Month: August 2011

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>No surprise "Xanadu" seeks public aid

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No surprise “Xanadu” seeks public aid

The new developers of a massive New Jersey amusement and retail project say they are looking for tax breaks and other public assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The stalled $3.8-billion project—formerly known as Xanadu and since renamed American Dream at Meadowlands—has bedeviled two previous teams of developers over eight years. The partially-constructed project now stands stalled.

Now, its new developers, Canada-based Triple Five, are looking to restart it with the help of three forms of tax-free financing that could raise as much as $800 million, the developers say. The financing deals would rely on bond sales tied to future revenues at the development.

Triple Five—which built the Mall of America in Minnesota—says it would use the funds to significantly enlarge the already huge project and make it a major tourist destination, complete with an indoor water park and an indoor ski slope.  (Brown, The Wall Street Jounal)

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903327904576522871299838548.html
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>I strongly beleive that the discussion of the Manager’s raise is something that needs to continue.

>I strongly beleive that the discussion of the Manager’s raise is something that needs to continue

Many seem to believe that because the majority voted in favor of a resolution, that any legislator who disagrees, should be silent. “That’s the system at work”. I have to disagree with you. Arohnson speaking out on the issue was the correct thing to do. There are a lot of questions that still need to be answered before this issue is put to bed. First, the Manager’s increase was up on the agenda on Tuesday as a Consent item. which was intended to eliminate any public discussion. Therefore, the public had no idea what was coming. The few regular attendee who were there,voiced their displeasure.

The VC Council meeting are open to the public and even the minutes of their closed session should be available. Second, obviously there had been previous discussions among the Councilmembers, which the public was not previed to. I’m curious as to the origin of the increase: Did the Village Manger come to the VC and say “I want a raise” or, though its highly unlikely, did one or more members of the VC go to the Village Manager and say “You’re doing a great job, you deserve a raise”? In either case, who negotiated the amount of the increase and why was it retroactive? What is the justification, if any, for paying the Village Manager more than the Governor? Really, a 12% increase! Third, was the Manager’s raise ever part of the “incentive” bonus pool for the non-union employees? If so, was it taken out of the pool, by the VC, to avoid any public discussion? Fourth, was the $20,000 raise meant to relace the amount that the Village Manager gave up, when the Village hired a new CFO?

Finally,the public is entitled to much more specific explantions from the individual Council Members as to why they voted as they did. I’m not satisfied with the broad statements that the Village Manager saved hundreds of thousands of dollars or that he’s doing a great job. Unfortunately, I don’t think either statement is true.

As a further reply. I think the tone from Deputy Mayor Riche is clearly intended to be intimidating. Many of us have viewed this behavior on his part and our deeply troubled by it.

I strongly beleive that the discussion of the Manager’s raise is something that needs to continue. That several VC members, say that the public should accept what they did until the next election, raises serious doubts that what they did can ever be justified. Elected officals are accountable for their actions throughout their terms. If a Councilperson does not want to justify his or her actions, he or she should be recalled and relaced by someone who does. THAT’S THE WAY THE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK!

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>President Obama : "After 40 fund-raisers, I think I’ve earned a vacation."

>President Obama : “After 40 fund-raisers, I think I’ve earned a vacation.”
Ron

Last week, there was controversy over Obama taking a vacation. Ordinarily, considering the grueling hours a President works to serve the people, I wouldn’t give a second thought to it. But this is what Obama said, quote:  “After 40 fund-raisers, I think I’ve earned a vacation.”  So, abandoning his duties in Washington, he travelled around raising money for himself, to finance his re-election campaign, more than a year in advance of the election, and tired himself out so badly, eating all those dinners at other people’s expense, and shaking down, I mean shaking hands, with all those supporters, that he needed to compound his dereliction of duty, by continuing his hiatus from work with a vacation.

I can hear his words now, if – God forbid – he wins re-election. I’m so tired, from 40 fund-raisers  to build my Presidential Library, that I’ve earned a vacation to recover. This man is the poster child for arrogance. If you don’t believe it, consider how stupid he thinks the American people are. He goes on an extended bus tour (on a Canadian-made bus) to the primary states to stump for Democratic candidates at taxpayers expense. This is illegal for a sitting President to do, so he calls it a tour to be in touch with the people – not a campaign tour. Well, I can call a mule a jack-ass, but it’s not the same thing. No other President has ever gotten the free passes Obama gets. It’s time to end his free ride in 2012.

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>The Rotary Club of Ridgewood AM

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RotaryInternational theridgewoodblog.net

The Rotary Club of Ridgewood AM

The Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club is a local community service organization of 62 men and women in the Ridgewood, Ho-Ho-Kus, Glen Rock and surrounding communities. We come from a diverse range of professions and share the goal of making a difference in our communities and the world.

Our club is part of Rotary International, the world’s first service organization, with 1.2 million members in 200 countries. Rotary International helped establish the United Nations, is the driving force behind eradicating polio worldwide and gives more college scholarships than any other organization.

Since the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club was founded in 1987, we have raised and disbursed nearly $1 million to local, national and international causes, including:

Local high school scholarships
Local health and human services agencies
Aid to the hungry and homeless
Student service and leadership clubs at local schools
Project Hope, Haiti’s largest orphanage
Gift of Life program that helps needy children from overseas receive life-saving heart surgery in the U.S.
To learn more about us, join us for our lively breakfast meetings: Thursdays at 7:30 Sharp to 8:30 a.m. at Osteria La Fiamma, 119 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood.

We encourage your involvement in our club and welcome your ideas. Please take a moment to give us your thoughts and suggestions. If you would like to speak to anyone in our club in person, you are invited to join us for breakfast, where you will have the opportunity to talk to any of our members one on one. In addition, feel free to enter your information below and our club Secretary will contact you shortly.

Contact Information

Phone: (201) 637-7335

Mailing Address
The Rotary Club of Ridgewood AM
P.O. Box 1152
Ridgewood, NJ 07451-1152

https://www.ridgewoodamrotary.org/

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>Warren Buffett’s Taxing the Rich Won’t Solve Deficit, Says Tax Foundation

>Warren Buffett’s Taxing the Rich Won’t Solve Deficit, Says Tax Foundation
Friday, August 19, 2011
By Matt Cover

buffett and obama

President Barack Obama awards the 2010 Medal of Freedom to investor Warren Buffett on Feb. 15, 2011. (AP Photo)

(CNSNews.com) – Taxing millionaires and billionaires more – a position advocated by billionaire Warren Buffett and President Barack Obama – won’t make much of a dent in the national debt or the record federal budget deficits, a new study finds.

“Even taking every last penny from every individual making more than $10 million per year would only reduce the nation’s deficit by 12 percent and the debt by 2 percent,” the non-partisan Tax Foundation’s David Logan writes.

https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/warren-buffett-s-tax-solution-won-t-solv

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>We need to increase Graydon badge sales to residents, I dont want Graydon to becone just a "tourist destination"

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Graydondriveby theridgewoodblog.net



We need to increase Graydon badge sales to residents, I dont want Graydon to becone just a  “tourist destination” 

Badge sales to non-residents are a small fraction of the total badge sales. There were only 263 badge sales to non-residents and 2,896 to residents. That is less than 10%.

I have been for keeping Graydon “natural”, but if we are turning this into a tourist destination then I will have to change my position.This needs to be for the residents of Ridgewood. That said, I’ll fight putting in a gaudy water park or a series of unimaginative concrete pools.

There needs to be a third option where we can modernize and modify Graydon so it again becomes a community meeting place where Ridgewood residents want to go.If this cannot be achieved, then I’d be for filling it in and doing something else with the land (for Ridgewood residents) before turning it into the most popular day camp site for all of the local urban centers.

I agree that the changes that have been made over the past few years (for example: water quality is excellent; snack bar is much improved) have made it a very nice place to relax, but if the residents are not coming, then more changes need to be made or perhaps, sadly, it is time to move on.

CoolTan Tan Through Clothing and Swimwear

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>Submit your favorite pizza spot for the Best Pizza in Ridgewood 2011

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ridgewood+01252006+013



Submit your favorite pizza spot for the Best Pizza in Ridgewood 2011

the Ridgewood blog is looking for nominations for the 2011 best Pizza in Ridgewood, New Jersey.Please submit your favorite pizza spot to: onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com

Put “Best Pizza in Ridgewood ” in the subject line or leave a comment on the “Best Pizza” post on the Ridgewood Blog

Pizza fusion (2010 Winner)

A Mano (2009 Winner)

Puzo’s (2008 Winner)

*Due to the hotly contested nature of the contest and technical problems with the voting reviews will be published of all the participants over the next several months by our secret judging panel.Lets see if they come to the same conclusions as the voters. 


2010 participants and Votes :

A Mano (2009 Winner) (22%) 24 Franklin Ave, in Ridgewood ,NJ 201.493.2000

Renato’s Pizza (8%) 36 S Maple Ave,Ridgewood, NJ (201) 652-3554

Puzo’s (2008 Winner) (5%) 16 W Ridgewood Ave,Ridgewood, NJ (201) 445-3332

Brooklyn Pizza (6%) 15 Oak St,Ridgewood, NJ (201) 493-7600

Sicilian Sun (by popular demand) (4%) 604 N Maple Ave,Ho Ho Kus, NJ (201) 444-3494

La Bella Pizza (4%) 102 N Maple Ave, Rdgewood, NJ (201) 652-0444

Roma Pizza (1%) 88 Godwin Ave, Ridgewood, NJ (201) 389-6810

Pizza Fusion (42%) 33 Godwin Ave,Ridgewood, NJ (201) 445-9010

Ridgewood Pizza (3%) 37 Godwin Ave, Ridgewood, NJ (201) 444-1055 

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>Mr Buffett : Gift Contributions to Reduce Debt Held by the Public

>Mr Buffett : Gift Contributions to Reduce Debt Held by the Public


The Bureau of the Public Debt may accept gifts donated to the United States Government to reduce debt held by the public. Acting for the Secretary of the Treasury, Public Debt may accept a gift of:


Money, made only on the condition that it be used to reduce debt held by the public.
An outstanding government obligation, made only on the condition that the obligation be retired and the redemption proceeds used to reduce debt held by the public.


Other intangible personal property made only on the condition that the property is sold and the proceeds from the sale used to reduce the public debt.
Gifts to reduce debt held by the public may be inter vivos gifts or testamentary bequests.


The fiscal year to date information includes total gifts received for the months of October through September. For the years 1996 and 1997, monthly data is not available.


Read about how to make a contribution to reduce the debt.


Gift Contributions  and  Fiscal Year to Date Totals
2011 $2,035,349.94
2010 $2,840,466.75
2009 3,063,057.05
2008 2,189,358.89
2007 2,624,862.42
2006 1,646,209.41
2005 1,455,541.65
2004 664,911.25
2003 1,277,423.40
2002 744,675.06
2001 1,645,082.28
2000 1,868,891.93
1999 1,457,510.59
1998 1,535,541.02
1997 955,897.15
1996 1,985,175.10


Gifts to Reduce Debt Held by the Public have been reported in the footnotes of the Monthly Statement of the Public Debt since February 1988. Visit the MSPD to view the debt historical information archives including fiscal year to date tables through and including 1987.


Financing the Debt


Why does the debt sometimes decrease?


The Public Debt Outstanding decreases when there are more redemptions of Treasury securities than there are issues.


How do you make a contribution to reduce the debt?


There are two ways for you to make a contribution to reduce the debt:


You can make a contribution online either by credit card, checking or savings account at Pay.gov
You can write a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it’s a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to: 


Attn Dept G
Bureau of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188

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>Reader says: Just glad to have a job , Lots of folks are working harder and coming home with much less in their pockets

>Reader says: Just glad to have a job , Lots of folks are working harder and coming home with much less in their pockets


I’m a federal employee. My raise for the next two years will be 0% each year. My health insurance premium went up went up 17% for 2011 and it is estimated to increase 8% in 2012. I contribute 60% of that premium premium as work part-time ($150 every two weeks). I also contribute 25% of my salary to my 401(k) of which the federal government matches the first 5%. I have NO FEDERAL PENSION as I was hired after 1985 which is when they did away with that sweet civil service retirement package (CERS). I also will not be paid for the thousands of sick leave hours I have saved when I retire. My agencies budget has been cut 37% in the past two years and we are doing much more with much less (I easily put in 40 hours a week when I am paid for only 24). BUT I AM GLAD I HAVE A JOB. Lots of folks are working harder and coming home with much less in their pockets. It’s the economy stupid. My heart does not bleed for the teacher’s right now.

EMAIL+LOGO

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Ridgewood News Jumps on the Bandwagon on Gabbert Pay Raise

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ridgewood+4th+parade+165



Ridgewood News Jumps on the Bandwagon on Gabbert Pay Raise 

Ridgewood News Editorial: Raising some questions


FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2011    
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Members of the Village Council, with the exception of Paul Aronsohn, voted to increase Village Manager Ken Gabbert’s salary last week – a 12 percent increase over just 14 months. Gabbert now earns $185,000, one of the highest salaries for a municipal manager in Bergen County.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/128055573_Raising_some_questions.html

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>Revenues up, badge sales down at Graydon Pool

>Revenues up, badge sales down at Graydon Pool

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

After raising badge prices, bringing in the Wibit and opening membership to everyone, Graydon Pool has brought in higher revenues so far this year but fewer badge sales – particularly from Ridgewood residents – in what has been a mild and pleasant summer season.

Village Manager Ken Gabbert reported the news at a Village Council meeting last week, and later provided additional numbers indicating the differences in badge sales and revenues since this time last year.

In previous years, out-of-town residents were allowed from Ho-Ho-Kus and Midland Park; other non-residents were allowed only if they had sponsorship from a Ridgewood resident. This year, the pool was opened to everyone with no prerequisites, and figures through July indicated that, with the policy change, badge sales from out-of-town residents increased from 155 to 263.

https://www.northjersey.com/recreation/128022018_Revenues_up__badge_sales_down_at_Graydon_Pool.html

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>Connecticut union takes concessions to save jobs

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Connecticut union takes concessions to save jobs

After nearly six months of negotiations and two rounds of votes, Connecticut’s public unions have approved $1.6 billion in contract concessions proposed by Gov. Dannel Malloy.

The deal means at least 3,000 state workers will keep their jobs. While the administration expects to continue laying off managers and consolidating state agencies, and it estimates 2,000 employees will retire before Oct. 1, the thousands of pink slips unionized workers received this summer will be rescinded beginning Monday.
The union’s rank-and-file members shot down the deal in June. This week’s vote followed a decision by the union leadership to ease voting rules.  (Banjo, The Wall Street Journal)

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903639404576516861385698904.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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>Bob Wolf of Ridgewood A.M. Rotary comments on your post "A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words":

>Bob Wolf of Ridgewood A.M. Rotary comments on your post “A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words”: 

As a member of the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary, who attended the Humanitarian of the Year dinner in 2008, I applaud the many people who made generous contributions that evening in honor of Doug and Barbara Dittrick, including the attendees who are pictured in the photo. The funds raised from that dinner were used to assist worthy students graduating from Ridgewood High School with scholarship grants, support various charities like Community Meals, Children’s Aid and Family Services and other non-profits in the Ridgewood vicinity, pay for encyclopedic dictionaries that Rotarians distributed to every third grader in the Ridgewood, Glen Rock and Ho Ho Kus public schools, provide humanitarian aid abroad, etc., etc.

If it is a crime to volunteer or otherwise participate in the community in which you live, and attend a fund-raising event and through your attendance make a donation to a wonderful cause in Ridgewood and throughout the world, perhaps we should all duck when a camera points our way!

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