The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
>Worse is yet to come for local budgets
Drastic cuts in state aid to towns and school districts have led to large-scale layoffs and service cuts throughout the state this year. Class sizes have risen, fewer officers are on patrol, municipal office hours have been limited. (Mikle and Koloff, Daily Record)
https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20101211/COMMUNITIES/101210083/1005/NEWS01/Worse-is-yet-to-come-for-local-budgets
>Study: Police consolidation could save $17M
Combining police departments in one New Jersey county could save $17 million in overall personnel costs. (The Associated Press)
https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20101210/UPDATES01/101210001/Study–Police-consolidation-could-save–17M
>Officials: NJ Budget accord not enough
Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic lawmakers may have reached an accord last week on capping arbitration awards for police and firefighters, but some local officials believe that measure and the other so-called “tool kit” reforms won’t be a cure-all during what is expected to be another difficult budget year. (Levinsky, PhillyBurbs)
https://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/26/2010/december/12/officials-budget-accord-not-enough.html
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Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital’s Holiday Pet Photo Contest!
Enter a photo on our Facebook page, and you are eligible to win gift certificates redeemable for services at the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital or the Whole Dog Grooming Salon. Winners are based on the number of “likes” received by viewers on Facebook. The contest ends on January 15, 2011, and winners will be notified by January 30, 2011.
Enter your pet’s photo on facebook at:
www.facebook.com/ridgewoodvet
For details regarding rules and prizes visit:
www.ridgewoodvet.com/pages/events-and-news
To learn more about our hospital as well as current and future events, visit our website at:
www.ridgewoodvet.com
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital
320 E. Ridgewood Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Telephone: 201-447-6000
Website: www.ridgewoodvet.com
E-mail: contact@ridgewoodvet.com
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Lightgate: Dr. Fishbein is proposing that this time limit be extended until 10:30PM
Remember folks, the current Field Use Policy (available for downloading here: https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/recreation/2009SeptFieldPolicy.pdf) prohibits the use of lights at BOE owned facilites past 9PM (see paragraph F on page 14).
Dr. Fishbein is proposing that this time limit be extended until 10:30PM. However, in order for this to happen, the BOE AND the Village Council must agree and approve changes to the policy.
Obviously, you can forget about the BOE acting with taxpayers’ interest in mind, but there may be hope to have the Village Council say “no way.”
Write Village Council members now and express your desires to retain a “lights out” time of 9PM or earlier at all BOE owned facilities.
>The “High” School Tax Bubble Will Burst!
The “High” School Tax Bubble Will Burst! Disaster is Ahead.Just like all the other economic messes we’re in, so will the high school taxes soon cause even greater problems. As noted, our ever increasing school taxes are causing everyone but the richer
school children families wanting to move out of Ridgewood. They simply can’t afford it any more! Paying for 1/2 million dollar Lights plus 2 multi-million dollar turf fields is not wise.
We should be saving money and spending it on academics.The same families that want the sports extras will stay until their kids are out of school and then leave for the Carolinas or other destinations. That leaves the rest of us paying “their” bills and newcomers will not come as easy once the tax rate hits “the roof” which it will in short time with all this reckless spending.THE BUBBLE WILL BURST like in the recent Mortgage fiasco because there will be nobody left to pay these bills we’re obligated for.
What then? “Bankruptcy”? Thank you Ridgewood BOE for your recent purchases of Lights and Turf. Whenwe run out of money we can at least play recreational sports until they are repossessed dueto default!
Lastly, regarding Superintendent pay, does anyone really think Dr. Fishbein is worth more than 1/2 his pay?I ask that seriously and respectfully. Adios Amigos!
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Stop in for Hot Coffee , Hot Chocolate or Even Hot Apple Cider
Downtown For The Holidays ,Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce
Friday, December 3 from 5:30PM to 12AM, Ridgewood Annual tree lighting ceremony celebrates its 25th Anniversary! Bring the whole family and all your friends for this special evening, featuring live musical and theatrical performances, food, games and lots of holiday cheer! Lighting of tree takes place at 7:30PM.
Bagelicious
19 N Broad St
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 652-9421
>Congressman Scott Garrett Joins ACLJ in Filing Amicus Brief Challenging Health Care Law Individual mandate forcing Americans to purchase health insurance violates the Constitution
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2010 – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) today joined the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) in filing an amicus brief with a federal court in Florida challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care law. As Founder and Chairman of the Congressional Constitution Caucus, Garrett has long been an outspoken critic of the health care law, particularly the individual mandate. Most recently, Garrett introduced H.R. 4999, the Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act, which would repeal the individual mandate on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.
“The federal health care law isn’t just bad public policy, it’s unconstitutional. As countless constitutional scholars have pointed out, our founding fathers never envisioned a federal government with such expansive powers,” said Garrett. “Forcing Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law represents an unprecedented power-grab by the federal government and would set a dangerous precedent for the future. If we were to give Congress this power under the Constitution, then there would be virtually no limit on its authority to compel our country’s citizens to comply with the whims of future congressional majorities. I submit that the federal health care law will be found unconstitutional when it is litigated in our courts.”
The ACLJ filed the amicus brief in the U.S. District court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division on behalf of 63 members of Congress and more than 70,000 Americans who oppose the individual insurance mandate in the federal health care law. The ACLJ contends that the federal health care law is government over-reach and violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution
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Village Christmas Tree Returns to its Rightful place
Holiday tree moved to the train station
Thursday, November 18, 2010
BY MICHAEL SEDON
The Ridgewood News
Staff Writer
https://www.northjersey.com/news/109021329_Holiday_tree_moved_to_the_train_station.html
Downtown for the Holidays, an event sponsored by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, will feature the return of the village Christmas tree to the train station for the 25th annual tree lighting celebration.
For the past two years, the tree lighting ceremony took place in Van Neste Square Memorial Park with the decorating and lighting of a live tree purchased and planted by the village. The switch was made to eliminate the expense of transporting a donated tree to its original spot at the train station.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/109021329_Holiday_tree_moved_to_the_train_station.html
>Scott Garrett : Honoring Our Angels in Adoption
This week, I was pleased to go to the floor of the House of Representatives to recognize November as National Adoption Month and commemorate the anniversary of National Adoption Day on November 20th. Now in its eleventh year, National Adoption Day is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the 123,000 children in foster care who are eligible and waiting for adoption, as well as honor families that have chosen to make a lasting difference in the life of a child through adoption.
Since its inception in 2000, more than 30,000 children have been connected to their new families as part of National Adoption Day activities. Last year alone over 4,800 children were adopted, and in 2010, it is hoped that almost 5,000 adoptions from foster care will be finalized nationwide. As your Congressman, I’m proud to report we have many families in the Fifth District that have changed the life of a child by choosing to adopt. Through the commemoration of the 11th Anniversary of National Adoption Day, I’m confident we will inspire many others to open up their hearts and homes to children in need of loving families.
This year, I would like to honor Shea and George Campbell of Waldwick for their tireless dedication as a foster family and adoptive parents. For more than thirty years, the Campbells have welcomed over 121 foster children into their home and have gone on to adopt several more to become full-time members of their family. Although many children have come in and out of their lives, George and Shea continue to be a haven of support, an invaluable resource for mentoring and source of inspiration for Americans across the country. Shea and George Campbell have given so many children the hope of a brighter future and I am proud to recognize them as “Angels in Adoption” as we celebrate National Adoption Day.
As we celebrate the 11th anniversary of National Adoption Day, it is important to remember that many children remain in foster care and are looking for a family to care for them and a place to call home. It’s my hope that we can continue to raise the awareness of National Adoption Day well into the future and inspire the next generation of families to open their homes to children in need of a family.
Sincerely,
Scott Garrett
>Lightgate: BOE hoodwinked Neighbors
There are more issues than the lights potentially shining in a neighbor’s bedroom. Issues such as increased traffic, street parking and noise have an impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. While this is a typical NIMBY situation, the neighbors feel they never even had a chance to protest before it was a done deal….they were essentially hoodwinked.
The B.O.E. knew this would be controversial and that is why they did not include it in the original bond referendum, although they will claim it was a matter of cost at the time. The B.O.E. knew that sports groups would later come up with the funding for lights. The B.O.E. knew exactly what it was doing in an attempt to bypass neighborhood protests and the Village Planning Board was either ignorant of the issues or in cahoots with the B.O.E. Shame on the B.O.E. for its deception and the Planning Board for its lack of diligence.
>New Jersey cities brace for pain; reforms proposed
With cuts in state subsidies and a tighter cap on property-tax increases looming, New Jersey’s 566 municipalities face an ugly year of layoffs and service cuts. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704104104575622973305410134.html?KEYWORDS=jersey
>Gov. Christie talks reform to Clifton crowd
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talked toolkits and demanded reform during his visit to Clifton last week where residents mostly cheered on. (Greenberg, The Record)
https://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/109120814_Gov__Christie_talks_reform_to_Clifton_crowd.html
>Ridgewood’s manager offers a glimmer of hope about village budget.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
BY MICHAEL SEDON
The Ridgewood News
Staff Writer
The village manager recently revealed some positive numbers for Ridgewood’s budget heading into 2011.
Graydon Pool cut its 2009 losses nearly in half; the building department may finish the year in the black; and a number of other revenue generators are contributing to the gains, said Village Manager Ken Gabbert.
In 2009, Graydon’s expenses surpassed its revenues by about $192,000, but this year the municipal pool’s “losses” have been cut to around $100,000, Gabbert said.
The building department lost $153,000 in 2009, but could end the year with a positive $15,000, Gabbert said.
>ELEC: Democratic State Committee wrongfully spent on Corzine campaign
Democratic State Committee spent $227,120 for Gov. Jon Corzine’s reelection run last year, but didn’t follow campaign financing laws, according to a complaint from the Election Law Enforcement Commission released this week. (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
