>More parents opting out of school shots for their kids Published: Monday, November 28, 2011, 11:33 AM The Associated Press
More parents are opting out of school shots for their kids. In eight states now, more than 1 in 20 public school kindergartners aren’t getting all the vaccines required for attendance, an Associated Press analysis found.
That growing trend among parents seeking vaccine exemptions has health officials worried about outbreaks of diseases that once were all but stamped out.
The AP analysis found more than half of states have seen at least a slight rise in the rate of exemptions over the past five years. States with the highest exemption rates are in the West and Upper Midwest.
It’s “really gotten much worse,” said Mary Selecky, secretary of health for Washington state, where 6 percent of public school parents have opted out.
Education expenditures are even worse than Christie stated
You may have noted that I am not the biggest fan of our governor. But I must come to his defense when he is unfairly attacked. That seems to be the case whenever the PolitiFact people take a shot at him.
Not long ago, for example, they gave a “pants on fire” rating to Chris Christie’s statement that Obamacare represents “a government takeover of health care.” That is a matter of opinion, not fact. To conservatives, Obamacare does indeed represent a government takeover. Liberals may feel otherwise, but that’s the sort of argument that cannot be settled by resorting to facts. (Mulshine, The Star-Ledger)
A new study by the Common Sense Institute of New Jersey, Misleading the Taxpayer: The Per-Pupil Expenditure Dilemma, confirms what some analysts have been asserting for years, namely, that the real per-pupil costs of New Jersey’s public schools are understated. In fact, the actual cost per pupil is as much as $14,000 more than the official data show. In other districts, the discrepancy is much less.
As the CISNJ study reports, “In 2010, New Jersey‘s local, state, and federal expenditures for its public Pre-K–12 system totaled $24.1 billion dollars…” Yes, thanks to one of the Supreme Court’s Abbott decisions, New Jersey has to pay for pre-K schools in so-called at risk districts even though the state constitution does not require public funds for such expenditures. In short, the Supreme Court overstepped its judicial duties by imposing on the taxpayers of the state a new financial mandate. (Sabrin for PolitickerNJ)
>Outdated regulations stifle N.J. investment and growth
It is often said that good things take time. For several months, lawmakers in New Jersey have been considering reform bill S-2664, known as the Market Competition and Consumer Choice Act.
The African-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the National Black Chamber of Commerce support the bill because it will modernize rules in the communications sector, and signal that New Jersey is a pro-business state by eliminating unnecessary red tape that continues to burden our economy.
Consumers and businesses in the 21st century cannot function properly utilizing 20th century technology. Similarly, communications providers cannot move forward if they are trapped in a regulatory environment designed for the last century. (Harmon for NJBIZ)
By the numbers: New Jersey’s soaring infrastructure costs
Earlier this month, the New Jersey State Planning Commission adopted a sobering infrastructure needs assessment for the state over the next two decades. Although the assessment was based on implementation of the 2002 State Development and Redevelopment Plan, a point often cited by critics, it portrays a staggering requirement to invest in New Jersey’s transportation, environmental, and commerce infrastructure. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
Port Authority salaries climbed $5 million last year, despite job cuts
A Port Authority police lieutenant was the agency’s sixth-highest paid employee in 2010 at $236,564, earning more than the superintendent of police and the two deputy chiefs to whom he reports, thanks to $112,466 in overtime last year.
Three Port Authority police lieutenants and four sergeants outearned Superintendent of Police Michael Fedorko’s $215,098 because of overtime pay, according to Port Authority salary records. Two deputy chiefs who earn $157,558 each also were left in the fiscal dust by the seven officers’ total pay for 2010.
An examination of salary and overtime records for 2010 and 2009 obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request showed that the authority, which increased tolls and PATH train fares this fall, spent $5 million more on salaries in 2010 than it did in 2009. This happened despite boasts by authority officials that the agency trimmed its work force as a cost-cutting measure. (Higgs, Gannett)
Downtown for the Holidays 2011! Fri, December 02, 2011 – Sat, December 24, 2011 Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM By the NJ Transit Train Station, End of East Ridgewood Ave and Broad Street
Please come join us Friday December 2, 2011 for our annual tree lighting at the “traditional location” – east side of NJ Transit Train Station.
Shop and Dine in Ridgewood. Join us for dinner at one of Ridgewood’s finest. Make your reservations NOW!
The music starts on E. Ridgewood Avenue at 5:30pm, stage performances begins at 7:00pm, Tree Lighting Celebration around 7:30pm, stage entertainment over around 8:00pm
After the stage entertainment….
Entertainment back on the street from 8:00-9:00pm
In the park- Santa will be in his house from 8:00-9:00pm By the park- there will be a live band playing from 8:00-9:00pm with lots of surprises in between. Don’t miss the double-decker bus for picture taking!
Streets re-open at 9:00pm
This will be a fun and festive evening for the entire family.
E. Ridgewood Avenue will be closed off at 4:30pm. For more information, call 201-445-2600, info@ridgewoodchamber.com. facebook.com/twitter
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD:
If you want to continue the festivities: Join Santa for breakfast at Park West Tavern Call for reservations: 201-445-5400
Santa will be coming up E. Ridgewood Ave in a big village fire truck straight to Columbia Bank to give gifts to all visiting children from 10:00am- 2:00pm. Art of Motion will be entertaining from 10:00am-2:00pm.
10:30am- Free children’s holiday moviefor the entire family to enjoy!
11:00am- 4:00pm FREE Trolley rides for shoppers, children, and families Ride the Holiday Trolley every Saturday until Christmas! Memorial Park at Van Neste Square visit Santa at his Ridgewood home! Bring your list!!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, 17TH, & 24TH Santa’s House in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. Free Trolley Rides!
Shopping has it’s benefits! Join us on Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 9:30am to 4:00pm at Christ Church, 105 Cottage Place, Ridgewood for a fun day of shopping, which benefits the YWCA and its programs. this boutique will feature over 20 vendors, including jewlery , accessories, hostess gifts, kids itema and more! Spread the word and bringyour friends. No addmisison fee.
Residents are responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of sidewalks, aprons and curbs adjacent to their property. If there is a hazardous condition that needs to be corrected, please contact the Engineering Office (201/670-5500 x238) at Village Hall to file a report and/or to obtain a permit before any work begins. Tree roots are often the cause of raised sidewalks. The Village’s inspection of the site will help to ensure that proper steps are taken to remedy the hazard. (Village Code: Chapter 249; Section 24)
>Glen Rock, Ridgewood police report luring incidents Monday November 28, 2011, 11:58 AM BY RICHARD DE SANTA STAFF WRITER Glen Rock Gazette
The Glen Rock Police Department reported four new instances of males in vehicles approaching and in some cases propositioning females walking or jogging alone.
The Saturday, Nov. 26 incidents, occurring in Glen Rock and Ridgewood, were reported to the respective police departments between 9:30 and 11 a.m.
In a weekend advisory released to local school district officials and the Glen Rock Gazette, Police Capt. Jon Miller stated that the department’s detective bureau does not presently believe the new incidents are related to three recent cases of drivers accosting young girls walking in Glen Rock, Allendale and Montvale.
>Number of N.J. residents receiving food stamps doubled in last four years Published: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 12:30 PM
STATEWIDE— The number of New Jersey residents receiving food stamps has doubled in the past four years and is at its highest level in more than a decade as the nation’s still sputtering economy continues to take its toll on the poorest residents of the Garden State, state and federal data show.
As of September, the most recent data released by the state Department of Human Services, more than 400,000 households and nearly 822,000 people were enrolled in the food stamp program, meaning nearly one out of every 10 residents in New Jersey receives assistance.
>Valley Renewal: We were very dismayed with how Valley management handled this whole process
My family has been here a long time and has been very supportive of Valley in the past, through many expansions.
However, we did not support this plan and have said so many times.
We were also very dismayed with how Valley mgmt handled this whole process, to say the least.
For a long time Valley represented a high standard of being both a good community resource as well as a good citizen.
It’s not that way now. The way Valley management handled all this process proves that. So does how they handled everything regarding Pascack re-opening, and so does all the money and effort they spend trying to attract patients from areas very far away from this one.
Also, they have stressed the need for all single patient rooms. And sure, I agree with that – in concept- for many reasons.
But there are some downsides to that too. Apparently ONLY if you build NEW buildings is this a requirement. If you renovate (or “renew”) it is NOT. And most hospitals in NJ do not have ONLY private rooms.
Why is this impt? Well, my small business has been looking at new insurance plans and we have many proposals for diff plans and carriers.
ALL of them state that they will pay ONLY for semi-private rooms. That means if only private rooms can be had, the patient is responsible for the upcharge, which can be sizable.
At first I thought, “can’t be right”, but looking around online, it DOES seem to be right.
Also pretty sure Medicare (and thus most wraparound M/care coverage) works the same way – only pays for semi private.
I’m no expert on this though– if someone here knows more, please share with the rest of us.
If this is how it works, then we get all the “side effects” and costs of hosting Valley, but if we need to use Valley as a patient, even with good insurance, we would have to pay extra because of that private room upcharge.
Wow. That’s really being a community resource, huh?
Again, pls weigh in if you know more – I very much hope this is NOT how it works, but from what I’ve read, seems to be.
Also checked the NJ Direct Employee benefit handbook at link below and it says same thing re semi-private versus private. Muni employees, teachers, etc are apparently covered by this.
The recent numbers I saw for such upcharges (from semi to private) were high. Those won’t be going down either.
Yet if Valley renovates without building all new, then there is no such “mandate” for private rooms. Seems to shed a little more light on what is perhaps the real agenda in all this.
In any case, I too have a much different opinion of Valley’s management now than our family used to. Rather than being upfront and engaging and involving the community so all could really work together to find a solution that everyone could live with, they handled this much differently, and likely will continue to do so.
And all the while they fought Pascack re-opening bitterly.
They also expect Ridgewood to pay all the costs of hosting “renewed” Valley — and yet right now way less than 10% of Valley’s patients come from Ridgewood – and they are actively marketing Valley as far away as New England and PA.
If they build anything like this plan, it looks like they would have a facility that only the very wealthy can use – since insurance won’t pay for private rooms – unless you can fight the carrier and truly demonstrate medical necessity.
If you’ve ever had a claim denied with a health insurer, you know real well how difficult it is to get such a decision reversed.
Thanks a lot Valley mgmt. Shouldn’t you want to modernize in a way that lets you market to the largest possible share of those in THIS area – in ways that those customers’ insurance will cover?
>I don’t see how this pertains to Ridgewood : “Friday Night Lights Prove To Be Budget Busters”:
I don’t see how this pertains to Ridgewood. I also wonder whether the original poster actually read the article. It is not a discussion about youth sports, which are self-funded in Ridgewood, turf, lights or even that high school football programs in Dallas, Texas are cost prohibitive. It was about how ALL high school football teams in Dallas, Texas generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue to defray the costs of their programs and, in a few rare cases, highly successful programs can EASE school budget constraints. The essence of the article is summed up in this line, “as schools are forced to cut back, football teams can offer a rare revenue generator to a district’s general fund — if they are winning football teams.” It concluded that winning football records directly impact whether the school districts studied in Dallas make a profit or not. Interestingly, it very clearly went on to say that “Nothing costs a district more than coaching stipends and salaries.” Sound familiar?? Of 31 schools, the median school’s total net football expenses were less than 3% of the school’s total annual expenses and the head football coach’s salary (alone) was approximately 2% of the school’s total annual expenses. Perhaps that is the message to take away from the article.
The last time I checked, high school sports are not intended or expected to be profit-making enterprises. They are an operating expense for school districts around the country. In Texas, however, the unique culture around high school football creates an opportunity for some winning programs to generate more money for the school than they cost. Those profits then go to the general revenue fund to support non-football programs. That is a nice benefit. But, it is not the objective of any high school sports programs in the United States.
Contrary to the misleading headline of the commentary that was posted on the Ridgewood Blog, the point of the article is NOT to suggest that high school football programs in Dallas are “busting” their school district budgets. It did not blame elaborate facilities or special considerations that are not integral to all sports programs for adversely impacting school budgets. Although as noted above, it did point out that the average head coach’s salary is 40% of he average school expenditure on football. This did not include benefits or the salary and benefits for assistant coaches.
The full article and survey results can be viewed at this address:
The bottom line is that I am not aware of any Ridgewood high school sports program that generates revenue even close to that of high school football programs in Dallas. I am not sure how the expenses compare. My guess is that RHS football is the most expensive athletic program in the school. But, I doubt that Chuck Johnson’s salary is 2% of the total school budget. So, I don’t see the relevance of this article to Ridgewood. More to the point, it has nothing to do with youth sports, college scholarships, the rationale for high school athletics, turf fields or lights.
So, I think the original question, which has gone unanswered, is a fair one. Why was this posted on the Ridgewood Blog?
>Bill clarifying student loan obligations reintroduces in Congress
When the Bryski family of Marlton contacted their congressman in 2009, they told his staff about their son’s death and the burden of the student loan debt they had inherited. The next September, a bill named in honor of their son, Christopher, passed the U.S. House.
But then the bill’s shepherd, U.S. Rep. John Adler (D., N.J.), was defeated in the November 2010 election. In the spring, Adler, 51, of Cherry Hill, died suddenly of an infection after heart surgery.
The House bill, which aimed to further clarify the student loan process to borrowers, expired in 2010, and a similar measure proposed in the U.S. Senate failed to become law. (Farrell, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
>Suburban schools vs. charter: First round goes to the suburbs
An administrative law decision in favor of three suburban districts fighting a charter school in their midst could embolden districts facing similar battles.
That was the essence of the discussion among both charter and district advocates yesterday. The subject: the decision on Friday by administrative law judge Lisa James-Beavers rejecting Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS) in its suit against three districts challenging its opening.
PIACS had charged that Princeton Regional, West Windsor-Plainsboro, and South Brunswick had wrongfully spent more than $100,000 in taxpayers’ money for legal and other fees to fight the school’s opening, including opposing PIACS’ application for a zoning variance. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
