PATERSON — A bullet pierced the kitchen window of a 3rd Ward home Thursday night and lodged in the ceiling while two members of the family who live there were in the room Neither person was injured in the incident no one had been arrested in connection with the shooting and the bullet struck a home on 14th Avenue Authorities have not disclosed whether they believe the residents of the home were the intended targets of the shooting investigators found a parked vehicle that had a bullet hole through its front windshield Investigators believe a gun was fired from inside the vehicle — which was unlocked — and that the bullet then entered the kitchen Paterson police are investigating a shooting incident that unfolded in a local neighborhood on Friday night officers were alerted to gunfire by a ShotSpotter device in the area of Beech Street and Essex Street.  confirming that a shooting had taken place Detectives secured the scene with police tape and conducted a thorough search of the area for potential victims no injuries were reported by the conclusion of their investigation police have not released any suspect descriptions The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Paterson Police Department The Paterson Diocese held its 25th and final Blue Mass on Saturday at the Cathedral of St Though it was the last of a long tradition a new one will start for friends and families of those who wear blue plus the scores of nattily attired officers It's just that they will be heavily reinforced Monsignor Geno Sylva said that next spring the diocese is planning a Guardians Mass designed to celebrate the service of all first responders: police "I borrowed the idea from Cardinal Dolan," Sylva said noting that New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan decided several years ago to combine Blue and Red Masses together marked the end of a tradition that offers families of officers who gave their last full measure some comfort A grateful society and especially those who appreciate the personal and familial sacrifices peace officers make understand this "There's no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend or even a stranger," Sweeney told the hundreds of police officers who attended the special service "We honor those who made the greatest sacrifice." the new Guardian Mass will be held on the first Saturday in May In remembrance of officers killedEach year the Mass honors officers who died and exemplified the finest traditions of their departments On Saturday the lives and service of Newark Sgt Puhalski of the New Jersey State Police were celebrated A huge contingent of Newark police officers turned out to pay respects to Azcona and his family Azcona was shot on March 7 while investigating illegal weapons possession at Carteret Street and Broadway in Newark Azcona's brother Jonathan Reyes sat with his family and friends and said he was appreciative but he also acknowledged that the wounds are still fresh adding that since his brother died the department has been supportive of his family "So many came by and told amazing stories." It's this support that's the intent of the Mass to begin with "We want families to know that we haven't forgotten them," he said Police officers and their families are keenly aware of the danger and the empty chair that can be created when they are killed in line of duty "We want families to know we are here if they need anything," Paterson police Lt was a former Paterson police chief and another founder of the Blue Mass New Jersey welcomed one of Hollywood's biggest stars this week as Robert De Niro was in Paterson Thursday filming the new Netflix movie "The Whisper Man." Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh posted a picture of himself with De Niro on Facebook announcing the Oscar-winning actor was in Paterson The filming of the new crime-thriller occurred right behind city hall "The two-time Academy Award winner was in Paterson filming a new movie today Our city continues to attract major motion pictures and is considered by many as being Hollywood East!" said Sayegh in his Facebook post Filming for "The Whisper Man" is also set to take place in a historic building in Montclair between May 19 and 27, reported Montclair Local The actor known for his iconic roles in "Goodfellas," "The Godfather Part II," "Taxi Driver," and many more is not the only star to arrive in the Garden State PATERSON — Monitoring reports about a city-based school bus company that Attorney General Matthew Platkin said put children at risk by hiring unqualified drivers will not be disclosed to the public That is one of the terms of a 10-page monitoring agreement between the Attorney General's Office and the company, American Star Transportation, part of a deal that resulted in the dismissal of criminal charges against the firm and its owner The agreement allows American Star to pick the “independent” monitoring firm and requires the bus company to pay the monitor’s fees with the selection and contract needing approval from the attorney general's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability But the agreement does not include any requirements for public disclosure of the monitoring firm or the size of the contract American Star can propose potential monitors or monitoring firms but OPIA has oversight of the selection and gets the final say,” the Attorney General's Office said in response to questions from Paterson Press The office said the monitoring firm has not yet been picked American Star has 10 days from the signing of the agreement on April 28 to pick a monitor and ask for the approval of the Attorney General's Office The monitor must be independent of American Star and Khalique and no attorney-client relationship shall be formed among American Star Monitoring to continue through 2032The monitoring is supposed to continue until December 2032 but the agreement includes a provision that says the Attorney General's Office can end the oversight if the monitor makes such a recommendation Here are some of the tasks and powers assigned to the monitor under the agreement: Lawyers who represented Khalique and American Star in the criminal case could not be reached for comment will not be involved in American Star’s operations Shelim Khalique and the company he once owned Shelim Khalique had most charges against him dismissed and was placed in the pretrial intervention probation program for two years to resolve a pending fourth-degree offense He has been barred from the student bus business for 10 years A-1 Elegant stopped operating about five years ago employees and other assets were folded into American Star A-1 Elegant was the only defendant to plead guilty in the case and was fined $250,000 American Star continued to handle millions of dollars' worth of student bus routes in North Jersey while the criminal charges were pending the courts imposed monitoring on the company and its drivers with reports submitted to the New Jersey State Police The Attorney General's Office said it doesn’t think it has the authority to release those reports without a court order State authorities said the monitors assigned to American Star during the past several years didn’t find any major issues “We are not aware of the court-appointed monitor identifying to the court or state any instances of defendants attempting to use drivers lacking the requisite credentials and licenses during the period of pretrial supervision or any significant other problems,” said a statement issued by the Attorney General's Office The lack of public disclosure regarding the monitoring connected to the criminal case stands in stark contrast to the information provided by the Paterson school district regarding American Star’s performance The Paterson district’s violation reports made it clear American Star had problems before the criminal charges were filed at the end of 2022 the Paterson district issued 15 contract violations against American Star for using drivers who lacked credentials to operate school buses and imposed $23,000 in fines against the company In the first week of class after the criminal charges the district issued three more violations against American Star involving driver credentials there have been no additional infractions against American Star involving drivers’ credentials Paterson Public Schools issued 12 contract violations against American Star and imposed $3,376 in fines Seven of those involved buses that were allegedly late three were for students who were not transported and two were for not having requisite video In the first eight months of the 2024-25 year the Paterson district issued 59 violations against American Star Those infractions included 19 for late buses and 15 for not transporting students NJBIZ ICON Honors Awards Program Jessica Perry//May 5 Gensler's Morristown office recently hosted a design charrette with Paterson business and community leaders to discuss bringing the 5-acre Art Factory in Paterson and its circa 19th century buildings into the future Paterson Art Factory set for revitalization under new owner KSS Architects offered project design for the revamped space Lee & Associates - WBE announced the sale of the distinctive glass façade property The recently constructed c-store with gas pumps offers investors a high-traffic retail location with long-term[...] An NJBIZ panel discussion featuring executives from Arc Building Partners Ortega and others will join the roster at 8 Sylvan Way The joint venture between Black Bear Asset Management Bettina Equities Management and Echevarria Industries p[...] Sign up for your daily digest of New Jersey News New Jersey business owners can now apply for assistance to explore Employee Stock Ownership Plans The workforce reductions impacting Mercer County positions come amid a broader cost-cutting plan from the pharma giant that t[...] The site is looking toward a major revitalization with Gensler's Morristown office recently hosting a design charrette with [...] Backed by $1.25 million in public funding The new Middlesex County hub offers multidisciplinary oncology services as well as expanded patient support The founder of the solar-powered sign manufacturer describes how he started the company and designed its [...] provides 24/7 business news coverage and events honoring top business professionals Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Photo Credit: Daniel Acker/Pool/ Sipa Press/1004222035 NY) — Former New York Governor David Paterson says he is outraged that no one has been brought to trial for their role in attacking him and his step son Anthony last year Paterson and Anthony were beaten and bruised in a sidewalk brawl outside a McDonald’s on the Upper East Side last October The two were headed to the fast food restaurant near East 96th Street for a meal Paterson says earlier in the evening on October 4th they had witnessed two boys on a fire escape and he had told them to get down Those same two boys were part of the crew involved in the attack outside the McDonald’s around an hour later They were 12 and 13 and were arrested for the attack Two adults allegedly involved in the beat down 40-year-old Travor Nurse and 34-year-old Diamond Minter Nurse also faced a charge of second-degree assault Neither has been brought to court to face charges Paterson told 77WABC that he has routinely checked in with the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for an update on the case and has heard nothing back He says he is amazed that neither of the men has had to face the music for the brawl The former Governor says he and his son went through a very a traumatic experience and the system has failed Paterson served as governor from 2008 to 2010 after Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a scandal involving a prostitute Robert Paterson was appointed head of investment technology and performance in June 2022 He focuses on modernizing data and technology to enhance investment outcomes while mitigating operational risk Robert has developed frameworks to provide deeper insights into investment performance achieved compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards and improved operational processes to enhance efficiencies and mitigate risk Robert spent 15 years at Franklin Templeton Investments where he led strategic initiatives across performance analysis and investment risk as well as financial operations His achievements include leading a transformational program to develop and implement a book of record for investment performance and risk integrating performance and risk functions to support portfolio oversight deploying a global employee credit card and expense reimbursement system establishing shared services for accounting operations and creating an employee portal for office supply and equipment procurement Robert holds the financial risk manager designation from the Global Association of Risk Professionals and the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute He earned a Bachelor of Science in managerial economics and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California  Download Full-Size Photo We serve those who serve California.Copyright © 2025 California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) | State of California Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A crash on Route 46 in Clifton shut down two of three westbound lanes Monday morning the New Jersey Department of Transportation said The incident happened west of the Garden State Parkway Drivers were urged to expect delays and seek alternate routes Daily Voice has reached out to local police for details PATERSON — The federal government has taken back $4 million from the Paterson Housing Authority’s reserve account used to pay for rent vouchers for low-income residents Housing authority executive director Irma Gorham said the “recaptured” federal funds won’t impact the agency’s $35 million annual allocation under the Section 8 voucher program That money pays for vouchers for 3,200 families Gorham said the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development notified her about the $4 million several months ago this is happening all over the country,” Gorham said The housing director said HUD is taking money from local authorities’ Section 8 reserve accounts to shift the fund to places that have insufficient voucher money She said all 40 local public housing agencies in New Jersey have lost money from their reserves because of the federal action Officials at HUD did not respond to an inquiry from Paterson Press regarding the taking of the Section 8 money Gorham said the PHA now has $1 million left in its voucher reserve which she described as “a cushion” that the agency taps into for emergencies “I was saddened to learn that these funds were taken from us and I think that we need to do whatever we can to protect the resources that remain,” said Bob Guarasci “Given the huge need for housing in Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh did not respond when asked for his comments on the loss of the $4 million The Paterson housing agency has 400 people on its waiting list for Section 8 voucher The agency provided voucher documents to about 100 people on the waiting list about nine months ago so they can look for apartments So far about 30 of them have entered leases based on their rent vouchers The vouchers cover a portion or the entire rent Gorham said she doesn’t think the loss of the $4 million was very significant compared to general uncertainty over the fate of the Section 8 program Paterson police officers arrested four men on the department’s Top 10 Most Wanted list of fugitives all suspects allegedly involved in gun crimes The arrests — which were unrelated to each other — took place at four different locations between 4 p.m the state-appointed Officer in Charge of the Paterson police department said he was proud of the work by the city detectives and officers saying the apprehensions stemmed from “focused “The arrests of these four individuals mark a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to focus on violent offenders and enhance public safety in Paterson,” Murray said Detectives in the Warrant Unit arrested Jaleek Wilson in Paterson when he showed up for his scheduled probation session at offices on Dale Avenue Wilson was wanted on gun possession charges The second arrest was made at noon on Wednesday by two city police officers working an extra-duty road construction security assignment at Haledon Avenue and North 4th Street leaving a store and recognized him from his photo on the Most Wanted list White faces gun possession and domestic violence charges Warrant Unit detectives apprehended Kartier Fairfax Fairfax was was wanted on attempted murder and gun charges The final Top 10 arrest took place when warrant detectives picked up Lewis Morillo near Harrison and Fulton streets in the 4th Ward Morillo was wanted on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and conspiracy to commit armed robbery “This is the result of strong police work and relentless focus on getting violent offenders off our streets,” said Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale also are accused of election crimes under the indictment announced Wednesday morning by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin The accused allegedly collected mail-in ballots completed by voters brought them to Mendez campaign headquarters destroyed the ballots that did not contain votes for Mendez in Paterson’s 3rd Ward council race and replaced them with bogus ballots for Mendez The Mendez campaign allegedly obtained the replacement ballots by stealing blank ballots from mailboxes in neighborhoods with large numbers of supporters for Mendez’s main opponent this case is not simply about a city council seat,” said Platkin “The people’s right to vote and to have their voices heard was subverted by what we allege to be an unlawful conspiracy Mendez has professed his innocence countless times since the original election fraud charges were filed against him in June 2020 just days before he was supposed to take the oath of office Paterson Press asked the council president about the charges of the state's case against him “I hope and pray that I will get my day in court so I can clear my name,” Mendez said The councilman last week bemoaned the massive amount of money he said he has spent for lawyers to defend him against the election fraud charges for the past 58 months I could buy another property,” said Mendez “I could pay my daughter’s tuition for college.” Won district council seat in 2020 and 2024Voters in Paterson’s 3rd Ward seem to believe Mendez did nothing wrong He won that district’s council seat by nine votes in a special election in November 2020 and then registered a 341-vote victory in his May 2024 reelection bid Mendez received a total of more than 5,000 votes in those two elections plus another 4,400 when he ran for mayor in 2022 the Attorney General's Office filed election fraud charges against Mendez 1st Ward Councilman Michael Jackson and two campaign workers for 2nd Ward Councilman Shahin Khalique State authorities quietly dropped the charges against the Khalique backers in 2022. But the case against Jackson is still pending The 1st Ward councilman and the state have engaged in a two-year battle over the seizure of Jackson’s cell phone in a witness tampering probe stemming from the election fraud charges Jackson remains a staunch adversary of Sayegh But Mendez has developed an alliance with the mayor and participated in many of Sayegh’s press conferences during the past 22 months After the attorney general's initial election fraud case against Mendez dragged on for more than three years Platkin in October 2023 announced a new set of charges against the councilman Political insiders have said they think the charges filed against Mendez’s wife were designed to convince the councilman to agree to plead guilty New indictments stem from 2023 chargesThe indictments announced Wednesday morning stem from the October 2023 charges “The tenacious hard work of the investigators and prosecutors on this case uncovered new information about the lengths the defendants allegedly went to in an attempt to rig Paterson’s municipal election and cover up their conduct,” said Drew Skinner executive director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Real ID: The Real ID deadline is one week away. What to know if you still need to get one The affidavits of probable cause filed by state investigators 18 months ago talked about a cooperating witness within the Mendez camp and cited photos and recordings substantiating the allegations The court documents detailing the charges against Mendez and his co-defendants talk about the pre-election discovery of 347 mail-in ballots for the Paterson council races in a mailbox in Haledon Some of the voters whose names were on the ballots allegedly told state investigators that a Mendez campaign worker had called them and volunteered to pick up votes and submit them The cooperating witness allegedly described in detail the practice of removing votes for McKoy and replacing them with ballots for Mendez The affidavit said the witness allegedly told detectives that he Mendez and Ledesma drove to the mailbox in Haledon and that Mendez watched from the vehicle while he and Ledesma mailed more than 300 Paterson ballots in the neighboring town PATERSON — Amid uncertainty over future federal funding, the Board of Education is moving ahead with its proposed $848 million budget for 2025-26 a spending plan that includes a 4% school tax increase Officials say the budget — scheduled for a public hearing and final vote on May 6 — won’t require layoffs or service cuts But local education advocates are concerned Paterson could continue losing federal aid for city schools The budget — which was made available to the public for the first time on April 28 — contains a line item showing a 39% reduction in federal funding from $50.2 million in 2024-25 to $30.4 million for 2025-26 the Paterson school district received $104 million from the federal government “We don’t know what’s going to happen as far as the federal aid is concerned,” said Rosie Grant head of the Paterson Education Fund advocacy group “The district has to be mindful we stand to lose federal dollars.” State would provide bulk of budget with $723 millionMost of the revenue for Paterson schools comes from the state government which would provide $723 million in operating money and grants five of the nine school board members support the budget most of them having run election campaigns condemning the streak of double-digit-percentage tax increases that recently took place the lowest increase in the last five years,” said board Vice President Joel Ramirez He said he has confidence that the superintendent and business administrator "will deliver a thorough and efficient education to our children with this budget.” Board member Hector Nieves called the budget “a reasonable step forward” after the 2024-25 spending plan contained a 5% tax hike “I am generally supportive of the 4% increase and appreciate the administration’s effort in creating a balanced budget especially amid federal funding reductions,” Nieves said this year's increase is lower than last year's I remain hopeful that we can identify additional savings before the final vote.” Several board members have been vocal about their opposition to the budget said he thinks the district needs a larger tax increase to supply the academic program Paterson needs to provide its children with a better education but I don’t know how you can do that,” Simmons said “I’m concerned about the impact on student outcomes.” Simmons said all the new housing in the city is increasing Paterson’s population but has not expanded the school tax base because of exemptions “Where are all these new students going to go to school board member Corey Teague said he won’t support the budget because he thinks the tax increase is too large Teague said the district should cut costs by addressing top officials’ salaries inflated salaries keep saying we have to invest in our children,” Teague said “but what it looks like to me is we’re investing in you all and not the children.” Board member Della McCall said she wants to see changes in the budget before she will support it McCall said the district ought to earmark more money for literacy and reading programs then I will definitely vote no,” McCall said Special education programs are getting an 11% increase and bilingual programs a 15% rise in funding The budget includes a breakdown of how much money is being spent on each of the district’s 42 schools with 38 of them getting an increase in money The largest increase is 40% at the Newcomers High School where the budget will rise to $1.56 million District spokesperson Aida Rosario attributed the large increases at those two schools to spending on bilingual education Four district schools — Kilpatrick and Schools 1 7 and 9 — will see their budgets decline under the district spending plan Rosario said those schools have budget decreases because of savings in employee health benefit costs not because of program cuts or declining enrollment For the past two months, district officials have faced protests over the restructuring of two K-8 schools Hani Awadallah will be converted to a six-to-eight middle school in September and School 9 will become a K-5 elementary school The proposed budgets for those two schools don’t reflect that impending change and they include funding for teachers in grade levels that each school won’t offer next year Rosario said the budget for those two schools will be updated by July once plans for reassigning students and staff members are in place New charges have been filed against an embattled elected city official in Paterson facing allegations of forging ballots in election fraud five years ago are accused of stealing and forging ballots and voter registrations in order to help Mendez win Paterson’s nonpartisan municipal election in May 2020 Alex Mendez, a registered Democrat, was first indicted in 2021 for election-related offenses the Passaic County Board of Elections decided not to count 800 ballots cast in the race and a judge ordered a new election Mendez still won a tight race in November 2020 He has continued to serve on the city council repeatedly denying allegations and entering a not guilty plea in court Additional charges were filed in October 2023 based on an investigation by the state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Yohanny Mendez and campaign staffers Omar Ledesma and Iris Rigo Read More: Paterson councilmen indicted in election fraud case The 10-count superseding indictment announced on Wednesday added two new third-degree charges of theft and receiving stolen property against the four defendants all involving hundreds of mail-in ballots found in a postal box in the neighboring town of Haledon all voting was by mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic New third-degree charges have also been filed against Ninoska Adames of hindering apprehension or prosecution and tampering with public records or information Adames allegedly falsified a voter certificate on a vote-by-mail ballot and gave false information to detectives during the fraud investigation Ledesma and Rigo have also been charged with witness tampering They previously faced charges including tampering with public records or information this case is not simply about a city council seat The people’s right to vote and to have their voices heard was subverted by what we allege to be an unlawful conspiracy,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said “This was unfair to the voters of Paterson Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom New charges have been added to fraud allegations against the elected city council president in one of New Jersey's largest cities.\nRead More Alex Mendez, a registered Democrat, was first indicted in 2021 for election-related offenses Read More: Paterson councilmen indicted in election fraud case Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom A woman was killed and man injured in a shooting on a warm Tuesday evening in Paterson’s Eastside Park The victims – apparently a couple - were hanging out inside a vehicle parked along a winding road leading from the upper portion of the park down toward the Larry Doby Field area The area is a popular gathering spot for young people Someone from outside the vehicle opened fire at the victims The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said the shooting occurred around 5:55 p.m a 21-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man arrived at St Joseph's University Medical Center with gunshot wounds The city is ahead of last year’s pace for homicides but has had fewer shooting incidents than in 2024 the city had three homicides and 22 shootings there had been five homicides and 15 shooting incidents as of that date Jersey City is the "Bedroom City," Newark is going through a "Jobless Gentrification," and Paterson is the "Migrant Metro." They are labelled as such in a new report that shows how gentrification and international migration have benefited and hurt three of New Jersey's largest and most diverse cities The 40-page report released April 24 by researchers at Rutgers Law School’s Center on Law "The Other Cities: Migration and Gentrification in Jersey City Newark and Paterson," points out the growth and decline each of these cities has experienced 40% of Jersey City residents who work are employed in New York City Real estate: Zillow will stop showing certain home listings in May under new listing policy the state's largest city with 305,000 residents was labeled in the report as existing amid "Jobless Gentrification,” where the prices of new market-rate housing and renovated units by investors have risen while there's little job growth Data collected by the researchers show that home values between 2015 and 2023 went up 92% from $242,548 to $465,693 median asking rents jumped 32% from $1,567 to $2,066 The city is also experiencing gentrification "Jersey City has a lot more street-level gentrification assets privatizes many of those attractions within the developments themselves That’s why you see buildings that contain their own playrooms Paterson is referred to in the report as "Migrant Metro," a municipality where the lack of affordability stems from the influx of working-class immigrants vying for few affordable units The report makes note of Paterson as not only the home of a large and thriving Arab American community but also of sizable Caribbean and South American communities as well as a "rapidly growing Bangladeshi population." home values in the city of 156,000 have nearly tripled from $164,259 in 2015 to $489,491 in 2023 with the median gross rent ticking slightly upward from $1,435 in 2015-2019 to $1,512 in 2020-2024 The report goes on to point out other downsides The report observes that where each of the three cities had traditionally boasted robust African American populations they have seen losses in that racial group in recent years Jersey City has lost 2,936 Black residents and Paterson has lost 4,540 Black residents An exact number of Black residents who have left Newark was not given The report did say that while 1,810 Black residents settled in the city due in part to "a large influx of Black Caribbean and West African people," this suggests some African Americans moved out of the city The report gives the reason for the decline as due to "displacement pressures." The decline comes alongside a growing group that is also not welcome news: the homeless population The count in Newark was 1,595 in 2013 and 2,451 in 2023 The increase in the homeless population reflects the inability of people to keep up with rising housing costs and find work that enables them to afford to live These negative numbers are counterpoints to gains in residents for each city with Jersey City and Newark experiencing a jump in their population of more than 8% in the past five years and Paterson with 7% with Paterson seeing an increase in its foreign-born population from 32% to 44% from 2013 to 2023 The growth of foreign-born populations in the cities affirms a point made in the report of "a confounding new fact of urban life: working class centers of immigration are no longer the affordable places they once were People may not come for work but [to be with] other people like them." The report's release comes as Jersey City and Newark's mayors are running for New Jersey governor where they face questions on the campaign trail about housing and affordability Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop did not respond directly to questions from NorthJersey.com on the increase in the city's homeless population and the loss of Black residents listed in the report or on the report itself said in an extensive statement that Fulop implemented "some of the strongest tenant protections in the state and made record investments in affordable housing." Wallace-Scalcione also said that Jersey City has been a "leader in the fight for affordability" by building 275% more housing per capita than New York City and approving nearly 9,000 new affordable and market-rate homes last year "Jersey City’s story isn’t just about development; our focus has always been on thoughtful growth and policies that benefit longtime residents and strengthen our diverse communities," Wallace-Scalcione said "The report is useful as an analytical tool for us to compare with our lived reality and internal departmental dashboards It reveals areas that are easily misperceived and misunderstood by those not immersed in our issues The city took issue with the report on its homeless population claiming the numbers for Newark reflect "county numbers that include other urban areas such as the Oranges and Irvington," while touting the city's various efforts to deal with homelessness The city pointed to ways it is trying to keep longtime residents such as African American residents: strengthening renter protections and implementing equitable zoning and housing regulations Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is quoted in the report as telling the researchers that the city is "prioritizing reducing the number of vacant units in Paterson to incentivize development." The amount went from 1,200 in 2018 to less than 200 currently Sayegh also said in the report that the city's development strategy "aims to foster a middle class by building mixed-income housing focusing on major investments around the Great Falls and positioning Paterson as the food capital of the state." For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community please subscribe or activate your digital account today Game Recap: Softball | 4/26/2025 6:17:00 PM | Conner Gilson Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here PATERSON — Municipal officials on Monday launched a citywide reassessment of property values a process that caused numerous complaints from landowners the last time it was done Several City Council members said they were caught off-guard by the initiative claiming Mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration went ahead with the reassessment without providing sufficient information to local elected officials and community members The first phase of the reassessment is starting about 13 months shy of Paterson’s mayoral election “It’s irresponsible,” Councilman Luis Velez said asserting that the public wasn’t given enough notice about the reassessment municipal officials and the company doing the in-person inspections gave several presentations at council meetings Paterson Press on Monday sent questions to the mayor and his staff The Sayegh administration said the contract for the reassessment was approved in January Letters dated March 24 were sent to Paterson property owners about the reassessment and the president of the company doing the work said 25% of the city’s properties will be inspected each year The letter did not say which section of Paterson would undergo inspections in the first year The letter said inspectors from Appraisal Systems Inc would conduct site visits to measure and photograph exteriors and will seek access to the insides of homes and businesses “The first visit from an inspector will be between the hours of 9 a.m “If the homeowner is not present at the first visit the inspector will leave a card specifying a return date to do the interior inspection The notice will also have a telephone number to reschedule this appointment if the time or date is not convenient Contactless interior inspections using a video conference will be available at the request of the property owner.” New property values for 2026 will be determined based on their estimated market value as of Oct Property owners will get a notice of the new assessed values and will have a chance to contest the determinations Paterson’s most prolific housing developer including inflation and rising interest rates likely would result in a shift in property values in Paterson Florio said he expected assessments on commercial properties while those for one- through four-family homes to go up “I think you’re going to see a big shift toward the residential market,” Florio said A reassessment doesn’t change the total amount in taxes collected for local government but redistributes the burden Paterson officials have said a reassessment usually causes taxes to decrease for about a third of the property owners The letter from Marra and Appraisal Systems said Paterson had been directed by the Passaic County Board of Taxation and the New Jersey Division of Taxation to conduct the reassessment. The city of Clifton recently received an extension from the county tax board to delay its reassessment It was not clear on Monday if the Sayegh administration had requested a similar extension I don’t think Paterson is ready for a reassessment,” Velez said noting that school taxes would be increasing by 4% under the proposed Board of Education budget Velez has made it clear he intends to run for mayor in 2026 Sayegh has not yet announced whether he will seek reelection to City Hall or pursue a seat in Congress something he fell short of achieving last year 2025 | Contact: Tom Krychkowski; Assistant Athletic Director for Communications & Marketing Thanks for visiting cjs281@rutgers.edu Rutgers-Newark researchers have released a first-of-its-kind report on how gentrification is—and isn’t— playing out in three mid-sized New Jersey cities: Newark The report,  “The Other Cities: Migration and Gentrification in Jersey City, Newark and Paterson,’’ explores how each city fits the traditional model of gentrification and how they depart from it Jersey City is fully gentrified while Newark is in transition long-time residents are being displaced by rising property values and each lacks the job creation that’s normally part of gentrification according to researchers from Rutgers Law School’s Center on Law inequality & Metropolitan Equity (CLiME) Another key difference between gentrification in these cities and others is the impact of international migration largely working-class places without the spectacle of affluence known in their bigger cousins,’’ according to the report The CLiME report describes housing trends and neighborhood changes in these cities which have experienced large population growth a persistent lack of housing affordability and a decrease in African American residents In the shadow of the metro region’s larger cities and suburbs with a population between 100,000 to 300,000  “News coverage and academic study rarely explore these cities their costs are rising and homelessness is expanding They are grappling with change amid efforts to revitalize and jobs are not attracting newcomers,’’ according to the report Each city is also symbolic of patterns emerging nationwide.“Their traits are important bellwethers of urban life across the U.S,’’ CLiME observed Jersey City and Newark have seen outward signs of gentrifications driven by an influx of more affluent newcomers who commute to jobs in New York City “Jersey City has a lot more street level gentrification assets “My guess that developers are betting on a future in which public spaces become more developed to reflect these tastes Newark’s gentrified streets will in 10 years look more like Jersey City’s,’’ he predicted Paterson is experiencing a sharp increase in real estate values without the trendy commercial spots that often result from gentrification The study divides the cities into three categories: Jersey City is the “Bedroom City,” a fully gentrified place where population growth and higher prices are associated with its proximity to jobs across the Hudson River in New York City  People moving into and around Jersey City are more affluent and highly educated than in Paterson or Newark international migration is still a primary catalyst for growth Forty-one percent of Jersey City residents are foreign-born But the city attracts residents from all over the world Newark is in the midst of “Jobless Gentrification,” where investment in expensive market-rate new housing and investor-led renovations raise prices without the corresponding job growth seen in traditional gentrification   The city has seen a surge in new units since the pandemic and although it has taken taken steps to ensure that a portion of new units are affordable Most people moving into Newark are coming from nearby areas in New Jersey Others are part of the ongoing flow of people from the Caribbean Paterson is the “Migrant Metro,” a species of municipalities that have become mosaics of working-class immigration whose density alone—not jobs or new housing—have intensified a lack of affordability it has not received investment from developers yet it has experienced a dramatic increase in real estate prices Its population is at least two-thirds Latino with a substantial number of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans Paterson also has a growing Arab American community Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to direct suggestions, comments, or complaints concerning any accessibility issues with Rutgers websites to accessibility@rutgers.edu or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier / Provide Feedback form Copyright ©2025, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. All rights reserved. Contact webmaster Growing up in Lebanon as a child and young adult felt like a dream come true Lebanon was once dubbed “the Paris of the Middle East” Beirut’s streets were alive day and night with commerce and people of all backgrounds coexisted in a delicate but well-functioning balance Little that I knew that disaster was looming That the Lebanon that I loved so much will no longer exists much of it driven by the rise of Hezbollah and the influence of radical Islam What happened to Lebanon is a warning for the world to heed It is very unsettling to see that the same patterns are beginning to emerge in my beloved adopted country The recent declaration by its mayor (ironically Lebanese American) Paterson as the “capital of Palestine” is not just a symbolic gesture it reflects a deeper trend of demographic and political shifts that should concern every American citizen who values democracy and national identity The Fall of Lebanon: A glaring example in Islamization and Sectarian Control Lebanon’s descent into chaos did not happen overnight The 1970s saw the influx of armed Palestinian factions following their expulsion from Jordan by king Hussein combined with existing religious divisions But it was the rise of Hezbollah in the 1980s that sealed the country’s disastrous fate Hezbollah embedded itself into the Lebanese government transforming the nation into a proxy battleground for regional powers What was once a country governed by a harmonious balance of Christians and moderate Muslims became a breeding ground for extremism and civil liberties eroded as Hezbollah’s hands and its people struggling under the weight of hyperinflation This is what happens when Islamist movements seize power They replace democracy with loyalty to personalities and religious authority The New Jersey Parallel: Paterson and the Rise of Palestinian Influence America prides itself on being a melting pot a place where immigrants can come to embrace freedom and opportunity But there is a difference between integration and political takeover a growing Palestinian presence has led to overt political activism that aligns more with foreign conflicts than with American interests The mayor’s decision to declare Paterson the “capital of Palestine” is not just an empty political statement where local leaders align themselves with ideological movements that have little to do with our core American values we see enclaves where foreign political struggles are imported into our communities When elected officials cater to these movements Lebanon serves as a reminder of what happens when sectarian politics override national identity What New Jersey and America must learn from Lebanon Lebanon’s tragedy was that it ignored the glaring warning signs It tolerated the slow erosion of its democracy until it was too late The Lebanon of my childhood no longer exists The question now is whether America will follow the same path I’ve seen the movie before it ends very badly it is that complacency is the greatest enemy of freedom is active in New Jersey Republican politics A Passaic County jury found a Paterson man guilty of the 2021 stabbing murder of two men and the assault of another was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder third-degree aggravated assault causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon Jury selection for the trial began on March 18 and and the panel began deliberations on April 15 The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said the prosecution used police body camera footage and testimony of police and the charge of attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years The aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose carry a sentence of up to five years while the unlawful possession of a weapon carries up to 18 months in prison Sentencing is scheduled for June 5 before Superior Court Judge Sohail Mohammed in Passaic County by | Mar 3, 2025 | PPD News 2025 | Paterson Police Department– Patrick Murray Media Inquiries-Rob RowanOAGpress@njoag.gov PATERSON – The Paterson Police Department today announced its 2025 recruitment campaign as the Civil Service Commission opens the application period for prospective police officers to take the Law Enforcement Exam the PPD has signed on to the 30×30 Initiative the goal of which is to ensure department policies and culture are supportive of women and meet their needs in the workplace The 30×30 Initiative is based on social science research that demonstrates greater representation of women in police agencies leads to better policing outcomes for communities the department hopes to see women make up at least 30% of recruit classes by 2030 While 30×30 is focused on advancing women in policing its principles apply to all demographic characteristics “The future of the Paterson Police Department has not yet been recruited We encourage anyone passionate about serving the community and answering the call to join our mission of making Paterson a safer place to live and work,” said Officer in Charge Patrick Murray “We take pride in having a higher percentage of female officers compared to many other municipal police departments in the State we aim to attract top talent and continue evolving our unwavering commitment to excellence in public safety remains unchanged.” Prospective police officers in New Jersey looking to join departments under the New Jersey civil service jurisdiction must take the Law Enforcement Examination a person must first apply for an announcement by completing the online application and receiving confirmation that the application was submitted Those that fulfill all requirements will be scheduled to take the written multiple-choice exam administered at test centers throughout the State Those who pass the exam are placed on the eligibility list corresponding to the announcement for which they applied Candidates receive a score and a rank on each list and may then be hired by the agency for which they applied after going through the certification process The application period for the 2025 exam is open from March 1st through the end of the month The Law Enforcement Examination will be administered in the summer Prospective applicants can find more information about the Department on its new recruitment website which includes an explanation of the hiring process The PPD has served the City of Paterson since the mid-19th century making it one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in New Jersey the PPD has more than 400 sworn members to protect and serve the third largest city in the State “The policing profession is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding careers one can pursue,” said Officer in Charge Murray “At the PPD we provide numerous career opportunities that aren’t always available in other law enforcement agencies there is no better department anywhere else in New Jersey PATERSON — An educator who worked at a charter school in the city for more than five years filed a lawsuit last week saying she was subjected to discrimination because she was white said in her complaint that her mistreatment at Community Charter School of Paterson caused her to suffer a stroke in February 2024 Volpe’s lawsuit said the school forced her to resign in May 2024 when officials required her to come back to work while her doctors said she should not return to the job until September did not respond to a message seeking comment for this story Volpe’s complaint also said the charter school retaliated against her when she complained to the New Jersey Department of Education about alleged violations of Individualized Education Plans for students in special education programs Her lawsuit alleged that the education plans were violated to save money at the school and that parents were falsely told their children no longer needed the services Volpe said the school’s chief executive officer engaged in the racial discrimination against her after he took the job in Paterson in 2023 More: Every senior at this Paterson charter school was accepted to college defendant Griffith stated during leadership and/or staff meetings when plaintiff was present and while directly looking at plaintiff 'This is not a place for white people to teach or work,’” the lawsuit said plaintiff was called a ‘white b----‘ and ‘whitey’ by teachers and administrators,” the lawsuit continued “This was done openly and obviously in front of parents by | Jan 15, 2025 | PPD News 2025 | PATERSON – The Paterson Police Department today announced the implementation of a first-of-its-kind Risk Management and Early Intervention Program (EIP) The program reviews officer conduct and provides remedial retraining and other behavioral corrections to promote best practices in a non-disciplinary setting The program will continue to rebuild trust with the community by identifying at-risk employees and enhancing the efficacy of an existing state-mandated Early Warning System we committed to increasing accountability and improving the relationship between the department and the community,” said Attorney General Matthew J “With this program and its ability to identify issues before they become larger problems we can work directly with officers to ensure they receive the training and resources to be their very best It is all about helping officers and ensuring they have everything they need when they put on a uniform to protect and serve the people of Paterson.” we want our officers to be the highest trained and most professional in the entire state,” said Officer in Charge Patrick Murray “This program will help officers in their careers and foster growth for them as well as the relationship between police and the community.” who dedicated 26 years to the New York City Police Department he served as the commanding officer of the NYPD’s Risk Management Bureau conducted analyses of use-of-force incidents and managed risk for the largest police force in the United States Alongside Director Iocco are members of the Professional Standards Division as well as employees assigned to the Paterson Police Department through the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General This initiative enhances officer performance and community trust by utilizing data-driven insights and body-worn camera video review to flag potential issues before they escalate The EIP works by continuously monitoring key performance indicators such as use of force incidents a review is conducted that is intended to address any area of the member’s performance that may benefit from intervention This assessment extends well beyond the behavior detected and encompasses a holistic review of the member’s tenure with the department Non-disciplinary interventions such as mentoring and wellness programs are initiated by a committee to provide officers with the necessary tools to succeed the program not only prevents misconduct but also promotes officer well-being By fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement the Paterson Police Department reaffirms its commitment to excellence in public service and the safety of our community “We are supporting our officers by identifying potential warning signs early to prevent negative outcomes for them and offer the best possible service to the residents of this city,” said Director Iocco “This is by no means a disciplinary system but rather one meant to identify behaviors before they become larger issues and make sure every officer has an opportunity to correct deficiencies early on.” Developing an enhanced Early Intervention Program to identify at-risk employees and building upon state mandated Early Warning Systems already in place is one of the 55 strategic goals and initiatives outlined in the Strategic Plan for the Paterson Police Department The program was created to improve the department overall while working closely with the community and rebuild trust with the people of Paterson nearly three-quarters of the 55 goals and initiatives outlined in the plan were completed Officer in Charge Murray will continue that trajectory as the PPD continues to be recognized nationally as a constitutionally focused PATERSON — Facing strong opposition, the City Council on Tuesday night backed away from an ordinance that critics said would criminalize homelessness by imposing fines and possible jail sentences for camping out in public places Officials said during the meeting that they would try to revise the proposed ordinance against public camping but the emergence of a tent encampment at the entrance to the city’s downtown business district from Route 19 last year sent officials scrambling for solutions More than two dozen social service providers formerly homeless individuals and other advocates confronted the council at Tuesday’s meeting to denounce the ordinance a nonprofit that provides free showers to those living on the street we are further harming them with imprisonment fines we know they cannot pay,” Roberts said City Council President Alex Mendez — who sponsored the ordinance — already had announced that he would pull it off the agenda the council realized Mendez did not have that power so the governing body instead voted down the plan The council previously gave preliminary approval to the ordinance, which passed first reading in December Officials were looking to set maximum penalties on people camping outside Why are we not learning from them?” Roberts asked the council News of the ordinance had created a ripple of anxiety through the city, as its homeless residents face an uncertain future. When Paterson Press spoke to those living in the encampment last month said he fears what will happen if the city dismantles his tent Further frustrating life for those sleeping outdoors, the city’s warming center was moved about a mile away from its previously location All of this is happening at a time when homelessness has risen across the state by 24% over the past year Mendez has asserted that tough measures are needed because many of the city’s homeless people are that way by choice and refuse emergency shelters despite vacancies One of the shelters was the warming center The capacity is for over a 100 people — there were only eight people,” Mendez said at last week’s council workshop “We have locations for those individuals in the community.” that you can come from everywhere and build a tent on the sidewalk,” Mendez said a lawyer and trustee for the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness said the City Council is misinformed about the number of emergency shelter beds that are currently available the only men’s shelter in Paterson that has emergency shelter beds,” Wilde said “They have been forced to turn away desperate men and women every single day This is not the first time the public has accused Paterson officials of using inhumane measures to deal with the city’s poor. Last April, the council pulled another ordinance that would have penalized those who distribute food to people on the street without licenses “l was hoping after that the result would have been people coming together to come up with solutions,” said Alicia Parker director of harm reduction at Hyacinth AIDS Foundation Parker said that often lost in the debate of how to deal with the homelessness crisis is the humanity of those without homes Have you been able to see who they are?” Parker said and they deserve more than being criminalized.” Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Women's Basketball | February 08 2025 | Contact: Hannah Hirst; Assistant Athletic Communication Director Thanks for visiting A 17-year-old Paterson resident has been charged in the shooting death of a Garfield man last month in Paterson The unnamed juvenile has been charged with acts of juvenile delinquency that and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said Paterson police responded to a shots fired report in the area of 12th Avenue and East 24th Street and discovered Jah’Zyer Montgomery Prosecutors said that the investigation lead them to the 17-year-old "as one of the individuals involved in the shooting." He was arrested on March 31 and is being held pending proceedings in Passaic County Family Court The prosecutor asks anyone with information about this homicide to contact the office's tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120 Press Room University News Community partners to join in multi-year plan to create housing solutions for Paterson residents Posted in: Homepage News, Press Releases, University Community and philanthropic partners joined elected officials and Montclair State University on November 21 for the launch of Phase 2 of One Square Mile (OSM) place-based initiative designed to revitalize a designated area of Paterson The second phase of One Square Mile is the result of a yearlong effort to understand the needs of the community through the formation of the Paterson One Square Mile Community Advisory Committee of community leaders in Paterson. The pilot phase of the initiative was made possible through support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation After working to turn Paterson’s Eastside High School into a University-assisted community school Phase 2 of One Square Mile will focus on creating housing solutions for Paterson residents in the first fourth and fifth wards of the city over the next five years “The Paterson One Square Mile is how big change happens,” says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell they are altering the trajectory of our communities I can’t wait to see what happens next in Paterson “The community led us to where we are today,” says Transform Consulting Group President Amanda Lopez “Over 500 Paterson residents helped Paterson One Square Mile identify housing as their top priority and how they want to see housing addressed The community came together to create a comprehensive plan We are excited to share this housing action plan and invite others to join in implementing the plan.” After listening to community leaders to identify housing challenges Montclair State University and Transform Consulting Group assisted in developing five housing goals that will be pursued over the next five years “The One Square Mile housing plan draws from proven strategies that have successfully created affordable sustainable housing across New Jersey and the nation,” says Passaic County Habitat for Humanity CEO Scott Millard ”By implementing evidence-based policies — such as requiring 20% affordable units in new developments and mandating that 60% of units be two-or three-bedroom apartments suitable for families — Paterson can better serve its residents while ensuring responsible development Together with our partners at Montclair State University and the Geraldine R and Boards to adopt these recommendations to create lasting positive change for our community.” The second phase of One Square Mile is the latest achievement in the expanding relationship between Montclair State University and the City of Paterson The University opened The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium in April of 2024 which engages audiences in the history of the Negro Leagues and its famous players while creating learning opportunities for both Montclair students and the students of Paterson Public Schools “This is a significant milestone in our shared vision for a stronger more resilient Paterson,” says Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh we are addressing one of the most pressing needs in our community – affordable and stable housing The partnership with Montclair State University and our local leaders exemplifies the power of collaboration in creating meaningful change we are transforming challenges into opportunities ensuring that every family in Paterson has access to safe quality housing and the resources they need to thrive.” Montclair State University Policies Return to Top PATERSON — A four-alarm fire on Totowa Avenue on Sunday evening forced people from their homes and displaced residents of a building close to Hinchcliffe Stadium but the fire has spread to an adjacent building One woman rushed out of the building while carrying her mother as the blanket wrapped around her parent caught fire "Everything happened really fast," Mendez said Firefighters evacuated the building shortly before 5:30 p.m and mutual aid from surrounding communities has been called billowing cloud of white smoke could be seen coming from the building at that time One woman was treated for smoke inhalation and three dogs were missing in the wake of the fire "I drove here because I was close and I know a lot of families live in that unit but everybody got out," the council president said labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook by | Apr 25, 2025 | PPD News 2025 | PATERSON — As communities nationwide prepare for the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) spring National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday the Paterson Police Department is reminding residents that safe disposal is available every day of the year inside police headquarters through Project Medicine Drop a long‑standing partnership with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) mailbox‑style receptacle located just inside the main lobby at 111 Broadway and pet medications; liquids and syringes cannot be accepted “While DEA’s Take Back Day shines a spotlight twice a year Paterson residents don’t have to wait for a special event,” said Officer in Charge Patrick Murray “Our Project Medicine Drop mailbox is always open helping to keep powerful drugs out of the wrong hands this is one of the many ways we are keeping Paterson safe every day.” Prescription drug misuse remains a driver of overdoses and in many cases drug and opioid addiction begins with the misuse of prescription drugs The DEA collected nearly 18 million pounds of medications nationally since launching Take Back Day in 2010 Project Medicine Drop is a statewide initiative led by the DCA and OAG that places secure medication drop boxes in police stations to give residents a free convenient way to dispose of drugs year‑round on Project Medicine Drop and where residents can find the closest drop box to them they can visit https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/meddrop/Pages/default.aspx or contact the Paterson Police Department Game Recap: Softball | 4/15/2025 10:27:00 PM (4/15/25) – The Kean University softball team split in NJAC action against William Paterson University on Tuesday 5-7 NJAC) scored the game's first run without the aid of a hit in the first inning WP made it 2-0 in the third with their first hit of the day William Paterson added a single run in the fifth to push ahead 4-0 after a leadoff double and small ball Kean cut the deficit in half in the same frame scoring on a wild pitch and sac fly The Cougars pulled within one in the sixth as Maya Thompson led off with a four pitch walk and moved to second on a passed ball Thompson was at third and scored on the second passed ball of the inning Taylor Palmieri earned the win after allowing three unearned runs and four hits Kean added one more after scoring on an error The Pioneers rallied for one run in the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs but the Cougars were able to work out of the jam to secure the split Olivia Quercia earned the complete game win to improve to 5-2 Kean travels to Montclair State on Saturday Thanks for visiting