November 16th 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Resident dissatisfaction has been magnified by the Village council majority attempt to renege on the deal reached and voted for on the Speedometer 30th meeting . There was an outpouring of resident sentiment against the high density housing proposal on the evening of September 30th.
Out of the roughly 600 residents who packed the Village Hall only 5 spoke in favor of the proposal and all of them were either developers or friends of the developers. The council was then forced to put off the predetermined approval vote . Michael and Susan supported the residents of Ridgewood who called for a VOTE NO to the proposal.
There are now serious trust issues being compounded by the failure to act on the Sept 30th vote and move forward with NEW comprehensive traffic, school and infrastructure studies along with a financial study.
Almost everyone who attended the September 30th meeting was satisfied that Paul, Gwenn, Michael and Susan had voted with the best interests of Ridgewood residents. Now however Paul and Gwenn appear to be reneging on their vote.
So residents all over of the Village have been talking , organizing, looking at options to change the current direction of the Village and stop the urbanization and destruction of everything that makes Ridgewood so special.
And let’s put names to those that are putting the pressure on our Council Majority. John Saraceno is the developer that provided our Council majority with free $1,000 tickets (for Council members and spouses) to a fundraiser for Governor Christie. This is the same person that took out a full page ad in the Ridgewood News a couple of weeks ago and threatened to sue if he doesn’t get his way. Ron Simoncini is Mr. Saraceo’s mouthpiece and he wrote a drippingly condescending letter to the editor in this week’s News. It’s the classic “anyone that does not see the world my way is ignorant” type of letter. These were 2 of the 5 speakers in favor of building the apartments.
As a town, we have to mobilize against our own Council because they clearly cannot be trusted to do the right thing. The second they saw a smaller audience they tried to undo what the larger audience forced them to do. We obviously need people at every meeting now to make sure that our Council does what they voted to do. How incredible is that?
Let’s keep an eye on these people until election day.
Folks, you should haven doing something to change this when Ordinance 3066 was passed in July 2007, almost 10 years ago
What are you saying exactly…. That John Saraceno and Ron Simoncini are bad people because they don’t agree with your position. They have as much right as any other resident of this town to write whatever they want in the Ridgewood News. Lets not forget you and your friends in the CBR not only threatened to sue but actually filed a lawsuit.( where’s your disgust with that or are you suggesting that “anyone that does not see the world my way is Ignorant…) Bernadette Walsh and Keith Killion also attended the Christie Event and for the millionth time it is a non-issue. So embarrassing that you need to keep bringing it up. Please come up with some new material.
Mr Saraceno also made an “in kind” contribution to Paul Aronsohn’s 2012 campaign for Village Council.
Keith Killion did not attend the Christie event. Get your facts straight, Bozo. The other 2 members of Council who attended the event are no longer on the Council, and therefore are not in a position to be voting on an ordinance that will benefit Mr. Saraceno financially.
“That John Saraceno and Ron Simoncini are bad people because they don’t agree with your position. They have as much right as any other resident of this town to write whatever they want in the Ridgewood News.”
I do not believe they are bad people and they can say whatever they wish as long as they disclose their obvious financial bias on the issue. Mr. Simoncini is or has been a paid employee of Mr. Saraceno and should be disclosing such when he speaks on the issue.
Another whiner at the meeting last Monday was the woman whose husband was bad mouthed at a soccer game. She had the gall to criticize everyone who spoke up on September 30. Unbelievable.
Saraceno and simoncini may not be bad people, but their opinions in these CBD matters are tainted because they stand to make big bucks with their developments that nobody wants. So yes, quite frankly 10:03, they ar bad for interjecting their opinions as residents, because they are not speaking as residents,, they are speaking as money hungry developers. End of story.
What is you problem 10:03 do you just make thing up . the 3 Amigos are the only ones left that attended Christy event and can vote on the CBD changes. I agree with12:12 that Killion was not on the council at that time and did not attend and you are a BOZO.
Ron Simoncini would throw almost anyone under a bus at any given moment for his own gain or happiness.
This is as good as the full page ad that Hauck’s dad took out in the Ridgewood News before her election.
The over the top endorsement could almost be forgiven because it was her dad. He sees her differently than we do. .
Love this, the rumblings of a dissatisfied populace…expressed, of course, in a way that is consonant with the peace-loving traditions of civil society. Officeholders should always be cognizant of where their personal policy positions lie vis-a-vis the opinion held by the plurality (or majority) of eligible voters. And if a large disjunction exists, they should either honestly try to lead opinion by explaining themselves, give up and change their minds publicly and permanently, or keep their adverse personal opinion while at the same time having the decency if stopping fruitlessly lobbying in favor of it. Going along with a big crowd at one public meeting only to flip-flop at a later, more thinly-attended public meeting is the ultimate in sliminess, disingenuousness, and favor-currying.
Simoncini Should identify himself as an employee of Saraceno.
How did someone get badmouthed at a soccer game? Was he even there?
WELCOME TO RIDGEWOOD !!!!!
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!
“How did someone get badmouthed at a soccer game? Was he even there?” That was an inside baseball comment that has nothing to do with the council. While the vast majority of residents who spoke at the September 30 meeting were respectful and civil, a few may have crossed the line. A resident spoke at the 11/9 council meeting and brandished most at the meeting on 9/30 as uncivil and hostile due to these few examples. It was ridiculous but whatever…we who were at the meeting or watched the feed live know the truth.
Every property Saraceno owns in town is kept very nice.
As the should be 4:55. Just because he keep his property nice he should get special treatment.If that the case I keep my property nice maybe the town should lower my taxes.