Author: James

Court strikes down NLRB rule to speed up union elections
By Kevin Bogardus – 05/14/12 06:39 PM ET

A federal judge ruled Monday that a contentious union election rule proposed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is “invalid.”

In an 18-page memorandum opinion, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg struck the regulation down, saying the labor board only had two members when it voted on the final rule in December 2011. Boasberg said the agency needed at least three members to have a quorum for action on the rule.

“According to Woody Allen, 80 percent of life is just showing up. When it comes to satisfying a quorum requirement, though, showing up is even more important than that. Indeed, it is the only thing that matters — even when the quorum is constituted electronically. In this case, because no quorum ever existed for the pivotal vote in question, the Court must hold that the challenged rule is invalid,” Boasberg wrote.

https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/227327-federal-court-strikes-down-nlrbs-union-election-rule

Valley Hospital : Any expansion plan MUST include some sort of PILOT (payment in lieu of property taxes)

Valley has a right to modernize, and if that requires some expansion, so be it. Its obvious that their original plan was too large. There has to be some sort of reasonable ‘middle ground here’ and hopefully a compromise will be reached.

Any expansion plan MUST include some sort of PILOT (payment in lieu of property taxes) . I’m a supporter of Valley but judging by the salaries their CEO received, and the amount of $$ doctors make (while some do not accept insurance) the ‘non-profit’ status slips past the definition.

A Pilot program must be agreed to by Valley. You can not force them into it. If they had any sense of community the would have entered in to a pilot program a long time ago. When you talk about middle ground have you ever seen Valley hospital seek any middle ground? Now with at least two of their supporters on the council and who knows if there are any other that are going to join the Dog and Pony show that hospital is going to put on. Who is going to keep tabs on Valley ‘non- prof’ status?

Because we know they are so forth coming with information. We all know how these hearing are going to go. Valley will take a few 100 sq ft off of here and a few 100 sq ft off over there and the council will proclaim that they have achieved ( reasonable middle ground) by their mediation and slap themselves on the back.

N.J. effort to reduce regulations hurt by lack of construction

While the Gov. Chris Christie administration has made overturning a decade’s worth of strict regulatory policies a top priority for the state, business owners won’t recognize the improvements until construction picks up, an economist said.

“Old perceptions die very hard, even if attempts have been made to improve the state’s tax climate and regulatory environment,” said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. “If a company was looking to add a new facility, and it has had to deal with a strict regulatory environment in the past, the CEOs still have that perception in their mind now.”  (Eder, NJBIZ)

https://www.njbiz.com/article/20120514/NJBIZ01/120519919/NJ-effort-to-reduce-regulations-cobbled-by-lack-of-construction-

NJ Senate panel approves bill changing requirements for workers to collect disability pensions

A Senate committee on Monday cleared a bill that would change the requirements for employees seeking to collect a disability pension, despite opposition from union officials.

The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee approved the bill, designed to combat abuse of the state’s retirement systems and sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, in a 4-0-1 vote. Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, abstained, saying she wanted to bring all the interested parties together to work through the concerns raised during the hearing.  (Hayes, The Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/151486575_Tightening_of_disability_pensions_gains.html

Revenue figures Tuesday could affect Christie tax cut plans

Governor Christie’s “Jersey Comeback” budget and his signature income tax face a major test Tuesday: a revenue report for the most crucial month of the year which pits actual tax receipts against budget projections.

Poor tax collections for the month – the news many in Trenton expect to hear – could force Christie to cut spending now to balance the current budget. And low revenues could also make it harder for Christie, a Republican, to pitch the income tax cut featured in his new budget and to convince the Democrats who control both houses of the Legislature that now is the right time to cut taxes.  (Reitmeyer and Fletcher, The Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/state/Revenue_figures_today_could_affect_Christie_tax_cut_plans.html

N.J. Treasury delays release of April revenue figures without explanation

A joint news conference between Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney wasn’t the only thing that didn’t go off as scheduled today in Trenton.

The state’s Treasury Department failed to release April revenue figures as expected. The department declined to explain the delay.

April is a critical month in the budget cycle where the state receives the bulk of its income tax collections.  (Renshaw, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/another_nj_press_conference_an.html

Race to Nowhere : Why we’re getting the homework question wrong
By Valerie Strauss
This was written by Vicki Abeles, a mother, activist, and filmmaker. She directed the documentary “Race to Nowhere.”

By Vicki Abeles

Hayley Eaton was always an academic achiever. Like many American teens, college was uppermost in her mind, as well as that of her parents and guidance counselors. She signed up for all the available AP and honors courses at her high school and performed well. She didn’t flinch when homework meant getting five or six hours of sleep a night before “waking up and repeating the cycle all over again.” Haley used to joke, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” One afternoon while driving home from high school, Haley nodded asleep and crashed into a tree, totaling her car. She escaped with minor cuts and bruises but the experience caused her to rethink her concept of success. “I’m grateful,” she says. In reprioritizing she found her life goal. Today she’s pursuing a master’s in education so she can help create school reform — away from “endless homework and inadequate high stakes testing” and toward “healthy priorities for young people’s physical and mental health.”

Are American students like Haley spending too much of their lives at their desks? And is putting in that grueling second shift of homework paying off in the long-term?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/why-were-getting-the-homework-question-wrong/2012/05/13/gIQA1nJGNU_blog.html

Road Closure May 21 – Crossing from Ho-Ho-Kus Train Station into Ridgewood

Please be advised that the subject roadway crossing into the Borough of Ho-ho-kus from the Village of Ridgewood over the train tracks will be closed by New Jersey Transit for work on their crossing starting May 21, 2012 for a period of approximately 1 to 2 weeks. The crossing will be closed during the duration of the work. The road will be closed with barricades and signs on both approaches (Ridgewood and Ho-ho-kus).

The work is the replacement of the track crossing area and some paving work on the approaches.

Pedestrian access across the tracks will be maintained during the road closing so that the walking commuters can get to the Ho-ho-kus Train Station.

Please share this information with those who travel in that area that utilize the subject crossing.

File Photo by Boyd Loving

May 22 Board of Adjustment Meeting is Cancelled

The Board of Ajustment Public Meeting scheduled for May 22, 2012 is cancelled. For further information contact [email protected]

Ridgewood High School rated among the top high schools in New Jersey

TUESDAY MAY 15, 2012, 12:25 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Boasting statistics that rise above the state’s averages, Ridgewood High School (RHS) has been rated New Jersey’s 15th best public high school and awarded the gold medal for excellence in education, based on U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings.

RHS scored second overall in Bergen County, trailing only Bergen Academies in Hackensack. When stacked up against the country’s best schools, RHS was ranked No. 282.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/151553675_Ridgewood_High_School_rated_among_the_top_high_schools_in_New_Jersey.html