PJ Blogger and the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood blog wholeheartedly endorses Jeff Voigt, Bernie Walsh, and Ramon Hache for Village of Ridgewood Council in the May 10th, 2016 elections.
The key word is “Village” in Village of Ridgewood .Technically 25,352 residents makes Ridgewood a bit larger than a Village ,but its the state of mind that is far more important. There is a uniqueness to Ridgewood that all three candidates recognize and the current council majority clearly does not. Ridgewood affords everyone an opportunity to find their own level , to contribute and to excel.
The Village of Ridgewood is chartered under the Faulkner Act offers four basic plans (mayor–council, council–manager, small municipality, and mayor–council–administrator) and two procedures by which the voters of a municipality can adopt one of these plans. The Act provides many choices for communities with a preference for a strong executive and professional management of municipal affairs.
Originally enacted in 1950, the Faulkner Act provided for three forms of government: mayor–council, council–manager, and small municipality. Within each form, letter codes designated predefined aspects of each form and its individual arrangement of options, such as partisan or nonpartisan elections, concurrent or staggered terms, all at large or a combination of ward and at large seats.
Ridgewood until recently has always been nonpartisan town with nonpartisan elections, whatever your ideology it was left at the train station before commuting home each evening.
The town operated basically in a “bubble” with great community spirit , a “can do” attitude and very high standards and expectations for what was required of its citizens . Neighbors were expected and did step up helping out, investing ,donating and doing what was necessary to preserve the special character of the Village . Everyone contributed in their own way and was glad to do it.
Citizen’s Park was bought by neighbors and donated to the Village for neighbors, Some donated property or trusts , like Pease Library or the Lester Stable. While others who were not so blessed financially would give their time coaching teams , hiring teenagers for summer jobs or just doing what ever they could and because so many contributed so much ,it was like a raising tide ,it lifted all boats.
Don’t get me wrong it was far from perfect and while change came slowly ,change occurred positively impacting everyone. We still see this today with so many opportunities for so many ; Ridgewood Sports , the Tree lighting , 4th of July celebrations, Graydon Pool , Vets Field , Super Science Saturday, Ridgewood Schools, Special needs programs, charitable giving , vibrant churches , girl scouts, boy scouts and on and on . Even today residents lead by a special needs adult Doug are raising money to rebuild La Bella Pizza after it was destroyed by a recent electrical fire . Many Village children continue to excel beyond anyone’s wildest dreams like Sammy Cermack, former Ridgewood star, drafted in first-ever professional women’s lacrosse league , long distance swimmer Charlotte Samuels or Broadway Trailblazer Ali Stroker just to name a very few . They are all products of that very unique Village of Ridgewood way of life.
Somehow around the time of the Village Hall renovation fiasco things seem to change. Doubt was cast and the Village began to change for the worse. Formerly great schools where and we quote a BOE member “glad to beat Newark” , mediocrity began to spread . The attitude became more of taking than giving ,of cronies and profiteers, special interests and special issues.The latest council majority is nothing but a product of the lowest base greedy attitudes that so typify the rest of New Jersey and their partisan supporters . It didn’t start with three but they are the product of the precipitous decline in the quality of life in the village.
Any doubt as to the decline of the Village ,take one look at the pledge being asked of the candidates to sign supporting various development in the central business district. Signed by three of the candidates Weitz, Willett and Brooks making them whole unqualified to lead Ridgewood anywhere but down the drain. The same three candidates received dubious endorsements by the Mayor and his flunkies .
Deal making against the better interest of the voters was just not done in Ridgewood , till Mayor Aronsohn and his machine politics moved into town , The fact is most people move to Ridgewood to get away from that type of back door dealing.
And most people in town realize their very large property investment ,their home is now in jeopardy of declining in value along with the rest of the town.
As a reminder the Ridgewood blog warned residents as to the dangers of Pucciarelli , Hauck and Aronsohn taking over the council. We warned of over development, Valley’s arrogant expansion plans and turf fields in every corner ,yet 66% of Ridgewood voters put their property values in danger by voting in this disastrous trio.
So here we are another election but this time the whole town is at each other throats ,name calling and threats are at a fever pitch . Three sitting council members are not even running for reelection and the mayor as predicted by this blog is hot footing it out of town.
Folks its time to take out the trash . Vote for Jeff Voigt, Bernie Walsh, and Ramon Hache all three understand the uniqueness the Village of Ridgewood and are honored to be part of it. They understand the complex issues the Village faces , the mess that needs to be cleaned up and the trust that needs to be rebuilt.
While we know Bernie for some time , we had the pleasure of meeting Jeff and Ramon for the first time and were very pleased to see they understood the concept of Village of Ridgewood and were both grateful to have an opportunity to represent the Village and its distinctive way of life .
Understanding the Village was key to our endorsement and in the words of Edward I Koch former mayor of NYC, ”If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.” we could not agree more . We were looking for a diversity of opinions that reflected the values of the community at large and in Jeff Voigt, Bernie Walsh, and Ramon Hache we are certainly we found it.
