JUNE 17, 2014 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014, 1:21 AM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Police will randomly administer sobriety tests to teens attending Friday’s Backwoods Dance, an annual party that is expected to draw around 1,100 students.
Last year, the dance — organized for Ridgewood High School students in Van Neste Park to both “teach and entertain” — turned away 10 attendees who tried to smuggle in alcohol, said David Zrike, co-founder of the event.
This year, 11 police officers will carry Breathalyzers with them.
“We allow the police to be in charge, and they feel it would be a good deterrent” to pre-dance drinking by some students, Zrike said.
A letter will be going home this week to parents of high school students about the dance and the use of Breathalyzers.
After seeing teenagers being arrested outside a party five years ago in Ridgewood, Zrike contacted the high school’s former principal, Jack Lorenz, to organize safe events to keep the village’s young people out of trouble.
Ridgewood planners set to vote on Valley Hospital’s expansion
JUNE 16, 2014 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014, 2:09 PM BY BARBARA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER THfE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — After 16 months of hearings, the Planning Board is set to vote Tuesday on The Valley Hospital’s proposal to nearly double in size, a project that has polarized the village and pitted the medical center against a vocal group of residents.
This round of hearings is the latest push in Valley’s eight-year effort to expand. The meetings have been heated, frequently tedious and sometimes downright ugly, with residents yelling and booing a combative attorney who represents the hospital.
“These meetings have all been one-sided — Valley’s side,” said Jody McCambridge. “I just hope they make a wise choice and keep the hospital the size it is now.”
Valley officials are seeking an amendment to the village master plan for the expansion. Their plan calls for the hospital to grow from 562,000 square feet to 995,000 square feet, with one building that will rise 94 feet high. The expansion will include a 245,000-square-foot parking garage.
Hospital executives declined to comment. Supporters of the project said the hospital needs to expand and renovate to keep current in a highly competitive market.
“You have to decide whether Ridgewood wants access to a first-class medical center,” Gene Cornell, president of Ridgewood Residents for Valley, told the Planning Board this month. “The need for renovation is clear.”
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/health-news/board-set-to-vote-on-valley-plan-1.1035834#sthash.m2tBpKDu.dpuf
Planning Board – Meeting Schedule June 16 & 17 – Valley Hospital Application
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
Special Public Meetings: June 16 & June 17, 2014
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled special public meetings for:
Monday, June 16, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, at which time the Board will receive instructions regarding the proposed H-Hospital Zone amendment to the Master Plan.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, at which time there will be Board deliberation and vote only concerning the proposed H-Hospital Zone amendment to the Master Plan. Doors will be open at 6:30 p.m.; all ingress into the auditorium will be limited to the doors located at the rear of the auditorium.
The Board may take official action during these Work and Public Meetings.
All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
At any other time, the growing crisis on the Mexican border, with tens of thousands of unaccompanied young people crossing illegally into the United States, might dominate the news. Yet the situation has received less attention than it might amid the furor over House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s primary defeat, the collapse of Iraq, the continuing Bergdahl matter, and Hillary Clinton’s book tour. They’re all genuinely important news stories, and they’ve crowded out disaster at the border.
But whether or not many people noticed, this was the week in which the Obama administration’s attempts to deflect blame for the border crisis fell apart.
Most of the illegal immigrants are what Border Patrol officials call OTMs. That is, while they are crossing into the United States from Mexico, they are actually from other countries — in this case, mostly Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador — and are classified as Other Than Mexican immigrants.
Top administration officials have tried to attribute the surge in crossings to violence and poverty in those countries. “The situation is motivated primarily by the conditions in the countries that they’re leaving — El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala,” said Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday. “Violence, poverty — I believe that is principally what is motivating the situation.”
For its part, the White House dismissed arguments from Republicans that President Obama’s DACA decree — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allowed thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in this country if they came at a young age — created, in effect, a magnet for young people to try to enter the U.S. illegally. At the White House briefing on June 9, deputy press secretary Josh Earnest was asked about statements from House and Senate Republicans “that this was sort of the byproduct of the president putting together DACA, and so, because of the way that that’s been sort of filtered through, immigrant children believe that they can cross the border and stay here.”
“I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the ability of Republican members of Congress to divine the thoughts and insights of children in Central American countries,” Earnest answered. “My point is, I’m not sure this withstands a whole lot of scrutiny.”
Bank Account Screening Tool Is Scrutinized as Excessive
By JESSICA SILVER-GREENBERG and MICHAEL CORKERY JUNE 15, 2014 9:00 PM
In her early college years, when Charlette Williams started routinely mismanaging her finances and pushing her checking account balance into the red, she never thought the mistakes would haunt her five years later, she said. Now, she is paying a steep price.
Ms. Williams, a 25-year-old resident of Queens, is one of more than a million Americans who have been effectively blacklisted from the mainstream financial system because they overdrew their accounts or bounced a check — mistakes that routinely bedevil young and low-income consumers, financial counselors say. While Ms. Williams paid back Bank of America the roughly $700 that she owed, a record of her youthful transgressions remains in a vast private database, preventing her from opening a new account.
Such databases, used by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and other big banks, were intended to weed out serial fraudsters. Now, regulators say, banks are screening out potential customers and swelling the ranks of the so-called unbanked — the roughly 10 million households in the United States that lack even a basic bank account.
US officials signal willingness to work with Iran amid chaos in Iraq
By Kristina Wong and Ian Swanson – 06/16/14 01:59 PM EDT
The Obama administration on Monday expressed a willingness to work with longtime enemy Iran in response to the Sunni militant offensive in Iraq.
The comments from Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted the administration’s struggles to zero in on a policy response to Iraq, where the central government appears to be crumbling in the face of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) advance.
Kerry said the administration was open to any constructive process that would reduce violence.
“Let’s see what Iran might or might not be willing to do before we start making any pronouncements,” Kerry told Yahoo News. “I think we are open to any constructive process here that can minimize the violence, hold Iraq together, the integrity of the country and eliminate the presence of outside terrorist forces.”
Don’t let Valley bully Ridgewood Cathy Benson Ridgewood, June 11
At this week’s Ridgewood Planning Board meeting, representatives of The Valley Hospital made clear that the village of Ridgewood is its opponent. The gloves are off. Valley’s attorney, Jon Drill, attempted to deliver blow after blow.The opening salvo was Drill’s attempt at intimidation by reminding the Planning Board of its loss in court to Valley back in 1985. This was followed up by his threat that Ridgewood would lose $1.7 million in property taxes from properties owned by Valley due to conversion to non-profit status and that the hospital would withhold money for improvements at the intersection of Van Dien and Linwood avenues despite the fact that Valley is a major contributor of traffic, if the amendment is not approved.
Next was his assertion that the single bus line stopping in front of Valley (20 trips a day, no service on Sunday) carries the full significance of “access to public transportation.”
Federal Tax Revenues Set Record Through May; Feds Still Running $436B Deficit June 12, 2014 – 11:20 AM\ By Terence P. Jeffrey\
( CNSNews.com) – Federal tax revenues continue to run at a record pace (in inflation-adjusted dollars) in fiscal 2014, as the federal government’s total receipts for the fiscal year closed May at an unprecedented $1,934,919,000,000, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
Despite record revenue, the federal government still ran a deficit of $436.382 billion in the first eight months of the fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1, 2013 and will end on Sept. 30, 2014.
In the month of May alone, the federal government ran a deficit of $129.971 billion–bringing in $199.889 billion in revenue while spending $329.860 billion.
The White House Office of Management and Budget has estimated that in the full fiscal 2014, the federal government will collect $3.001721 trillion in taxes, spend $3.650526 trillion, running a deficit of $648.805 billion..
U.S. evacuates embassy as bombs, fighting rock Iraq
BAGHDAD – Islamic militant insurgents captured the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar early Monday, its mayor and residents said, striking another blow to the nation’s Shiite-led government a week after it lost a vast swath of territory in the country’s north.
The town has a population of roughly 200,000 people, mostly ethnic Shiite and Sunni Turkomen, and was taken just before dawn, Mayor Abdulal Abdoul told the Associated Press.
A Tal Afar resident reached by phone confirmed the town’s fall and said militants in pickup trucks mounted with machineguns and flying black jihadi banners were roaming the streets as gunfire rang out.
The United States said Sunday it was evacuating some staff from its embassy and beefing up security as deadly explosions rocked the Iraqi capital and militants released graphic images appearing to show its fighters massacring captured Iraqi soldiers.
TRENTON – New Jersey Democrats and labor activists are pushing to require private employers to provide paid leave for workers who are sick or who need to attend to loved ones with an illness. About 38 percent of the state’s private-sector workforce, or 1.2 million employees, do not have access to earned sick leave, according to a 2013 study by the Rutgers Center for Women and Work. (Seidman/The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Ridgewood resident and international restaurateur Drew Nieporent returns to his roots
JUNE 15, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014, 10:21 AM BY ELISA UNG
A new sign just went up in the window of 239 W. Broadway in Tribeca: Bâtard. The dining news website Eater.com quickly placed Bâtard at the top of its list of the hottest Manhattan establishments of the moment – declaring: “This is the restaurant that all the critics and fine dining lovers will be checking out this summer.”
But there are still other reasons why we all might care about this particular address and this new restaurant: The man behind it is not only a longtime Ridgewood resident, he also helped shape the American dining scene.
It was 1985 when restaurateur Drew Nieporent, then 29, opened his first restaurant, Montrachet, in a converted woodworking shop at that Broadway address. It was a highly pioneering move – most obviously in the neighborhood he chose, referred to in one review as an “alien ZIP code.”
The vision was also novel: a restaurant known not for its silver domes on plates and formal service but for a comfortable, genial atmosphere, even though this was no casual bistro. It had a $16 prix-fixe menu and no dress code (Nieporent was fond of asking guests to simply cover their feet and genitals).
Its executive chef was a then-unknown named David Bouley; the restaurant was quickly awarded a rare three stars from The New York Times.
Reader says The future of our village rests in the hands of our neighbors on the Planning Board
Planning Board, please don’t do this to our neighborhood, our children and our town. Tell Valley “no”. Even if you think there will be no harm in the short term or long term (which I don’t understand how you could think that) there are always unintended consequences. Giving Valley what it wants is not worth the risk. The future of our village rests in the hands of our neighbors on the Planning Board:
Charles Nalbantian – Chairman
Richard Joel – Vice Chairman
Paul Aronsohn – Mayor
Albert J. Pucciarelli – Councilman
Morgan Hurley
Nancy Bigos
Kevin Reilly
Cyril Grant
Wendy Dockray
Michele Peters – Alt.1
Trisha Connors – Alt. 2
Reader says This time around Ms. Price has been bent on “sticking it” to Valley’s opposition
Unfortunately, Valley is going to get its way with this Planning Board since it appears that they will be given two choices to vote on – both of which have been proposed by Valley.
Previous writers have neglected to mention the very personal bias that Gail Price has brought to this proceedings. Remember that the CRR lawsuit was based on the last Planning Board’s failure to follow proper legal procedure. In other words, Ms. Price failed to do her job. This time around Ms. Price has been bent on “sticking it” to Valley’s opposition. As the attorney, she is supposed to advise the Board on procedural issues yet she has acted both as emcee and Valley’s mouthpiece for the past 18 months. She has allowed Valley’s attorney to disrupt, interrupt, shout down and otherwise muzzle everyone from little old ladies to expert witnesses to members of the Planning Board itself.
Just about the only tolerable aspect of these most recent hearings has been watching Ms. Fraser squirm as her employer commits one PR disaster after another. Valley has exposed itself for what is truly is – an organization that has nothing but contempt for our Village. Think about how disingenuous they have been with us since 2006. Their experts and representatives have committed perjury, their management has lied to us repeatedly and their supporters (including one Councilwoman) have turned a blind eye because they can’t bear to even watch the behavior of their beloved Valley.
Reader says Almost 30 years ago Valley was told that they had reached their max on their current site
Almost 30 years ago Valley was told that they had reached their max on their current site. They have chosen to ignore that and have had Two more expansions. They, have had ample time to develop a business plan that would allow them to modernize this facility while expanding in other areas. Yet, they chose to develop their Renewal plan and then when that got derailed by the Village Council and CRR this current plan is their attempt at compromise without taking a foot off the bulk of the building. Who is kidding who? They have shown contempt for the residents of this town without paying a dime in taxes. Yet, there are people in This town that still think the residents are the unreasonable ones. The residents have spent countless hours siting in boring meetings, being ridiculed and told to keep silent and also they have spent more than $100,000 fighting this. It is time for the planning board to do the right thing and finally turn Valley down.
Seemingly, what is good for the goose is NOT good for the gander with regard to Ridgewood Village Council members
During the May 28, 2014 Village Council meeting at which a formal vote was taken on the Village’s 2014 Municipal Budget, Village Clerk Heather Mailander informed those present that Councilman Thomas M, Riche would be marked as “absent” in connection with the vote because he was not physically present at the meeting. Mr. Riche was marked as “absent” despite his issuance of a signed statement, which was read aloud by Ms. Mailander, indicating his objection to the budget. This blogger wonders if Mr. Riche was informed that he could legally cast his vote on the budget via telephone or internet?
Fast forward – Sources within Village Hall are reporting that Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck will not be physically present during the Village Council’s July 1, 2014 Reorganization Meeting. Instead, Ms. Hauck will be vacationing overseas with members of her family. But, she will be permitted to cast several official votes related to Village Council matters that day via Skype. Perfectly legal? Yes. Despicable? Yes. Disgraceful? Yes. Yet another slap in the faces of Ridgewood taxpayers? Yes again. Will the 3 Amigos ever stop? Obviously not. And the band played on . . .
