Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Criminal Code (N.J.S.A 2C:1-1 et seq.) contains a number of offenses which are specifically directed at public officials and/or employees. Although this article is not intended as an exhaustive treatment of all state law on this subject, it will hopefully provide a working knowledge of the major acts or omissions which may give rise to criminal culpability.
Official Misconduct (N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2) A public servant commits official misconduct if with a purpose to obtain a benefit for himself or herself or another (or to injure or deprive another of a benefit) he or she knowingly commits an act relating to his or her office constituting an unauthorized exercise of official functions: or knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed by law and is clearly inherent in the nature of the office. The “benefit” obtained may be of minimal value. Investigation Into Hamilton T.P. Board of Education 205 N.J. Super. 248 (App. Div.1985). This also includes benefits not received by the public official but rather by a third party. State v. Schenkolewski 301 N.J.Super.115 (App. Div.), cert. den.151 N.J. Super. (1977). To violate this section, the individual must be a public servant and the act must relate to the office. State v. Bullock 136 N.J. 149 (1994).
Ridgewood NJ, Note that the sign pictured, purchased with your tax dollars by the village manager, violates 2 village ordinances. <i>A study conducted in 2006 by Virginia Tech for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that anything that takes a driver’s eyes off of the road for more than two seconds greatly increases the risk of a crash. The same study also concluded that nearly 80% of all crashes involved driver inattention just prior (within three (3) seconds) of the crash.</i> This sign sits at one of three roads in town that cross the train tracks and handles a massive volume of pedestrians, cars, and now sports a bike lane. So, do as we say, not as we do. <i>The Swedish research team suggests that digital billboards attract greater attention from drivers due to their: brightness; visibility from greater distances; and display of a constantly-changing series of advertisements. The team concluded that digital billboards “have the potential ability to keep up the driver’s curiosity over an extended period of time.” Previous human behavioral studies have shown that drivers are naturally inclined to notice bright, changing lights in their peripheral vision and to anticipate additional motion. The Swedish government had previously given temporary authorization to erect digital billboards in 2009, but as a result of this and related studies; the government has now ordered the removal of all digital billboards.</i> https://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=45602 https://www.scenic.org/storage/PDFs/eebdd.pdf
Ridgewood NJ, , a member of Financial Advisory Committee sent out a mass email. It says “Last Wednesday the Village Council unanimously approved funding a parking garage on Hudson Street. It will be funded by Ridgewood (not the county), and it reflects an updated design that seeks to address concerns of residents, including removing a level.”This is just not true. Plan D and Plan A have
SAME number of stories, same number of levels. Plan D is only couple of feet lower than plan A, because it removes the cantilever, so a supporting beam of somewhere between 2-3 feet was removed.
Huge lie in first paragraph! “including removing a level”
Another lie in 2nd paragraph. This petition will have binding referendum question on November ballot. That will cost ZERO. No special election with this petition.
If you received that email, please check the facts yourself before believing it.Unfortunately, there is too much misinformation being spread from some council members, village officials and members of FAC / HPC etc.
Lets ask them to provide Ridgewood residents correct facts on size and street encroachment, and if residents still want to proceed without changes, it’s fine, but please don’t provide incorrect information.
How does someone in a position of authority get away with sending this?
Friends —
Last Wednesday the Village Council unanimously approved funding a parking garage on Hudson Street. It will be funded by Ridgewood (not the county), and it reflects an updated design that seeks to address concerns of residents, including removing a level.
Now, the group that opposed funding the garage through Bergen County is seeking to oppose this vote, even though the issues that arose through county funding no longer apply. They want an even smaller garage. As opposed to standing behind a reasonable compromise, they want to stop progress at all costs. They are asking residents to sign a petition to put the issue to a special referendum, which will create further delays and cost the Village about $45,000 to implement through a special election. Of course, a significant majority of Village residents already voted to support a garage in a special referendum last year.
I am a member of the Ridgewood Financial Advisory Committee, and we analyzed the funding model for the garage. We recognize that a taller garage has aesthetic implications. Financially, however, a larger garage is more fiscally sound — more spaces create more revenue, and the marginal cost of each level is much lower than building the base of the structure. That’s why compromise is necessary and appropriate. I believe the current compromise is the best path forward for the Village.
Please don’t sign the petition. Tell your friends not to sign the petition Forward them this email. The group supporting the petition will be in Van Neste Square today seeking signatures — show up and tell them you support progress for Ridgewood.
By CONRAD BLACK, Special to the Sun | March 24, 2016
The feverish activity concerning a third-party race by Republican defectors from Donald Trump is sawdust. Any such effort would replicate the nonsensical challenges of Henry Wallace against Harry Truman in 1948 and John Anderson against Ronald Reagan in 1980. These ideological tantrums gained 2.4% of the vote in the first case and 6.6% in the second and had no effect on the result.
The notion of Rick Perry, the former Texas governor who couldn’t remember his third radical proposal for change of the government (“Oops”) and had his father-in-law perform a vasectomy on him, running against the Republican and Democratic nominees is an insane conjuration. The anti-Trump “strategists” (the most overused descriptive word in the news these days) are divided between those demanding that John Kasich withdraw, to give Ted Cruz a clear one-on-one shot at Trump, and those urging him to remain and effectively try to divide the electorate, so that only one of them would make a real effort in the state where he ran more strongly against Trump than the other.
Ridgewood Nj, after bottoming out in February gas prices have continued to raise with the arrival of spring. The average price of regular gasoline per gallon in the Bergen-Passaic market rose 2 cents Friday to $1.81, according to data from the daily fuel gauge report by the American Automobile Association or AAA. The data also showed the average has surged in recent weeks: one week ago the average was $1.73, and a month prior it was $1.58.
Prices historically start to rise in the springtime, when the refining industry transitions from winter heating oil to summer gasoline and just ahead of the traditional summer driving season.
Tom Kloza, co-founder of Oil Price Information Service in Wall Township, said in a tweet on Thursday that the average price of gasoline in the United States rose above $2 per gallon for the first time since Dec. 31. He also predicted that the average would continue to creep higher in the next five months.
In New Jersey gas is still a bargain . By Friday, the national average for regular gasoline was $2.03, compared with New Jersey’s average of $1.81. Though the state average is significantly lower than the national rate, gas prices at both levels appear to rise and fall at a parallel rate. Both averages bottomed out in February – the national average at slightly below $1.73, and the state average near $1.63 – and have been steadily rising since.
Though the Bergen-Passaic average for regular gasoline was $1.81 on Friday, retail pumps offered gas at a wide range of prices.
According to GasBuddy.com, an online source for gasoline data, the lowest reported price in the Bergen-Passaic market on Friday was at a Power Fuel station in Woodland Park that sold regular gasoline for $1.57 a gallon. On the higher end, a Lukoil station in Wyckoff sold gas for $2.59, the highest in the state, according to GasBuddy.com.
Though gas prices are on the rise, AAA data showed that prices Friday were still significantly lower from one year ago, when the regular price of gasoline in the Bergen-Passaic market averaged $2.19. Last year’s average is still well below the highest recorded average of $4 a gallon on July 6, 2008.
Ridgewood NJ, YWCA Bergen County is offering an April American Red Cross Lifeguard Training course. Students must take and pass a swim test, which will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m with a $10 swim test fee due at registration. Course will begin on April 2 and run through April 21, 2016 with classes held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. at 112 Oak Street in Ridgewood. The course fee is $350.
Participants must be 15 years of age or older. This course prepares students with the CPR, First Aid and lifeguard techniques necessary for employment as a professional lifeguard. For more information or to register call the YWCA Membership Office at 201-444-5600, x400, or visitwww.ywcabergencounty.org.
A pool of creamy mozzarella spilled out of the grilled zucchini wrapped around the thick round of cheese. With every pleasurable bite, I had to remind myself that I was in Ridgewood and not Campania, Italy.
The restaurant, From Scratch, has that kind of transporting affect. The dishes are simple but use the highest quality ingredients, including local vegetables and seafood. Oils, cheeses and cured meats arrive weekly from the motherland (the mozzarella had indeed traveled from Campania to Ridgewood just days before I savored it). And, as the name suggests, everything — from the pastas and breads to the sauces and desserts — is prepared from scratch.
Dana (with orange balloon) with petition. Roberta trying to interrupt conversation. John Saraceno standing off to side. Picture by Ellen McNamera snapped picture.
March 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, People at Van Neste square now collecting signatures. Roberta, Rurik & John apparently trying to interrupt conversations, so petitioners can’t talk to people.Hard to believe a village employee is trying to prevent a legal democratic process!
No time in modern history has a Village manager so unprofessionally inserted herself into the political process . Hired as a political hack Roberta Sonenfeld has now crossed the line .
Readers raise questions:
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld may I ask you. Are you not hired to work for ALL of the residents of this town, by our elected representatives?
How and in what way is it acceptable, professional, or above board, for you to be in the town park today with a developer/builder who seeks to change our town, and clearly people are divided over that, and a man with a stake in the game. You’re there on our dime speaking on their behalf while residents are peacefully, and quietly attempting to exercise our rights. Residents of this town who again, PAY YOUR SALARY- for now.
How are you there pushing your agenda and not mediating the questions among-st all residents and accurately discussing both sides of the arguments?
How do you still sit in your current position? How do you look your neighbors in the face?
You represent one, and only one, side of the argument and it is questionable as to WHY. It is very very questionable.
I think that people have been remiss in not forcefully and immediately investigating THAT.
The petition seeks to protest Ordinance 3521 with the following ballot question:
Shall Ordinance No. 3521 authorizing the Council of the Village of Ridgewood
to issue $11,500,000 bonds or notes to finance the cost of constructing the
Hudson Street Parking Deck, currently contemplated as a 4 story, 5 level
Parking Deck, be ratified?Do you know the difference in height between Option A and Design D?
It’s 2ft 6in. Would you call that a compromise?
We don’t.The in house funding for the parking garage passed 5-0 on 23rd, which is great. Everyone wants the garage funded in house.
Many people who want the garage, and want to fund in house, believe it’s just 2 tall, and should come down a level.
Why a petition to repeal an ordinance that we really want?
Because this petition will put funding on hold (for a short time),
it will allow the 5 council members to talk compromise (something three of them have been unwilling to do).
They have a choice, they can decide to seriously sit down at the compromise table, and see if 1 level lower will work
(all the numbers point to a yes, since any size garage relies heavily on the parking meter revenues).
If it’s agreed to lowering it 1 story to 3 stories, 4 levels, the petition will be withdrawn,
& we move forward immediately with a 3 story 4 level parking garage funded in house.So, it basically comes down to this:
If you’d rather see:
design D with 3 stories, 4 levels, approx 37ft building height & 52ft towers- approx 260 spaces- then you should sign the petition
If you are happy with the current design D of 4 stories, 5 levels, 46ft 8in building height & 60ft 10in towers- 325 spaces- then you should not sign the petition
You must be a registered voter residing in the Village of Ridgewood to sign the petition.
Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood will begin enforcement of Chapter 190-122 of the Code of the Village of Ridgewood on April 1, 2016. This ordinance regulates the construction, installation or display of signs within the Village. Please ensure that any non-conforming signs (ie. A-frames, banners, temporary signs, neon, etc…) are removed prior to April 1, 2016. Failure to comply with the ordinance may result in the issuance of a municipal court summons. Periodic monitoring will be occurring on a regular basis.
We understand the signs may be an integral part of advertising your business, but those that are not permitted by ordinance must be removed. This effort is being made to coincide with the enforcement of the Sidewalk Café ordinance with the ultimate focus on public safety.
For your convenience, the Village ordinances may be viewed by visiting the Village website atwww.ridgewoodnj.net. Please click on the “General Code” link on the right side of the homepage. This will link you to ECode 360 at which time you can search for the applicable ordinance.
Should you require further clarification on this matter or any other property maintenance issue; please do not hesitate to contact Tracy Jeffery, Code Enforcement Official at 201-670-5500, ext. 214. Our unified efforts will result in a safer environment for all.
Jack-knifed tractor trailer forced Route 17 North in Ridgewood on Friday
March 26,2016
the staff of thye Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Friday March 25th a section of Route 17 north in Ridgewood was closed in Ridgewood ,when
the northbound lanes were blocked due to Jack-knifed tractor trailer just north of Paramus Road. The highway was closed at around 1:45 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.
Delays of at least 30 minutes were reported in the area and Village as authorities including Ridgewood Police worked to clear a jack-knifed tractor trailer . Route 17 North has been reopened later in the afternoon.
To all our Ridgewood customers, we are sad to announce that on April 2nd we will be closing our doors to the Ridgewood location. Due to circumstances out of our control with the development of the town we have been forced to close the store. But as the say, “when one door closes another one opens”, which is exactly what we are doing!!! We are currently in the process of building our flagship store in downtown Newark. We hope to have this is open by April 30th. Its 1500 sqft space located on Halsey St.
We would like to thank each & everyone of you that has supported the store and the scene for the past 3 years, you guys have been great and will truly be missed. We know that a great shop relies on its community and we thank you for being part of it.
We will continue to serve the community in the area and at Ridgewood Skate Park and we will still have the Nutley store and online store www.undergroundskateshop.com where you can still continue to support us.
We will keep you all updated via social media on the progress of the Newark store and as soon as we have a set date we will inform you all of the grand opening
Ridgewood NJ, Resident Dana H. Glazer a video on the the Valley ‘Settlement.’ For more information about the Valley Hospital settlement, please email: [email protected] . Please attend the following Public Hearings:
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld has often exceeded her authority by speaking her mind (that is, the mayor’s mind) on issues that are not within her purview. At council meetings, on Facebook, and elsewhere she holds forth in a way that is entirely inappropriate for, and unbecoming to, an employee of the Village. (You will never see such things from any other Village employee.) Most objectionably, she does not hesitate to reprimand residents, sometimes harshly, for expressing their views. The mayor insisted on hiring her above more qualified applicants to be his junkyard dog, and that’s precisely what she has become, with increasing stridency.
The Facebook page on which her note below appears does not accept posts that criticize the mayor’s circle; however, if the Ridgewood Blog reproduces her letter, which after all is addressed to “residents and friends” (not necessarily the same thing), all residents, including those who choose not to use Facebook, will be able to see what she is doing and have an opportunity to comment. The link is given for those who can access Facebook and wish to see the original.
A fair amount of the information being promulgated here is simply NOT CORRECT.
Given the 5-0 Village Council vote on Wednesday, many if not all of you may feel that the parking deck at Hudson Street is a done deal. This would be a normal reaction given the unanimous vote. Sadly this is not the case, however, as a group of people are challenging this vote by petitioning to rescind this ordinance. This is the same group of petitioners that have raised opposition to the deck previously because they wanted Ridgewood to bond by itself and not use Bergen County. Another week, another new excuse to stop a much-needed parking facility in our downtown. This time the excuse is that the deck, despite having been redesigned several times, is still too large.
The design of our deck has undergone much change and much compromise based upon the input of residents and professionals. The deck has decreased from 405 spots to 325 spots. The width of the deck has decreased 18’, from 122’ to 104’8”. The cantilever over Hudson Street has been totally eliminated. The larger tower has decreased by approximately 7’, to 60’10”; this is consistent with the other two towers currently existing on the NE and SW corners of E Ridgewood Ave and Broad Street. The height of our structure is only 43’ to the roofline. It exceeds the 45’ height code only when adding the 3’9” parapets (a safety/aesthetic feature). With this decrease has come some changes in the financials, causing the per parking spot cost to increase from less than $30,000 to about $33,000.
We have gotten to this point by careful and responsible management. There have been environmental studies, site surveys, financial analyses, traffic studies, engineering/architectural renderings and more. We have involved our police and fire professionals since the start to insure the safety of our building and the people who will eventually use it. We are at the point of completing our construction bid documents and almost ready to embark upon the exciting next phase of building this deck.
After decades of discussion, we are so close to doing the right thing for our residents, for our commuters, for our visitors, for our business district employees, and for our businesses in the downtown. Do not let a group of people who have continually tried to find any argument for not building this deck succeed in thwarting our progress.
