I am not sure what you are arguing here? Chestnut Village and the one discussed here (KS broad street) are zoned Ridge. Dayton (down Broad) is zoned Orchard and the Enclave on Maple is zoned Sommerville. That said, the district has said it has the power to redistrict at any point.
The town has not cared about the chaos at Ridge for as long as I have lived here…done nothing about it….all of a sudden 80 new apartments is hardly going to cause anyone to care.??.
you are wrong and you bought into the fake arguments raised by Arohson, Pucciarli and the developers. Yes, we have requirements, but no, we did not need to line Saraceno’s and the other developer’s pockets in order to address these issues.
We were sold up the river, pure and simple, by a mean spirited and self-serving duo of public officials – – remember, they voted to make these projects the law as they were leaving office. They are carpetbaggers who have no place in our Village life.
We have now entered a new phase for life in Ridgewood thanks to the duplicitous duo. And we need to be ready for it. We are now going to much more like New Brunswick than a Ho-Ho-Kus or Glen Rock. We need to work hard to maintain the value of our properties, our schools and other public services as we deal with an influx of people that will totally drain our infrastructure.
Regrettably, it is not clear what the “new” council is doing to address and deal with the issues that lay ahead. Attention must now be focused on bringing them into focus, but as others on this thread have said, that ain’t going to happen if we all stay home and silent..
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
June 29,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police issued three (3) summonses in connection with a Wednesday afternoon, 06/28, single vehicle crash at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Kensington Drive, Ridgewood. The adult female driver of a VW station wagon reportedly mistook a pedestrian sidewalk for a roadway and ran head on into a street sign and tree. No injuries were reported by the driver, who was the lone vehicle occupant. A flatbed tow truck removed the wrecked vehicle from the scene. The question now arises under the new shade tree policy who pays if the tree is lost?
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
June 29,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Approximately 50 gallons of cooking oil spilled into a Village of Ridgewood municipal parking lot on Wednesday morning, 06/28. Officials from the Village’s Health, Police, Fire, Engineering, and Sanitation departments responded to investigate the incident. Fire department personnel applied an absorbent material to the affected surface areas and a private contractor was called to undertake a thorough clean up process. It is believed that 55 gallon drum containing the cooking oil was inadvertently knocked over by a refuse removal contractor trying to access a nearby garbage dumpster.
June 29,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood residents have a tradition of their own, they start setting out chairs along the Fourth of July Parade route on North Maple Avenue as early as this weekend.
The placing of chairs along the parade route is a village tradition dating back over 50 years. While we do get complainers generally is a lot of fun and often a bit competitive over spots .
The Police leave the chairs alone and some people tie up their , to keep them together and from blowing out into the street.
Normally by July 3, most of the parade route for this year’s the 107th annual Ridgewood Fourth of July Parade will be lined from beginning to end with chairs.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. July 4, and the theme of the 2017 Fourth of July Celebration is “Honoring Those Who Serve.”
JUNE 27, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wants to force the state’s largest health insurance company to dole out $300 million for a drug addiction treatment program for the poor, an egregious cash grab that media outlets call a “shake down” and “extortion.” Judicial Watch has launched an investigation into the Republican governor’s outrageous targeting of a nonprofit healthcare provider, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, that functions as a tax-paying health services corporation with nearly 4 million policyholders.
Here’s some background before getting into the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request filed by Judicial Watch last week; months ago, Christie launched a peculiar campaign to dig into Horizon’s multi-billion-dollar surplus to fund addiction programs as part of an effort to crack down on the state’s opioid epidemic. The unusual plan has encountered fierce opposition from a multitude of sources, including Democrats and Republicans, not to mention Horizon and the insurance industry in general. Christie has kept pushing, insisting that legislation be introduced to force Horizon to fund his dubious addiction experiment. A local newspaper reported that New Jersey Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto refuses to support such a measure, calling it a “bad bill”
The same newspaper article said that “Christie’s push to get some money from Horizon included a news conference on Wednesday to spotlight $15.5 million in citations against Horizon over its Medicaid contract compliance with the state, which the governor says predates his effort to use their surplus. He said the citations show that his proposal, which also includes adding board members and requiring the insurer to post information online, is needed.” However, Christie refused to reveal the citations and when the media tried to obtain them through the Open Public Records Act, the governor’s office asserted that “contractual obligations” prevented the release of the documents. Information involving the mysterious multi-million-dollar fine levied against Horizon is among the records Judicial Watch has requested from the Office of the Governor.
When disclosing the citations didn’t work, Christie threatened to withhold school funding unless state lawmakers pushed through legislation giving him $300 million from Horizon and power to add four political appointees to its board of directors. A local news report said Christie threw “an 11th-hour grenade” into state budget negotiations and called his Horizon cash grab a “raid.” This week a state Senate committee voted to allow the governor to control how much surplus Horizon may keep. “The state could require this extraordinary amount of control because Horizon’s charter would be changed to say it “shall have a charitable mission … to fulfill its obligation as an insurer of last resort in this state,” a local newspaper article states. The Assembly would still have to approve the measure and that seems unlikely according to the speaker’s public comments.
Many wonder what is really driving this issue for Christie. Why is the governor hitting a nonprofit healthcare provider with an excellent rating and modest reserves? Sources with firsthand knowledge of the situation tell Judicial Watch that the real story involves New Jersey insurance magnate George E. Norcross, who is chairman of the board of Cooper University Hospital in Camden and owns a piece of AmeriHealth, a small money-losing New Jersey insurer. Norcross is also Executive Chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, one of the nation’s premier insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. He’s been trying to force Horizon to buy the ailing AmeriHealth firm, sources tell Judicial Watch, but Horizon has refused. Christie’s former chief of staff, Kevin O’Dowd, works for Norcross at Cooper University Hospital. His official title is senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer. Judicial Watch’s public-records request asks for all communications between Christie, his current chief of staff, Amy Cradic, Norcross and O’Dowd concerning Horizon from June 2016 to date. This includes records regarding, concerning, or related to the following: The activities, operations, and/or management of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Inc; The activities, operations, and/or management of AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey, Inc; The activities, operations, and/or management of Cooper University Hospital and/or Cooper University Health Care; The activities, operations, and/or management of Conner Strong & Buckelew; The $15.5 million fine recently levied against Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Inc; Any proposed legislative or regulatory changes that would significantly impact Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Inc.’s operations. This includes, but is not limited to, the proposals to alter the composition of the company’s board of directors and to reallocate a portion of the company’s financial reserves for public use.
BY: Madeleine Weast
June 27, 2017 11:34 am
The seven least patriotic states voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, according to a new study released on Tuesday.
New Jersey was ranked the least patriotic state, followed by Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, and California, according to a report fromWalletHub.
Each of these seven least patriotic states voted for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016.
States were graded on a 100-point scale stemming from data comparing 13 key indicators of patriotism based on military and civic engagement. A score of 100 would represent the highest level of patriotism.
The data factored in military enlistees, active-duty military personnel, veterans, and share of adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election.
https://freebeacon.com/politics/report-least-patriotic-states-voted-hillary-clinton/
JOHN REITMEYER | JUNE 28, 2017
Executives are perturbed about New Jersey’s high taxes and the state government’s approach to business
New Jersey’s top business leaders are optimistic about the direction that the national economy is heading in this year, but as the state gets ready to elect a new governor, they are more cautious about New Jersey’s own immediate economic future.
The results of a new survey released yesterday by Rutgers University’s Real Estate and Policy Research Consortium revealed that enthusiasm among the state’s top business leaders has returned to the levels measured before the onset of the Great Recession in 2007, with 60 percent expecting some improvement in the national economy over the next 12 months.
At the same time, the survey found the executives still have concerns about New Jersey’s high taxes and state government’s handling of business policies, with nearly 50 percent saying they expect the state’s economic conditions to only remain about the same over the next year.
The results of the survey, outlined yesterday during a conference held at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in New Brunswick, emerge as New Jersey remains locked in a pattern of slow growth in the wake of the recession, which officially ended in 2009. New Jersey only recently added back all of the private-sector jobs that were lost to the recession as the annual rate of growth here has trailed that of the national economy, while the federal job losses were all recovered in 2014.
BY BRIAN HICKEY
PhillyVoice Staff
There are a few ways to look at the “2017’s Most Patriotic States in America” study released by WalletHub on Tuesday.
One would be to frame it as an edict that the “least patriotic states voted for Hillary Clinton” as a conservative outlet did a few hours ago.
That’s all well and good, I suppose.
I choose, however, to see how Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey fared.
This isn’t to make a point about a Pennsylvania that voted for Donald Trump or a New Jersey that’s led by highly unpopular Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
It’s all about proximity. And, quite frankly, the results are disappointing.
Not only are all three in the bottom 10 states when “13 key indicators of patriotism” were tabulated. But, for the second consecutive year, New Jersey is the least patriotic state in all the land.
https://www.phillyvoice.com/study-nj-least-patriotic-state-america-again/
The Socialist Utopia of Vt. , Federal investigators are now looking into the finances behind a real estate deal for a now-defunct college put together by the wife of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Comrade Sanders has confirmed on Monday she has hired a lawyer to look after her interests.
The investigation, first reported by the news website Vtdigger.com, is looking into allegations that Jane O’Meara Sanders made fraudulent claims and promises while seeking $10 million in financing for the real estate deal.
The complaint against Comrade Jane Sanders was filed in early 2016 by attorney Brady Toensing, who served as the Vermont campaign chairman for Donald Trump during his run for president as a Republican. In a separate complaint, Toensing alleged that Bernie Sanders’ senatorial office pressured a bank to approve the loan.
Back in 2010, Comrade Jane Sanders was president of the tiny Burlington College when she brokered a $10 million deal for the college to buy the last undeveloped parcel of land in Burlington on the Lake Champlain waterfront made up of 32 acres overlooking the lake and the 77,000-square-foot former orphanage and administrative offices of Vermont’s Roman Catholic Church, which needed the money to settle a series of priest sex abuse cases.
Then in January 2016, Toensing filed a complaint with the Vermont office of the U.S. attorney and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. He alleged a loan used by the college to buy the land “involved the overstatement and misrepresentation of nearly $2 million … in what were purported to be confirmed contributions and grants to the college.”
June 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Professional Golfer and Ridgewood High School Alum Debbie O’Connell kicked off her new book Golf Positive! Live Positive! at in Ridgewood on Monday night .
Her book launch started Monday night featuring a book signing at Bookends in Ridgewood. Today my launch on Amazon offers Golf Positive! Live Positive! FREE on Kindle. Click here to get your copy https://amzn.to/2thONSy Enjoy!!
“The Mission is to enhance the lives of individuals through positive learning experiences while enhancing golf skills and knowledge. Golf-Positive will use the game of golf as a tool to influence positive results in many facets of life. Experience and enjoy the positive spirit and energy Golf-Positive will illuminate. Join Debbie in her journey as she strives to reach her full potential by helping you to reach yours!”
According to Debbie, it’s nearly impossible to be a negative pessimistic person and have a happy positive life.
You will get what you focus on in life. Pay attention to your thoughts and words and make sure they are positive.
If you want to live a happy positive life be sure your thoughts and words are positive.
It’s important to watch your language! Below find a list of disempowering words and the empowering word you can say and think in its place. If you change your language and your thoughts, your life will be even better!
June 26, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Senate Democrats blocked the consideration of legislation sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) that would offer financial protections to the victims of gender-based wage discrimination.
Senate Democrats voted to table Sen. Jennifer Beck’s legislation offering financial protections to the victims of gender-based wage discrimination. (SenateNJ.com)
Beck attempted to move her legislation, S-2458, that would protect from taxation any awards or settlements related to claims of unlawful gender-based wage discrimination.
“New Jersey has one of the most aggressive, progressive wage discrimination statutes in the nation,” said Beck. “When such discrimination has been resolved, either through a trial or settlement agreement, our State furthers the victim’s mistreatment through aggressive income taxation of damages that have been awarded. I’m disappointed that Senate Democrats voted against the interests of women today.”
Beck’s motion to relieve S-2458 from the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee where it has languished without hearing was immediately tabled by the Senate Democrats in a party-line 21-16 vote.
“It doesn’t help New Jersey women to have strong pay equity laws on the books if we simply allow the compensation for their mistreatment to be taxed away,” added Beck. “Victims deserve every penny they are awarded for their suffering. Senate Democrats should be ashamed for putting the financial interests of the State over the needs of women who have been victimized.”
file photo
June 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The highest percentage of home burglaries happen during the summer months.According to Ooma (www.ooma.com)—a leading DIY home phone and security company—there are 6 basic inexpensive steps homeowners can take to deter and react to break-ins.
**6 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE SAFE FROM BREAK-INS DURING SUMMER TRAVEL**
#1 MIND THE FRONT DOOR
34% of break-ins occur at the front door. Install a smart doorbell that routes to your phone, and use tools like two-way speakers to give visitors the impression someone is home. Also install video cameras and view visitors on your phone, no matter where you are.
#2 WHEN A DOOR CLOSES, MAKE SURE A WINDOW DOESN’T OPEN
23% of break-ins occur through first-floor windows. Use classic sash locks to keep windows locked, and install wireless motion sensors to be alerted if a window is raised.
#3 CHECK YOUR A/C
A popular summertime burglary entry point: pushing in a window A/C unit. Install motion sensors near window A/C units, and consider uninstalling window A/C units if you’re leaving town.
#4 CALL 911 REMOTELY
Knowing someone is breaking into your house doesn’t help if you’re on a beach several hours away—unless you have a way to call 911 to your home’s local emergency dispatchers with a feature such as Ooma’s Remote 911.
#5 BEWARE OF SLIDING DOORS
Sliding doors are another popular entry point, as the locks are generally easy to pick. Install physical barrier bars in the tracks, and set up motion detectors in the vicinity.
#6 KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
Integrate light timers or smart lights that you can control with your phone to make your home look lived-in and deter break-ins.
Ooma Home Security [https://www.ooma.com/home-security/]—the first and only DIY smart home phone service to integrate four security features—offers remote 911, as well as motion, door, window, and water sensors.
Nicholas Katzban , Staff Writer, @NicholasKatzban7:03 p.m. ET June 27, 2017
RIDGEWOOD — The Planning Board approved an application Monday night to build a five-story mixed-use development on the former site of Ken Smith Motors. Though board members and residents alike shared concerns regarding the project’s effects on the village’s downtown, a more than 30-year-old legal battle out of North Brunswick sealed the 6-1 approval.
The project would include 66 residential units, 5,500 square feet of retail and 150 parking spaces, all of which fall well within permitted ratios under the village’s master plan, which forced the hands of several board members, otherwise wary of the plan as submitted.
file photo by Boyd Loving
By Vince Calio, June 27, 2017 at 1:19 PM
Yet another business survey has found that New Jersey has one of the worst tax climates for small businesses, but those numbers may not be telling the whole story.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council’s Small Business Tax Index 2017 ranked all 50 states on how friendly their tax climates are to small businesses. New Jersey finished second to last overall, beating out only California. The result has not changed since the SBE’s survey was done in 2014.
The five states with the friendliest tax climates for small businesses:
1. Nevada;
2. Texas;
3. South Dakota;
4. Wyoming;
5. Washington state.
Conversely, the five states with the worst tax climates:
46. Iowa;
47. Minnesota;
48. Maine;
49. New Jersey;
50. California.
