The state can’t scrape up the money to fix the state’s roads and bridges, fully fund its schools or pay for the pensions of retired state workers. But, somehow, it found a way this week to approve an $800 million bond after previously authorizing $350 million in tax breaks for a $3.1 billion megamall in the Meadowlands.
The state’s Local Finance Board, an arm of the state Department of Community Affairs, this week approved the bond for the massive Meadowland America Dream shopping and entertainment complex, known during a previous incarnation as Xanadu. After two false starts attributable to the project’s inability to get private financing, the project was taken over in 2011 by Triple Five, a Canadian firm, nearly a decade after it was first approved.
Last week’s approval by the Local Finance Board, and the approval of a financing agreement a day earlier by the mall’s landlord, the N.J. Sports & Exposition Authority, came unaccompanied by any outrage from state lawmakers other than Michael Doherty, R-Warren.
Why the silence? Perhaps legislators didn’t want to call further attention to the irony of their providing bonding for a private venture at a time they can’t scrape up enough money for the state’s basic needs, despite having the highest property taxes in the nation.
For centuries on end this was how the Muslim world and the West interacted. Literally, this was more or less the only mode of interaction. Muslim raiders descended upon a littoral Mediterranean town or village on the mainland of Europe or in England or Ireland and dragged their hostages to one or another Muslim city in North Africa.
Later, we would diligently pay the muslim captors to get as many of our people back as we could afford. For hundreds of years thus was business as usual. Western populations were weak and vulnerable to the depredations of a barbaric culture that was stuck in the 7th cenury, and there was no option but to endure the raids and pay the ransom demanded. If any hostage renounced the Christian faith to avoid the cruel treatment given to kaffirs or infidels, the Catholic Church, having limited funds for this purpose, would generally not pay for that person’s release, favoring instead those who had kept the faith. That was the price for apostasy at the time. There still exists some kind of Holy See office, largely dormant now, that conducted this hostage ransoming work. Those who were engaged in it were seen as doing the Lord’s work in saving souls from the grip of Satan. And that’s exactly what they were doing.
Now, the Obama administration didn’t pay 400 million in ransom for this laudable reason. No, it was vulnerable to heavy criticism from the likes of Donald Trump for abandoning the American hostages during the so-called nuclear negotiations and needed to save Hillary’s electoral bacon by eliminating the Iranian hostage situation as an issue during the presidential race. Humanitarian motivations played no part in the calculus.
Quiz time: What information might the authorities have passed on to the general public about the appearance of the assailants, but mysteriously did not?
Absolutely absurd that these suspects are not being profiled properly. Take a lesson from the wyckoff chief and maybe we can protect ourselfs from these criminals.
What futher description Age Race hair color what is medium build ?.height etc
These guys are maniacs and need to be caught.pistol whipping people needs a serious police reaction ..before these crimes are copied..
“Remain vigilant and report any sort of suspicious activity” says the police chief.
What he’s asking you to do, in his own diplomatic way, is to drop dime on anybody who subjectively looks to you, the bona fide neighborhood resident, like they are out of place and might be up to no good. Unlike the average patrolman, there are no career-ending consequences for an ordinary resident to defy PC orthodoxy and shine the floodlamp of municipal authority on a potential perp. For all of our sakes, don’t go wobbly when something just doesn’t quite look right to you, but you can’t easily explain why. Your telephone call opens the door for the police to roll up on that person and chat them up without any further cause or reason, even if, had you never called, the police themselves, applying their own department guidelines or criteria (read: straightjacket), would have refrained from stopping and talking to the person in question.
In other words, do us all a favor and don’t let fear of how you’ll later be perceived affect the decision of whether or not to call the police.
Ridgewood NJ, a new event has been launched via Facebook, “On Nov 8th, Say NO to full day K.” encouraging voters to reject the Full Day Kindergarten .
“Ridgewood schools have over 100 Million $ ANNUAL budget. They can raise the taxes upto 2% without your vote, without your agreement. The Board of Ed has to put a question on November ballot and ask the tax payers only if they have to raise the taxes by more than 2%. If they cannot accommodate full day K with 2 Million ANNUAL increase, please don’t approve full day K. Vote “NO” for the Full-day-K question in November. Don’t give them the power to increase our taxes above and beyond 2% which they can do without our vote. Once it’s increase, every year they can add 2% on TOP of that, without your approval. On Nov 8th, Say NO to full day K. – Vote NO on question 2.”
Ridgewood NJ, the Franklin Center, a non-profit, public-interest media and public policy organization invited the Ridgewood blog to attend their “Amplify School Choice” conference in Denver.
The conference took place all day Thursday, August 11 through noon on Friday, August 12 at the SpringHill Suites in downtown Denver. Over 50 of America’s top bloggers and citizen journalists attended the event .
While we are advantaged with quality schools in Ridgewood , it is simply not true for so many parents and so many young people in New Jersey . We have all read about chronically under preforming schools all over New Jersey . The reality is your zip determines your educational opportunities and success.
The fact is urban education, despite 30 years of New Jersey Supreme Court required intervention by the state, is still failing students and their parents at an alarming rate. The theory from the Supreme Court was that money would solve the problem.
“But as we have all become aware is , “The Abbott school experiment is a colossal failure because it is based on the theory that throwing money at a problem fixes it. Problems facing urban schools are cultural and socio-economic. When people in power face up to that, we can make progress. There’s not a lot of political profiles in courage because it is easier to toss tax money or make excuses than to say until underlying causes are dealt with, it won’t get any better, just more expensive with more kids’ lives wasted. A few politicians do get it. (Ingle, Gannett) https://www.app.com/article/20110821/NJCOLUMNIST06/308210033/-1/NJCOLUMNIST/BOB-INGLE-Nutter-delivers-a-message-to-youth”
Not only have the policy been a abysmal failure but the cost to non “Abbott School” tax payers has been astronomical.
Governor Chris Christie pointed out recently the , ” New Jersey spends the 3rd most in the nation per pupil on K-12 education. For the upcoming fiscal year we spend 13.3 billion dollars on aid to K-12 education. How do we spend it? $9.1 billion goes back to school districts in direct aid. $3.25 billion is to pay for the pensions and health benefits for retired teachers. $936 million goes to pay the debt on schools, mostly in urban districts, to build new schools. $13.3 billion—and that does not count the money paid in local property taxes.
Who gets the $9.1 billion? Well, that begins to tell the story. By order of the Supreme Court, and coerced acquiescence by the elected branches of government, this coming year $5.1 billion goes to the 31 urban or SDA districts. $4 billion goes to the remaining 546 districts. That’s right. 58% of the aid from the state’s taxpayers goes to 5% of the state’s school districts. 42% of the aid goes to the remaining 95% of our districts. This is absurd. This is unfair. This is not working. And it hasn’t been working for 30 years.”
This is why Govenour Chris Christie has proposed giving all school districts same amount of aid, and provide some towns like Ridgewood property tax relief.
It is clearly time for some new ideas , and new student centered education policies . Here are a few we discussed at the “Amplify School Choice” conference in Denver.
School choice: a wide array of programs offering students and their families alternatives to publicly provided schools, to which students are generally assigned by the location of their family residence.
Open Enrollment : the process by which parents/guardians residing in a district may enroll their children into any school district in New Jersey.
Charter Schools: a publicly funded independent school established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.
Home Schooling : A “must read” for new homeschoolers! In New Jersey, the Legislature under the compulsory education law (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25) has permitted children to receive “equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school,” including the home.
Stunning new listing in Rio Vista Estates, 6 Finn Ct., Mahwah
Northern Bergen County Specialists Bring a New Perspective to Real Estate Sales
August 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood , NJ , Buying and selling homes are two of the most important steps in anyone’s life. The deep experience of Special Properties Real Estate Services, a growing real estate brokerage group in northwest Bergen County, combined with the name recognition and respect that comes with the Christie’s International Real Estate brand, is paying dividends for both buyers and sellers and bringing a new perspective to real estate in the region.
“Over more than two decades, Special Properties has enjoyed a successful partnership with Christie’s International Real Estate. With this long-standing relationship, our local clients have enjoyed some of the most lucrative property values on both the buy and sell side,” said Vicki Gaily, Marketing Director for Special Properties. “For those coming into or moving beyond the region, our brokerage, in cooperation with Christie’s deep network of international real estate experts, brings significant advantages to helping these clients find their dream homes.”
With the exclusive affiliation with Christie’s International Real Estate, Special Properties brings access to more than 135 brokerages, working out of 1,200 offices, and engaging more than 32,000 agents in 45 countries across the world. With more than $110 billion in global sales, Christie’s brings access to a new worldwide pool of potential buyers, Christie’s real estate standards require the highest expertise of its affiliated agents and a level of service that is second to none.
“The Christie’s brand is instantly recognizable to clients and truly distinguishes one property from another,” continues Gaily. “Christie’s confidence in Special Properties, and in this region, ensures that homeowners and communities realize the highest levels of exposure and, consequentially, increasing property values. With its affiliation with the Christie’s network, Special Properties can assist in the relocation of clients anywhere in the world, while exposing northwest Bergen’s local communities to a larger universe of buyers from around the world.”
Supported by the esteemed art business, Christie’s International Real Estate is a global network offering exclusive home and luxury real estate services to buyers and sellers worldwide. Christie’s only admits real estate brokerages to its network that demonstrate a proven record of success and best customer satisfaction. With a majority of buyers initiating their home searches online, the Christie’s International Real Estate network receives more than 490 million annual web page views from discerning buyers worldwide.
About Special Properties Real Estate Services Group
Special Properties Real Estate Services embraces the history and traditions of its flagship brokerage location in Saddle River, NJ, into an expanded, modern presence in Mahwah and Franklin Lakes, NJ. With a staff of accomplished real estate brokers, its clients across northern New Jersey and southern New York are provided with customized, personalized services, backed by the luxury real estate brand of Christie’s International Real Estate. Special Properties provides local expertise with global connections. For more information, call (201)962-9555.
DROUGHT WATCH ISSUED FOR MOST OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY DEP URGES VOLUNTARY WATER-USE REDUCTIONS AS DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST
August 24,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, As a result of continued dry weather, the Department of Environmental Protection has issued a water supply drought watch for most of northern New Jersey, Commissioner Bob Martin announced today. The DEP is urging residents in the affected areas to voluntarily conserve water and for the rest of the state to practice wise water use due to continued dry weather that is impacting levels in reservoirs, lakes, rivers and streams as well as shallow ground water sources. The drought watch affects the Northeast, Northwest, and Central regions.
These regions include all of Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties. The purpose of the drought watch is to raise public awareness, formally alert all water suppliers in the affected regions, and seek voluntary cooperation to preserve existing supplies.
The goal is to moderate demand should dry conditions persist. “We have been carefully monitoring precipitation, reservoir storage, surface water and ground water conditions,” Commissioner Martin said. “The northern part of the state, which is very dependent on reservoirs, has experienced some of the driest conditions in the state over the past several months. Conditions in other parts of the state, though not as severe, are showing signs of stress, and residents of these areas should also conserve water. “We advocate for conservation of water at all times, but are urging residents to be especially aware of the situation and use water more carefully, especially when it comes to lawn watering and other non-essential uses,” Commissioner Martin added. Precipitation deficits over the past 90 days are as much as 40 percent below average in many parts of northern New Jersey, while deficits in central New Jersey are more moderate, ranging between 10 and 25 percent. Precipitation has been above average only in the southernmost counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem.
Some suggested water conservation tips include:
• Do not over-water lawns and landscaping. Two times per week for 30 minutes in the morning or late evening typically is sufficient. Use a hose with a hand-held nozzle to water flowers and shrubs.
• Avoid watering lawns and plants during the heat of the day, since much of this water will evaporate without helping the lawn.
• Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, rather than a hose.
• To save water at home, fix leaky faucets and pipes.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth and shaving.
• Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full.
“Our hope is to avoid a water emergency and the need to impose mandatory restrictions by preserving supplies now until more rainfall provides relief and replenishes water reserves,” Commissioner Martin added. “When everyone pitches in, many millions of gallons of water could be saved each day.”
Reservoirs are the primary source of drinking water in the Northeast Region, with a total of 12 reservoirs and a combined capacity of 70.6 billion gallons. While combined reservoir storage throughout the region remains relatively good, some are showing declines that are steeper than the long-term summertime averages due to lack of rainfall and increased demand. Two reservoir systems will warrant careful observation if the dry trend continues – Suez WaterNJ’s Oradell system in Bergen County and the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission’s Wanaque system in Passaic County. The concern is that these systems could become particularly stressed if dry conditions persist.
These two systems are critical to the region, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the total storage volume and serving some of the most densely populated areas of the state. Both systems have dropped to below 80 percent of capacity, about eight percent lower than usual for this time of year. If conditions remain warm and dry and water demands do not decrease, the DEP will consider further regulatory actions, such as the designation of a drought warning.
Under a drought warning, the DEP may order water suppliers to develop alternative sources of water or transfers of water between areas of New Jersey with relatively more water to those with less. For more state water supply status information, visit: www.njdrought.org/status.html For more information on water conservation, visit: www.njdrought.org/ideas.html
Clearly, this was an attempt on Ms. Winograd’s part to generate a newspaper headline that the current Council was seeking to limit public comment.
Siobhan Winograd is on the anti-Knudsen team.
Let’s list the mouthpieces for the former megalomaniacs so that we’ll know we can ignore everything they say. Sonenfeld, obviously. Willett and Weitz. Winograd. Halaby, Griffith.
Why would the former council members, who were defeated resoundingly, come to the meetings to attempt to advance their failed agendas?Are they just spiteful? Do they need to grow up?
Hot button issues bring a lot of people to public meetings. To limit their input would be wrong and would make them feel that their voices do not count.
There were a lot more residents speaking against the garage and high density housing than in favor of the projects. Maybe this attempt to limit public comment is an attempt to limit dissent.
Those with a financial interest in the projects, and their paid staff, will continue to go to the meetings. It will provide more time for them in front of the mic.
Ridgewood probably did not participate because they knew they would rank poorly.
. Face it – RW schools have dropped significantly in quality.
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RW is a “good,and solid” school, but not a “great” school anymore.
There is too much “social engineering” bloat in the school curriculum and too many tutors in the home.
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The only reason that the students do as well as they do is because the parents instill the value of education in their children and hire tutors to support their children when the school system falls short and fails them.
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Also RW parents and students are savvy enough to build an attractive “portfolio” of the correct types of extra-curricular activities, sports and “community outreach” activities as well as building a positive social media profile in order to get accepted into one of the “right” colleges.
. RW Schools reputations are resting on the work of the parents and students… It used to be the other way around
Ridgewood NJ, readers are asking residents to check your water bill. Many have noticed that they were charged a small “interest” fee on there bill. The reader insisted they were an “on time payer” and had a zero balance after the last payment.
From the Facebook group it takes a Ridgewood Village a writer commented , “I called water today and said I have never paid my bill late and she said she will “look into it”. I am paying bills today and that was not acceptable. It is only .84 cents but it’s the principle, I am not paying for something that I do not owe.”Check your water bills very carefully to see if you were charged interest. If there is a computer glitch, they need to be held accountable for fixing it.
Reader have as in the past debated the accuracy of their water bills and the ability of consumers to test and monitor their own water usage .
A grant for bike lanes under the Complete Streets program led to the Garber Square fiasco and cost us 5 times the amount that the grant was for,. Now we have another grant and we’re using it to fix Van Neste Park which everyone seems to feel is in great shape! What happened to the old adage, ” If it isn’t broke,don’t fix it” ?
The Village Council should not miss a single opportunity to put a firm grip on the comings, the goings, and most importantly, the OPM spending patterns and priorities of the legacy Village Manager. Along these lines, the VC should probably press the pause button, indefinitely, on the contemplated renovation project in Van Neste Square. The next thing we will learn is that a half million dollars has already been spent on landscape architecture plans that will go to waste if the project doesn’t go forward immediately.
“Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor.”
“Do good… be rich in good works… be generous and ready to share.”
Christians consider the Bible to be our source of truth in matters of faith. And the Bible says more about money than it does about heaven and hell combined. Nearly half of Jesus’ teaching related to money, and there are over 2,300 verses pertaining to money in the Bible. Clearly, it occupies an important place in what we consider to be God’s inspired word. So, what does it say?
In short, three things:
• All of our wealth originates from and belongs to God.
• In light of this, our wealth should be used for God’s purposes.
• God’s purpose is to restore the world to wholeness. This occurs spiritually through salvation in Jesus Christ, and physically through our service and giving to serve the poor, needy, and weak.
Implicit in these three statements is the idea that our wealth is not our own. As followers of Jesus we believe that we have been bought with a price – when He died for us, we were purchased into His eternal family, accepted and redeemed. In light of what He’s done for us, nothing but radical and total submission to His purposes would be reasonable.
Thus, our wealth is not to be used for our own goals, but rather subsumed into the greater purposes of God. Since we believe it is God who enables us to get wealth in the first place, and that we are the recipients of His great grace in our lives, our natural and joyful response is to engage in radical generosity on behalf of the Christian church and the poor.
This gets expressed in a variety of ways, but a few real-life examples might paint a picture of what 21st-century Christian giving looks like in its highest and best form:
• Mark and Megan, in their late 20’s, are so thankful for Mark’s $50,000 bonus he earned at his law firm. Joyfully and with a great sense of purpose, they give the entire amount away toward international justice efforts for the poor, and a Christian camp they admire. They rank the opportunity to give to God’s work more highly than their own potential enjoyment of this money, including their imminent need for a home down-payment.
• Tom and Bree relocate to a poor neighborhood, despite Tom’s very high income. They read about God’s heart for the poor in the Bible, and they want to know God’s heart. They lead a Bible study for the community, and eventually welcome a family in need to stay in their home for a while, while they get back on their feet. They give a huge fraction of their income away, raising their family on the median family income out of a desire to serve the world around them.
• Greg and Alison are home shopping. They buy a house that is only about half of the value of what they can afford, because they want to be able to give generously to address international poverty and spread the Christian message of hope, and don’t want to be tied down by their mortgage. The house is less than what they’d like to have, but they’re thankful God has given them money to share with others.
Paul’s Goodbye
The Apostle Paul stands second only to Jesus in his influence on the Christian faith. In his final goodbye to the Christian community around him, he gave them this charge:
“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
He commends them to the word of God’s grace – i.e. the Christian message of spiritual salvation. And then, he tells them that he never coveted money, and goes on to charge them to help the weak and remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Why is Paul mixing up money behaviors with the spiritual message of God’s grace? Consistent with the rest of the Bible, Paul didn’t see money and spiritual matters as separable. His life, free of covetousness and fully generous, was evidence of God’s grace acting in his heart. As the well-known Christian Pastor Tim Keller says, reflecting on this passage,
“To the degree you understand the Gospel of grace, you will live a radically generous life! If you truly have a spiritual inheritance, you are going to be promiscuously generous with your earthly inheritance.”
Christian giving springs from our view of God. Because we believe he emptied himself and gave everything for us, we have no proper response but to turn around, face the world around us, and give ourselves away.
John Cortines, 27, is the co-author of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School (https://www.amazon.com/God-Money-Discovered-Business-Foreword/dp/1628624078). All book royalties are given to charity. John lives in Orlando with his family and works for Generous Giving (www.generousgiving.org), an organization that can help you host a Journey of Generosity (www.generousgiving.org/smallgatherings) retreat with your friends to further explore this message. John has shared the biblical message of generosity on national radio, TV, and at conferences around the country.
Pcd Has Nothing on Me! Paperback – March 28, 2016 by Chloe Fernandez
August 13,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood N J, Getting sick when you’re a kid is no fun. You can’t always do what other kids can do, or go to school like they do. Sometimes it means spending lots of time in the hospital. She sees the nurses in the hospital almost more than her friends. It can be scary, frustrating and boring. Chloe R Fernandez knows this all too well! When she was just six years old, she was diagnosed with chronic obstructive lung disease due to underlying Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD).
PCD is a genetic disorder. A body with PCD can’t clear its own airway secretions. She’s faced many scary moments when she couldn’t draw a breath and has endured painful and embarrassing treatments. But throughout it all, Chloe has remained positive and upbeat. During her hospitalizations Chloe befriends the nurses, doctors, staff and acts as the “Resident” doctor on call. One of her strongest beliefs is that “life is what you make it,” and her most avid advice is “stay faithful always.” Children of all ages, grappling with any kind of illness or condition, will find both an understanding and comfortable friend in Chloe.
“PCD Has Nothing On Me,” is a 47-page illustrated book, chronicles Chloe’s three-year journey through diagnosis, treatment, and hospitalizations.
Chloe is a vivacious 9 year old who is smart, sassy, kind, caring, loving, a charmer and fashionista. She is an avid reader and writer who has traveled the world via all the books she has read to date. Playing with her American Girl dolls, dress up with her friends and time spent with her family are all her favorite things to do. Chloe has a miniature schnauzer named Abby who she says melts her heart every time she looks at her.
Chloe was diagnosed with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia at the age of 6. PCD is a rare form of lung disease. Chloe has faced many scary moments when she couldn’t draw a breath and has endured many painful and embarrassing treatments. But through it all, Chloe has remained positive and upbeat.
Chloe hopes that in sharing her story she can bring awareness to PCD, but also be an inspiration for other kids living and dealing with chronic illness. She wants them to know they too can achieve anything they set their mind to. Chloe is a firm believer that her challenges don’t define her. She is often quoted as saying, “PCD is what I have not who I am.”
Chloe is a working actress, aspiring singer, and is signed to bmg Models & Talent. She is currently working on her second book.
