The Jersey City Independent "

Share/Save

- Robert Antonicello of the Jersey City Redevelopment Authority and several local residents say that politicians being approached by federal informant Solomon Dwek about a purported development on Garfield Avenue should have smelled BS from the beginning. They say a project of that density, and with units going for as much as Dwek claimed, could never be built in the area.

- A Quinnipiac University poll released today shows that 93 percent of New Jersey voters say government corruption is a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem and 65 percent of voters say the recent wave of corruption arrests embarrasses them as New Jersey residents. Voters say 50-15 percent that they associate the Democratic Party with corruption more than the Republican Party. Independent voters blame Democrats 56-9 percent. Even 28 percent of Democrats point the finger at their own party.

- Eleven of the union workers who went on strike at Hudson County nursing homes owned by Omni Health were not allowed to come back to work yesterday. The union says four of them were members of its negotiating team and the rest were strong union supporters. However, management says none of the workers have permanently been let go.

- Congressman Steve Rothman, who represents part of Jersey City, held the first of 10 town hall style meetings to hear what his constituents have to say about proposed federal health care plans yesterday in North Arlington and Elmwood Park. While none of Rothman’s town halls will be held in Jersey City, if you want to let him know what you think about health care reform, you can stop by his office at 130 Central Ave. or give his office a call at 201-798-1366.

- Newly released documents show that the Air Force tracked the social web — specifically Twitter, YouTube and “various blogs” — to assess the huge public backlash to the Air Force One flyover of the Statue of Liberty this spring.

- The Star-Ledger says the Jersey City securities clearing firm Pershing “is faced with the challenge of offering stability and new services to a chastened Wall Street as it claws its way back from the credit crisis.”

In statewide news:

- Gov. Corzine is expected to sign a bill into law today that would give families greater say in determining whether their seriously mentally ill loved ones must undergo outpatient treatment.

- That same Quinnipiac poll shows Gov. Corzine gaining a little ground on Republican challenger Christopher Christie in the governor’s race. Corzine now trails Christie 51 – 42 percent among likely voters; in a three-way race with independent Chris Daggett, it’s Christie with 46 percent, Corzine with 40 percent and Daggett with 7 percent. Meanwhile, Corzine has brought two high-powered political strategists into his campaign and is overhauling his message to voters as he enters the final 90 days of the race.

- The number of new divorce cases filed in New Jersey during the first six months of the year fell 9 percent compared with the same period a year ago, a drop that some experts attribute to the faltering economy.