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Posted on July 26, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — 7 Comments

The Ridgewood Revolution Spreads to Glen Rock

July 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, the Ridgewood Revolution is spreading . A group of Glen Rock residents has had enough and is petitioning Mayor Bruce Packer and the Borough Council not to approve an ordinance that would rezone Prospect Street.

Sound familiar , the ordinance would permit a developer to build 53 rentals unit housing complex on the street ie high density housing .

Prospect Neighbors started the online petition. The group claims the ordinance is “poor urban planning,” and sets a negative precedent for “high-density, multi-family rental development in all other residential areas of Glen Rock.”

People who commented on the petition homepage made statements we are all well to familiar with in Ridgewood starting with “its a small town and should stay that way we don’t need high density housing ” , others claim the project would increase traffic , ruin the single family charm and otherwise negatively impact the town.

Does this all sound familiar; “This type of housing doesn’t belong in this town. If Glen Rock has tough building regulations for homeowners wanting to expand their homes. Building this kind of apartments is hypocritical”

“This is just the thing that I expected to occur when Amy Martin was elected to council, followed by the election of Bruce Packer and democrat friends. The emphasis here should be on the rehabilitation of the Rock Road business district, not more rental housing down the street from the new Bottle King!”

Posted on July 26, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — 2 Comments

The Mall of the Future Will Offer Dinner, Movies, and a Colonoscopy

“Xanadu ” where NJ tax payers already get a colonoscopy

But not in that order. E-commerce is driving out retailers, and boomers are aging—so here come the doctors.

The Runway at Playa Vista in Los Angeles recently added a Whole Foods, a movie theater, and upscale shops and restaurants—retail center staples intended to attract affluent shoppers, condo-buyers, and tech companies to the mixed-use development. The next big tenant slated to move in, however, is a little different: A 32,000-square-foot doctors’ office, where the Cedars-Sinai Health System plans to house outpatient services, including cardiology and orthopedics.

While urgent-care centers have been strip-mall staples for decades, the chance to catch dinner, a movie, and a surgical procedure under the same roof is new—and coming soon to a mall near you. The reason is commerce: Mall operators are looking for tenants that trade in entertainment and services to replace the brick-and-mortar retailers slowly being strangled by Amazon.com and its online competitors. Rents, particularly at older malls, are a bargain.

The health-care industry, meanwhile, is moving away from centralized campuses to bring services closer to patients at a time when two key demographics are entering prime years for consumption. Boomers are hitting an age when they can expect to use more health-care services; millennials are starting families and beginning to make doctors appointments for their kids.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-25/the-mall-of-the-future-will-offer-dinner-movies-and-a-colonoscopy

Posted on July 26, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

4 brutal poll numbers that greet Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention

By Aaron Blake July 25 at 4:42 PM

It’s common for presidential candidates to get a bump from their conventions, and two new polls Mondaysuggest Donald Trump did indeed get that.

But the new polls don’t just show Trump’s stock rising (however temporarily that may be); they also have some very bad news for Hillary Clinton and her already-declining personal image. Indeed, politically, she’s doing as bad as she ever has — if not worse.

A caveat at the outset: The GOP convention was, as was to be expected, very anti-Clinton. There were chants of “lock her up” and plenty of accusations lodged against Clinton. So it’s perhaps not surprising to see Clinton’s numbers take a hit. But they have been steadily getting worse for months and are now basically worse than ever before.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/25/4-brutal-poll-numbers-that-greet-hillary-clinton-at-the-democratic-national-convention/

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Why Obama’s half-brother says he’ll be voting for Donald Trump

By Isabel Vincent

July 25, 2016 | 5:26am

President Obama’s Kenyan half-brother wants to make America great again — so he’s voting for Donald Trump.

“I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart,” Malik Obama told The Post from his home in the rural village of Kogelo. “Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him.”

Obama, 58, a longtime Democrat, said his “deep disappointment” in his brother Barack’s administration has led him to recently switch allegiance to “the party of Lincoln.”

https://nypost.com/2016/07/24/why-obamas-half-brother-says-hell-be-voting-for-donald-trump/

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Verizon to End Yahoo Survival Fight With $4.8 Billion Deal

verizon-iphone-4-can-you-hear-me-now-guy

Alex Sherman

Matthew Townsend

July 24, 2016 — 12:15 PM EDTUpdated on July 24, 2016 — 7:00 PM EDT

On Monday, Yahoo! Inc.’s years-long fight to survive as a standalone company will draw to a close.

Verizon Communications Inc. will announce plans to buy Yahoo’s core assets for a bit more than $4.8 billion before the market opens, said two people with direct knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The deal includes Yahoo real estate assets, while some intellectual property is to be sold separately, the people said. Yahoo will be left with its stakes in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Yahoo Japan Corp., with a combined market value of about $40 billion.

A transaction stands to finally seal the fate of web pioneer Yahoo after months of speculation and pressure from investors including Starboard Value LP. The deal will add the company and its millions of daily users to Verizon’s growing stable of media properties and is also likely to end the reign of Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer, who tried and failed to re-invent Yahoo as an independent company.

Verizon spokesman Bob Varettoni and Yahoo spokeswoman Rebecca Neufeld declined to comment. Yahoo hasn’t laid out plans for its investments in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-24/verizon-said-to-announce-4-8-billion-deal-to-buy-yahoo-tomorrow

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — 2 Comments

Democrats in disarray on eve of convention to nominate Clinton

By John Whitesides
July 24, 2016

By John Whitesides

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – The head of the Democratic Party resigned on Sunday amid a furor over embarrassing leaked emails, hoping to head off a growing rebellion by Bernie Sanders supporters on the eve of the convention to nominate Hillary Clinton for the White House.

Lingering bitterness from the heated primary campaign between Clinton and Sanders erupted after more than 19,000 Democratic National Committee emails, leaked on Friday, confirmed Sanders’ frequent charge that the party played favorites in the race.

In a statement, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the best way for the party to accomplish its goal of putting Clinton in the White House was for her to step aside. Sanders had demanded earlier in the day that Wasserman Schultz resign.

The furor was a blow to a party keen on projecting stability in contrast to the volatility of Republican candidate Donald Trump, who was formally nominated at a raucous convention in Cleveland last week.

It also overshadowed preparations in Philadelphia for Clinton’s coronation as the nominee to face Trump in the Nov. 8 presidential election. She will be the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.

The four-day Democratic convention will open on Monday. In some good news for Clinton, The New York Times reported that businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will endorse her in a prime-time speech on Monday, saying she will be the best choice for moderate voters in 2016.

The cache of emails leaked on Friday by the WikiLeaks website disclosed that DNC officials explored ways to undermine Sanders’ insurgent presidential campaign, including raising questions about whether Sanders, who is Jewish, was really an atheist.

Sanders said Wasserman Schultz, a U.S. representative from Florida, had made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. “The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race,” he said.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/eve-democratic-convention-clinton-struggles-party-unity-171510915.html

Posted on July 25, 2016July 26, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Residents : Stay Safe During the Heat

Stay Safe During the Heat

The Red Cross recommends taking these steps to stay safe during the heat:

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service
Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles
Eat small meals and eat more often
Avoid extreme temperature changes
Limit intake of alcoholic beverages
Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty, and avoid drinks with caffeine.
Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available
Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing
Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day
Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat
Take frequent breaks if working outdoors
Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat
Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat, and ensure they have water and a shady place to rest

Posted on July 25, 2016July 24, 2016 by James — 4 Comments

Bergen County Justice Center another New Jersey Boondoggle

July 25,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, at $147 million, the new Bergen County Justice Center is the most expensive capital project in Bergen County history , some would say the largest County boondoggle in history . Sure the idiotic unwanted meadowlands mall project ” Xanadu ” dwarfs it but even in Bergen County at $147 million we are talking real money . Surprise ,surprise the county now says it needs even more money, that is right county officials acknowledge, they could need $20 million more to get it all done.

Yes again that is right for a mere $147 million or should I say $167 million county residents get a new public works garage in Paramus and a new justice center in Hackensack.

While country officials ramble off a myriad of the usual excuses the fact is the DPW building in Paramus was originally planned to cost $16 million but the final price tag was $20.4 million about a 22% miss on the estimate.

No one denies the county court house is dilapidated and falling apart and yes County Officials openly acknowledge that to complete the project at least $20 million more will be needed.

But this brings us once again back to the same old issues and why New Jersey and particularly Bergen County has become the nations most fled jurisdiction.

Back in 2013 the Bergen County freeholders received a detailed briefing on the construction of the new Justice Center complex in Hackensack, County officials expected to break ground in August on the nearly $115 million project. Hummm $115 million ah $147 million oh no $167 million dollar project that nearing a 50% increase over the original estimate ?

Like many things in this state ,its time for a audit of all county ,state and local projects including the Transportation Slush Fund , we mean the Transportation Trust Fund . Some how I cant seem to believe a private developer would except a 50% cost overrun . Both County Republicans and Democrats point fingers at each other while the tax payer as usual gets stuck with the bill.

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — 3 Comments

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT MONDAY

…VERY HOT AND HUMID MONDAY… …HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT MONDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDTMONDAY. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES…UP TO 103 DUE TO TEMPERATURES AROUND 90… AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 70S.

* TIMING…HIGHEST HEAT INDICESMONDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL INCREASE THE RISK FOR HEAT RELATED HEALTH ISSUES…ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY…THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS LUNG AND HEART DISEASE…THOSE WORKING OUTDOORS…AND OTHER HEAT SENSITIVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

* AFFECTED AREAS: EASTERN BERGEN … EASTERN ESSEX … EASTERN PASSAIC … EASTERN UNION … HUDSON … WESTERN BERGEN … WESTERN ESSEX … WESTERN UNION

Instructions:

A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS 100 TO 104 DEGREES FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE HOURS. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY…CALL 9 1 1.

Posted on July 25, 2016April 9, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says The REA just wants more money taken from the students and extracurricular’s to pay for their average annual above inflation (and above 2% property tax cap) wage increases and “platinum” health plan benefits

REA Members come out to greet our Board of Ed

#DOITFIRDAKIDZ

The REA just wants more money taken from the students and extracurricular’s to pay for their average annual above inflation (and above 2% property tax cap) wage increases and “platinum” health plan benefits covering 96% of all medical benefits with $10 co-pays. Why are Ridgewood residents paying above average property taxes in Bergen County for schools to only cut spending on students to pay even more for teachers who already earn the highest average salaries in Bergen? Does this make any sense? Won’t our property values decline if our schools keep declining like they have?

Posted on July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by James — 18 Comments

Reader says Ridgewood Teacher’s Union supporters are blatantly misleading readers and twisting facts

You are blatantly misleading readers and twisting facts!!! Assuming you pay average Ridgewood property taxes of $16,000 a year, and assuming you are, in fact, a soon to retire teacher, then your $16,000 in property taxes helps cover the cost of Village contributions towards your lifetime defined benefit TPAF pension.

Assuming you are a Tier 1 member (enrolled in TPAF before July 2007), you can retire between age 55~60 you will receive full retirement benefits. To calculate how much your annual pension is worth, you divide your service time by 55, then multiple that by your average salary for the three years immediately preceding your retirement. So say 35 years divided by 55 = 63.6% of your average final salary $118,000 = $75,000 in taxpayer protected, defined benefit pension every year until you die which will be more than 25+ years if you retire at 60 and live to the average U.S. lifespan of 85 years. For this you contributed only 6.5% of your base salary but you get a defined benefit amount in retirement plan, i.e. you are insulated from any investment risk and benefit from taxpayer protected pension plan with an assumed annual rate of return of 7.95%. Yes the percentage contribution will gradually climb to 7.5% by 2018, but it’s still less than the 10% that PFRS members contribute and you take no investment risk like the rest of us with defined contribution IRAs or 401(k) plans. Those who enrolled in TPAF on June 28, 2011, or later are won’t be eligible until 65 for a pension, but that is for members who will retire in 35+ years from now, NOT you.

That $16,000 in property taxes also helps to subsidize your “Platinum” level health benefits, as defined by the ACA, which is an annual benefit of up to $28,000 a year depending on family member coverage. This plan covers up to 96% of eligible medial costs with $10 co-pays..TPAF members with at least 10 years of service time also receive a free group life insurance policy payable upon their death to their beneficiaries. You can also choose to purchase an additional group life policy that costs 0.4% of your paycheck. Not bad for $16,000 in property taxes, which is why it means you should be ASHAMED of your comment that “I am Ridgewood tax payer too and suffer just like you when the rates increase.” You don’t suffer, it’s in YOUR beneficial interest because you benefit from increased taxes which help pay for your retirement. Put in $16,000 a year in property taxes and get out over $105,000 in annual benefits. So please tell the whole story here or it truly is “shame on you.”

Posted on July 25, 2016July 24, 2016 by James — 6 Comments

New Central Business Advisory Committee just Another Way to Fast Track High density housing?

file photo by ArtChick

July 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, while the Village is looking for volunteer’s for the Financial Advisory Committee in an effort to turn it into a real financial advisory committee,by recruiting people with financial backgrounds instead of the current group of lawyers and political “yes men” that the ex mayor pushed . Many residents
have also asked to make sure the Financial Advisory Committee or FAC also post agenda’s and record minutes.

Meanwhile the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is looking to control the New Central Business Advisory Committee.

The Chamber sent out and eblast to all it members asking them for input. Readers of this blog have already voiced concern about the Central Business Advisory Committee saying, “Another way to get Paul the Greek, John Saraseno and Ed Sullivan a fast track to the Council. Who thought up this committee?”

Others were even less impressed with the idea saying ,”(CBDAC) Another new committed ! What did we elect council for?”

The mission statement for the CBDAC committee:The Central Business District Advisory Committee will work with the Village Council, residents and businesses to evaluate and initiate enhancements to improve traffic flow, parking, pedestrian safety, and the mix and balance of business establishments; while incorporating and refining the CBD’s historic elements and beauty to create a desirable, vibrant and memorable destination for all visitors.

The terms are for 2 years, staggering to serve one year term at the outset. The Point person is Councilman Ramon M. Hache who can be reached at [email protected] , or by calling 201-670-5500 ext. 201 .

SEEKING RESIDENTS AND OTHER PERSONS TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON THE FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve on the Financial Advisory Committee and the Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC).

The Financial Advisory Committee assists in the review and understanding of the financial considerations necessary to the operation of the Village and the Village’s preparation of the Annual and Capital Budgets; provides review, advice and recommendations to the Village Council on Village financial and budgetary matters; and prepares an annual report for the Village Council to assist the Councilmembers in their budget preparation. Members will preferably have strong finance, accounting, government and/or business backgrounds.

The Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) will work with the Village Council, business owners and residents to evaluate and initiate enhancements to improve the viability of the CBD, including traffic flow and patterns, parking, pedestrian safety and the balance of commercial uses; while maintaining and refining the historic and aesthetic elements to create a more desirable, vibrant and memorable destination for all visitors. The CBDAC is made up of one representative from the Chamber of Commerce; one representative from the Ridgewood Guild; five Ridgewood residents (one of whom shall be a member of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee); and three business owners, one of whom is a property owner in the CBD.

All interested residents and others wishing to serve on these committees should send the following:

A cover letter indicating on which committee(s)the person wishes to serve
A Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website under forms)
A biography or resume

to: Heather Mailander, Village Clerk

Village of Ridgewood

131 North Maple Avenue

Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Deadline for submissions is August 5, 2016.

Posted on July 25, 2016July 24, 2016 by James — Leave a comment

Now for the Cover Up : BBC Scrubs ‘Ali’ From Munich Killer’s Name On TV, In Articles, AND On Social Media

BBC Scrubs ‘Ali’ From Munich Killer’s Name On TV, In Articles, AND On Social Media

The BBC has unilaterally chosen not to report the Munich attacker’s full name, in what appears to be an attempt to scrub any Muslim or Islamic heritage link to its coverage of the incident.

Most sources at this point suggest that Ali David Sonboly – the Munich attacker who targeted children and killed nine yesterday – is not connected to radical Islam, but the BBC has gone to extraordinary lengths to try to keep any reference to his heritage out of its coverage, opting to name him only as “David Sonboly”.

Other news organisations including the Wall Street Journal, Independent, Daily Mail, and Sky News named the attacker as “Ali David Sonboly” or “David Ali Sonboly”. CNN even referred to him simply as “Ali Sonboly

https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/07/23/bbc-scrubs-muslim-name-ali-munich-killer-article/

Posted on July 25, 2016July 24, 2016 by James — 2 Comments

DNC chair won’t speak at Dem convention following Wikileaks fallout

By Theodore Schleifer, Eugene Scott and Jeff Zeleny, CNN

(CNN)The head of the Democratic National Committee will not speak at the party’s convention next week, a decision reached by party officials Saturday after emails surfaced that raised questions about the committee’s impartiality during the Democratic primary.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose stewardship of the DNC has been under fire through most of the presidential primary process, will not have a major speaking role in an effort “to keep the peace” in the party, a Democrat familiar with the decision said. The revelation comes following the release of nearly 20,000 emails

One email appears to show DNC staffers asking how they can reference Bernie Sanders’ faith to weaken him in the eyes of Southern voters. Another seems to depict an attorney advising the committee on how to defend Hillary Clinton against an accusation by the Sanders campaign of not living up to a joint fundraising agreement.
Wasserman Schultz is expected to gavel the convention in and out, but not speak in the wake of the controversy surrounding the leaked emails, a top Democrat said.
“She’s been quarantined,” another top Democrat said, following a meeting Saturday night.

https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/politics/dnc-wikileaks-emails/index.html

Posted on July 24, 2016July 24, 2016 by James — 11 Comments

DNC : I am Women hear me roar !

hillary-clinton-what-difference-does-it-make

EXCLUSIVE: Democratic National Committeewoman says her party is ‘clearing a path’ for Hillary because ‘the women in charge’ want it that way

Female member of the Democratic Party’s controlling body spoke to Daily Mail Online in Las Vegas following Tuesday’s primary debate
She rattled off a list of women at the top of the party hierarchy and said two vice chairs helped craft a decision this summer to favor Clinton
The committeewoman warned her party could promote Hillary ‘because she’s a woman, and risk having her implode after she’s nominated’
The Democratic National Committee insisted that it ‘runs an impartial primary process, period’
But it has sanctioned just six debates this time around; Democratic presidential candidates had to survive 27 of them in 2007-08
DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz campaigned for Hillary in 2008 when she last ran for the presidency
See our full coverage of Hillary Clinton and her presidential bid

By DAVID MARTOSKO, US POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

PUBLISHED: 11:20 EST, 15 October 2015 | UPDATED: 09:57 EST, 16 October 2015

The Democratic National Committee is ‘clearing a path’ for Hillary Clinton to be its presidential nominee because its upper power echelons are populated with women, according to a female committee member who was in Las Vegas for Tuesday’s primary debate.

Speaking on the condition that she isn’t identified, she told Daily Mail Online that the party is in the tank for Clinton, and the women who run the organization decided it ‘early on.’

The committeewoman is supporting one of Hillary’s rivals for the Democratic nomination, and said she spoke freely because she believes the former Secretary of State is benefiting from unfair favoritism inside the party.

Clinton aims to be the first female to occupy the Oval Office, and ‘the party’s female leaders really want to make a woman the next president,’ the committeewoman said, rattling off a list of the women who she said are the ‘real power’ in the organization.

‘I haven’t heard anyone say we should make Hillary undergo a trial by fire,’ she added. ‘To the contrary, the women in charge seem eager, more and more, to have her skate into the general [election].’

‘I have nothing against women in politics,’ she underscored. ‘But it’s not healthy for the party if we get behind a woman because she’s a woman, and risk having her implode after she’s nominated because she isn’t tested enough now.’

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