>What we do not have is a “Master Plan” for how the town will survive financially.
This town will spiral into bankruptcy. When a home is sold, it is usually to a young family. No empty nesters have moved on to my block in the 20+ years that I have lived here. School populations have been growning, as has the “need” for more fields. My taxes have increased each year, this year I have an increase in the face of decreased services. What we do not have is a “Master Plan” for how the town will survive financially. We have a master plan for development and apparently one for for fields. How will we stay solvent with a constant population shift? I lived here for about 7 years before having children. When my kids are finished with the school system I will join my friends and former nerghbors in a move to a town with low taxes. There are many possibilities. My 5 bedroom house will probably be sold to a family with 3 children. They can pay my $31,000 taxes and enjoy the schools and other services that the town has to offer. If my husband and I stayed in town it would be better for the town financially – no kids in the school and $30k+ in taxes. I can think of a lot of things that I could do with a 20k savings (per year!in property taxes. Travel comes to mind. So think about this as you focus all your funds and energies on sports fields and the quest for sports fame. You will never have enough
>Ridgewood Council Meeting March 2, 2011 where ATT’s interest in the Firehouse is discussed.
See below minutes from Village of Ridgewood Council Meeting March 2, 2011 where ATT’s interest in the Firehouse is discussed. Village seemed to be ready, willing and able. Why is the Village stalling?
Dr. Gabbert said that the Village has been approached by a cellular carrier regarding a potential site for a cellular tower at the Fire Headquarters Building on East Glen Avenue. This would require a full bid process and the interested company may not be the successful bidder. This carrier has indicated that a 100 ft. monopole to support two carriers would meet their needs and the Village Engineer, Christopher Rutishauser, recommends bidding out a 140 ft. monopole that would permit a maximum of five carriers. Dr. Gabbert said that Mr. Rutishauser can explain this proposal in more detail to the Village Council or they could direct him to go forward with the specifications. These specifications would include an upgrade of Village communication equipment. Dr. Gabbert confirmed Mayor Killion’s thinking that the existing radio tower at the Fire Department would be removed.
Councilwoman Walsh asked if the proposed tower is similar in height to the tower near the Shell Gas Station. Dr. Gabbert said that the existing tower is 120 ft. and the technology has changed, resulting in towers with smaller bases. Councilman Riche questioned whether a zoning change would be necessary to accommodate the tower. Mr. Rogers indicated that it would be a good idea to bring that question to the Planning Board even though this is Village property and it would be exempt from Planning Board review.
Councilwoman Walsh recalled that a group came to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) recently about a 140 ft. pole at the Valleau Cemetery. Mr. Rogers said that this would require a use variance because it is outside of the zone where these towers are permitted. He knows of three sites that are under consideration now, with one that has actually reached the application stage. Dr. Gabbert commented that there are several areas of Village properties that are under review at the moment for the installation of cellular towers.
Councilman Aronsohn questioned potential revenue and Mr. Rogers said that the Glen Rock site is generating $40,000 annually from each carrier but it depends on the site and the opportunity for coverage for the particular carriers. Dr. Gabbert said that an annual fee of $30,000 to $35,000 per carrier would be a reasonable amount that could be anticipated. A tower at the Fire Department property could accommodate 5 carriers if it were 140 ft. high. The bid proposal would include the removal of the existing tower, the erection of the new tower to Village standards, the deeding over of the tower to the Village at some point and escalating payments. This would be a revenue source with no outside expenses other than legal and engineering to prepare the specifications. Dr. Gabbert explained that that each carrier requires access to an area at the base of the monopole where there is a small structure which contains cellular related equipment. There is some flexibility in terms of location and it would be well blocked from any neighborhood. Mayor Killion said that the company that approached the Village indicated that they would be willing to upgrade their generator as well as the Fire Department’s generator which would result in a greater capacity.
Councilman Wellinghorst asked about the number of carriers that could be located on this tower. Dr. Gabbert said that a 140 ft. pole could accommodate 5 carriers; however, it depends on the areas that the individual carriers want to service.
Mayor Killion asked about notification to the neighbors. Dr. Gabbert said they would bring specifications back to the Village Council first with the next step being notification of the neighbors. Councilmembers agreed to move forward as described by Dr. Gabbert.
The text of these minutes confirms the contentions I made in a post a few days ago about the process through which T-Mobile is pursuing its increasingly-absurd application to place a cell-phone tower in an area zoned for residential use, despite the fact, ably and continually confirmed, that there are several, and much better, sites available to T-Mobile for its beloved “faux pine tree”. Set aside, for the moment, the proposed AT&T takeover of T-Mobile, the possible health hazards of exposure to cell phone radiation, the new technology that is coming on-line very soon that will make cell towers obsolete, the recent FCC legislation requiring carriers to initiate roaming benefits for all of their users, etc.
It seems to me that this application is being pursued to benefit the lawyers and consultants involved first, and secondarily, T-Mobile’s customers. Prediction, and I hope that this comes to fruition: T-Mobile will wake up, say “never mind” and withdraw its application. The cell phone companies should pursue, first and foremost, new cell towers in those areas that want them. There are countless municipalities that could use additional funding sources. The good people of Barnett Place should not bear the burden of the extremely high opportunity cost of permitting a cell tower within its proximity.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s so-called “Recovery Summer.” Unfortunately, as most Americans know all too well, the “Recovery Summer” never materialized. The President promised that his economic policies would ensure that the unemployment rate would not exceed 8%, yet we’ve had an unemployment rate well above 8% for 28 consecutive months. Despite clear evidence that we are headed in the wrong direction, President Obama now tells us this is just a “bump on the road to recovery.” Rather than make excuses for his failed economic policies, he should be stepping up to the plate to work with Republicans to address our country’s dire fiscal crisis that continues to weigh down economic growth and job creation.
In 2009, the Obama administration promised that his $1.16 trillion “stimulus” bill would bring the unemployment rate down to 6.8% by now. Fast forward to today and we find an unemployment rate of 9.1% for the month of May. When accounting for the unemployed, those unable to find full-time work and those discouraged from looking for work, the picture looks even worse – Gallup’s monthly survey places the rate of underemployment at 19.1%. Furthermore, economic growth was recently reported at an anemic 1.8% for the first quarter when we need to see growth twice that amount to start putting Americans back to work. Clearly, when Treasury Secretary Geithner wrote his New York Times op-ed, “Welcome to the Recovery,” last August, he failed to consider the millions of Americans still out of work and struggling to make ends meet.
In November 2010, the American people went to the polls to make their voice heard loud and clear that they were tired of fiscal irresponsibility and the failed economic policies of the last two years. Republicans have answered their call by taking common-sense steps towards setting our economy back on the right path and getting our fiscal house in order. House Republicans passed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2012 that takes serious steps towards balancing our budget in the short-term and enacting economic policies that, according to the Heritage Center for Data Analysis, would create nearly 1 million new private-sector jobs next year and bring unemployment down to 4 percent by 2015. In addition, Republicans have offered a plan to get Americans back to work by promoting private sector growth. Unlike the failed “stimulus,” this multi-faceted approach gets big government out of the way of job creators by lowering tax and regulatory burdens, promoting innovation and investment, and opening new markets.
We cannot stand by any longer and allow the failed policies of this administration to continue to chip away at confidence in the American economy. We must get our fiscal house back in order, reform the broken tax code, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and scale back burdensome regulations. These are the pro-growth policies that helped make our nation strong in the past and led to robust economic growth. That is what the American people demand and deserve. It’s time Washington listens.
Peter , I don’t see the point of the rock and roll comparison or how that’s even relevant.
VIOLENT crime IS almost non-existent in Ridgewood. You tell me, would you rather be getting robbed, shot, and/or raped or have to deal with the smell of pot and a few assholes who have had too many drinks? Ridgewood is still comparitively a suburban haven compared to much of the the rest of the world. No place is crime free, because frankly, some of the laws are just damn stupid.
20-25% have done drugs? No. More like the majority. And if we’re including someone who KNOWS other people who have done drugs, the rate is much closer to 100%, yourself included. I find it funny that you’re judging each student’s influence levels as they walk down the halls.
You were enjoying the day, and that suddenly stopped when you saw two people smoking cigarettes? Give it a break, kid. Is it stupid to smoke? Yes. But are they doing anything that is any of your business? No. Live and let be.
Pot? Alcohol is much worse for the body, so if you’re going to criticize them, criticize your parents next time they take a drink. The actual smoke (burning matter) is the worst part of the use, which could be eliminated through the use of something like a bong. There are plenty of nice people that smoke weed and plenty of successful people who smoke weed, from Bloomberg to Obama to Michael Phelps.
As previous commenters have said, there was no weed in the air at the dance, nor public sex. There were people kissing, maybe some intimate dancing, and there were kids who got drunk before arriving. Have you never seen a movie rated higher than G before, or never seen your parents kiss? Get over it. Or learn to deal with it. Either works.
I’m sure these kids don’t NEED drugs to have fun, as I know many pot smokers who play sports, instruments, do clubs, hang out with friends, and are involved in many other activities for fun. The “needing drugs to have fun” line is straight out of a DARE propaganda booklet.
This is clearly a national issue and is found in just about every suburb in America.
Peer pressure? Media? C’mon. Give us a break with this BS. They do it because it’s enjoyable…as you just said above
> The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce another “foo barb”
Another chamber “foo barb”….we all know that Megan Fraser from valley is part of the “Chamber Club” and like everyone else associated with the chamber has a personal agenda…..the chamber has done NOTHING for CBD and is and has been a “non entity”…look at how the membership has tanked….what happen to the chamber offices on Dayton??? its simply a joke….
Th Ridgewood Guild formed by former officers of the chamber whom know what their doing and actually care about what happens downtown is the new powerhouse for the CBD and deserve the town support….why was only the mayor at the recent officer installation at the chamber? ….know body cares that’s why…
>One-stop patient care: Medical malls becoming alternatives to hospitals By Mary Jo Layton The Record (Hackensack N.J.) First Posted: June 15, 2011 – 4:02 am
HACKENSACK, N.J. — Across the country, in suburbs and in cities, about 50 medical malls have sprouted up in closed hospitals, bankrupt shopping centers and other sites to deliver health care to communities.
The advantages of medical malls are one-stop shopping for patients — they provide everything from pediatric checkups to same-day surgery. They also allow physicians to expand their services and hospitals to improve market share by enhancing their outpatient services, experts say.
While Hackensack University Medical Center forges ahead with an application to reopen Pascack Valley Hospital, its opponents say a medical mall with outpatient care would better serve a region they believe already has too many hospital beds.
>Rationalizations justifying the high school’s disappointing placement rate at Ivy and equivalent colleges very disappointing
I hear a lot of rationalizations justifying the high school’s disappointing placement rate at Ivy and equivalent colleges.
What I don’t hear from most of these comments is an awareness that we have a problem that needs to be addressed. When our top kids can’t get into the nation’s top colleges or earn National Merit Semifinalist status, then alarm bells should be going off and people should start thinking about how to fix the problem instead of trying to act like nothing is wrong
>Ridgewood Chamber Guide features Valley Hospital Centerfold
Last week Village residents were subjected to one of the most insulting Valley propaganda to date! The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce delivered, door to door, the newest version of the Chamber Guide featuring a centerfold considered “obscene” by many Ridgewoodians! The multi-media image mixing actual imagery with renderings, coupled with an incredibly misleading paragraph of text suggesting the proposed expansion is a fait accompli, should be offensive to any Villager especially members of our Village Council.
A word of caution to the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce: a huge majority of Ridgewood Residents, who actively shop downtown Ridgewood, are opposed to the massive expansion plan of Valley Hospital. For a time Valley engaged in a little PR scheme sending “scrubs” into the business district to give the illusion of a “presence” in our shops. That illusion quickly dissipated as most Valley “scrubs” are not Ridgewood Residents nor are they interested in supporting our Village Downtown.
While it is true the Chamber guide is paid for with advertising dollars, and Valley paid for the centerfold to advance their propaganda, page 16 only serves to exacerbate the matter since it seems Valley garnered more “face time” in the guide than any other entity. There is no distinction as to what is a paid advertisement nor a disclaimer that a Valley Hospital maintains a position on the Chamber Board of Directors.
Ridgewood Chamber President, Tom Hillman, should immediately issue a statement that Valley’s advertisement is exactly that and by no means should the centerfold ad be construed as an endorsement of the massive Valley expansion by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce.
>Ouch: 1.9 Million Fewer Americans Have Jobs Today Than When Obama Signed Stimulus Tuesday, June 14, 2011 By Matt Cover
(CNSNews.com) – Twenty-eight months after Congress passed President Obama’s signature economic stimulus law, and nearly one year after he declared the summer of 2010 to be “Recovery Summer,” 1.9 million fewer people are employed.
In February 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 141.7 million people were employed. By the end of May 2011 – the last month for which data are available – that number had fallen to 139.8 million, a difference of 1.9 million.
