>The system is bizarre, because, unlike a business, the cheapest, newest teachers are laid off first and the most expensive, oldest teachers are kept. It’s all about tenure, not effectiveness. So the salaries will be skewed up on average as more young teachers are laid off. I like some of the old teachers, but layoffs should be done based on who is the most effective, not who’s been there the longest.
The system doesn’t distinguish between a math teacher or a gym teacher, they are both paid the same. This is why it’s hard to get math and science teachers, they can make more in the private sector. I think recently Ridgewood residents have become aware that these are not $30,000 a year employees. Some parents I’ve spoken to are shocked that there are quite a few teachers making over $100,000 a year.
And most executives don’t have assistants anymore, it’s an old fashioned concept for a high tech school system.
>Wyckoff officials criticize Ridgewood Water for poor communication of boil-water alert Monday, March 29, 2010 BY CHRIS NESI Wyckoff Suburban News OF SUBURBAN NEWS
Wyckoff — A boil-water alert issued by Ridgewood Water to residents on several streets in the township was rescinded after samples that were tested for impurities came back negative, but township officials are taking the utility to task for what they called poor communication with residents.
Committeeman Brian Scanlan, who lives just outside the affected area, said Monday, March 29, that the utility’s communication with residents was insufficient.
Scanlan said he learned of the advisory from news reports and began calling people in the affected area. He said the people he spoke to told him they also heard about it from the news, but not directly from Ridgewood Water. He said he distributed fliers of his own door to door on the morning of Sunday, March 28.
“It became clear there had not been a direct communication between Ridgewood Water and their customers. They may have hit a portion of Goffle Road with the flier, but no one on the end of Ravine Avenue, Hopper Avenue or Ravine Court had gotten a phone call or a flier from them until after I started going door to door.”
Committeeman Kevin Rooney said March 29 that the township is “very disappointed” with Ridgewood Water.
“They had a really poor showing in Wyckoff as far as I’m concerned. Their track record has a lot to be desired.”
Frank Moritz, director of Ridgewood Water, said Monday that employees were sent door to door to hand-deliver fliers notifying residents of “about 100” homes in the affected area three times: once on Friday, March 26, once on Saturday, March 27, and again on Sunday, March 28, when the advisory was lifted. He said he was satisfied with the level of communication that took place. “I don’t know how many times we can visit a house,” he said.
Scanlan said the fliers were put in people’s mailboxes on Sunday, limiting the likelihood of residents checking their mail.
“If they’re going to give out fliers, they should put them where people will see them — especially on Sundays. I wish they would use their heads a bit more,” he said.
According to the Ridgewood Water Web site, residents on Bush Lane, Goffle Road, Hopper Avenue, Ravine Court and Ravine Avenue were among those notified of a potential compromise in water quality following flow tests in downtown Ridgewood. An advisory was issued to boil water before using it for drinking or cooking.
During the test, an isolation valve was closed to direct water to flow along a specific pipe, and a hydrant was open to induce that flow, but no water came out, leading the utility to determine another isolation valve somewhere else in the system also must be closed.
According to a press release issued by Ridgewood Water, a loss of pressure can “create a host of potential problems with the potable quality of the water.”
By late afternoon on Sunday, March 28, the company reported “several anomalies” were discovered in the sample results. This prompted the utility to continue the alert and take additional samples.
At 9:45 p.m. Sunday, all samples were reported negative, and the boil-water alert was rescinded by the utility by 10 p.m.
On the Ridgewood Water Web site, an advisory remains for residents affected by the boil-water alert to run their water for three to five minutes to flush the plumbing and to empty and clean all ice makers and water chillers.
Scanlan said Mayor Rudolf Boonstra has suggested the Township Committee invite a representative of Ridgewood Water to attend its April 6 meeting to offer an explanation.
>March 29 (Bloomberg) — New Jersey’s bonds should be ranked a step below those assigned by the three major credit-rating firms, as the state faces a $46 billion pension deficit and record high debt-load, Merrill Lynch analyst John Hallacy said.
The state’s general obligations are rated Aa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, AA by Standard & Poor’s, and AA- by Fitch Ratings, the fourth- , third- and fourth-highest investment grades, respectively. New Jersey is the third-most indebted U.S. state according to Moody’s, and expanded its borrowings to a record $33.9 billion as of June 30, from $31.8 billion a year earlier.
“We are revising our view on New Jersey’s credit in light of the state’s sizable debt load, severely unfunded pension and health-care retirement benefits liabilities, and aggressive budget assumptions for its fiscal year ending 30 June 2011 which we believe will be difficult to achieve,” said Hallacy, a municipal strategist in New York at the Bank of America Corp. unit, in the report. “In our opinion, New Jersey’s general obligation bonds should be viewed as A1/A+ equivalents.”
New Jersey’s debt traded 29 basis points more than an index of generic AAA municipal bonds as of March 26, nearly double the 0.15 percent premium investors demanded for owning its debt on Jan. 1. An index of A1 rated debt traded at a premium of 40 basis points. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.
Governor Chris Christie, 47, a Republican, on March 16 called for $10 billion in spending reductions to help close a $10.7 billion budget hole without raising taxes. His plan would cut more than $1.2 billion from aid to schools and municipalities, lower transit funding and skip the state’s $3 billion payment into the pension system.
‘Continuing Concern’
The lapsed pension funding is “cause for continuing concern,” the report said.
Andrew Pratt, a spokesman for Treasurer Andrew Eristoff, said his office hadn’t seen a copy of the report and declined to immediately comment.
Christie’s cuts may result in “significant” firings of teachers and government workers, prolonging the state’s economic recovery, said Howard Sitzer, a research analyst on the report. The governor will face a crucial test in whether he can push his plan unchanged through the Democrat-controlled Legislature, the analyst said.
“There is going to be change and there will be dislocation,” Sitzer said in an interview. “Invariably, there are going to be layoffs. These are real jobs, which could protract” the recovery.
Moody’s in August cut its outlook on the state’s debt to negative from stable, after the U.S. recession that began in December 2007 hurt tax revenue and prompted the state to deplete its reserves. The outlook change raised the possibility that New Jersey’s long-term credit ratings may be reduced.
To contact the reporter on this story: Terrence Dopp in Trenton, New Jersey, at [email protected].
>Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Winberie’s Restaurant 10AM – Reservations required: 201/444-3700. – Festivities will be in Memorial Park, Van Neste Square. At llAM the Easter Bunny will lead an Easter Bonnet Parade in the Park – all children are invited to participate. After the parade, parents can take pictures of their children with the Easter Bunny. The Ridgewood News will provide a TROLLEY which will travel throughout the business district, taking families to member business where there will be fun projects and in-store events going on. All activities are free. Further information 201/445-2600 or www.experienceridgewood.com
>Ridgewood Public Schools Advisory Re: Water Emergency
District Announcement
BOIL WATER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY, MARCH 29: Staff and students should bring bottled water to school for their personal consumption. Water fountains will be closed off.
>The Ridgewood Planning Board will hold a special meeting on Wednesday about the Proposed Hospital Zone Amendment to the Master Plan. The Meeting will take place at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium, 335 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The Board and the public will hear reports from the Board’s medical planning and geotechnical consultants concerning the proposed Master Plan Amendment for the Hospital Zone. No comments from the Public will be taken at this time. A subsequent meeting or meetings, as necessary, will be scheduled for that purpose.
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>Water Emergency – Many Unanswered Questions – What’s Being Covered Up?
Village Officials Tight Lipped About Cause of Water Pressure Drop; No Explanation Offered Regarding Failed “Reverse 911” Process; Identification of Microorganism Discovered In System Not Revealed to Public
Village officials contacted over this past weekend have thus far refused to disclose exactly what caused the water pressure drop that triggered a “Boil Water Alert” for all Ridgewood Water subscribers in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, and small portions of Midland Park and Wyckoff.
Although acknowledging a failure of the “Reverse 911” notification process related to the water emergency, officials have also refused to thus far disclose why the system failed.
From www.ridgewoodnj.net regarding water sampling results related to the emergency: “Some of the results show indications of potential concern and are prompting Ridgewood Water and State Officials to continue the Boil Water Alert as a safe guard to public health and safety.” This statement implies that a microorganism was identified during sampling. What was the microorganism?
Why are there so many unanswered questions regarding this issue? What is being covered up and why?
In official Washington, some consider the Tea Party movement a fringe element in society, but voters across the nation feel closer to the Tea Party movement than they do to Congress.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of U.S. voters believe the average member of the Tea Party movement has a better understanding of the issues facing America today than the average member of Congress. Only 30% believe that those in Congress have a better understanding of the key issues facing the nation.
When it comes to those issues, 47% think that their own political views are closer to those of the average Tea Party member than to the views of the average member of Congress. On this point, 26% feel closer to Congress.
Finally, 46% of voters say that the average Tea Party member is more ethical than the average member of Congress. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say that the average member of Congress is more ethical.
As you would expect, there is a wide divide between the Political Class and Mainstream Americans on these questions. Seventy-five percent (75%) of those in the Political Class say that members of Congress are better informed on the issues. Among Mainstream Americans, 68% have the opposite view, and only 16% believe Congress is better informed.
By a 62% to 12% margin, Mainstream Americans say the Tea Party is closer to their views. By a 90% to one percent (1%) margin, the Political Class feels closer to Congress.
>Commentary: Yesterday’s 5-year note auction was a bust – which is making investors extremely skittish as Uncle Sam returns to the credit markets this afternoon looking to borrow $32 billion in the form of 7-year notes. The unbridled wave of federal spending is beginning to create anxiety and uncertainty among global investors about Uncle Sam’s long-term ability to service his ballooning mountain of debt. Sensitivity levels are particular high as the debt crisis spasms of Greece and Portugal produce financial headlines around the world. The current credit market environment will make it particularly difficult for the Treasury Department to peddle today’s $32 billion stack of 7-year notes without a substantial “mark-down” in the price of this instrument. If such an event occurs, the upward pressure on mortgage interest rates will not likely abate much today. I’ll post the auction results as soon as possible once the final gavel falls at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Labor Department reported earlier this morning that the number of workers standing in line to file first-time claims for jobless benefits fell 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 442,000 during the week ended March 20th. The four-week moving average of new claims, a process that irons out the week-to-week volatility of the raw data, fell 11,000 to 453,000. The number of people enrolled in the government’s Emergency Unemployment Compensation program fell sharply as well. The employment sector appears to be showing some faint signs of life after lying comatose for the better part of two-years. Even so, until the total number of initial jobless claims falls below 400,000 on a week-over-week basis this data will generally continue to be viewed by most analysts as supportive of the prospects for steady to perhaps fractionally lower rates. Scott Scarpelli [email protected]
>URGENT – Ridgewood Water Boil Water Alert – Update 3/27/2010
EFFECTIVE: Saturday, March 27, 2010, 7:00 pm, and until further notice Residents and Businesses of Glen Rock, Ridgewood, isolated portions of Midland Park and isolated portions of Wyckoff are being notified to CONTINUE TO adhere to the boil water alert as a result of a loss of water pressure in a portion of the water system on Friday, March 26th. UPDATE
to the BOIL WATER ALERT
EFFECTIVE: Saturday, March 27, 2010, 7:00 pm, and until further notice
Residents and Businesses of Glen Rock, Ridgewood, isolated portions of Midland Park (see description at the bottom of this notice) and isolated portions of Wyckoff (see description at the bottom of this notice) are being notified to CONTINUE TO adhere to the boil water alert as a result of a loss of water pressure in a portion of the water system on Friday, March 26th.
Samples were taken at numerous locations throughout the potentially affected portion of the system on Friday. Analysis of these samples takes 24 hours to fully provide results. Some of the results show indications of potential concern and are prompting Ridgewood Water and State Officials to continue the Boil Water Alert as a safe guard to public health and safety. We are collecting additional samples to mitigate our concerns.
It is anticipated that we will have results of this second round of samples late in the day on Sunday and be able to provide another update before 10 pm.
In the meantime, the Boil Water Alert remains in effect.
Many people have had the following questions/concerns:
Can dishes be washed in a dishwasher? Yes, and as a safeguard, rinse them with bottled or boiled water.
Bathing, showering, and clothes washing can continue as normal.
Notice was given by Reverse 911. It is understood that many people did not get the message directly and we will be reviewing the system to understand the situation and rectify any issues.
When conditions are acceptable, the Boil Water Alert will be rescinded. Expect a Reverse 911 call or check the Village Web-site for details after 9:00 pm, Sunday.
We appreciate your understanding and patience with this situation and apologize for its inconveniences.
MIDLAND PARK AND WYCKOFF
The ISOLATED PORTION OF MIDLAND PARK that is affected – Goffle Road, Lake Avenue and Maltbie Avenue.
The ISOLATED PORTION OF WYCKOFF that is affected – Bush La, Goffle Rd, Hopper Ave, Ravine Court, and Ravine Avenue (between Hopper Ave and Goffle Rd).
As always Ridgewood Water has zero communication with any customers even though they issued a boil water alert for all of ridgewood. Please pass the word so no residents get sick from drinking contaminated water!
Personal income in 42 states fell in 2009, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
Nevada’s 4.8% plunge was the steepest, as construction and tourism industries took a beating. Also hit hard: Wyoming, where incomes fell 3.9%.
Incomes stayed flat in two states and rose in six and the District of Columbia. West Virginia had the best showing with a 2.1% increase. In Maine, Kentucky and Hawaii, increased government benefits, such as unemployment insurance and Social Security, offset drops in earnings and property values.
Nationally, personal income from wages, dividends, rent, retirement plans and government benefits declined 1.7% last year, unadjusted for inflation. One bright spot: As the economy recovered, personal income was up in all 50 states in the fourth quarter compared with the third. Connecticut, again, had the highest per capita income of the 50 states at $54,397 in 2009. Mississippi ranked lowest at $30,103.
