Gov. Chris Christie’s N.J. poll numbers on the rise while President Obama’s ratings drop
Gov. Chris Christie’s poll numbers have improved while President Obama’s hit a new low in the Garden State, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.
New Jersey registered voters are split on what they think of Christie, with 47 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving. That’s slightly better for Christie than a June Quinnipiac poll, when 44 percent approved and 47 percent disapproved.
Obama’s approval ratings have suffered, with 52 percent of voters disapproving and 44 percent approving — down from a positive 50 percent to 46 percent in June.
And U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, up for re-election next year, also saw his rating drop, to 39 percent and 42 percent disapprove – down from a positive 45 percent to 38 percent in June. (Friedman, The Star-Ledger)
> Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Presents the 18th Annual Car Show.
Memorial Park at Van Neste Square and E. Ridgewood Ave. on September 9th from 6-9:30pm for a fun filled night. Enjoy music by “Take 4”. Trophies will be awarded at 8:30pm. This event is free and open to the public.
photo by P Goodman
For more info contact: info@ridgewoodchamber.com, 201-445-2600 or visit
Fri, September 09, 2011 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Memorial Park at Van Neste Square/E. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ
Event Description
This event is always fun for anyone who loves cars of all ages.
Northfield resident is trying to generate support for proposal to give more state aid to suburban, school districts
A Northfield resident is trying to get local support for a North Jersey state senator’s proposal to give more state aid to suburban and wealthy school districts to offset property taxes.
But Dennis Mahon may be facing an uphill battle. Both Democratic Sen. Jim Whelan and his Republican challenger, Assemblyman Vincent Polistina, said they do not support the so-called Fair School Funding plan proposed by Sen. Michael Doherty, R-Warren, Hunterdon.
Doherty’s plan would provide the same amount of state aid for every child no matter where he or she lives. He calculates that amount at about $7,500 per student based on current state income tax revenue. (D’Amico, Press of Atlantic City)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is quietly pushing the Bloomberg administration to give him more control over his role in the nationally televised ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, said people familiar with the discussions.
In high-level talks between city and state aides, the governor’s office has sought greater influence over the several-hour program, questioning whether Mayor Michael Bloomberg should be in charge of an event his office has controlled for the past decade, the individuals said.
The changes sought by Mr. Cuomo leave open the possibility that he’ll address the gathering with substantive remarks, the individuals said. In past Sept. 11 anniversary ceremonies, governors have read brief lines of poetry. (Gershman, The Wall Street Journal)
>The fact that most comments are anonymous on this blog requires readers to evaluate the substance of each comment/opinion without regard to its source.
“When the VC does something as outrageous as this, you should thank your lucky stars that Paul is there to speak out.”
Forgive me, but this had better not be Aronsohn’s personal attitude.
I remember a similar sentiment (in that case, ‘the voters should consider themselves lucky I’m serving in the Council’ or the like) being articulated by a recent Councilwoman, the late Ms. Zusy. It was as unattractive coming from her then as it would be coming from Councilman Aronsohn now. Elitist and arrogant. Also typical, frankly, of modern progressives and political liberals, in my experience.
If it is solely your opinion, then, fair enough. But I sense very little in terms of limits to your adulation of Aronsohn and your corresponding condemnation of his four colleagues on the Council. So to me (I’m probably wrong), you come off as starry-eyed, and therefore not the type of person whose opinion I would generally rely on.
The fact that most comments are anonymous on this blog requires readers to evaluate the substance of each comment/opinion without regard to its source. This is at least as much of a good thing as requiring commenters to reveal their identity so you’ll know whose sentiments are being expressed. I’m sure you’ll understand that many in Ridgewood appreciate anonymity because they would prefer to avoid being personally flogged in public for their opinions. This is the favorite pastime of those who wish to politicize everything for no other reason than to quash dissent and preserve the status quo.
P.S. I’m just an ordinary Ridgewood resident and taxpayer (and therefore not Gabbert). Let someone like Gabbert or a councilperson lose sight of the public interest and I’ll be the first to join you in criticizing them. But for now I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. One person’s opinion.
Union Jobs vs. toll, fare hikes: Commuters, union members disagree at hearings
The arguments for and against the Port Authority’s planned increases in fares and Hudson River crossings came down to those who didn’t have jobs and need them and those who had jobs but are just scraping by.
The meeting room in the Port Authority’s Jersey City Technical Center was filled to standing room Tuesday morning for one of nine hearings on the proposed hike, with unemployed labors in orange shirts that read “Port Authority = Jobs” the most visible sight upon entering.
While opponents had sympathy for the unemployed workers, they had little to none for the agency proposing the increases and called for an audit of the Port Authority’s books and another, better located, well publicized round of hearings. (Higgs, Gannett)
Wind and solar not steady enough for the national grid
There’s lot to like about solar and wind energy, if you discount the higher cost. They’re clean, with no greenhouse gas emissions, and they’re powered by resources that cost nothing when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing.
Therein lies the problem. As intermittent sources of power, wind and solar pose challenges to the operators of the nation’s regional power grids, whose highest priority is maintaining the reliability of a system that is the envy of the rest of the world for delivering electricity virtually all of the time.
If renewable energy is really going to take off, then the nation needs to develop a reliable system of storing the power produced by solar farms and wind turbines, a priority of the federal government and now the government of New Jersey. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>Reader says more language programs are needed in our Schools
I believe that Spanish should still be taught in Grades K-5, since it is our nation’s de facto 2nd language. I think that the current elementary school Spanish program, which relies on computer-based instruction, is weak, and needs significant improvement. Primary (K-8) education should be done in English, so that the students acquire solid reading, spelling, and writing skills. I would advocate bringing Mandarin into the picture as a 3rd language in middle school or high school (on top of English and Spanish).
Kids in Europe are required to learn multiple languages in school. I don’t see why our kids shouldn’t. A trilingual kid looks a lot better on a college application or resume than a kid who can only speak English. Obviously this will cost money to implement. However, you could shift money out of athletics, phys ed, or administration to get it done. Swapping gym teachers or vice principals for Mandarin teachers would be a great investment in our kids’ futures.
NJ Teacher contract talks: slow going, small raises
Against the backdrop of New Jersey’s battles over union rights and collective bargaining, tensions are playing out in local teacher contract talks, too.
More than a third — or nearly 210 at last count — of the state’s school districts will be starting the year without contracts, according to the school boards association in its annual labor update to be released today.
And of those that have settled, salary increases are getting tighter. The latest are averaging 2 percent, a full point less than all the contracts now in place, the association said.
The number of outstanding contracts is higher than usual for this time of year. Typically, about 150 districts are still in talks when schools open. And more than a third of ongoing negotiations have declared a formal impasse, which means calling in a state mediator, the association said. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-33) of Union City calls NJEA “the evil empire”
In a letter to the Jersey Journal, which he CC’d to PolitickerNJ.com, state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-33) of Union City criticized the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), which earlier this month denied him its endorsement for his thumbs up contribution to public worker health and pension benefits reform.
“NJEA has shown their true colors and it’s evident that this group is not about the education of our children, just as their mission is not about standing up for public school teachers,” wrote Stack. “Instead, it’s the objective of this evil empire of do-nothings to create a hierarchy of union leaders who get paid to take politicians to lunch and dinner.” (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
And for people that think Valley Hospital and the BOE are separate issues.An interesting cast of characters arm-in-arm.
Former Ridgewood Public School Board members: Dr. Sam Stewart, Dr. Fred Stokely, Doug Dittrick ( Chairman of the Board of the Valley Health System) , Kathy Rogers-Sachs, Dr. Ron Verdicchio and Dr. Bob Honsinger. Doug was President of the Ridgewood Board of Education for four years and a board member for nine years.
>Toll Increase: Does the Port Authority run the risk of pricing jobs out of New York ?
PJ Blogger and the staff of the Ridgewood blog
As all Ridgewood commuters know by now the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking to raise tolls on the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels this year. Drivers with E-ZPass would pay $4 more per crossing — $12 during peak times and $10 in off-peak hours. Cash tolls would jump from $8 to $15.
The dirty little secret is that many people who are making less than $250,000 will not be able to afford the new tolls and many jobs in the “City” will no longer be economically viable do to the toll increase.
The city which has gone from ,”the city that never sleeps” to the city where there is a rule against doing almost everything has become less and less the focal point for the tri-state area . Technology has made the commute to NYC everyday almost obsolete . At one time New York offered a truly unique experience , but now there is little or nothing you can do in NYC that you cant do right here at home .
I wonder if the tax revenue lost from jobs leaving the city will equal the payoff to the Port Authority and its unions ? Time will only tell tell ,but New York as a center for world commerce and finance will continue to decline leaving the city as nothing more than an afterthought tourist destination.
The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood | 10 Chestnut Street | Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Phone: 201-447-2204 | Email: info@tobaccoshop.com
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00AM – 5:30PM and Thursday Night 6:30PM – 8:30PM
September 11th Remembrance Ceremony – 10th Anniversary
The Village of Ridgewood will hold a Ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial Rock in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square on Sunday, September 11th at 7:30PM. The Ceremony will be held to remember and honor the memory of the twelve residents who were lost in the World Trade Center tragedy in 2001.
During the month of September you are invited to visit the exhibit of “Portraits” of each resident lost. The display depicts the individuals, their family and events of 2001. The “Portrait” exhibit provides a place to reflect and will be on display in the Belcher Auditorium of the Ridgewood Public Library.
Superintendent survey gives low grades to NJ education department
Back in the spring, acting education commissioner Chris Cerf approached the state’s superintendents association about organizing a no-holds-barred survey of its members.
All 580 of the state’s district superintendents would be polled on what they like and dislike about the state education department, which is charged with monitoring, supporting, and regulating their public schools. There would be 66 questions in all, and a comments section.
Well, the results are back, and they’re not pretty.
Cool relations between Gov. Chris Christie’s administration and the field are nothing new, but superintendents — 408 responded in the end — gave low grades to the department in nearly every regard, from all the paperwork it requires to the quality and usefulness of the data it gives back. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
