file photo by Boyd Loving
“Public confidence in our police officers is absolutely positively vital,” said Acting Attorney General John Hoffman.
In a year of police shootings, community uproar and disturbing videos, Hoffman announced the expansion of body cameras in New Jersey.
(Michael Aron, NJTVNews)
https://www.njtvonline.org/
July 29,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A homeless man dubbed by police as the “bicycle bandit” is wanted in connection with a series of overnight break-ins in several New Jersey communities, including Ridgewood, Allendale, Closter, Norwood, and Ramsey.
On Monday July 20, 2015, a Ridgewood resident reported that sometime between 2:00 am and 6:00 am that date an unidentified actor entered his/her home removing cash from the kitchen counter and consuming some leftover food from the refrigerator. The matter is under investigation by the detective bureau. Ridgewood Police now believe the the actor as the “Bicycle Bandit”. The Police have identified the man, James Rainsford, 47, a homeless man authorities say lives in or near Paterson.
In Allendale home surveillance video from one of the burglaries captured the suspect, 47-year-old James Rainsford, calmly walking up to an Allendale home and trying one door after another. He bolts when an alarm sounds and runs across the lawn, and soon after, his bike reflectors are seen spinning away as he rides off.
Little Falls Police are also looking for Rainsford who they say is responsible for burglarizing multiple homes and taking food with him from the scenes.
Anyone with information or who may have seen Rainsford should either call 9-1-1 or the Ridgewood Police Department at 201-652-3900.
$40 + Million for BOE Ridgewood Schools All renovations
$15 Million for VOR Parking Garage bonded by public funds
$5 Million for Ridgewood Library renovations (mix of private / public funds)
$ ? Millions ? Unknown for Performing arts center Building next to library/VOR
Running Total Estimates so far at $60 + MILLION
Estimates are just that, estimates, and tend to go over.
Lots of questions need to be asked about the funding of these Wish Lists projects. Detailed answers to specific financials, the percentages of NJ State funding/ VOR / public funding needed to be appropriated for these projects, as well as the County and NJ Transit in the case for the parking garage with the expected/ projected parking revenues. What would be the time line for all these debts to be paid off, and the breakdown on the taxpayers.
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RESIDENTS -Saturday, August 1
Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents on Saturday’s every month. Mayor Aronsohn will meet with residents on Saturday, August 1 from 9AM to Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall.
For an appointment to meet with the Mayor, please call the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 206. You may come to the Mayor’s office hours without an appointment, but those with appointments will be given priority.
Posted July 26, 2015 12:54 pm by WirePoints
By: Mark Glennon*
Nobel Prize winning economists aren’t the hyperbolic type. They usually speak in measured tones, careful to protect the precision of their academic viewpoints. Two of them have spoken openly about public pensions, including one about Illinois pensions. They are uncharacteristically harsh.
First, there’s William F. Sharpe, a Stanford professor who won 1990 Nobel Prize for Economics for his work in developing models to aid investment decisions. The Financial Analysts Journal interviewed him last year. Here’s what he said:
Is this a disaster? You bet…. It’s a crisis of epic proportions…. [Pensions] value liabilities at 7.5% or 8% on the grounds that they are pretty sure they’ll earn that in the long run. This is crazy. It gets even worse. Because they want to minimize the reported value of the liabilities, they want to use a high discount rate, and in order to justify it, they have to build really risky portfolios. Consequently, they believe that one of the great hings to do is put money in private equity, or maybe a hedge fund, because then they can assume an extra 300 or 400 bps of expected return for an iliquidity premium (or just because hedge fund managers are so smart). So, the tail wags the dog.
Idiotic accounting drives even worse investment decisions. This is the classic case of an organization that borrowed money while issuing purportedly guaranteed payment and then used the money to invest in risky securities. Where have we recently heard that this is not a good thing?
Of course, you can point to the politics to see why politicians might give benefits that are very large to employees, especially those who may be
able to influence elections in various ways. By making sure the benefits are mostly in the future, politicians can pretend that they cost a lot less than they’re going to cost. It’s a very bad situation. [Emphasis added.]
N.J. Senate President Sweeney calls for $1 trillion in US loans to save pensions
JULY 29, 2015, 11:24 AM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015, 3:14 PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-senate-president-sweeney-calls-for-1-trillion-in-us-loans-to-save-pensions-1.1382539
By Linda Stamato | NJ Voices
on July 19, 2015 at 5:54 PM, updated July 29, 2015 at 9:57 AM
The slogan reads “Your Interests, not Special Interests.”It’s available on a bumper sticker courtesy of theDemocratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Seriously. I’d like to believe it. But I’d like to believe in tooth fairies too.
Here in New Jersey, as elsewhere, the slogan is more wishful thinking than reality. It’s not just the Democrats or even mostly them, but Republicans too. And when both political parties want to do favors for a special interest and join sides to do it, watch out! It’s then that even the “good guys” look the other way and others hold their noses and go along.
This is not what we mean by bipartisanship.
Case in point: George E. Norcross III, citizen of South Jersey, or as Tom Moran dubbed him, the Dark Lord, the second most powerful political force in New Jersey. What Mr. Norcross wants, evidently, Mr. Norcross gets. Both parties go along, and, at a fast clip. Recently, Norcross decided he wanted–for Cooper University Hospital–the paramedic service that Virtua Health has been providing in the city of Camden since 1977, even though Virtua has provided advanced life support and paramedic services, by all accounts, exceptionally well. So, why take it away? Because, we learn, Norcross said so. (And, he has “a history” with Virtua.)
A bill, S2980 /A-4526) was rushed through both houses to accomplish this act, pausing by a few committees that passed on it in less than a week, and it wound up on Christie’s desk where it was promptly signed. Ordinarily, for such a change to take place, a certification of need would be required. Not for Cooper. Not for Norcross. Why? Think about it. The certification process is transparent. It takes time. And, Cooper might not have prevailed. So, what to do? Bypass the process. That way the outcome is assured. And, by the way, not only did the governor not hesitate to sign off, he put $2.5 million into the budget to help buy the ambulances and the equipment Cooper “needs” to carry out its new responsibilities. What are friends for?
Posted by Alyssa Lafage On July 29, 2015 0 Comment
By Alyssa Lafage | The Save Jersey Blog
Ever since the release of two three disturbing undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the procurement and sale of body parts from aborted babies, Save Jerseyans, prolife activists and average Americans alike have been expressing outrage.
On Tuesday, this outrage manifested itself in Trenton (and in 65 cities across the country) when residents from all across the state joined together on the steps of the capitol to call on officials to investigate and defund the billion dollar abortion giant.
Trenton’s rally featured the following speakers: Marie Tasy of NJ Right to Life, Darlene Dunn, Dr. Kyle Beiter of the National Gianna Center for Womens Health and Fertility, Rev. Clenard Childress of New Calvary Baptist Church and BlackGenocide.org, Dr. Ana Gomes of Family Practice Phillipsburg, Holly Wright of Lifenet, Joan Fasanello of Life Choices, Patti Staley, and Monica Quaste.
Rev. Childress received the biggest response from the crowd when he suggested the prolife cause is nonpartisan and went on to praise Governor Christie for his history of vetoing legislation that would go to Planned Parenthood:
https://savejersey.com/2015/07/women-betrayed-rally-trenton-abortion-planned-parenthood/
The whole point of meeting a source at a bar is to get him (or her) in as relaxed a mood as possible in order to talk.
Midway into the conversation the source began slurring his words, eyes fixed on the empty beer bottle in front of him on the bar top. The dead, almost cross-eyed look in his eyes with a hint of curiosity for the unknown, suggested that the empty bottle might as well have been a lacquered Buddha statue on sale in Chinatown for $5.99.
(Editor, Politickernj.com)
https://politickernj.com/2015/
JULY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015, 9:11 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Finding a parking spot at the Village Hall lot has been tough sledding lately for some visitors to the municipal complex.
The arrival of summer means that many outdoor events are taking place at Veterans Field. The added hustle and bustle, along with regular events at the Ridgewood Public Library and day-to-day business at Village Hall, often causes the 153-space main lot to be full at various points during both the day and evening.
Earlier this month, discussion began on how the auxiliary lots on Linwood Avenue, one of which is at the other end of Veterans Field, could be better utilized in handling the parking needs of patrons attending overlapping events.
For example, on the evening of Tuesday, July 7, there was a Warren Grim tribute concert at Kasschau Shell, a baseball game, a Planning Board meeting at Village Hall and the library was hosting its knitting group, Mahjongg group and bicycle club.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, who was present at the municipal complex that evening as a Planning Board member, characterized the parking situation as “dangerous.” She said some motorists were bottlenecking as they drove around waiting for a spot. Other cars were sitting idle while parallel to parking spaces, blocking in other cars.
Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli noted it was possible for a person to park in those spaces and then go anywhere in town, or perhaps even walk to the train station and travel to New York City. The only parking limits placed on the Village Hall lot is the presence of 36 yellow-striped spaces reserved for village employees, which expires at 4:30 p.m. each day. There are also 17 spaces reserved for staff members of the Ridgewood Library.
Currently, 89 spaces in the main lot and another 17 on North Maple Avenue are available for visitors to Village Hall and the Ridgewood Library.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/solutions-sought-to-clear-congestion-1.1382456
Heat stroke results from an extreme elevation in body temperature (>106°F) and occurs when heat generation (via metabolism, exercise, environmental conditions, etc) exceeds the body’s ability to dissipate heat (via conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation). Severe hyperthermia affects nearly every system in the body and can lead to kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, brain swelling, blood clots or coagulation problems, septicemia, liver disease, heart muscle damage/failure, fluid buildup in the lungs and shock.
Pets suffering from heat stroke, which can be a cat or a dog, may show one or more of the following clinical signs: extreme panting and respiratory distress, collapse and inability to rise, agitation, foaming at the mouth or thick, ropey saliva, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, and very red gums or pale gums. These signs indicate a true emergency and the pet should be brought to the hospital immediately. If a pet is showing the above signs…
WHAT TO DO:
– Remove the pet from the environment where the hyperthermia occurred
– Move the pet to the shade or indoors and direct a fan on him/her
– Begin cooling the pet with cool (not cold) water on the trunk and legs (a tub or garden hose works well)
– If possible, obtain and record the rectal temperature
– Call and transport to the hospital immediately after wetting the animal
WHAT NOT TO DO:
– Do NOT use cold water or ice for cooling unless under the guidance of a veterinarian (this causes peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering, both of which act to increase the body temperature)
– Do NOT delay examination of the pet by a veterinarian
– Do NOT attempt to force the animal to eat or drink
– Do NOT leave the pet unattended
– Do NOT overcool the pet
Please share this information with any friends or pet owners who may not be aware of the dangers of heat stroke!
Courtesy of your friends at the
RIDGEWOOD VETERINARY HOSPITAL
201-447-6000/201-445-0030
JULY 28, 2015, 6:57 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015, 11:07 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Additional criminal counts have been filed against a former Ridgewood resident accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with seven of the college athletes he had coached.
A grand jury in Rockland County, N.Y., returned a 197-count indictment last month against Kurt G. Ludwigsen, the 44-year-old former coach for Nyack College’s softball team.
The indictment formalized the 190 counts of forcible touching and sexual abuse Ludwigsen was initially arrested on three months ago and added seven charges of first-degree felony coercion.
Related: More charges for Ridgewood man accused of improper sexual contact by college softball players
Ludwigsen is due back in court on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m. in front of Rockland County Supreme Court Judge William Kelly.
Ludwigsen allegedly touched the buttocks and breasts of seven of the team’s players, including four freshmen, according to the indictment, and none of the women consented to the sexual contact.
The sexual abuse allegedly occurred between Sept. 1, 2014, and March 5 — just days before Ludwigsen was fired by the college, the indictment says.
July 29,2015
1218 AM EDT WED JUL 29 2015
RIDGEWOOD NJ, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE and the NJ DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAVE ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS ISSUED AN
AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES…BERGEN…ESSEX…PASSAIC…UNION…HUDSON.
IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY MEANS THAT GROUND LEVEL OZONE WITHIN THE
REGION MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…PLEASE VISIT THE NEW JERSEY STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT…HTTP://WWW.NJAQINOW.NET
By Kyle Smith
July 29, 2015 | 2:00am
Jon Stewart — the man who loves to be called a nonpartisan, a scourge of cant, an honest soul who follows the truth wherever it leads — has been secretly taking trips to the White House to receive intense one-on-one lobbying from President Obama.
Moreover, Politico reported Tuesday, “Daily Show” staffers routinely call up the White House to get the administration’s input.
Austan Goolsbee, a former top economic adviser to the president, frequently emailed with his college classmate Scott Bodow, a “Daily Show” executive producer, to offer spin. Obama flunky David Axelrod often reached out directly to Stewart.
Obama himself would summon Stewart to Washington for meetings.
It turns out Jon Stewart isn’t our Edward R. Murrow or our Mark Twain. He’s more like our . . . Jay Carney. Don’t count on future generations knowing Stewart’s name any more than they will know Carney’s
https://nypost.com/2015/07/29/jon-stewarts-secret-obama-meetings-reveal-hes-a-partisan-hack/
Most Republicans, however, say it will be tough to round up the votes to overthrow the speaker.
By Jake Sherman and Lauren French
7/28/15 6:01 PM EDT
Updated 7/28/15 10:28 PM EDT
North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows had heard from leading conservatives that trying to oust Speaker John Boehner right now was a bad idea.
Reps. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), fierce and frequent critics of leadership, thought the move was ill-advised. Some of Meadows’ friends didn’t even see it coming. But just before 6 p.m. Tuesday — a day before the House was set to leave town for its five-week summer recess — Meadows offered a motion to vacate the chair, an extraordinarily rare procedural move that represents the most serious expression of opposition to Boehner’s speakership. If the motion were to pass — most Republicans say it will be hard to cobble together the votes — Boehner would be stripped of the speaker’s gavel, potentially plunging the House of Representatives into chaos.
GOP leaders were taken completely by surprise. Meadows, a second-term Republican, hadn’t even asked for a meeting with Boehner or other top Republicans to air his gripes.
Until now, the North Carolina Republican had taken small steps to undermine Boehner — he voted against procedural motions and against Boehner for speaker. Now he’s declared all-out war, and he could quickly find out how many people are willing to back him up.
Meadows, however, didn’t go as far as he could have. A motion to vacate the chair — last attempted roughly a century ago — is typically considered a privileged resolution. In that format, the House would hold a vote within two legislative days. Meadows, however, chose not to offer it in that form, which he said was a sign that he wanted a discussion.
JULY 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015, 9:38 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Representatives of architecture firm EI Associates gave estimates on the cost of renovations to Ridgewood school buildings at last Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
“Over the past school year, we have been working with EI on some facility projects,” said Superintendent of Schools Daniel Fishbein. “The focus of tonight is on the facility review of all our schools.”
Mike Wozney, the director of all educational projects at EI Associates, described the way in which the firm travels to schools, inspects buildings, and estimates how much it would cost to spruce them up. However, as Wozney made clear, the numbers are hypothetical, and subject to change.
“These numbers are conceptual in nature,” Wozney said. “Any time we do a project for a district, we first identify the deficiency; put a budgetary number to it. As you move that project along, the next step would be schematic design. The numbers would be more accurate, and obviously with a detailed design, very accurate.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/renovation-costs-reviewed-by-ridgewood-district-1.1381853
