The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,, since 2015, NJ TRANSIT has held the line on fare increases while not only improving service performance, but adding additional service on more than 100 bus routes and absorbing the ongoing costs to operate service that replaced private carrier bus services abandoned by DeCamp, Coach USA and A&C, which represents more than $30 million alone.
Continue reading Here is How to Make your Opinion Known on the NJ Transit Proposed Fare Increase
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Jersey City NJ, tragedy unfolded at Journal Square Station in Jersey City as a person was fatally struck by a PATH train on Monday morning, as reported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The individual’s identity remains undisclosed.
Continue reading Person struck and killed by PATH train at Journal Square Station in Jersey City
State Senator Holly Schepisi, ” Hell Must Have Froze Over”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, After a thorough review of fuel consumption statistics and consultation with the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, the Department of the Treasury announced on Tuesday that New Jersey’s gas tax rate will decrease by 8.3 cents per gallon beginning October 1 to comport with the 2016 law that requires a steady stream of revenue to support the State’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) program.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Newark NJ, The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is revising its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals by air to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system. The final rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals can be found HERE.
Continue reading The U.S. Department of Transportation Bans Exotic Service Animals
April 2, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
During times of adversity and stress, I find myself thinking of others who are going through the same experience, but in this case, I am particularly aware of those who are on the front line in a much riskier position than myself. I think of the medical community who took an oath to treat any patient who needs care, even when that care puts them in harm’s way.
Continue reading Ridgewood School Home School Day 14 ,Due to COVID 19
March 26, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
We are starting to receive calls and emails concerning RPS families and employees with positive COVID-19 results. From what I hear, these individuals started having symptoms after school was closed. When someone tests positive for the virus, the appropriate public health department is notified and follows up with the individual. These investigations are private, and only the public health department determines who must be contacted. How individuals release personal health information is their decision. COVID-19 is an illness, and there is no shame in being diagnosed. If you are diagnosed and need help, we are here for you and so are your neighbors. People can shop for you and your family and leave packages at your door.
Continue reading Ridgewood School Home School Day 9 ,Due to COVID 19
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Vale NJ, according to Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi on conference call with Bergen County Executive Tedesco and Mayors from our 70 communities. Please note the increase in numbers you will see below is expected as we continue to expand testing capacity but we all need to continue to shelter in place and stay home as much as possible so that we can stop these increases.
Continue reading Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi Gives a Run Down on Coronavirus Numbers
March 20, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
Right out of the gate–dinner plans for tonight! If you typically shave, this is the day to do it. Get out of the sweats and into regular clothes. Comb your hair…no bun or Alfalfa hair (aging myself). For those who feel comfortable, order out. For those who don’t, cook a family favorite. Nothing like a fancy dinner (and I mean clothes and no sweats) to make people feel a little normal.
Continue reading Ridgewood School Home School Day 5 ,Due to COVID 19
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, we received this from our friends at the Boca Raton Museum of Art
According to the National School Boards Association, kids who study art are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Studies show that art helps kids earn higher report card grades because skills developed through art lead to better learning in other areas.
Dogs are considered as man’s best friend and this is because of their undeniable loyalty to their humans. There are even dogs who go the extra mile to protect their owners or show affection even when their owners are long gone. As such, people are drawn to have dogs as their pets, regardless of whether they live in the countryside or in the city. If you are someone who lives in an urban area, here are some things that you need to know when you bring your furry friend to the city.
“The library and Board of Education will be our undoing. The debt that they will incur is irresponsible. It is not clear that anyone in power stands for fiscal responsibility.
The developers want a new library, Performing Arts Center and more parking garages. It makes their rentals more appealing and will attract the NYC and Hoboken renters.
The residents will be paying for everything.”
“It’s depressing. Unfortunately when residents who lived here for decades leave, their houses are bought by NYC families who never experienced the quaint village feeling before. So they don’t even know it and they’re fine with a city feel and look as long as they have a gazillion rooms and a small yard. They bring their mindset with them and turn the whole place into a cold and unfriendly environment with their big city attitude. To add, they’re also the biggest supporters of feel good causes but they’re fine with cutting their yard trees so they won’t have to deal with leaves or they will b!tch and m0an about blue laws cuz they can’t shop on sundays. They’re fine with large buildings around them because they’re used to them. Nobody will protest when Valley site turns into an apartment complex. The look and feel of suburban towns is being destroyed by this generation who also has a herd mentality when it comes to local or national politics. Those of us who wanted a pleasing, quaint, quiet and friendly place to raise our family are the real victims. We are stuck here until we can retire. Every nice area is being exploited and used and abused to extreme.”
NYC Mayor Bill Be Blazio
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
NEW YORK NY, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) served four immigration subpoenas Friday on the New York Department of Corrections (NYDOC) requesting information on multiple illegal aliens who were criminally arrested in New York City, and yet under New York’s non-cooperation policies officials have refused to honor ICE detainers or even provide ICE with information about the release dates of criminal alien public safety threats. Issuance of these immigration subpoenas was necessary because the NYDOC has continued to ignore ICE’s requests for information and cooperation.
Continue reading Commuters : ICE subpoena refused under NY sanctuary policies
Good Afternoon,
The Port Authority of NY and NJ has decided to terminate the operating agreement with Saddle River Tours to operate at the Port Authority’s George Washington Bridge Bus Station (GWBBS). Saddle River Tours has an ongoing pattern of prolonged financial delinquencies, non-responsive communication, and recent abandonment of service to commuters over the past two (2) years.
Starting on January 25, 2020, Saddle River Tours bus company, which offers two services (Route 11C & Route 20/84) from Rockland County, New York to New York City for Rockland County, NY and Bergen County, NJ residents traveling into the City, will no longer operate out of the GWBBS.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT’s Board of Directors today approved Raymond P. Kenny as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Rail Operations at today’s special Board of Director’s meeting.
“Ray is a national expert in the railroad industry and his knowledge of the complexities of the rail system in our region is unmatched,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “His leadership and management skills will be invaluable as we move NJ TRANSIT forward.”
“Ray has a long and accomplished railroad career and we look forward to tapping his wealth of industry knowledge as we continue to transform NJ TRANSIT into a national leader,” said Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “Ray understands railroading from every angle, having started as a ticket clerk at LIRR and rising through the ranks to eventually lead LIRR as the busiest railroad in the country.”
Kenny has nearly 50 years of railroad industry experience including serving as former acting President of the MTA Long Island Railroad (LIRR). He has an extensive background in managing large teams in both transportation operations and capital improvements.
Most recently, Kenny has served with WSP as a consultant for operations and planning for agencies across the nation including the Gateway project, the Northeast Corridor Future project, business processes at Metro-North and emergency management plans at Metrolink in Los Angeles.
He began his transportation career in 1970 as a ticket clerk at LIRR. In 1975, he entered railroad dispatching for LIRR before rising through the ranks at LIRR with positions in personnel training and capital construction prior to leading the Transportation department.
Prior to NJ TRANSIT, Kenny served with WSP as a consultant where his experience included helping to improve Metro-North’s business processes including train crew availability, assisting Metrolink in Los Angeles with emergency management plans, a subject matter expert on the NEC Future project, which is a comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate and prioritize future investments in the NEC, a subject matter expert for the Gateway project in the design of a new Penn Station New York and staging of train operations to facilitate construction. Most recently, Kenny was assigned to the Hartford, CT rail project as a commissioning agent, ensuring project schedule compliance on the start of a new rail line.
