Democracy not evident in Valley’s approach

Democracy not evident in Valley’s approach

Friday October 25, 2013, 9:33 AM
The Ridgewood News

Democracy not evident in Valley’s approach
Melinda Wagner and James Saporito

To the editor:

We have long been vehemently opposed to Valley Hospital’s unprecedented bid to double in size in a residential neighborhood of single-family homes, three schools and two major playing fields – an area that is traversed by many hundreds of children every single day.

Standing up to Valley Hospital and its ludicrous project, for over seven years, has been an exhausting and frustrating test of endurance. However, we have never been more disgusted with the process than we were during the Oct. 22 Planning Board meeting at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Indeed, Valley’s true colors, in all their meanness and vibrancy, were on full display. Many hundreds of Ridgewood residents watched in dismay as our opportunity to be heard was literally hijacked by Valley’s lawyer, who proceeded to interrupt, often with tones of blatant disrespect, at every single turn.

We would like to think that money does not trounce democracy, but Valley Hospital – with its endless funds to pay lawyers to run out the clock – will apparently do everything in its power to prevent the residents of Ridgewood from actually speaking. Any kind of common sense approach to the issue, or input from residents, has so far been suffocated by interminable legalese (Valley’s strategy). We, the taxpayers, are being prevented from having a say about the future of our village and about the quality of life we pay to preserve. What does Valley have to hide? Ultimately, an enormous medical center will provide no additional benefit to our town, yet the cost to us will be great. This fact alone should stop Valley’s project in its tracks.

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