Online Newsletter | March 2010

2010-03-07T07:41:00.001-08:00

Rodney Hadley, the Director of Public Works Reschedules and will be our guest at RNA's March meeting
Due to a personal emergency, Rodney Hadley, the Director of the Jersey City Department of Public Works, could not attend last month's meeting.We have rescheduled for this month's meeting. The DPW is responsible for supporting and improving Jersey City's infrastructure, including the maintenance and repair of:

· Jersey City roads - potholes, broken curbs
· City-owned buildings
· Motorized equipment, including police and fire vehicles
· City parks - trees, playgrounds, ball courts
· Traffic signals and signage

Ask Mr. Hadley your public maintenance questions at this month's meeting! The Department can be reached at 201 547-4402 or visit their website.

Election Night at RNA
Annual elections for RNA officers will be held on Tuesday, March 9th at our monthly meeting. Nominations were opened at the February meeting and will remain open until prior to the vote.

Nominated thus far are:

Chair: Becky Hoffman
Vice-Chair: Kern Weissman
Treasurer: Roger Heitmann
Secretary: Monya McCarty
Sgt. At Arms: Joseph Guevara

To be eligible to vote, you must be eighteen years old or older, paid your annual membership dues and live or own property within the constitutional boundaries of RNA. The Association's boundaries are Paterson Plank Road on the east, New York Avenue on the west, Cuneo Place on the South and Congress Street on the north. To run for office, an individual, in addition to the above qualifications, must be a current resident living within RNA's boundaries and be an active member of RNA. All RNA members are encouraged to vote in the annual elections!

JC residents getting it from all sides!
On Feb. 24th, the City Council held a public hearing on the fiscal 2010 municipal budget (for the year starting July 1, 2009 ending June 30, 2010). Hundreds of residents came out to express their displeasure with a budget that includes a 25%-30% tax increase.We encourage all RNA members and friends to pay attention to the budget hearings and get involved. The Council did not vote on the budget at the Feb. meeting. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 10th at 6PM at City Hall, 280 Grove Street. For an excellent recap of the last meeting, please visit the Jersey City Independent.

Residents and local businesses are also dealing with a 24% jump in their overall water/sewer bill starting January 2010. The combined water/sewer rate went from this year's estimated $6.57 per 100 cubic feet to $8.15 per 100 cubic feet. JC Municipal Utilities Authority Board of Commissioners voted to raise the rate at its Oct. 2009 meeting. The Central Avenue Special Improvement District wrote extensively about the hike in its Winter 2010 newsletter. Go to their website to download the article. Please write to your councilperson, the local papers and attend community and City Council meetings to let your opinions be known about these increases.

We thought you'd never ask!
"How would YOU fix New Jersey?" Hudson County members of the State Assembly would like to know.

Assembly members Joan Quigley, D-Jersey City, Caridad Rodriguez, D-West New York, Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, Ruben Ramos, D-Hoboken, Anthony Chiappone, D-Bayonne, and Charles Mainor, D-Jersey City, want to know what residents want to do to cut taxes, maintain services and improve the quality of life in New Jersey.

The assembly members are holding a public hearing to hear your views on Wednesday, March 10th from from 5 to 8 p.m. in the county freeholders' chamber at 567 Pavonia Ave. in Jersey City. Members of the public will be heard in the order that they sign up at the meeting.

Journal Sq. Public Meeting
At the Feb. 9th planning board meeting, the latest Journal Square Redevelopment Plan was on the agenda. After the public hearing was opened and a few speakers went forward, the Planning Board voted to carry the discussion to a March 16th and asked the Planning Department to meet with the community prior to that date to review the plans. The Public Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9th at 6PM at City Hall (280 Grove Street) but is likely to be postponed as the City now intends to present the plan for the entire Journal Sq. plan area rather than just the "core".

2010 Census
Need a job? The 2010 Census is hiring part-time office and field workers in Jersey City and Bayonne. To schedule an employment test, call 201-285-0150 and please tell them that RNA sent you. Hourly pay is $15-$20/hour. For more information go to www.census2010.gov.

Online Newsletter | February 2010

2010-02-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

Our guest at RNA's February meeting - Rodney Hadley, the Director of Public Works
The Jersey City Department of Public Works is responsible for supporting and improving Jersey City's infrastructure, including the maintenance and repair of:
· Jersey City roads - potholes, broken curbs
· City-owned buildings · Motorized equipment, including police and fire vehicles
· City parks - trees, playgrounds, ball courts
· Traffic signals and signage

Ask Mr. Hadley your public maintenance questions at this month's meeting! The Department can be reached at 201 547-4402 or by visiting their website.

Sad News
RNA is saddened to report the recent death of one of our members, Alan Rosenblatt. Alan generously contributed his time and his talents in numerous ways for the last three years. He was the graphic designer behind our new logo, TShirts and numerous posters promoting our flea market and movies in the park. He made his own rock candy in custom packaging to be sold to benefit RNA at the Everything Jersey City Festival, volunteered at our Holland Street Cleanups and Flea Markets and befriended the senior citizens at the Harbor View Health Center at one of our annual parties for the residents there.

Alan was known in the neighborhood for his brightly colored clothes and Crocs and was seen most often walking his beloved boxer, Debbie. Alan lived at 310 Palisade Avenue.

Alan Rosenblatt on duty at RNA's 2008 Flea Market

JC proposes 25% tax increase!!!
One day after Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez and Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan were guest speakers at the January 12th RNA Meeting, the City Council rushed to introduce a budget (for the year that began July 1, 2009) in order to qualify for state monies they may not otherwise receive. The budget included an estimated 25% tax increase to the municipal portion of your property tax bill (and county and school taxes will likely increase as well). At the RNA meeting, dozens of residents posed numerous questions to our council representatives about the budget and their property taxes. At that time it appeared that the budget introduction was still weeks away and that the Council was working to cut expenses and increase revenues to lessen the blow. As of this writing, the budget has not been passed and the City is working to cut expenses but a huge tax increase is still in the offing. Over time, our city officials have clearly not planned for the financial "rainy day" that now burdens us. RNA encourages its members to get involved and speak out about the tax increase, as well as any and all practices that led to it.

It's Back!
Another Journal Square Redevelopment Plan is on the Planning Board's agenda for February 9th. Some of you may recall that RNA and other community groups vehemently opposed the last version of the plan and the hundreds of thousands of dollars the city invested in outside planners to create it. We had hoped that the City would have learned from its mistakes last time and worked with the Journal Square and surrounding communities to come up with a viable plan. The latest plan reaches the Planning Board on Tuesday and we know of no public input prior to it being put on the agenda with the notation that "formal action may be taken."

We have obtained a copy of a DRAFT of the plan and it has been posted to our website for your review.

2010 Census
Need a job? The 2010 Census is hiring part-time office and field workers in Jersey City and Bayonne. To schedule an employment test, call 201-285-0150 and please tell them that RNA sent you. Hourly pay is $15-$20/hour. For more information go to www.census2010.gov.

Online Newsletter | January 2010

2010-01-07T17:52:00.000-08:00

Concerned About Jersey City?
Are you worried that the 11.25% municipal tax increase for the first half of 2010 may only be the tip of the iceberg? Wondering when a 2010 fiscal budget will be introduced (for the year beginning July 1, 2009?) or why the budget is so late each year? Want to hear what your representatives think about the issues that concern you most?

Then here is your opportunity. Our Ward representative from the Heights,Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan and Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez, will be our guests at the January 12th RNA meeting. Monthly business will be kept to a minimum in order to give you time to get answers to your most pressing issues directly from your Ward representative.

Send us the questions you plan to ask so that we can organize the evening to cover as much as possible. Send your questions to riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net.

Are you most concerned about taxes, city services, public transportation, our local parks, the 100 Steps or economic development? Please share your concerns with us and on Tuesday, January 12th at 7:30PM at the Harbor View Health Center, 178 Ogden Avenue, (corner of Franklin) 1st Floor Cafeteria. Please bring your neighbors and friends to demonstrate our concern and interest in what happens in our city.

Holland Street - Funding Request Amended
Back in November we reported that Mayor Healy had submitted an application via Congressman Albio Sires requesting $1 million for restoration, repair and rehabilitation of Holland Street, that included re-establishing vehicular traffic to it.

RNA voiced its displeasure about the re-opening of the roadway and lobbied to have the funding request amended to preserve Holland Street as a historic landmark and as a pedestrian-only walkway. We are pleased to announce that the City has amended its application to do just this. We thank the Mayor's office, the Division of Planning and Congressman Sires for listening to our concerns and taking action.

To let Congressman Sires know you would like this project funded, please call his office at 201-222-2828 or go to his website and submit a letter at www.sires.house.gov

A Wonderful Way to Celebrate
About 50 RNA members, neighbors, business owners and city officials gathered at the Harborview Health Center, on December 8th for RNA's annual holiday party. The party was catered by Rizzo's on Central Avenue; raffle prizes (a free raffle - what a concept) were provided by Palisade Wine & Liquors and founding member Maria Tuzzo; and a bevy of sumptuous desserts were contributed by our members. Special thanks goes to the Harbor View Health Center for generously donating their cafeteria for this event and for our monthly meetings.

To help those in need during the holiday season, attendees also donated over 15 pounds of food items to The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (www.njfoodbank.org). If you weren't able to attend and still want to support the food bank and our community, donations are welcome at any time of year. Thank you to RNA board member Joe Guevara for coordinating the food drive and to everyone who made this event a success.

100 Steps - One Small Step at a Time
Despite the fact that the developer's agreement requires the developer of The Cliffs to pay for the construction of the 100 Steps as a condition of approval for its variances, the City is now working to obtain grant money from the State to cover a significant part of the cost of construction. In a resolution in mid-December, the City Council approved the submission of an application to the NJ Department of Transportation 2010 Local Aid Infrastructure Funds through the NJ Transportation Trust Fund for $300,000. According to Councilman Gaughan, the total cost of the Steps is now $600,000 and the developer only put aside $240,000. If the DOT does not approve the grant, according to Gaughan, the developer will "have to come up with the funds."

While we appreciate that the City is trying to fund the construction of the 100 Steps as the community was promised, the onus is on the Developer not the City or the taxpayers to do so.We call on the City to enforce the original agreement.

2010 Census
Need a job? The 2010 Census is hiring part-time office and field workers in Jersey City and Bayonne. To schedule an employment test, call 201-285-0150. Hourly pay is $15-$20/hour. For more information go to www.census2010.gov.

Online Newsletter | December 2009

2009-12-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Holiday Party & Food Drive
Please join us for RNA's annual holiday party on Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00PM at the Harbor View Health Center (corner of Ogden & Franklin) at our monthly meeting. No business will be conducted - just come and enjoy! Happy Holidays! All are welcome.Get together with your neighbors and friends on Tuesday, December 8, for RNA's annual holiday party at 7pm at The Harborview Health Center, 178 Ogden Avenue (1st Floor Cafeteria).

There's no RNA business conducted and no cost! Members are encouraged to bring a dessert and enjoy a catered dinner from Rizzo's on Central Avenue with the RNA community.

To help those in need during the holiday season, RNA will be holding a food drive in partnership with The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (www.njfoodbank.org). We kindly ask you to bring an item from the list below. Additional information including the "Most Wanted" list is provided below for you to review, download, or print.
Most Wanted List:
- Canned Fish / Meat
- Milk (Powdered and Infant Formulas)
- Boxed Meals
- Canned Packaged Meals
- Peanut Butter (Plastic Containers only, please)
- Canned Vegetables / Fruit

Organization Information / Pamphlets
- Most Wanted List
- Community Food Bank of NJ

We'll also have some surprises but most of all it is a time to celebrate the holidays with your community. - Don't be shy - this is a friendly crew so if you have never come to one of our meetings, you are still more than welcome. Happy Holidays!

Local Liquor Store Burglarized
RNA member Palisade Wine & Liquor located at the corner of Palisade Avenue and Hutton was recently burglarized. The burglar broke in through the back alley and stole several hundred dollars in cash. Anyone with any information about this break-in is encouraged to contact the JCPD - North District detectives. RNA asks all neighbors to report any suspicious behavior to the police. We express our sympathy to the store owner for this theft and encourage the JCPD to investigate thoroughly.
100 Steps -

A Contract Should Mean Something
RNA members and friends who read this newsletter or attend meetings regularly know that as a condition of approval for The Cliffs project (Paterson Plank Road and Mountain Road) that the developer was required to reconstruct the 100 Steps connecting Ogden Avenue with Paterson Plank Road. While the variances were granted and the building is occupied by paying tenants, the developer has not yet built the Steps and the City has not helped the matter. Years have gone by, the building has been constructed and occupied, yet the community has not yet received the promised benefit (the steps) in return for approving the variances.

The City is a party to the developer's agreement. When will the City take action and demonstrate to our community that an agreement that was negotiated in good faith (with significant input from RNA) will be enforced? We hear rumors that the cost to build the Steps has increased beyond what the developer wishes to pay - well, had the Steps been built years ago, they would have been less expensive - and had the City insisted on an actual cost estimate rather than a guesstimate - we would not be waiting. We call upon the City to do everything within its power to require the developer to uphold its end of the contract. That would be a Christmas present we would remember for a very long time.

Online Newsletter | November 2009

2009-11-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Halloween Is for the Dogs!

Dozens of dog owners and their well-costumed pets came to Riverview Park on Halloween to celebrate the holiday. RNA sponsored this event with local business Riverview Bark. Odd Box Video offered professional dog portraits for a nominal fee for those who participated. All of the dogs were well-behaved and seemed to enjoy dressing up. There were "hot dogs," "devil dogs," a princess and a flapper, a Yankee fan, and a fireman dog, among others.

If you missed it, you can view wonderful photos taken by the Jersey Journal or local photographer extraordinaire, Pat Marella, on our website.

Riverview Bark, a self-service doggie wash and boutique owned by Melissa Cullen and Frank McMonagle, will be opening at 479 Palisade Avenue in mid-November. In addition to the dog wash, they will offer dog walking, overnight sitting (in your home), feeding services, and pet food delivery.

Thanks but NO THANKS!
Without any input from our neighborhood and without the knowledge of RNA, Mayor Jerramiah Healy submitted an application requesting $1 million for a "high priority transportation project" via Congressman Albio Sires in April 2009 for the "restoration, repair and rehabilitation" of Holland Street. While this could have been a good thing, the monies (if granted) would "re-establish typical pedestrian and vehicular traffic, to Holland Street.

As most of you know, RNA and the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy worked tirelessly to preserve Holland Street as a municipal historic landmark. It is one of the last cobblestone streets in Jersey City. It earned historic designation from the City in 2002.

While we welcome funding for preservation of Holland Street and to better integrate it into Riverview Park, we do not support re-opening the road to vehicular traffic. Nor does the County or City Traffic engineers in their reports, nor did Councilman Gaughan when we spoke to him after the request was discovered. RNA will be writing Mayor Healy and Congressman Sires to ask that this application be withdrawn if the vehicular component remains.

Get on board - November 19
Interested in serving on one of Jersey City's 39 boards, commissions, agencies, authorities or committees? The process to this point has been closed off or unknown to most residents. On November 19th, The Heights Coalition (which includes RNA), Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and Civic JC, will sponsor a class led by Citizens' Campaign, to teach you about the appointment process
and how to take a leadership position on one of these boards or commissions.

City Clerk Robert Byrne will participate and all are
welcome. The class will be held on November 19th, at 7PM in the City Council Chambers, 280 Grove Street.

Online Newsletter | October 2009

2009-10-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

RNA's 23rd Annual Flea Market a Success!
Despite rain that caused the event to be postponed, RNA's 23rd Annual Park Fest and Flea Market was a great success. Over 70 vendors participated, hundreds attended, and a significant sum was raised for the activities of your neighborhood association.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the RNA board, local businesses and vendors, RNA members, the City of Jersey City, and all those who came out to Riverview Park to participate.

This event would not have been successful without everyone's combined efforts. Olga Weissman led the Flea Market committee for RNA. Councilman Gaughan persuaded the City to cover the Liability insurance. The JCIA and Parks & Forestry helped clean up the park and provided a generator for our use. The JCPD patrolled the area. Local businesses - Palisade Wine & Liquor, Palisade Lumber, Sal's Pizza, Alfred's Party Time, and Goehrig's Bakery - provided donations. RNA board member Joseph Guevara contributed prizes for the kids' games as well as iPod's for the raffle. Local businesses kindly hung our poster in their windows and many members passed out flyers. Maria Tuzzo coordinated the vendor registration. Allison Fontana contributed her artistic talents for free face-painting for the kids, and free yoga and intenSati classes were offered by RNA members Leiza Antonczak and Norina Guerra.

Many members contributed their time and talents to bake, work the RNA booth and escort residents of the Harbor View Nursing Home to the event. This truly was a community effort. There are many others who we are surely omitting(though certainly unintentionally) and we thank you too! To see a slide show of the Flea Market, go to:http://www.vimeo.com/6611445

Crime, skunks and other area complaints
The last few months has seen a rise in problems in our area. RNA is working closely with the appropriate City agencies to address these problems and we encourage each of you to call the Mayor's Action Bureau and your Councilperson to ask them to stay on top of these issues.

Our area has seen an increase in burglaries. There was one incident on Palisade Avenue north of Congress Street and the second on Sherman Avenue. What is alarming about these is that the burglaries took place while the owners of the property were home either sleeping or in another part of the house. Please use precautionary measures such as:

- Locking windows, doors, gates, garages even if you are home
- Arming your home alarm system at night via the "Stay" feature
- Ensure valuables such as electronics are not stored in your vehicle
- Be aware of your surroundings especially at night while walking

Neighbors in the area of Ogden and Franklin Street have reported seeing a large number of skunks and possums both during the day and in the evening. RNA has been in regular contact with Animal Control and the Mayor's Action Bureau. While we have been assured that these animals pose no danger (just a nuisance), the City has promised to place two traps in the area. Unfortunately, as of this writing, this has not been done.

Others report that maintenance and patrols of Riverview Park are declining. After recent storms, many branches have fallen and have not been picked up in a timely manner, and there is a rise in complaints about homeless, or disorderly persons in the Park.We have passed on these complaints to the City and will follow-up.

Community Notes
296 Palisade Avenue.
An application to develop this site was carried to the November zoning board meeting. There is some confusion between the owner and the mortgage holder/applicant as to what they wish to develop there - a purely residential site or a mixed-use site. RNA has concerns about the use and design (with a parking entrance/entrance on Palisade Ave) that have not yet been addressed.

520 Palisade Avenue
The proposal for the former firehouse that was last presented to convert this space to an office use has fallen through. The building is listed again for sale/lease.

The 100 Steps
A third design has supposedly submitted to the City for approval after the previous set did not meet current code (which changed as it is has taken so long to get the Steps done!)

City Finances
The Jersey Journal reports that the City has a $40 million budget deficit. Mandatory furloughs have been announced yielding $2 million. It is time to stay vigilant.

Online Newsletter | September 2009

2009-09-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

Join Us for the Annual Park Fest & Flea Market
We've been gearing up all summer for RNAs 23rd Annual Park Fest and Flea Market! This year's Fest may be the best ever and you won't want to miss out. There's still time to reserve a space to sell your gently used goods and to clear your calendar to come out to enjoy the day with us.

This year we have children's events planned for the afternoon, chances to win an Apple iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, or a $25 dollar gift certificate to iTunes and ample opportunities to meet your neighbors while supporting RNA. Please bring your friends and family and enjoy the Park and all the neighborhood has to offer.

We also need volunteers. Can you spare an hour or two during the day to support RNA? We need volunteers to help set up and break down the RNA booth, escort senior citizens from the Harborview Nursing home to/from the park, to help out with the kids games, man the RNA booth, and help with cleanup. We can provide certificates for community service hours to high school students who help out too. Please email or call to volunteer.

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, September 12th, 10AM-5PM (Rain date 9/13)
Place: Riverview Park - Ogden Ave between Griffith & Bowers

For more information:
Contact Maria Tuzzo at 201-659-2245 or go to our website: http://www.riverviewneighborhood.org/Fleamarket.html to reserve a space or call Becky Hoffman for more information or to volunteer at 201-876-1980.

Vendor cost: A space is $15 for RNA members and $20 for Non-Members.

Please note there will be no parking on Ogden Avenue between Griffith & Bowers on September 12th between 8AM and 6PM to accommodate the flea market.

A Beautiful Night for a Movie
RNA held its 2nd Annual Movie Night on August 27th - screening the six-time Academy Award winner The Sting. About 100 neighbors came out to enjoy the film and dozens of kids enjoyed the free popcorn and cotton candy.

RNA would like to thank everyone for coming to Riverview Park to enjoy the movie, to the local businesses who allowed us to place posters in their windows, to the Division of Cultural Affairs for providing the popcorn and the insurance, and a special thanks to RNA board member Kern Weissman for being the driving force behind movie night.

We would love to offer more movies next year. However, we need your financial support to do so. If you can make a donation to offset this year's costs and help provide seed money for next year, please mail us a check or send it electronically via PayPal to riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net. RNA is a 501(C) 3 and donations are tax deductible.

RNA Meetings resume Sept 8
RNA resumes its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 8th at 7:30PM at the Harborview Health Center at the corner of Ogden & Franklin. Please note this is just one day after Labor Day so it is easy to overlook. We'll then be meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month through July. Please mark your calendars. At this month's meeting we will catch up on neighborhood happenings over the summer, share concerns with the Mayor's Action Bureau and the JCPD, and make final plans for the Flea Market. See you there!

Rally & City Council Meeting 9/9!
The City Council will consider a Redeveloper Pay-to-Play Ordinance, introduced by Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop, at its meeting on September 9th. The ordinance would prohibit designated developers from contributing to politicians during the time that they are benefiting from favorable financial considerations from the city. A similar ordinance was voted down on first reading about two years ago, but in light of the recent corruption scandal, the environment may be ripe for passage. If you are in support of the ordinance, you are encouraged to attend the Council meeting and rally on the steps of City Hall. The rally is at about 5:30PM and the Council meeting starts at 6PM at 280 Grove Street.

Community Notes
The Jersey City Museum invites you to volunteer for their docent corps. Docents are trained and then lead tours and other activities at the museum. For more information contact Michelle Loughlin, Director of Education and Programming at 201-413.0303 x112 or email her at mloughlin@jerseycitymuseum.org.

JC Fridays - the next day of free arts events in Jersey City, sponsored by Art House Productions, is Friday, September 11th. Please visit www.jcfridays.com for a complete schedule and details.

RNA in the Electronic Age
In the last few months RNA has launched a new website, e-forum, community calendars and RSS feeds to keep you up to date on area activities. All of this can be found at www.riveriewneighborhood.org. We are seeking local advertisers to support the site and encourage all of you to visit it often. The Forum is a great place to post your concerns, questions, restaurant reviews, rants and raves. It just takes a minute to register. For information about advertising, please contact Becky Hoffman at riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net or at 201-876-1980.

Online Newsletter | July 2009

2009-07-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

Art and Culture in Jersey City Last month, RNA member Kern Weissman enlightened us with restaurant and bar recommendations for Jersey City. (Don't forget to post your own reviews on our new e-Forum). This month, we'll take a look at arts/culture activities and events going on right here in Jersey City.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 14th at 7:30PM when Christine Goodman, Founder/Executive Director of Art House Productions will be our guest. She will review the city arts and culture scene and clue us in on how to take part. Art House Productions mission is to inspire, nurture and promote the arts in Jersey City through accessible, multi-disciplinary initiatives (including performances, education and sponsoring "JC Fridays").

Christine is a Jersey City resident and multimedia performer, educator and producer of a wide range of plays, concerts, special events and visual art exhibitions. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. In October 2006, Goodman was named by Jersey City Magazine as the #1 Most Influential Figure in the city's arts and culture scene.

Fireworks!
Riverview Park filled up rapidly on July 4th as everyone in the neighborhood got together to enjoy the beautiful evening and watch the Macy's fireworks display. The crowd was estimated at about 2,000 (no official counts are available so that's our personal headcount), and everyone got one of the best views of the fireworks in all of NJ. RNA wishes to thank everyone who came out, cleaned up after themselves (special thanks to JCIA for emptying the overflowing cans) and to the Jersey City Police officers who worked the holiday for keeping a watchful eye on the crowd and ensuring that everyone had a safe evening.

Ogden Avenue Paving
In preparation for paving, Ogden Avenue has been milled, curbs have been painted red to clearly mark the no parking distance rules for stop signs and corners, and we await the paving of the road. We have been told that the road will be paved one day during the week of July 13th (most likely Monday or Tuesday) and that signs will be posted in advance. On the day Ogden is paved, no cars will be allowed to use it for at least 12 hours - this means you cannot take your car from your driveway, park on Ogden, etc. Please plan ahead and check the RNA website for updates (or subscribe to our RSS feed). For more information contact JC Traffic & Engineering at 201-547-4900.RNA's 23rd Annual Park Fest

RNA's 23rd Annual Park Festand Flea Market!
Mark your calendars! Saturday, September 12th is the tentative date for RNAs Annual Park Fest and Flea Market. If you would like to reserve a table to sell your gently used goods, please contact Maria Tuzzo at 201-659-2245 or click here for more information including the ability to pay for your space via Paypal. Tables are $15 for RNA members and $20 for Non-Members. Reserve today!

Election Deja Vous!
At our last meeting, we opened up nominations to replace the Vice President of RNA. This month, nominations will remain open at the beginning of the meeting, and then the election will be held. Kern Weissman was nominated for the position. Please come out and vote.

Membership Renewal Letter
For the first time (maybe ever) RNA sent out a membership renewal letter. Thanks to all of you who have joined RNA for 2009 and to those who were able to make an additional (tax deductible) contribution. A special thank you to RNA member Dorothy Rosario who volunteered to stuff the envelopes and mail them to everyone. If you haven't sent in your renewal yet, please do so when you can. We use membership dues and contributions to fund our operating activities (like this newsletter) and for community events (we really want to have another film night in the Park this summer!) Every dollar counts.

RNA in the Electronic Age
In the last few months RNA has launched a new website, e-forum, community calendars and RSS feeds to keep you up to date on area activities. We are seeking local advertisers to support the site and encourage all of you to visit it often. The Forum is a great place to post your concerns, questions, restaurant reviews, rants and raves. It just takes a minute to register. For information about advertising, please contact Becky Hoffman at riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net or at 201-876-1980.

Online Newsletter | June 2009

2009-06-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Great Eateries and Places to Go in Jersey City
You say there is no place to eat or be entertained in Jersey City? You are so wrong. Come to the next RNA meeting and learn about the many fabulous dining experiences right here in Jersey City – and there are no tolls or tunnels to navigate!

RNA member and connoisseur, Kern Weissman will be our guest. He will share with us the many places he has discovered to dine, some right here in the Heights! He’ll also share where he has ventured for nightlife, arts/entertainment. You will no longer be able to say you have no place to go on this side of the river. Kern is interested in hearing about your favorites too, but it is hard to find a place he hasn’t gone. He’ll continue to post new places to go on the Forum on the website and wants to hear what you think too. So, if you are one of those people who say there is nothing to do in Jersey City, then this month’s meeting is for you. Don’t miss it!

Be a Part of Our Electronic Community
Last month we welcomed all of you to our new website, www.riverneighborhood.org, and this month, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our electronic community forum! You can visit it by going to the Forum tab on our website.

The Forum is a place where you can post questions or express yourself about our community, Jersey City or whatever is on your mind. It presents an opportunity to share your wisdom about where to eat and what to do, as well as vent about community issues or pontificate about the political scene. It is our local version of JCList. Just sign up and you can begin posting. This is the perfect opportunity to be a part of the community for those of you who cannot make it to meetings or are too shy to share your opinions in person. Tell your friends too - the more the merrier!

And, don't forget that the RNA website is a great place to learn about community news and events and an ideal place for local businesses and organizations to advertise their events. Contact us at riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net or call 201-876-1980 for more information.

Make Our Upcoming Events a Success
Love the annual RNA Flea Market in Riverview Park? Want to have another movie night under the stars? Then volunteer to help make these events happen again this year. We have tentatively scheduled the Flea Market for Saturday, September 12th and are seeking sponsors/funds to present at least one movie in the park this summer. Each of these endeavors requires the help and support of volunteers. It is a great way to get to know folks in the neighborhood and participate in your community. We need planners, bakers, marketers, designers, event planners, musicians, etc. Let us know what you can do. We welcome you. Come to the next RNA meeting or contact us at riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net or at 201-876-1980.

Fireworks!
The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks will return to the Hudson River for the first time in years this Independence Day. While the fireworks are spectacular and we will certainly have a birdseye view, having them this close is a mixed bag for the neighborhood. In years past, we have had overcrowding in the parks, fires sparked by illegal fireworks displays, vandalism and other problems. RNA is meeting with the police department to help ensure that July 4th will be a celebration rather than a problem for our neighborhood. We encourage you to reach out to the police department, Councilman Gaughan and the Mayor's Office to let them know that you want a strong police presence and a well thought out crowd management plan to ensure that this is a holiday that we can all enjoy.

Community Updates
North District Police Captain's Meeting: Captain Phil Zacche will be a guest at a meeting organized by the Heights Community Relations Council, Heights Hope Neighborhood Association and PS 8 Neighborhood Block Association on Thursday, June 18th at 7:00PM at the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School (PS 28), 167 Hancock Street. As the Captain is no longer approved to attend regular community meetings by the Police Chief (something that RNA strongly disagrees with), this is an opportunity for Heights residents to voice your concerns directly to the Captain. We encourage you to attend.

Palisade Cliffs threatened in North Bergen: A development project that will breach the Palisade Cliffs in North Bergen to make way for a Starbucks, Walgreens and Bank of America is on the Hudson County Planning Board agenda for June 17th at 6:30PM (567 Pavonia Avenue). Jersey City has a Steep Slope ordinance that protects the Palisade Cliffs from development (an ordinance that was drafted and pushed for by RNA) but this area does not. However, there are County and EPA protections that need to be upheld. For more information, email the Coalition to Preserve the Palisades Cliffs at PreservetheCliffs@gmail.com or sign their online petition or visit the RNA Website for more information.

Online Newsletter | May 2009

2009-05-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

RNA Launches Website
RNA is proud to announce the launch of its new website! We hope it will become your favorite destination for all things related to our community and the greater Heights area. Please bookmark it!

The website features information on RNA and its history, an RNA and Community Events calendar to keep you abreast of the latest activities in our area, and a "campaigns" section that will keep you up-to-date on our latest grassroots efforts and calls to action. It also contains an archive of RNA newsletters, historical information about our neighborhood, and a large selection of links to other valuable sources of information.

And coming soon: a community forum to share electronically about crime, activities, how-tos, who to turn to, and city government. For those of us who live in the Heights, this forum will be what JCList is for downtown.

The site is ad-supported. If you wish to advertise your business, please contact us for rates. We are also happy to post your activities to our Community Events calendar. You can also subscribe to time-sensitive news via RSS.

RNA wishes to thank Joe Guevara, for leading this effort, and Alan Rosenblatt, Ivan Castro and others who have donated their time and talents to ensure that we have a user friendly, sleek looking site for all to enjoy. Please visit today.

Election Day is May 12
Please vote in Jersey City's municipal elections on Tuesday May 12. You will be voting for mayor, three at-large council seats and your ward representative. To vote in this election, you must have registered on or before April 21. Please check your mail for polling place information and a sample ballot.

RNA sponsored an at-large council candidate forum and mayoral and Ward C/D forums with the Heights Coalition. For background on the candidates or to view videos of the candidate forums, please visit the Jersey City Independent.

Everything Jersey City Festival
The 2nd Annual Everything Jersey City Festival will be held along Central Avenue on Saturday, May 16 from 11AM to 6PM. There will be local vendors, food, music, art and local color.

RNA will again have a table to promote awareness of our organization and raise funds. We need volunteers to manage the table during the day (donate an hour or more of your time). We also need volunteers to provide baked goods for us to sell at our table. Specifically, we are seeking home-made or high quality baked goods (no candy, please) that can be easily divided into single servings (cupcakes, sliceable cakes, tarts, cookies, banana bread, etc.). They must be weather friendly (not too much icing if it is hot). We will also be selling RNA t-shirts (adult and child sizes) -- just in time for summer. If you have questions about baked goods needs or volunteering for managing the table or setup or cleanup, please contact us at riverviewneighborhood@comcast.net or at 201-876-1980.

100 Steps Groundbreaking Ceremony
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, April 29th for the rebuilding of the historic "100 Steps" that once connected Ogden Avenue with Paterson Plank Road at Franklin St/Mountain Road. The Steps are a fundamental part of the developer's agreement for The Cliffs Lofts, and residents recently bombarded the city with emails and telephone calls to remove the log jam that had held up construction. According to the developer, Brass Works Urban Renewal Company, the Steps are to be completed by the end of 2009. Mayor Healy, Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan, representatives from the developer, and RNA member Doris Brown attended the ceremony.

Paterson Plank Road Cleaned Up
RNA complained for months and months about the garbage along Paterson Plank Road below Riverview Park. Recently, action took place. Councilman Bill Gaughan, who is seeking reelection on May 12th, put together a task force of municipal and county agencies to clean up the area. The agencies involved included the Jersey City Parks Department, the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, the Hudson County Parks Department, the Hudson County Sheriff's office and the Department of Corrections. We wish to thank the councilman and the task force for heeding our calls and working on an April weekend to clean this area.