Another weekend come and gone, and now that it’s Sunday, time for a weekly recap of the most noteworthy news headlines in Hoboken + Jersey City. ICYMI: The City of Hoboken is still hosting public forums about the potential marijuana dispensaries and the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana; the Light Rail in Jersey City announced a nine-month suspension on three of the train’s stops; and the U.S. Green Building Council certified Hoboken an LEED Gold city recognition. Keep reading to find out all that’s been happening in Hoboken and Jersey City this news cycle:
Hoboken Receives LEED Gold Sustainability Certification
The City of Hoboken is officially certified as a LEED Gold city by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification recognizes Hoboken’s commitment to sustainable efforts, which include progress in categories like flood mitigation, energy efficiency, alternative, and transportation options.
The LEED Gold rating, graned by the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Cities rating system, allows Hoboken to measure and track sustainable metrics. These metrics can be used in energy and water use, waste generation, transportation, and community development as well.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla said, “Hoboken’s gold certification demonstrates that Hoboken has built a strong foundation for our environmental future. This is an opportunity to both celebrate our resiliency efforts initiated by Mayor Zimmer, and also to identify additional ways for Hoboken to lead the charge in combatting climate change.”
In the wake of the LEED Gold recognition, Mayor Bhalla also recently announced Hoboken’s new Climate Action Plan. The goal of the plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Ultramarinos’ Has Been Closed on Weekends for the Time Being; Open for Private Events
Owners of Ultramarinos — the Latin bakery and coffee shop located at 260 3rd Street in Hoboken — reached out to Hoboken Girl via email to let us know they are currently open for private events and catering but have been closed on weekends due to staffing issues. Ultramarinos plans to open sometime in the near future, but no date has been announced as of yet. We’ll update with more information as it comes. Read more about this special spot here.
Stevens Institute Ranked #1 in NJ Colleges With Highest-Paid Grads
In a list of the top 35 colleges in New Jersey with the highest-paid graduates, Hoboken’s very own Stevens Institute has ranked first. The private four-year college reports median earnings 10 years after enrollment of $89, 200. The numbers come from the U.S. Department of Education’s data on earnings — aggregated with help of graduates’ tax returns.
Hoboken Wellness Crawl is Returning April 28th — Save the Date!
The 3rd annual Hoboken Wellness Crawl {2019} is returning to Hoboken on April 28th! If you haven’t heard about the crawl, it’s a city-wide event that involves the essence of a bar crawl — but devoted to health and wellness. Participants spend the day walking around to local health and wellness brick-and-mortar stops and locales, scoring freebies, working out, and getting consultations with local wellness experts.
Last year, the event had almost 1000 attendees and 100 vendors. Tickets go on sale the first week of March, so save the date {and follow @hobokenwellnesscrawl for further updates in the meantime}.
VENDORS: Click here to apply to be a vendor {open to health and wellness businesses in the tri-state area}. If interested in sponsoring our VIP bags with products, email hello@hobokengirl.com.
Light Rail Announces Major Disruptions Coming to Three JC Stops
Three stops along the Light Rail in Jersey City will be affected by major disruptions starting this spring. NJ Transit recently announced it is shutting down service along this particular route for nine months: affected stops include West Side Avenue, Martin Luther King Drive, and Garfield Avenue. The shut-down will make time for Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority to execute important sewer work from June 1st to March 1st, 2020. The sewer work being done will include the reparation of a deteriorating pipe under the tracks.
While these three stations are suspended, service will ferry passengers from each station to the Light Rail stop at Liberty State Park. Commuters should note that the park-and-ride at West Side Avenue will stay open.
Two Guttenberg Residents Charged in Hoboken Stabbing
Two Guttenberg residents, both 18 years of age, have been charged in an alleged stabbing that occurred in Hoboken on February 5th. Alexis Angulo and Santos Gonzalez were both charged, but an investigation is still underway and police are still asking for information from anyone who knows anything about the stabbing.
Around 12:20AM on Tuesday the fifth, Hoboken officers got a call reporting a male screaming for help near 11th and Adams Streets. The victim had 10 stab wounds to various areas of his body. The victim told police he was allegedly attacked by a group near 11th and Clinton Streets and was able to get away to Adams Street, where friends picked up him and brought him to Hoboken University Medical Center.
The victim told police he was allegedly lured there by a “former acquaintance.” Then, he was jumped from behind by three males. The victim also told police that he tried to run away, but tripped. While he was lying on the ground, Angulo allegedly started stabbing the victim with a knife. The group then left the area.
Angulo was charged with aggravated assault, endangering an injured victim, possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Gonzalez was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy, and endangering an injured victim.
If you have information that can aid the investigation, please call or email Det. Adam Colon or Sgt. William Collins from the Investigations Bureau. Det. Colon can be reached at 201-420-5102 or email colona@hobokenpd.org and Sgt. William Collins at 201-420-2111 or email collinsw@hobokenpd.org.
Assistant Administrator Patrick Wherry Leaving City Hall
Hoboken’s Assistant Administrator Patrick Wherry has announced his departure with City Hall. In his new role, Wherry will serve as Business Administrator in the Borough of Waldwick.
In a statement, Mayor Bhalla said, “I thank Patrick for his numerous contributions to Hoboken during his nearly three years of service. He’s served as a valuable resource for our community and played a large role in overseeing some of our major quality of life initiatives and operations.”
Wherry has worked in Hoboken since 2016 will leave his post as of February 22nd.
“Patrick has been a tremendous asset in keeping our City well run,” Business Administrator Stephen Marks said. “He stepped into a challenging position three years ago but excelled at every task given to him. I thank him for his friendship and commitment to the residents of Hoboken.”
14-Year-Old Jersey City Student Brings Gun to School
{Photo courtesy of Google Maps}
An eighth-grader at James F. Murray Elementary School in Jersey City was arrested after he was found in possession of a gun while at school. Police received a tip from another Murray student’s mother.
The 14-year-old boy transferred to Murray Elementary this year. He faces charges including possession of a handgun by a minor, possession of a weapon inside an educational institution, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Officials say the gun was loaded.
“Solutions are not barricading schools,” Sudhan Thomas, Board of Education president, said. “Wsudhane need to get to the socioecomonic root, otherwise we’ll be going to more funerals. I’m tired of this.”
The Board of Education president, Sudhan Thomas, agreed parents should be first to know when a gun is found inside a school. He said he’s been to funerals of four kids killed by gunfire, and promised to learn from a situation he’s thankful never turned tragic.
“Solutions are not barricading schools,” he said. “Wsudhane need to get to the socioecomonic root, otherwise we’ll be going to more funerals. I’m tired of this.”
Overturned Tractor-Trailer Halts Lincoln Tunnel Traffic
After a tractor-trailer overturned on Route 495 in Weehawken, the Lincoln Tunnel experienced massive delays on Wednesday. The crash closed down westbound lanes and all traffic was diverted to the Hoboken tunnel. Delays were reported anywhere from 45 minutes to 60 minutes and Hoboken’s ferry terminal was overrun with stranded commuters for several hours. No additional information has been released on what ultimately caused the crash.
Legal Marijuana Still on the Table at Hoboken Public Forums
The issues of legalizing recreational marijuana, medical marijuana, and a “cannabis improvement district” are among the topics recently discussed at a public forum in Hoboken last Thursday, February 7th. The forum was spearheaded by Councilman Mike DeFusco and it included updates on the city’s current conversation on the recreational marijuana ordinance and the possibility of having dispensaries in Hoboken sometime in the near future.
Former Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace of Colorado was in attendance, as were other medical and industry experts.
In an email before the forum, DeFusco wrote in an email, “With recreational cannabis law still in flux in Trenton, the City Council tabled an ordinance to permit recreational marijuana in Hoboken until the law, and its impacts on local municipalities, has been made clear. Instead, the City Council re-centered the conversation on medicinal marijuana and voted in favor of a new law to permit medicinal dispensaries, once licensed by the state. There are many strong arguments to legalize, from ending the often-unfair impact drug arrests have on African American and Hispanic residents to the economic development and tax revenue possibilities. But no matter what happens at the state level, we need to make sure we have appropriate safeguards in place here in Hoboken to make sure that any potential marijuana businesses operate safely and in a way that enhances our city, instead of threatening our neighborhoods.”
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