Assemblyman William Sampson IV has been removed from his job as a port worker in Bayonne after the commission overseeing his work determined he wasn’t showing up enough.
Sampson, who’s finishing up his first year in the state Assembly where he represents Bayonne and part of Jersey City,was removed from the longshoremen’s register by the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor for what it considered “excessive absenteeism,” according to a Waterfront Commission news release.
NJ Globe first reported the commission’s order, which was issued on Dec. 21.
Sampson did not work meet work and work availability requirements between January and June, the commission said, which Sampson partially attributed to his commitments as an elected official. He said he plans to appeal the commission’s decision.
The commission oversees the hiring process for dock workers and the removal process for employees who regularly fail to work without good cause. Sampson had been working at Bayonne Container Terminal as a crane operator.
Sampson claimed the commission’s decision was an attempt at retribution since New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has argued that the commission is no longer needed.
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis is sworn in for a third term in July alongside his wife Jamie Davis.Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal
By Terri West, The Jersey Journal
At the Hudson County clerk’s office, it’s in with one relative of a Bayonne politician and out with another.
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis’ wife will be the county’s new deputy clerk, and she will be replacing the sister of Davis’ most significant mayoral opponent from last spring, the county clerk’s office said Wednesday.
Jamie Davis will assume the role Jan. 1 that mayoral candidate Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski’s sister, Diane Liming, has held for the last four years. Ashe-Nadrowski challenged Davis for mayor last spring while serving as city council president.
The mayor, clerk, and Liming could not be reached for comment.
“Though Diane Liming (Bayonne) has served the office capably and amicably, the Clerk has decided to go in a different direction,” said assistant to the county clerk Bong Dizon in a statement, confirming the news first reported by NJ Globe. “On January 1st Jamie Davis (Bayonne) will be appointed to said position. County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado would like to thank Diane Liming for her tireless and unfaltering work on behalf of our office and wishes her nothing but goodwill and best wishes in all her future endeavors.”
Davis defeated Ashe-Nadrowski in a three-way race in May, securing a third term and besting his former running mate and political ally. Ashe-Nadrowski’s mayoral run meant the end of eight-yearson the city council.
Jamie Davis previously worked as a 911 operator for the city. Liming has been active in numerous Bayonne roles including coaching little league softball, St. Mary’s Star of the Sea basketball and serving with the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation, Police Athletic League, and St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.
During the past two years, low inventory and high demand were causing chaos at open houses, leading to long lines and multiple offers within days. Now things are different.
Bidding wars. Waiving inspections and appraisals. Waiting on long lines to view open houses.
The residential real estate market was on a tear during most of 2020 and 2021. But things have since returned to a more normal market in 2022 thanks largely to interest rates that doubled and the end of the urban exodus.
“A year ago there were multiple bids over asking price within days of a home coming on the market. That’s no longer the case,” said Jeffrey Otteay, a real estate economist and president of the Otteau Group. “Now, instead of a home selling for full price or more within a week of coming on the market, we’re seeing houses sit for weeks before an offer and offers less than asking price.”
Homes in New Jersey were selling at a peak this year of 105.1% of list price in June, when the median sales price also peaked for the year at $510,000, according to data from New Jersey Realtors.
In October, the last month for which New Jersey Realtors has released data, homes were selling for 100.5% of list price and the median sales price was $470,000.
“It’s two major things, lack of inventory… and (higher) interest rates,” said Robert White, president of New Jersey Realtors and a broker at Coldwell Banker Spring Lake.
Unsold homes in New Jersey have gone from about 30,000 in January 2020 to about 17,000 in October 2022.
“We kept saying inventory was going to pick up and trickle in from here and there,” White said of 2022. “It happened, just not in enough volume to make any sort of difference. And I don’t know why.”
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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge to highlight the world-class tourism destinations and recreational opportunities in the Mid-Hudson region.
“The annual Fire Tower Challenge is a great way to keep the history and traditions of our Catskills fire towers alive for future generations to appreciate and enjoy,” said Commissioner Seggos. “The Fire Tower Challenge provides opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to reach the unique viewing experience of the spectacular Catskill Mountains while making everlasting memories with family and friends. I encourage anyone that has participated in years past, or those looking to try the tower hikes for the first time and take the 2023 Challenge.”
For nearly a century, observers watched the forests of New York State – including the Catskill and Adirondack forest preserve – from more than 100 fire towers perched atop the highest peaks, searching for the dangerous, telltale signs of forest fires.
The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge encourages experienced hikers to visit the region’s remaining fire towers located on Balsam Lake Mountain (Hardenburgh), Hunter Mountain (Hunter), Overlook Mountain (Woodstock), Red Hill Mountain (Denning), and Tremper Mountain (Shandaken), along with the Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center. The Upper Esopus Fire Tower allows visitors who may not otherwise be able to undertake the challenging hike of several miles to experience a fire tower on the high peaks in the Catskills.
Stewardship of the fire towers is a partnership with the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. The Catskill Center, through the Catskill Fire Tower Project, manages six fire towers in the Catskill Park for public access and interpretation under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with DEC. Dedicated volunteers help maintain and staff each of the fire towers on weekends and holidays throughout the summer and fall seasons. For more information about the Catskills and to experience the newest and easiest-to-reach fire tower in the region, the Upper Esopus Fire Tower, consider a visit to the Catskills Visitor Center on Route 28 in the heart of Catskill Park.
To participate in the challenge, hikers must hike to all six DEC-owned fire towers in the Catskills between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2023. Once completed, participants submit a log of their completed hikes along with a favorite photo or selfie via a web form or to the designated email inbox: CatskillsChallenge@dec.ny.gov. Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 7, 2024.
All participants who complete the challenge will receive a letter and a commemorative Catskills Fire Tower Challenge patch designed with the 2023 completion year. The first 1,000 finishers will also receive a one-year subscription to DEC’s Conservationist magazine. Upon completion, finishers will also be able to download a customizable certificate and will be eligible to win prizes after the challenge period is closed. T
New for 2023, finishers who completed the challenge multiple times will receive an additional commemorative Catskills Fire Tower Challenge prize.
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol is holding its final public meeting today at 1 p.m..
The panel has heard from more than 1,000 witnesses, gone over millions of pages of documents, and held nine public hearings as part of its year-plus investigation into what happened when supporters of former President Trump stormed the Capitol in a bid to overturn the 2020 election results and what led to that day.
The committee has spent more than a year making the case that Trump was squarely at the center of efforts to overturn the election and was ultimately responsible for the deadly riot.
