The Jersey City Independent "

For today’s federal holiday, we’ll just be bringing you a news roundup. On Tuesday we’ll be back in full swing.

- Reminder: City offices are closed today, and there is no street sweeping or parking meter enforcement. Garbage pickup will proceed as usual.

- Chiappone Hasn’t Left Office Yet: Nine days after Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone, who represents Bayonne and parts of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to filing false campaign finance reports, he still has not resigned his Assembly seat. The attorney general’s office is looking to remove him if he doesn’t resign, and the Hudson County Democratic Organization is also exploring ways to get him out of office sooner. Chiappone has not attended any Assembly sessions or hearing since pleading guilty, giving the area one less vote on the crucial issues being debated in Trenton. And who might replace him? Al Sullivan tosses around some potential names — Jason O’Donnell, James Dugan, Chris Patella, Bob Cavanaugh and Mary Spinello — in his Between the Lines column.

- Man Stabbed to Death: A 19-year-old Jersey City man was fatally stabbed outside of Hollywood Fried Chicken on Bergen Avenue shortly before 1 am Saturday.

- Deadly Boat Crash: A 30-year-old man was killed and two others were injured in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty Friday evening when their pleasure boat was rammed by another boat allegedly being driven by a 39-year-old Jersey City man who was intoxicated. He has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs and endangering the welfare of a child (three of his young children were on board at the time).

- Schillari Files Suit: Undersheriff Frank Schillari has filed a civil action in Superior Court against county Sheriff Juan Perez, Hudson County and others, alleging political retaliation and harassment, unlawful termination, suppression of free speech, and violation of public policy. The suit comes as Schillari prepares to face off against Perez in an election for the sheriff job this fall. Perez had fired Schillari this spring after the undersheriff announced his intentions to run; the firing was later rescinded.

- Christie’s Budget and Urban School Funding: Even though Gov. Christie’s recently passed budget lowered overall school aid by a whopping $819 million, the spending plan gives a larger proportion than previous budgets to the 31 school systems in the former Abbott districts, including Jersey City. And some Republicans aren’t too happy about it. For his part, Christie points out he’s mandated by a Supreme Court ruling to provide the funding to urban schools, which is why he wants to reshape the Supreme Court in his ideological image.

- PATH Upgrades Coming: The PATH is undergoing a nearly $200 million station facelift that Port Authority officials say will improve the busy commuting experience for the system’s 70 million annual riders. The improvements will be made to stations, although which stations will receive improvements has not yet been determined. The overall plan includes expanding platforms along the WTC-Newark line to accommodate 10-car trains (this has been in the planning pipeline for a while); replacing the loudspeaker system; posting new signs and maps; adding new seating, lighting and flooring that officials say will make the wait in stations safer, more comfortable and visually appealing; and posting murals at some stations.

- Child, Father Doused with Gasoline: A 39-year-old Newark man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly throwing gasoline on a 9-year-old boy and his father and trying to set them on fire in what police say was an act of revenge targeting his former girlfriend’s new boyfriend.

- Hudson County’s Office Market: According to new figures from Cushman & Wakefield, Hudson County has the lowest office vacancy rate in the state, at 11.5 percent.

- Fire Closes Panda House: A fire has closed the Panda House Chinese restaurant at 735 Montgomery St.; residents in the building, however, have been allowed to return to their homes. No one was injured in the fire, which broke out early on Sunday.

- RFA in Jersey City: The procedure known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy was performed for the first time in Hudson County last month at Christ Hospital.

In Statewide News:

- Property Tax Cap Agreement: After lengthy closed-door negotiations Gov. Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney have reached a consensus to move on a 2 percent cap on annual property tax hikes and local government and school spending increases. However, the Democratic leadership of the Assembly says it is not supporting the deal and will continue to hold hearings on the measure next week, and teachers union, school board and municipal representatives are critical of the deal. MORE on the deal here and here.

- Fireworks Ban: The Asbury Park Press takes a look at New Jersey’s ban on consumer fireworks, and wonders if it is time to rework or rescind the law.

- Pipeline Project Held Up: The State House Commission has stalled action on a controversial gas line proposed for construction through state-owned forests and parks in northern New Jersey, as questions rose about the $45,000 Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. will pay the state in a 24-year lease deal.

- Targeting Out of State Auto Registrations: The Assembly recently passed a measure that makes so-called “reverse rate evasion,” when a resident fraudulently registers a vehicle or obtains auto insurance from another state, a form of insurance fraud under state law.

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