Category: Uncategorized

>The VC voted a 12% raise which increased the manager’s salary to more than the Governor of the State

Let’s get away from the pro vs. anti Arohnson discussion. The true issue is the 12% raise the VC voted for Ken Gabbert. The fact that Arohnson voted against it, is immaterial. The VC voted a 12% raise which increased the manager’s salary to more than the Governor of the State, the Mayor of Newark or the Managers of any other muncipality in the State.

Looking at the justification of the other members of the VC is the problem.Several members said: “He saved thousands of dollars for the Village”. I would like to know the specific. As I see it, the Village Manager indiscrimitally fired 30+ employees in year one, hired back 7 the following year and the Village is still under staffed and can not function. In addition both the Fire and Police Department have added people.

The Mayor said:”Since the union workers got raise, the non union employees (the Manager) should get raises also”. But, it was the Village Manager who negotiated new contracts with the Fire and Police Departments which gave them 4% increases. Not the 12% he’s getting.
What did he do: He increased the parking meter hours, the permit fees for oudoor dinning and the charges to Midland Park residence for water hook ups and other charges. These aren’t savings. They are additional revenue, just like the 7% increase in our taxes. What else did he do: The Village is being sued directly as a result of his hiring a new Police officer. In addition, the Village is being sued by the surrounding communities because the Water Authority, as a result of questionable allocation of Village expenses made while Gabbert is the Village Manager.

So I continue to ask “What did he do, that the VC used to determine that he was doing a great job?
The fact that no public outcry was made over the Village Hall construction, the School Budget, the Station Construction or other errors made in the past is not a reason not to question this action by the VC.

The VC may know more than I do, but they have a responsibilty to explain their actions. I have the responsibilty, if not satisfied with the explanation to ask for more information and if I can’t get it, to take futher action.

>Taking, Or Being Taken By, Valley’s Door-to-Door Survey

A young man came to my far-West Side front yard the other evening seeking opinions about the Valley expansion (always called “renewal”). The survey team has clearly been instructed to keep trying; this was at least the second and possibly the third or more time an attempt to do so had been made at my house. Last week I saw someone with a clipboard walking away after I’d decided not to answer the door, and this man also said he had tried earlier the same day, when no one was home. This time it was a lovely evening that had invited some time out on the patio, with no place to hide.

I was tempted to send him packing but felt that because I live far from Valley, it was important to put my views on the record. So we let him talk before we hit him with both barrels, in a refined sort of way. The information he provided was incomplete and inaccurate in many respects, and I called him on this. Either he truly didn’t know certain facts or he was deliberately misled. I won’t elaborate here lest Valley use any such tips to “improve” the process to its advantage.

When he seemingly innocently asked if we thought the hospital should be kept up to date, I said that everyone did, but that the 15-20% expansion previously requested was plenty–not 100%. I said everybody understood that hospitals needed to be upgraded sometimes. I don’t think he wrote any of that down. In fact, his notes were cursory compared to the amount that I was saying–maybe three sentences.

I asked whether he was a Valley employee. No. Asked who employed him: Data and Field Services, Brooklyn. The catchphrase on its website: Grassroots Mobilizing for the 21st Century. That fits right in with the faux-grassroots website that Valley set up. But however hard they try, Valley’s demands will never feel like a true grassroots effort because it is precisely the opposite, and everybody knows it.

At the end, with seeming nonchalance, he pulled out from under the other papers on his clipboard a list taken from the Village property tax rolls (a surprisingly difficult and prolonged task, since by then his hands were shaking badly) showing the owner’s name listed for my address, and asked for confirmation. I felt trapped and found this disingenuous in the extreme because the list should logically and fairly have been revealed at the very beginning. I was tempted to say “no” but that would have been stupid since these lists came directly from the Village. The unstated implication throughout the conversation is that he is just wandering around–not so.

I had kept him standing on the steps to keep him somewhat unsettled and didn’t turn the light on until I started to feel sorry for him when he kept flipping through his clipboard, looking for the right page. I also wanted him to leave before I slugged him, because he seemed nice, but my patience was wearing thin.

This survey is anything but anonymous, people. When it’s done, Valley will have obtained not only the opinions of many or most residents, as interpreted by professionals writing down whatever they please, but also who said what and where we live.

>The fact that most comments are anonymous on this blog requires readers to evaluate the substance of each comment/opinion without regard to its source.

“When the VC does something as outrageous as this, you should thank your lucky stars that Paul is there to speak out.”

Forgive me, but this had better not be Aronsohn’s personal attitude.

I remember a similar sentiment (in that case, ‘the voters should consider themselves lucky I’m serving in the Council’ or the like) being articulated by a recent Councilwoman, the late Ms. Zusy. It was as unattractive coming from her then as it would be coming from Councilman Aronsohn now. Elitist and arrogant. Also typical, frankly, of modern progressives and political liberals, in my experience.

If it is solely your opinion, then, fair enough. But I sense very little in terms of limits to your adulation of Aronsohn and your corresponding condemnation of his four colleagues on the Council. So to me (I’m probably wrong), you come off as starry-eyed, and therefore not the type of person whose opinion I would generally rely on.

The fact that most comments are anonymous on this blog requires readers to evaluate the substance of each comment/opinion without regard to its source. This is at least as much of a good thing as requiring commenters to reveal their identity so you’ll know whose sentiments are being expressed. I’m sure you’ll understand that many in Ridgewood appreciate anonymity because they would prefer to avoid being personally flogged in public for their opinions. This is the favorite pastime of those who wish to politicize everything for no other reason than to quash dissent and preserve the status quo.

P.S. I’m just an ordinary Ridgewood resident and taxpayer (and therefore not Gabbert). Let someone like Gabbert or a councilperson lose sight of the public interest and I’ll be the first to join you in criticizing them. But for now I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. One person’s opinion.

>Reader says more language programs are needed in our Schools 

I believe that Spanish should still be taught in Grades K-5, since it is our nation’s de facto 2nd language. I think that the current elementary school Spanish program, which relies on computer-based instruction, is weak, and needs significant improvement. Primary (K-8) education should be done in English, so that the students acquire solid reading, spelling, and writing skills. I would advocate bringing Mandarin into the picture as a 3rd language in middle school or high school (on top of English and Spanish).

Kids in Europe are required to learn multiple languages in school. I don’t see why our kids shouldn’t. A trilingual kid looks a lot better on a college application or resume than a kid who can only speak English. Obviously this will cost money to implement. However, you could shift money out of athletics, phys ed, or administration to get it done. Swapping gym teachers or vice principals for Mandarin teachers would be a great investment in our kids’ futures.

>Toll Increase: Does the Port Authority  run the risk of pricing jobs out of New York ? 
PJ Blogger and the staff of the Ridgewood blog

As all Ridgewood commuters know by now the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking to raise tolls on the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels this year. Drivers with E-ZPass would pay $4 more per crossing — $12 during peak times and $10 in off-peak hours. Cash tolls would jump from $8 to $15.

The dirty little secret is that many people who are making less than $250,000 will not  be able to afford the new tolls and many jobs in the “City” will no  longer be economically viable do to the toll increase.

The city which has gone from ,”the city that never sleeps”  to the city where there is a rule against doing almost everything has become less and less the focal point for the tri-state area  . Technology has made the commute to NYC everyday almost obsolete . At one time New York offered a truly unique experience , but now there is little or nothing you can do in NYC that you cant do right here at home .

I wonder if the tax revenue lost from jobs leaving the city will equal the payoff to the Port Authority and its unions ?  Time will only tell tell ,but New York as a center for world commerce and finance will continue to decline leaving the city as nothing more than an afterthought tourist destination.

>Evergreen Solar files for bankruptcy, plans asset sale
By Greg Turner And Jerry Kronenberg
Monday, August 15, 2011

Evergreen Solar Inc., the Massachusetts clean-energy company that received millions in state subsidies from the Patrick administration for an ill-fated Bay State factory, has filed for bankruptcy, listing $485.6 million in debt.

Evergreen, which closed its taxpayer-supported Devens factory in March and cut 800 jobs, has been trying to rework its debt for months. The cash-strapped company announced today has sought a reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware and reached a deal with certain note holders to restructure its debt and auction off assets.

https://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1358998&pos=breaking

>LOVE AND CAPITALISM CO-EXIST?
Liberalism’s ultimate genius, however, is its Orwellian capacity to saturate our society with newspeak and newthink.

DR. J. K. LYLES) – Capitalism is the most loving economic system ever devised by human beings. From its first cogent articulation in 1776, Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations explained capitalism as the only economic system that linked a person’s self-interest to the highest possible service to mankind as a whole.

It is crucial to recognize that “self-interest,” in this sense, refers not only or even ultimately to self-service but instead to the larger impulse of a person to serve and support his or her family. This distinction, between one’s self-interest and family interest (rooted in love), is pivotal to understanding the true nature of capitalism. Capitalism is not founded upon greed. Capitalism is founded upon love – the love of one’s spouse and children.

“Blasphemy!” Our state-sponsored culture derides service to one’s family as selfish, short-sighted, pedestrian. Is it? Ask yourself, what motivates you? Are you truly motivated by the quest for money and possessions? Are you sure? For instance, if you could amass 100 billion dollars this year, wouldn’t you trade every penny of that, instantly, for the health and survival of your son, your daughter, your spouse?

Is there really any amount of money that could atone for the death of one’s child? What about personal acclaim, fame, power, service to Man? Would any of these atone for any singular harm that might befall one’s own family, harm occurring because of one’s pursuit of such goals? In this it is easy to declare that capitalism is not motivated by greed. Capitalism is motivated by honor – the honoring of one’s family.

https://www.teaparty.org/article.php?id=1166

>The past two Village Council elections were that too many voters focused on one issue

The problem in the past two Village Council elections was that too many voters focused on one issue, Valley Hospital, and didn’t ask enough questions to the candidates regarding how they would cut costs and bring down property taxes.

Nor did the voters ask enough questions regarding the candidates’ plans for increasing the health of the downtown, dealing with the BOE, and improving village services. People blindly voted for the CRR candidates without requiring them to give us sufficient details as to how they would deal with the non-Valley issues facing the village.

>Does true leadership exist anymore in our local government?

We are mad as hell, at the way the Village is being governed and we are not going to take this anymore. What are you people thinking? Small town dirty politics during a depression is going to bring you down, except for Paul Aronsohn who voted no on the pay raise.

We would like to see the job descriptions of all paid governmental personnel in the Village and a history of wage increases.

Should the Village Manager serve as a mayor of a another community? That could very well be a conflict of interest and a violation of his fiduciary responsibility.

This Village is no longer appealing to many of our residents. Our roads are in disrepair. The parking issue has been bounced around for decades. Parking of course is less of an issue since the downtown has been going downhill for years.

The Village Engineer has been policing sign permit violations so tickets in the amount $125. can be slapped on hardworking small business owners.

Does true leadership exist anymore in our local government? I think the system needs a total revamping by the local residents. Throw out the self serving guys immediately.

We the people are fed up with all the bullshit coming out of the Village Hall.

>Climate Change Hoax : Reader Points out the Obvious 

Maybe Perry is right. How do climatologists explain the previous periods of extreme global climate change over millions of years, since fossil fuels have only been used over the past couple hundred years or so? Oh, right. it must have been a series of mysterious huge asteroid collisions that triggered extremely warm periods, followed by an ice age, followed by subsequent warming periods (which we have not witnessed since in the past several thousand years).

Or, maybe the climate around the globe naturally tends to change over thousands of years, seeking some equilibrium. Which do you think is more plausible? Given the misinformation and questionable “facts” put forth in favor of the current global warming debate, one must seriously question the premise that fossil fuels are the culprit. Maybe it is true. But, until there is truly indisputable evidence, I’m a skeptic.

However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t moderate our consumption of them and preserve our landscapes and seascapes. It just means we shouldn’t blindly disrupt our economies to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, just to satisfy the rants of a handful of questionable scientists and their lemming followers. Rather, we should pursue a balance between our massive energy needs and pursuit of the most economic sources of supply to satisfy those needs.

>Verizon Strikers Cut Police Phone Service

State Trooper Says Someone With Keys Went In Underground Vault

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. — State police in Uniontown said a 29-hour loss of landline phone service was caused by an act of criminal mischief when someone went into locked underground Verizon vaults and shut off the power.

Trooper Timothy Kirsch said there was no forced entry at the sites on Main Street and on Route 119 in Lemont Furnace, near the Penn State Fayette campus. Police believe whoever shut off the power had keys.

Police are trying to determine if the incident, which began at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, is related to an ongoing strike by Verizon landline workers.

The local state police barracks was without phone and computer service for 21 hours, police said. Calls had to be forwarded to dispatchers who worked out of another barracks several miles away.

Read more: https://www.wtae.com/news/28846881/detail.html#ixzz1UuRhCacr

>Appeals court rules against Obama healthcare mandate
By Jeremy Pelofsky and James Vicini
WASHINGTON | Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:26pm EDT

(Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law suffered a setback on Friday when an appeals court ruled that it was unconstitutional to require all Americans to buy insurance or face a penalty.

The U.S. Appeals Court for the 11th Circuit, based in Atlanta, ruled 2 to 1 that Congress exceeded its authority by requiring Americans to buy coverage, but it unanimously reversed a lower court decision that threw out the entire law.

The legality of the individual mandate, a cornerstone of the healthcare law, is widely expected to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Opponents have argued that without the mandate, which goes into effect in 2014, the entire law falls.

https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/12/us-usa-healthcare-idUSTRE77B4J320110812

>Four Village Council ‘yes’ votes now amounts to a strong vote of confidence for Dr. Gabbert

Nothing ‘fishy’. No ‘scam’ here. An elected body hired somebody they liked. That person is doing a good job, vastly better than the previous guy. Four out of five members of the elected body (i.e., more than half) decide he deserves a raise, so he gets it.

Basic civics.

What is your point, that raises to non-union town employees should be approved unanimously by the Village Council? If so, I wonder whether you believe that anyone would receive a raise under such a rule.

The fact that the raise was approved 4-1, rather than 3-2, means that for each one of the four that voted in favor of the raise, the decision was clear. Otherwise, at least one of the four could easily have voted no in order to score points as a hard-nosed budget hawk while at the same time avoiding blame for putting the kibash on the raise. Instead, each of the four ‘yes’ votes now amounts to a strong vote of confidence for Dr. Gabbert, much to Aronsohn’s chagrin. Aronsohn simply wants to create a reputation as the ‘great dissenter’. This really only means that he is willing to vote ‘no’ only when a ‘no’ vote will have no real effect other than to provide him with a soapbox.

>Second Rail tunnel “yes” but not that boondoggle

I agree that we need a second railway tunnel. However, the proposal that was on the table was ridiculous. It went to the wrong place in Manhattan and cost way too much, and had New Jersey paying for way too much of it. Let New York pay their fair share, route the tunnel to Penn Station, and allow non-union labor to bring the costs down. Then it would make sense.