photo by Boyd Loving
The Council Majority ie 3 amigos have decided that although the proposed bond was not approved by the super majority that they would do an end run and get the money from the BCIA.
Worse than the extra fees involved in getting money from these outside place (and no way is this extra cost netting out to $2,200) is the fact that Ridgewood will lose control and be forced to open up the garage to outside commuters.
Faulty and incomplete analysis on BCIA bond. Even if the Council assumptions are correct on the bond fees being offset by lower rate (BIG if), you complete disregard the lost revenue by going through the BCIA. Ridgewood would lose out on the additional $750/pass per year ($750 residents – $1500 non-residents). Even if you only assume that 10 out of town cars use the garage for commuting we lose out on $187,500 over the life of the bond. We take the risk, the BCIA gets the reward – foolish.
While I’m all for helping our neighboring towns, Ridgewood commuters must come first. If we have unused commuter spaces fine let others park here. Bergen County as well and NJ transit has it’s own agenda and that agenda isn’t in the best interest of Ridgewood. It is a major mistake to take any money from these outside agencies
Hello Original Poster – you should have attended last night’s meeting. We passed a third party consulting study – it asks the third party to specify how many lots should we dedicate for commuters. We will be able to justify – through this third party study – that we only need very small number of parking spots for commuters. Then this problem will be solved. ALL commuters – RIdgewood or Non Ridgewood – none of them will get to park in the garage. We will send them all to Glen Rock or Mahwah. Problem Solved.
Stop complaining,
Get it through your heads, folks. This is NJ politics. The garage WILL be built. The deals have already been made. No amount of pointing out evidence of how wrong the project is will stop anything. The 3 amigos probably couldn’t stop this now even if they somehow had a change of heart.
I can’t wait to see the big sign hanging from the garage ” Re Elect Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino” They county is floating the bond and payback is a bitch.
Show me the evidence the deal has been made?
This would be an epic failure to go to BCIA. The Bergen garage at ridgewood. Will hurt stores, not help by taking finds away from actual shopper parking. Chamber of commerce has been played.
That’s just it. There is no evidence of the deal having been made. This is NJ. It’s all done behind the scenes. It’s a very complex game of all the various people involved doing what they have to do to grease the wheels that makes sure the money flows in the right directions and political careers are managed.
dear 11:07 I did watch the meeting in it’s entirety and I’m sure the county will have a big say in who gets what. don’t be fooled by the amigos kool aid. There is more to the county deal that meets the eye. As someone said politics at work.
Hi 3:23 – pls watch it https://youtu.be/4fa9ET4nvtM?t=2h19m10s – fast forward to 2h19m – it’s explained how will we work around BCIA’s requirements. We will have data from third party studies to back-up our plan. Pay attention to the background comment of “probably not” at 2:21:36.
I’m glad Dom chimed in because when he kicks the bucket his heirs will have trouble selling his home because the “Rent in Ridgewood is too damn high”.
Oh, and the funeral procession will have to carry his boxed up body in through the side door like freight at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.