file photo Boyd Loving
Comps for Christie fundraiser in Ridgewood are questioned
Thursday July 11, 2013, 2:48 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Ridgewood council members are facing criticism for accepting complimentary admission to last week’s private fundraiser for Gov. Christie, and political parties are not the focus of the debate.
The cocktail reception took place at the former Bank of America building at 58 E. Ridgewood Ave., a landmark site and property that was recently purchased by Onyx Equities LLC. The real estate investment firm was founded and is currently operated by village resident and developer John Saraceno, who extended the invitation to all council members at no charge.
Onyx Equities, which also owns 257 E. Ridgewood Ave., currently has an active application with the Ridgewood Planning Board to amend the village’s master plan. The amendment, if approved, would essentially permit Saraceno and three other developers to construct high-density, multi-family housing in Ridgewood’s Central Business District.
A village ordinance passed in 2008 and updated two years later prohibits any individual or entity with business currently before any Ridgewood agencies or boards from offering a donation or gift for 90 days after final action has been taken.
The “gift ordinance” was referred to earlier this year when council members turned down a financial donation from The Valley Hospital. At the time of the council’s decision, Valley had just filed a Planning Board application that called for a large-scale expansion of its existing facilities.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/215118421_Comps_for_Christie_fundraiser_in_Ridgewood_are_questioned.html#sthash.MIVurwo6.dpuf
This is actually a funny report. Aronsohn and Pucc will not be able to participate in any Planning Board activities that involve Saraceno.
This is a pretty good case, but the problem is someone now has to file a complaint stating that a crime was committed. Also what will be the punishment? Also oddly is was the Republicans who made these laws to end corruption and now a big Republican fundraiser was held right in the middle of town and laws were broken…
The local Democrats should file the corruption charges, but then they may wind up getting the Mayor involved as well….
If they are guilty of the crime they should resign.
I was wondering the same thing about valley and council woman hauck all the facts re there for a complaint but who signs it???
Now here is another point – even if the ‘tickets” were acceptable for them to take, since they were attending as governing officials in our Village…..what about this: did they eat or drink? In that case, they definitely received a gift and a benefit (the meal) from the event.
What crime? They can attend the fundraiser pro bono they just can’t vote on anything involving Saraceno. It’s actually the perfect storm. If anything Saraceno needs to get passed goes before the VC none of them can vote on it.
The Record will publish a similar story in their print edition on Friday. Here it is:
https://www.northjersey.com/news/Ridgewood_Council_criticized_for_accepting_complimentary_tickets_to_Christie_fundraiser_from_developer.html
How did Ridgewood Blog get the story before it was published?
It is posted on line already, in advance of Friday’s print publication.
Comments seem to be deleted for now…. ????
Oh forget it……….. the menu didn’t include humble pie….. !!!!!
The record , the ridgewood news and the ridgewood blog all have stories on line but again paul’s patch has nothing. The editor of the ridgewood patch should be fired for his blatant disregard of any bad new that Paul Aronsohn and his cohorts create.
The ship is sinking at Patch….
The Carpetbagger probably promised him a job when he moves on from Ridgewood in his quest for higher office.
Well look for the THREE ADAGIOS to announce something big to get them off the front page.
Was the $1000 per person gratis invite extended before or after approval for use of the fire truck with experienced firemen was granted?
You should have seen Aronsohn trying to end the discussion last night, it was hilarious. We were watching at home and cracking up at the tv. Pucciarelli was staring at his lap, Aronsohn was sweating bullets.
The article online in The Record says that Saraceno claimed that Christie asked him to invite the Village Council. NOT!!!!! The Christie camp said they did not ask for them to be invited, did not invite them, and the guy goes on to say that event hosts (in this case Saraceno) commonly invite some of their own guests, and that is what happened here.
Someone said Saraceno came to the councilmeeting last night, but he did not speak at the mike.
Perhaps it looks better with the Gov. photo now.
Entirely unnecessary for our entire council and village manager to personally roll out the red carpet for the governor, whom many cannot stand. It’s embarrassing and probably pushes the law. Since others had to pay, this was a gift at best, a bribe at worst. Saraceno showed poor judgment in inviting them but they should not have accepted.
The Record article quotes Gabbert as saying that it would have been inappropriate for local dignitaries not to have appeared at this “function.” Excuse me, but it was a fundraiser for the governor’s reelection, pure and simple, entirely and unshamefacedly political. It was highly inappropriate for them all to suggest by their attendance that they approved of the reelection. Mayor Aronsohn has written negatively about Christie; wearing a bright blue tie and attending with his wife in a bright blue dress did not dampen his apparent approval of the governor. The appearance by the governor in the parade was surely a quid pro quo. The whole thing reeks.
The live LINK is now updated with additions by a North Media supervisor writer. Some SPAM comments have been removed.
The story is getting good readership now.