The Consulate General of Mexico in New York came to Bayonne in March to offer passport and ID card services to Mexican citizens who live in several cities throughout the tri-state area.
 In Bayonne, the Mexican government issued its citizens new Mexican passports and ID cards with chips. Mexican diplomat Rosa Maria Betancourt Moreno and her colleagues brought mobile consular services to Bayonne for the sixth consecutive year. Ruben Arana of Bayonne, a Mexican-American contractor, worked with Council Member At-Large Juan Perez to bring the mobile consular program to Bayonne. Pictured left to right: Kevin Perez, Alexandra Arana, Council Member Juan Perez, Mayor Jimmy Davis, Mexican diplomat Rosa Maria Betancourt Moreno, Ruben Arana, Alejandra Montiel, and Federico Betancourt.
In order to support the local economy, Mayor Jimmy Davis and the Bayonne City Council have announced that, beginning April 1, 2021, local food and/or beverage establishments may be able to establish temporary outdoor seating with the issuance of a temporary use permit. These permits may allow food and/or beverage establishments to expand the areas available for seating on a cases by case basis. These temporary use permits were approved for most establishments last year through an active mercantile license from the City of Bayonne. If a food and/or beverage establishment received approval in 2020 for temporary outdoor dining, a new application is not required if the proposed use remains the same. However, proof of 2021 insurance must be provided. If the business proposal has changed, a new application will be required.
Temporary outdoor dining permits allow operation from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at A.B.C.-licensed facilities and normal business hours for non-A.B.C.-licensed facilities.
Food and/or beverage establishments interested in continuing their temporary outdoor dining use permit in the same manner as the 2020 approval must sign a certification and mail or place it in the drop box by the outside of City Hall to the attention of Room #13- Zoning Office. There is no fee to continue the temporary outdoor dining use for qualifying food and/or beverage establishments.
A food and/or beverage establishment that did not apply previously or receive approval for outdoor dining must submit a new application packet along with proof of insurance coverage. There is no fee for new applications or the continuation certification. For questions, please contact Tracey Tuohy in the Zoning Office at 201-858-6110 or Michele O’Reilly in the Health Department at 201-85
Proud to post this about Downtown Jersey City, of which my family lived there for over 90 years
Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New
Jersey, after Newark. It is the seat of Hudson County as well as the county’s largest city.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program calculated that the city’s population was 262,075 in 2019, ranking as the 80th-most-populous incorporated place in the nation.
The 2019 estimate represents an increase of about 5.8% from the 2010 United States Census, when the city’s population was at 247,597, ranking the city the nation’s 78th-largest by population.
After a peak population of 316,715 measured in the 1930 census, the city’s population saw a half-century-long decline to a nadir of 223,532 in the 1980 census. Since then, the city’s population has rebounded, with the 2010 population reflecting an increase of 7,542 (+3.1%) from the 240,055 counted in the 2000 census, which had in turn increased by 11,518 (+5.0%) from the 228,537 counted in the 1990 census.
Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City is bounded on the east by the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay and on the west by the Hackensack River and Newark Bay. A port of entry, with 30.7 miles (49.4 km) of waterfront and extensive rail infrastructure and connectivity, the city is an important transportation terminus and distribution and manufacturing center for the Port of New York and New Jersey. Jersey City shares significant mass transit connections with Manhattan. Redevelopment of the Jersey City waterfront has made the city one of the largest centers of banking and finance in the United States and has led to the district and city being nicknamed Wall Street West
Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne is setting up an additional site for the Coronavirus vaccine at the Bayonne Community Museum, which is located at 9th Street and Broadway. Vaccinations will start at that location by appointment only on Wednesday, March 17. Mayor Davis said, “The goal of opening the museum building as a major vaccination center is to double Bayonne’s vaccination capacity each week. Having this additional location will help us achieve the goal of vaccinating the majority of our adult residents.†During the first week, vaccinations will take place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. After that, vaccinations at that site will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The schedule will be adjusted as needed as the vaccine supply increases.
The City of Bayonne is contracting with Mobile Health, a New York-based company, to administer a major portion of the local vaccination program.
On Thursday, March 5, officials from the Hudson County Planning Department led a discussion about the possibilities for ferry service to and from the west side of Bayonne. Meeting virtually, more than fifty people took part in the event. The discussion included Hudson County officials, City of Bayonne representatives, real estate developers, Bayonne commuters, and others. (Note: Possible ferry service on Newark Bay – on Bayonne’s west side – is not to be confused with ferry service to New York that has already been planned between the former Military Ocean Terminal – on Bayonne’s east side.)
Kevin Force, Principal Planner from the Hudson County Department of Planning, cited several reasons for the county’s interest in ferries. Hudson County’s dense population, waterfront access, congested roadways, and crowded transit systems all point to the need to expand local transportation options. Force polled meeting participants about the factors involved in taking a ferry. The most important factor for participants was having a ferry that would travel to where they want to go. The second most important factor for participants was the availability of ferries and their schedules.
Among the areas Hudson County officials are studying for possible ferry service are Bayonne’s west side (Newark Bay) waterfront; the Bayfront area on the west side of Jersey City; South Harrison; South Kearny; West New York; and Hoboken.
 The Bayonne St. Patrick’s Parade Committee joined City officials at an Irish flag-raising in front of City Hall. Parade Committee honorees are pictured left to right:
Kevin O’Sullivan (County Cork Association), Kathleen Figueroa (County Donegal Association), Megan Hester (Irish American League), and Grand Marshal Diane Liming.
Pictured at the tour in the foreground from left: Lisa Dougherty, HCCC Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment; Jasmine Ngin, SGA Director of Finance; Pamela Gardner, HCCC Trustee; Thomas DeGise, Hudson County Executive; Dr. Chris Reber, HCCC President; and students Tyler Sarmiento, Koral Booth, and Suleiny Rodriguez. Pictured in the background from left: Dr. Nicholas Chiaravollati, HCCC Vice President for External Affairs and Senior Counsel to the President; Veronica Gerosimo, HCCC Assistant Dean, Student Life and Leadership; Warren Rigby, 2019-2020 SGA President; Dr. David Clark, HCCC Associate Dean of Student Affairs; and Christian Rodriguez, SGA President.
  Recently, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) students and staff provided Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise with a tour of the recently completed Student Center at 81 Sip Avenue in Jersey City.  HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber and Mr. DeGise were joined by students and administrators in a tour of the renovated building, which was completed last March just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.  “This building represents a milestone for Hudson County Community College as it is the first, dedicated Student Center in the College’s 47-year history,†Dr. Reber stated. “We are exceedingly grateful to County Executive DeGise, the County Commissioners, HCCC Trustees, and everyone who assisted in making this dream a reality for our students.† Dr. Reber said the $8.2 million renovation to a College-owned building was designed by Di Cara| Rubino Architects to create a state-of-the-art setting that affords students the very best in technology, safety and convenience. The renovation by APS Contracting, Inc. included the addition of façade brick stained to match that of the adjoining HCCC Gabert Library; replacement of the existing roof; complete interior demolition; the addition of a new entrance vestibule; installation of new HVAC systems, elevators, emergency generator; and a direct, indoor connection to the Gabert Library. Wi Fi and computer stations are available throughout the building, as are “green†elements for energy efficiency and the sustainability of resources.
About Hudson County Community College Hudson County Community College serves more than 18,000 credit and non-credit students annually. The College offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs, including award-winning English as a Second Language, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Fine and Performing Arts. The HCCC Culinary/Hospitality Management program was ranked number six in the U.S. by Best Choice Schools. Over 94% of HCCC Nursing program graduates passed the NCLEX first time out, placing the program’s graduates in the top tier of two- and four-year nursing programs nationwide. In 2017, the Equality of Opportunity Project ranked HCCC in the top 5% of 2,200 U.S. higher education institutions for social mobility.  HCCC has partnerships with every major four-year college and university in the greater New Jersey-New York area and beyond, accommodating seamless transfer of credits for further undergraduate and graduate education.
Under the direction of Mayor Davis, OEM provides weekly updates on the status of Bayonne in relation to the COVID-19 Health Emergency. All efforts are now geared towards the vaccination process for our residents. Â
The Vaccination Rollout for New Jersey is currently in Phase 1A. Any healthcare worker, first responder, senior over 65, teachers/faculty/staff for K-12, some essential workers, and anyone 18-64 with a serious medical condition is currently qualified to be vaccinated at this time.
Bayonne – Call 201-858-6088 or send email to bayvax@baynj.org, leave your name, date of birth, and contact number. A scheduler will call you. Please do not call or email multiple times and please be patient, as it may take several weeks for an appointment. Your vaccine may be given at BMC, RWJB (519 B’way) or the Bayonne Museum (229 B’way). Please do not call the hospital or city hall to find your place on the list or to ask to be moved to the front of the line.
Hudson County – Register at www.hudsoncovidvax.org to receive the vaccine at our County site in Kearny, NJ.
State – Register at www.covidvaccine.nj.gov to receive the vaccine at one of the State of New Jersey mega-sites.
Private Sites – You can be vaccinated at the RiteAid (1097 B’way), Riverside Medical (432 B’way) and StopNShop (Lefante Way Shopping Center), WalMart (Bayonne Crossing Shopping Plaza). Please go to their websites to register.
Covid-19 Prevention – Positive cases of the coronavirus continue to decline in Bayonne. Eleven (11) Covid-Positive residents are presently admitted to BMC. A new testing site has opened at Ahern Veterans Stadium. Tues/Thur 1pm -7pm and Sat 9am-2pm. NO Appointment needed. This test is PCR, it is free for those without insurance, and you can stay in your vehicle (if you drive).
The City of Hoboken is continuing with a number of quality of life projects this week. Below are construction updates on the 5-acre Northwest Resiliency Park, flood infrastructure projects with the North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA), and utility maintenance by NHSA and SUEZ. Schedules may change pending weather conditions.
Construction continues on the 5-acre Northwest Resiliency Park, which will be New Jersey’s largest resiliency park. The park will have above and below ground infrastructure to withhold up to 2 million gallons of rainwater to help mitigate local flooding. The contractor will undertake the following activities this week, subject to weather conditions and snow cover on the project site:Â
A lifestyle and entertainment publication serving the Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Weehawken, West New York, North Bergen, Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Secaucus and Guttenberg Waterfront Communities
