Category: Bergen County

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Governor Christie Announces New Initiatives to Reduce MVC Wait Times, Customer Costs

MVC

August 24,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

 

Trenton, NJ – Governor Christie today visited the Randolph, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agency to announce additional initiatives aimed at reducing MVC wait times and customer costs. These new proposals and improvements to existing programs will cut transaction times and make it easier for drivers to access services.

“Providing excellent customer service at MVC and throughout state government has been a key component of my administration,” said Governor Christie. “MVC is continually looking for ways to enhance the customer experience and streamline the transaction process.  With these new initiatives, customers will have more options to conduct their business either online or at a variety of locations with some express options. “

To reduce demand at the end of the month, Governor Christie is calling on the legislature to pass a bill that would change driver license and registration expiration dates to drivers’ birthdays instead of the last day of the month.

To encourage use of MVC’s online tools, by October 1st, MVC will eliminate online transaction fees. MVC will continue to post on its website updated wait times at each agency location and identify low-volume agencies, as well as offer online scheduling of driver tests and online suspension/restoration appointments.

Starting in early 2017, MVC will launch two mobile agency units that will be able to perform all transactions that existing agencies can with the exception of driver testing and titles. They will be deployed in the event of unforeseen agency outages and also will be utilized to service the needs of varying populations. MVC also is working with AAA to develop a system for customers to be able to renew their registration through certain AAA offices.

“AAA is proud to work with several states to provide motor vehicle services at our offices,” said Cathleen Lewis, Director of AAA Northeast Public Affairs and Government Relations. “We look forward to working with the administration to provide similar services for the State of New Jersey.”

To reduce the time of license renewal transactions, many agencies have implemented a driver’s license express process, which allows customers to bypass the ID check stations.  MVC also has increased the number of Enhanced Digital Driver’s License cameras in 10 of its busiest agencies – Bakers Basin, Springfield, East Orange, Turnersville, Somerville, South Plainfield, Edison, Rahway, North Bergen, and Wallington.

MVC has started the process of converting to a central issuance system to issue IDs from a central location rather than through individual agencies, which will reduce transaction times and ensure maximum security throughout the process.

Earlier this year, Governor Christie ordered enhanced customer service training for MVC employees which focused on fundamental customer service skills, such as active listening, effective communication, and conflict resolution. Training already has been provided to all MVC executive and senior staff, Agency Services Coordinators, Regional Managers and Agency Managers. Customer complaints are currently being tracked by region, which allows the MVC to identify more quickly trends in areas needing improvement in specific agencies or geographical areas of the State.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Gottheimer/Clinton tax plan will Hit Bergen County Residents Especially Hard

Joshua S

August 23,2016

the staff of the Ridwood blog

Ridgewood NJ, As a professional political operative, Josh Gottheimer knows how to lie to voters in order to get what he wants. He helped Bill Clinton do it for years.

Now, Josh Gottheimer is lying to Fifth District voters about being a “fiscal conservative ” ,when in reality, he supports Hillary’s extreme tax agenda.

This is an agenda that will hit residents of the Fifth District even harder than average Americans . Bergen County already ranks #17 in the country in taxes paid out of 3,007 counties nationwide. The average amount in taxes paid per Bergen County resident is $17,889 and the Gottheimer/Clinton Tax plan will make that number even higher.

Gottheimer learned to lie from the best . Voters may remember that then Senator Hillary Clinton pledged she would not raise taxes on the middle class, then voted repeatedly to do so, including voting in favor of raising taxes on individuals earning as little as $41,500.

The Clintons expect loyalty from those they’ve helped, so will Josh Gottheimer do what he’s always done, and advance the wishes of his biggest patrons by supporting Clinton’s tax plan.

Clinton’s tax plan is bad for Fifth District voters. It means less money in our wallets, less money for our retirement accounts, and fewer job opportunities.

The Tax Foundation has data on what the Gottheimer/Clinton tax plan has in store for voters, and it’s not good:

Table 1. Tax Brackets under Hillary Clinton’s Tax Plan
Ordinary Income Capital Gains and Dividends Single Filers Married Filers Head of Household
10% 0% $0 to $9,275 $0 to $18,550 $0 to $13,250
15% 0% $9,275 to $37,650 $18,550 to $75,300 $13,250 to $50,400
25% 15% $37,650 to $91,150 $75,300 to $151,900 $50,400 to $130,150
28% 15% $91,150 to $190,150 $151,900 to $231,450 $130,150 to $210,800
33% 15% $190,150 to $413,350 $231,450 to $413,350 $210,800 to $413,350
35% 15% $413,350 to $415,050 $413,350 to $466,950 $413,350 to $441,000
39.6% 20% $415,050 to $5 million $466,950 to $5 million $441,000 to $5 million
43.6% 24% $5 million and above $5 million and above $5 million and above
  • Enacts the “Buffett Rule,” which would establish a 30 percent minimum tax on taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) over $1 million – this hurts job-creating small businesses in the Fifth District.
  • Caps all itemized deductions at a tax value of 28 percent.
  • Adjusts the schedule for long-term capital gains by raising rates on medium-term capital gains to between 27.8 percent and 47.4 percent (Table 2).

 

Table 2. Top Marginal Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Rate Schedule under Hillary Clinton’s Tax Plan
Years Held Marginal Tax Rate Net Investment Income Tax Surtax on incomes over $5 million Combined Rate on Capital Gains
Less than One 39.6% 3.8% 4% 47.4%
One to Two 39.6% 3.8% 4% 47.4%
Two to Three 36% 3.8% 4% 43.8%
Three to Four 32% 3.8% 4% 39.8%
Four to Five 28% 3.8% 4% 35.8%
Five to Six 24% 3.8% 4% 31.8%
More than Six 20% 3.8% 4% 27.8%
  • Limits the total value of tax-deferred and tax-free retirement accounts.*
  • Taxes carried interest at ordinary income tax rates instead of capital gains and dividends tax rates.*

 

Posted on by — 23 Comments

Amazon delivery driver attacked by dog in Glen Rock

Amazon delivery driver attacked by dog in Glen Rock

photos courtesy of Boyd Lovings Facebook page

August 23,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock PD and EMS responded to a report of an Amazon delivery driver who was attacked and bitten by a large dog at 392 Grove Street, Glen Rock on Monday morning, 08/22. Glen Rock PD officers were observed administering first aid to the driver as he sat in his delivery van. A Glen Rock EMS ambulance transported the victim, who reportedly sustained a serious hand injury, to The Valley Hospital for treatment.

Posted on by — 8 Comments

Gottheimer Wants to Tax More of Your Hard-Earned Dollars

Josh Gottheimer

August 22,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  Garrett for Congress released the following ad, which will air district-wide in New Jersey’s Fifth District.

Josh Gottheimer is just another tax-and-spend liberal Democrat. He lies to taxpayers, deceiving them into thinking he is a fiscal conservative, but the reality is, Josh Gottheimer wants to send more money to Washington, DC from hardworking New Jersey taxpayers.

Josh Gottheimer released a so-called “tax plan” that shows he will blindly support Hillary Clinton’s trillion dollar tax increase, which The Tax Foundation finds would weaken the economy, reduce wages, and result in fewer jobs.  Simply put, you will be taxed more and paid less in the Gottheimer/Clinton tax plan.

Josh Gottheimer wants higher taxes so he can reward his special interests with New Jersey tax dollars.  What New Jersey families want and deserve is a congressman that will fight to keep more of your hard earned money in your own pocket.

This is why Rep. Garrett has been such a strong proponent of keeping our taxes as low as possible. He voted against President Obama’s increased taxes on the middle class.  Every time someone advocates higher income taxes, it actually means that more of our money goes to Washington, where bureaucrats decide how to spend it.

Rep. Garrett has always fought to protect your tax dollars, and he will continue to do so next Congress.

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Why do we fear narcissism?

narcissism, by ArtChick

narcissism, by ArtChick
We are in an age of unprecedented self-admiration — but why does this trouble us so much?

by: Kristin Dombek

The word might occur to you at dinner, at around minute 15 or so of a monologue that began the minute your companion arrived. There wasn’t a discernible difference between her arrival and the commencing of the monologue; barely a greeting, in fact, just wave after wave of language, stories whose subject is the same (how she’s been maligned or overlooked, perhaps), and she is not even pausing to breathe, and your breath shortens, as if it’s physically possible for a human being to suck the air out of another human being’s lungs from across the table.

https://www.ft.com/content/1882c54e-607c-11e6-ae3f-77baadeb1c93#axzz4HkbrGqGT

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Readers debate Paramus Catholic’s Alledged Firing of a teacher based on her same sex marriage

Kate Drumgoole (on right) was FIRED from her job at Paramus Catholic High School,

August 21,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood , many readers have different takes on Paramus Catholic’s alleged firing of a teacher based on her same sex marriage .

The staff of the Ridgewood blog thinks there is far more going on than the typical media template would have us all believe .

Catholic teaching does not recognize  same sex marriages , but there seems to be a lot of inconsistencies in the application of that teaching from the school administration.  Should these inconsistencies be enough to force the institution to violate one of its tenants ? Or was that tenant merely used as an excuse for other issues . The main stream media has clearly taken the side of the teacher but is that the whole story.  Things are seldom as they seem to be.

………………………

Many religions do not recognize homosexuality. If you are employed at a Catholic institution you must support the values of the church. From the Archdiocese of Newark website teacher employment page:

CATHOLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS AND OPENINGS
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS:
Commitment to the Catholic Church’s teaching mission and philosophy
Dedication to a values-based education

You cannot force a religious institution to go against their beliefs. If you disagree with this then you should work at a public school – they have better salary and benefits. Ridgewood teachers have nothing to complain about.

or………………………………….

If the school ever took any grant money from the county, the state, or the federal government, then they cannot discriminate. And I am betting my last dollar that PC has taken plenty of grant money. They are discriminating against her because she is gay and that is against the law. Against the law. Do you understand this?

Catholic Schools do not require that all employees are catholic. They can be jewish, episcopalian, muslim, atheist, you name it. But they cannot be gay???!!! Again, this is discrimination plain and simple and it is sickening.

I am betting the pope would be appalled that she was fired and I hope he finds out and reverses this travesty.

I am rooting for Kate Drumgoole all the way. She deserves to get her job back or be compensated hugely. She is clearly a good person, a great teacher, a great coach, loved by all. This is disgusting what they did to her.

Shame on Paramus Catholic. Shame on them. What would Jesus Do? sure as hell he would not fire and humiliate this fine young woman.. sickening.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

WEST BERGEN MENTAL HEALTHCARE PRESENTS LEVEL 1 AUTISM SPECTRUM WORKSHOPS

Autism1
August 20,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , The Level 1 Autism Services Department (formerly Asperger’s Related Disorders) at West Bergen Mental Healthcare will present three workshops for professionals, family members and students. The co-facilitators are West Bergen professionals who are Masters and Doctoral level clinicians.
Participation is limited. The fee is $25 per workshop; pre-registration is required. All workshops will be held at the West Bergen Center for Children and Youth, One Cherry Lane, Ramsey, NJ. Please complete the registration form on our website: www.westbergen.org and mail it with your check payable to West Bergen Mental Healthcare. Questions may be directed to Amy Whritenour at (201) 934-1160.

1. Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorders 101 (formerly Asperger’s 101): – Designed for those new to the diagnoses or interested in better understanding this disorder and the changes being made to the diagnosis. Attendees will learn the diagnostic criteria, associated features and strengths of the population. Presented by Michela Tripodi, LPC, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

2. Therapeutic Social Skills for Individuals with Level 1 Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders – This Workshop will provide education on understanding the scope of social skills development frequently needed by those diagnosed with Level 1 Autism Disorders. The nature and complexity of social skills, various techniques and tools and how to target social skills development within the natural environment for children through adolescents will be examined. Presented by Loren Galese, LAC, on Tuesday, September 13, 1:00 to 2:30 PM.

3. Two or Three for One: The Complexity of Co-Morbidity (additional diagnosis) in Level 1 Autism and Related Disorders – This Workshop will review the symptoms and criteria for the most commonly experienced co-morbid disorders and examine various treatment options. Presented by Cory Birch, LPC, ACS, Thursday, September 15, 12:00 to 1:30 PM.

West Bergen is a non-profit organization providing a wide range of psychiatric and counseling services for all age groups with various levels of need. West Bergen is committed to meeting the psychological needs of each of its clients with sensitivity and responsive, innovative services of the highest quality. West Bergen strives to improve the quality of life in Bergen County and beyond – one life at a time. For further information on West Bergen and the services it provides please call (201) 485-7172.
– 30 –
Contact: Carol Cohen, Director of Development, (201) 444-3550.

Posted on by — 8 Comments

Catholic school faculty member sues school after she’s fired for being gay

Kate Drumgoole (on right) was FIRED from her job at Paramus Catholic High School,

BY MEGAN CERULLO
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, August 19, 2016, 4:55 PM

A lesbian teacher was fired from Paramus Catholic High School after administrators learned that she was married to a woman, according to her lawsuit.

Kate Drumgoole, 33, was the school’s head basketball coach and dean of guidance when the school fired her in January.

After a family argument, Elaine Vanore, the sister of Drumgoole’s wife, Jaclyn Vanore, sent the same-sex couple’s wedding photos to school administrators, according to the lawsuit.

“After everything was brought to their attention, they fired her,” said Lawrence Kleiner, an attorney for Drumgoole.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/catholic-school-educator-sues-fired-gay-article-1.2758385

Posted on by — 1 Comment

40 people arrested in massive N.J. child porn crackdown

40 people arrested in massive N

By S.P. Sullivan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on August 18, 2016 at 6:26 AM, updated August 18, 2016 at 10:42 PM

HAMILTON — Forty men hailing from every corner of New Jersey have been charged in a statewide crackdown on the distribution of child pornography, authorities announced today.

The six-month investigation, dubbed “Operation Statewide,” tracked horrific images of the sexual exploitation of minors circulating on internet file-sharing networks to individual IP addresses, which led police to home addresses in each of the state’s 21 counties, authorities said.

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/40_people_arrested_in_massive_nj_child_porn_crackd.html#incart_most_shared-news

Posted on by — 2 Comments

HazMat Issues Delay Make Ho Ho Kus Accident Clean Up

HazMat Issues Delay Make Ho Ho Kus Accident Clean Up

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

August 18,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ho Ho Kus NJ, A seemingly minor, injury free, one (1) vehicle crash created major headaches for HoHoKus PD and FD personnel on Wednesday night, 08/17 when the driver of a Saturn SUV drove over a traffic control island, knocked down two (2) traffic control signs, and ruptured her vehicle’s fuel tank in the process. The entire contents of the fuel tank spilled onto East Saddle River Road near Wiermus Road. Members of the Mahwah FD HazMat unit were dispatched to assist HoHoKus FD in containment of the spill and the subsequent cleanup.

14086277 556423761210328 7474653180820812172 o

Making matters worse, the initial towing company called to remove the vehicle from the scene could not transport the contaminated absorbent material, so delays occurred as a result of another towing operator having to be called. No word from police on the scene as to how many, if any, summonses were issued to the Saturn’s driver.

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Governor Christie Issues Executive Order Due to Senate’s Continued Inaction on Transportation Trust Fund

Chris_christie_theridgewoodblog

August 18,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie announced his enactment of Executive Order 213, with the State Transportation Trust Fund Authority days away from exhausting all of its available funds.

“No evident progress has been made by the Legislature to pass a single, viable bill to reauthorize the TTFA,” Governor Christie stated. “A well-maintained transportation infrastructure is essential to the operation of New Jersey’s economy and the people who rely upon it in all aspects of their daily lives. The current situation will persist until the Senate and the General Assembly pass an acceptable TTFA funding bill. Until they do so, the State must use money from the General Fund for emergency road, bridge, and mass transportation work.”

Under Executive Order 213, attached, the state Treasurer is directed to make available general funds for expenses determined to be absolutely essential for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey, or that are required to ensure the receipt of federal funding, in accordance with Executive Order 210, until the Governor determines an emergency no longer exists.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

N.J. class of 2015 owes an average of $30,536 in student loan debt, survey says

student loans

BY PATRICIA ALEX

STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
 New Jersey always seems to make it into the top tier when it comes to being an expensive place to live, and new data shows the state ranks ninth nationally in a new survey of student loan debt.

The average debt per borrower in the state was $30,536 and 63 percent of all students had taken out a college loan, according to a recent study compiled by LendEDU, a Hoboken-based private web marketplace for student loans and refinancing.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-class-of-2015-owes-an-average-of-30-536-in-student-loan-debt-survey-says-1.1646073

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Bulldozers and tears end 14-year fight to save a tract of N.J. woods

Musquapsink Brook

By Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on August 16, 2016 at 7:30 AM, updated August 16, 2016 at 10:40 AM

HILLSDALE — Terri Pendergast used to enjoy walking her dog in the woods behind her house every day. She’d take a meandering path through the timber, her childhood stomping grounds, to trails leading to the Musquapsink Brook.

For Pendergast, it was a quiet sanctuary she shared with the deer, owls and other animals that made these woods their home. The woods butted up to the back of about 15 homes on Ell Road, turning yards into country oases just 25 miles from New York City.

But in June, those woods were suddenly gone, replaced by a 12-acre bald patch crisscrossed with muddy tire tracks to make way for a housing development.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2016/08/a_14-year_fight_to_save_these_woods_ended_with_bulldozers_and_tears.html?ath=9c46bfc08d76232bb5a5e00eeaf0bfa2#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Gottheimer’s Clinton Connections Run Deep

Josh Gottheimer

August 16,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Congressman Garrett has consistently worked to advance legislation that helps grow our economy and create jobs in New Jersey. He played a central role in crafting the Financial CHOICE Act, the Republican plan to replace the failed Dodd-Frank Act and promote economic growth. This legislation would promote higher economic growth without bailouts, reduce the risk of crises, and simplify the regulatory process by emphasizing market mechanisms operating through the rule of law.

In contrast, Josh Gottheimer’s career has been defined by taking advantage of his Clinton connections. His fundraising disclosures shows how he is leveraging the Clinton Network to help buy his way into Congress.

But this is not the first time that Mr. Gottheimer has called upon the Clinton universe to advance his career. As a matter of fact, it’s not even the second or third time. It turns out that Josh Gottheimer has spent his entire career as a Clinton lackey, leveraging their network to land jobs at Ford, Burson Marsteller, the Federal Communications Commission, and Microsoft.

Vying to be the congressional representative for New Jersey’s Fifth District is frankly a bit comical, because it’s hard for us to believe that Washington insider Josh Gottheimer’s loyalty would be to anyone other than the people who’ve made his career: the Clintons and Washington’s special interests.

Josh Gottheimer has made a career out of leveraging his connections to the Clinton family, but those connections don’t come for free.

As with any quintessential crime family, the Clintons will do you a favor, and someday, they’ll call upon you to do a service for them.

It looks like Josh Gottheimer has been more than willing to live by the rules of the Clinton cartel: during Mr. Gottheimer’s tenure at Microsoft, Bill Clinton was paid $225,000 to give one speech.

Well done, Josh. We’re sure you made The Family proud.

Voters of the Fifth District are understandably concerned about where Josh Gottheimer’s loyalties lie. But Mr. Gottheimer has been incredibly clear all along: everything he has, he owes to the Clinton family. They are his first and only constituency, and he is their loyal soldier.