The Jersey City Independent "

Share/Save

- The autopsy is in: “Acute valium toxicity” was what killed longtime Jersey City political consultant Jack Shaw just days after his arrest in July’s federal corruption sweep. Shaw, who is rumored to have been cooperating with the feds, was found dead in his Paulus Hook apartment on July 28. Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio says it cannot be determined if Shaw’s valium overdose was accidental or suicide.

- Federal Census officials were on hand yesterday to help Jersey City spread the word about the importance of the 2010 Census count. Meanwhile, a New Jersey pastor who heads the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders is urging illegal immigrants nationwide to boycott the upcoming count unless comprehensive immigration reform is passed before it begins in April.

- One lane of Route 440 southbound between Communipaw and Culver Avenues in Jersey City reopened yesterday afternoon in time for the evening rush; the other is expected to open this morning. The lanes were closed after a Monday morning water main break that shut down traffic in both directions for a while.

- Grove Street Bicycles is taking used bikes in any condition, fixing them up and donating them to churches, homeless shelters and other local organizations. People who donate bikes will receive a discount on a new bicycle.

- Jersey City’s The Black Hollies land on NJ Underground’s list of “20 NJ Bands to Conquer 2010.”

- In a piece about an East Village vintage store that’s packing up for Hoboken, World of Style Vintage owner Kathleen O’Malley tells the New York Press that the vintage scene in New Jersey isn’t quite booming, either. “Things are tough all over,” she says. “I have greatly scaled back my business.” Indeed, World of Style previously occupied the space now home to Atomic Wings; currently O’Malley focuses on web sales and maintains a presence inside Balance hair salon as well.

- A man broke into Primary Prep Elementary School on Tuers Avenue this week, smashing windows and ripping out copper pipes.

- One of the two winning tickets in the New Year’s Eve Jersey Cash 5 drawing — worth $349,569 — was bought at Fine Fare grocery on Kennedy Boulevard.

In statewide news:

- The big news in Trenton yesterday was that the Senate will finally get to vote on marriage equality legislation as the clock winds down on its hopes for passage.

- This week’s security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport that exposed screening gaps has led to calls for quick installation of electronic body scanners at the airport. But privacy-rights advocates say the body scanners could prove to be worthless.

- Outgoing Gov. Corzine and Gov.-elect Christie have broken a long impasse on appointments and nominations that has troubled the gubernatorial transition.

- Speaking of appointments, Gov.-elect Christie plans to announce today that Senior Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles McKenna is his choice to lead of the state’s homeland security effort.

- The state Local Finance Board is scheduled to vote this morning on issuing some of the $117.4 million already approved in this year’s budget to Paterson, Bridgeton, Camden and Union City. But some Republican lawmakers are criticizing the special municipal aid.

- New Jersey public advocate Ronald Chen says he anticipates that Jan. 15 will be his last day; he plans on returning to his old job at Rutgers Law School in Newark, where he ran the Center for Law and Justice prior to being selected to Gov. Corzine’s cabinet in 2005.