Tag Archives: Senator Bob Menendez

Bayonne Mayor James Davis -PROGRESS TOWARDS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

Mayor Davis 2018 Inaugural
Bayonne Mayor James Davis

          Last week, in our City Council Chambers, Bayonne residents had their first opportunity to view plans in person for the proposed 34th Street pedestrian bridge.  Once plans are finalized, that bridge will be constructed over Route 440 between the 34th Street Light Rail Station and the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor (the former Military Ocean Terminal).

          There is a clear need for better, safer ways for pedestrians to cross Route 440 than running across the highway.  Lives and public safety are at stake. Pedestrians have died in the Route 440 corridor in recent years. The need for safe pedestrian crossings has increased as economic development has taken place in the Route 440 corridor. There are various locations where pedestrian bridges could be placed along that highway.  We decided to start with the 34th Street Light Rail area because there is already a pedestrian overpass there linking the Light Rail station with the parking lot. This proposed bridge would connect directly to the existing Light Rail passenger overpass.  TY Lin, the engineering firm that has the contract for the bridge concept development study, has offered various options for solving the pedestrian safety problem around 34th Street and Route 440.  The engineers have presented options that include various types of bridges and upgrading the highway crossing without building a bridge. Let’s be clear.  We want a bridge.

The staff of TY Lin believes the best option or preferred alternative would be a single-span, prefabricated, steel truss bridge over Route 440.  This proposal would include fully enclosed stairs and an elevator building at the east landing of the bridge, across the highway from the station.  That plan would offer a sidewalk at the east landing that would connect to the sidewalk on Goldsborough Drive and at Port Terminal Boulevard.  They are major streets at the former Military Ocean Terminal. The engineers envision a twelve-foot-wide space inside the bridge to provide safe access for pedestrians and bicycles. At the public information session on August 2, members of the public suggested that the bridge be enclosed for safety reasons.  Several residents also called for more sidewalks in the Route 440 corridor.

At the City Council Caucus on Wednesday, August 9, at 6:00 p.m., TY Lin will offer a presentation about the proposed bridge to our City Council Members.  This Caucus meeting will be televised on Optimum cable Channel 78 and on Verizon Fios Channel 42.  We expect at least one more opportunity after that for the public to offer comments in person about the bridge proposal. 

This bridge project began when the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority awarded Bayonne a $550,000 planning grant.  Later, the City of Bayonne received more than $4 million in federal funds for bridge construction through the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.  The federal money came from the Liberty Corridor program, a transportation aid package that Senator Bob Menendez championed when he was still in the House of Representatives.  

Where do things stand now?  There is a concept for the bridge, along with a preferred option for building that bridge.  We have more than $4 million for construction.  After receiving more public input, we can move towards preliminary engineering, then to the final design of the bridge, and, ultimately, to construction. 

As we continue making progress on this project, I would like to thank all of our residents who have offered ideas and expressed concerns about the safety issues on Route 440.   If you would like to offer comments or suggestions to TY Lin about the proposed pedestrian bridge, please go to https://34thstbayonnepedestrianbridge.com/contact.

We look forward to working with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to provide more safe crossings in the Route 440 corridor.  

Bayonne’s Mayor Davis and City Council Sworn in for Second Terms

Bayonne Mayor Davis and City Council Sworn in for Second term
At City Inauguration Ceremony: Pictured left to right in foreground: U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and Mayor Jimmy Davis. Shown left to right in background: First Ward Council Member Tom Cotter, Second Ward Council Member Sal Gullace, Third Ward Council Member Gary LaPelusa, former State Senator Ray Lesniak (Union County), Hudson County Democratic Chair Amy DeGise, Hudson County Clerk Junior Maldonado, Kearny Mayor Al Santos, Mike Wilson of Post 19, and City Clerk Robert F. Sloan.

            Before an audience of more than 250 people in the City Council Chambers on Sunday, July 1, Mayor Jimmy Davis and Bayonne’s five City Council Members took their oaths of office for new terms in municipal government.  The event featured remarks by Governor Phil Murphy, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Hudson County Freeholder Kenneth Kopacz, and former City Council President Joseph Makowski.  There were also prayers and reflections by Coptic Orthodox Vice Pope and Bishop David, Pastor Dorothy Patterson of the Wallace Temple AME Zion Church, and Father John Fencik of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. The City’s Chief Financial Officer and former Mayor Terrence Malloy served as master of ceremonies.

            Originally scheduled to be held outdoors, the inaugural ceremony was moved to the Council chambers, due to the severe heat. Continue reading Bayonne’s Mayor Davis and City Council Sworn in for Second Terms

Bayonne Mayor James M. Davis and City Council Swearing in Ceremony July 1st, 2014

All photos by River View Observer Photographer Steve A. Mack

steveamack.com2014-Mayor Davis's Inaugural - 16On a hot July 1st day the City of Bayonne welcomed a  new Mayor and City Council with a mass celebrated at St. Henry’s Church and then the  official swearing in ceremony of Mayor -Elect James Davis and his City Council running mates: Sharon  Nadrowski, Juan Perez  Thomas Cotter,  Salvatore Gullace, and Gary LaPelusa Councilman  at Bayonne High School Auditorium.

steveamack.com2014-Mayor Davis's Inaugural - 44steveamack.com2014-Mayor Davis's Inaugural - 34Yesterday’s swearing -in ceremony presented some firsts in the History of Bayonne. Sharon Nadrowski,  elected the first woman Council President and Juan Perez the first Latino to sit as a councilman in the history of Bayonne.

July 1st LApelusa sworn insteveamack.com2014-Mayor Davis's Inaugural - 39©steveamack.com-Mayor Davis's Inaugural 2014 - 036After receiving the oath of office from Senator Bob Menendez, Mayor Davis promised “Good, honest and open government in Bayonne.”

Menendez later said when  speaking  about the Mayor  ” Mayor Davis that has a great ring to it.”  which was met by a thunderous applause by the the family, friends of the new Mayor and his City Council.

Along with Senator Menendez, Congressman Albiro Sires was in attendance and many other current and former dignitaries and politicians from Hudson County.

steveamack.com2014-Mayor Davis's Inaugural - 01

 

 

 

Son Cubano – New Restaurant Opens in West New York, New Jersey

Smashing Opening for Son Cubano at The Shops at Riverwalk

soncubano1

Son Cubano restaurant celebrated its opening at The Shops at Riverwalk in West New York and promises more exciting events to come, including a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Pictured at Grand Opening Celebration for Son Cubano Restaruant Edward Duran, Claudia Caraballo, Alex Duran, Diana Gouchee and Kevin Gouchee    

Bergen/Hudson County, NJ, 22 December 2010 – After months of anticipation, the highly awaited opening of Son Cubano at The Shops at Riverwalk was a smashing success this past week.  The Duran-Gouchee family was able to bring the sweet sounds and flavors of the Caribbean to its latest restaurant venture in West New York. Continue reading Son Cubano – New Restaurant Opens in West New York, New Jersey