Money Talks: Ridgewood Council Defends Accepting $264K in Sports Group Donations Ahead of Re-Election Run
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Local political tensions reached a boiling point last night as the Ridgewood Village Council voted 4-1 to formally accept $264,000 in private donations from local sports organizations.
The decision has sparked intense community debate, with critics questioning the timing of the funds and the lack of official documentation regarding conditions attached to the sizable contributions.
Where the $264K Is Coming From
The total donation package is funded by five local athletic organizations:
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Maroons Soccer Club: $150,000
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Ridgewood Junior Football Association: $50,000
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Ridgewood Baseball and Softball: $50,000
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Ridgewood Lacrosse Association: $10,000
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Ridgewood Adult Soccer Association: $4,000
Divided Vote: Turf Opposition vs. Re-Election Defense
Councilwoman Pam Perron cast the sole dissenting vote, opposing the measure due to strong objections regarding artificial turf field development.
Meanwhile, Council members Weitz and Winograd—both up for re-election this year—hotly defended accepting the private funding and agreeing to terms specified by the sports organizations, particularly the Maroons Soccer Club.
Missing Paperwork and ‘Pay-to-Play’ Concerns
A major point of contention centers on the official resolution signed by the Mayor. Critics point out that the specific terms and conditions demanded by the Maroons Soccer Club were not formally memorialized or written into the official resolution document.
Both Weitz and Winograd dismissed the absence of written terms as non-essential, brushing off public concerns during the meeting.
However, with municipal elections approaching, residents and political observers are questioning whether the eagerness to push the $264,000 deal through without formal documentation is linked to campaign support from influential local sports figures—raising serious questions about potential “pay-to-play” politics in local government.
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Weitz and Winograd……………………………
The soccer bunnies are calling the shots.
Glad Pam P finally grew a pair and voted ‘no’.
I have absolutely zero trust in Mr. Weitz since he publicly trashed Boyd Loving after Boyd recounted the story of his wife Anne having been assaulted at a Village Council meeting. Mr. Weitz actually had the nerve to say that since no formal charges were pressed, there was no assault. What a scumbag.
Ridgewood resident Dana Glazer was assaulted by the same individual at a different Council meeting. This incident was also captured on Village owned and operated security cameras. Nothing was done that time either. The alleged perpetrator is said to be a contributor to the election campaigns of multiple members of the current Village Council.
Do you mean DD…?
Winograd is a dingbat. A vote for her is a vote for continuation of the insanity.
Shaking my head…she’s the mouthpiece for the soccer bunnies.
The four council members who voted for this acceptance of money, should all be riding around in cars with a bumper sticker that says “PAY ME TO PLAY.”
FOLLOW THE MONEY! Check who donated money to Weitz and in the last election by looking at this website. You’ll be surprised who is trying to buy favors.
https://www.njelecefilesearch.com/searchcandidatereports
I remembered his name…Delzio…
“It doesn’t pass the smell test” – A former Councilman