Author: James
Reader says it always appeared that Aronsohn sold Ridgewood out to developers and other profiteers with whom he wished to curry favor
In my humble opinion, it always appeared that Aronsohn sold us out to developers and other profiteers with whom he wished to curry favor. Its shameful Yes, we have parking issues. They were never addressed by the Aronsohn administration because his focus was on those who seemed to want to profit from government largess and not Village residents. Distribution is probably our main “problem” – – and its good to see the new council recognizing that and attempting to address that issue before spending millions on a new garage. Yes, we may need a new garage, but let’s see what some of the other solutions are first. I thought Voght laid it out very nicely a meeting or two ago. Yes, let’s spend a few thousand on signs, parking and street re-alignment and then see if we need the garage. Keep up the good work!!
Reader says The Ridgewood Parking Garage is the Trojan Horse
As I have said here several times: The village, in the voice of the Village Manager, admitted on April 6, 2016 that we do not have a parking crisis, we have a parking surplus, we have more spots than we have demand for: https://youtu.be/iyufI5C3gKU?t=1h14m
So we know from the facts any garage is all about high density housing led by the local developer. Without it, the over development of Ridgewood cannot happen by this developer and his cohorts who own property at key intersections. Without over development the property owners and this local developer, who paid a lot for the land, cannot make money. They need to develop the lots past what parking on the property supports to maximize rental revenue. The former mayor, former village manager and the local developer lie about Brogan and Ken Smith parking spaces needing to be replaced, spots that are not a part of the village’s parking inventory. The former mayor and former village manager let the Hudson Street lot fall into disrepair, then said in a video paid for with tax dollars, that neglect was a main reason to build a $12m garage.
The garage is the Trojan Horse. The village admits, we don’t need more parking, we don’t even utilize what we have. Higher density, higher congestion, higher fees, and easier profits for the local developer paid for with tax dollars.
When the now ex-village manager says in a propaganda video we have a parking crisis, but her own analysis says we have a surplus, we know there is no crisis.
Risk of big earthquake on San Andreas fault rises after quake swarm at Salton Sea
Rong-Gong Lin II
The rumbling started Monday morning deep under the Salton Sea. A rapid succession of small earthquakes — three measuring above magnitude 4.0 — began rupturing near Bombay Beach, continuing for more than 24 hours. Before the swarm started to fade, more than 200 earthquakes had been recorded.
The temblors were not felt over a very large area, but they have garnered intense interest — and concern — among seismologists. It marked only the third time since earthquake sensors were installed there in 1932 that the area had seen such a swarm, and this one had more earthquakes than the events of 2001 and 2009.
The quakes occurred in one of California’s most seismically complex areas. They hit in a seismic zone just south of where the mighty San Andreas fault ends. It is composed of a web of faults that scientists fear could one day wake up the nearby San Andreas from its long slumber.
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-earthquake-swarm-20160930-snap-story.html
US cuts cord on internet oversight
AFP•October 1, 2016
Washington (AFP) – The US government on Saturday ended its formal oversight role over the internet, handing over management of the online address system to a global non-profit entity.
The US Commerce Department announced that its contract had expired with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which manages the internet’s so-called “root zone.”
That leaves ICANN as a self-regulating organization that will be operated by the internet’s “stakeholders” — engineers, academics, businesses, non-government and government groups.
The move is part of a decades-old plan by the US to “privatize” the internet, and backers have said it would help maintain its integrity around the world.
US and ICANN officials have said the contract had given Washington a symbolic role as overseer or the internet’s “root zone” where new online domains and addresses are created.
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/us-cuts-cord-internet-oversight-113602357.html
The Ridgewood Art Institute Instructor’s Exhibition
The Ridgewood Art Institute Instructor’s Exhibition
On view October 7 – October 27, 2016
The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201 652-9615
On view October 7 – October 27, 2016
The Ridgewood Art Institute
12 East Glen Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
201 652-9615
The Ridgewood Art Institute is a prominent player in the perpetuation of Classical Realism today and is considered one the nation’s best community art associations. It’s origins are based in the 19th Century French Barbizon School and it is closely tied to The Art Students League’s history, as there are many esteemed artists who have taught and studied at both RAI and ASL.
The Ridgewood Art Institute Instructor’s Exhibition features beautiful still lifes, florals, landscapes and figurative work and will give art enthusiasts a wonderful sampling of the quality of work available for sale at our events. For art students this is a wonderful opportunity to explore the possibilities of starting either a new class or a new medium in one of our beautiful studios.
We invite you to see for yourself, why The Ridgewood Art Institute is cherished by so many.
The Ridgewood Art Institute is a non profit organization providing the finest instruction in Classical Realism in a variety of mediums. Classes are offered on an open enrollment basis, and can be joined at anytime. Each student is taught in direct relation to their personal skill level. For more information on class scheduling, this and future events please visit ridgewoodartinstitute.org
The Birth of a Tradition: YWCA Bergen County Gears Up for a NEW TWIN
October 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County has announced the date and location of this year’s TWIN Celebration. The 41-year old tradition will continue on December 1, 2016 (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) at The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus at Westfield Garden State Plaza.
The keynote speaker is Joann Lublin Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and management news editor at The Wall Street Journal and author of Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World (Author appearance made possible by Bookends Bookstore, Ridgewood, NJ).
In 1975, YWCA Bergen County (then known as YWCA of Ridgewood) launched an ambitious program that YW leaders called the TWIN Project. TWIN is an acronym for Tribute to Women and INdustry. The project was centered around a series of awards whose stated purpose was “to encourage women and girls to consider and prepare for a wider range of career opportunities in business and industry, and to stimulate, in a positive way, an increased awareness by more firms of the untapped managerial and professional resources represented by women.” TWIN was also a means “to recognize those firms whose progressive personnel policies made possible the achievements of our honorees.”
Clearly, the workplace has seen a seismic shift in the years since the YW founded the project. Among the country’s most influential companies, the Standard & Poor’s 500, women make up 45 percent of the labor force. And although as late as 1998 just one woman led a Fortune 500 company, the percentage of female Fortune 500 CEOs today hovers around 5 percent; women also constitute 15 percent of the senior leadership team at these firms. And overall in the U.S., more than half of all of management, professional, and related positions are held by women.
To quote a popular advertisement from back in the day, “You’ve come a long way, baby.”
This year, the organization has revised the name to reflect the project’s expanded focus. The Tribute to Women of INfluence will continue the YW’s practice of honoring the area’s top corporate women (as selected by their employers), but will now include women of high achievement and/or with extensive contribution to their communities.
On Thursday, December 1 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus, the YW will once again hold a TWIN celebration. The keynote speaker is Bergen County’s own Joann Lublin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at The Wall Street Journal and author of “Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World.” After her speech, Lublin will be available to answer questions and sign books.
But, as always, the stars of the event are the year’s TWIN honorees, who will share the spotlight in recognition of their achievements and work in their communities.
For more information and to take part in this important and time-honored observance, contact Mary Migliorino, at [email protected].
Many Readers believe developers deliberately exacerbated the parking problem in Ridgewood
October 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood bog
Ridgewood NJ, it seems to meany readers that the previous administration worked long and hard to exacerbate the parking problem in the Central Business District . Claims of missing signs making it difficult for the public to find parking intentionally. Decisions made that always seemed to make things worse not better.
We ALL know that there is ample parking. Even Sonenfeld says so. “The problem is that PROMISES WERE MADE to certain key people that a garage would be built near their properties and businesses in the business district.” What Aronsohn, Saraceno, Pucciarelli, Vaggianos, Sonenfeld, Hauck and company failed to consider is that the town if full of very smart people. And the people rose up and ran a petition drive and stopped the insanity.
While others have claimed the signs went missing and lots hidden from public view on purpose .
Readers continually site , “The developers are deliberately going to exacerbate the parking problem with there one car per unit plans. Why should my taxes go to pay them to put in parking?”
And of coarse ,”it’s interesting that the existing apartments all have a shortage of parking and the developers keep insisting that there will only be one car per household in the proposed developments. how is this possible.”
Ridgewood’s Maple Field: To Turf of Not to Turf that is the Question Again
Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra,”Déjà vu all over again”
October 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Maple field in Ridgewood is once again the center of negative attention . The Ridgewood Fields Committee has basically admitted the warranty on the field has expired and the field is in dire straits .
Insiders have cautioned that one more major flood and its done .
Turf Field Safety : GMAX TEST RESULTS ARE IN
Gmax testing is a standard measure of the safety of athletic fields. It involves measuring the shock absorbing properties of a playing surface and comparing the results to an industry standard set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Harder surfaces will increase the amount of impact absorbed by the body, which results in a higher Gmax rating. Scores over 200 are considered dangerous and increase the risk of life threatening head injuries. Preferred Gmax scores should be in the 120-150 range.
Currently the Maple field is testing at 185 , the NFL like the GMAX around 100 .A GMAX score of 200 is like concrete.
Last weeks council meeting Councilmen Ramon Hache gave a Field’s Committee update and possible solutions to remediate Maple Field. One suggestion is to infuse the current field with millions of rubber pellets but one more major flood may finish the field once and for all .Another idea would be to replace the current field its best years are way behind it and some have suggested a new grass field to replace the turf .
Best guesses put the cost of a new turf field around $600,000. The infusion seems very temporary given the fact the field is in a flood zone and estimates for a new grass field have not yet been taken.
Councilmen Ramon Hache suggested another idea was also to build berm to protect the field better from flood there by protecting the investment better.
The Ridgewood blog was a very big opponent of the ‘turf movement” in town . We cautioned over health effects of the turf ,runoff flood waters contributing to added flooding in town , additional maintenance costs and the fact in Maple fields case the property was deeded to the Village with the idea it should remain a natural preserve.
There is no perfect solution , we are continually told by Sports groups of the need for more fields , while many in town seek a balance between active fields and preservation of scare natural resources .We have now had turf fields long enough to do a real world ,with real specific Ridgewood data for a cost benefit analysis. What ever the outcome it will not be perfect but so far the Ridgewood blog is confident with the new Council and renewed community spirit that all parties with get a fair hearing.
NJ TRANSIT Service Plan for Weekend Commute – Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2, 2016
October 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewod NJ, NJ TRANSIT has announced service plans for the weekend of October 1st and October 2nd, 2016 following the commuter train accident at Hoboken Terminal. All rail service into and out of Hoboken Terminal remains suspended. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service has been restored into and out of Hoboken and will continue to operate.
Cross honoring with PATH, ferries, NJ TRANSIT bus and private carriers will continue throughout the weekend.
Rail
View temporary printable schedules for the Main Line, Montclair-Boonton and Pascack Valley Line HERE.
- Normal weekend service will operate on the Main Bergen and Pascack Valley Lines with trains not operating into and out of Hoboken Terminal. Trains will originate/terminate in Secaucus.
- Normal weekend service will operate on the Montclair Boonton Line with trains not operating into and out of Hoboken Terminal. Trains will originate/terminate at Newark Broad Street.
- Meadowlands Train Service will operate between Secaucus and Meadowlands stations only on both Saturday and Sunday.
- Customers in New York City who need to access Secaucus are urged to take trains from New York Penn Station or use the Port Authority Bus Terminal for NJ TRANSIT and private carrier busing alternatives.
- Customers in Hoboken and Jersey City who need to access Secaucus are urged to use Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park, where shuttle buses will depart approximately every 30 minutes and take them to Secaucus.
Customers may experience overcrowding and possible delays caused by congestion.
Metro North Service for Pascack Valley Line and Port Jervis Customers
For schedule information, click HERE.
Bus
- Extra service on the 126 line between Hoboken and Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York.
- Shuttle buses will operate every 30 minutes between Liberty State Park light rail station in Jersey City and Secaucus Junction.
Light Rail
- All Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service has been restored into and out of Hoboken and will continue to operate on a normal weekend schedule.
Garrett Hammers Fed Chairwoman on Political Conflicts of Interest
September 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, During a congressional hearing on Wednesday Rep. Scott Garrett (R., N.J.) questioned Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen about alleged conflicts of interest on the board. The congressman asked specifically about Fed governor Lael Brainard and her donations and connections to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s defense of the central bank as non-partisan came under attack on Wednesday, as a Republican congressman cornered her on whether a key policy maker would have a conflict of interest in discussing a post in the next U.S. president’s administration.
Fed Governor Lael Brainard has donated to Clinton’s campaign and is widely viewed as a potential Clinton pick for Treasury secretary. Yellen hesitated and then demurred when Representative Scott Garrett of New Jersey asked whether Brainard would have a conflict of interest if she were indeed in talks with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign about a position
Trump to Obama: Do Not Pardon Hillary Clinton “Or Her Co-Conspirators”
Posted By Tim Hains
On Date September 30, 2016
At a campaign rally in Novi, Michigan Friday evening, Donald Trump asked President Barack Obama not to “pardon Clinton and her co-conspirators” if any charges were filed related to the email scandal.
“Mr. President,” Trump said. “Will you pledge not to issue a pardon to Hillary Clinton and her co-conspirators for their many crimes against our country, and against society itself. No one is above the law.”
Governor Christie, Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Prieto reached a tentative agreement to finance the Transportation Trust Fund
September 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, late Friday while all eyes were on the Hoboken Train tragedy and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Governor Christie, Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Prieto reached a tentative agreement to finance the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).A special legislative session will be called next week to ratify this agreement so it is subject to change.
The following are some of the details that have emerged :
0.23-cent gasoline tax increase…bringing total to 37.5 cent/gallon tax on gasoline
Sales tax cut: On 1/1/17, the sales tax will go from 7% to 6.875% and in 2018 to 6.625%.
Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor to 35 percent of the federal benefit amount beginning in tax year 2016
Tax Savings for Retirees: Increase the New Jersey gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income over four years to $100,000 for joint filers, $75,000 for individuals and $50,000 for married/filing separately
Eliminate the Estate Tax: Phase out the estate tax over the next 15 months, replacing the current $675,000 threshold with a $2 million exclusion after January 1, 2017 and eliminating the estate tax altogether as of January 1, 2018
Tax Savings for Veterans: Provide a personal exemption on state income taxes for all New Jersey veterans honorably discharged from active service in the military or the National Guard.
October 4th,the Ridgewood Planning Board will be discussing the Conflict of Interest complaint
Like last Sept 30th – Your help is needed
Friends and Neighbors,
I can’t believe it was a year ago today that over 600 of us went to Village Hall to stop the Village Council from moving forward on the High Density Housing issue. It was truly a remarkable night that brought people together and made an incredibly clear statement: We do not want high density housing in our Village!
So, here we are, a year later and we need your help yet again.
As most of you know, last March the previous VC majority passed an ordinance allowing these massive multifamily dwellings to be built – and make no mistake – once the shovels go into the ground, our schools in particular will be impacted.
What many of us didn’t know then is that the Planning Board and then the Village Council process was riddled with possible conflicts of interest. A few weeks ago, several residents and I filed a formal complaint requesting that the current Planning Board cease their high density site plan process immediately and investigate.
On Tuesday, October 4th, at 7:30pm in Village Hall the Planning Board will be discussing this formal complaint. I would urge you, for the sake of our kids, to attend so that the Planning Board is encouraged to make the right choice. If you do plan to come, please email me to help better coordinate the evening.
Please also consider sending the following note to the Planning Board and our Mayor via email:
Dear Mayor Knudsen, Chairman Joel and Planning Board Members,
I am aware that a group of concerned residents delivered a Motion of Complaint to the Ridgewood Planning Board, under By Law Sections 2.13 and 7.21, dated September 16th. Their motion brings to light a series of conflicts of interest and unacceptable mistakes that impacted the high density housing votes. It spotlights the truly defective process by which these highly unpopular ordinances (3489, 3490, 3491 and 3493) were passed. It is not right for Ridgewood residents to have such important decisions made, and the future of our village impacted, by a forum influenced by potential personal conflicts and/or mistakes. Preventing such actions is clearly the intent of the Planning Board’s own By Laws.
Therefore, I fully support the motion made by these residents. I ask that the Board stop all current high density site plan reviews and promptly begin a complete review of the residents’ complaints. Should any conflicts or mistakes be found, the Ordinance votes and Ordinances themselves should be rescinded and reevaluated via a proper and untainted process.
Secretary Cafarelli, please forward/print this email to all Planning Board members.
Thanks for considering this request.
EMAIL TO:
Mayor Susan Knudsen, Mayor ([email protected]) Michael Cafarelli, Planning Board Secretary ([email protected])
My email address: ([email protected])
Thanks for doing your part to protect our Village and hope to see you Tuesday night!
Sincerely,
Dana
Europe’s populist surge fuelled by migrant crisis
Budapest (AFP) – Hungarians are poised to reject the EU’s troubled refugee quota plan in a referendum on Sunday, as fiercely anti-migrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban rides a populist wave across the bloc.
Following are the main European populist parties that have stoked concerns about the continent’s worst migrant crisis since World War II to boost their support and even enter government in some countries.
– ‘Disgusting worms’ –
– GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a stinging setback in state elections in Berlin on September 18 in a backlash against her “open-door” refugee policy.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) won seats in the regional parliament with 14 percent of the vote — not far behind the CDU’s 18 percent.
A recently elected Berlin deputy for the AfD reportedly called Syrian refugees “disgusting worms” and said asylum seekers were “parasites which are feeding off the German people”.
Two weeks earlier, the AfD came ahead of the CDU in a northeastern regional poll. It now has seats in 10 out of Germany’s 16 regional parliaments.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/europes-populist-surge-fuelled-migrant-crisis-034805145.html
