Author: James

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Garrett Votes to End Common Core Coercion

Children_of_the_Common_Core

Jul 15, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) today voted to give control of our children’s education back to parents, teachers, and school boards by supporting H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. The Student Success Act replaces the current national testing system with state-led accountability measures.

“New Jersey has many of the best schools and educators in the United States, yet the parents I speak to are concerned about the negative impact that federal programs like Common Core are having on the quality of our students’ education. For years, Washington has dangled federal funds in front of states and forced them to adopt their one-size-fits-all standards—this has to stop. The Student Success Act is an important first step towards ending the cycle of federal coercion and allowing New Jersey to determine its own success by returning control to our local school boards, teachers, and parents.”

H.R. 5 also includes a provision originally proposed by Rep. Garrett in 2013 that clarifies that the states are not required to take part in any federal education program, nor are they required to adhere to program requirements should they choose to opt out or are not awarded any funds.

Student Success Act (from Committee on Education and the Workforce):

Eliminates the secretary’s ability to promote the adoption of Common Core or any other particular academic standards or assessments by prohibiting the federal government from tying state adoption to the receipt of federal funds or waivers of K-12 education law.
Prohibits the secretary from influencing in any way the partnerships states form and the assessments states choose to use, thereby ensuring decisions to adopt and implement any particular standards or assessments lie solely with state and local leaders.
Excludes authorization for programs the secretary has used to coerce states to adopt his preferred policies,including Race to the Top.
Prevents the secretary from imposing additional burdens on states and school districts through the regulatory process in areas of standards, assessments, and state accountability plans.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Economics 101 of the Hudson Street Village Parking Garage

parking_theridgewoodblog

July 15,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, normally we do not publish theses comments , because they lack even the most rudimentary understanding of basic economics and are an attempt to lie and mislead the public, but  from time to time we find it necessary to publish these types of comments to show how the powers that be attempt to manipulate
the local taxpayers.

“Ridgewood is being groomed for cash cow status by a handful of entrepreneurs who have invested in the old BoA building, the Old Post Office, Park West among others. They’ve spent a considerable amount of money to open establishments in the CBD, and now want to increase the foot traffic needed to make them profitable. Notice that Kidville has no parking? If the clientele is all based in CBD apartments, no parking will be needed.

I find it fascinating that the readers of this “Laissez-faire” blog have a problem with any of this. This is business at work, and the Master Plan is the only thing in the way. Or are we all NIMBY Libertarians here? Regulation is bad, unless it preserves something near and dear to our hearts? You can’t have it both ways.

Property values, especially those within walking distance of the CBD, will only go up as dining an recreation options multiply.

My only problems with the whole agenda is that it relies on New Jersey Transit’s deteriorating service to transport all the new residents to work in NYC. That, and the schools will suffer. I’m already making a backup plan for my daughter if the High School goes the way I think it will between now an when she is in 9th grade.”

This gave everyone and exceptional laugh .There is so much wrong with this comment showing the level of dishonesty that some are willing to go in an attempt to “get over”

first a definition :

lais·sez-faire
ˌlesā ˈfer/
noun

a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering.
synonyms:noninterventionist, noninterventional, noninterfering; More

ECONOMICS
abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market.
“laissez-faire capitalism”
synonyms:free enterprise, free trade, nonintervention, free-market capitalism,market forces
“an agenda that embraces the concept of laissez-faire”

Humm no where in the definition of lais·sez-faire does it say taxpayers will finance , and bear the risk for ill conceived business ventures ,in exchange for campaign donations due to changes in existing laws making these ventures possible ie the change in the master plan .

Private enterprise works because it rewards and punishes risk takes .

What you have hear is better known as Crony Capitalism

Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, or other forms of state interventionism.

Which the above comment carefully avoided saying  and we corrected : “you missed the Hudson county democrat machine which our mayor represents and is here to milk this town for all its got , the only business people getting deals down town are those contributing”

Our suggestion for the above poster is to move back to Hoboken , its a far better fit for the kind of place you want to live .

For those looking to enlighten themselves on basic economic theory we recommend :

Economics in One Lesson: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback – September 25, 2008
by Henry Hazlitt  (Author), Steve Forbes (Foreword)

Available on Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/Economics-One-Lesson-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0930073193

 

 

Posted on by — 5 Comments

The Village of Ridgewood Council to vote for the future of a parking garage in Ridgewood

Hudson_street_parking_theridgewoodblog

July 15,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Village of Ridgewood Council Meeting
Wednesday July 15, 2015- 7:30pm, Court Room
The Village of Ridgewood Council will be voting for the future of a parking garage in Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce  looks to rally the troops tonight to push through the parking garage  readers say not so fast .

“Where will the shopper/diners/employees park during construction? A net loss of 80 spots at any given time for three years. Let me remind you $.50/hour per meter. 80 spaces x $.50/space = $40/hour. $40 x 12 hour day = $480/day. $480/day x 465 days x 3 years = $525,600 revenue loss during construction. About the same amount that could pay for the parking study commissioned by the 3 Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”

Skimmed the linked (Walker)report and my heart sank at the photos. This is not suitable. Walk down Hudson St. with a building sticking out over our heads? How is this appropriate? The noise, the traffic, the smells, people rushing around at rush hour–forget sitting on the sidewalk at Sook or Natalie’s, or probably even inside. Who wants to listen to/look at/smell that thing? The mayor and deputy mayor are so proud to be pushing for this? Burn in hell, guys.”

“How can we even consider something that costs this much money? We will never get it back in any way. Let NJ Transit and CBD building owners pay for it. The turf was bad enough.”

“Of course the wording is misleading. They have every intention of misleading the public on this. They are trying to shove this parking garage down our throats and they want to be able to say that we all approved it.”

“As sure as you’re born, a parking garage erected by Ridgewood’s village government will be co-opted for use by out-of-town commuters in accordance with the preferences of those seeking to dismantle New Jersey’s deeply ingrained “home rule” tradition and replace it with a new oligarchical style of regional government. Imagine a regional, multicounty board of overseers populated by Gwen Hauck-type cloned hand-puppets easily manipulated by namelesss, faceless third-party wealthy power brokers. That’s what many forward-thinking progressive statists see in their dreams. They don’t give a whit about mere business owners and their parking concerns…”

“My questions:

1. What happens if parking revenues fall short of expectations?

2. What is the proposed parking fee structure for the new garage?

These are very important questions and I will explain why. For the first one, the answer is pretty obvious. The Village taxpayers will be on the hook for it as the construction bond cannot be reneged on just because you hoped there would be enough revenue. The second one will absolutely dictate the success or failure of the entire project. Any fee structure that is more than street parking will completely disincentivize most people from using the garage. They will circle the blocks until a street space frees up, or they will go somewhere else to eat/shop. As I’ve stated before, this garage will represent the parking location of absolute last resort, and I predict it will be viewed in years to come as one of those “what were they thinking” buildings.”

From the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce :

PARKING GARAGE

We invite everyone to attend next weeks Village of Ridgewood Council Meeting

Wednesday July 15, 2015- 7:30pm, Court Room

The Village of Ridgewood Council will be voting for the future of a parking garage in Ridgewood…

we encourage everyone who knows that the future of Ridgewood’s business district depends on this very important vote-
**needed are 4 yes’s from the Council members**

Please attend the meeting,voice your concerns at the public form and show your support for a parking garage.
It’s been 88 years since Ridgewood’s needed a parking garage…NOW IS THE TIME!
pu
Save our “downtown”!
see you there.

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Parking meter debacle on North Walnut Street

DSCF8791

July 14,2015
Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewoood NJ, If you’ve ever received a summons for overtime parking at meter #218 on North Walnut Street alongside the Post Office, this may be your lucky day.

Meter #218 is currently configured to allow 15-minute parking only.  However, the current Village Code stipulates that particular parking spot should be equipped with a meter that permits up to 3-hour parking.

DSCF8790 1

Section 265-29 of the Village Code specifically designates only two (2) 15-minute (1/4 hour) parking spaces on the East side of North Walnut Street between East Ridgewood and Franklin Avenues.  Meter #218 is the third in a series of three (3) 15-minute (1/4 hour) spaces there.

So, if you received a summons for overtime parking at meter #218, and you were parked for less than 3-hours, your summons may be bogus.  I suggest you visit the Violations Bureau at Village Hall if you think that you might have been bamboozled.

Village Council members are expected to introduce & approve a revision the Village Code authorizing an additional 15-minute parking space alongside the Post Office, but that could take months.  Until then, just remember that any summons issued for overtime parking (for less than 3-hours) at meter #218 may not be legit.

 

Posted on by — 2 Comments

We need serious discussion of the combination of these affordable housing developments and the planning board’s decision to allow hundreds of new families to move into a few acres of land in downtown Ridgewood

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

We need serious discussion of the combination of these affordable housing developments and the planning board’s decision to allow hundreds of new families to move into a few acres of land in downtown Ridgewood. I think one of the consequences of the housing projects approved by the planning board will be to set ourselves up for these very builder suits as well as claims of “spot zoning.”

Affordable housing is a great goal. But what we completely don’t understand is how the courts will enforce the means to that goal. So, we are on the verge of approving 400 to 500 new family units in the middle of town at selected sites. Some of that will be designated for low income. What if it is not enough in the eyes of some judge? What if the judge measures the need for low income housing against the entire town as a whole. Is it possible the judge could say we need to designate 50% of all new housing to low income?

Frankly, that might bring a nice diversity to the town and I think we all love to hear about hard working families that are given a chance. But, what will the effect be on the speculators / builders who think they just hit the jackpot with the planning board. Low income means less profit. Will that profit come out of the facades of the buildings we have to look at? Will it come out of the taxes the developers said would be generated when the developers go in and demand tax reductions? Will it come out of the structures themselves so that we are the cusp of creating tenements in our downtown. Remember, the planning board did not approve “quality housing.” It approved increased housing density, period. If the developers are forced to give up profit by the courts, they will have no incentive to build quality units and we will have no ability to stop them from building sub-standard units.

And then there is the issue of surrounding properties. Once one property owner sees that they can tear down a store and put up 50 to 100 family units, why won’t they? The planning board randomly picked spots in town and said they were suitable for high density living. There is no rhyme or reason to what they did, other than that is what the developers asked for first. The planning board did not “plan”, it “reacted” to what the developers demanded. These same developers or the next set will come in and ask for the same treatment. And when they don’t get it, they will make the same arguments that hoodwinked the current planning board – – we need to do this to satisfy affordable housing rules. And regardless of what the planning board says, they only need to convince one judge that they are right.

The Village council needs to seriously consider these issues in detail before it approves the massive over-development of downtown Ridgewood.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Katie Pavlich: Barack Obama’s sanctuary country for criminal aliens

illegal immigrants3

“The White House and President Obama himself were more than willing to comment on the particular, local cases of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, even before all of the facts were known. Apparently, Kathryn Steinle doesn’t look enough like one of his daughters for Obama to give a damn.”

Katie Pavlich: Barack Obama’s sanctuary country for criminal aliens

By Katie Pavlich – 07/13/15 05:22 PM EDT

The debate over illegal immigration erupted again recently after 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle was shot and killed allegedly by seven-time felon and five-time deportee criminal alien Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez in San Francisco. During a jailhouse interview, Lopez-Sanchez said he chose San Francisco to take advantage of sanctuary city policies in order to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Before Steinle’s killing, ICE issued an arrest detainer for Lopez-Sanchez to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department. That detainer was refused and Lopez-Sanchez was released.

The White House is refusing to comment on the case, despite the national debate surrounding the issue and the federal implications of Steinle’s death.

“For this particular case I’d refer you to [the Department of Homeland Security]. I can’t speak to the particulars of this specific case,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at a press briefing last week.

The White House and President Obama himself were more than willing to comment on the particular, local cases of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray, even before all of the facts were known. Apparently, Kathryn Steinle doesn’t look enough like one of his daughters for Obama to give a damn.

Instead, the White House is focused on blaming Republicans for failing to comply with the president’s open-border, lawless illegal immigration agenda.

https://thehill.com/opinion/katie-pavlich/247743-katie-pavlich-barack-obamas-sanctuary-country-for-criminal-aliens

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Networks Censor Obama’s Assault On Suburbs

streetscape_theridgwoodblog

ABC, CBS and NBC refused to cover the administration’s official unveiling of a policy as ambitious and politically radioactive as its socialized medicine scheme.

Under sweeping new regulations finalized last week, more than 1,250 municipalities across the country now must diversify neighborhoods through rezoning or risk losing billions in federal funding from the Housing and Urban Development Department.

Besides the fact that legal scholars view the federal mandate — whose goal is racially balancing the nation, ZIP code by ZIP code — as patently unconstitutional, it also threatens to import violent crime into the suburbs while lowering property values and negatively impacting local schools.

As kitchen table issues go, this is huge; yet the evening news didn’t see it that way. In fact, newscasts completely blacked out the issue after HUD released the rule last week.

“Instead of mentioning this expansion of the federal government, the CBS Evening News devoted a news brief to viral video of a ground trap blowing wildly in a rain delay during Tuesday night’s Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game,” NewsBusters noted.

ABC’s World News Tonight, meanwhile, devoted one segment to the announcement that Taco Bell will start home delivery.

After President Obama in his Saturday radio address encouraged civil-rights activists to join HUD in enforcing the new rule to bring more Section 8 housing to the suburbs — “Now you’ll have the data you need to make the case” — the networks still weren’t interested in the story.

On their Sunday news shows, the Big Three networks all ignored the issue again, focusing instead on socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and the sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which recasts protagonist Atticus Finch as a racist.

Surveys show that most American adults still get their political news largely from the network TV news shows (as opposed to cable TV like Fox).

So the blackout of this radical rule, shrouded in bureaucrat-speak as “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing,” means that middle-class families — but more importantly, suburban voters — don’t know what Democrats are doing to destroy their way of life.

Make no mistake, this is by design.

The big media support Democrats, and the last thing that they want to do is make suburban integration an issue in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Read More At Investor’s Business Daily: https://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/071315-761398-big-media-punt-on-covering-hud-plan-to-diversify-suburbs.htm#ixzz3frsoQLXD

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Rep. Scott Garrett , “Congress must ensure the terrorist state of Iran never has a chance to threaten the world with nuclear weapons.”

scott-garrett

Jul 14, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement on the nuclear arms agreement with Iran:

“As I’ve said since the beginning of these negotiations, any agreement that allows Iran to acquire, build, or proliferate nuclear weapons—now or in the future—is a threat to the United States and its allies. The Iranian regime has done nothing to prove that it has earned the trust or respect of the international community, and therefore should not be rewarded with good faith gestures or sanctions relief.

“With this deal, a timetable is set where Iran can organize, increase military capabilities, raise funds, and prepare for deadlines where they will be able to acquire ballistic weapons and continue their nuclear proliferation. This could create a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and further destabilize an increasingly volatile region. Congress must ensure the terrorist state of Iran never has a chance to threaten the world with nuclear weapons.”

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Netanyahu: Iran deal a ‘historic mistake for the entire world’

middle-east-shouts-death-to-america

Surrender is not diplomacy 

US sellout 
By Julian Hattem – 07/14/15 08:30 AM EDT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scolding negotiators in the U.S. and around the world for agreeing to what he is calling a terrible deal that has only empowered Iran.

“Judging by the initial reports that have emerged, one can now reach the conclusion that this agreement is a historic mistake for the entire world,” Netanyahu said at the start of a meeting with the Dutch foreign minister on Tuesday, shortly after a deal was announced from Vienna.

“Whenever there is a readiness to make a deal at any cost, this is the result.”

“In every area that was supposed to prevent Iran from gaining the capacity to arm itself with nuclear weapons, far-reaching concessions were made,” he added. “In addition, Iran will receive hundreds of billions of dollars which it can use as a means to fuel its terror machine, its aggression and its expansionism in the Middle East and around the world.”

Netanyahu seemed to aim his ire at Washington, where President Obama is already hailing the historic deal as a triumph for global peace.

“It is impossible to prevent an agreement where those negotiating it are willing to make more and more concessions to those who during the talks are chanting ‘Death to America,’” Netanyahu said. “We knew very well that the desire to sign an agreement was stronger than anything else, so we did not promise to prevent an agreement.”

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/247791-netanyahu-historic-mistake-for-the-entire-world

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Bernadette Peters will be Signing her New Children’s Book ; Friends Forever at Bookends in Ridgewood July 15th

bernadettepeters_theridgewoodblog

Wednesday, July 15th @ 7:00
Starring on Broadway, in theaters and concert halls, and Cofounder of BROADWAY BARKS, a charity that finds homes for shelter animals, Bernadette Peters, will sign her new Children’s book:Stella and Charlie:  Friends Forever

Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.

Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.

While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed.  We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.

Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ   07450   201-445-0726

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Why your pills may be making you angry: As statins are linked to aggression in women, the mood-altering side-effects of everyday medicines

prescription-drugs

Some medicines can may make you aggressive, suicidal or even homicidal
Include drugs for high cholesterol, asthma or acne, or even the Pill
Researchers found that taking statins can make some women violent

By JOHN NAISH FOR THE DAILY MAIL

PUBLISHED: 17:05 EST, 13 July 2015 | UPDATED: 23:54 EST, 13 July 2015

When you take a commonly prescribed drug for a physical condition such as high cholesterol, asthma or acne, or even the birth control Pill, you may be alert for signs of physical side-effects. But such medicines can harbour a more insidious danger: they may make you aggressive, violently jealous, suicidal or even homicidal.

This little understood threat was highlighted this month when researchers found that taking statins to lower cholesterol and prevent heart problems can make some women aggressive and violent, reports the authoritative science journal PLOS ONE.

About seven million Britons a day take statins and the NHS warns side-effects can include headaches, nausea and pain in muscles and joints, but in a study of 1,000 people researchers at the University of California, they also found a link between statins and aggression, particularly in postmenopausal women over 45.

Read more:

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Iran Nuclear Arms deal ‘a dangerous proposition,’ Menendez says

menendez6n-1-web

 

PATERSON – Appearing today at a firehouse to formally announce the awarding of a $7.5 million federal SAFER grant for the hiring of 49 new firefighters, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) considered a developing US nuclear arms deal with Iran, still maintaining misgivings about the plan as he understands its current contents.  (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)

Iran Nuclear Arms deal ‘a dangerous proposition,’ Menendez says | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Amazon: ‘No evidence’ of bulk sales for Ted Cruz book

ted_CRUZ_THERIDGEWOODBLOG

By DYLAN BYERS

7/13/15 4:43 AM EDT

The New York Times’ refusal to put Ted Cruz’s memoir on its bestseller list is once again being called into question — this time by Amazon, the largest Internet retailer in the country.

On Sunday, an Amazon spokesperson told the On Media blog that the company’s sales data showed no evidence of unusual bulk purchase activity for the Texas senator’s memoir, casting further doubt on the Times’ claim that the book — “A Time For Truth” — had been omitted from its list because sales had been driven by “strategic bulk purchases.”

“As of yesterday, ‘A Time for Truth’ was the number 13 bestselling book, and there is no evidence of unusual bulk purchase activity in our sales data,” Sarah Gelman, Amazon’s director of press relations, said in an email.

Amazon’s findings match those of HarperCollins, the book’s publisher, which said Friday that it had “investigated the sales pattern” for Cruz’s book and found “no evidence of bulk orders or sales through any retailer or organization.” Moments after that announcement, Cruz’s campaign issued a press release accusing the Times of lying and calling on the paper to provide evidence of bulk purchasing or else formally apologize.

“The Times is presumably embarrassed by having their obvious partisan bias called out. But their response — alleging ‘strategic bulk purchases’ — is a blatant falsehood,” Cruz campaign spokesperson Rick Tyler said in a statement Friday. “The evidence is directly to the contrary. In leveling this false charge, the Times has tried to impugn the integrity of Senator Cruz and of his publisher HarperCollins.”

https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/amazon-no-evidence-of-bulk-sales-for-ted-cruz-book-210374.html

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Is Your City a Sanctuary City? This Map Has the Answer

killer

 

Fort Lee, NJ. was improperly included due to an error on the Sanctuary City map by Apsan Law Offices,  our sincerest apologies 

 

PJ Blogger and the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

 

 

New Jersey Sanctuary cities

Camden, NJ (Added in 2007; latest source: Camden, Immigrant Haven?, By Lauren Feeney, City Paper, 7-16-08)
Hightstown, NJ (Added 5-30-07)
Jersey City, NJ.
Newark, NJ (Added 6-3-07)
North Bergen, NJ.
Trenton, NJ.
Union City, NJ.

More items…

List of Sanctuary cities – Apsan Law Offices

www.apsanlaw.com/law-246.List-of-Sanctuary-cities.html

Kate Scanlon / @scanlon_kate / July 10, 2015

Is your city a sanctuary city?

The Center for Immigration Studies has released an interactive map depicting cities, counties and states that are “sanctuaries” for immigrants who are in the country illegally.

>>View interactive map here

The map shows over 200 sanctuary cities, counties and states nationwide.

Sanctuary cities are cities or jurisdictions where local authorities have chosen not to act in accordance with federal immigration laws.

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, “these state and local jurisdictions have policies, laws, executive orders, or regulations allowing them to avoid cooperating with federal immigration law enforcement authorities”:

[The cities] ignore federal law authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to administratively deport illegal aliens without seeking criminal warrants or convictions from federal, state, or local courts. Although federal law requires the cooperation, the Department of Justice has never sued or taken any measure, including denying federal funds, against a jurisdiction.

According to the map, North Dakota and Rhode Island are sanctuary states.

David Inserra, a research assistant at The Heritage Foundation, said that it is a “no brainer” for local and state officials to aid federal agencies in enforcing federal laws.

“Not enforcing the law results in lawlessness,” Inserra said.

https://dailysignal.com/2015/07/10/is-your-city-a-sanctuary-city-this-map-has-the-answer/

Posted on by — 14 Comments

Reader says Ridgewood’s Village government will be co-opted

Village _council_meeting_theridgewoodblog

As sure as you’re born, a parking garage erected by Ridgewood’s village government will be co-opted for use by out-of-town commuters in accordance with the preferences of those seeking to dismantle New Jersey’s deeply ingrained “home rule” tradition and replace it with a new oligarchical style of regional government. Imagine a regional, multi-county board of overseers populated by Gwen Hauck-type cloned hand-puppets easily manipulated by nameless, faceless third-party wealthy power brokers. That’s what many forward-thinking progressive statists see in their dreams. They don’t give a whit about mere business owners and their parking concerns…