Bayonne Family Community Center

There is an ongoing issue with the air conditioning in the residents rooms. It's become apparent to me that the AC unit installed simply WILL NOT work throughout the floor. If one section of the floor is cool, another will inevitably be warm.

The first time the problem surfaced this year was around 6-16 and it wasn't resolved until 6-21-16, by which time my room was extremely warm and uncomfortable.

Roughly one week later it went off again (6-28-16). It was turned back on 36 hours (roughly) later.

It went out again on 7/1 and was back on again on 7/2.

It went out again on the evening of 7/4/16 and was back on in the evening of 7/8/16. Since then it's been on consistently and working great. Still, BFCC management never bothered to tell residents that there were any problems with the AC and what was the ongoing status regarding repairs, which seems rather negligent.

There are crazy rumors (see that other, really strange review) floating around regarding this place, so as a 4-year (plus) resident, I thought I'd address them in a sane way.

A news story from 2009 confirms that BFCC management decided to sever their ties with the Y's organization. But some of the Y's rules still apply here, while some don't. The Y and BFCC have the same rules regarding visitors: they're not allowed upstairs or in your room. Windows here are sealed shut and residents are not allowed to open them, same as the YMCA. But at the Y, residents have access to the gym facilities. BFCC residents do not have that privilege. And BFCC residents must enter through a side door, never the main entrance (this is stressed when you move in). Though our rents are (obviously) the single biggest source of income for the BFCC, we are nonetheless treated like second-class citizens.

I have never seen female staffers screaming at residents, but as I mentioned above, we are generally treated by them as though our concerns (even when it's something serious like no air conditioning for 5 days in a room with a locked window) are not much of a priority. When I first moved in, I was genuinely surprised to see the way the female day-shift staffers interacted with folks who use the services BFCC offers for child care. Staffers are much more solicitous/polite with those people than they are with us residents.

It's also true that aside from the women who make up the day staff and management, the other employees here are men who are residents. They're as nice a bunch of guys you'd ever want to meet and they do their jobs pretty well. The place probably could use a professional security guard in the evening and on the weekends though. But no, there are no people hanging around inside the building and intimidating/harassing anyone.

The number of toilet and shower stalls seems good for the amount of guys we have living here. I've never needed to "go" and found myself stuck for a spot. The bathrooms could be cleaner, but I'd have to say that's not really the fault of the guy who cleans 'em. Some of my fellow residents are just lazy slobs, while some of them are physically not able to take care of themselves especially well. Between those two poles you've got a sure recipe for messiness. It would be better if professionals from outside were hired to clean the lavatories. But that would cost more, so it's not something I'm holding my breath for.

Other things which should be noted: The rent's darned cheap considering the prime location (Hudson-Bergen Lightrail station is right across the street). The building is pretty solid, so sound doesn't carry for the most part, though there's an exception: heating and air conditioning piping that runs through the rooms can rather unpredictably carry noise from one room to the next. As for your fellow residents, most of 'em seem to be retirees or people with medical disabilities, along with a small number of guys who would be better off in a nuthouse. Maybe a third of the residents are actually working (raises hand). If you've got a job, you may find yourself living next door to some joker who doesn't work and watches television at all hours of the night, which you may have to listen to, depending on how the pipes are connected between your room and his. Just a warning.

A person looking for a cheap room could do a lot worse than the BFCC. It's not great, but it's decent. If you're a single guy who can't afford a studio apartment in the current market, the BFCC is still a better deal than most rooming houses in NJ.

They have everything you need and more for a good work out. The staff is very friendly and professional. To top it off the gym has better equipment plus's other perks that other gyms can't offer.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND this facility to anyone.

- It has ABUSIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

- Administrators and front desk personnel - Strangely all women yell and scream at residents
as do "Resident Director" Peg Keohan and Silva DeSalvo)

- Senior Management such as Will Larson (Alleged "Director" of BFCC) of the
BOE (Bayonne Board of Eduction) and BFCC missing and not accounted for...
- Illegally "represents" itself as a "YMCA" online but lost their licensing 5 to 6 years ago...
- Apparently "only rents" to Welfare TRA recipients in apparent "grifter" schemes where they
"sell" the "valuables" of those residents for profit and do not turn over valuables or personal effects
to family members

- Staff who have "pass keys" have been "rumored" to steal or damage "residents" personal items
such as Mark Sambade and Donald Beales

- Resident Staff - Have "threaten physical violence" such as Donald Beales (whom "lives" at the
facility in the basement)

- Employs "illegal" aliens of "Mexican" Heritage - PLEASE CONTACT INS

- Although it is supposed a "indigent" men's center, It is "primary focus" now is a "day center" that
"SHOULD NOT BE UTILIZED as for "conflicts of interest" regarding the safety and reputation
of "paying residents"

- INSTALLED A "JUNGLE GYM" in the front of the building making "children" AT RISK BY
"PASSERS BY" who could be "photographed" or "stalked" by "unstable individuals" of an
"unspeakable nature" (CORPORATE MALFEASANCE and CHILD ENDANGERMENT)

- PLEASE CALL - Division Youth Services - DYFS)

- DAYCARE CENTER - (CORPORATE MALFEASANCE and CHILD ENDANGERMENT)
- Feeds "candy" and "junk food" including "baloney" to the Day Care Center children

- NO SECURITY (WHAT SO EVER!)

- Video Camera System

- No Intercom System to "speak" resident on the upper floor levels

- Residents are "workers" at night and weekend leading to a "unsafe" environment

- UN-POLICED ENVIRONMENT - AT NIGHT AND WEEKENDS

- Residents are "routinely" having "parties" with alcohol and drugs
- Residents are NOW HANGING OUT in PAIRS in the HALLWAYS - 18 Hours "creating" a
"threatening' and "hostile environment"
- HALLWAYS or FACILITY "does not" have a "roaming" or "stationary" SECURITY OFFICER
on either "resident" floor - 2nd and 3rd Floors.
- Since the "staff" is filled with "female" personnel - THEY NEVER GO UP TO THE UPPER
LEVELS to "investigate" or "police" or "administrate" the resident floors (Too Conveniently)

- CITY PATRONAGE

- "Unnervingly" provides "free gym hours" to LOCAL POLICE and FIREFIGHTERS
and CITY HALL EMPLOYEES between the HOURS of 5:30 to 7:00am

- The "Resident Director" Peg Keohane "repeatedly" has THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE on
RESIDENTS who "complain" or "ask the names" of BOTHERSOME or CRIMINAL or
THREATENING Personnel

- Many of the "residents" have had "Italian Heritage" and the facility has a nickname
of "The Mafia Bunk House" or "The Fun House of Horrors" to the many endless doors and
"strange deaths" in the facility that "resident workers" (Night Security Desk Clerk)
like Martin Brinkenhoff make jokes of..

- Former "Director" or "Board Member" Joseph Tagairlini was a "senior official"
with "italian heritage" organization UNICO where he was "pictured" with 20 female members that
hung in the gym who has been known to "threaten" "murder" to people in town or "YMCA BFCC"
residents who was the "owner" of J.J. Printing in town across from "reputed" "mobster"
ANGELO BALDARSESE of the "Blimpie Base" Chain..

NOTE: There is even a "shrine" of his passing at the front desk as a "apparent" MAFIA WARNING

- Reportedly there have been anywhere to 39 to 60 to 90 "disappearances" of residents who
"allegedly" were WELFARE TRA Recipients

CALL THE "JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE" OUT OF WASHINGTON DC or "ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE" - NOT THE NEWARK, NJ OFFICE - COMPROMISED