the staff of the Ridgewood blog
One connection raising eyebrows is a contribution made by Paul Vagianos to Senator Robert Menendez’s Legal Expense Trust.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was recently found guilty on all counts after being tried on charges of accepting bribes, including cash and gold bars. Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who prosecuted the case, hailed the verdict, saying that Menendez’s “years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end.”
Data Suggests Ridgewood United’s Backing Has Deeper Motives
More High-Density Housing? Jason DeAlessi, listed as the “Custodian of Records” for Ridgewood United, commented that the construction of the Gateway Tunnel will “bring more to Ridgewood, including stores, mixed-use buildings, and restaurants.” He expressed excitement about Ridgewood’s current growth and future potential, sparking concerns over whether high-density developments are part of Ridgewood United’s vision.
DeAlessi, who has close ties to Paul Vagianos, manages multiple political campaigns across New Jersey. He also owns and runs the hyperlocal news site TapInto Ridgewood, recently identified as a “pink slime” site—a term used for biased or misleading local news. Additionally, DeAlessi is one of three managers of Vagianos’ campaign Facebook page, where comments from residents have reportedly been hidden or censored.
The Political Connections Fueling Distrust
With his involvement in several 527 organizations—nonprofits created to influence elections—questions are mounting about Ridgewood United’s true purpose and alliances.
Conclusion:
The recent exposure of these connections serves as a reminder: every vote counts, and every candidate’s associations matter. Ridgewood’s voters now face a choice, not only about their leaders but about the kind of community they wish to build—a decision more critical now than ever.
What a bunch of low lives that will run Ridgewood into the ground. Plus there’s no way Perron or Mortimer could have possibly raised the campaign money needed for all of the mailers and ads, so running as a “united” bloc is key because they can spread it out amongst themselves. This is not a trustworthy group of individuals and I can’t wait for the day that all of them, including Winograd, and Weitz are gone too.
Dirty birds of a feather, flock together. No surprise here.
Vagianos a failed mayor, donating to Menendez, a failed and now tainted Senator, is hysterical. Does he donate through his diner or personally? Either way it doesn’t matter but just goes to show how slimy the guy really is and doesn’t say much for Perron and Mortimer’s affiliation either. I won’t vote for any of them but hope Kwak gets in because she’s the only one who can shine the light on overspending and work to fix the systemic breakdown of our operations by looking for ways to improve things that matter.
Bullet vote Kwak!!
Have you seen the political ads that the “United” team is running. You’ve got Bob Foreman, wife Janis is on the Historic Preservation Committee and you’ve got others like Kristin Plumley’s husband, also on the HPC. Wonder who else is connected to who and what other special favors are happening. It is like a soap opera.
Plumly raises a ton of money from local events and gets FREE venues for her events.
There goes what’s left of our small town feel if Paul the wall wins😢
Because Vagianos spent all of his time working on trying to get his field over at Schedler, the development angle hasn’t kicked in yet, that is why he needs more time in office, so he can fulfill those promises that he probably made to secure donations. He was aware that the movie theater was stuggling long before they closed so it will be interesting to see what other tricks he has up his sleeve.
Please go and check the NJELEC reports. Donations are coming in from “REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE” from Trenton for our LOCAL elections.
Please note that the state government passed new laws recently requiring more High Density Housing.
Notable contributions:
REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE -trenton – $1000
Alamo Insurance Group North Bergen – $500
Bergen County Building Trades Paramus – $500
Bergen First Hackensack – $500
East Bergen First CPC Cliffside Park – $1000
Fairview Democrat Committee – $500 (the 4M$ Meals were supposedly distributed to Fairview.. there is no record keeping of that)
An attorney from Ceder Grove – $250
GCMG Group Newark – $300
H20 Lane Reality, Laffayat – $300
Howthorne Aquisition LLC – $300
Highview Reality LLC – $500
IBEW Local Paramus – $1000
ISD Express Rockway $300
Someone from Closter – $500
Montvale Resident $500
Milanos Associates Tenafly – $1000+$1000 = $2000
Greenwitch CT resident – $500
wayne nj resident – $1000
Scotch Plains Representative for Congress – $1000
Simms Cummis & Gross PC NEWARK – $1500
AXIOM Communication Rutherford – $1000
Pt Pleasant resident – $500
Jim Tedesco – County Executive – Campaign Committee – $500
Plumbers Local Union West Caldwell – $500
RE Partners Teanack – $2500
Jersey City Resident – $300
Woofcliff Lake Resident $400
Tracy Zur – County Comissioner Hackensack – $500
Method design architect – Brooklyn -1500+1000+1500=$4000
DAFINA INc Tenafly – $600
RDE System support llc Wayne $1000
Someone from Upper Saddle River $2500
Saddle river – $500
lagana for Senate – Paramus – $500
https://www.njelecefilesearch.com/searchcandidatereports
In addition to all of the personal donations on the NJ election page, all public info with some very interesting set of details.
These three stooges are definitely planted to do dirty work.
Political ‘puppet masters’ behind Ridgewood’s candidates. WAKE UP RIDGEWOOD!
Bullet Vote Hyunju Kwak!
Oh. My. God. We have to eliminate at least the head of this slimy operation.
DO NOT VOTE FOR VAGIANOS
Only one thing residents can do. Send a clear message to the bogus “Ridgewood United” at the polls.
VOTE HYUNJU KWAK!
All so sneaky and calculated. With this level of backing, there is no way these three aren’t getting something in return.
What Ridgewood United doesn’t want you to know about their vision for our community…
Sell Outs! Now we know the motives behind their so-called ‘unity!
just give Kwak 1 of the 3 seats….She will keep these knuckleheads in check
Connect the dots…Paul owns any properties within downtown Ridgewood. The gateway tunnel will open the flood gates for him (and his friends) to turn his two story commercial properties into multi use retail/tall high density housing.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in!
Downtown Ridgewood will become a copy of downtown Hoboken/Jersey City. And Ridgewood United will be laughing all the way to the bank-at the taxpayers expense.
DO NOT VOTE FOR PAUL VAGIANOS!
Make this Viral! Let’s show them Ridgewood if truly UNITED!
Mortimer brought up the fact that he was concerned about the character of Ridgewood changing due to accessory dwelling units so is he also in with Paul and Pam on being pro-deveopment. We already know that he pretends to be “green” but then is pro-turf, so time will tell and we will probably look back at his words on changing the character of Ridgewood too.
Maybe he can put his all natural, raw honey product into plastic bottles from now on.
Bee guy Mortimer wants bees at Habernickel park along side a business. NO THANK YOU
I still want to know how Healthbarn, feed the frontlines, Vagianos and Mortimer are connected
Don’t get stung by the bee man!!
Bullet vote KWAK
These three candidates are owned by people. They owe so much to everybody, including people, not even in our town. And Vagianos is the ringleader of this. I’m telling you don’t vote for him.
Voted in Wyckoff today
Single vote for Kwak with the others blank
Thank God Pam got a blow out for that photo shoot though because if you have ever seen her at the village meetings, the hair is a mess. Just sayin.
This is unbelievable. Sickening really. What our beautiful town has been lowered to thanks to this dirty politics. What happened to people running for office who simply want to fill potholes and plant trees. So sad.
Problem is 4 candidates. 3 spots. So at least two of the three assholes will get in. Let’s hope Vag does not get re-elected. I grew up here. Towns people went to shit.
Vagianos, Perron and Mortimer caling themselves Ridgewood United is the biggest joke of all. This is a devicive bunch.
We have all seen this movie before. Remember when Paul the big A won his second term in 2012? There were rumblings of massive development, but he lied to enough of the west siders convincing them he was solidly against multi family housing. Then bang, he got his cronies elected, and he used his entire second term and their only term to push through massive development.
The big A didn’t win his second term by as many votes as his first. You will see that again with this other Paul, but just like before this Paul will get enough of his cronies elected to push through any spot zoning needed for the new developments.
You only need three votes on the council to change zoning, and four votes to bond anything. Even if Kwak wins, this Paul will have four votes to do anything. Kwak will be marginalized, and everything will go down in 4-1 votes.
Once the majority of voters see the truth it will be too late. None of Paul’s team will get re-elected, and neither will he. But the zoning will be changed and the huge buildings will start going up when he is out of office. Getting around the CBD is a nightmare now, just wait.
It’s amazing to watch this exact cycle unfold again in less than 10 years.
Yes. Three of four will get in. We must see that Vagianos is not one of them
Evan Wietz for Ridgewood is also involved and part of this group.
https://projects.propublica.org/527-explorer/orgs/883523908
Primary purpose of these 527 groups is to influence the election of one or more people to public office at the national, state or local level for special interests.
It is unbelievable to me that a political action committee is involved in a Ridgewood election. What the actual F? These people need to be stopped. We need to go back to the days where people ran for office independently and just wanted to help the town. The only candidate I see of the four is Hyun Kwak. She’s the only one on voting for. Yes, two of the horrible three will get in, but I’m at least gonna make sure Miss Kwak gets in with my vote. And let’s hope like hell the Vagianos loses.
I early voted yesterday in Wyckoff, Only for Ms. Kwak. Genuine for Ridgewood.
The 3 others with Special interests group have No place in Ridgewood.
Every Bullet vote for One Only, Ms. Kwak, Will make a difference!!
I bullet voted too for Kwak. No one else deserves to be elected or re-elected.
What you need to know about this current council
1 raised taxes to 6%
2 PFAS in our water last 10 years
3 No updates to historic bus stop
4 No updates to train station
5 Flooding still a major issue
6. Limited resident speaking at village council meeting from 5 to 3 minutes
7. Capped hybrid access speaking to 7 people
8 no tangible implementation of the Master plan
9 Schedler still not completed
10 bought an EPA site, old town garage
11 Fired long time historians
12 bought new garbage cans
13 planted saplings
14 had no idea the theater was closing, not converted into performing at center
15 let the Guild track residents around the park and CBD by tracking and tapoing into our cell phones
This is why you should be voting
I am sorry but you forgot the following:
1) The fact that the Mayor knew about the movie theater’s struggles and essentially knew they were going to close;
2) Approved a $350,000.00 pavillion for Habernickel;
3) Turtle crossing signs at Habernickel;
4) Bonding monies not included in 2024 budget for Schedler activities related to contaminated soil
What is their obsession with Habernickel. More stuff is done over there while other parks are neglected. I wonder why???😜
Trace 4M $$ feed the front line donation and track where did it go!
Did you know that Frank Mortimer was supposedly one of the delivery drivers for the meals that went to Fairview as part of FTFL. Another interesting connection.
that 4MM $$ basically disappeared!
Even if Kwak gets elected, it won’t make a dent in their vicious plans for this town. Unless there is massive uproar by residents (which won’t happen with the current massive liberal population) RW will be urbanized and unrecognizable in a few short years. 427 new affordable units are mandated for RW for the next 10 years by Murphy. Let that sink in. RW is gone and these puppets are put there to facilitate this demise. At the end of the day the vast majority of local population (by ignorance or just plain dedication to the “progressive ideals”) supports the clowns. “Democracy” at work.
Not a lie was spoken. And why is that, Mickey? Because they hate you.