Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City. Photo courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Hudson County enters its last month of summer, but the community news doesn’t stop there.
Here’s what’s been happening.
Find A Little Free Library In The West Side Of Jersey City
Little free libraries have been associated with understanding community needs, increasing literacy and connecting libraries with everyday life. They’re sprinkled throughout Hudson County, but if you find yourself on the West Side area of Jersey City, or are from there, here’s some locations you can find if you want to grab a new read or give new life to an old book.
- Highland Avenue between West Side & JFK Blvd
- Kensington Avenue between West Side & JFK Blvd
- JFK Blvd between Gifford & Belmont
- Bentley Avenue between West Side & JFK Blvd
- Boyd-McGuiness Park, corner of Duncan & JFK Blvd
- Outside of Crema, corner of Bergen & Duncan
According to Sophia Dumasig of the “Buy Nothing West Side, Jersey City, NJ” Facebook, a little free library is coming to Ege Avenue at a to be determined date while these two locations need some more donations and community assistance.
- 30 Boyd Avenue between JFK & Bergen Avenue
- Near P.S. #17 Bergen Avenue
Anyone can leave or take a book.
The Status Of The MLK-Ocean Avenue Bike Lane
A couple of weeks ago, Jersey City Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley addressed the ongoing chatter about Martin Luther King Drive and Ocean Avenue turning into one-way streets.
She clarified that there has been “no plans, requests or proposals” that have been officially sent to the city council about it, but noted that it’s important to work with the residents “on changes that make sense for them.”
The city’s southside residents voiced their concerns on the aforementioned bike lane—though it reportedly hasn’t been formally proposed—at the last council meeting. Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore has since organized a community meeting to talk about it on Wednesday, Aug. 13, which is a week before the next council meeting on Aug. 20.
While the MLK-Ocean Avenue bike lane hasn’t been formally presented, Jersey City is undergoing a number of “traffic safety improvements,” according to Hudson County View, including a four-way stop at Woodlawn and Bergen Avenues; a proposed four-way stop at Bramhall and Pacific Avenues and a request for sidewalk installations along Gates Avenue and the end of Communipaw.
“Our city is changing rapidly and it is important that all residents are included in conversations surrounding changes to their community,” Ridley said.
Hoboken PATH Might Move Slower For Awhile
Commuters spent much of July expressing their frustration, concerns and confusion on, what seems to be, frequent PATH train issues.
According to the Port Authority, further repairs might be needed—meaning that trains from Hoboken will “run more slowly” until after Labor Day weekend, Patch reported.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are moving trains at slower speeds in and out of Hoboken,” Port Authority spokesperson Seth Stein told Patch.
“These speed restrictions will continue until replacement parts are fabricated, shipped, and installed. Trains are currently using Tracks 2 & 3, as the damaged part of the interlocking leads to Track 1.”
Port Authority said they conclude that the train derailment on July 12, which caused a daylong suspension between Hoboken and Manhattan PATH, is what’s causing the issue.
“We sincerely appreciate our riders’ patience, and we expect speed restrictions in and out of Hoboken station to be in effect until after Labor Day weekend. During that time, we will make alternate travel options available as needed,” Stein added.
“… PATH Forward will mean more reliable rides but also asks our riders to bear with us as we carry out significant work on the system to make that a reality. Any failure of the new equipment is unacceptable, and we have brought in outside experts to prevent a future recurrence of these malfunctions.”
You can stay up to date with PATH here.
This Jersey City Church Is Saved, With A Stipulation
The city’s Zoning Board recently unanimously approved to restore St. John’s Episcopal Church, which has been located in the Bergen-Lafayette area of the city since 1871.
Advocates for the church have been fighting for preservation for roughly three decades, as the now-landmark went through a handful of developers who were given the greenlight on making it a project.
But, ultimately, the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and fellow preservationists have availed.
The church has not only a historied structure, but also a story.
Built in the mid-19th century, its design was inspired by a French Gothic cathedral. In the 1960s, it became a hub for Civil Rights activists and a safe space for the city’s Black and Puerto Rican community, according to Jersey Digs.
It’s unclear when’s the next zoning meeting for plans of the church, but the next Jersey City Zoning Board Meeting will be held Aug. 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom and is open to the public.
Hey HCCC And NJCU Students, This Internship Helps Strengthen The Community
The Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) partnered with the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC) to create an internship program designed to connect local businesses with students from Hudson County Community College (HCCC) and New Jersey City University (NJCU).
Businesses and students are encouraged to stay tuned for the next application opening.
The internship is meant to offer students “meaningful” and “career-boosting” experiences.
There’s flexible pathways for the interns to choose from including:
- Skill-based projects: roles in construction management, field supervision, technical operations, admin support and skilled trades
- Innovation-based projects: roles in marketing, digital media, data analytics, entrepreneurship and business development
- Community-based projects: roles in nonprofit, government agency and community outreach
For more information on requirements, why you should join the program and more, it can be found here.
NJCU Officially Appoints 13th University President
Andrés Acebo has been serving as NJCU’s interim president since Jan. 17, 2023. During his term, one of his most notable accomplishments has been leading the university out of an inherited financial crisis.
And on July 23, Acebo was lifted of his “interim” status and promoted to president of NJCU.
“President Acebo and his management team have provided exceptional leadership during the most critical period in our university’s history, and while he may have carried an interim title, the transformative work he has accomplished alongside our campus community has been anything but temporary,” said Luke Visconti, Chair of the NJCU Board of Trustees in a statement.
“Under his leadership, our campus has experienced unprecedented change—he reduced institutional debt by tens of millions of dollars, drove three consecutive semesters of double-digit transfer enrollment growth, secured the first positive financial outlook in NJCU’s history from Moody’s, and established numerous academic and community partnerships that have strengthened our campus connections throughout the region. In recognition of these demonstrated results, the Board determined he has earned the permanent title, and his vision has helped secure the future of our campus for generations to come.”
The Hudson County native and first-generation son of Cubans is now the third Hispanic to lead a four-year public institution and the youngest-known president to lead a public university in New Jersey.
He will continue to lead NJCU and they merge with Kean University and become Kean Jersey City.
Multiple Hudson County Government Employees Charged In Active Narcotics Investigation
Over a dozen individuals have been arrested by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in connection to an uncovered narcotics production facility, according to Hudson County View. They hail from West New York, Union City, North Bergen and Englewood.
The six-month long investigation reportedly led to the seizure of: over four kilograms of suspected cocaine, two handguns, seven vehicles and more than $70,000 cash.
Of those arrested so far include:
- Alfredo Diaz, 50, of Union City, is charged with leading a narcotics network, maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, two counts of conspiracy to distribute (cocaine), conspiracy to possess (cocaine), two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, two counts of possession with the intent
to distribute (cocaine), three counts of possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 1,000 feet of a school, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 500 feet of public property, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, crimes of the second degree; two counts of possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine), two counts of possession of a weapon while committing a CDS offense, certain persons not to possess a weapon (firearm), possession of hollow point bullets, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property (firearm), and three counts of money laundering. - Ileana Hernandez, 56, a dispatcher with West New York Police Department, is charged with official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, and conspiracy to distribute CDS (cocaine).
- Edwin Martinez, 39, of North Bergen, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a weapon (firearm) while committing a CDS offense, unlawful possession of a weapon, certain persons not to possess a weapon (firearm), two counts of conspiracy to distribute (cocaine), possession of hollow point bullets, possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 500 feet of public property, possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 1,000 feet of a school, and receiving stolen property (firearm).
- Daniel Diaz, 28, of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to distribute (cocaine), possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine), possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 1,000 feet of a school, and possession with the intent to distribute (cocaine) within 500 feet of public property.
- Thomas Mannion, 60, a retired West New York police detective and longtime PBA president, is charged with conspiracy to distribute (cocaine).
- Marquis Santiago, 33, Hudson County corrections officer, is charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine).
- Cristian Cortez, 55 of Englewood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute (cocaine).
- Jorge Delgado, 44, a security guard with the Town of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine).
- Johann Messina, 57, a laborer with the Town of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
- Carlos Begueria, 49, an employee with the West New York Parking Authority, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
- Dean Mannion, 61, of North Bergen, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
- Steven Betancourt, 43, of West New York, is charged with conspiracy to possess CDS (cocaine).
- Priscilla Acevedo, 44, of North Bergen, is charged with conspiracy to possess (cocaine), a crime of the third degree.
As of July 30, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation is active and ongoing.
Know any local news we should include? Email Stella Accettola at [email protected]!
