News - Reprints

Published: November 10 2014

By Kathryn Brenzel

NORTH BERGEN —  Some North Bergen residents say that plans to make the township preschool a permanent resident of a Hudson County Park threaten one of their few escapes from congested urban living.

Residents attended a public hearing on Wednesday night to discuss a diversion agreement that would allow the township to acquire 1.1 acres in James J. Braddock/North Hudson Park for PreSchool-1. The preschool's trailers have occupied the plot in Bruin Stadium for more than 10 years, and now the township is seeking to make the residency permanent.

The agreement is a tradeoff — land in the county park for the creation of new park space elsewhere. The township would acquire and convert a 1.5-acre plot on Paterson Plank Road— currently a vacant carwash—  into a public space and .7 acres on River Road to protect access to the Bird Sanctuary. Also under the agreement, 1.1 acres along 14th Street in Hoboken would be converted for recreational use.

Many who spoke at the hearing expressed fears that the agreement would mean further parceling of the county park for public purposes. Some were concerned that North Bergen would build more schools and public buildings in the park.

“This is our Central Park, and they are going to take this and cut it up into pieces and do whatever they want," said resident Alan Weissman.

News - Reprints

Published: November 10 2014

By :hctv

Emotions heated up at a public meeting in North Bergen High School on Wednesday night over the future of the township’s preschool. For over a decade, students have attended class in trailers located along the outside of Bruins Stadium inside James J. Braddock North Hudson Park.

The location was initially intended to be temporary while a new facility at the Lincoln School was built. However after construction delays and increased enrollment, officials decided to use that building as a kindergarten center.

Since 2011, they’ve been searching for a new spot. Now they have proposed acquiring the 1.1-acre space in the park and putting up a building where the trailers are located. North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco says other locations were considered but the cost would be too high.

Part of the proposal would include a promise to turn nearly 3.4 acres of land in parts of North Bergen and Hoboken into additional open space, with recreational opportunities included at two locations.

The proposal is angering many residents who fear this is the beginning of a land grab that will destroy Braddock Park.

With last night’s meeting behind them, North Bergen officials are now awaiting final approval from the state.

News - Reprints

Published: November 07 2014

Written by John Heinis

Multiple sources, who spoke to Hudson County View under the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the FBI paid a visit to the office, located at 567 Pavonia Avenue, regarding a matter that had nothing to do with a cooperative law enforcement effort between the Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.

Furthermore, several sources indicated that at least a few Sheriff’s Office employees were interviewed about recent no bids contracts that pertained to work for the department. 

At the September 11 meeting of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, District 2 Freeholder Bill O’ Dea went off on a tangent about a resolution for a $12,000 no bid contract for Vision Media marketing, which would be used to revamp the Sheriff’s Office website. 

After about an hour of back-and-forth with Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari’s Chief of Staff, Bob Baselice, the board decided to table the matter. Several members of the freeholder board have subsequently confirmed that the Vision Media bid has since been withdrawn at a meeting of the freeholders’ Public Safety Committee – which was was not open to the public. 

Shortly after our story ran, Vision Media spokesman Phil Swibinski told us that: “In recent years, we have significantly developed our web design capabilities and we believe that our services compare favorably to most any other vendor in the field. We look forward to this matter being resolved to the satisfaction of all parties and continuing our service to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.” 

While Baselice did not return calls seeking comment, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mike Makarski, also of Vision Media, told Hudson County View that “The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office works closely with many of the federal law enforcement agencies. We have several detectives assigned to the FBI,” neither confirming or denying an FBI presence at the department on or about October 16. 

Furthermore, FBI spokeswoman Barbra Woodruff told Hudson County View in an email that “I cannot comment on, or confirm or deny, what your sources have told you.”

News - Reprints

Published: November 01 2014