The Controversy Behind the Referendum
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a mystery mailer about the upcoming Ridgewood Open Space referendum has landed in residents’ mailboxes, sparking a fierce debate and raising serious questions about transparency and taxpayer funding. The referendum, set for November 4, 2025, asks voters to approve doubling the Open Space tax in the Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey. But it’s not just the proposed tax hike that has people talking—it’s the peculiar, officially-paid-for piece of campaign material.
Anonymous Mailer: A Fact Check ✅
The mailer, which advocates for the tax increase, is notable for what it lacks:
- No phone number 📵
- No website 🌐
- No QR code 📱
- No contact name or title 👤
- No “Village of Ridgewood” printed anywhere 🏘️
Despite this anonymity, residents are asking: Was this propaganda paid for by Ridgewood’s taxpayers? The controversy stems from the widely-held belief that this unbranded communication was funded by the public purse, blurring the lines between neutral information and a campaign push for the “Yes” vote.
Understanding the Proposed Tax Increase
The core issue on the ballot is the increase in the Open Space tax.
- Current Rate: One-half cent per $100 of assessed property value.
- Proposed Rate: One cent per $100 of assessed property value.
What Does This Mean for Homeowners?
For the average Ridgewood home, assessed at $712,700:
- The annual Open Space tax would rise from approximately $36 to $72.
The increased revenue would flow into the Open Space Trust Fund, dedicated to the acquisition, development, and preservation of open land. The Ridgewood Open Space Committee officially recommended this increase to the Village Council in May 2025.
The Battle for Open Space Funds: Support vs. Criticism
While the original purpose of the fund was purely land preservation, its use in recent years has ignited a “taxpayer tussle” over priorities and accountability.
In Support of the Increase 👍
Proponents, including Councilmembers, point to significant past achievements as proof the fund works:
- Preservation Victories: Successfully saving properties like Habernickel and Schedler from development.
- More Funding, More Preservation: A doubled tax means more capital to acquire and protect valuable open space from developers in a dense community.
Criticism and Calls for Transparency 😠
Critics argue that the funds have been increasingly misused for what they call “questionable developments” and “subsidizing private enterprises.”
- The Turf War: The most heated point of contention is the use of Open Space funds to pay for artificial turf fields. Many residents feel this deviates sharply from the mission of land preservation.
- Accountability Gap: Critics demand more transparency and stricter accountability regarding how and why the Open Space funds are allocated.
Your Vote, Your Voice: Transparency is Key
As the November 4, 2025, election approaches, Ridgewood voters face a choice between increasing the fund for future preservation and demanding clarity on current spending. The mystery mailer only underscores the need for public engagement and Village Council transparency before a single vote is cast.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
Vote NO
Voting no. Village cannot be trusted.
Too vague and lacked details. Did not specify who, what, when and where. Another bait and switch. Vote no on this.
Don’t give these knuckleheads any more of ur $$
VOTE NO
The mailer does not specifically advocate for the tax increase.
The village. is up to something, what that is, we don’t yet know. How do we know what is earmarked. There is zero transparency and this mayor and council cannot be trusted as they are basically the sneakiest bunch to ever sit on a dais. Yes sure they think they are doing God’s work, but it is a smoke show where nothing is evident until it is done (think Town Garage, think Kensington Assisted Living and other project where you are kept in the dark and resolutions passed after something has already been agreed to. Is that what we want from our elected officials. They are secretive and I don’t trust them one bit.
Do we have much open space?
Kazmark’s cousin is Stephen Wellinghorst, former Ridgewood planning board (also the attorney on Kazmark’s whistle blower lawsuit against Elmwood Park) so our Village manager is a nepotism plant with great connections to help Vagianos get what he wants. Not sure if they actually farmed out a real job application and interview process in the I find it very interesting that he is okay with the village telling residents to vote yes for the open space referendum, which is illegal, they used tax dollars on the mailers and have been promoting this not on social media with the fact fact check. It is such a joke and most of Ridgewood is hoodwinked to believe that these bad actors like the mayor and council, also Keith Kazmark, is so sad.
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/elmwood-park/2021/06/19/elmwood-park-nj-settles-former-clerk-over-whistleblower-lawsuit/7746451002/
Without hyperbole, just based on their public flip-flops and private actions, this has proven to be one of the least trustworthy and transparent councils in Ridgewood’s history.
Use your judgement voters.
Are you actually going to trust the village manager and council? That is a very scary proposition given their spending is akin to a drunken sailor spending left and right on non essentials instead of prioritizing important matters like people’s homes getting flooded. There is a thick playbook that no one in the village will ever know about. Vagianos and his council are slimy and these are the same people who have no plan for the performing arts center