The Jersey City Independent "

- City Floats More Bonds: The City Council has approved the issuance of $7.9 million in bonds to pay for residents’ successful property tax appeals. While the council was nearly unanimous in approving the bill (Ward E councilman Steven Fulop voted no), many residents criticized the practice of taking on extra debt. (For more on the city’s bonds and bond ratings, check out our February story, “Jersey City’s Bond Ratings Tell a Grim Story.”)

- Two City Retirees Won’t Be Returning After All: Longtime Jersey City employees Roger Grego and Kathy Dealy, who collected big payouts upon retirement, will not be returning as consultants, after the plan to have them come back on the city’s payroll drew a firestorm of criticism from around the city and state.

- Manzo Goes on the Offensive: Former Assemblyman and perennial mayoral candidate Lou Manzo, who was among those arrested on federal corruption charges last summer, will hold a press conference Monday accusing federal prosecutors of donating to Gov. Christie’s gubernatorial campaign while pursuing the corruption investigation, which mostly ensnared Democrats.

- Talk About Bad Timing: A 16-year-old student at CREATE Charter School was arrested at the school yesterday with a loaded .32-caliber handgun and a large fight broke out afterward in the school cafeteria that resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old. The arrests come as CREATE is trying to fight a state order that the school close this summer.

- Quigley: Sacco Would be Good as HCDO Chair: Jersey City Assemblywoman Joan Quigley thinks that North Bergen mayor and state Sen. Nicholas Sacco would be a good choice to lead the Hudson County Democratic Organization. Problem is, he doesn’t seem to want the job. The HCDO is currently led by Mayor Healy, and most expect he won’t be reprising his role after his term ends in June. Frontrunners for the post so far are Union City mayor Brian Stack and Bayonne mayor Mark Smith.

- St. Peter’s Radio Gets National Award: WSPC Radio, the college’s internet radio station, received two awards at the recent 70th Annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Radio and Webcasting Conference.

In Statewide News:

- How Christie Plans to Rein in Local Property Taxes: As the governor prepares for a budget debate likely to focus heavily on property taxes, he and fellow Republicans are devising steps to control the local levies with a combination of help and force.

- Task Force to Look at Privatizing State Jobs: As expected, Gov. Christie yesterday created a task force to identify savings from privatizing parts of the state workforce amid the budget crisis. The five-member task force led by former Rep. Dick Zimmer, a Republican who is now a Washington lobbyist. The commission will make recommendations by the end of May, and privatization would begin in January.

- Schundler Approved as Education Commish: The state Senate has voted 35-2 to approve former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler as commissioner of the Department of Education. The Senate also confirmed James Simpson as the next Commissioner of Transportation.

- Budget Cuts Slowing Move from Institutions: Gov. Christie’s initial budget cuts have drained $2 million from an account earmarked for the daily living expenses for 15 people with developmental disabilities who have been waiting — some for years — to leave state institutions for a place in a supervised group home.

- Controversial Development Bill Moving Along: Despite strong opposition from local officials and environmentalists, the state Senate has approved legislation that allows developers to file an application to be exempted from changes in municipal building ordinances or zoning. The Assembly is slated to vote on the measure Monday.

- Wine by Mail: The state Senate has approved legislation that would allow New Jersey consumers to receive direct shipments of wine from wineries; the measure now goes to the Assembly.

- Foreclosure Rate Dips: The number of New Jersey homeowners in various stages of the foreclosure process dropped for the second consecutive month in February, displaying a housing picture that is improving, but still behind the previous year’s estimates.

- Bike-Friendly NJ: New Jersey has inched back up to number nine in the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly States Rankings.

- Pot Busts, the Drug War and Prohibition: Tom Moran pens a thoughtful column on the latest huge marijuana bust in New Jersey, and how the politics of the drug war are shifting towards greater tolerance — but perhaps not quickly enough.

- NJ’s Latest Jeopardy Winner: Chatham’s Vijay Balse recently ended his run on Jeopardy!, coming out as a four-day champion, earning $84,400.

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