NJ Attorney General’s Office rules out probe of stolen meter coins in Ridgewood
MARCH 4, 2015, 11:33 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015, 11:38 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The state Attorney General’s Office will not conduct its own investigation into the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in quarters from a storage room in Village Hall, it was announced Wednesday night.
Instead, Ridgewood’s police department will be looking further into the disappearance of $850,000 in collected parking meter coins on its own, according to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.
Former Ridgewood public works inspector Thomas Rica pleaded guilty last spring to stealing $460,000 of that missing $850,000. Rica had been arrested for stealing collected parking meter quarters over a three-year period.
Sonenfeld said village officials met this week with representatives from the Attorney General’s office. Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli also was present at the meeting, she said.
BRACE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
349 PM EST WED MAR 4 2015
…ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO
7 PM EST THURSDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW YORK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS
EVENING TO 7 PM EST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.
* LOCATIONS…COASTAL CONNECTICUT…INTERIOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST
NEW JERSEY…AND SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER COUNTY IN NEW YORK.
* HAZARD TYPES…SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 5 INCHES.
* TIMING…RAIN MIXES WITH SLEET AND SNOW BEFORE CHANGING TO ALL
SNOW THIS EVENING. SNOW MAY BE MODERATE AT TIMES LATE TONIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING…BEFORE TAPERING OFF LATE THURSDAY
AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY EVENING.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE DUE TO
GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND ACCUMULATING SNOW.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CA– USE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND — USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
Garrett Stands with New Jersey Residents Against President Obama’s Unconstitutional Amnesty
Mar 3, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), issued the following statement today after voting to end President Obama’s unconstitutional executive amnesty:
“Over seven weeks ago, the House stood with the American people by voting to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, and to put an immediate stop to President Obama’s unconstitutional executive amnesty. It was my hope that Senate Democrats would stop performing political gymnastics and answer repeated calls from the House to come to Conference with this bill so we could work on a deal in the best interest of our constituents.
“I supported short-term funding extensions to continue these negotiations with the Senate in good faith, but I cannot ignore the will of my constituents by supporting a bill that allows President Obama’s executive amnesty plan to continue unchecked. I stand with the people of New Jersey’s Fifth District, law-abiding immigrants, and the Constitution of the United States, and I will continue to fight to undo the damage caused by President Obama’s actions.”
Regarding “Pedestrian safety must start from ground up” (Page L-1, March 1):
My route home from work often takes me through Ridgewood, and it is a white-knuckle driving experience after the sun goes down. Pedestrians dart out from between parked cars, cross at unmarked crosswalks and give no indication of planning to cross until a car is practically on top of them.
Many also wear dark clothing that makes them difficult to see. Combine these dark-clad wraithlike figures with the blinding quality of today’s headlights, and it’s a wonder the number of pedestrian deaths isn’t higher.
I’m all for yielding to pedestrians, but one would think that when faced with a multiple-ton vehicle, hedging your bets is just not a great idea. I realize that “look both ways,” as I was taught as a child, no longer works on the congested roads of today. But I would ask that pedestrians please be sensible. Don’t jaywalk. Don’t assume cars will stop. Don’t use your baby in a stroller as a human shield. Verify that drivers can see you before crossing.
A little courtesy both ways could help pedestrians and drivers.
14 unions make common cause in suit against Christie
Fourteen unions under the auspices of the New Jersey AFL-CIO announced today that they want to take Governor Chris Christie to court to compel him to make New Jersey Annual Required Contribution to the pension system for FY 2016.
The suit presses Christie to follow the 2011 pension law he signed, specifically the requirements of Chapter 78. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
Martin O’Malley sticks with Plan A: try to upend Hillary Clinton
Former Governor O’Malley of Maryland announced Tuesday he will not run for Senate, a signal he is still running for president. Clinton’s latest woes could give O’Malley hope.
By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer MARCH 3, 2015
WASHINGTON — Former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) of Maryland isn’t running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D), who is retiring at the end of her term.
“I am hopeful and confident that very capable public servants with a desire to serve in the Senate will step up as candidates for this important office,” the former governor said Tuesday, in a statement. “I will not be one of them.”
Mr. O’Malley, it appears, is keeping his eyes on the prize: the presidency. O’Malley has been quietly preparing for months to run for president, despite the appearance that Hillary Rodham Clinton has the Democratic nomination all but locked up, without even having announced.
Ridgewood Wrestling rolls to third straight district crown
MARCH 3, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015, 11:11 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
FAIR LAWN – Sporting a supportive wrap around his right shoulder and bulky brace on his left knee, Ridgewood High School senior Roger Toral departed the wrestling mat, turned to a legion of Maroons backers and raised his arms in exultation with both index fingers pointing upward, making it clear where he and his team stood at last weekend’s District 6 tournament.
Despite battling a shoulder injury since the opening week of the season – and spraining his MCL days before the tournament – the 132-pounder persevered for a 3-1 decision over Fair Lawn’s Alex Eligur to capture an individual title and help lead the Maroons to an overwhelming team victory, their third straight district triumph, last Saturday at Fair Lawn High School.
“Roger is a heart-and-soul kid, and what he did, in the midst of the adversity that he faced, that’s the story of the team,” RHS head coach Torre Watson said.
Ridgewood continually hasfound a way to exceed expectations this season, shaking off significant graduation losses to compile an 18-6 record and earn the program’s first-ever home state-tournament match earlier this month.
“We’re able to overcome anything,” Toral said. “There were problems presented to us, and we were able to work around them.”
Breaking the law doesn’t come with the same consequences for government officials as it does for the rest of us.
An explosive report from The New York Timesreveals that while she was Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton did not have a government e-mail address. Instead she used her own private e-mail address and her staffers made no effort at the time to retain those e-mails on government servers, a violation of federal law.
The Times reports:
It was only two months ago, in response to a new State Department effort to comply with federal record-keeping practices, that Mrs. Clinton’s advisers reviewed tens of thousands of pages of her personal emails and decided which ones to turn over to the State Department. All told, 55,000 pages of emails were given to the department.
What difference, at this point, does it make, most transparent administration in history and all that.
Clinton is not the only government official to use her personal email for official business—Lois Lerner was found to have done the same as questions arose over what kind of inappropriate communications the former IRS bureaucrat was engaged in. Using personal email for government business, while it may be against the law, is relatively popularamong government officials who don’t fear repercussions from breaking government laws.
03/04/15 7:30PM Village Council Special Public Meeting
1. Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided
by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall,
by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call
4. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES
a. 3466 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Meters, Time Limit Parking, One-day Resident Commuter ParkingPass and Additional Misc. Amendments for Cottage Place Parking Lot – Establishes all 3-hour parking meters in the Cottage Place parking lot as 8-hour parking meters; allows for use of cellular communication devices to pay for the parking meters in Cottage Place; establishes a one-day Ridgewood resident commuter parking permit; and other minor amendments, as required
b. 3467 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Parking Meter Fees for Cottage Place Parking Lot and Fee for One-day Resident Commuter Parking Permit – Establishes a parking meter fee in the Cottage Place parking lot at 75 cents/hour and the fee for a one-day Ridgewood resident commuter parking permit at $7 for the day
5. Adjournment
Forum No. 5 – CBD Panel Discussions – March 18, 2015 at 7:30PM
Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli has scheduled another CBD Panel Discussion for March 18, 2015 from 7:30PM to 9PM. It will be held at Christ Episcopal. The two topics for discussion will be – CBD Parking and Blue Laws.
Village Council and Village Board Meetings
03/10/157:30PMBoard of Adjustment Public Meeting 03/11/158:00PMVillage Council Public Meeting 03/17/157:30PMPlanning Board Public Meeting 03/24/157:30PMBoard of Adjustment Work Session 03/25/157:30PMVillage Council Public Work Session 03/31/157:30PMBoard of Adjustment Public Meeting
MAYOR’S OFFICE HOURS FOR RESIDENTS -Saturday, March 7 from 9 AM to Noon
Mayor Paul Aronsohn holds office hours for Ridgewood residents the first Saturday of every month. Mayor Aronsohn will meet with residents on Saturday, March 7 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.
MARCH 4, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Mark Biedron, the president of the state Board of Education, will meet next week with village residents to address questions and concerns about Common Core standards and the computer-based PARCC tests.
Marlene Burton said she will open her Liberty Street home to accommodate Biedron’s visit to Ridgewood on Tuesday.
Burton said she’s moving furniture out of her house to make room for the 60-plus residents expected to attend the forum with Biedron. State education officials also confirmed the event.
Burton said Biedron agreed to the Ridgewood meeting following an email exchange on Common Core issues and the controversial PARCC tests.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at 123 Liberty St.
PROFILE: STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT BRINGS UNIQUE PEDIGREE TO POST
JOHN MOONEY | JANUARY 7, 2015
Mark Biedron cofounded a progressive private school that’s a far cry from the testing-centric culture of public schools
Mark Biedron, president of the state Board of Education.
Name: Mark Biedron
Title: President of the State Board of Education, 2014 to present. Appointed to the board in 2011 by Gov. Chris Christie.
Why he matters: Biedron has taken an activist role in leading the 13-member board that is responsible for reviewing and approving state administrative code and school regulations. He has traveled the state to query stakeholders and pressed the administration to explain its policies, from testing to school monitoring.
Where he comes from: The board president is a cofounder of the Willow School in Gladstone, a small independent school that focuses on ethics and language as the cornerstones of its curriculum. Founded with his former wife in 2002, the school’s progressive model is quite a bit different from the testing-focused culture of the public education system that Biedron is now charged with overseeing.
Not incongruous: Biedron maintains that for all the evident differences, he feels that public schools are moving toward a more holistic approach to education via the new Common Core State Standards and the advent of PARCC (Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) testing.
Quote: “In the old way and my way of learning, it was to put answers on paper. But your look at PARCC and Common Core, while not perfect, it is about how you got to the answers.”
Not happening fast enough: “I am the first person to say that testing doesn’t show everything about a student, but we have to take a lot of steps moving from Point A to Point B … This big behemoth called education moves slowly.”
How he started a school: Biedron said he was looking for a school for his children that would address both personal virtues and academic rigor, and finding none, he and his former wife were left with the decision to either move or start their own school. They decided on the latter.
Photo from Congressman Darrell Issa ,had a great seat for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech this morning.For Israel, the Iranian pursuit of a nuclear bomb is an existential threat. Is it any wonder they do not trust this administration to decide when Iran will obtain the weapon with which it threatens to wipe Israel off the map?
Obama’s ‘shameful’ snub of Netanyahu
By Darrell Issa5 P.M.MARCH 2, 2015
For all of the attention being given to the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to address Congress Tuesday, so many of those covering the upcoming speech have gotten it backward. The story is not that Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to the United States at the behest of congressional leaders. The story is that one of America’s closest allies in the world feels so alienated by President Obama that he believes his best hope in protecting his nation from a nuclear Iran lies in making his case directly to the American people, having lost confidence in a U.S. president who has rejected his counsel and sought to demonize and marginalize him. Put simply, rather than standing behind our allies, President Obama has thrown himself decisively in front of them, as an obstacle to be circumvented.
Though it is shameful that a staunch ally feels the need to go directly to the American people, it should not be surprising to those who have watched this administration’s actions. The attacks on Israel’s leader continued this week, as Secretary of State John Kerry questioned Prime Minister Netanyahu’s judgment, suggesting that Netanyahu’s support of American involvement in Iraq (involvement Kerry himself supported) somehow rendered him untrustworthy. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called his upcoming Capitol Hill speech “destructive.”
For Israel, the Iranian pursuit of a nuclear bomb is an existential threat. Is it any wonder they do not trust this administration to decide when Iran will obtain the weapon with which it threatens to wipe Israel off the map?
Obama’s 2016 Budget: Analysis shows plan would result in reduced GDP and the loss of upwards of 809,000 jobs
March 3,2015
Washington, DC ,In his 2016 budget, President Obama proposes a variety of tax increases on saving and investment as well as the creation or expansion of a number of tax credits. Some economists are concerned about the impact these changes could have on the U.S. economy, and according to the latest numbers, many of their concerns are warranted. A new analysis from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation indicates that the president’s budget would cost the U.S. a significant amount of full time jobs and result in the reduction of GDP and workers’ wages.The report’s key findings include:
The Taxes and Growth (TAG) Model finds the plan would shrink the economy by 3 percent, lower the level of investment by 8 percent, reduce wages by 2.4 percent, eliminate 809,000 jobs, and lose $12 billion in federal revenue over the long run due to lower growth.
If the revenue available for business tax reform were used to lower the corporate tax rate, it would result in a 3 percentage point cut in the rate—far less than a cut to a 28 percent rate as hoped for by the president’s budget.
With the lower corporate tax rate, the plan would still shrink the economy by 2.4 percent, decrease investment by 6.2 percent, reduce wages by 1.8 percent, eliminate 679,000 jobs, and lose $4 billion in revenue over the long run.
“The thrust of the individual income tax changes is to raise taxes on upper income taxpayers, primarily through higher taxes on income from savings and investment. The additional revenue would then be used to increase credits for families with young children, workers with low earnings, and two-earner couples,” said Tax Foundation Senior Fellow Stephen J. Entin, PhD. “However, the plan focuses only on redistribution, ignoring economic growth, and the resulting reduction in growth would hurt many of the people the plan is meant to help.”
This plan highlights a century-old debate over whether to tax income or consumption. The focus of the broad-based income tax (which taxes income when it is earned and again when investment earnings are realized) is to aid in wealth redistribution. On the other hand, the focus of a consumption based tax (one that falls equally on income used for consumption or saving and investment) is to avoid penalizing saving relative to consumption as to not discourage economic growth.
The 2016 budget aligns with the income based approach. Historically, reforms that have moved towards the broad-based income tax—like the 1986 Reagan tax reform and the Obama 2012 budget agreement and the tax elements of the Affordable Care Act—have generally reduced wages and employment and discouraged capital formation. Alternatively, reforms that moved away from this approach—such as the 1961-1963 Kennedy tax cuts, the 1981 Reagan tax cut, and the 2001-2003 Bush tax cuts—have helped to raise productivity, wages, and employment.
Ridgewood Knights of Columbus to Host Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance.
Ridgewood-NJ-March 2, 2015: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus are once again proud to be sponsoring their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 21st, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Mount Carmel gymnasium at 52 Passaic Street in Ridgewood. The St. Patrick’s celebration this year is particularly meaningful, as the Knights begin their second century in service to the Ridgewood community.
Guests will first be greeted by bagpipers. The Best of Everything will cater a full-course of traditional Irish fare including corned beef and cabbage. The renowned Willie Lynch Band will be playing Irish classics and great dance music, along with a special appearance by the Irish Step Dancers from the McLoughlin Dance School. There will also be a grand prize raffle drawing for a trip to Ireland.
Tickets are $50 per person. Payment can be mailed to:
Come enjoy this annual celebration as the Knights of Columbus continue the tradition that the People of Ireland started over a thousand years ago. And what better way to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick then to gather with friends and family, enjoy a fine meal, and dance to great music!
Come out and celebrate St. Patrick’s with the Ridgewood Knights !
