Nicholas Pugliese , State House Bureau, @nickpugzPublished 1:25 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2017 | Updated 16 hours ago
A spokeswoman for the FBI’s Newark field office said that a “suspicious letter” had been mailed to an Alpine address on Sunday — the day before White House counselor and Alpine resident Kellyanne Conway said that she had been mailed “white substances” at her house and has been assigned Secret Service protection.
“The FBI along with our law enforcement partners responded to a suspicious letter in Alpine, New Jersey” on Sunday, Doreen Holder, the spokeswoman, said on Wednesday.
Hawthorne NJ , No injuries were reported following the rollover crash of a BMW SUV and a Jeep Wrangler at the intersection of Grandview Avenue and Vennik Place in Hawthorne on Wednesday evening, 01/25. Hawthorne PD, Wyckoff PD, and Wyckoff FD units responded to the incident. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by separate flatbed tow trucks.
By Susan K. Livio and Carla Astudillo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on January 25, 2017 at 2:56 PM, updated January 25, 2017 at 7:01 PM
TRENTON — New Jersey’s infamously high property tax bills topped $8,500 per home in 2016, a 2.35 percent increase over the previous year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Department of Community Affairs.
Property owners paid $8,549 — $196 more than they did in 2015 when the average tax bill rose about 2.2 percent, according to the analysis.
The average residential bill has risen from $8,161 in 2014 to $8,353 in 2015 to $8,549 in 2016.
Each year, the average bill set a new high bar for what Garden State property owners
file photo by Boyd Loving HealthBarn® USA Teaches Local Heroes How to Stay Heart Healthy On and Off the Job
January 25, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, The Village of Ridgewood Fire Department is partnering with HealthBarn USA to boost their nutrition literacy and to cook heart healthy variations of some firehouse favorite dinners during interactive workshops. Registered dietitian, Stacey Antine, founder of HealthBarn® USA will educate the local heroes on how to prepare meals that are simple, healthy, delicious and suitable for life at the station and at home from her book, Appetite for Life. The workshops are funded through a FEMA Wellness & Fitness Grant awarded to the Ridgewood Fire Department.
According to a systemic review published in Cardiology Review, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of on-duty death among firefighters (45% of on-duty fatalities) and a major cause of morbidity. These findings suggest that preventive measures with proven benefits be applied aggressively to firefighters. “Getting our team eating better and living healthier overall is a priority,” said James Van Goor, Chief of Ridgewood Fire Department. “Through the FEMA grant we have increased the Department’s level of physical fitness, and now we are focusing on nutrition through a special heart healthy cooking program designed by Stacey and the team at HealthBarn USA.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to share our nutrition and culinary expertise to support the firefighters who do so much for the community,” said Stacey Antine, MS, RDN, founder of HealthBarn USA and author of Appetite for Life. “Through the cooking workshops, the firefighters will be able to meal plan for weekly shifts as well as be able to easily prepare nutritious and hearty recipes for their long-term health.”
The workshops for 35 firefighters will be held in the HealthBarn USA teaching kitchen located at 1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood on January 25, 26, 27, February 16, 28 and March 3, 2017.
Paul Berger , Staff writer, @pdbergerPublished 6:16 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2017 | Updated 14 hours ago
New Jersey motorists are being cheated out of hundreds of millions of dollars of toll revenue that could be reinvested in better bridges and tunnels, according to a new report by a conservative think tank that proposes a radical fix for the dysfunctional public agency charged with keeping the region moving.
The report from the Manhattan Institute says the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey should reinvest the enormous profits from its Hudson River crossings and its airports to improve those facilities, instead of subsidizing money-losing operations such as the PATH rail system and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Struggling facilities should be forced to become self-financing through private-sector partnerships, the report adds.
Given the population decrease in NJ due to people seeking greener pastures (or just a job or lower property taxes) elsewhere, perhaps the answer is not to build additional housing units in Ridgewood to help us meet our COACH obligations, but to find some way to force the price or market valuation of the entire existing housing stock in Ridgewood down far enough in value as that a sufficient number of previously built single family homes in Ridgewood end up falling into the affordable housing category. Why try to build up (because there is no actual room to build out) when you can simply drag down? Perhaps there would be some difficulty in forcing the unfortunate existing owners to sell but, hey, this is New Jersey…we’ll just intimidate them, Soprano’s style, until they see the wisdom of the policy. /s
Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council met on January 25 and there was zero animosity, no explosions from a certain councilman…..it was all pleasant and friendly. Way to go!
A few highlights:
1. Parking space allocations are being changed in order to provide more for commuters/general and fewer for shoppers/diners. Also there will be fewer for CBD employees. The Council is being very responsive to comments and complaints from citizens, and is also responding to direct observation that their initial allocation maps needed to be adjusted.
2. Nancy Green gave a presentation about plans for remodeling the library. Basically she presented a wish-and-hope plan, which included some architectural drawings. She stated that they will work within the existing footprint……although there was a quick mention of “squaring off” the empty space on the northwest corner of the building along the walkway from Maple Avenue (behind the auditorium). Tiered seating in the auditorium was discussed as a possibility. Nothing will happen without approval from the Council. She says this is all very preliminary, but clearly a lot of work has gone into this very preliminary presentation.
3. The Hudson Street lot was discussed. Old plans for garages that fit on the space are being revisited. Maybe two retail stores could be added along S. Broad Street, providing income while just losing 10 spaces. It was emphasized that meter rates would have to go up to maybe $1 an hour in order to help finance any kind of garage. The question was raised as to whether this would discourage people from coming to town. Along this line of discussion, Tony Damiano had announced that several businesses recently closed and he placed full blame on the lack of a garage for the demise of these stores. Really Tony? And one might wonder…..stores are closing, spaces galore are available in Cottage and Walnut…..so why build a garage and add two more stores? Much to consider.
4. Schedler was on the agenda. There is a grant that will enable the removal of the dilapidated shed and garage as well as the removal of trees that are already dead. Failure to use this grant money will result in loss of the grant. A sound study will be conducted prior to the removal of these things, to provide a baseline for sound studies moving forward. Schedler residents urged caution at the microphone, and implored the council to make sure that no live trees are taken down.
5. Speaking of trees, a tree nursery is being planned with trees donated by the State. These will be very tiny saplings that will be potted, and can be planted throughout town as they grow. This is a Girl Scout project.
6. The recently passed short-term rental law was discussed by one or two residents. This “Air-BNB” ruling prohibits the rental of any house or rooms for less than one month. One citizen who spoke has been operating an Air-BNB in her home. She stated that she is a very nice and responsible person, that her tenants are very nice and responsible, and she may not be able to stay in her home now that her income has been cut by 20%. Another citizen stated that this ordinance came “out of the blue.” Mayor Knudsen explained that this issue came up first through the Zoning Board several months ago…..and then some residents made specific complaints about such goings-on in their neighborhoods. The Council looked at the situation, studied what other municipalities are doing, and enacted the ordinance after several public meetings and discussions that were announced and published (you snooze, you lose). Do homeowners have the right to do whatever they please with their own properties? No, they do not.
7. The bylaws review project is getting going. Bylaws of all committees and boards will be reviewed and revised. Some have no bylaws while others have extensive ones. All will now have to follow a set template. Some committees might be eliminated. Council liaisons are to get their respective committee bylaws to their council colleagues by mid-March, and then the review will commence.
8. One resident applauded the new facebook website of the Mayor, as it provides much valuable and timely news. The Mayor stated that soon all five council colleagues will become co-administrators of the page and can add updates from their various committees, etc.
9. An ad-hoc committee worked with Councilmen Sedon and Hache to look at Graydon hours and fees for 2017. A couple of highlights included recommending a family rate (a maximum fee for families of four or maybe five) and a pro-rated discount for buying membership in August. Council members will study the recommendations and discuss at the next meeting.
10. Uber was discussed as was valet parking. These are all mechanisms to help reduce the number of cars occupying parking spots in the heartbeat of the CBD.
11. Councilman Sedon and his son Hunter will both be celebrating birthdays this week, as announced by Mayor Knudsen. Happy Birthday to two fine men!
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water and the Ridgewood League of Women Voters will host a public water forum on Thursday, January 26th, 2017 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Youth Center, Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood
Find out:
• How drought affects supply and demand
• What we do to control contaminants ?
• Why conservation is important
Featured presenters: Richard Calbi, Ridgewood Water Director
David Scheibner, Business Manager
Ridgewood Water customers in Glen Rock, Midland Park, Wyckoff and Ridgewood are welcome.
In contrast to U.S. stocks, most major stock markets around the globe haven’t enjoyed the same postelection bump, and many remain far below their record levels
By
JULIE WERNAU
Updated Jan. 25, 2017 5:02 p.m. ET
Donald Trump never promised to make the rest of the world great again.
U.S. stock markets have rallied since the president’s victory more than two months ago, rising on improved economic data and hopes Mr. Trump can stimulate the economy with tax cuts and infrastructure spending while rolling back regulations.
But most major stock markets around the globe haven’t enjoyed the same postelection bump, and many remain far below their record levels.
If you missed last week’s affordable housing decision from the N.J. Supreme Court, Save Jerseyans, then get caught up ASAP right here.
The bottom line?
New Jersey communities face NEW property tax-busting affordable housing requirements, as many as 150,000 unit state-wide; the numbers are being fought-out in a number of trial level venues as we speak.
Some of you have asked me what this could look like on a town-by-town basis.
Not pretty, that’s for damn sure, but our friend Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-39) shared one pro-affordable housing organization’s projections via social media this morning to illustrate the challenge ahead for New Jersey’s municipalities.
An open letter to the Village Council re tonight’s VC Meeting. I cannot attend as I am on a business trip, but have written an open letter to the members of the Council. Please attend if you can, whether you agree with me or not. The key thing is for the Ridgewood Residents to be aware of all that is going on at the Council level and for their views to become known.
Dear VC Members:
I am traveling on business and so cannot attend. If there I would have made the following points:
1. Schedler: I would not spend a red cent on the Schedler house until you have some idea as to what we will be doing with it long-term. At what cost and for what use? What cost of operation and maintenance? As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, put together a committee of people knowledgeable about house restorations to advise if the house is worth saving. All this talk of a nationally recognized historic home is nonsense. What is the age of the house and what will it be restored as? Plus since Mayor Knudsen’s father lives across the street from the house, she should recuse herself from any consideration.
2. Parking garage: Has the VC no shame or sense of intellectual integrity? When will you get going on the Hudson St. Parking Deck? The idea of Mr. Sedon leading another study is laughable. Has he read the 10’s of thousands of pages of studies already undertaken, or are you using this as an excuse to do nothing? Shameful political cowardice!
3. Mayor Susan Knudsen’s new FB Page. Is this an official Village of Ridgewood page or the start of the Knudsen/Sedon 2018 reelection campaign. I would appreciate Mr. Matt Rogers’ input since the page uses the Village of Ridgewood logo.
This is being copied to the press and to Facebook. Let the sun shine in!
Hawthorne NJ, A single vehicle rollover crash on Route 208 southbound near Van Winkle Avenue in Hawthorne tied up traffic in both directions on Tuesday afternoon, 01/24. The vehicle’s lone occupant, its adult male driver, was transported to a local hospital by a Hawthorne EMS ambulance. He reportedly sustained injuries that were not considered life threatening. Hawthorne PD and FD personnel also responded to the incident. The flipped vehicle was righted and removed from the highway by a flatbed tow truck.
School Choice — Who Opposes It and Why?
1)The leaders of teachers unions(NJEA), though not all of the teachers themselves, see school choice as a threat to their “virtual monopoly on education.”
2)Other critics of school choice think that it violates the First Amendment’s clause separating church and state, because some religious schools can end up receiving taxpayer funds.
5 Myths About School Choice
To help you better understand the ongoing debate, we want to dispel some common myths about school choice. But first:
What is school choice?
School choice isn’t just about charter schools. It refers broadly to a range of options and policies which provide alternatives to public school, including but not limited to publicly funded charter schools, magnet schools, school vouchers, and tax credits.
The goal of school choice is to improve student outcomes by giving parents a wider range of educational options and find what works best for their children.
Myth #1: School choice promotes inequality.
Opponents of school choice believe that increasing choices will benefits mostly middle and upper class families, leaving low-income students stuck in failing public schools with dwindling resources. They believe parents, if given a choice, won’t want to send their kids to school with minority or low-income students, and that increased choice will lead to increased segregations.
Fact: Public schools are already segregated; charter schools see increased diversity.
Under the current public school system, the school you go to is determined by where you live. What happens under this system is that higher-income households move to communities with other high-income families and better schools, while low-income families who can’t afford to move are stuck with the local public school. The segregation of race and income in public schools is a direct result of this self-segregation in housing.
School choice programs can create more diverse schools by overcoming this location-based segregation. Indeed, research shows that school choice programs create to more integrated, less segregated schools.
Myth #2: School choice harms public schools.
Opponents worry that school choice programs will harm public schools by diverting away much-needed funds, and forcing public schools to compete with other alternatives.
Fact: Losing students can help public schools, and so can competition.
There are several assumptions in this argument: 1. That losing students will cost public schools money, 2. That losing money will lead to a decline in school quality, and 3. That competition is harmful to public schools.
First, while public schools may lose money when students leave, the money lost may be less than the cost of educating the student, leaving more resources to educate the remaining students.
Second, more money doesn’t always lead to better outcomes. For many schools, budget concerns are less about how much money they have, and more about how that money is spent.
Finally, research shows that competition improves performance in public schools. When public schools are forced to compete, they have to show improvement in order to keep students and resources. When there are no alternatives to public schools, there is no incentive to prioritize student-focused improvements.
Myth #3: School choice is bad for teachers.
Opponents of school choice argue that holding teachers accountable by measuring their students’ performance on standardized tests punishes teachers and does nothing to improve the quality. They also argue that more charter schools, whose teachers are often non-unionized, harm the teachers unions, and by extension teachers.
Fact: School choice is good for teachers.
While it might be unfair to punish teachers for poor test scores when outside factors like poverty and lack of funding affect student performance, it is also unfair to students to keep poor-quality teachers employed.
It can be very hard to fire bad teachers in public schools. When budget cuts require layoffs, tenure rules can protect older, less competent teachers, while newer, more competent teachers are let go. Increased school choice means more options, not just for students, but also for teachers.
Myth 4: it doesn’t empower parents.
While the goal of school choice is to provide families with more educational options, opponents argue that through school choice, parents actually have less power to control their children’s education. Without parent-teacher associations at charter or private schools, parents would have less direct influence over school policy. Meanwhile, opponents express concern that parents aren’t equipped to consider all the different educational choices available and determine what’s best for their children.
Fact: Parents get to choose what’s best for their children.
In a public school system, parents might be able to influence some policies at their child’s public school—but if they can’t, or that school doesn’t have the resources their child needs, they have no other options.
Parents know their children’s education needs best, and school choice empowers parents to pick the option that’s best for their them. Indeed, when asked, most Americans favor some form of school choice.
Myth #5: School choice doesn’t work.
Opponents argue that charter and privates schools perform no better than public schools. This myth often refers back to Myth #2, saying that if charter and private school don’t perform better than public schools, then they shouldn’t be allowed to divert resources from them.
Fact: School choice improves outcomes across the board.
School choice improves educational outcomes for those in choice programs, but it also improves educational outcomes of the public schools which compete with alternative educational choices.
