Category: Montvale NJ

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Why This New Trenton Bill Has Bergen County Mayors Calling It the ‘Scariest Legislation’ in Years

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‘Scariest Bill I’ve Seen’: Montvale Mayor Warns NJ Bill S1836 Strips Local Control Over High-Density Zoning

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, A controversial piece of legislation is quietly moving through Trenton, and local officials are sounding the alarm. Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali has issued an urgent warning to New Jersey residents regarding Bill S1836, calling it the “scariest bill” he has ever seen due to its potential to completely bypass local zoning laws and dramatically increase housing density.

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One of Bergen County’s Biggest Street Fest Is Back: 150 Vendors Are Taking Over Montvale

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Food Trucks, Beer Gardens, and 150+ Vendors: Inside Montvale’s Massive “Mile Long” Street Fair

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, Get ready to turn your weekend plans up a notch. The Montvale Chamber of Commerce is officially launching its 14th Annual Street Fair, transforming Paragon Drive into a massive, open-air festival. Known as one of Bergen County’s most anticipated seasonal events, this year’s fair is packing the street with over 150 vendors, live entertainment stages, dedicated family zones, and two massive food courts.

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Quick Thinking in Montvale: How Local Firefighters Avoided “Jaws of Life” to Rescue Trapped Driver

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Dramatic 3-Car Rollover Crash in Montvale Prompts Swift Emergency Rescue

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, A quiet Saturday evening in Bergen County quickly turned into a high-stakes rescue operation after a severe multi-vehicle collision.

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Ties to Terror Mindmind? Why World Trade Center Survivors Are Outraged By This Top NJ Democrat

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“Some Things Are Just Not Forgivable”: World Trade Center Survivors Blast NJ Congressional Candidate

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale, NJ — The race for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District has suddenly taken a highly controversial turn. Dr. Adam Hamawy, a prominent plastic surgeon currently leading the Democratic primary, is facing fierce condemnation from victims and survivors of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

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Overdevelopment Madness? Inside Montvale’s High-Stakes KPMG Land Shakedown

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NJ Affordable Housing Crisis: How One Town’s Data Center Deal Ended Up in Court

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale, NJ — A major legal battle is brewing in Bergen County over the future of the historic 44-acre KPMG property. What was supposed to be a straightforward plan to meet New Jersey’s strict affordable housing mandates has now devolved into a high-stakes courtroom showdown over data centers, special tax breaks, and the local “overdevelopment madness.”

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Montvale Mayor Issues Definitive Ban on New AI Data Centers: ‘Not a Fit for Our Town’

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No AI Data Centers in Montvale: Mayor Ghassali Draws a Line on Local Development

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, Montvale, New Jersey is facing a pivotal decision about its commercial real estate and local zoning future. To clear up growing community rumors, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali has issued a definitive statement outlining the borough’s official stance on industrial tech development: AI data centers are not welcome in Montvale.

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Montvale Mayor Warns NJ Bill S1836 Is a Loophole for 80% Luxury Overdevelopment

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‘YIGBY’ or Overdevelopment? Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali Warns Against NJ “Affordable Housing” Bill S1836

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, New Jersey’s ongoing debate over affordable housing is heating up, and Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali is sounding the alarm on a piece of state legislation that he warns could radically change local neighborhoods.

The legislation in question is NJ Bill S1836, inspired by the national “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) movement. While the movement traditionally aims to help religious and faith-based organizations convert underutilized land into housing for low-income families, Mayor Ghassali warns that New Jersey’s version opens a dangerous backdoor for high-density, for-profit overdevelopment.

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Is the NJ Dream Dead? Why Your Kids Can’t Afford to Live in Their Own Hometown

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“Can your kids, with a college degree and a good job, afford to buy a home in the town they grew up in?” Ghassali asked. “I can tell you that mine can’t.”

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, The white-picket-fence dream of the New Jersey suburbs is hitting a harsh reality: it’s becoming more expensive than New York City. As home prices skyrocket and political tensions over affordable housing reach a boiling point, many residents are asking: Where will the next generation live?

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Judge Denies Emergency Reinstatement for Resident Blocked From Facebook Page by Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali

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Legal Update: Court Denies Emergency Reinstatement in Fredrics v. Montvale Facebook Lawsuit

file photo courtesy of Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

MONTVALE, NJ — A significant ruling has been issued in the ongoing legal battle regarding digital access and local government. On March 16, Judge O’Dwyer denied an application for an emergency temporary injunction that sought to immediately reinstate resident Howard Fredrics’ access to Mayor Mike Ghassali’s Facebook page.

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Is New Jersey’s “Affordable” Policy Actually Working?

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Luxury vs. Reality: The Shocking Truth Behind New Jersey’s Apartment Boom

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, In a recent deep-dive analysis of New Jersey’s real estate landscape, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali raised a question that has every resident from Bergen County to Cape May talking: Who is Trenton really building for?

Data from 2020 to 2024 reveals a staggering disparity between the national housing trend and what is actually happening on the ground in the Garden State. While the rest of the country is finding ways to balance growth, New Jersey seems to be stuck in a “Luxury-Only” loop.

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Is Trenton Destroying Your Town? Mayor Mike Ghassali and 36 NJ Towns Rise Up Against “Fair Share” Mandates

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Does Fair Share Housing Targets Suburbs for Destruction ?

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, a grassroots rebellion is sweeping across New Jersey. What started as a personal outreach by Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali has exploded into a powerful coalition of 36 municipalities—crossing party lines and county borders—to challenge the state’s current affordable housing policies.

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Will the Supreme Court Halt NJ’s Massive Housing Mandate? Justice Alito Steps In

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First Hurdle Passed: Justice Alito Intervenes in NJ Affordable Housing Showdown

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, In a major development for New Jersey municipalities fighting state-mandated development, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito has officially ordered the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to respond to an emergency application seeking to halt the upcoming March 15 housing deadline.

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Montvale Gridlock: Frigid Temps Trigger Double Water Main Breaks, Closing Major Roads

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Double Water Main Breaks in Montvale Turn Roads into Ice Rinks

photos courtesy of Mayor Mike Ghassali

the staff of the Ridgtewood blog

Montvale NJ, Montvale commuters are facing a frozen mess this morning as sub-zero temperatures push Bergen County’s aging infrastructure past the breaking point. Montvale Police have confirmed two major water main bursts within the last 24 hours, leading to significant road closures and hazardous icy conditions.

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NJ Housing War: 36 Towns Fight to Stop “Broken” High-Density Mandates in Federal Court

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NJ Housing Rebellion: 36 Towns Head to Federal Court to Block “High-Density” Mandates

pictured Mayor Mike Ghassali With Montvale councilmen Doug Arendacs and Dieter Koelling

photo courtesy of Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

In a major showdown over the future of the Garden State’s suburbs, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali and a coalition of 36 New Jersey municipalities have taken their fight against state-mandated housing to federal court.

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New Jersey Suburbs Facing Extinction

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NJ “Affordable Housing” War: 2026 Starts with a “Sea Change” and a Federal Courtroom Showdown

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, The residential building boom transforming New Jersey’s landscape isn’t slowing down. As we enter 2026, many Garden State municipalities are waking up to a new reality after a frantic end to 2025. While hundreds of towns have officially “bought in” to the state’s affordable housing mandates, a defiant coalition of suburban leaders is taking their fight all the way to federal court.

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