CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF RIDGEWOOD ENDORSES KILLION, SHINOZUKA AND ARONSOHN FOR VILLAGE COUNCIL
April 23, 2012, Ridgewood, NJ – Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) has endorsed Keith Killion, Jane Shinozuka and Paul Aronsohn for Ridgewood Village Council, to fill the three open seats to be decided on May 8th 2012.
“Residents must know that the push to prevent the massive expansion of Valley Hospital is not finished. The outgoing Council unanimously rejected the Ordinance that would have permitted the ‘Renewal’ in its current form, but the makeup of the Village Council could materially change with this election. As long as the Planning Board’s Master Plan Amendment for the H-Zone, from June 2010, remains on the books, a new Council could approve ‘Renewal’ without modification.” stated Pete McKenna, president of CRR , the grassroots organization that has opposed this massive expansion of Valley Hospital at their Ridgewood location.
“We can’t overstate the importance of electing candidates to this Council that can be relied upon to approach this situation rationally and with the best interests of the resident taxpayers at the forefront. Valley’s ‘Renewal’ is simply too much building for that fifteen acre site, in that location, and since the Ordinance’s rejection last fall, there has been no modification of that plan offered by Valley. Voters must go to the polls on May 8th, and vote for candidates Killion, Shinozuka and Aronsohn, who are the only candidates to consistently, publicly say that ‘Renewal’, as proposed and approved by the Planning Board, was wrong for Ridgewood”, Mr. McKemma added.
“To ensure that an expansion the size of Paramus Park Mall (not counting the proposed parking deck) does not get built on this site, it is as critical as ever that we elect candidates who will firmly oppose such a permanent change to our Village. As long as the 2010 Master Plan Amendment for the H-Zone remains in place, a Council biased towards advancing Valley’s ambitions could resurrect ‘Renewal’, and Valley is counting on that. It is critical that everyone that feels the needs of the residents are at least as important as the ambitions of Valley, needs to get out the vote, and vote in a council that will help put this matter behind us once and for all,” commented Mr. McKenna.
CRR has consistently stated it understands Valley’s need to modernize and even modestly expand its building. Having said that, our basic research indicates Valley could achieve all of its stated objectives in a building 400,000 square feet smaller than ‘Renewal’. Ridgewood voters have elected every candidate that has been endorsed by CRR, but nothing would please us more than to be irrelevant in future elections. It is our sincere hope that this is the last Village election where Valley Hospital’s business desires have to be considered by Ridgewood voters,” he added.
“Keith Killion established fair stewardship over the H-Zone ordinance hearings, which allowed the vastly negative impacts of ‘Renewal’ to finally come to light. This contribution during Mayor Killion’s current tenure is a vital legacy of the current Council”, according to McKenna.
Jane Shinozuka, while not an incumbent, has publicly stated her opposition to a large expansion that would alter the residential character of the Village, and she has valuable experience as a member of the current Planning Board in addition to her other volunteer positions for the Village.
Paul Aronsohn continually asked pointed and critical questions of the experts during Council’s recent hearings and was part of the unanimous vote to reject the H-Zone ordinance that would have irreversibly damaged our village.
Mr. McKenna stated that CRR invited all six Village Council candidates to meet individually with a committee of the organization. The goal was to discuss issues ranging from the central business district, Village spending and personnel, Village services, land-use and development, pedestrian safety, Graydon Pool and the existing Master Plan Amendment that would allow ‘Renewal’. “To those who think we are one-issue people, ask the candidates how well prepared we were on all of these topics,” Mr. McKenna said.
“While our primary concern as CRR is the balancing of resident needs against Valley’s desires, we are Ridgewood taxpayers and residents too and would only endorse candidates we feel will serve Ridgewood well for years to come. If you care about these issues, we urge your continued support by going to the polls and voting for candidates Killion, Shinozuka and Aronsohn in two weeks.”
Paul Aronsohn….recipient of village paid medical benefits for part time position.
I love the new blog format. It shows a great graphic at the bottom about how single focused this blog is on maintaining the status quo and bashing Paul. The more a topic is mentioned the bigger the font for their tag. Paul is as big as the title of the blog.
These are the same three people that I had planned to vote for before the endorsements. They must be doing something right.
Of course your one issue people. What was your position on the Ridgewood quality of life issue around field lights? Silence.
Good luck to Mr. Killion and Mrs. Shinozuka.
Paul sorry on this one. I’ve seen your sign’s all over town with Russ Forenza, Gwenn Hauck and Al Pucciarelli. Not that theres anything wrong with that but you won’t get our vote.
Time to tell tax and spend Killion thanks but no thanks. Hope you enjoy your retirement
These are the best three choices in my view. Not perfect, but the best we have.
The three Hospital candidates are great people, and good volunteers in the Village, but it just seems too likely that a deal will quickly get done with Valley if they are elected. Perhaps its a shame their other good points get swept up with that one issue, and it does not seem their non-hosptial views differ all that much from the other candidates, so it is taking too much of a chance to vote them in.
These are the best three choices in my view. Not perfect, but the best we have.
The three Hospital candidates are great people, and good volunteers in the Village, but it just seems too likely that a deal will quickly get done with Valley if they are elected. Perhaps its a shame their other good points get swept up with that one issue, and it does not seem their non-hosptial views differ all that much from the other candidates, so it is taking too much of a chance to vote them in.
well said.
This is just another listing of single issue candidates wrapped in some spin about how these three are really the best for all of Ridgewood. How else could it be that a candidate with two months of experience on the planning board is more qualified to serve all of Ridgewood for years to come than a candidate that gave YEARS of his volunteer time to that body?
If that means me (Jane Shinozuka), I’ve actually been been on the Planning Board for 17 months. True, not an eternity, but long enough to understand the issues. I didn’t even address the Valley issue specifically when I first entered the race – I waited until I was asked and simply gave an honest answer.
If you give me your email or mailing info I’d be happy to send you my campaign flyer. My list (from the flyer) of some of Ridgewood’s most pressing issues is copied and pasted below:
Responsible municipal spending
Caution regarding overdevelopment and land use
Consistent attention to pedestrian safety
Revitalization of our downtown shopping area
Improved communication from Village Hall
Protecting our natural and open spaces
For your reference, I’ve also included my current community service activities. More detail about my past volunteer history can also be found on the flyer.
Ridgewoood Planning Board
BFMS Executive Board
Federated HSA Safety Committee
Salem Ridge Association Board of Governors
OLMC CCD Group Leader
I do have a website — ShinozukaForCouncil.com. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert at managing a site, so some of my most recent info is yet to be posted. I expect to fix all that within a day or so.
Thanks,
Jane Shinozuka
Yes for us on supporting Keith and Shinozuka. Originally would have been for Paul too as we like how he questions things at VC meetings. But in light of not disclosing if he indeed gets taxpayer paid health care (or other benefits) for either himself and/or his whole family for part time work on the VC, prob can’t see way clear to supporting him. Not sure how we’ll decide on 3rd seat still.
It’s a shame because if he made a simple statement on this one way or the other, stated the cost to taxpayers if he does get them, and stated whether just him or his whole family is being covered (or not) with taxpayer dollars, we might feel differently- would depend on what he says.
Also whether if re-elected he would continue to take them (if he does) under a grandfather provision of the law regarding this which changed. His original VC service pre-dates the change and thus he may be exempt from the prohibition on getting such benefits from tax dollars in the future, and could continue to do that at his option. So he should state whether he would do so or decline to.
Not being forthcoming on this, when so often he argues for more transparency and lowering costs to taxpayers etc etc is a real negative to us. To our way of thinking, that’s “do as I say, not as I do” and doesn’t seem right .
#8 – She’s been on the planning board for 2 years. Where have you been? She’s also volunteered as well for over 10 years in Ridgewood in many different aspects of the Village. So your argument is null. As far as Pucciarelli, no one said he wasn’t qualified – just don’t vote for him.
Like Jane’s response! She has my vote.