The Jersey City Independent "

- The Jersey City political scandal du jour continues to twist and turn in new ways. Ward C councilwoman Nidia Rivera Lopez, whose Jersey City residency is being challenged by losing opponent Jimmy King, did not receive a New Jersey driver’s license until June 15. In our eyes, this by itself is no big deal. If Lopez moved to Jersey City in 2003 2001, her previous license (presumably from Florida) could have stayed valid until just this year. No one has proven that she renewed her Florida license after she moved to — and started voting in — Jersey City, or that her automobile (if she owns one) is illegally registered in the Sunshine State. Think about it: Would you bother with going to the MVC if you didn’t have to? Didn’t think so. Meanwhile, former Ward C councilman Steve Lipski says he’d be open to the possibility of heading back to his position if Lopez is forced out by a judge because of her residency issues, while the Insider asks why there hasn’t been a stronger defense of Lopez from the Healy administration. And, lastly, longtime civic leader Rich Boggiano calls on Lopez to resign in a letter to the Journal.

- More details are emerging about the potential tax increase that could come as a result of a estimated spending plan for the next year set to be vote on by the City Council today at 5 pm. City officials tell the Journal the plan calls for an estimated tax levy of $170 million, up from $151 million last fiscal year. The rise in the budget, coupled with a current lack of one-time revenue generators for the city (last year’s pension payment deferral, property sales, etc.), mean that municipal taxes would rise 11.25 percent if the spending plan is approved. City business administrator Brian O’Reilly notes that if the administration were to successfully reign in the budget, the last two of the fiscal year’s four tax bills would be lower.

- Grand Street’s St. Peter’s Church will be closing its doors at the end of July. The church, which is part of the Parish of the Resurrection, was sold to St. Peter’s Prep in 2004 and the school was allowing the church to keep holding services there until 2014. But church officials say they will save between $30,000 and $40,000 by closing it now instead.

- A 27-year-old Jersey City woman is allegedly among dozens of people indicted in a bank fraud scheme orchestrated by members and associates of the Bloods street gang.

- The recent settlement the city and state brokered with PPG Industries doesn’t just clean up chromium sites in Jersey City — there are two locations set to be remediated in Bayonne.

- Former figure skating champ Nicole Bobek posted bail and was released from the Hudson County jail Monday night after her court appearance earlier in the day on the charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

- Federal officials seized glass pipes estimated to be worth $500,000 at the Jersey City International Bulk Mail Facility last month after they “were able to confirm that the merchandise was in fact drug related paraphernalia.” It’s not clear what led them to make that determination. Importing glass pipes to the U.S. is legal as long as it is specified that the pipes are for tobacco use (wink, wink), but it illegal if deemed to be drug paraphernalia.

Today’s Best Bets:

- If you’re around during the day, there’s a free jazz ensemble performance at the Greenville Branch Library (1841 Kennedy Blvd.) at 1:30 pm.

- Groove on Grove gets heavy tonight with Plowing Mud Forever and No Pasaran; it starts at 6 pm at the Grove Street PATH Plaza.

- From there, head over to Van Vorst Park for a free outdoor screening of the acclaimed documentary Man on Wire; it begins around 8:30 pm.

In statewide news:

- Unable to stop the Legislature from putting the $400 million open space question on the November ballot, the state chapter of the Sierra Club will now campaign to get the measure approved, while the New Jersey Environmental Federation will remain neutral. Both groups had previously opposed the measure.

- Many municipal officials in New Jersey say that federal stimulus dollars for paving streets aren’t trickling down to them.

- The U.S. Coast Guard and the Port Authority have released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Goethals Bridge Replacement project. The DEIS says the addition of  one lane in each direction on the span will generate 28-40 percent more traffic, which will likely adversely affect surrounding roads and approaches. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign notes that “a commitment to ensure that there is bicycle and pedestrian access to the span” is still missing from the plans.

- State Republican Chairman Jay Webber says he’s had no contact with Sarah Palin or her team about a campaign visit on behalf of GOP candidate Chris Christie.

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