The Jersey City Independent "

Share/Save

- Bedbugs at Goldman? Employees who work in Goldman Sach’s waterfront office tower have been moved from certain floors and ordered out of the building at times because exterminators have been in checking and spraying for bed bugs, two separate sources at the firm tell ABC News.

- Tax Preparer Sentenced: A Jersey City tax preparer has been sentenced to one year in prison for helping clients falsify returns.

- Cruising During Red Bull Air Race: Two companies are boasting the best from-the-river views of this weekend’s air race.

- Washington Park Playground Set to Open: We are hearing that the playground at Washington Park on the Heights/Union City border is re-opening today.

Today’s Best Bets:

- The Audiobodies and Pat Van Dyke are at Groove on Grove — if it rains, they’ll take the show to Sawadee Thai Cuisine (6 pm). Speaking of rain, the first Films in Van Vorst screening, Sherlock Holmes, which was postponed due to rain last week, is set for this evening (8:30 pm). But keep an eye on the skies; if it rains again it will likely be canceled — but we’ll keep you posted. But we know rain won’t stop Bryan Beninghove from bringing his trio to Bar Majestic for a free performance (8 pm).

In Statewide News:

- One More Vote on High-Income Earners’ Tax: Assembly Democrats are taking one last stab at raising taxes on the rich to pay for property tax rebates for senior citizens and disabled residents, scheduling a vote for Monday in a long-shot effort to override Gov. Christie’s veto.

- Groups Fighting Affordable Housing Bill: Housing and environmental advocates say they worry legislation changing the way affordable housing is governed in New Jersey will further polarize towns into rich and poor, result in lawsuits rather than affordable housing being built and give developers the power the state Council on Affordable Housing now holds. The bill was passed by the Senate last week, and begins its journey through the Assembly this week.

- State Labor Union Might Create Media Fund to Hit Back at Gov: Leaders of the Communications Workers of America have proposed members dedicate a small portion of their salaries toward what they call a Strategic Media and Public Education Fund, which will focus on positive radio, television, internet and print advertisements on the roles of state workers, as well as ads critical of Gov. Christie’s proposed civil service reforms and state budget cuts.

- Would a Property Tax Cap Force Municipal Consolidation? Gov. Christie thinks it might. But will it negatively impact services such as schools, police and fire?

- Clean Energy Fund & Oil Customers: A new bill that would allow home heating oil customers to take advantage of financial incentives to reduce energy use — via the state’s broke clean energy fund — has caused a divide among interest groups usually on the same side of an issue: environmentalists and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.

- Wetlands to Become Nuke Power Plant? PS&G wants to buy 84 acres of federally owned wetlands to build New Jersey’s fifth nuclear power plant, in South Jersey.

- New DEP Position Created: Michele N. Siekerka, the president and CEO of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, will become the Department of Environmental Protection’s first-ever Assistant Commissioner for Economic Growth and Green Energy.

- Ending the Dog Census: Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande has introduced a bill to repeal the 70-year-old law that requires towns to count pet dogs at least every two years.