Parking spots for art

JERSEY CITY – In cities around the globe tomorrow, artists, activists and citizens, and Hudson County Government, will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called "PARK(ing) Day."
Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant urban human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the metropolitan landscape.”
Since 2005, the project has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement: PARK(ing) Day 2008 included more than 500 “PARK” installations in more than 100 cities on four continents. This year, the project continues to expand to urban centers across the globe, including first-time PARK installations in South Africa, Poland, Norway, New Zealand and South Korea. “Urban inhabitants worldwide recognize the need for new approaches to making the urban landscape,” says Rebar’s John Bela. “PARK(ing) Day demonstrates that even temporary or interim spatial reprogramming can improve the character of the city.”
Over the four years of PARK(ing) Day, participants have broadened the scope of PARK installations to fulfill a range of unmet social needs. “From public parks to free health clinics, from art galleries to demonstration gardens, PARK(ing) Day participants have claimed the metered parking space as a rich new territory for creative experimentation, activism, socializing and play,” says Blaine Merker of Rebar.
“While PARK(ing) Day may be temporary,” Merker adds, “the image of possibility it offers has lasting effects and is shifting the way streets are perceived and utilized.”
Here in Hudson County, the Hudson County Transportation Management Association (TMA), County Division of Planning and the Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) have teamed up to create a Park(ing) Day space in front of the Historic William J. Brennan Court House. The installation, called “Hudson County Green” will be located next to the entrance to the building. It will showcase a host of fun and informative activities, including hopscotch hay bales and information about traffic-reducing commuting services provided by TMA. It will open about 10:30 a.m.
Hudson County Government, lead by County Executive Tom DeGise, has aggressively taken the lead in preserving open space and increasing and improving parks within our 12 municipalities. The DeGise Administration created the Hudson County Open Space Trust in 2003, which has helped increase the total amount of open space and parkland in our municipalities by nearly a third in just five years.
“We are pleased to take part in PARK(ing)Day 2009,” DeGise said. “While we need just about every space we have today in Journal Square— due of traffic patterns developed long ago, we think there is great value in taking back one on Park(ing) Day to highlight commuter solutions to reduce traffic and pollution.”
Hudson County is committed to promoting sustainable living and accomplishing the goal set out by the County Executive of planting 10,000 new shade trees along our county road system in the next ten years.
To encourage sustainability, the Division of Planning requires all applicants before the County Planning Board to implement green techniques that promote walking and bicycling and reduce the site’s impervious coverage. The County is currently looking for various ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating an alternate transportation system and promoting a “buy local” program.
While the County is hosting Northern New Jersey’s lone PARK(ing) Day event —there are a number of installations in New York City — the Division of Planning hopes to grow the event into all 12 Hudson Municipalities in 2010.
“We have decided to start small, with a single installation this year, and then hopefully be able to develop installations throughout the County,” said Megan Massey, who organized Hudson’s initial foray in to parking space greening for fun and public education for the Hudson County Division of Planning. “We hope the message of Hudson County Green will start residents thinking about the true price of a transportation system so heavily dependent on supposedly “cheap” parking.”
More information regarding local PARK(ing) Day activities can be found at http://theregalroom.blogspot.com and a global map of all participating cities is available on the PARK(ing) Day Network at http://my.parkingday.org.

Free Disabilities & Addiction Workshop

Hudson County Partners in Prevention Offers Free Disabilities & Addiction Workshop

NORTH BERGEN—On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Partners In Prevention will host the workshop “Understanding Disabilities & Addiction” as part of its monthly series of half-day substance abuse awareness trainings. The workshop is free to Hudson County residents, and was developed for school and community educators and mental health professionals, but is open to anyone interested in learning more about the impact of various disabilities on alcohol, tobacco, or other drug abuse and addiction
The training, facilitated by Lynn Saltiel, LCSW, is sponsored by Partners In Prevention as part of its commitment to community education around important issues related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and addiction. The workshop is funded through the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Addiction Services as part of the Hudson County Resource Center grant. Partners In Prevention coordinates Hudson County’s Resource Center, which provides printed educational materials and a video resource library to the community, as well as trainings and technical assistance throughout the county.
“Providing up-to-date education to the community around alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and addiction is an important, evidence-based strategy that helps reduce the problems related to substance abuse,” said Samantha Harries, Executive Director of Partners In Prevention. “The role that disabilities play in addiction, and the role that addiction plays in disabilities, is an import public health issue that we as a community need to explore and understand.”
The workshop will take place of Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 8:30am until noon at the Crystal Room at Schuetzen Park, located at 3167 Kennedy Blvd. #1 in North Bergen.
A full, hot breakfast buffet will be provided, and free parking is available at the rear of Schuetzen Park. Professional development hours for educators will be provided upon completion of the workshop. The training is free, but registration is limited to 50 participants.
To register for the workshop, please call the Partners In Prevention office at (201) 653-6776 by Friday, Feb. 20.
About Partners In Prevention:
Partners In Prevention is a non-profit service organization that addresses substance abuse in individuals, families, schools and others concerned about the impact of addiction in our communities. It serves thousands of individuals from all twelve municipalities of Hudson County. Partners In Prevention has been designated by the State Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services as the prevention resource center serving Hudson County. As such, it maintains a library of literature and other educational resources available to parents, students, educators, schools, municipal alliances, clergy, health care professionals, treatment facilities, public housing authorities, employers and others seeking information regarding substance abuse and related problems.

For more information, please call the agency at 201-653-6776.
Contact Doug Bratton at Partners In Prevention, 309-311 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07302 or Call 201-653-6776. Learn more about Partners In Prevention by veiwing their Web site at https://webmail.hmc1.comcast.net/OWA/redir.aspx?URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.partners-in-prevention.com%2fhttps://webmail.hmc1.comcast.net/OWA/redir.aspx?URL=mailto%3ainfo%40partners-in-prevention.com

DeGise battening down hatches on budget

COUNTY GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES
COST-CUTTING MEASURES
County Executive DeGise meets with Freeholders, orders department directors to get out green eyeshades. Changes in benefits, hiring cap, and layoffs are all on the table.

JERSEY CITY — Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise warned county legislators and department directors that serious belt-tightening will be required during the 2009 budget process in a series of meetings held in his office today.
The county, which operates on a calendar year, rather than a fiscal year schedule, will introduce its budget in the spring. The County Executive, after reviewing revenue projections believes that significant cuts will have to be made in what is expected to be a $400 million plus county budget for 2009.
“We’ve prided ourselves in producing sound, gimmick-free budgets and keeping county taxes stable over the last six years,” said DeGise. “We’ve seen our credit rating improve and our debt burden drop as a result. To stay on that path now, and to limit as much as possible the tax burden on residents during these difficult economic times, we must review every department, every division and every program and find savings.”
The County Executive released a letter today to all directors requesting them to conduct thorough, top to bottom reviews with the goal of reducing up to 10 percent from their 2009 budget requests. Rather than call for across the board cuts, he asked directors to take a “surgical” approach rather than “wield a meat cleaver.”
“We believe that careful, well-thought-out cutting, carried out by our front-line managers will actually make more of a dent in expenses than calls from the top for automatic, across the board cuts,” explained County Executive DeGise. “That said, there are broader changes in hiring and benefits policies we can implement that should yield savings.”
The County Executive has met with Freeholder Chairperson Doreen DiDomenico and today met with most of the members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in small groups to engage them in the process and present the case for cost reductions.

DeGise laid out the following items for consideration:
• Effective July 1, all non-union employees will contribute 1.5 percent toward the cost of their health benefits. For example, an employee making S60,000 with a family health coverage policy would contribute $900 annually from their pre-tax earnings. Applied to just this employee group, the county can anticipate saving close to $500,000 annually. This is the first time county employees will be contributing to the cost of healthcare benefits. The County will enter discussions with union officials to seek the same kind of contribution from unionized employees. When fully implemented for all employees, the County would save approximately $2.3 million annually through this contribution system.
• A 3.6 percent wage increase planned for all non-union employees scheduled for
July 1 has been reduced to 1.5 percent. This will result in a savings of nearly $1 million annually. All contractual negotiations with union employees going forward during this cycle will reflect a need to seriously limit any wage increases and the implementation of the 1.5 percent contribution to their health care benefits.
• A voluntary furlough program will be offered to employees, allowing them to take unpaid leave with the approval of their supervisors without loss of seniority rights or benefits. The furloughs will be carefully monitored to ensure that they do not cause any corresponding increase in overtime that would negate the positive financial benefits to the County for granting it. Cost savings will vary depending on participation.
• Effective immediately, the County will set as a goal a phased-in, reduction in its workforce through attrition over two years with the goal of saving up to $5 million annually.
• The previously mentioned program review by department directors will look to consolidate redundant titles, reassign employees to make better and more effective use of their skills and seek any and all program savings possible.
• County Executive DeGise will continue to call on the State Legislature to pass Gov. Jon Corzine’s proposed pension deferment legislation. If passed, Hudson County could defer as much as $4.3 million in new, state-required pension fund contributions. The Board of Freeholders adopted a resolution in November 2008 calling on the legislature to move forward on the bill, which is now stalled in the State Senate.
“We are ready and willing to listen to any good ideas that will help us reduce costs,” said County Executive DeGise. “The goal for all of us in county government should be to work constructively toward a budget plan that eases the burden on taxpayers as much as possible while still satisfying our core missions of public safety, care for the sick and economically disadvantaged and maintaining our courts, roads, parks and other public property.”
The County Executive plans to visit with county workers in the next 60 days to discuss face to face the changes in benefits and wages and the seriousness of the budget problem facing the county this year.

Hudson County gets $1 million

LAUTENBERG, MENENDEZ ANNOUNCE $1.75 MILLION
FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS IN NEW JERSEY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) recently announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded New Jersey $1.75 million through the FY 2009 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program.
“A coordinated effort from our first responders is the most effective and efficient way to protect our residents. These funds will help create a base of operations to help our police, firefighters and other emergency personnel to identify potential threats, communicate effectively and coordinate a response. These funds will improve public safety and save lives,” Sen. Lautenberg said.
According to Menendez, “We all know that we have to maintain a high level of preparedness in New Jersey, and establishing an operations nerve center is an important component of that. It’s essential that our first responders are working together and are able to easily coordinate with each other when responding to any emergency. That’s the purpose of these funds, which will help increase security in our state.”
The Emergency Operations Center Grant Program was established to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, and interoperable EOC’s with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs.
Hudson County is slated to receive $1 million and Atlantic County will receive $750,000. The federal funds stem from the FY 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill that passed last Sept. 30.
Sen. Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security Subcommittee, and Sen. Menendez joined their colleagues in the House of Representatives – Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ-13) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ-2) – in requesting funding for these two projects.

Prieto/Spencer bill on ATMs

TRENTON – The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee today released legislation Assembly members Vincent Prieto and L. Grace Spencer sponsored to require ATM operators to inform consumers when charging fees for balance inquiries.
“ATM operators who set up their system to unknowingly charge consumers for simply requesting a balance inquiry are doing nothing more than taking advantage of their customers,” said Prieto (D-Hudson). “Preying on consumers who aren’t even making transactions is bad business.”
Under the measure (A-2276), a notice disclosing to the consumer that a fee will be imposed for providing the balance inquiry would be required to be prominently displayed on the ATM screen. The notice also would include the fee amount and provide the consumer the right to cancel the inquiry without paying the fee.
“Information about ATM fees is typically only given to consumers when they open their accounts – it does not remain readily available each time they go to the ATM to make a transaction,” said Spencer (D-Essex). “This will ensure that these fees do not remain secret to the detriment of consumers across the state.”
Any operator found to be in violation would be subject to fines of up to $1,000 per day.
The measure was released 7-0 and now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

Hudson Plaza Public Art Project

It's not too lat to respond to the call for Artists Hudson County Public Art Commission (HCPAC) Request for Qualifications Hudson Plaza Public Art Project Deadline - Receipt of Submissions is Feb. 18, at 5 p.m.

The Public Art Site

The site chosen for this public art commission is outside at the main public entrance, accessible by way of Cornelison Avenue. This open air plaza will serve many functions: as a public waiting area; as an employee and public socializing and ad hoc lunch area; and as a seasonal performance venue for the public, presenting live music and theatre in an outdoor café setting. The open air plaza, with southern exposure, is a flat surface of concrete pavers. The public art installation locations, already constructed, include a large water pool with raised platform, and, approximately 10’ behind that, separated from the pool by shrubs, a large, flat, vertical concrete wall with horizontal proportions.

Request for qualifications: http://www.hudsoncountynj.org/RFQ/docs/hudson_plaza_rfq.pdf

Culinary courses at HCCC

HCCC Presents Array of non-credit culinary courses

JERSEY CITY — Hudson County Community College’s Division of Community Education will offer several courses in culinary arts in January and February. All of the courses will meet in the college’s state-of-the-art Culinary Art Institute/Conference Center, located at 161 Newkirk Street, minutes away from the Journal Square PATH Transportation Center.
A schedule of courses follows:
“Knife Skills,” Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
“Tapas for Real,” Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7-10 p.m.
“Chocolate,” Friday, Feb. 6, 7-10 p.m.
“Culinary Techniques One,” Feb. 7-21 (Saturdays), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Fondant for Beginners,” Feb. 20 (Friday), 7-10 p.m.
“Advanced Culinary Techniques Two,” Feb. 28-March 14 (Saturdays), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To register for these or other culinary courses, call 201-360-4639. For more information on these or any of the college’s noncredit course offerings, call 201-360-4246 or visit http://www.hccc.edu and click on “Community Education.”

New vehicles from Sheriff's Office

Hudson County Sheriff’s Staff Chief John Bartucci, left, Sheriff’s Officer Osbado Hernandez, Sheriff’s Detective Luis Valentin, Sheriff Officer Sergeant Lisa Kaminski and Sheriff Juan M. Perez

JERSEY CITY – Hudson County Sheriff Juan M. Perez announced the addition of new patrol vehicles last week to be utilized within the county parks and properties in Hudson. Perez noted that the Dodge Durangos will assist in the patrol of the county parks and other areas of responsibilities in Hudson County.

HC Sheriffs Office new hires

From left: Det. Carlos Clavijo, Training Unit; Sgt. Brendan Weber, Training Unit; Sheriff Juan M. Perez; Osbado Hernandez, Training Unit; back row: newly sworn Hudson County sheriff’s officers.

JERSEY CITY – Hudson County Sheriff Juan M. Perez announced the swearing in of 11 new sheriff’s officers at a ceremony conducted at the Hudson County Administration Building on Dec. 11. The 11 recruits completed a vigorous 22-week training at the Jersey City Police Academy. The new officers are: Darwin Ona, Stephen Wilson, James Mitchell, Daniel Gonzalez, Thaddeus Fontanilla, Benjamin Fernouy, Richard O’Neill, Vivian Rosado, Jean Roman, Steven Olson and Victor Silva.
Perez stated “We are proud to welcome these new officers within our family at the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office – we inspire them to serve with integrity and compassion to protect and serve the residents of Hudson County.”

County TIS Radio Station gets the go ahead

JERSEY CITY – Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise announced today that Hudson County’s Office of Emergency Management will soon be able to begin operating a Travelers Information Radio Station on the AM dial. The new station was cleared for broadcast thanks to a ruling handed down this month by the Federal Communications Commission.
DeGise credited the work of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), in helping the County OEM work its way through the federal regulatory forest that comes with seeking approval for this kind of emergency government broadcast channel.
“Without the support of Frank Lautenberg, this station—one that will keep our residents safer in an emergency and better informed regarding local matters— would never have become a reality,” DeGise said.
The station will be used in conjunction with an $800,000 county emergency siren system now being deployed throughout Hudson County. The siren system and the radio station should be operational by the end of the first quarter of 2009. In an emergency, the sirens would sound throughout the county or in a specifically affected area, alerting people that they should tune in to the County radio station to receive instructions in a security-related or natural disaster, or other emergency situation from the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management. The expected cost for the radio station is $140,000.
"During natural disasters and national security emergencies, first responders and emergency management officials need to be able to communicate directly with the public," Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said. "Travelers Information Stations are a quick and effective way to get critical information to local residents and travelers and I am proud we found a way for Hudson County to continue providing this essential
service."
In addition to emergency communications, the station will be able eventually to provide community service announcements, travel advisories and other useful public service information. But the primary mission of the station will be to ensure the public has clear information in a disaster or security emergency.
“We believe communication is a key element to successfully dealing with an emergency or natural disaster,” said Hudson County OEM Coordinator Jack Burns. “We are grateful for the County Executive’s leadership and Senator Lautenberg’s aggressive actions on this issue.”
Residents who would like to learn more about the new station can visit www.hudsoncountynj.org/oem as construction and testing move forward later this year.

Taking a stand against homelessness

Philip Mangano, left, Executive Director of the United States Interagency
Council on Homelessness, DeGise and Daniel Altilio, President and CPO
of United Way of Hudson County

WASHINGTON – Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise received the 2008 "Home for Every American" County Leadership Award at a Luncheon in Washington, D.C.
United Way partnered with DeGise to assist in developing a comprehensive, 10-year plan to address homelessness in Hudson County.