The state takeover of Atlantic City is only an Assembly vote away, with Governor Chris Christie saying that he will veto any version of the bill and its accompanying PILOT agreement for the city’s casinos that differ from the versions passed in the Senate. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-28) has been the most vocal of the PILOT bill’s last-minute Senate amendment allowing casinos to opt out of the PILOT program if casino gaming expands into North Jersey. JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more
FAA PROPOSED TETERBORO RUNWAY 19 ROUTE
March 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridewood NJ, On April 4th the visual approach for airplane landing at Teterboro will change. If residents want to communicate their concern about this change, they can call the hotline 201/288-8828 to register a complaint. All comments will be reviewed by Teterboro Airport Noise Office staff who will follow up with residents. Complaint statistics will be shared with the FAA.
March 30,2016
Ridgewood NJ , a Pro-ISIS Group Hacked the NJ Transit Police website and published personal Information on New Jersey Transit officers.The group known as the Caliphate Cyber Army first released the personal details of 55 officers in early March.
The group known as the Caliphate Cyber Army (CCA) first released the personal details of 55 officers in early March after hacking into the NJ Transit police website,Newsweek reported. The newsmagazine saw the list of personal details, which included home addresses, phone numbers, names and ranks.
Information was released on a pro-ISIS Twitter account published and a list of New Jersey Transit officers’ names and personal information, encouraging supporters to carry out “lone wolf” attacks on them, according to sources and published reports.
The Twitter account that linked out to the list has since been suspended, but another tweet referencing the list was sent Monday, was reported on NBC 4 New York but It’s not clear who sent the tweet.
The original file was uploaded to an Arabic-language file sharing site on March 2 and was downloaded 300 times by March 5, the Daily Mail reports.
In a statement, NJ Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic said the agency’s information system was not compromised, “however some information was breached from an outside vendor.”, she went on the New Jersey Transit Police Department is working with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI on this matter,”
the staff of the Rjidgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Look in the sky its a bird no its a plane and the new flight path to Teterboro Airport, intended to reduce noise around Hackensack University Medical Center, could take jets over Valley Hospital and Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood . This according to a map of the new flight procedure published by a navigational aid company ahead of a six-month trial of the route, which is due to begin on Monday.
The Bergen Record is reporting that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has emphasized that its new they call it the “quiet visual” approach for Teterboro Airport shifts aircraft west of their current route to track Route 17 south from Mahwah to Rochelle Park. The idea is to minimize noise pollution by keeping aircraft over or close to the highway, itself a source of noise.
But the new flight procedure, published by Jeppesen, a Boeing company, shows that a significant portion of the approach takes pilots west of Route 17, particularly between Waldwick and Paramus.
The new flight path according to Jeppesen’s chart has jets approaching Teterboro dropping to a minimum of 3,000 feet around Mahwah, passing over Mahwah and Ramsey high schools. The next descend brings flights to about 2,000 feet, as they approach Julia A Traphagen Elementary School in Waldwick. Then planes would continue south, passing Ho-Ho-Kus Elementary School and, in Ridgewood, Benjamin Franklin Middle School and The Valley Hospital.
As flights continue over Paramus, jets will fly over Stony Lane School and Midland Elementary School as well as close by Bergen Community College, before coming in to land over the top of IKEA and the Westfield Garden State Plaza, while staying more than 1 mile west of Hackensack University Medical Center.
March 30,2016
Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi
Ridgewood NJ, When looking at why the cost of living in New Jersey is so absurdly high, it is imperative to understand actual numbers for spending around the State.
Anyone following the proposed Atlantic City bankruptcy and/or takeover is probably trying to understand how Atlantic City got to this point. Most people are unaware that the population of Atlantic City consists of only 39,500 residents and 6,679 school age children. Yet, the municipal budget is $262,000,000 equaling spending of $26,531.64 per household of 4 people.
Likewise the school budget is $166,000,000 which equals an average spending of $24,887.56 per child. In other words, for a family of 4 with two school age children, the governmental and school spending in Atlantic City equals $76,306.76 per household. We must cut spending and figure out a better way. All of our futures depend on it.
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood is not the only town have both concerns and difficulties with the both the placement and quantity of court mandated affordable housing in the Village. The ongoing battle over how much court-ordered housing should be built in each municipality has grown particularly contentious in Bergen County, where the main issue is: Where does it go ?
While housing advocates, developers and even some local officials like our council majority in Ridgewood have what they think is an answer ; sites of all those aged, often vacant storefronts and corporate buildings that didn’t make it. Developers often call these “stranded assets”.
The answer in Ridgewood is derelict sites in the Central Business District that can hold multi purpose development . This site the old “Town Garage” , Brogan and Ken smith as well as 599 South Maple offer developers and opportunity to meet affordable housing requirements along with other development needs .
While hundreds of municipalities are in court fighting proposed housing quotas which officials claim ignore the realities of the housing market and the pressing lack of vacant land as well as the quality of life and character of the town effected.
March 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report that on March 23 at 1pm, a North Haledon resident reported that she had been looking to rent an apartment in Ridgewood and located one using Craigslist.
Ridgewood’s (81) neighbor Oradell was named the number one place to raise a family in New Jersey and Hoboken which seems to be the model of our current council majority’s vision for Ridgewood’s future came in dead last at 508. Other towns that Ridgewood seems to be looking to for guidance Englewood came in 483, and Hackensack 422.
Along with Oradell other Bergen towns ;River Edge (13), Harrington Park (15),Closter (17), Old Tappan (18) , Upper Saddle River (29), and Glen Rock (30) all did quite well.
The Top 10 in the Ranking
1Oradell Bergen 7,997
2Montgomery Somerset 22,078
3Bethlehem Hunterdon 3,957
4Boonton Morris 4,311
5Fredon Sussex 3,392
6Pennington Mercer 2,591
7Mendham Morris 5,004
8MilltownMiddlesex6,916
9Mendham Twp.Morris 5,851
10Essex FellsEssex 2,125
Fri, April 01, 2016
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Porch Light Theater, 555 Broad Street Glen Rock, NJ
Cost: $18 per person
Glen Rock NJ, Porch Light Theater Present “Jerusalem is Beautiful .The play revolves around two young peace activistsa Jewish-American male (Dylan), and a Palestinian-American female (Amal) who unexpectedly cross paths. He is leaving his job at the Coalition for Peace to start a new life in Jerusalem and she has been hired to take over his position and his Brooklyn apartment. The two had arranged a meeting for the following day, but Amal arrives unannounced at the apartment in the middle of the night. During the visit, they debate politics, reveal personal tragedies and come to a surprising and romantic mutual understanding. Jerusalem is Beautiful is a charming and timely play with just the right amount of humor and pathos.
For more information, please visit: njplaywrightscontest.org
This production is presented through special partnership with the New Jersey Playwright’s Contest. Staged readings of the finalists for the 13th Annual NJPC will be held at Porch Light on Sunday, April 17.
Wed, March 30, 2016
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: YWCA Bergen County, YMCA of Ridgewood, 112 Oak St., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Cost: $33 per person
Wednesday, March 30, 7:00 pm
112 Oak Street l Ridgewood, NJ 07450
YWCA Bergen County and Ridgewood YMCA, in cooperation with Bookends Bookstore, is proud to welcome Senator Cory Booker to our YM/YWCA to discuss his new book, United.
Tickets are $33 each and include a talk, Q&A, photo op and a pre-signed copy of the book. Tickets and books are required and must be purchased in advance by visiting Bookends Bookstore at 211 Ridgewood Ave. in Ridgewood or by calling (201) 445-0726.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, after bottoming out in February gas prices have continued to raise with the arrival of spring. The average price of regular gasoline per gallon in the Bergen-Passaic market rose 2 cents Friday to $1.81, according to data from the daily fuel gauge report by the American Automobile Association or AAA. The data also showed the average has surged in recent weeks: one week ago the average was $1.73, and a month prior it was $1.58.
Prices historically start to rise in the springtime, when the refining industry transitions from winter heating oil to summer gasoline and just ahead of the traditional summer driving season.
Tom Kloza, co-founder of Oil Price Information Service in Wall Township, said in a tweet on Thursday that the average price of gasoline in the United States rose above $2 per gallon for the first time since Dec. 31. He also predicted that the average would continue to creep higher in the next five months.
In New Jersey gas is still a bargain . By Friday, the national average for regular gasoline was $2.03, compared with New Jersey’s average of $1.81. Though the state average is significantly lower than the national rate, gas prices at both levels appear to rise and fall at a parallel rate. Both averages bottomed out in February – the national average at slightly below $1.73, and the state average near $1.63 – and have been steadily rising since.
Though the Bergen-Passaic average for regular gasoline was $1.81 on Friday, retail pumps offered gas at a wide range of prices.
According to GasBuddy.com, an online source for gasoline data, the lowest reported price in the Bergen-Passaic market on Friday was at a Power Fuel station in Woodland Park that sold regular gasoline for $1.57 a gallon. On the higher end, a Lukoil station in Wyckoff sold gas for $2.59, the highest in the state, according to GasBuddy.com.
Though gas prices are on the rise, AAA data showed that prices Friday were still significantly lower from one year ago, when the regular price of gasoline in the Bergen-Passaic market averaged $2.19. Last year’s average is still well below the highest recorded average of $4 a gallon on July 6, 2008.
Rapaport may face expulsion from BCRO.
March 25,2016
Norwood NJ, “Republican” Norwood Councilman Allen Rapaport demonstrated more of the cowardise that has so typified the GOP establishment. deciding to defect from his county party organization’s support of Scott Garrett (R-5), the incumbent Republican congressman in his district. Thursday morning, Rapaport joined Garrett’s Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer in Paramus to declare his decision to endorse him over Garrett , finishing his political career.
With this move Rapaport joins and other failed politicians with Gottheimer in support of Wall Street bailouts , big banks .
Once again Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman Bob Yudin, can not seem to deliver the vote . Yudin told POLITICERNJ , that decision by Rapaport was a “betrayal.”and Yudin says he is looking at the bylaws to see how Rapaport’s decision will be dealt with by the BCRO. It seems that the councilman’s future is unclear. https://politickernj.com/2016/03/yudin-republican-councilmans-decision-to-back-gottheimer-was-a-betrayal/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=Wake%20Up%20Call%20NJ
“It is a betrayal of his office,” Yudin told PolitickerNJ. “He holds office as a Republican. Our Republican bylaws allow for his expulsion from the BCRO for endorsing the Democratic congress candidate and I am looking into that matter. He is no longer a Republican in good standing.”https://politickernj.com/2016/03/yudin-republican-councilmans-decision-to-back-gottheimer-was-a-betrayal/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=Wake%20Up%20Call%20NJ
Rapaport’s decision to endorse Gottheimer comes hot on the heels of the January party switch of “Double dipper “Sheriff Michael Saudino. The once-Republican will now be running as a Democrat on the November ballot. Yudin’s challenger for the BCRO chairmanship Paul DiGaetano, like the rest of the BCRO, he is supporting Garrett.
March 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, A veteran state lawmaker State Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) is at it again saying on Thursday he will soon launch another push to make it easier for law-abiding residents in New Jersey to obtain permits to carry a handgun.
On Tuesday Cardinale introduced a measure that sparked controversy . Measure (S1982) that would allow legislators and judges in the state to obtain carry permits if they complete at least eight hours of training.
Critics and proponents alike said it amounted to nothing more than the state bring “dueling” back to Trenton Dueling a time honored tradition in Politics was made most notable in New Jersey by the Burr–Hamilton duel . The former secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and sitting vice president, Aaron Burr, dueled on July 11, 1804. The duel was the culmination of a long and bitter rivalry between the two men. The duel took place .in Weehawken, in New Jersey, Burr shot and mortally wounded Hamilton. Hamilton was carried to the home of William Bayard on the Manhattan shore, where he died the next day.
N.J. lost thousands of jobs in February
New Jersey’s unemployment rate fell two percentage points in February, even as the state recorded a loss of more than 10,000 private-sector jobs. Samantha Marcus, NJ.com Read more
Ridgewood NJ, Former Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano will officially be challenging current Bergen County Republican Organization Chairman Bob Yudin. DiGaetano mailed a letter the members of the BCRO on Wednesday morning announcing his intentions to run during the party’s mid-June election.
DiGaetano said “After many discussions with County Committee members and leaders throughout the County, it has become clear that there is a strong desire to change the direction in which our beloved party is heading here in Bergen County,” DiGaetano said in the announcement. “Republicans across the County have wasted far too much energy on infighting, and the Democrats have capitalized on our disarray with increasingly regular wins and with increasing margins of victory. We need to come together and stop the bleeding now, before it is too late.”
Rumors had swirled and DiGaetano had previously made it clear that he was looking to pursue the chairmanship of the troubled BCRO. With Wednesday’s announcement he officially submited his candidacy.
Previously, the race for BCRO chairman was poised to become a three-person race between Yudin, DiGaetano and Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney. Rooney dropped out of the race earlier this month and backed Yudin claiming that the party needed to be united in the face of a strong Democratic opposition and not waste energy on a race for chairman leaving just DiGaetano as the prime candidate to replace the often controversial Bob Yudin.
The challenge to Yudin’s chairmanship and leadership comes after a series of set backs and unsuccessful elections for Bergen County’s Republicans. Last year, Republicans failed to pick up any seats on the county’s freeholder board and lost in LD38, initially seen as one of the most competitive districts in the state . Earlier this year Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, rocked party officials defecting to the Democrats . Yudin’s leadership has been under strain for years and to many the statesman like DiGaetano may be the one to right the ship and turn things around for the Bergen GOP.
