>Oh great…The Hummmmmer is back. He is always good for some intelligent comments…
Several posts above have asked you conspiracy theorists to explain what is so illicit, shady, unlawful, unethical, or whatever else you think it may be, about this transaction. So far not one of you has presented a clear explanation. All you idiots do is spead innuendo.
Here’s a radical idea…maybe Wells saw an opportunity to make a quick buck.
Comsider this. The Angellos won’t move without a new site. The Village Council can’t make such a land swap as part of their offer. Wells recognizes this and steps in with a deal that satisfies the Angellos by offering a lower price than the Village’s offer, but includes a long term lease at a new site that actually saves the Angellos money and improves their cash flow. Now Wells owns the Town Garage property and is free to sell it to the Village at their original offer price for a quick $400-500K profit. Meanwhile he collects rent from the Angellos at their new site for the next ten years.
I don’t know if this is what happened. But, if it did, all you could say about Wells is that he is a shrewd businessman, who had the foresight and financing to make it happen. By the way, if it went down this way, the Village’s interests were served because they needed a private partner to offer a land swap anyway. Furthermore, in this scenario, the Village pays the same price that the Angellos originally turned down. Notice, by the way, that this scenario did not involve any discussions between the Village Council and Wells about non-public information.
So, I ask you Fly, Hummmmmmmer and anyone else who insists that our Mayor or Wells are involved in some nefarious scheme, what are you complaining about? That Wells saw an opportunity that you didn’t? Or, is it just that Wells is wealthier than you and a lot smarter than you (which is how he became wealthier than you to begin with)?
>Best comment I’ve seen yet. Well said, and I can only imagine the flood that this will start…
My only request? If this theory proves to be true… I’d like Mr. Wells to stand up and state it. Let them all complain.. but truth is.. if you cant find corruption and someone else is just a smarter businessman? Good for him, bad for you.
>Again, if the Agnello’s are moving to a new site locally, why wouldn’t they want to let their customers know the address well in advance? Rumor is that they’re closing up shop in this area and opening a small operation near Greenwood Lake, NY.
>are you in love with your self or what,you dum jerk.what a good bull sh.,t story.and buy the way I have more money then he so kiss off.who are you.you dont know who I am.
>Aren’t there laws related to “insider trading?”
Where’s a cop when you need one?
NJSA 2C:30-3
2C:30-3. Speculating or wagering on official action or information
A person commits a crime if, in contemplation of official action by himself or by a governmental unit with which he is or has been associated, or in reliance on information to which he has or has had access in an official capacity and which has not been made public, he:
a. Acquires a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction or enterprise which may be affected by such information or official; or
b. Speculates or wagers on the basis of such information or official action; or
c. Aids another to do any of the foregoing, while in office or after leaving office with a purpose of using such information.
An offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the second degree. If the benefit acquired or sought to be acquired is of a value of $200.00 or less, an offense proscribed by this section is a crime of the third degree.
L.1978, c. 95, s. 2C:30-3, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L.1979, c. 178, s. 62, eff. Sept. 1, 1979.
>When did Wells become a government employee or Council member? This is good information for any Village employees who may be reading this blog. But, how does it apply to Wells’ purchase of Town Garage? Just because he has other real estate dealings in town, does that mean he is prohibited from exploring other ventures?
Get a life!
>Where is there any suggestion that Wells violated the law? Perahps someone on the inside of Village Hall stands to profit. I think that is the point being made here.
>Another meaningless post from a Village Hall Gadfly.
I too, fear corruption and poor management in our local government. They have disappointed us over and over again. But poor management is just that. Its not graft. Big difference.
You losers who push these theories about back-room dealings all the time? Not everyone in public employment is dishonest. Not everyone is willing to risk jail time to make a few bucks. Perhaps you’re projecting your own values onto others? How else would you come up with this garbage?
Get a life is right.
>How can you be so certain that no one on the inside is profiting from this deal?
Just because it’s Ridgewood, doesn’t mean the crap doesn’t stink!
We’ll stop the posts once someone in authority tells the public what’s really going on.
By the way, sign seen on door of Town Garage today: “Closed.” Only one vehicle left in parking lot. Most often there are between 5-10. Looks like they’ve wound things down there. Still no comment from the owner/operator.
>who cares .
>The Mayor is as honest a man as there is in Ridgewood. He has already told you what he knows. But, people like you and Boyd Loving just don’t like what he has publicly stated. You prefer to suggest, without the slightest evidence, that he or other Village Council members are corrupt and are covering something up. You gadFLYs represent a disfunctional side of Ridgewood. Will you publicly appologize to the people you have slandered, whe it becomes obvious that you are wrong? No way. You don’t have that strength of character. I wish you spent as much time harassing our state politicians, who really deserve it.
BTW, the Angellos and Wells don’t owe you any explanation of their private dealings.
>so you’re saying only Mr Loving thinks the village made a mess of the village hall and spent 9.5 million on vanity instead of fixing the problem …your dreaming my friend …the village council has a huge credibility gap…face it and you may fix it
>When things aren’t quite going your way, shoot the messenger. A time honored tradition.
>”You prefer to suggest, without the slightest evidence, that he or other Village Council members are corrupt and are covering something up.”
There’s quite a bit of evidence, granted some rather circumstantial, to suggest that Village Council members knew long before 2/23/07 that Jeff Wells’ group had purchased 120 Franklin Avenue.
I doubt anyone on the Council will profit personally from that real estate transaction. Most likely someone convinced them that the garage could be built faster and cheaper if a private developer was handling everything.
However, that leaves the currently unanswered question – how did Jeff Wells’ group get the unofficial nod as the project developer of choice? Isn’t the Council setting themselves up for a lawsuit by not going out to bid, or even preparing a RFP?
>”Comsider this. The Angellos won’t move without a new site. The Village Council can’t make such a land swap as part of their offer. Wells recognizes this and steps in with a deal that satisfies the Angellos by offering a lower price than the Village’s offer, but includes a long term lease at a new site that actually saves the Angellos money and improves their cash flow.”
As of late this past week, the Agnellos began spreading the word to friends, customers, and nearby businesses that the shop is not relocating. They’re closing the business for good. So there go all the theories about them wanting a new location.
Any other ideas on how Wells was able to buy the property but Ten Hoeve wasn’t?
>You prefer to suggest, without the slightest evidence, that he or other Village Council members are corrupt and are covering something up.”
…corrupt or stupid was his inference
>As of late this past week, the Agnellos began spreading the word to friends, customers, and nearby businesses that the shop is not relocating. They’re closing the business for good. So there go all the theories about them wanting a new location.
yep there you’re screw job
>If the Angellos are closing shop, then it seems odd that they would accept an offer that was hundreds of thousands of dollars less than the Village offer. Will any of you conspiracy theorists explain that? Or are the Angellos part of the conspiracy to somehow defraud the taxpayers too?
I have no facts. But, at least I offered a plausible set of cirmstances around the purchase of Town Garage that could have occured that did not involve ANY inappropriate conduct. None of you has demonstrated that the Village had anything to do with Wells’ purchase of Town Garage (other than claiming it is so). If there was inappropriate conduct (try to limit your responses to this particular issue), I will be the first one to side against the Village Council or Wells. Will one of you please offer a reasonable explanation of SPECIFICALLY what the Village Council is alleged to have done that is unethical or illegal, who has benefited and how? While you are at it, please explain how this conduct has injured the taxpayers’ interests. If you can do that plausibly, you may establish some creditbility. Until then, I will continue to assert that all of you, particularly Boyd Loving, are nothing more than gadflys and muckrakers of the worst order. One of you claimed that there is “quite a bit of evidence, granted some rather circumstantial.” What is this “evidence?” Let’s get some facts on the table…
>None of you has demonstrated that the Village had anything to do with Wells’ purchase of Town Garage (other than claiming it is so). ..perhaps the fact that pfund claimed the paking garage was a foregone conclusion well before he had any reason to beleive so .. no offense brother but if anyone gave a real crap about parking they could have reconfigured some of the parking spots on the streets from parallel to slant a long time ago
>The time honored tradition continues – shoot the messenger . . .
Although the Town Garage ceased operating just this past week, the property transfer was official in mid November of 2006.
The deed of sale for 120 Franklin Avenue was stamped as “received” in the Ridgewood Tax Assessor’s office on 1/29/07.
The tax assessor’s office officially categorized sale of the property as “not at arms length,” aka “distressed,” due to likely condemnation via eminent domain actions. Thus, the transaction will not be used for purposes of establishing assessed values in the Central Business District.
As suggested by other posts, mandated pre-sale fire & building inspections also provided Village officials with knowledge that a property transfer was pending.
In summary, Village officials were well aware that 120 Franklin Avenue changed hands, at least by 1/29/07, but most likely in early November of 2006 via applications for pre-sale fire & building inspections.
From The Ridgewood News – 3/3/07 edition: Mayor David Pfund says that Village officials “had no knowledge of that purchase” until it was reported in The Ridgewood News’ 2/23/07 edition.
It strikes me as highly unlikely that neither the tax assessor office, building department, nor fire department advised the Village Manager’s office of activity related to a property the Village has wanted for years. And it would strike me as even more unlikely that the Village Manager’s office would be aware of this activity and neglect to inform the Mayor and Village Council. Possible yes; plausible no.
“Had no knowledge of that purchase.” – that’s what the Mayor said. I believe the facts would suggest otherwise.
>Shoot the messenger was the tactic of choice BOE members used against Carole Nunn several years back. Different players this time around, but the same general strategy. We’ll see how much success they have trying a series of old plays again. You’ve got to know the players to understand the game. Are all of the players known?
>”proud gadfly and muckraker”…
Your self-proclaimed title says it all!! The fact that you are proud of it, is pathetic. The parking garage has been a foregone conclusion in Ridgewood for quite some time now…long before the notion of Wells purchasing Town Garage ever came up.
Your “slanted parking spot” solution verifies that you are either new to town or, as was suggested earlier, you just refuse to accept the facts. A detailed independent study of the parking shortage in Ridgewood revealed that the downtown area needs approximately 400 new parking spots. Creating slanted spots would not be possible on many downtown streets (due to the limited width of the streets). If slanted spots were established they would provide less than 30% of the needed spots and would add to congestion and create safety issues on certain streets.
Pfund was quite accurate in his comment. And, it is simply a result of the fact that he has to deal with these issues daily and he pays attention when people explain the facts and make recommendations. As requested above. How about offering “a reasonable explanation of SPECIFICALLY what the Village Council is alleged to have done that is unethical or illegal, who has benefited and how? While you are at it, please explain how this conduct has injured the taxpayers’ interests.”
>muckraker
noun
one who spreads real or alleged scandal about another (usually for political advantage)
What political advantage is being obtained here? If the information is believed to be real, what’s the problem?
>Thanks, Anonymous 7:52 for trying to bring some factual perspective to the consiracy theory.
However, your suggestion that paperwork filed with the building department and tax assessor’s office in late 2006 or January 2007 make it likely that the Mayor was aware of the sale at that time is pretty shaky. It presumes that Village Hall is a well oiled machine that communicates fluidly from top to bottom and with the Village Council members in a taimely manner. As you all remind readers of this blog daily, we all know that is NOT the case.
But, if it were the case, what exactly would the Mayor have known and when? The deed was not received until Monday 1/29/07. This information would have disclosed the purchase price and the buyer. Although, wasn’t the buyer listed as a corporate entity, not Wells? Therefore, what would the Mayor have been told? That Town Garage was sold to some corporate entity at a lower price than what the Village offered?
Let’s assume that was the case some time in the 3.5 weeks between the deed date and the article in the RN on 2/23/07. What exactly, could the Mayor do with that information? How could he or anyone else benefit? How were taxpayers cheated?
His staement that he learned about Wells involvement while reading the RN article on 2/23/07 is entirely possible. So, where is the big conspiracy in all of this?
Let’s suppose for a minute that the Mayor was told that “Wells might purchase Town Garage” prior to 1/29/07. Is that evidence of unethical behavior? In fact, if it is true, and he declined to acknowledge the comments until he read the confirmation in the paper on 2/23/07, would that not be a good thing…to refuse to give credibility to rumors or gosip, even ithough they may later prove to be true?
I think you’ve fished this hole dry boys! Time to move on.
>”His staement that he learned about Wells’ involvement while reading the RN article on 2/23/07 is entirely possible.”
Possible, but not plausible.
Agreed, it’s time to move on to other topics; we’ve beat this one to death.