Photo of Mayor -Elect  Jimmy Davis by Ricardo Kaulessar  

 Photo of Mayor Mark Smith and Team by Steve A Mack 

James Davis walked into the Villa Maria restaurant in Bayonne on Tuesday night like the conquering hero, with hundreds of supporters cheering him on as soon as he entered the place.

There was good reason for the elation as Davis won the mayoral runoff election in his hometown over the incumbent Mark Smith by a 51% to 49% margin as of election night.

Davis greeted the numerous tired and sweaty followers like himself who were energized by seeing their leader give his victory speech.

“Tonight we enjoy but tomorrow we get to work,” said Davis to raucous applause. “Itâ€s going to take everybody in this city to change this city, whether they voted for us or against us.”

Davis also thanked his parents, his family and everyone else who campaigned for him to enable an upset over a formidable opponent. And he called for forgiveness and unity with the other side after a tough, and at times, nasty campaign that saw accusations of voter fraud and other election-related violations get thrown around by both sides.

But it was not just Davis who had something to celebrate as members of his council slate also in the runoff were jubilant about their election night sweep into office.

Sharon Ashe Nadrowski and Juan Perez won at-large seats each with 26% of the vote over their rivals Terrence Ruane and Debra Czerwienski while 2nd Ward candidate Salvatore Gullace and Third Ward candidate Gary LaPelusa hold thin leads over Joseph Hurley and Raymond Greaves respectively as of Tuesday night (pending the count of provisional ballots). Thomas Cotter won the First Ward seat in the May 13 municipal election over Agnes Gillespie.

Nadrowski wished Smith “good luck” but then said “now itâ€s on with Davis.” LaPelusa thanked his campaign team for “putting up with him” during the election and commented about Smith and his team that “if you nothing nice to say, donâ€t say anything at all.”

The grand evening for Davis was made more so by the appearance of various big-name politicians such as state Senators Ray Lesniak (D-Union), who also addressed the crowd, and Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson). Lesniak, in an interview with the River View Observer after the Davis speech, said that he saw Davis as “the future of Bayonne politics” and compared him to recently elected Newark Mayor Ras Baraka as “new blood” in the Democratic Party.

It was also a great night for 20-year Bayonne resident and local business owner Zoila Yunes, who said the Davis†win was “the best thing that ever happened in Bayonne,” and cited high taxes as one of the major reasons she did not go with Smith.

No regrets for Smith

A more subdued scene was found on election night at the Chandelier Restaurant near the Bayonne-Jersey City border, the locale where Mark Smith was supposed to proclaim victory in the runoff.

Instead, friends and longtime acquaintances commiserated with each other over his loss, standing at the bar or seated at tables. When they saw Smith, they gave him a hug or wished him the best as he thanked them for their efforts in trying to get him back into City Hall.

Smith, in an exclusive interview, did not display the mannerisms of a defeated pol but was rather philosophical and even proud of his time in office.

“The people of Bayonne spoke but now we continue what we started five years ago,” Smith said. “When we began this mission, the city was on the brink of financial ruin. We did all the things necessary to bring this city back, to put it in shape, to put it in the position to prosper.”

He then ticked off some of the accomplishments and accolades that came during his time in office: the upgrading of the cityâ€s bond rating by Moodyâ€s, a 43% reduction of the cityâ€s debt, and the designation of Bayonne as a “hotspot” by NJBIZ Magazine.

When asked why voters chose to overlook the things that occurred during his tenure and instead elected him and his entire council team out of office, Smith saw it as anti-incumbent sentiment that has occurred in Bayonne elections for as long as he can remember. He also said “taxes is always the issue” even though his administration implemented no tax increase in the past year and was planning to go the same route for the coming year if he got back into office.

Smith said in the remaining days in office, until his term ends on July 1, he will work with Davis to ensure a smooth transition between outgoing mayor and incoming mayor.

As far as his future plans, Smith said he will sit down with his wife and two daughters to assess how he will go forward. However that conversation goes with his family, one thing that probably will not be discussed is the topic of regret.

“I have no regrets, no regrets at all. I went to sleep every night with a clear head because I knew at the end of the day I did my level best, and I gave 110 percent of my efforts to put the people of Bayonne first.”

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By  Sally Deering Hobokenâ€s been doing it for years; Jersey City does it, too; and now, Bayonne has joined the ranks of local towns holding their very own arts & music festivals.  Where artists go, others follow, Joe Waks, a professional artist and member of the Art Circle of Bayonne says. More and more artists are planting roots in Bayonne.

 To celebrate that trend, Mayor Mark Smith and his administration are sponsoring Bayonneâ€s first-ever Arts & Music Festival on Fri, June 14^, from 6 pm to 11 pm. Sixty artists from the Art Circle of Bayonne, a collective of painters, photographers, sculptors and other artists will exhibit their works inside the Bayonne Community Museum on Broadway between 9^th and 10^th Streets. Artists will also give free painting and drawing demonstrations outside the museum.

 “The Art Circle of Bayonne is an organization that came about organically,” Waks says. “Our first exhibit was at the Bayonne Community Museum in March 2012.  The city sponsored the exhibit and everyone found out that there are a lot of people who do art in Bayonne. Thereâ€s a lot of enthusiasm, too, a hunger by artists who want to show. An amazing number of people came to that show in March and weâ€ve had several more shows since then.”

 Artists participating include Patty Mulligan, Bill Zblyut, Dina Six, Raymond Greaves, Ellen Greaves, Caryn La Greca, Fernando Fernandez, Kevin Delaney, Gerald Glover, Joan Rosen, Tom Hart and George Weir.The festival will feature music by the Bayonne High School Jazz Band and the Ziggy Christie Band and several vendors will be selling refreshments including the 8^th Street Broadway Diner and Bistro, R&Bâ€s, Sarelliâ€s, and Tonyâ€s Pizzeria.

 

“We have a captive audience here,” Waks says of the festivalâ€s 9^th Street location. “There are great places to eat and drink here on 9^th and 10^th Streets on Broadway.”

 

The new Bayonne Music & Art Festival seems to be a great way to spend a Friday evening and a great new reason for the city to show off their artist community and use of a grand building. The Bayonne Community Museum was designed in the Beaux Arts style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Used for special eventslike this, itâ€s a great place for the artists to exhibit, thanks to some forward-thinking by Mayor Smith. Waks says: “Mayor Smith had the vision: ‘We have this beautiful building letâ€s use itâ€.”

 

If you go:

Fri, June 14, 6-11 pm

First Annual Bayonne Arts and Music Festival

Bayonne Community Museum

229 Broadway (between 9^th & 10^th Streets)

Bayonne

(One block from the Hudson-Bergen Light Railâ€s 8^th Street Station; Raindate, Sat, June 15, 6-11 pm) Art Exhibit will also be open to the public: Sat, June 15, 6-10 pm; Mon, June 17- Fri, June 21, 5-7 pm; for more info: (201) 858-6033

Free Admission to the Museum

 

The post Art Venue Nouveau – Bayonne Spotlights Artist Community with First-Ever Art & Music Festival Friday June 14th first appeared on River View Observer.

  Mayor Mark A. Smith has announced that the Bayonne Mini-Golf Course will open for the season on Memorial Day weekend – Friday, May 24, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday, May 25, Sunday, May 26, and Monday, May 27, from 12:00 noon until 9:00 p.m., weather permitting. The Mini-Golf Course will also be open on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) in June from 12:00 noon until 9:00 p.m. until school gets out for the summer. When the school year is over, the Mini-Golf Course will be open daily, weather permitting, through Labor Day, Monday, September 2.

           The cost to go around the nine-hole course is $3.00 per player.

           Party permit applications are also available at the Recreation Division, Room 13, in City Hall.  The party price is $5.00 per person with a maximum of 35 people. The price includes nine holes of mini-golf and use of the picnic area. Permits are available for two-hour time slots: Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 12:00 noon, 2:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. Once school ends, party permits are also available Monday through Friday, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Only residents with ID are eligible to receive permits.

           The Bayonne Mini-Golf Course is located at West 24^th Street and Del Monte Drive, between Broadway and Avenue C.

           For further information, you may call the Recreation Division at (201) 858-6129 or email BAYONNEREC@AOL.COM. 

Bayonne-Jersey City Bus Rapid Transit Meeting Set for May 29

       

             Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that the team for the Bayonne/Greenville/Journal Square Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study will be holding its final public meeting in Bayonne to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about BRT, transit technologies, and the study results.  The event will take place on Wednesday, May 29, in the Bayonne City Council Chambers, 630 Avenue C, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The meeting will offer the public an opportunity to comment on the evaluation of potential routes for a BRT service. BRT is a flexible, efficient, and innovative public transportation tool that improves urban mobility. BRT can include such features as dedicated bus lanes, improved fare payment technology, better information for customers, improvement to traffic signals, and enhanced service.

The study seeks ways to improve bus transportation from Bayonne and the Greenville section of Jersey City to the Journal Square Transportation Center.

            Mayor Smith said, “This meeting will provide an opportunity for Bayonne passengers to learn about the bus rapid transit concept and to make suggestions about improving the bus link between Bayonne and Journal Square.  I urge residents with an interest in local transit issues to participate in this meeting.”

            The Bayonne/Greenville/Journal Square Bus Rapid Transit Study is evaluating the feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the north-south roadways that connect Bayonne and Jersey City.  The study is being funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and managed by the Hudson County Division of Planning.  The City of Jersey City is a project sponsor and the City of Bayonne is a supporting partner.

The Bayonne/Greenville/Journal Square BRT feasibility study team has been reviewing existing conditions and the need for BRT services on an interim or permanent basis between Bayonne, Greenville, and Journal Square.  The study has included: 1) an evaluation of origins and destinations; 2) identification and analysis of alternate routes within Jersey City and Bayonne; and 3) alternatives and study/refinement of alternatives with an emphasis on improvements to bus service.

            Some of the services and priority treatments under the Bayonne/Greenville/Journal Square BRT review include, but are  not limited to: 1) optimization of the distance between bus stops for proposed BRT services; 2) pedestrian improvements and seamless connections to bus usage for cyclists and pedestrians; 3) pre-boarding fare collection; 4) systems to support dissemination of real-time bus arrival via text message/internet; 5) specific BRT branding to distinguish BRT buses from other local bus service; and 6) specialized BRT vehicles for faster boarding and alighting of pre-ticketed passengers.

 

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The post City of Bayonne Announcements first appeared on River View Observer.

Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that applications are available for the City of Bayonneâ€s amnesty program for certain illegal apartments and unregistered dwelling units.  Those documents are available from the Building Department in Room 13 at City Hall, 630 Avenue C.  Mayor Smith said, “In recent years, illegal apartments and unregistered housing units have become a problem in many urban communities.  These types of dwellings raise a variety of concerns about safety and the quality of life in our neighborhoods. My Administration has taken the lead in addressing this serious issue in our community.”

The Mayor and City Council have established an amnesty program for residential properties, containing a maximum of four (4) dwelling units where one (1) of those units is illegal.  The program is in effect for a limited period of time from January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013 and will expire thereafter.  The purpose of the program is to encourage property owners with such units to come forward and make their units legal so they comply with building, fire safety and zoning requirements.  Property owners who take the affirmative step of applying for amnesty will not be subject to fines and penalties while participating in the program and will be given every opportunity to bring their property into compliance with City ordinances and regulations.

The Cityâ€s amnesty program requires the completion and submission of several forms, depending upon the circumstances involving the particular property.  All applicants must complete an amnesty application and Zoning permit application.  An application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment will be necessary if the Zoning Officer cannot issue a certificate of non-conformity or a use variance is required.  The steps to complete the amnesty process are as follows:

1.                   Completion of Amnesty Application:  The applicant must have a qualifying property containing a maximum of four (4) dwelling units where one (1) of those units is illegal.  A $25 non-refundable application fee shall be provided with each Amnesty Application.

2.                   Completion of Zoning Permit Application:  The applicant must provide documents, information, and proof establishing the date that the illegal unit was created, in order for a zoning determination to be made.  Recently converted units will not qualify for a certificate of nonconformity (grandfathering) and will require an application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a use variance, site plan, and other variance relief.

Zoning permit applications will be reviewed by the Zoning Officer, who will make a determination about whether the illegal unit may be approved administratively, denied because it conflicts with zoning, or referred to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for further action.  Depending upon the Zoning Officerâ€s determination, the following steps are required:

A.                     If the Zoning Office approves the zoning permit application and issues a zoning permit, then the following is required:

                      Application to the Building Department for construction permits if alterations or improvements are required to bring the unit into compliance with current building, fire safety, and other applicable regulations.

                      Request for a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) inspection if no alterations or improvements are required, because the unit meets current building, fire safety and other applicable regulations.

B.                     If the Zoning Office cannot approve the zoning permit application and issues a zoning permit denial, then the following is required:

                      Application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for one of the following:  (i) a certificate of non-conformity or (ii) a use variance, site plan approval and all other variance relief required.  A $200 non-refundable application/escrow fee is required for all applications to the Board of Adjustment.

                      If the Board of Adjustment grants approval, but alterations or improvements are required to bring the unit into compliance with building and fire safety regulations, then application must be made to the Building Department for construction permits for such alterations or improvements.  Upon completion of work and final inspections, the applicant should request a CO inspection for the unit in question.

                      If the Board of Adjustment grants approval and no alterations or improvements are required to bring the unit into compliance with building and fire safety regulations, then the applicant should request a CO inspection for the unit in question.

                      If the Board of Adjustment denies the use variance application, then the applicant must immediately deconstruct, dismantle, and abandon the illegal dwelling unit and request a CO inspection to confirm the number of legal dwelling units.

3.       The applicant may decide at any time not to proceed with the amnesty program for an illegal dwelling unit because of financial considerations, Board of Adjustment denial, or other reasons.  It is the responsibility of the applicants to notify the City in writing if they decide to withdraw from the program.  In the event the applicant decides not to proceed, he or she must immediately deconstruct, dismantle, and abandon the illegal dwelling unit.  The applicant must request a CO inspection to confirm the removal of the illegal dwelling unit.

4.       All applicants, including those who decide not to proceed, must submit to a final inspection by the Building, Fire Prevention, and Zoning Offices.  In all cases, a CO will be issued for the permitted number of legal dwelling units and the applicant must sign an affidavit acknowledging the permitted number of legal dwelling units.

           The amnesty program is intended to provide protection from fines and penalties while participating in the program, and to enable property owners with illegal dwelling units to have the opportunity to bring the units into compliance with building, fire safety, and zoning regulations.  There is no guarantee that the Zoning Office and Zoning Board of Adjustment will grant approval for the illegal units. Each decision is based upon the information provided by the applicant and unique conditions found at each property.

          Contact Information: Questions about the amnesty application and zoning permit application may be addressed to City Zoning Officer Donna Ward at dward@baynj.org or by calling at 201-858-6110.

          Following the expiration of the amnesty program on July 1, 2013, the City will resume its normal enforcement activities regarding illegal dwelling units.   

The post Bayonne Starts Amnesty Program for Certain Illegal Apartments and Unregistered Dwelling Units first appeared on River View Observer.

 The League is open to boys and girls from ages SIX to THIRTEEN. All participants must be Bayonne residents.

Children must be six by September 1^st, 2012 and cannot be fourteen before November 1^st, 2012.

 THE FEE FOR THE YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS $5.00/PER PLAYER.

 The fees collected will go towards the costs of running the program. The fee is non-refundable.

 All individuals who sign up will be placed on a team by the Department of Recreation. Individual applications are available in the Recreation Office.

 The League will be broken down into divisions based on age. There will be four divisions. Instructional Division I, ages 6 & 7 Year olds; Instructional Division II, 8 & 9 Year olds; Division III, 10 & 11 Year olds; and Division IV, 12 & 13 Year olds. Divisions may change, depending on the total number of participants in each age group.

 Games will be played during the week at 4:30pm & 5:15pm at Gorman Field.

The deadline for all applications & payment is Friday, August 24, 2012. All applications & payment must be returned to Room #13 in City Hall.

The season is set to begin on MONDAY, SEPTEMEBER 10, 2012.

For further information call Pete Amadeo at (201) 858-6129.

You can visit our site at www.leaguelineup.com/bayonnerec

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BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY –

 Mayor Mark Smith, U.S. Small Business Administration District Director Al Titone, and a representative of Senator Lautenbergâ€s office toured local businesses this morning, listening to business owners†concerns and answering questions about programs to assist them.

 ”We thank Senator Lautenberg for bringing this support to the small business community in the City of Bayonne,” stated Mayor Mark Smith. “My office is, and will continue to be, committed to growing this critical and vibrant part of our community, and we look forward to continuing to bring the resources of the U.S. Small Business Administration into our City.”

 This walking tour was held as part of the Cityâ€s efforts to streamline and strengthen the support that is provided to businesses to help promote local shopping. Other initiatives being put forth by the Administration of Mayor Mark Smith include increasing the online presence of the City of Bayonne and its business community, initiating the Cityâ€s first ever Farmerâ€s Market, and providing for more direct interaction between local business and the City.

 “Walking tours, like the one conducted by Mayor Mark Smith, certainly enhance the SBAâ€s ability to support more economic development projects,” stated Al Titone, SBA Regional Administrator. “Development of small business leads to economic growth, which eventually will bring more jobs to the City of Bayonne.” Over a two year period the SBA has approved 10 loans totaling $4.6 million to Bayonne small businesses.

“The loan that allowed me to purchase the building my business is in came through the SBA,” reflected Maria Provenzano-Upenieks, owner of Herbertâ€s Army and Navy, and a newly appointed member of the UEZ Board. “That critical support helped me keep these jobs in Bayonne, and Mayor Smith has gone to extraordinary lengths to help do the same for other businesses throughout the City.”

The post Business Insight-SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION VISITS BAYONNE IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES first appeared on River View Observer.

  Sign-ups for the downtown camp will be held at Mary J. Donohoe School on East 5th Street. Registration for the uptown camp will be at Horace Mann School on West 38th Street. For the midtown camp, registration will take place at DiDomenico-16th Street Park, on the first floor of the Recreation office, located behind the handball courts.

 The camps will operate Monday through Friday, from Monday, July 2, 2012 through Friday, August 10, 2012. All children seven through thirteen years of age are eligible to participate. Camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, and will feature arts and crafts, swimming, games, and field trips to points of interest throughout the metropolitan area.

 The registration fee is $180.00 per child. For families, a discount will be given for a second child ($120.00), and a third child (free). Parents are required to provide proof of residency and their childâ€s age when registering. You must be a Bayonne resident to participate. Although health insurance is not required for camp registration, parents are required to provide information concerning any medical coverage their child might have.

 Additional information may be obtained by calling the Recreation Division at 201-858-6128 or by visiting the Recreation website, www.bayonnerec.com.

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