Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor GURBIR S. GREWAL announced animal cruelty charges brought against JESUS GABRIEL VALENTIN RIVERA (DOB: 6/22/81, single; and unemployed) of 3812 Pinehurst Drive, Deltona, Florida, VANESSA MILLAN (DOB: 05/04/86, single; and unemployed) of 650 Kenwick Circle, Apt#102, Casselberry, Florida, and ELAINE RAMOS (DOB: 7/13/90, single; and unemployed) of 263 Rose Petal Place, Altamonte Springs, Florida. The charges are the result of an investigation led by members of the Bergen County Prosecutorās Office Animal Cruelty Task Force under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
On Saturday, August 19, 2017, the Animal Cruelty Task Force received information about a suspicious van in the parking lot of a store in Garfield. Task Force members, assisted by the Garfield Police Department, approached the van, which was occupied by VALENTIN RIVERA, MILLAN and RAMOS and discovered 26 English and French bulldog puppies. The dogs were contained within two cages and one cooler, all of which were feces-littered. One of the cages housed thirteen of the puppies. The temperature in Garfield that day was 90 degrees, and the puppies had no access to water.
On August 19, 2017, VALENTIN RIVERA, MILLAN and RAMOS were each charged with 26 counts of Animal Cruelty in violation of N.J.S.A. 4:22-17(a)(3), a disorderly personās offense. The defendants were charged on summonses and their court date is scheduled for October 3, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. before the Honorable Louis J. Dinice, J.M.C. in Central Municipal Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would also like to thank the Animal Cruelty Task Force and the Garfield Police Department for their investigation.
Ridgewood NJ, how quickly they forget, in his recent letter to the editor , “Will Ridgewood ever build a garage?” ( https://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/readers/2017/09/28/letter-ridgewood-ever-build-garage/712949001/ ), Councilmen Jeff Voigt Ā continues his efforts to undermine the current council . In the piece Voigt claims ,”One of the initiatives important to Ridgewood council members elected last year is to build a garage on Hudson Street” . Interesting because Voigt ran for office on a “no garage” platform.
The entire letter is once again an effort by Voigt and his small band of “developer owned ,pave over Ridgewood at all cost types ” , to blame the current mayor for all the stupid things done by the previous administration, “the 3 Amigos” . “The mess they created will take years to clean up and a lot of hard work if the Village is not to join the growing list of ” Most White Trash Cities In New Jersey ” ( https://theridgewoodblog.net/website-rolls-out-list-of-10-most-white-trash-cities-in-new-jersey/ ).
The letter like Councilmen Voigt’s Ā behavior on the Dais is a bit convoluted , in one instance he argues to proceed with the garage and on the other he says there is no information on the project and the voters have a right to know . Interesting didn’t that same councilmen try to stop residents from accessing his emails thru OPRA requests ?
Perhaps the councilmen would read the Ridgewood blog more thoroughly Ā in order to get better informed as to the comings and going in the Village of Ridgewood.
Trenton NJ,Ā Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that the Attorney Generalās Office and its state and federal partners have charged 100 criminal defendants in their unprecedented collaborative efforts to root out fraud in disaster relief programs following Superstorm Sandy. Four new defendants were charged yesterday with filing fraudulent applications for federal relief funds related to Sandy, bringing the total charged by the Attorney Generalās Office with this type of fraud to 100.
āCharging 100 defendants in these relief-fraud cases is a sad milestone in that it highlights how many people are willing, in the face of a historic disaster, to dishonestly exploit an offer of aid meant for those who were hardest hit,ā said Attorney General Porrino. āAt the same time, weāre proud of our collaborative efforts, which have recovered millions of dollars and sent an unmistakable message that those who commit this fraud will face serious criminal charges, now and during any future disasters. The 100 defendants we have charged were responsible for diverting nearly $6 million in relief funds.ā
The Attorney Generalās Office is continuing its aggressive efforts to investigate fraud in Sandy relief programs, working jointly with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and the Offices of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Also assisting the taskforce is the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, New Jersey Department of the Treasury Office of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the non-profit National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
The defendants are alleged, in most cases, to have filed fraudulent applications for relief funds offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In many cases, they also applied for funds from a Sandy relief program funded by HUD, low-interest disaster loans from the SBA, or funds from HHS. The HUD funds are administered in New Jersey by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the HHS funds are administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
The following defendants were charged yesterday by complaint-summons:
Michael A. Avena, 65, of Wyckoff, N.J., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP), the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program, and the Sandy Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP). As a result, he allegedly received approximately $201,861 in relief funds to which he was not entitled. Avena allegedly falsely claimed in his applications that a home he owns on 5th Avenue in Ortley Beach, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was his primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, his primary residence at the time of the storm was in Wyckoff and the home in Ortley Beach was a vacation home. As a result of the alleged fraudulent applications, Avena received $31,900 from FEMA, a $10,000 RSP grant, RREM grant funds totaling $150,000, and $9,961 in SHRAP funds. Avena is charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
Charles Tuohy, 55, and his wife, Joanne Benzoni, 64, of Tenafly, N.J., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and state grants under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP) and the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program. As a result, the couple allegedly received $162,270 in relief funds to which they were not entitled. Tuohy and Benzoni allegedly falsely claimed in their applications that a home Benzoni owns on Lynn Ann Lane in Manahawkin, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was their primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, their primary residence at the time of the storm was in Tenafly and the home in Manahawkin was a seasonal/weekend home. As a result of the alleged fraudulent applications, Tuohy and Benzoni received $2,270 from FEMA, a $10,000 RSP grant, and $150,000 in RREM grant funds. Tuohy and Benzoni are charged with second-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
Paula Belotta, 56, of Colonia, N.J., allegedly filed fraudulent applications following Superstorm Sandy for FEMA assistance and a state grant under the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP). As a result, she allegedly received $12,270 in relief funds to which she was not entitled. Belotta allegedly falsely claimed in her applications that a home she owns on Fielder Avenue in Ortley Beach, N.J., which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, was her primary residence when Sandy struck. It is alleged that, in fact, her primary residence at the time of the storm was in Colonia and the home in Ortley Beach was a seasonal/weekend home. As a result of the alleged false applications, Belotta received $2,270 from FEMA and a $10,000 RSP grant. Belotta is charged with third-degree theft by deception and fourth-degree unsworn falsification.
āOur unprecedented collaborative efforts to target Sandy relief fraud have been highly productive, as evidenced by the 100 defendants weāve charged,ā said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. āThe payoff from this anti-fraud program is not only the millions of dollars we are recovering, but also the deterrent message we hammer home each time new charges are filed. Thanks to these efforts, relief administrators in future disasters may be able to spend less time policing fraud, which is a drain on resources and a distraction from the vital task of aiding those in need.ā
āThe Stateās continued vigilance against Sandy fraud demonstrates that we wonāt stand for this reprehensible behavior,ā said DCA Commissioner Charles A. Richman. āAs such, my Department remains as committed as ever to working with our law enforcement partners to catch anyone who misuses our Sandy recovery programs.ā
The new cases were investigated by detectives of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and special agents and inspectors of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, HUD Office of Inspector General, SBA Office of Inspector General, HHS Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The National Insurance Crime Bureau assisted. Deputy Attorneys General Peter Gallagher, Valerie Noto, and Denise Grugan are prosecuting the new defendants under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Monahan, Chief of the Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, and Deputy Attorney General Mark Kurzawa, Deputy Bureau Chief. Lt. David Nolan and Sgt. Fred Weidman conducted and coordinated the investigations for the Division of Criminal Justice, with others, including Special Civil Investigators Rita Binn and James Parolski.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to$150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000. The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
On Oct. 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit New Jersey, resulting in an unprecedented level of damage. Almost immediately, the affected areas were declared federal disaster areas, making residents eligible for FEMA relief. FEMA grants are provided to repair damaged homes and replace personal property. In addition, rental assistance grants are available for impacted homeowners. FEMA allocates up to $31,900 per applicant for federal disasters. To qualify for FEMA relief, applicants must affirm that the damaged property was their primary residence at the time of the storm.
In addition to the FEMA relief funds, HUD allocated $16 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for storm victims on the East Coast. New Jersey received $2.3 billion in CDBG funds for housing-related programs, including $215 million that was allocated for the Homeowner Resettlement Program (RSP) and $1.1 billion that was allocated for the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program. Under RSP, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is disbursing grants of $10,000 to encourage homeowners affected by Sandy to remain in the nine counties most seriously impacted by the storm: Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties. The RREM Program, which is the stateās largest housing recovery program, provides grants to Sandy-impacted homeowners to cover rebuilding costs up to $150,000 that are not funded by insurance, FEMA, SBA loans, or other sources.
The Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and most private nonprofit organizations. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Homeowners may apply for a loan of up to $200,000 to replace or repair their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition. Secondary homes or vacation properties are not eligible for these loans, but qualified rental properties may be eligible for assistance under the business loan program.
The Disaster Relief Act provided HHS approximately $760 million in funding for Sandy victims. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) received approximately $577 million in Sandy funding through three grant programs, including the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program, which received nearly $475 million to help five states (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maryland). New Jersey received over $226 million for a wide range of social services directly related to the disaster. New Jersey used SSBG funds to develop the Sandy Homeowner/Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP) to assist individuals/families with expenses for housing and other related needs.
Ridgewood Water to upgrade infrastructure piping at 4 Stream Crossings in the Village of Ridgewood
Ridgewood Water announced that the contract to upgrade infrastructure water piping at 4 stream locations has been awarded to Fred Devenās Construction Company. Ā The project will be managed by Consulting Engineer, Mott MacDonald.
Construction activities have been underway at the East Ridgewood Avenue stream crossing. Ā The casing pipe and water main pipe have been installed across the streambed. Ā Final piping, testing and tie-inās will be completed in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, Devenās Construction is anticipating mobilizing to the North Irving Street stream crossing on or about Monday, October 2nd. Ā Construction activities will include setting up temporary barriers for pedestrian traffic, moving equipment and materials on site followed-up by sheet piling of stream bed and construction of the new water main. Ā We anticipate approximately 6 weeks for completion of the North Irving Street stream crossing barring any unforeseen conditions.
Fred Devens will be coordinating with the Ridgewood police who will be directing traffic around work areas on an as needed basis. Ā Expected work hours will be Monday through Friday, 7am – 5:30pm, weather permitting.
Ridgewood Water appreciates the patience of our residents while performing this important work as part of our ongoing commitment in upgrading our water system.
Sincerely,
Ridgewood Water
205 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ. 07451
Ph: 201-670-5524
Ridgewood NJ, Three (3) passenger vehicles parked in the driveway of a single family home located on Richards Road in Ridgewood were literally wrecked late Thursday evening, 09/28, when a massive oak tree fell onto them. Ridgewood Police and Fire department responded to the incident. Ridgewood Fire department personnel spread absorbent material under the vehicles to contain leaking motor oil. The tree narrowly missed hitting the nearby home.
Putting aside all of the time wasted on pseudo-science feel good social engineering (bike path to nowhere, garbage tree, gay flag week, Bee City, village wide 25mph speed limit to name a fewā¦)
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and putting aside the obvious irony of a move to ban plastic bags (which have little to no impact in Ridgewood) to save the earth while supporting other large impact projects (like the Ginormous Garage and Multi-unit Low Income Housing) which will greatly impact Ridgewood environmentally (and otherwise)
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it is telling that the REAC to show support for their proposed plastic bag ban quoted a Wired magazine article whoās Title is:
āBanning Plastic Bags Is Great for the World, Right? Not So Fastā
Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/06/banning-plastic-bags-great-world-right-not-fast/
This article concludes that āThe larger takeaway is that no bag is free of environmental impactā¦ stating that paper, plastic and even reusable bags all have pros and cons as it relates to the environment.
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Wired ALSO ran another article which was PRO plastic bag āThrowing This Out Here: Plastic Bags Are Amazing and You Should Appreciate Them Moreā
Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/01/plastic-bags/
This article concluded that āIn the grand scheme of environmental problems, ubiquitous plastic bags do not rank that highā¦ā and āPlastic bags may be symbolic of everything bad in our consumerist culture,ā¦ā
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SOā¦ it looks like (AGAIN) that the REAC and the increasingly disappointing and useless Village Council is trafficking in feel good social engineering which will only harm and inconvenience Ridgewood residents while making no positive contribution to society other than having yet another hashtag cause to trumpet on social media
Ridgewood NJ, if you are opposed to COAH/Fair Share Housing in NJ? Being overrun with developers taking advantage of its unfair, unconstitutional formula? Express your protest at the voting booth on Election Day! One of its major funders is the Philip and Tammy Murphy Family Foundation and, as we know, Phil Murphy is the Democratic nominee for NJ Governor.
FOUNDATIONS
Bridge of Books Foundation
David L. Kirp Fund
Eustace Foundation…
Lauren Rose Albert Foundation
NJ SIM Foundation
100 Who Care
Pennsylvania Automotive Association Foundation
*Philip and Tammy Murphy Family Foundation*
Robert P. Kelly Family Foundation
Siegel Family Fund (a donor-advised fund of USAA Giving Fund)
Walsh Family Fund of the Community Foundation of NJ
Washington DC, The U.S. economy grew at a faster pace than previously estimated in the second quarter, recording its quickest growth in more than two years.
Gross domestic product (GDP) increased at a 3.1 percent annual rate in the April-June period, the Commerce Department said in its third estimate on Thursday. The upward revision from the 3.0 percent pace of growth reported last month reflected an increase in inventory investment.
Growth last quarter was the fastest since the first quarter of 2015 and followed a 1.2 percent pace of growth in the January-March period. Economists had expected that second-quarter GDP growth would be unrevised at a 3.0 percent rate.
Rebuilding in Texas after Hurricane Harvey is expected to boost growth in the fourth quarter and in early 2018. Growth estimates for the July-September period are just above a 2.2 percent pace.
With GDP accelerating in the second quarter, the economy grew 2.1 percent in the first half of 2017.
President Trump on Wednesday proposed the biggest U.S. tax overhaul in three decades, including lowering the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent and implementing a new 25 percent tax rate for pass-through businesses such as partnerships to boost the economy.
Growth in consumer spending, which makes up more than two-thirds of the U.S. economy, was unrevised at a 3.3 percent rate in the second quarter as an increase in spending on services was offset by a downward revision to durable goods outlays. Consumer spending in the second quarter was the fastest in a year.
Amid robust consumer spending, businesses accumulated a bit more inventory than previously reported to meet the strong demand. Inventory investment added just over one-tenth of a percentage point to GDP growth in the second quarter. It was previously reported to have been neutral.
Growth in business spending on equipment was unchanged at a rate of 8.8 percent, the fastest pace in nearly two years.
Investment on nonresidential structures was revised to show it increasing at a 7.0 percent pace, up from the previously reported 6.2 percent rate.
Both export and import growth were revised slightly lower. Trade contributed two-tenths of a percentage point to GDP growth last quarter. Housing was a slightly bigger drag on growth in the last quarter than previously reported, subtracting 0.3 percentage point from output.
Trenton NJ, According to the website Roadsnacks ,these are the places in New Jersey with the most drug-addicted, violent, welfare receiving white populations in the Garden State. The website claims these Are The 10 Most White Trash Cities In New Jersey.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, white trash is defined as:
āA term used broadly to define a person or group of persons whom embody the concepts of ignorance, racism, violence, alcoholism, poverty, and anglo-saxon ancestry. Similarly used with the term ācracker,ā āhillbillyā or āredneckā.ā
The site claims after pouring over data, watching too many fist fights and perusing illiterate Facebook comments, weāve determined these are the most White trash cities in New Jersey:
Roadsnacks used publicly available government data, as well as Google Maps, we were able to collect the data on the following white trash metrics:
Cities where there are lots of white people
Cities where residents are poorer than average
Cities where a high number of residents are high school dropouts
High drug use
Higher than average Payday Loan Outlets and bargain stores
Violent cities (measured in aggravated assaults)
Cities with a high number of residents on welfare
Ridgewood NJ, at last nights Village Council Meeting the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee or REAC, for short proposed a Village wise ban on plastic bags . A seemingly noble cause if their ever was one .
According to Wire magazine , “The adverse impacts of plastic bags are undeniable: When theyāre not piling up in landfills, theyāre blocking storm drains, littering streets, getting stuck in trees, and contaminating oceans, where fish, seabirds, and other marine animals eat them or get tangled up in them. As longtime plastic bag adversary Ian Frazier recently reported in The New Yorker, āIn 2014, plastic grocery bags were the seventh most common item collected during the Ocean Conservancyās International Coastal Cleanup, behind smaller debris such as cigarette butts, plastic straws, and bottle caps.ā The New York City Sanitation Department collects more than 1,700 tons of single-use carry-out bags every week, and has to spend $12.5 million a year to dispose of them.”https://www.wired.com/2016/06/banning-plastic-bags-great-world-right-not-fast/
But here is the rub, according again to Wire ,”advocates of these laws and journalists who cover the issue often neglect to ask what will replace plastic bags and what the environmental impact of that replacement will be. People still need bags to bring home their groceries. And the most common substitute, paper bags, may be just as bad or worse, depending on the environmental problem youāre most concerned about.”
So we are going to replace plastic bags with reusable Ā bags , made from plastic ? Not really sure that is a good long term trade off ? And what about recycled plasticĀ ,does it work?
Brandon Kuczenski lays out the obvious case : “It depends on what you mean by helping. Ā And what you mean by recycling. Ā In some cases there is a clear benefit. Ā With metals, it almost always makes sense to recycle because mining and benefication of primary metals is energy intensive. Ā For instance, making primary aluminum from bauxite requires tremendous electricity consumption.. the energy savings from using recycled aluminum is a factor of 10-15. Ā slam dunk. Ā Steel is very easy to recycle and is very commonly recycled throughout the world. Ā Copper is in increasingly high demand for recycling because worldwide copper mining yields are bottoming out and as a result, copper mining is very expensive.
Plastics are a bit more uncertain, but that is largely because of the sloppy way Americans handle their plastics than any technical limitations. Ā Recycling HDPE (milk gallons) or PET (soda / water bottles) is well-established and mature, and there are modest energy savings to using recycled over primary materials in both cases (yes, even when including the impacts from “driving all those trucks around”). Ā However, other plastics- even HDPE and PET from non-bottle product systems- are not presently recycled in a meaningful sense. Ā They may be made into park benches or doorstops or things of that nature, but it is much harder to argue convincingly that they provide benefits. Ā The reason for this is that different plastics have different chemical compositions, so plastics recycling requires a pure material stream. Ā People who might otherwise make money from recycling Ā plastic have decided that the waste stream generated by American Ā consumers is too contaminated to be of value. Ā In places where recyclables are handled more carefully, sorted by the consumer and Ā cleaned of other materials, this may not be the case.” https://www.quora.com/Does-recycling-really-help-the-environment.
The REAC looking to conduct a study as to the impact to the Village . The Political Correct environment allows little or no dissent or questioning the status quo wisdom. But will it really impact the environment in the Village?
Councilmen Jeff Voigt was on board no questions asked. Councilmen Hach was a big concerned on the impact on merchants.Ā The Mayor was concerned , and the REAC ladies continued to voice support for a ban .
A lot of unanswered question and a lot of unintended consequences seem just over the horizon with a bag ban . The blog would prefer the ladies at the REAC stick to more pressing local issues , like the ecological disaster a turf field presents especially when its placed in a flood zone . While obviously we need to balance recreational time and logistics perhaps more thoughtful long term solutions can be found minimizing the down side .
Ridgewood NJ,at the Village Councill session of Wednesday nightĀ Eagle Scout Tyler Hansen presented his Raptor Nest placement project to the council. The project took 85 hours of work and took 12 volunteers from troop 5. Locations around the Village were chosen because they were good for the birds.Ā There will be 4 prime locations and some back ups, of which the nests will be 12 – 20 feet off the ground . The Eagle Scouts are working hand in hand with the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation .
Locations are 20 pound, Maple field by the river, the Stable by the river, Maple field by the garden , Vets field south of the foot bridge , Stevens field by the river , and Ā Somerville walkway .
Raptors are birds of prey and eat mice, rabbits, squirrels and other rodents .
So What’s a Raptor? Rap-tor (rap’-tÉr) n.
[Latin, from rapere, to seize]Any of various birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, falcons and owls, distinguished by strong hooked beaks and taloned feet.
Raptors are an important part of nature’s intricate system of checks and balances. Ā They help maintain stability in the living world, and it is important to preserve them for their biological significance alone. Ā Furthermore, they are beautiful and intriguing creatures, the epitome of wildness and freedom; their very existence adds quality to our lives. Ā (https://theraptortrust.org/the-birds/whats-a-raptor/)
Saddle River NJ, the Borough of Saddle River has decided to take action against the aggressive coyotes in order to assure the safety of residents . The Mayor and council went as far as to approve the use of lethal force on the September 18th council meeting and created a taskforce , Emergency Mayorās Coyote Management Task Force Ā ,to recommend recommending long term solutions.
Here is the Mayor Albert J. Kurpis letter to residents
We have a Coyote Problem in Saddle River
An Update from your Mayor, 9/26/2017
As many of you have become aware, Saddle River is faced with a coyote problem. Over the past several years, our resident deer population has risen out of control, and it is believed that coyotes may be natural predators for these deer.
According to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, coyotes are usually not a threat to humans as they are lone hunters preying upon small animals, fawns and weak or dead deer. Ā However, with the overpopulation of coyotes in the borough, they are now forming family groups in which they hunt for food and share their prey. Ā They are clearly becoming a threat to our pets and potentially to adults and children. With the maturation of the pups of the last coyote litter season, these animals have become much more aggressive and now pose a real threat to humans, never seen before in our community. We will no longer tolerate this threat to our families and to our safety.
At the recent Mayor and Council meeting of September 18, 2017, the governing body approved a resolution allowing the police to use lethal force within the confines of the law to cull any and all aggressive coyote encounters. These actions will have to be supplemented by a long term strategy to radically reduce our coyote population.
I convened an Emergency Mayorās Coyote Management Task Force on September 22, 2017, consisting of the Boroughās most important public safety personnel (listed below). We have developed a strategy to significantly reduce the coyote population over the next several months.
The Task Force will also be advising and recommending long term solutions to the Mayor and Council for implementation. In order for me to disseminate accurate and up-to-date information to you, the residents, I will be relying upon my Task Force to accumulate all data and information and to keep me abreast of their findings.
I want you to know that your local government is responding to your concerns and coyote population reduction has already begun. Implementation of a short and long term plan for controlling our deer population will be approved by the Mayor and Council within the next 60 90 days.
During a Special Public Meeting of theĀ Ridgewood Village Council held on Wednesday, September 27, CouncilĀ members approved Resolution #17-291, “Central Valet Pilot Program in Central Business District” by a 4-0 vote (Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh was absent).
Key components/highlights of the centralized “pilot” valet parkingĀ program are:
TheĀ “pilot” program will be in operation beginning on Friday,Ā October 6, and end on Saturday,Ā December 30.
Establishments currently operating private valet parking services (e.g., Park West Tavern) may continue to do so during the “pilot” period.
Central valet parking service will be availableĀ everyĀ Friday and Saturday eveningĀ from 6:00 PM through 1:00 AM the following morning.
Two (2) drop off/pick up locations will be in operation – 1.Ā Van Neste Square southboundĀ opposite the bus terminal and 2.Ā East Ridgewood Avenue just west of North Broad Street (the “hole”).
Service charge of $5.00Ā per vehicleĀ (some establishments may choose toĀ “validate” patrons’ centralĀ valetĀ parking charges).
Central valet parking service provider has been contracted by the Village of Ridgewood; totalĀ costs for “pilot” program, being paid for by Village taxpayers, will not exceed $36K (taxpayers’Ā costs will be offset by valetĀ parkingĀ fees collected).Ā Ā Unofficial reports are that the central valet provider must process a minimum of 250 vehicles per evening throughout the “pilot” programĀ in order for Village taxpayers to “break even.
“Vehicles entrusted to theĀ centralĀ valet provider will be parked at oneĀ of threeĀ Village owned properties – 1.Ā Ā Van Neste Square northbound (immediately adjacent to Van Neste Memoral Park),Ā @.Ā Ā The “hole” (far west end of East Ridgewood Avenue immediately adjacent to the train station), andĀ 3.Ā North Walnut Street Municipal Parking Lot (portion of lot immediately adjacent to the former Town Garage).
NOTE:Ā Ā A total of approximately 90 metered parking spaces (currently providingĀ free parking beginning at 6:00 PM, Monday through Saturday) will be removed from the “self parking”Ā inventory” every Friday and Saturday eveningĀ to facilitate the central valet service (see locations above).Ā Police will be instructed to prohibit selfĀ parking in the three (3)Ā aforementioned centralĀ valet parking areas beginning at 4:30 PMĀ on Fridays and Saturdays during the “pilot” program period.Ā Violators will be ticketed andĀ towed.
Despite viral email, there is no new cell phone Do Not Call database.
September 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, According to the Ridgewood Police department ,consumers may place their cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to notify marketers that they don’t want to get unsolicited telemarketing calls.
The truth about cell phones and the Do Not Call Registry is:
The government is not releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketers.
There is no deadline for registering a cell phone number on the Do Not Call Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers without prior consent. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers’ cell phones without their consent.
There is only one Do Not Call Registry, operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with information available at donotcall.gov. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The Do Not Call Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. To register by telephone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You must call from the phone number that you want to register. To register online (donotcall.gov), you will have to respond to a confirmation email.
If you have registered a mobile or other telephone number already, you don’t need to re-register. Once registered, a telephone number stays on the Do Not Call Registry until the registration is canceled or service for the number is discontinued.
Paramus NJ, A two (2) vehicle Wednesday afternoon, 09/27, collision in front of Bergen Community College’s Paramus campus sent an SUV careening off of the roadway, narrowly missing a bus shelter, and toppling a traffic light before coming to a stop. One (1) occupant of the vehicle was trapped inside, which required members of the Paramus Rescue Squad to use the “Jaws of Life” to free her/him. The injured person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Paramus Road northbound was temporarily closed at the College’s entrance due to the crash. Both vehicles were removed by flatbed tow trucks. Paramus Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the incident also.
