NJ senate passes jobs legislation, including tax cuts, exemptions
A package of tax cuts, credits and exemptions designed to encourage job growth in New Jersey were passed by the state Senate Monday.
The 13 bills would cost the state treasury more than $100 million in tax revenue a year, if they become law.
Another bill in the package could accelerate the use of up to $200 million in tax credits already on the books for developments near urban transit hubs.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, whose caucus has made job growth its election-season focus, called the bills a good start. The bills include measures, such as tax credits for investments in technology startups, that Gov. Chris Christie vetoed last winter.
“We have a lot of work to do. The economy can’t wait any longer,” Sweeney said. “It was wrong when he vetoed the first package of bills. The economy didn’t get better since then. A lot of these are tax credits or incentives. If we create jobs from this and don’t collect as much revenue but we’re putting people to work, that’s a win.” (Symons, Gannett)
Legislature passes charter school bill, but advocates and critics want more changes
One change to New Jersey’s charter school law passed the legislature yesterday, while talk mounts that a broader rewrite of the state’s 15-year-old statute governing the semi-autonomous schools may be in the offing.
The state Senate passed a bill that would allow certain parochial and private schools to convert to charters. Few think that the proposal will lead to many such conversions, but may send a lifeline to at least a few closing Catholic schools.
The measure, which passed 25-13, is the only one of a half-dozen proposed reforms to New Jersey’s charter school law that has now passed both the Senate and the Assembly. It goes next to Gov. Chris Christie for his expected signature.
But while other charter proposals have languished, leading Democratic legislators said there is momentum gaining for a more comprehensive overhaul of the 1996 charter law that could loosen some restrictions and add others. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Survey: Teen driver “Kyleigh’s Law” decals should be removed
Results of an online survey conducted by a northern New Jersey assemblyman about the controversial teen driver decal will be forwarded to the state attorney general, who is expected to conclude her report on the issue on Oct. 7.
The survey conducted by Assemblyman Robert Schroeder, R-Bergen, found that 86 percent of those who responded believe the decal requirement known as “Kyleigh’s Law” should be removed.
The survey, conducted from June to August, found that most people surveyed supported the other provisions of the state’s graduated driver’s license, which require a teen driving curfew and limit the number of adolescent passengers whom a driver with a graduated driver’s license can legally transport. Opponents of the decal have argued the stickers could work as magnets for sexual predators. (Higgs, Gannett)
>Ridgewood school board member Charles Reilly resigns
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 BY EVONNE COUTROS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Charles Reilly, who was elected to serve as a trustee last year, has announced his intention to resign from the Board of Education.
Reilly, who was elected to a three-year term in April 2010 and is a former president of the New Jersey School Boards Association when he first served as a trustee from 1990 to 2005, will formally inform the Board of Education of his resignation at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.
>Gallup: Americans Express Historic Negativity Toward U.S. Government Several long-term Gallup trends at or near historical lows by Lydia Saad
PRINCETON, NJ — A record-high 81% of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the country is being governed, adding to negativity that has been building over the past 10 years
Majorities of Democrats (65%) and Republicans (92%) are dissatisfied with the nation’s governance. This perhaps reflects the shared political power arrangement in the nation’s capital, with Democrats controlling the White House and U.S. Senate, and Republicans controlling the House of Representatives. Partisans on both sides can thus find fault with government without necessarily blaming their own party.
The findings are from Gallup’s annual Governance survey, updated Sept. 8-11, 2011. The same poll shows record or near-record criticism of Congress, elected officials, government handling of domestic problems, the scope of government power, and government waste of tax dollars.
>Ridgewood was more about real community back then same size Village and actually far more kids in school than there are currently
That was always a busy intersection. Fact is quite a few years ago there was a big white dot in the middle of it.
And if you were to have looked back then, for several years you would have found ME standing in the middle of that “dot”, directing traffic and helping other kids cross. Also some other longtime Village folks did same.
That intersection was “covered” back then by the kid-staffed safety patrol.
A paid retired officer covered Van Dien further down, near what was then the main entrance to Travell, which back then you went to for K through 4. It was about 1/2 of the current BF site – the part closest to Valley.
Then for 5&6 you went around the corner to Travell Annex, no longer there, which was on the site of what’s now the field for current Travell (the Glen Ave side).
Most of the traffic there back then was not Valley traffic though. It was parents. The entire Valley plant back then was what’s now the doctor parking lot on Linwood. There was a big curved driveway in and out of Linwood.
The oldest Valley building still there now is Phillips. It was built during the time I went to Travell and BF and greatly increased the size of the hospital, but it was still very much a community facility in the real meaning (to me) of the word.
Kurth Cottage was the only part of Valley not right off Linwood. And it was… a cottage on Van Dien.
Us safety patrol folk had to show up early to help kids cross, but we did get out of school a little early too – to cover that and several other intersections.
You got a big flag, a whistle (really!) and short training by the police. And off you went to help other kids cross.
Though the Glen and Van Dien spot was about the busiest the little unit covered, this simple plan actually worked.
Ridgewood was more about real community back then, and for that matter, so was Valley.
Yet, same size Village, roughly same population.. and actually far more kids in school than there are currently.
Leaner and more focused overall, and much friendlier at same time. You got things done in a much simpler way and the offcials at Village Hall and the BOE were a lot more responsive in ways that got things resolved, not just run-arounds. They didn’t go off on turf, light, Village Hall and similar “adventures” either.
Gee, must sound like Mayberry, huh? Or perhaps, Ho Ho Kus? Yet, same size, more kids in school, and roughly 25,000 population. Less layers of administration and loads less baloney though.
That’s a Friday afternoon’s trip in the wayback machine, hope y’all enjoyed it.
I hope the Village can find some new donors for Schedler. I would guess that anyone who donated to the Maple Field project will in no way financially support a Schedler project after watching in disgust as the Village has let a million dollar gift disintegrate in such a short period of time.
I think that we need to pause and reflect before we develop another field. We need to identify our “needs” and “wants”.
We also need to look at all the resident push back on this type of development. Don’t start another fight for no reason. I doubt that people who contributed in the past will be looking to contribute again. Maybe the land should be left as open space with walking paths.
I don’t think that they will be able to raise any money for more fields. The residents are tapped out and tired of the wasteful spending on the last projects. There is no one competent enough to do a good job. Look at maple, Stevens and the stadium. Some money was raised and the village taxpayers are on the hook for most of the expenses.
>Dr. Guy Margolin presents – The Way of Wellness Workship Thu, September 29, 2011 Time: 6:45 PM Location: Ridgewood Chiropractic, 172 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Are you looking for the path to true wellness? Nutrition Exercise Sleep Relaxation and Stress Management Positive Mental Attitude Setting and Achieving Wellness Goals
This workship will explore the different factors necessary to get you on your path to wellness!
Dr Guy Margolin’s unique philosophy of health is base on over 20 years in the health and fitness profession. He earned his doctorate in chiropractic from the distinguished Palmer Chiropractic College in 1991. Dr. Margolin believes that the strength of a community greatly depends on the health of its residents. Through Ridgewood Chiropractic’s community outreach program, area residents are educated on the healing power of the body and overall benefits of health and wellness.
Ridgewood Chiropractic 172 Franklin Ave. Suite 4A Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-857-5770 for more information guymargolin@optonline.net www.ridgewoodchiro.com
09/27/117:30PMBoard of Adjustment Public Meeting 10/05/117:30PMVillage Council Work Session 10/12/118:00PMVillage Council Public Meeting 10/13/117:00PMVillage Council Special Public Meeting – Valley Expansion 10/24/117:00PMVillage Council Special Public Meeting – Valley Expansion
>Ridgewood girls soccer team gives coach Jeff Yearing his 400th career win.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
TEANECK — Jeff Yearing did not have anything “formal” planned for the occasion, but his players did.
The Ridgewood High School girls soccer coach earned the 400th win of his career Tuesday afternoon, as RHS handled Teaneck, 8-1, at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
Yearing did not tell his players about the impending milestone ahead of time, though they all knew. In turn, the Maroons did not tell their head coach about the celebration they had planned, and he was summarily surprised by an impromptu spelling bee.
Moments after exiting the handshake line, Ridgewood players were back at the bench, diving into backpacks and emerging with homemade T-shirts that featured a “400” on the front and a letter on the back. When they lined up side-by-side to take their cool-down jog across the field, the 22 girls made sure to arrange each character (including a blank space and an exclamation point) in order to spell out “Congratulations Years!
>Webcast Now Available: BOE Meets tonight Monday, September 26, 2011
The next regular meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, September 26, 2011, starting at 7:30 p.m. The Board meets on Floor 3 of the Education Cener, 49 Cottage Place. The public is invited to attend and also to make comments at two portions of the meeting: typically at the beginning of the meeting and again around 9 p.m. Meetings are broadcast on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 and may also be viewed live via the “Live BOE Meeting” link on the RPS website.
Click here to view the agenda for the September 26, 2011 Regular Public Meeting : https://tinyurl.com/3t9df9p
>Michael Gibney of Ridgewood made ambassador for the Bike MS Ride
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 BY TERESA EDMOND STAFF WRITER SUBURBAN TRENDS
Two locals who were recently appointed ambassadors for the Bike MS Great New Jersey Country Ride are hoping to go the distance in the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS).
As ambassadors, Michael Gibney(of Ridgewood) , who works in Riverdale, and Rosemarie Collopy, who lives in Wanaque’s Haskell section, will join hundreds of area cyclists on Sept. 24 and 25 in the 24th annual Great New Jersey Country Bike Ride. The New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National MS Society organized the event.
All proceeds will support critical MS research programs and fund local programs and services for those who are impacted by the disease, including more than 13,000 people in New Jersey and more than 400,000 people nationwide.
Phil Koeghan, the Emmy Award-winning host of CBS’s “The Amazing Race,” will ride along with hundreds of area cyclists on Sept. 24.
State raise red flag over how decisions are made on regional power grid
The state is asking the operator of the regional power grid to no longer allow incumbent transmission owners to play a crucial role in determining what new electric generating stations hook up to the grid.
In a letter to PJM Interconnection, which oversees the grid serving more than 50 million people, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) suggested that the current process is “problematic.” Right now, transmission owners that have affiliates providing large amounts of electricity to the grid decide what new power plants can come online.
The issue is important to consumers in New Jersey, a state saddled with some of the highest electric bills in the nation. The problem is largely blamed on too little generating capacity, which leads to congestion on the power grid in the northern part of the state, according to agency officials. By state projections, consumers here will pay $1 billion or more this year because of congestion. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
