News: Leaders are talking pictures

Trenton Times
Saturday, March 20, 2004
By JOSEPH DEE - Staff Writer

TRENTON - City and county leaders are demanding a meeting with a film-industry company to try to make sure its grand plan to set up shop here isn't just some celluloid dream.

Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes want to meet with officials from Manex Entertainment Inc., the company that has promised to create a movie-equipment rental business and more on a prime redevelopment site in Trenton. Read the whole story...

Case Study: Community activists and big developers partner to fight poverty

Ford Foundation Report
Winter 2004
by Peter Ross Range

...Working in alliance with other community organizations, local unions and activist religious groups, they have also greatly expanded the concept of "accountable development," which LAANE's executive director, Madeline Janis-Aparicio, explains this way: "If public money is used to subsidize private development, then the developer has to guarantee community benefits like good jobs, affordable housing, child care, all the things that communities need." Read the whole story...

Art Exhibit Opening

TAWA celebrates its 25th anniversay with an exhibit of artworks by founding members.  Opening reception at Artworks this Friday night, March 19th from 7-9 PM.

FW: weather or not...

Some changes, some additions, some reminders... -- jc

Friday, March 19
The Quickbooks workshop originally scheduled for tomorrow at the Small
Business and Technology Center is being rescheduled due to predicted
snowfall.  Tentatively reset for Friday, 3/26, same time and location.  Stay
tuned.

Monday, March 22
6 pm, Lamberton Strides will host Mr. George DeMartino of K. Hovnanian in an
open meeting at the First Baptist Church, Centre and Bridge Streets.  This
is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the proposed
redevelopment of South Trenton's Champale site first hand.

Friday, March 26
6:30 pm  Representatives of the Leewood Development Group will meet with the
community to present their plans for the proposed "Leewood Village
Center."   All are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Boys and Girls Club,
212 Centre Street.

Afterwards, Sweety Peety (219 Cass Street) will be open for coffee and
dessert and a discussion on the presentation.


Monday, March 29
6:30 - 7:30 pm Lamberton Historic District Committee will hold a follow-up
for the community to discuss what was presented at the Leewood meeting on
the 26th.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend. First Baptist Church,
Centre and Bridge Street.

Trentonian Profile: Jane Feigenbaum, City Business Administrator

City biz administrator juggles many an issue
Trentonian - 03/15/2004
L.A. PARKER , Staff Writer

Jane Feigenbaum grew up in Brooklyn. Just that piece of information regarding the city’s business administrator speaks volumes about her constitution. Read the whole profile here...

Perpetuating the myth (FSB rankings revisited)

Dan Dodson writes:
 
"Inc." is reporting on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers that are based on
Census Bureau MSAs and PMSA (Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area).  The
Trenton PMSA that is referenced in the Inc and BLS numbers is equivalent to
Mercer Co. and represents a population of ~ 350,000.  Trenton's population
is 86,000. 
 
Our mayor can be excused for using Trenton PMSA numbers to reflect Trenton's
health because his job is to (shine a positive light on our fair city).  As a newspaper publisher
you don't have that luxury. Because this particular misuse of statistics is
so out of whack with reality I implore you to take special care when dealing
with Trenton PMSA numbers.
 
As you know, Trenton and Princeton are like night and day, so using
Princeton numbers to tell a Trenton story is bad journalism at best.

Trenton's Ranking on INC. Magazine's List

Each year INC. Magazine ranks the top metropolitan areas for "Doing Business in America."

Trenton Rankings:
#44 Best Places - Medimum Size
#271 Most Balanced Economy and Growth
#38 Fastest, Most Sustained Growth

>Click here for the INC article: "Top 25 Cities For Doing Business in America"
>Click here for the NJ index

Weekly calendar

It's the middle of March and there are all kinds of things going on.  Don't
let your event go by unnoticed.  Drop us line and we'll try to get it in. --
Jim Carlucci

Monday, March 15 -- the Ides of March!
5 pm     Special Hearing on CDBG funding for community gardens.  City Hall
6:30 pm     Lamberton Historic District Committee (LHDC), First Baptist
Church, Centre & Bridge Streets.

Tuesday, March 16
9:30 am Trenton Parkin Authority meets, 393-3469
11:00 am Civic Health Survey Result Press Conference, City Hall
5:00 pm City Council Conference Session, City Hall
6:00 pm Family Literary Night @Hill School 989-2570
7:00 pm Franklin Park Civic Association, St. Bartholomew's Lutheran Church,
S. Clinton and Lakeside 393-5744

Wednesday, March 17 -- St. Patrick's Day
5:00 pm NJEA/FAST Meeting @ Wilson School, 989-2546
6:00 pm PTO Meeting @ Robeson 989-2765
6:00 pm PTO Meeting @ Kilmer 989-2710
6:00 pm PTO Meeting @ Mott 989-2600
6:00 pm PTAC Meeting @ Cadwalader 989-2515
Time TBA Talent Show Benefit @ Rivera 989-2670
7:00 pm Zoning Board, City Hall, 989-3096
7: 30 pm  the Old Barracks welcomes the Shannachie of Glendunbun Ballybeg
and his collection of Celtic tales as part of their weekly Coffehouse
Series. Reservations Requested, Admission is $10 per person, Coffee, tea,
and cold beverages, along with cakes and pastries, will be available for
purchase.  For more information or reservations, please call 609-396-1776 or
visit www.barracks.org.

Thursday, March 18
5:00 - 8:00 pm, Martini Thursday at Conduit.  Call Doug Smarr @ 609 532-8396
or Charles Hill @ 609 954-8492 for more info.
5:30 pm City Council Regular Meeting, City Hall
6:00 pm PTO Meeting @ Grace Dunn, 989-2582
7:00 pm TGLCA, Mill Hill Saloon

Friday, March 19
Staff Development Day, Trenton Schools Closed.
8:00 - 10:00 am Quickbooks Workshop, Trenton Business & Technology Center
(TBTC).  36 S. Broad Street (beneath the parking garage). 609-396-8801 

Fargo, N.D., Reborn as Hip, High-Tech City (NPR Audio)

While many other U.S. communities struggle with job losses and a sputtering economy, Fargo, N.D., has quietly flourished. Over the last few years, Fargo has consistently posted one of the nation's lowest unemployment rates, as it builds a reputation for high-tech jobs -- and cosmopolitan hipness. NPR's Greg Allen reports. Full Story...
(http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=1766515)

K-9 News Reivival - March Edition

Don't forget to check out this month's edition of K-9, a satyrical look at city politics through the eyes of disgruntled Trenton Police officers:

www.k9newsrevival.com