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| Private homes at 324 Summit Ave., above, and 329 Prospect Ave., below, are among four Hackensack properties that would make way for a 19-story acute-care hospital, in the unlikely event the controversial proposal is ever built. |
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| The house at 329 Prospect Ave., which appears to be the only one of the four that is occupied, is across the street from the Prospect Heights Care Center, which is owned by the developer of the proposed hospital, called LTACH (Bergen-Passaic Long Term Acute Care Hospital). |
By Victor E. Sasson
Editor
LTACH is an acronym that makes Hackensack residents' blood boil.
That's especially true if they live on Prospect Avenue, where the 19-story hospital would be built, many blocks from the medical center that has already swallowed big chunks of the residential neighborhood.
The developer is challenging the January 2012 denial of his application by the Hackensack Board of Adjustment, and oral arguments in a lawsuit being heard in Superior Court ended on Monday, The Record reports today.
About 20 opponents, members of the Prospect Avenue Coalition, and their lawyer attended the oral arguments.
In the run-up to this year's May 14 municipal election, the coalition sponsored forums to question candidates about what the city is doing to fight the lawsuit.
The Record didn't bother covering the forums.
Missing information
Stories in The Record today (L-1) and last week report the proposed tower would require demolition of 2 homes, not the 4 cited by opponents -- 316, 320 and 324 Summit Ave., and 329 Prospect Ave.
The stories mention 10 floors of patient rooms, a dialysis center and an adult medical day-care center for up to 180 adults, but omit a proposal for 5 floors of underground parking.
That part of the plan really worries Prospect Avenue residents who fear blasting for underground parking may trigger another parking garage collapse, like the one that paralyzed the neighborhood in 2010.
The Zisa factor
The Record's story today also reports Judge Alexander H. Carver III asked one of the city's lawyers about "candidates for mayor and council speaking out publicly at the beginning of the application process [on April 15, 2009]."
The reference is to then-City Council incumbents Michael Melfi, Karen Sasso and Jorge Meneses, who were seeking second terms in the May 2009 municipal election.
"The lawsuit says the city and zoning board engaged in a political scheme to deny the applicant a fair and impartial review," The Record reports.
Melfi, Sasso and Meneses, allies of the ruling Zisa family, left the council on July 1, when a victorious slate of reformers were installed.
The Record says the judge "will make a decision by Aug. 30, his expected retirement date."
More brown nosing
The Record's editors have turned from polishing Governor Christie's image in the upcoming November election to promoting him for a White House bid in 2016 (A-1).
All of this coverage of the next presidential election is a testament to how bored the paper's editors and reporters are, and how they need constant stimulation.
Of course, hidden motives could include getting a job in the next Christie administration and riding his coattails to a presidential bid, which many observers say is doomed to failure.
Tar and feathers
When was the last time Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, rode an SRO NJ Transit train to or from the city during the rush hour?
Never, judging from her call for a special legislative hearing on why NJ Transit didn't follow its hurricane plan in the days before Superstorm Sandy hit last October (A-1) -- a story that has been pursued relentlessly by The Record.
No-dessert zone
Record readers eager for tips on food shopping, nutrition, losing weight and dining out should consult my food blog:
Do You Really Know What You're Eating?
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