Jersey City Moment of Zen

Courtesy of Frank H Jump.

Jersey City Gangs

So the Jersey City news world is abuzz: Assemblyman Lou Manzo wants to call in the National Guard to clean up gangs. Here are some opinions of mine on the issue.

Opinion #1: I agree that this is an attention grab from a politician that must clean out his offices soon. The National Guard in Jersey hasn't happened for this sort of issue since the Newark race riots, right?

Opinion #2: He lists Jersey City as a place that needs this. Isn't that crazy talk? I drive through many parts of JC on my way to work in Teaneck, and my mechanic is in over on JFK on the way down to Bayonne. I'm not so sheltered that I don't know that some neighborhoods are.. not so great. However, I have not seen or read about a neighborhood that needs National Guard help.

Opinion #3: Even for Newark, isn't this a bad idea? You want National Guardsman to try and rid the city of gangs? I doubt their training includes how to deal with gangs, although I will admit that their training has probably changed in leaps and bounds since the days of Kent State. But does this list make sense: Iraq, New Orleans... Newark?

I don't have the answers about Newark's growing problem with violence. However, I'm pretty sure THIS is not it.

Miss a Minute

So I leave for a week (bachelor party/seeing SF friends again), and it turns out I missed a huge crisis in the ethical treatment of animals.

Ah, all's well that ends well. Too bad the police couldn't come and arrest these Michael-Vicks-in-waiting.

Finally, Jersey City's Path in the 21st Century

I always wondered why New York, with all it's cash, couldn't tell me how long until the next train was coming. London does it on every track.

Not surprisingly, the L train led the charge with this one.

But here comes NBC to the rescue! TVs in PATH trains and on the platforms. TVs that will tell us things! TVs that will let us know if trains are coming. TVs that will let us know about delays! TVs that will also try to sell us stuff in between, I'm sure.

Come to think of it, how useful is it to know when the train is coming? It's not like I can take another line....

Jersey City Needs More Fulophimself

What, me worry? Steve Fulop for president, in a stunning reversal.

Must have something to do with his new site.

Jersey City? That's Hoboken!

There's no need to stir up Homeland Security concerns in Jersey City, we have our own history with that.

But it seems that someone got into an accident in HOBOKEN, not JC, with a box with radioactive markers on it and ran from the scene. After sensors showed a higher-than-normal level of radioactivity, HAZMAT people got on board.

And then someone shouted at the reporter 'tell them NO radioactivity,' which seems like a less-than-subtle attempt at censorship.

More on the way? Seems the wagons have been circled and this was just a thief that stole a geiger counter.

Likely story.

58 Gallery Opening on Friday in Jersey City

Going to this, details below, but also discovered a blog.

I'd say it was new, but it looks like it's only new to me!

Definitely useful for events in Jersey City: rockitdocket.blogspot.com


> 58 GALLERY and Trust Your Struggle Collective proudly presents
>
> Of Love & Riots
>
> Friday August 10th - Sunday September 9th 2007
>
> Opening celebration - Friday August 10th
> 58 GALLERY
> 58 Coles Street Jersey City
>
> Art installations by Trust Your Struggle Collective BORISH CECE ERIN
> 'CHARM' YOSHIOKA MIGUEL 'BOUNCE' PEREZ ROBERT TRUJILLO SHAUN TURNER
> SCOTT LA ROCKWELL
>
> with music from
> DJ JONNY PAYCHECK
> DJ KING TRES
>
> Closing reception Saturday September 8
>
> For more info please visit: http://www.blogger.com/www.fifty8.com http://www.blogger.com/www.trustyourstruggle.com
> www.myspace.com/trustyourstruggle

ROFL - Jersey City Has City Song

Courtesy of the Journal, here are the lyrics to Jersey City's official song.

Enjoy!

Let's all sing 'Jersey City, N.J.'

These are the lyrics of Jersey City's official song, adopted by the City Commissioners in 1947, in case there's the urge to croon:

"I've been around'/And I'm nobody's fool.
I know where folks/Obey the golden rule.
I tell you, friends, It's something nice to see/ And talk about their hospitality.
When you're walking down the street/Everybody that you meet/Greets you with a smile so gay.
It's a friendliest place/'There's a smile on each face/ In Jersey City, N.J.
It will warm your heart to hear/Little friendly words of cheer; Howdy neighbor, happy day.
Hearts are always so light/Skies are always so bright/ In Jersey City, N.J.
And if you're lonely by chance/Whether it be March or June/You're sure of finding romance/Underneath the Jersey moon.
So when you are feeling blue/And you don't know what to do/Take a trip down Jersey Way.
And in just a short while/You'll be wearing a smile/In Jersey City, N.J."

Breaking Bridge News

This just in:

New Jersey's roads and bridges need billions of dollars of work.

Amazing. Expect allready-high taxes to jump, and tolls as well.

Jersey City's Pulaski Skyway Unsafe?

I'm no chicken little, but this is a little disturbing.

The Pulaski Skyway, which was built in the same style as the Minnesota bridge, was also deemed 'structurally deficient' the last time it was inspected.

And we all know how well that turned out for the Minnesota bridge.

I'm not joking about this. I don't want to jump on the bandwagon that's banging down Corzine's door to get him to redo the Skyway, but it is concerning.

I drive on that thing. I don't like to drive on things that are 'structurally deficient!'