Tag Archives: Mayor Mark Smith

Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com

Contenders for Mayor, Council Running in Bayonne Election

Bayonne Election for Mayor and City Council May 13th , 2014 Just around the corner

 By Ricardo Kaulessar- photo by Steve A. Mack 

If you don’t know who Mark Smith, James Davis and Anthony Zanowic are, then you are probably not aware of the upcoming Bayonne municipal election.

The three men are vying to get the most votes on May 13 to be propelled into the highest office in Hudson County’s southernmost city.

However, they are not the only ones on the ballot as there are candidates looking to represent each of the city’s three wards as well as two at-large seats on the City Council.

So in the final days before Election Day, those in the running for mayor and council are doing everything from pressing the flesh with constituents to debating each other in public venues in order to win.

Mark Smith

It’s a cliché that applies not only to sports but just as appropriately to politics – in order to be number one, you have to beat number one. That applies to the challengers who seek to dethrone Mayor Mark Smith.

Smith, who has been mayor since November 2008, is running for a second four-year term.

Continue reading Contenders for Mayor, Council Running in Bayonne Election →

Our Community

Event Happenings from the City of Bayonne for the end of October 2013

City of Bayonne Seal  Medicare Open Enrollment event

Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that the City of Bayonne will host a Medicare open enrollment event on Wednesday, October 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, at 630 Avenue C.  The event will give Medicare patients the opportunity to compare plans, and make sure that they have the right health and prescription drug coverage.  It is time for Medicare patients to review their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.  It is also time to consider health insurance that works with Medicare, including Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. Patients may stay with their current plan if they are happy with it, or look for a new one with better coverage, higher quality, and lower cost.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period began on October 15 and runs through December 7, 2013.  New enrollments will take effect on January 1, 2014.

Representatives of the Bayonne Office On Aging and the Hudson County Senior Health Insurance Plan will be on hand to assist the public.

For more information, please call the Bayonne Office On Aging at 201-858-6119.

 

City to Hold Meeting on Special Needs Sports Program

Continue reading Event Happenings from the City of Bayonne for the end of October 2013 →

Our Community

Bayonne: Gun Buyback Program Set for Bayonne, Other Locations on July 12-13

           Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Center will be the Bayonne location for a New Jersey gun buyback program on Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on both days.  The parish center is located at 39 East 22nd Street in Bayonne. The Mt. Carmel Parish Center is set back from the street, and has a parking lot for visitors. The gun buyback program will also take place at five other church locations in Hudson and Union Counties on those same two days.  Residents can turn in up to three guns anonymously, with no questions asked.  In return they will receive up to $250 per weapon. 

        CITY OF BAYONNE SEAL  The event is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the Hudson and Union County Prosecutors’ Offices, and the Bayonne, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Linden, Plainfield, and Union City Police Departments. 

          The gun buyback program began last December, and has taken place in several locations across New Jersey.  Since December, there have been gun buyback events in New Jersey in Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Passaic Counties.  They have resulted in the collection of more than 12,500 deadly firearms statewide.  The program’s goal is to reduce the number of weapons in circulation. New Jersey’s Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said, “A gun that is no longer in circulation – a gun that no longer exists – cannot be used to commit a crime, to shoot someone in the heat of an argument, or go off accidentally in the hands of a curious child.”  Mayor Smith said, “Gun violence is a serious problem in America.  The gun buyback program is an important step forward in improving public safety in New Jersey. The City of Bayonne welcomes the opportunity to participate in this statewide effort.”  Public Safety Director Jason O’Donnell said, “I would like to thank the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bayonne Police Department for working together closely to plan the gun buyback event in Bayonne. We look forward to continuing more such efforts in the future.”  Police Chief Ralph Scianni said, “The Bayonne Police Department and all of the law enforcement agencies involved have developed the gun buyback program in cooperation with local churches.  I would like to thank Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church for providing its parish center as the Bayonne location for this important program. The members of the religious community are vital partners in the effort to reduce crime and violence.”     Continue reading Bayonne: Gun Buyback Program Set for Bayonne, Other Locations on July 12-13 →

Art Views

Bayonne First Annual Arts and Music Festival Video

Bayonne First Annual Arts and Music Festival June 14, 2013 from River View Observer on Vimeo.

The First Annual Bayonne Arts and Music Festival was held on Friday, June 14th, 2013.
Over a thousand plus people came out to view the Art Exhibits at the Bayonne Museum.
There were also Outdoor Art Demonstrations, Live music and outdoor dining by participating restaurants from the area.
The Bayonne Arts and Music Festival was presented in conjunction with
Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith, the Bayonne City Council and the Bayonne Arts Circle
This is a River View Observer Video

Bayonne Observer insidebayonne.com, Out Door Events

Bayonne Farmers’ Market is Back Again for Second Season

         CITY OF BAYONNE SEAL   Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that the Bayonne farmers’ market opened  for its second consecutive year on Tuesday, May 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Mayor Smith said, “The City of Bayonne and the Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zone are happy to bring back farmers’ produce and other farmers’ market merchandise to our community for another year.  We are proud to provide Bayonne consumers with a great opportunity to purchase the produce that made New Jersey the Garden State.” Continue reading Bayonne Farmers’ Market is Back Again for Second Season →

General

Shoreline Clean-Up at Rutkowski Park Bayonne Set for Saturday, March 23

Bayonne Nature Club Volunteer to Shoreline Clean-up of Rutkowski Park  in Bayonne

 CITY OF BAYONNE SEALBayonne Mayor Mark A. Smith  announced that the Bayonne Nature Club has volunteered to lead a shoreline clean-up at Mayor Richard A. Rutkowski Park on Saturday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. Rutkowski Park is located in the northwest corner of Bayonne, on Newark Bay, just above the northern end of Stephen R. Gregg-Bayonne County Park. Mayor Smith said, “I would like to thank the Bayonne Nature Club volunteers for spearheading this shoreline clean-up. Their efforts will help to maintain the park in its natural condition. The Bayonne Public Works Department will provide logistical support for the work of the volunteers. The Nature Club and the City of Bayonne encourage any interested organizations and individuals to join the shoreline clean-up on Saturday.”

Continue reading Shoreline Clean-Up at Rutkowski Park Bayonne Set for Saturday, March 23 →

General

City of Bayonne, St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 17th, 2013

The parade route was lined with a smiling sea of green as the Bayonne St. Patrick’s Day parade
made its way up Broadway. The River View Observer was there to catch some of the day’s festivities.

City of Bayonne’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2013 from River View Observer on Vimeo.

The crowds came out today for the City of Bayonne's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The River View Observer was there to capture today's festivities.

General

Shop Bayonne! Introducing a Property Tax Reward Program

by Evelyn Bonilla

buez luncheon March 1st 2013
Nick Campanella,  Managing Director   from  Fin Credit Inc. holding the “Shop Bayonne.” card at the recent March 1st, 2013 luncheon to announce the program to Bayonne businesses

 On March 1st the program was introduced to Bayonne business owners and Bayonne residents at a special luncheon hosted by the Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zone and the Bayonne Special Improvement District.   And a special mailing will go out to Bayonne Businesses and Bayonne residents explaining how the program works.

 “Shop Bayonne” is a program initiative that provides a tax credit to residents who make purchases from local businesses in town. Once you enroll in the program, you are assigned a property tax card similar to the reward cards you get in other stores; you’ll use it when you make your purchases with local merchants who are participating in the program. Residents who use their PTC-Property Tax Card will accumulate property tax dollars towards their tax bill.

Continue reading Shop Bayonne! Introducing a Property Tax Reward Program →

Business Views

River View Observer Financial Views-Declining Debt, New Tax Revenues Lead to Moody’s Upgrade of Bayonne’s Bond Rating

 CITY OF BAYONNE SEALMayor Mark A. Smith announced that Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the City of Bayonne’s bond rating from Baa1 with negative outlook to Baa1 with stable outlook.  Smith said, “This upgrade is very good news.  It shows that Bayonne has made significant financial progress during my Administration.  Moody’s has raised Bayonne’s rating for the first time in more than five years. Our hard work and fiscal discipline are paying off. We have turned a corner and are moving in the right direction.”

            Moody’s cited several factors in its decision to improve Bayonne’s rating: 1) The agency recognized that the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority’s (MUA) joint venture with United Water and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) removed $120 million from the local debt burden. The transaction paid off all the MUA’s debt and a portion of the debt of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Agency. 2) Moody’s noted that the City no longer has any deferred charges.  All charges deferred in the past have been paid off. 3) The City of Bayonne has a declining reliance on tax anticipation notes (TANS) to cover its cashflow needs.  4) Bayonne has a large tax base.  5) Bayonne has declining debt.  6) Bayonne has new revenues from payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) coming from newly developed properties. Continue reading River View Observer Financial Views-Declining Debt, New Tax Revenues Lead to Moody’s Upgrade of Bayonne’s Bond Rating →

General

Bayonne Residents:Payment for Building Permits Moved to Tax Collector’s Office

            Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that payments for building permits are being moved from the Building Department in Room 13 in City Hall to the Tax Collector’s Office/City Cashier in Room 7, effective Monday, January 28.

  Those seeking building permits will still file their applications and pick up their permits in at the Building Department in Room 13.

  Mayor Smith said, “By moving permit payments to the Tax Collector’s Office/City Cashier, we are beginning the process of centralizing payments for various fees and permits.

  This move is part of my Administration’s drive to create a more efficient municipal government.”

‬
‬