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- Recall Process Begins: A three-person committee says it has filed the papers to begin a recall effort against Mayor Healy, City Council President Peter Brennan, At-Large councilman Mariano Vega* and At-Large councilwoman Willie Flood. City Clerk Robert Byrne says he hasn’t seen the letter yet; he’s in charge of reviewing and approving it before the committee can begin collecting signatures. Twenty-five percent of the registered voters in the city would need to sign the petition to recall any citywide candidate.

- Film/TV Tax Credit Hearing: A hearing on the fallout from the proposed loss of New Jersey’s film production tax credit — which lets production companies offset their state corporate business or gross income taxes with a 20 percent credit on certain production costs — took place in Secaucus yesterday. Industry representatives say the loss of the program will negatively impact the number of shoots that happen in Jersey City and elsewhere in the state (although, as an NBC rep pointed out, Mercy would have left the state anyway … since it was canceled.)

- Cops Looking for Alleged Groper: Jersey City police are looking for a man who has allegedly been grabbing young children and kissing them in several incidents over the past few weeks in Leonard Gordon Park in the Heights.

- Medical Center Opening ‘Balance Center’: The Jersey City Medical Center is opening “The Balance Center,” which will provide state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and treatment to patients with a range of different medical conditions that cause balance problems, later this month.

Today’s Best Bets:

- Three very worthy fundraisers top the agenda this evening. The Jersey City Free Public Library’s “Hot Times at the Fiesta,” at O’Haras Downtown, will raise money for the purchase of security cameras throughout the library system (5:30 pm). Uptown, the Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation (JCECDC) is hosting a “Meet and Greet” event — featuring food, drink, entertainment and raffles — at the Hudson County Community College Culinary Center (5:30 pm). The funds raised will go to the JCECDC’s homeless drop-in center. Last, but not least, is the annual “Betting on a Cure” benefit at the Hyatt, which features all sorts of card games in addition to food, drinks and entertainment, all to raise money for the New Jersey Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (7 pm). Meanwhile, the 18th annual Spring Show by the Hudson Artists of NJ has its opening reception tonight at City Hall (6 pm).

In Statewide News:

- Affordable Housing Tops the Agenda: As the Senate prepares to vote this afternoon on a controversial bill changing the way the state provides affordable housing, Gov. Christie will also address the issue in a town-hall meeting today.

- Christie Endorses Offshore Wind Agreement: Gov. Christie has signed on to a memorandum of understanding with the federal government and other East Coast governors to promote the development of offshore wind power.

- New High Court Ruling: The state Supreme Court has ruled that family members of defendants do not have an automatic right to speak during sentencings.

- Coalition Fighting Regulations Bill: A coalition of 76 labor, health and environmental groups have signed a petition asking legislators to kill a bill that would prevent New Jersey state agencies from adopting safety, conservation and health standards that are tougher than federal regulations.

- Dems Plan to Put Budget-Cutting Votes on GOP: Democrats in the legislature say they are prepared to supply the votes needed to pass Gov. Christie’s $29.3 billion budget before the end of the month. But they’re planning to insist that Republicans initiate the bills that cut programs for the poor and disabled.

- A New Judicial Advisory Panel: Gov. Christie has named a new state advisory panel on the judiciary, making good a promise to swiftly replace a group that quit in protest last week.

- NJ Seeking Federal Health Aid: The Christie administration has quietly parted company with most Republican governors to submit a proposal for one of the key early provisions of federal health-care reform. The state would like to receive a portion of the $5 billion “high-risk” pool created to help people with pre-existing medical conditions who have been unable to get insurance for six months or more; New Jersey’s share is estimated at $141 million.

- Lautenberg Finishes Chemo Treatments: Sen. Frank Lautenberg says he feels “terrific” after finishing his last chemotherapy treatment, but he won’t know until later this month if his cancer is gone.