Medical residents at Jersey City Medical Center say they’re living paycheck-to-paycheck while their hospital operator, the state’s largest private employer, offers contracts that pay far less than doctors earn at sister facilities just miles away. (Jackie Roman / For NJ Advance Media)
Doctors are protesting and a local politician has quit his job—we’ve got you covered with what you missed in this Hudson County news roundup.
Give Your Input On Proposed Safety Improvements At Braddock Park
Hudson County and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) will host an in-person public meeting on Wednesday, June 3 at the James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen to inform and gain input from residents, officials, businesses and locals about the proposed safety improvements along JFK Boulevard East from Main Drive to Palisades Triangle Plaza.
The proposed project, which is currently in preliminary design, is intended to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety while minimizing impacts to the park. The project will include medians and pedestrian refuge islands with shorter crosswalks, high-visibility crosswalks with warning signs, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), pedestrian pathways and modern roundabouts, according to the project overview.
The project is being funded through the NJTPA, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The county is also receiving federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for the design and construction of safety improvements.
All members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Braddock Park located at 8702 JFK Blvd. E, North Bergen, where attendees will have the opportunity to speak with county engineers and project consultants and ask questions to better understand the project’s purpose and need, progress to date and provide comments on the proposed improvements. More information about the Public Information Center can be found here.
Written comments can be made through the Comment Form or mailed to:
Jose M. Sieira, Director of Traffic and Transportation
Hudson County Engineering
830 Bergen Avenue, Floor 6B
Bergen Square Center
Jersey City, NJ 07306
The written comments will be accepted through Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The 48th Santacruzan & Flores De Mayo Festival Crowned Its Queen
The 48th annual Santacruzan & Flores de Mayo Festival was on Sunday, May 24, continuing its tradition within the local Filipino community and beyond.
The all-day event started off with a mass at St. Mary’s Parish and was followed by a Santacruzan procession, which happens every May and is a pageant and short pilgrimage in honor of the Virgin Mary and St. Helena.
This year, Arienne San Pedro was crowned Reyna Elena—translated to Queen Helena—which is the highest spot in the traditional Santacruzan.
Want To Run For Harrison Mayor Or Council? Here’s How
Candidates who are considering to run for a Harrison government position must make a final decision by tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 by 4 p.m.
Those interested must file their nominating petitions by tomorrow, 4 p.m., through this Election Petition form. It must be filed at the Hudson County Clerk’s Office in Jersey City at 257 Cornelison Avenue, located on the fourth floor.
Harrison is divided into four wards with each represented by two council members.
According to yourharrison.com, the New Jersey election law and local ward population requires:
- Candidates running in Harrison’s 2nd Ward must obtain a minimum of 25 valid signatures from registered voters residing in that ward.
- Candidates running in Wards 1, 3, or 4 only need a minimum of 10 valid signatures from registered voters residing in their respective wards.
If you want to run for mayor, you need 50 signatures from one or more of the wards.
“Local elections determine your quality of life. Whether you get treated the same as the other part of town with free parking on side streets, or you get tickets because there is metered parking throughout your neighborhood near the PATH station and the Mayor & Council said there was nothing they could do at the Council meeting about giving residents some free resident parking like the other side of town,” written by yourharrison.com.
For more information, you can read here.
This Hudson County Organization Is Helping You With Energy Assistance
The Puertorriqueños Asociados for Community Organization (PACO) is going throughout Hudson County to help residents with energy assistance enrollment, weatherization referrals and energy education in “underserved communities.”
PACO was awarded $25,000 from the PSEG Foundation to support their Mobile Enrollment Initiative, PACO En Route / PACO En Ruta.
“PACO En Route / PACO En Ruta was developed to address barriers that prevent residents from accessing critical energy affordability programs, including transportation challenges, language access limitations, and digital navigation gaps,” read a press release from Jan. 27.
“Through recurring enrollment days at senior centers, libraries, family success centers, and community events, PACO provides one-on-one assistance with LIHEAP/USF applications, weatherization pre-screenings, and resource navigation.”
You can find all the dates, times and locations for their assistance here.
This Weehawken Steakhouse Has Closed Its Doors Forever
The Chart House, which is known as a riverfront staple, with views of the Manhattan skyline and quality food, closed for good this past Friday.
The steakhouse, located at 1700 Harbor-Boulevard pier D-T, will be renovated this year and reopen next year as Mastro’s Steakhouse, another restaurant known for its steaks, seafood and a dessert.
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West New York Assemblyman Abruptly Quits
West New York Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez suddenly resigned from his job as an accounting manager for the West New York Board of Education, which paid him a salary of $140,000-a-year. His resignation comes after Clara Herrera, the superintendent of schools, acknowledged his habit of consistent absence.
Three anonymous sources told the New Jersey Globe that Rodriguez “did not like being pressured to show up at work every day in West New York.”
At the time of this writing, Rodriguez’s assembly seat in the 33rd legislative district is not affected, but it’s to be seen. He earns $82,000 a year for that position.
West New York’s current mayor Albio Sires served in the U.S. House of Representatives with Rodriguez spending over nine years on his congressional staff. Sires backed Rodriguez for West New York commissioner back in 2015 and for mayor in 2019.
Sires was then elected mayor to succeed Rodriguez.
At the time of this writing, Rodriguez has not responded to voicemail and text messages sent over the weekend by New Jersey Globe.
Doctors At Jersey City Hospital Protest Low Pay And Poor Work Conditions
Nurses and doctors at Jersey City Medical Center gathered outside the hospital this past Thursday night to demand higher pay from operator RWJ Barnabas Health.
Members reportedly work an average of 50 to 80 hours a week and, in some cases, earn less than the hourly minimum wage, according to the Committee of Interns and Residents, a union representing the doctors. They also said that they work overnights and holidays, but don’t make overtime.
“It’s been constant the past few months,” said Dr. David Plotnick, a first-year internal medicine resident. “If you have a caretaker who isn’t well supported by management and the people around them, that leads to physician burnout.”
The medical residents also stressed that the closure of Heights University Hospital, formerly known as Christ Hospital, has added on much pressure.
Jersey City Medical Center is the city’s only hospital.
“That workload that was once spread across several hospitals, it seems Jersey City Medical Center is now absorbing it,” said Plotnick.
Following the protest, RWJ Barnabas said in a statement that they’ve been “negotiating in good faith” with the medical residents and interns.
World Cup Fans Get Ready! Jersey Fan Hubs Are Coming
Harrison’s Sports Illustrated Stadium is welcoming fans for the official NYNJ Host Committee’s fan experience this coming June 13 until July 15.
During select dates, fans can watch live matches from the stadium floor through a 60’ screen on the pitch and also their indoor/outdoor club, called Hype House. It will be free to attend.
If you want to see entertainment like Kygo/Kaleo and Justice/DJ Snake and Kidz Bop, that requires a separate, paid ticket.
There will be free Knockout stage watch party tickets dropped at a later date. For more information and to stay up-to-date on schedules, live performances and special appearances, you can check back here.
SBK On Broadway In Bayonne Is Looking For Local Creatives!
SBK on Broadway is opening its doors to more creators, dreamers, makers and trendsetters who are ready to grow their brand in a space built for impact this July!
“From fashion and beauty to candles, art, décor, jewelry, and everything in between, we’re building a creative retail experience where small businesses can truly be seen, supported, and celebrated,” the business wrote in a Facebook post to group “Bayonne Talks.”
“SBK on Broadway is more than a storefront – it’s community, collaboration, workshops, pop-ups, and a crowd that loves to shop small.”
The store is located at 174 Broadway in Bayonne.
If you want to showcase your business, then this is for you. Email [email protected] for more information and availability.
Bayonne Mayor-Elect Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski Announces New Members Of Team
John Minella and Maria Valado will help Bayonne Mayor-Elect Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski make her transition into the new administration.
“John Minella and Maria Valado each bring an incredible amount of experience, leadership, and commitment to public service to our effort to deliver a more effective and responsive local government for Bayonne residents,” Ashe-Nadrowski said in a statement.
Minella has served as the chief of staff to former Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, executive director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) and as the chair of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Valdo is the vice chair and acting secretary of the Bayonne Planning Board and a former Bayonne Board of Education president.
Mayor-elect Ashe-Nadrowski noted that the transition team will build an emphasis on:
- Evaluating city operations
- Identifying immediate priorities
- Building an administration centered on transparency, accountability and responsive government
Ashe-Nadrowski said that additional transition team announcements should be expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Council President Gary La Pelusa and Omar Elgarhi are going into a June 9 runoff for the 3rd ward representation position.
A Fire In Hoboken Leaves Two Families Homeless
Two families are temporarily homeless in Hoboken due to an early Sunday fire.
Two families, in two separate units, suffered fire and water damage, forcing their temporary displacement. Both families, however, found temporary accommodations as they wait to return home.
The Hoboken Fire Department responded to the 700 block of Adams Street at around 5:08 a.m. this past Sunday on reports of a fire on the roof of a four-story building, Public Safety Spokeswoman Marci Rubin told Patch.com.
Firefighters reportedly quickly extinguished the blaze with no injuries.
The Fire Prevention Bureau is currently investigating the incident.
Know any local news we should include? Email Stella Accettola at [email protected]!
