Friday Morning News Roundup
By Jon Whiten • Jun 25th, 2010 • Category: Blog- JCPD Widow to File Suit Against the City: The widow of slain Jersey City Police Detective Marc DiNardo intends to file a $10 million civil suit against the city for lost wages, pain and suffering, claiming DiNardo and his fellow officers weren’t properly trained or equipped when they stormed an apartment building looking for two armed robbery suspects last summer, according to court documents filed this week. The paperwork also asks that all evidence connected to the fatal July 16 shooting be preserved.
- Council Action: The City Council this week approved issuing nearly $67 million in bonds to build a new complex on a 19-acre site on East Linden Avenue that would house the Municipal Utilities Authority, Jersey City Incinerator Authority, and Department of Public Works. It also introduced an ordinance that would allow the city to bond $7.65 million in its efforts to purchase the 6th Street Embankment from developer Steve Hyman. Look for more details on both of these issues and the rest of the council business later today in our Council Report.
- Private Firms & Medical Marijuana: Hudson County’s Mingleridge LLC has proposed a plan for private firms to compete for a franchise to grow New Jersey’s medical marijuana.
- Tall Ship Comes to LSP: New Jersey’s Tall Ship is coming to Liberty State Park in July, offering the public a chance to board the 82-year-old ship for a 2.5-hour ride — and even help sail it.
In Statewide News:
- Budget Keeps Moving, Property Tax Caps Debated: New Jersey’s divided state government struggled closer to finalizing a budget Thursday, while a controversial plan to tighten the cap on annual property tax increases sailed through its first hearing.
- Senate Panel Puts Family Planning $ Back in Budget: The Senate budget committee has approved a bill that would restore $7.5 million to continue subsidizing uninsured women’s health and family planning services eliminated in Gov. Christie’s proposed budget. But Christie says he is still against putting the money back in the budget.
- Cheaper Energy Costs: For the first time in several years, consumers have the option to shop around and find a supplier who will sell them electricity at a cheaper price than their electric utility.
- Library Funding Restored in Budget Compromise: The latest proposed 2011 budget would restore $4.299 million in funding for the state’s 304 libraries. Initially $10.4 million had been cut.
- Feds Say State Police Slow to Act in Nuke Emergency: Federal officials are criticizing the New Jersey State Police for mistakes they made last month during an emergency drill at the Salem Hope Creek nuclear plant in southern New Jersey.
- Christie Vetoes Unemployment Measure: People fired for gross misconduct will not be eligible for unemployment benefits and businesses will get a one-year reprieve from higher taxes under a conditional veto issued Thursday by Gov. Christie.
- Bill Would Look at NJN’s Future: A resolution that would create a task force to study the future of New Jersey Network and protect the investment by taxpayers in the operation was approved Thursday by the Assembly Budget Committee.
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Jon Whiten is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
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