
We have a full house of dignitaries here today for Mayor Fulop's (He became mayor at midnight) inauguration. Senator Menendez, Governor Christie, former JC Mayors, political media, and other big hitters in Hudson County so as Jersey City's Official Nere-do-Well® it falls on Johnny to offer the blanket welcome.
We hope you'll find the second-largest city in the Garden State to your liking as we have so many more amenities than the first-largest city. Please take a few minutes to enjoy our waterfront and the local grub. Best restaurants in the state right here so don't forget to eat. A lot of planning has gone into this shindig today so Johnny supposes we need to talk about this:
Monday
Overcast with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain, then thunderstorms and rain showers in the afternoon. High of 84F. Winds from the South at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60% with rainfall amounts near 0.4 in. possible.
Monday Night
Overcast with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain. Low of 72F. Winds from the South at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50% with rainfall amounts near 0.4 in. possible.
So, rain. Lots of heavy intermittent rain will fall on Jersey City today, with some moving into the area at press time. Flash flood warnings have been posted across the state. No word from the new city administration what happens in the case of a deluge at showtime. The graphic on the flyer simply says 'weather permitting.' Union County and Essex County already have tornado WARNINGS this morning and we anticipate things today will be done under a tornado watch. Plan accordingly and keep and eye on the sky.
Weather aside, please accept our hearty welcome to Cool City, enjoy your stay and spend money.
We hope you'll find the second-largest city in the Garden State to your liking as we have so many more amenities than the first-largest city. Please take a few minutes to enjoy our waterfront and the local grub. Best restaurants in the state right here so don't forget to eat. A lot of planning has gone into this shindig today so Johnny supposes we need to talk about this:
Monday
Overcast with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain, then thunderstorms and rain showers in the afternoon. High of 84F. Winds from the South at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60% with rainfall amounts near 0.4 in. possible.
Monday Night
Overcast with a chance of a thunderstorm and a chance of rain. Low of 72F. Winds from the South at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50% with rainfall amounts near 0.4 in. possible.
So, rain. Lots of heavy intermittent rain will fall on Jersey City today, with some moving into the area at press time. Flash flood warnings have been posted across the state. No word from the new city administration what happens in the case of a deluge at showtime. The graphic on the flyer simply says 'weather permitting.' Union County and Essex County already have tornado WARNINGS this morning and we anticipate things today will be done under a tornado watch. Plan accordingly and keep and eye on the sky.
Weather aside, please accept our hearty welcome to Cool City, enjoy your stay and spend money.
Late night open thread
I never yet feared those men who set a place apart in the middle of their cities where they gather to cheat one another and swear oaths which they break.
-- Herodotus
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
-- Herodotus
Time for Jersey City, After Dark
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