Dave Friedland — NJ State Senator and lawyer for Tony Pro — grew up a couple of blocks away from where I lived as a kid on Reservoir Ave. My uncle was friendly with Hoboken’s Martin Casella, who got locked up for — among many other things — plotting to kill John Gotti. As might be imagined, in this environment people tended not to be judgmental. Don Corleone’s “…how a man makes his living is none of my business” was something we all very well knew years before seeing the movie.

One day during supper it occurred to me that there was an exception: spaghetti sauce in a jar. My mother would get visibly upset at the mere mention of the stuff, describing its use as a sin. Hearing the little oof sound when the Ragu cap’s seal gives way, I still feel guilty that I don’t spend all Saturday cooking up a pot of home made.

One of my favorite memories of early-60s summers in the Jersey City Heights is going out first thing in the morning to get the paper and smelling all the cooking already well underway up and down the block. In that era before air conditioning, some grandmothers would wake up at dawn to get a jump on the preparation of dinner. This way, they avoided most of the use of the oven and range during the hottest part of the day.

There will be a reading from BLACK TOM on Sunday, March 11th at 1pm in the Blue Comet Auditorium at Liberty State Park. Author Patrice Hannon will read from her novel about Jersey City and the terrible events of the Black Tom explosions. The reading will be followed by a book signing where patrons may buy a copy or bring their own to be signed by the author.

Ms. Hannon is the author of BLACK TOM: A NOVEL OF SABOTAGE IN NEW YORK HARBOR, DEAR JANE AUSTEN: A HEROINE’S GUIDE TO LIFE AND LOVE (Plume, 2007), and 101 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT JANE AUSTEN (Adams Media, 2007). The last won the Jane Austen’s Regency World Award for “Best New Regency Know-How Book,” presented by The Jane Austen Centre in Bath. Patrice holds a B.A. from Saint Peter’s College and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, both in English. During her nine years of full-time college teaching, she taught Austen’s novels and the works of other great writers to hundreds of students at several colleges, including Rutgers, Vassar College, and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. She has also taught literature classes at Makor, a branch of the 92nd Street Y in New York, and at The Morgan Library, where she was invited to lead the museum’s first reading group, initiated in conjunction with its stunning exhibition, “A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy.”

The Federal prison system allows Native American Indian prisoners to conduct appropriate religious ceremonies. I joined their “movement” and was inducted as a member of their 12 man tribe at a institution in Florida.

We were allowed to build 3 tepees — each for 4 Indians-on the side of the athletic field. Our 12 man tribe also built a sweat lodge, and fires to purify our spirits. Three of our members were Hells Angels-two Jews-two Black Panthers-the rest unknown.

Each Tepee was permitted one turtle shell, one tom tom, red and white grease face and body paint, assorted feathers (from chickens) some ribbons, sage to burn, a peace pipe and corn cobs. Our request for bows and arrows, Spears, and Magic Mushrooms (Peyote), as well as a field trip to our sovereign /homelands- were all denied or never answered. One of our tribe was given an incident report when a guard thought we were smoking marijuana instead of sage in our peace pipe.

Our ceremonies started on Saturday and concluded at 4pm on Sunday. So except for “the daily count” when we had to report to our cells-we were free to dance around in our war paint in front of our guards, whooping, purifying our spirits, helping the Sun rise and set, thumping our tom toms, and in general looking ridiculous. None of us were Native American Indians.

I was the tribe Shaman -witch doctor-in charge of the turtle shell and other powerful totems and potions-responsible for returning these to the prison chaplain who had to file a form accounting for each turtle shell, feather etc.

That all changed in 1987 when the Courts upheld restrictions on Indians -although they did not affect Jews-Christians-who continued to get wine for sacraments. I should add that I also registered as a member of the Jewish community-my Navajo name =Diyan Dawood.

As the ’60s subsided and the ’70s ensued, the whole tenor of the numbers racket in Jersey City changed. Before, being a bookie to a large degree was a licensed profession. With the appropriate law enforcement tithing, arrests generally were avoided. And if someone with a badge saw themselves as the Hudson County Eliot Ness, judges were open minded — after the sight of an open wallet. This all changed when gambling cases began to go in front of Judge Lerner; suddenly jail time became expected instead of unknown. Locals in the biz thought that this was due to the state having started a legal lottery and so wanted to eliminate competition.

And for an aftershock there was a police officer with the dream of retiring as the richest man in Puerto Rico. To reach this goal, he squeezed bookies — now no longer with any reason to be optimistic about a day in court — for all that they were worth. As this wasn’t enough to fund a grandiose retirement plan, the crooked cop then took over the numbers betting himself. This he did by locking up the bookies who’d paid for protection. The mobsters valued honor and so said nothing.

Success didn’t satisfy the wayward policeman’s greed — if anything it increased it. A decade or so later there was big money to be had in cocaine and this seemed just as easy to grab as had been the illegal lottery. But this new environment’s compass was the law of the jungle, not the code of silence and the deceiver very quickly was himself deceived. Expecting to meet a “good” customer the holder of regal ambitions found himself greeted by a far from understanding group from the prosecutor’s strike force and was ordered by a superior officer to “empty your pockets.”

The extended family of a significant Jersey City illegal numbers lottery figure like my uncle Gus enjoyed prosperity by association. Anyone out or work — or just experiencing a tight week — was welcome to bounce in for a substantial supper.

As Gus made his rounds about Jersey City, Little Italy and even the entire Metro area, he’d stop at bakeries and fruit stands and buy whatever caught his eye. This might mean boxes full of delectables. On the way home, he’d make visits to his circle and present the items as gifts. Whatever he brought to the house, he’d send the dinner guests home with — along with a big plate of leftovers so they’d have something to put in their fridge.

Before Christmas, everybody got two large babkas, one with cheese and one without, (I still remember the happy sight of those large light grey cardboard boxes.) and a container of chrusciki, the fried dough with powdered sugar Polish pastry.

And for those without any income, there also was cash to be had. Students and others of the extended unemployed were able to expect an annual call. Gus would have a winning horse race ticket — either his or some Syndicate associate similarly allergic to declaring with the IRS. The tickets were cashed in the name of the financially challenged who then received 10% of the take as a thank you.

www.thelincolnassociationofjerseycity.com
The oldest such organization in the country dating back to the night of Lincoln’s death. Assisted in having the route of the Lincoln Highway marked in the County for the Highway’s 100th anniversary. Sponsors a presentation for the Lincoln High School Jr. ROTC of reenactors portraying the 26th US Colored Troops. On February 12 every year there is a ceremony at the monument on the Blvd. at the Park then a dinner at the Casino. Details are in the website.

www.jclandmarks.org
Founded by John Gomez, a teacher in Jersey City, they are interested in landmarking and preserving Jersey City’s architectural past. Members conduct walking tours in different sections of the City. Sponsor Preservation Month in May to give awards for preservation efforts in the City.

www.hudsoncountynjgenealogy.org
Family history oriented, they assist people looking for past records of their family. They also construct databases for general research. History articles in their blog.

www.gwcsjc.org
The George Washington Commemorative Society for the last 30 years has been involved with the preservation of the Apple Tree House near Bergen Square. It participates in ceremonies commemorating the Revolutionary War battle of Paulus Hook in Jersey City. On President’s Day they will be at the Apple Tree House at 11:00 AM. August 19 is the anniversary of the battle of Paulus Hook. The Paulus Hook Association usually sponsors a small parade and a presentation at the monument at Grand and Washington.

www.gwcsjc.org
The Morris Canal Greenway project in Jersey City which is waiting for funding .The canal reached here in 1836 and closed in 1924, you can walk the filled-in canal bed behind Country Village. The available funding allocated for this study of the Canal was used in planning the project. The proposal for the actual construction of the pathways and greenways did not receive the expected funding in 2014. We hope to have a tour in the Spring. Berry Lane Park along Garfield Ave. is built on part of it. More portions can be seen behind Tsigonia Paints on Communipauw Ave.

www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org
The Lincoln Highway, 100 years old in 2013, ran along Kennedy Blvd from Union City through Jersey City making a turn to the West through Lincoln Park and out to San Francisco. You can see pictures of some of the cars on the Centennial Tour on the website for the Lincoln Association of Jersey City that is mentioned above.

www.njcivilwar150.org
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the contribution of NJ residents. Several books have been published and are available online. The official commemoration is now complete so I don’t know if there will be updates or how long the publications will be available.

www.officialnj350.com
The official website to commemorate the 350th year of New Jersey.
In addition, if you GOOGLE “jersey city african american museum”, you will go to a Jersey City site that will then get you to an interesting site operated by local computer expert, history buff, and book exchanger, Anthony Olszewski. The museum is the only museum in Jersey City, the other City sponsored museum is closed due to funding problems.

My father told me that in all the years he served as an Assemblyman he was not able , not once, to get any of the Bills he sponsored released from committee , much less voted upon. When I was first elected, I was determined to break the back of that system.

For most of pre-modern New Jersey, the Senate was controlled by Republicans. There were 21 counties and 21 Senators. The smallest county, Cape May had 58,000 or so voters. The Senate Republican Caucus was ruled over by Senator Hap Farley. He needed only 7 votes from the 7 Southern Counties to block all legislation. His 7 Senatorial votes were elected by voters in Counties having in total less population than Essex and Hudson combined. Thus for most of the history of New Jersey , it was impossible for the large urban areas to get any legislation passed. The minimum wage, and most legislation granting urban aid, languished while bill after bill passed appropriating money to kill Gypsy Moths, or to build highways, or schools in the Southern Counties. That is how the Republicans held on to their power.

As you know in 1963-1964 I started the One Man One Vote case that changed all that. I was a young lawyer. I asked Chris Jackman (who was then a client of our law firm) to serve as Plaintiff. He hesitated, fearing to look ridiculous. In the days following the filing of the lawsuit, we were ridiculed in the State Newspapers. The Jersey Journal and Star Ledger carried comments by some of the State’s most prominent attorneys claiming that my lawsuit was frivolous foolish vexatious litigation instituted by a boy lawyer. They opined that I had NO chance of winning. After all New Jersey had the little federal system. How could a Court possibly declare unconstitutional the very system permitted for federal elections?

Jackman twice threatened to withdraw. Later he claimed the suit was his own idea.

I argued the suit before the New Jersey Supreme Court. I left feeling like a nudist in a mosquito colony punctured by the Courts deft questions, I was deflated and certain I had lost.

The Chief Justice called my father and congratulated him “You should be proud of your son, Jake- he made an excellent argument”

I called the Chief the following day to complain. I told him that I was very upset that he said I had done well. He asked “Why?”

I said ” Mr. Chief Justice, when I left the Court, I was depressed. I went home. I told my wife that I done miserably and certainly lost the case and as a result ruined my career. Beth never questions my legal opinions. Now my father will tell her about your call. My wife will never trust my opinions again.

He laughed.

Shortly after the argument the Senate adopted a weight voting rule. Under it, we would still have 21 Senators but some Senators would have twice or even three times the vote of others. I filed another suit to have that declared unconstitutional.

The Chief asked me to describe the progress of the Legislature in obeying the Court’s Mandate.

I said ” Chief Justice, the legislature has not moved forward, nor has it moved backwards. It moved sideways, slowly…. like a crab!”

The Court declared the weighted voting system unconstitutional. The rest is history. Both houses of the legislature were redistricted. The Senate was increased to 40. Hudson received additional assemblymen and senators. For the first time in New Jersey’s History the large urban counties
had legislative power and shortly took control of the assembly with Maurice Brady (another of my clients ) as Speaker. The suit actually changed the dynamics of South Jersey politics as well and in recent years Democrats were elected in counties that had never failed to elect republicans. Indeed many of the Democrats who later castigated me for the deal I made with Tom Kean, were elected to seats created by the suit I brought.

Hap Farley era had ended forever. Or so I thought!

I reintroduced updated versions of most of the bills my father had fought for unsuccessfully during his 12 year stint in the legislature, including a number of my own.

And waited.

I could not get my bills out of committee for a vote.

Maury Brady , my own client, and Speaker would not allow my bills to be voted upon.

So, I did the unthinkable. I challenged and then upbraided the Speaker publicly, and literally caused parliamentary chaos. It became so heated, Brady complained to Kenny. Kenny called me into the hospital. Asked me what I was doing. I told him. He laught. He said “Go for it kid!

The result? Bill Musto reintroduced some of my bills under his own name, and allowed me to cosponsor them.

They passed!

In or about the same time I was retained by Lenny Bruce to argue the appeal of his conviction for pornography in New York.
He wanted me to argue that the only word in his act that was NOT obscene was the word “mother-fucker” He said he uttered it in the idiom of the negroes, and as such it was a term of affection. He told me. “The only word in my act that is obscene is the word ‘BUT’. It is the universal subtractor. It denies meaning whenever it is used. I love you….but. I would do that for you but……..”

The Jersey City Heights being what it is, Bryna Raeburn is perhaps best remembered here as the Josephine XV who did the follow-up record to They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

Bryna Raeburn lived one block away from us. One day while waiting for a taxi at Journal Square, my mother noticed Bryna at the end of the line and so suggested that she ride with us. In the cab, my mother asked Bryna Raeburn about her work. What followed was like a daytime seance with a multitude of different voices filling the air.