Category: Village of Ridgewood

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photo by ArtChick 


Harvard: July 4th Parades Are Right-Wing
By PAUL BEDARD
Posted: June 30, 2011

Democratic political candidates can skip this weekend’s July 4th parades. A new Harvard University study finds that July 4th parades energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day.

“Fourth of July celebrations in the United States shape the nation’s political landscape by forming beliefs and increasing participation, primarily in favor of the Republican Party,” said the report from Harvard. [See political cartoons about the 2012 GOP field.]

“The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century. Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party. Fourth of July celebrations in Republican dominated counties may thus be more politically biased events that socialize children into Republicans,” write Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor David Yanagizawa-Drott and Bocconi University Assistant Professor Andreas Madestam. [Enjoy political cartoons about President Obama.]

Their findings also suggest that Democrats gain nothing from July 4th parades, likely a shocking result for all the Democratic politicians who march in them.

https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/06/30/harvard-july-4th-parades-are-right-wing

>Angry New Jersey unions see few options
Published: Monday, June 27, 2011, 1:45 AM

By Chris Megerian and Matt Friedman
Statehouse Bureau

It felt like a bad breakup, complete with angry tirades and tearful pleading.

Special to the Sunbeam/Patty Irwin
Public worker unions have lashed out at Democrats who backed the pension and health benefits cuts.

New Jersey Democrats have spent years locked arm-in-arm with unions, but the historical alliance frayed last week as the Democrats who control the Legislature pushed through a plan to cut public worker benefits.

Now unions, like scorned lovers, are promising payback at the ballot box.
“You screw us today, we’ll screw you in November!” one union member shouted during last Thursday’s Statehouse protest, the first of three that drew thousands to Trenton.

But it’s unclear what, if anything, unions can do to retaliate against Democrats this fall, when all 120 seats in the Legislature are up for election. After spending generations as a feared political force in Trenton, they may be only a paper tiger come election time.

https://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2011/06/angry_new_jersey_unions_see_fe.html

>Americans Worse Now Than When Obama Inaugurated by 44%-34% Margin in Poll
By Mike Dorning – Jun 22, 2011 12:00 AM ET

More than half of respondents say their children are destined to have a lower standard of living than they do, upending a traditional touchstone of the American Dream. Photographer: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

June 22 (Bloomberg) — Americans are growing more dissatisfied with President Barack Obama’s handling of the economy, and only 30 percent said they are certain to re-elect him, according to a Bloomberg National Poll conducted June 17-20. Fewer than a quarter of respondents see signs of improvement in the economy, and two-thirds say they believe the country is on the wrong track overall. Hans Nichols reports on Bloomberg Television’s “InsideTrack.” (Source: Bloomberg)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-22/americans-worse-now-than-when-obama-inaugurated-by-44-34-margin-in-poll.html

>“Tradition of Excellence” : Readers make to key observations about quality of schools debate 

Based on the previous eight comments, it sounds like the high school parents don’t care if we have the best high school in the state and have no interest in figuring out how we can get there. Pretty good seems to be OK with them.

and

To a growing number in town, having the best high school is not as important as having everyone who doesn’t actually live in town think that RW has the best schools.

It’s all part of placing more importance on feeeling good rather than actually being good.

What do you think?

>11 companies express interest in building wind turbines off New Jersey

>73% Say Being a Father is Most Important Role for Men in Today’s World
Sunday, June 19, 2011

Today is Father’s Day, and most adults will be doing something for their dad today.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 18% of American Adults consider Father’s Day one of the nation’s most important holidays, while 17% consider it one of the least important. Most (62%) say it is somewhere in between. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Interestingly, men downplay the importance of Father’s Day as a holiday more than women—women are more likely to say it is one of the most important holidays or somewhere in between, while men are more likely to say it is one of the least important holidays.

Seventy-three percent (73%) continue to believe that being a father is the most important role a man can fill in today’s world. This, too, has changed little over the past several years. 

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/holidays/june_2011/73_say_being_a_father_is_most_important_role_for_men_in_today_s_world

 

>A3242 bill would allow students to be surveyed “without” parental permission

In essence this bill would allow students to be surveyed “without” parental permission.  The parents would only have to be “informed.”

As Art Gallagher wrote in his column:

Back in 2001 there was a bill passed and signed into law that prohibited school districts from gathering such information unless they had the informed written consent of the student’s parent or guardian.  Now the legislature is on the verge of amending that law (P.L.2001, c.364) so that the school districts can gather the information from students so long as the parents have been notified in writing, NOT consented in writing.

Like the marketeers who assume you will be too busy or disinterested to cancel your book club or credit monitoring service, the Legislature and the school districts are assuming that parents are not giving consent to the schools asking about their political affiliation, sexual behavior or embarrassing mental illnesses because they are too busy, don’t care, or haven’t opened their mail.

Please call these members on the Education Committee:  

Joan Voss  – 201 346 6400 (Joan Voss is running for Freeholder in Bergen County – tell her you are watching her vote))
Scott Rumana  – 973 237 1362

Governor Christie: 609-292-6000

Text of Bill: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/A3500/3242_I1.HTM

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>66% Say Private Sector Employees Work Harder Than Government Workers
Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Most Americans still believe government workers work less and make more money than those employed by private companies. Yet while the majority also thinks government workers enjoy more job security, they’re less convinced of that than they were a year ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 11% of Adults think those employed by the government work harder than workers in the private sector. Sixty-six percent (66%) say those employed by private companies work harder. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure.

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/jobs_employment/june_2011/66_say_private_sector_employees_work_harder_than_government_workers

>VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING

3300 – Amend Salary Ordinance for Management Personnel – Amends this salary ordinance to  reflect that management personnel are receiving   a 0% salary increase in 2010 and 2011.  In   addition, management personnel are eligible for  an incentive increase of 0% – 4% over the two-  year period, based on a performance evaluation,  with one-half of the incentive increase being   paid from January 1, 2010 and the other one-half  of the incentive increase being paid from  January 1, 2011. 

3301 – Amend Salary Ordinance for Non-Union Personnel – Amends this salary ordinance to reflect that  non-union personnel are receiving a 0% salary  increase in 2010 and 2011.  In addition, non- union personnel are eligible for an incentive increase of 0% – 4% over the two-year period,  based on a performance evaluation, with one-half   of the incentive increase being paid from  January   1, 2010 and the other one-half of the  incentive increase being paid from January 1,  2011.

>57% of Likely U.S. Voters see the president as more liberal than they are

Most voters still believe President Obama is more liberal than they are, while just one-out-of-four say they share the same ideological views as the president.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters think Obama is more ideologically liberal than they are, while only 13% view him as more conservative. Twenty-four percent (24%) say their political views are about the same as the president’s. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The number who see the president as more liberal than they are stayed at 57% in three-out-of-four previous surveys conducted since August of last year. That number climbed to 61% in late February. The number who view the president as more conservative ranged from nine percent (9%) to 12% in that same period.

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/june_2011/only_24_say_they_share_obama_s_political_views

>Firms to cut health plans as reform starts: survey
30% of companies say they’ll stop offering Health Insurance coverage due to Obamacare 

By Russ Britt, MarketWatch
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — Once provisions of the Affordable Care Act start to kick in during 2014, at least three of every 10 employers will probably stop offering health coverage, a survey released Monday shows.

While only 7% of employees will be forced to switch to subsidized-exchange programs, at least 30% of companies say they will “definitely or probably” stop offering employer-sponsored coverage, according to the study published in McKinsey Quarterly.

The survey of 1,300 employers says those who are keenly aware of the health-reform measure probably are more likely to consider an alternative to employer-sponsored plans, with 50% to 60% in this group expected to make a change. It also found that for some, it makes more sense to switch.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/firms-halting-coverage-as-reform-starts-survey-2011-06-06

>How one justice wound up speaking for seven

> Ridgewood Run getting up to speed
Friday, May 27, 2011
BY TOM GULITTI
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Print | E-mail

RIDGEWOOD — Over its 36 years, the Fred d’Elia Ridgewood Run hasn’t become one of the most prestigious and popular road racing events in the region by standing still.

The organizers at North Jersey Masters are always looking for ways to improve the race-day experience for the more than 3,000 runners who compete each Memorial Day. This year, race director Cheryl Moses and her crew have made a few changes and additions – some subtle and some obvious.

One that will be impossible to miss is the 17-foot Jumbotron screen at the finish line on Linwood Avenue.

“This is something that’s done at some of the New York Road Runners Club races in the city and some of the higher-end races, and we wanted to bring that touch of something special, something else to add to an already really great event,” Moses said. “It will be cool because the runners will be able to see themselves as they’re coming down Linwood Avenue toward the finish line, so, hopefully, that gives them the incentive to kick it a little harder.”

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/122707468_Ridgewood_Run_getting_up_to_speed.html

 

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The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood | 10 Chestnut Street | Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Phone: 201-447-2204 | Email: [email protected]
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