Readers says Valley’s current location is a poor choice for expansion on so many levels
When Hackensack University Medical Center expanded, they acquired the properties adjacent and surrounding the Main Campus. Why can’t Valley attempt to do the same thing at the site of the Luckow Pavilion? That area is already a commercial area.
Without stating the obvious, Valley’s current location is a poor choice for expansion on so many levels. With the monies they’ve already spent on fighting Hackensack’s acquisition of Pascack Valley, they most likely could have made the owners of the properties adjacent to Luckow, an offer they couldn’t refuse to purchase their properties.
Reader says the vote according to Judge Carver needs to be before June 30th? Anyone have an issue with this?
Reader says the vote according to Judge Carver needs to be before June 30th? Anyone have an issue with this?
Hello. the vote according to Judge Carver needs to be before June 30th? Anyone have an issue with this? I see a RUSH to vote as a huge NO for Valley? How can you do due diligence by then? YOU CAN’T so vote is either NO or extended. Prolonged extended studies are fine. Keeps delaying Valley and their ignorance.
YES IGNORANCE, on VALLEY’s part! While you’ve been fighting with Ridgewood for an unfair expansion: Hackensack Hospital, has purchased Pascack Valley and will be opened before you even break ground. Valley, has proceeded in a pig headed manner. Expecting this town to lie down for their requirements which are so unreasonable. There are so many other options they should have taken. First, they should have purchased Pascack Valley. Second, they should explain why they can’t expand at their Paramus location which is a much more appealing location for their future needs. Valley, are you listening? Ask for 700,000 sf in Ridgewood and watch your height. Renew within and privitize your rooms, your not going to need as many now due to Pascack Valley, so don’t over expand. You have plenty of money so don’t waste it. Stop driving that fear of endangered species. We’ll go under if we can’t do this? Nonsense, you have better options and you’re not trapped here on this site, like The Record article said. Your just trapped from over expanding here. GO to Paramus for the changes you require. Do not strain Ridgewood with more police, fire, trafiic, and higher taxes. I don’t even want PILOT. You shouldn’t be able to leverage a planning board, village council, or judge to over expand your structure on this site. I think the Rolling Stones song should be the theme here: “You can’t always get what you want”! Please stop trying beacuse it’s not what Ridgewood needs!
Readers says for Valley three times is not a charm
Readers says for Valley three times is not a charm
Valley was told two expansions ago that they were too large for the property and that they should look elsewhere for any expansion. Yet they came back once more and was told that they could expand only if they took down Kraft house. Next they tried to buy Bf fields but the citizens put a stop to that with a loud “No Way”. Next came “Renewal” and the Planning bord said sure but the council said nay and CRR put the icing on the Master Plan amendment and here we go again.
Clearly what needs to happen is the citizens need to come out in force and say “No Way”. We have had enough and we do not have to solve Valley’s business problem. They have had nearly 20 years to figure this out and their business model should not be based on bullying the town into becoming a city.
Ronald A. Sarno September 26, 1941 – March 8, 2013
photo by Boyd Loving
Ronald A. Sarno September 26, 1941 – March 8, 2013
As many of you already know Ronald A. Sarno, 71, of Ridgewood, died of his injuries after being struck by a car on Tuesday night.
Our deepest sympathies
https://www.feeneyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Ronald-A.-Sarno2622140752/
Ridgewood Teacher Evaluation Update (DEAC)
Ridgewood Teacher Evaluation Update (DEAC)
Assistant Superintendent Regina Botsford presented information on the newly implemented teacher evaluation system, as required by the state.
DEAC, an advisory committee of parents, Board members, teachers and administrators created to help the district select and implement the new system , chose the Stronge system.
This year the teacher evaluation component is in place; next year the administrators will go onto the Stronge system, also, and measures of student growth will be incorporated.
Ridgewood Schools 2013-2014 Preliminary $ 91,287,513 Budget
Ridgewood Schools 2013-2014 Preliminary $ 91,287,513 Budget
Following a detailed presentation by Assistant Superintendent Angelo DeSimone and a presentation by Superintendent Dan Fishbein on the types of cuts that a zero percent growth budget would require, the Board approved a resolution adopting the 2013-2014 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent:
Budget $ 91,287,513
Tax Levy $84,608,635
Special Revenue Fund 1,464,288
Debt Service Fund 3,733,973
Debt Service Tax Levy 3,239,342
Total Budget $96,485,774
Total Budget Tax Levy $87,847,977
This budget reflects a two percent tax increase, which would impact the average Ridgewood home, evaluated at $687,364, by $203.63 per year.
On Tuesday, April 16, the following question will be presented to the voters of Ridgewood Village for their approval: There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $84,608,635 for the ensuing School Year: (2013-2014).
BOE announces public presentations and public hearing on the 2013-2014 school budget
BOE announces public presentations and public hearing on the 2013-2014 school budget
Information about the 2013-2014 school budget may be found on the district’s website. Questions may be directed by e-mail to [email protected] In addition, public presentations on the proposed budget and opportunities for discussion
have been scheduled as follows:
o Wednesday, March 13 at 1 p.m. at GWMS Auditorium: public budget presentation.
o Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ed Center: public hearing on the budget.
o Tuesday, April 2 at 8 p.m. at RHS Library Media Center: public budget presentation.
o Wednesday, April 3 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Ed Center: Drop in for Coffee and Conversation with the superintendent and Board
o Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at Travell Elementary School: public budget presentation
Reader says Every taxpayer in town should read the Tiger Team report
Reader says Every taxpayer in town should read the Tiger Team report
The Tiger Team may have finished what they were asked to do. You may not appreciate what those people did for the Village. But, I do, as do most people I know in Ridgewood.
Fortunately, their recommendations were documented in their report, which the Village Council has and should be using as a road map to guide their efforts to reduce village expenses, improve municipal operational efficiency, reduce property taxes and preserve municipal jobs. Ken Gabbert has demonstrated that he is unable or unwilling to focus on these things and the Village Council needs help.
Every taxpayer in town should read their report. I was shocked by it. People may have differing opinions about some elements of the recommendations presented. But, we can all be in agreement that the facts are scary and we cannot continue with “business as usual” in the operation of Ridgewood. We need immediate long-term structural changes to some of our departments and to our union contracts.
Reader Not a fan of “Shared Services”
file photo by Boyd Loving
Reader Not a fan of “Shared Services”
1. I’m not an employee.
2. “Shared Services” is NOT competition.
Competition is one thing (and good BTW).
“Shared Services” is the opposite.
It is giving up control of the services to a non-competitive organization with no vested interest in providing the best service for RW.
With privatization, you have competition and incentive to do a good job or get replaced.
With a local single government service you have the interests of a single municipality as your primary focus.
With shared services you get the worst of both worlds…
– no competitive incentive
– split loyalties and focus.
What happens is that we would just wind up subsidizing the “other town” and getting worse service due to resource sharing.
Privatize – sure
Shared municipal services – NO WAY.
Ridgewood Police Make large LSD bust
file Photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood Police Make large LSD bust
March 7, 2013
Ridgewood NJ , On March 1st at 7:30 pm , Ridgewood Police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Hillcrest Road. Patrolman Joseph Youngberg found the vehicle as it drove away from the location that it had been stopped.
He conducted a motor vehicle stop and determined that the driver was an unlicensed juvenile. The officers present took all five juveniles into custody. It was also determined that one of the juveniles had a large quantity of what is believed to be LSD, police said. The juveniles were released to their parents pending juvenile court action.
All persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The Ridgewood Police Department asks that members of the public report all suspicious activity observed, as it occurs.
Reader says Most people in town disagree with New Shade Tree policy
photo by Boyd Loving
Reader says Most people in town disagree with New Shade Tree policy
Last week, Mrs. Walsh said “the prevailing opinion is it’s a poor idea to continue to plant trees in the right of way. Tree roots often struggle to find energy and can rip up sidewalks and streets.” In her proposal new trees would only be planted on private property, not on the traditional right of way.
Most people in town disagree with what she describes as the “prevailing opinion”. This shows how poorly this policy has been thought through and the typical “shoot first and ask questions later” policy that Councilwoman Walsh and her colleagues have been known for over the past few years….
Have the REAC meetings that Mrs Walsh presides over been adhering to public meeting laws? I have never heard about advanced notice of a meeting and agenda, where the details of this policy were being hashed out.
The first thing that Councilwoman Walsh should recognize is that the trees that have come down in recent storms are large “old growth” Oak and Maple trees and are NOT the types of trees that are planted as replacement shade trees today. So, the replacement trees and their root systems will never be as big as the 100+ year old trees that tend to come down in storms today.
Secondly, damage to the Village streets from fallen trees is non-existent to minimal from year to year. It is the sidewalks that tend to be damaged when a tree is uprooted. But, the town does not maintain the sidewalks in residential areas. The homeowner does. In addition, planting a tree on the “inside of sidewalk” (on a homeowner’s lawn) is not going to prevent the roots from disrupting the sidewalk when a tree comes down, just because it was moved to the other side of the sidewalk.
Thirdly, it makes sense not to allow planting near wires or infrastructure. But, that doesn’t mean that trees must be planted on a homeowner’s lawn. Furthermore, locating the tree on private property is not going to prevent the possibility of a tree from falling on a wire, just because it was moved from the right of way.
This is an inappropriate transfer of responsibility and cost from the Village to the homeowner, which will forever change the appearance of some older neighborhoods in town. It will also force homeowners to choose between planting trees on their property, which could impact in ground watering systems, electric fences, physical fences or other elements on their property, or have treeless exposure from the street. This is an over-reach by Village government.
The fact that we already plant smaller trees that do not grow as tall and have smaller root systems than we did decades ago is enough to address this issue. Councilwoman Walsh needs to do her homework and residents need to send her a loud and clear message that her proposal is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Economic Optimism Plunges To 15-Month Low; 59% Say U.S. In Recession
Economic Optimism Plunges To 15-Month Low; 59% Say U.S. In Recession
By Ed Carson, Investor’s Business Daily
Posted 09:58 AM ET
With tax hikes and rising gasoline prices sapping consumers’ pocketbooks and politicians preaching sequester gloom and doom, the IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index plunged 5.1 points in March to 42.2, the lowest since December 2011.
The federal economic policies confidence gauge fell 11% to 35.5, also a 15-month low. The six-month outlook index cratered 18% to 38.8, the worst since October 2011. The personal financial outlook reading lost 4.4% to 52.2, though that’s still above the neutral 50 level separating optimism and pessimism.
January personal income tumbled 3.6%, the worst monthly drop in 20 years, in the wake of fiscal cliff tax hikes on payrolls and high earners. Gasoline prices climbed day after day. Stock prices have wobbled as Italy’s inconclusive election revived concerns about the eurozone and global economy. Meanwhile, President Obama has been campaigning across the country, warning that automatic spending cuts will have a disastrous impact on government services and the economy. The sequestration just took effect this month.
Small wonder the overall index’s 10.8% decline was the worst since August 2011. That’s when Standard & Poor’s downgraded U.S. sovereign debt during the debt ceiling fight. To end the standoff, the White House proposed the sequester, which Obama now derides as “dumb” cuts.
https://news.investors.com/economy/030513-646760-ibd-tipp-economic-optimism-index-dives-in-march.htm
The Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood had it’s annual “Dad’s” Day
The Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood had it’s annual “Dad’s” Day
March 5,2013
Ridgewood NJ, The Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood had it’s annual “Dad’s” Day. It was held on Sat March 2. All the Daddy’s come to the school and participate in a craft with their children. It’s a great way for the Dad’s to see what the kids are learning in their classrooms.
Reader says There has been disrespectful dialogue on both sides of this discussion, so neither side has any right to point fingers
Reader says There has been disrespectful dialogue on both sides of this discussion, so neither side has any right to point fingers.
When most of Valley’s neighbors bought their houses, there was a Master Plan in place that stated that Valley would not be able to do what they are trying to do now. Valley’s treatment of its neighbors has been deplorable and anyone who so much as raised a question about their plans was dismissed as an ignorant NIMBY.
The process that lead to that Master Plan amendment was so seriously flawed that we now have to do the whole thing over again. Valley tried to cram their plan though on private, back room deals (much like what we’re seeing now with the current proposed developments in the CBD) and by shutting its opponents out of public meetings.
The assumption that you know better than Valley’s opponents about “the best interests of the Village” is consistent with the arrogant and dismissive attitude that Valley has had towards its neighbors for years. Or, as you refer to them, “you people.”
There has been disrespectful dialogue on both sides of this discussion, so neither side has any right to point fingers.
Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck Engage in Political Grandstanding on pointless gun resolution
Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck Engage in Political Grandstanding on pointless gun resolution
Monday, March 4, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck are working to draft a pointless resolution that will take a stance against gun violence, gee is there really anybody for gun violence?
According to the Bergen Record discussions at a recent council meeting were inspired by an equally pointless resolution adopted by the Village Board of Education, which calls for more gun control as well as more funding for educational programs and mental health services.
The Council and the BOE owe it to taxpayers to focus on the business of the Village instead of grand standing on do nothing politically motivated resolutions spurred on by the horrific tragedy in Sandy Hook Connecticut.
Looking to capitalize and make cheap political points off this horrific tragedy is both in bad taste and totally disingenuous . With gun crime being disproportionally felt in the Black community and primarily generated by gang violence with young people it boarders on offensive when it only becomes an issue because white kids in the suburbs die. Gangs reportedly operate in 41 percent of urban schools, 26 percent of suburban schools, and 20 percent of rural schools.
According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police ,”The criminal acquisition and use of firearms in the United States continues to plague law enforcement officials and the communities they serve. The increase and spread of violent crime, in particular crimes committed by juveniles, must be specifically addressed to decrease the number of gun-related deaths and injuries that negatively impact the quality of life in our communities. Easy access to firearms by prohibited possessors directly affects the level of violent crime in America today.”
The fact is when it comes to gun crime , “Blacks were disproportionately represented as both homicide victims and offenders. The victimization rate for blacks (27.8 per 100,000) was 6 times higher than the rate for whites (4.5 per 100,000). The offending rate for blacks (34.4 per 100,000) was almost 8 times higher than the rate for whites (4.5 per 100,000).”
“Males represented 77% of homicide victims and nearly 90% of offenders. The victimization rate for males (11.6 per 100,000) was 3 times higher than the rate for females (3.4 per 100,000). The offending rate for males (15.1 per 100,000) was almost 9 times higher than the rate for females (1.7 per 100,000).”
“Approximately a third (34%) of murder victims and almost half (49%) of the offenders were under age 25. For both victims and offenders, the rate per 100,000 peaked in the 18 to 24 year-old age group at 17.1 victims per 100,000 and 29.3 offenders per 100,000.”
(These are all direct quotes from a United States Department of Justice report released by the Obama Administration in November of 2011.)
https://www.redstate.com/2013/01/09/the-real-gun-violence-problem/
https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/gun_violence/sect01.html
https://www.theiacp.org/PublicationsGuides/Projects/GunViolenceReduction/BJAInitiatives/tabid/320/Default.aspx
