photo by Boyd Loving
January 12,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, wednesday night Village of Ridgewood Council meeting :
1. Councilman Jeff Voigt was noticeably absent. No explanation given.
2. The State Champion RHS Maroons football team members and Coach Chuck Johnson were presented with certificates of recognition and many well-deserved accolades. A huge round of applause to all of them.
3. There was public comment as well as official discussion about the new parking-space allocations. Some commuters complained passionately about increased difficulty finding designated commuter spots unless they get to the lot/s early. As a result, the Village Council on the spot changed the Ordinance to increase the number of spaces for commuters. Just like that, feedback was responded to. It was clear that the VC members had been looking at the lots this week, fielding phone calls and emails, and were very open to making adjustments as needed. They also made it very clear that they will continue to monitor the use of the spaces and make further adjustments as seems appropriate. There are early indications that CBD employees are continuing to feed the meters and take the prime spaces, rather than go to the designated CBD-employee spots. Too bad Mr. Tony Damiano, he of the loud and nasty complaints, was not there to hear how all those spaces he asked for (in his position on the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce) are going unused. Some members of the public complained about the steep increase in the annual parking pass; too bad Councilman Voigt was not there since he was the biggest proponent of sticking it to the well-heeled commuters who ride to NYC every day. Yes, he did say that to some residents…..Councilman Voigt feels that those who make the big bucks will not feel the pinch of $1000 a year. Guess he was wrong. He missed out on their indignant remarks. One resident righteously stated that commuters who go to the city and work all day should get priority over shoppers and diners who are leisurely heading to Raymond’s for lunch. One resident felt she had to put in a plug for a parking garage. Really? There is an abundance of parking, it just has to be spread out more evenly. Several commented that parking for shoppers was very available this week, a pleasant situation. Mayor Knudsen made it very clear that all citizens are created equal, and the Village Council is working hard to strike a fair balance with the parking to ensure that everyone gets to park where they most need to. Kinks are being worked out.
4. Gary Cirrilo, who heads up Project Pride, stated that funding for Project Pride has dropped drastically. He would very much like sufficient money to cover beautification of the downtown, including flowers as well as wreaths to replace the aging kissing balls in December. To this point, Councilman Sedon said that a tree farm is being planned for the Village, and that the tree wells in the CBD are going to be altered and improved so that the trees can thrive (currently they pretty much die).
5. The “Air-BNB” ordinance passed. Short-term rentals cannot be for less than 30 days. This ordinance is meant to prevent a frequent turnover of rental homes by out-of-town visitors who just come in to town for a few days or a couple of weeks. Some residents had observed this going on in their neighborhoods and had expressed concern…..once again the Village Council stepped up and developed a reasonable set of guidelines.
6. Not every vote was unanimous this evening, and there was some disagreement~discussion among elected officials on the dais. But, there was no animosity, no nasty exchanges, no crude language. Civil discourse. And why was this? Hmmmm…..could it be due to Councilman Voigt’s absence?????
Re #5, so it’s OK to rent out your home for 10 months to let people use the schools and split but you can’t share you home to someone short term to, say, help you pay the bills during our feeble economy? Are Uber & Lyft drivers next to protect the taxi monopoly?
7:40 – some residents said they had a situation where out-of-towners with suitcases were coming and going in a steady stream from homes in their neighborhood. The ruling was to prevent little hotels from being all over town.
Love that photo. May it be forever thus.
Sounds to me like the VC is trying to solve the parking problem without building a massive garage. They’ll get it figured out. I have faith. I personally never have a problem parking in town. Ever.
Residents speak. Elected officials listen. Wow.
We are still so shell shocked from the Aronsohn-Hauck-Pucciarelli-Sonenfeld era when residents spoke and elected officials mocked and berated them.
Breath of fresh air now.
5. Air BNB…:developed reasonable guidelines:? – it should be illegal. Since when does Ridgewood allow homes to be used as hotels??
You people are so happy the council is being “nice” you’re not noticing they don’t know what they’re doing. They screwed up the parking, leaf pick up was atrocious, no transparency on the VM search, the mayor can’t control her team, they validate Air bnb on the spot (how about consulting a lawyer??), and have to reverse the blue lines they also did without checking the legality of their actions. Seems to me they are flying by the seat of their pants.
Heading to Raymond’s for lunch. That’s Ridgewood all right. The “caring” community.”
Apparently no one gives a flying fuck that Raymond’s cheated their employees, waiters and waitresses, out of wages and tips and was fined hundreds of thousands of dollars.
I remember, because I care about waiters and waitresses trying to make an honest living, and I won’t EAT at Raymond’s. Fuck with the word “dine.”
Also, the residents who complained that commuters should get priority parking in the CBD. Hey, those commuters, they are trying to support their families and spend time with their kids….. trying to find a work/life balance and commute to the Big Apple. The town should bend over backwards for them. They are the best people this country has to offer. And they cried cried cried in front of the council and I don’t think they got the sympathy , compassion and immediate help that they desperately need and deserve.
I am a senior and there is no skin off my nose for my opinion.
But if those commuters arrive late to their jobs they could be fired and end up homeless. Homelessness is a real problem. And no one gives a shit about the homeless. They blame the people who are homeless for not being responsible.
These Ridgewood commuters are the best that America produces …hard working responsible workers and parents. And my heart goes out to them. If I lived near the CBD I would offer my driveway for them. Those workers who live in Ridgewood , if they can’t find a parking space in town for lunch some day, they can brown bag it. Trust me, eating apples, walnuts, egg, and celery for lunch, health care costs would go down. The commuters cannot brown bag their commute.
Guess who I am.
8:53 – you must be the same guy who told Coach Chuck Johnson that you hate football. What a guy.
Even in Los Angeles “Air BNB isn’t allowed in any purely residential neighborhood”. So why is Ridgewood allowing it? Also, wouldn’t multiple renters in a year constitute commercial use of a property in a residential zone?? This ordinance is a mistake and probably violates existing zoning laws.
8:53…..wow, take your meds Bill G.
“There is an abundance of parking,”
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I do not see how you arrive at that conclusion when the Mayor says that they are tying to ‘balance competing interests’ by reducing commuter spots as well as massively hiking permit fees. Those are actions designed to reduce level of commuter parking from both the demand and supply sides.
Such moves should be pointless if there were indeed an ‘abundance of parking.’ And if you do indeed believe that the council is misinformed/misguided on this issue, I wonder why you are not making the council aware of this?
What is the difference between AirBnB and a rooming house? Meals?
10:42…..go downtown now. or later today. there are parking spaces all the hell over the place. The council is trying to spread the parking around so that empty spaces are scattered instead of all down on Cottage.
Watched a little bit of the meeting. Stopped after watching a guy complain that he left the house at 7:15 and couldn’t get a spot. Thought he would be smart enough to try leaving the house at 7:10 the next day to see how that worked out. Instead I got a reminder of what an entitled douche sounds like. Wanted a refund of $250.00 or $1,000.00.
11:12 – I commute to the city so I cannot see what downtown looks like in the middle of the day. What I can see though is that the commuter lots are packed before 7:05, despite the price gouging. That the buses have gone crazy as people try to use them to avoid the parking angst.
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If the desire was to spread the parking around in a non-punitive manner, the Council could have multiple things.
1) More signage around downtown to guide shoppers to the parking lot, maybe with a live monitor that shows location of open spots
2) Reduce parking rates for parking at Cottage Pl – both for shoppers/diners as well as commuters to attract them to that spot.
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I think it is quite telling that the Council decided to go straight for the stick without even testing if carrots work.
11:29 – The first express train to NYC is at 7:02. The second one is at 7:37. He would have to leave at 6:45 to get to the earlier train, not that he would get a spot because the usual 7:02 commuters have already taken those slots.
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So in your opinion, a guy talking about how the village council is forcing him to leave more than half an hour earlier for his job EVERY SINGLE DAY of the year – so that some casual diners/shoppers can avoid a 2 min walk – is an ‘entitled douche.”
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Really?
So what was the conclusion? All I heard was a non-committal statement by the mayor. No explanation for why the fee was raised to $1000. It is being reversed? Are they giving back the spots?
Or just soothing words to paper over a ‘too bad – suck it up’ message for commuters?
Nature abhors a vacuum….
11:29 Yes.
My home is listed on air bnb and it will stay there as I continue to reep the benefits of a sharing economy that Ridgewood in its illegal and ass backwards thinking is trying to stop. It’s my property and my guests have never been an issue. What the town is doing is illegal and I look forward to putting a stop to this infringement on my liberties.
5:27 well I am so glad you are REEPING benefits. Always love a good REEP
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5598005?checkin=01%2F13%2F2017&checkout=01%2F16%2F2017&guests=1&adults=1&children=0&infants=0&s=xXNP4qkW
Here’s one for you, 484 Spring Avenue. Cars are in and out of there all the time.
Tim is just an angry man turning his neighbor in. The post was about Airb. No one needed you to look up and post a link to her property.
5.27. They punish the loud kids in class here..next will be protestors and sharp sticks..too much time creates too much over regulation. Example…we have new traffic signs littering the streetways..including directions to famous Ridgewood police department 1 mile away on Linwood and Route 17.. For what?. To ward off bad guys?its sign litter & costs money..eyesores..distracts drivers…Linwood is an ambulance raceway as it is…foolishness..Snowplows mow them down like cornstalks..
I do not see the point of signs directing people to the PD. In an emergency someone would call 911. Otherwise they will ise GPS.
To whomever posted -Anonymous January 12, 2017 at 8:05 pm- that put my AirBNB listing up with my address-which incidentally is kept totally confidential until AFTER the guest passes a 5-point security check. But Thank You for noticing that I am a hard-working professional who is willing to share her beautiful home with others. As an immigrant to this country, I founded a national association to help women. I help them achieve their national credential in order to find jobs, and get better ones, then I help them continue their education with one-on-one mentoring (some of the cars that are “in and out of there all the time”.)…so I guess I just like helping people. My guests park on my property and I have had no complaints from neighbors. AirBnb has helped me pay for taxes, repairs on my home, upgrade plumbing etc., so that the value is maintained. And who are the guests that stay with me? I have three different grandparents that come to visit their grandchildren, nurses that work long shifts at Valley Hospital, a son who lives in California that comes regularly to visit his mother in a nursing home, a self-employed marketing consultant who comes here for business, and then I have had two different couples who have stayed here while they bought a home in the area-they wanted to see what it was like living in Ridgewood–without this experience, they may not have chosen to live here! The sharing economy is an international model that can be found in small cities all over the world that only enhances the diversity and value of the community.
maybe i’m old fashioned but a dozen years ago when my daughter started driving i told her “anyone is ever hassling you and following you in their car, drive to the police station.” not bad to have some signs to lead the way to safety for someone’s daughter that happens to be driving through town. but since this site is all about complaining about everything, i guess that’s par for the course.
If there was an airbnb running in my neighborhood I would absolutely be complaining. I live in a residential neighborhood, and I would be furious if a hotel was running with cars, strangers, travelers coming in and out all the time. I totally support this new law.
8:25 said – “The sharing economy is an international model that can be found in small cities all over the world that only enhances the diversity and value of the community.”
Just saying something profound sounding does not magically make it true. If everyone in Ridgewood started running bed and breakfasts with short term visitors coming and going, you would not be able to describe the village as a “quaint village a desired place to live and visit” as you currently do.
I live here and feel safe with my kids being in the yard and on the street in front of the house as I know all my neighbors. If my entire neighborhood was full of random daily visitors coming and going, I most definitely would not feel safe.
First, the Ridgewood Blog is a disgrace to the profession of journalism. Second, whoever made the false accusation and defamatory remarks that I posted my neighbor’s address is a liar. I actually have an excellent relationship with her and applaud anyone who can turn excess space in their home to generate some revenue is applauded. We might do it myself. As I thought about who would make such a statement, it occurred to me that it might be someone with a vendetta against me. Who could that be? Perhaps someone who does not want us to build a garage in Ridgewood, or who might have a number of rental properties in town and would be threatened by the success of Airbnb. Be careful about throwing stones.
Susanne and Tim…. maybe the host can disclose the poster to you….
Disclose? What is there to disclose? It is on the internet, for anyone to see. No deep digging required. Just put in AIRBNB-Ridgewood. For crying out loud, you have your business posted on the internet, and then you get pissed off that it is seen on the internet? For real? I just did this search and locations all over the area popped up on a map.
Anyway, according to this it is now officially illegal to run a bed and breakfast in this town renting for less than 30 days. If you disagree with this law, then maybe you should have told the elected body before they passed the law.
8:25 – glad you provide such a community service, but actually you can no longer do this, at least not legally. This is a town of residences, not hotels.
Get out the violins for 8:25. You were running an illegal business making money off the books on which I am betting you never paid taxes. You just like helping people? Good for you. But it sounds like you were helping your own pocketbook big time.
Air BNB helped you pay your property taxes? Just curious, did you pay income tax on all the money you took in???
Bottom line, there’s now an ordinance that prohibits such short term rentals. Those wishing to snub their noses at it and continue (or start) running such operations risk being fined $1000 per day if fouund guilty in municipal court.
ORDINANCE NO. 3570 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 117 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD ENTITLED “BUSINESSES AND OCCUPATIONS” AT ARTICLE I, SECTION 1A, AND TO CREATE A NEW ARTICLE IX ENTITLED “SHORT TERM RENTALS”. AMEND: ARTICLE I Section 117-1A ADVERTISE OR ADVERTISING: Any form of solicitation, promotion, and communication for marketing, used to solicit, encourage, persuade, or manipulate viewers, readers, or listeners into contacting for goods and/or services in violation of this Ordinance, as same may be viewed through various media including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, flyers, handbills, pamphlets, commercials, radio, direct mail, internet websites, or text or other electronic messages for the purpose of establishing occupancies or uses of rental property, for Consideration, which are prohibited by this Ordinance. HOUSKEEPING UNIT: Constitutes a family-type situation, ,involving one-or-more persons, living together that exhibit the kind of stability, permanency and functional lifestyle equivalent to that of a traditional family unit, as further described in the applicable reported and unreported decisions of the New Jersey Superior Court. OCCUPANT: Any individual inhabiting, using, living, gathering, entertaining, being entertained as a guest, or sleeping in a dwelling or a portion thereof, or having other permission or possessory rights or interest in the dwelling. OWNER: Any person(s) or entity(ies), association, limited liability company, corporation, or partnership, or any combination, who legally use, possess, own, lease, sub-lease or license (including an operator, principal, shareholder, director, agent, or employee, individually or collectively) that has charge, care, control ,or participates in the expenses and/or profit of a Dwelling Unit pursuant to a written or unwritten agreement, rental, lease, license, use, occupancy agreement or any other agreement. NEW ARTICLE ARTICLE IX: SHORT TERM RENTALS SECTION 117-56 – PERMITTED USE The residential occupancy of an otherwise lawful and lawfully occupied dwelling for a period of thirty (30) days or less by a person who is a member of the Housekeeping Unit of the Owner, without Consideration, such as house guests, is permitted. SECTION 117-57 – PROHIBITIONS: No person shall undertake, maintain, authorize, aid, facilitate, solicit and advertise any rental activity that violates any part or provisions of this Article. SECTION 117-57 -SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Village Code, it shall be unlawful for any person, including but not limited to, and owner, lessor, sub lessor with any possessory interest in any dwelling, to receive compensation of any kind for the use, occupancy, or rental of any dwelling for a period of thirty (30) days or less. SECTION 117-59 – ENFORCEMENT: The provisions of this Article shall be enforced by the Village Zoning Officer, Fire Department, Police Department and any other Village Official or employee so designated by the Village Manager who all shall be authorized to issue summons or other appropriate civil violations or complaints for any violations of the terms and provisions of this Article. SECTION 117-60 – FINES AND PENALITES: Any person who is found or adjudicated to have violated any provisions of this Article shall be liable for a fine not to exceed one thousand ($1000.00) Dollars. Each day of any such violation after receiving written notice of same shall be a new and separate violation. SEVERABILTY: If any portion of this Ordinance is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of this Ordinance but shall be confined in its effect to the provision directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. Except as hereby amended, all other sections of the Code of the Village of Ridgewood shall remain in full force and effect. This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage and publication according to law. Ridgewood News-4116350 Fee: $71.30 December 16, 2016
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3856089?s=4PfAt2TC#host-profile
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Ridgewood–NJ?page=1&s_tag=QfVx3k4m&allow_override%5B%5D=
It’s okay Paul. The anonymous crowd can continue to hide behind their slanderous posts and sling lies. Suzanne and I now know there is a cockroach in the neighborhood.
Tim whiting. Omg. I’m crying laughing. You’re such a. Self absorbed douche. “We might do it myself” Hahahah. Go ahead. Which personality might we/yourself be having and air bnb with? Not everything is about you or the garage. Maybe people just don’t like you because you’re not likeable, angry and frankly, beginning to sound crazier by the minute. And of course you posted the neighbors address. Fibber.
My next call will be to the IRS. I think they reward tipsters. Regardless, it’s a community service to turn in cheaters.
Since Ridgewood never developed the hotel that was under discussion years ago, where do graduates who are coming back for their Reunion find a convenient place to stay? And grandparents visiting children and vice-versa? I grew up in a town much smaller than Ridgewood that was way off the beaten track, but it always had a small hotel for visitors. What are the rules if someone offers a boarding house for temporary guests? Bed and Breakfasts are popular in many places.
1:50, there are hotels in Paramus and Rochelle Park, quite nearby and totally legal. And not in people’s neighborhoods.
You idiots obviously don’t understand how Airbnb works, everything is recorded and there is no way you can get away without paying taxes on the rental income you make from AirBnB . Some people have nothing else better to do then RAT out the neighbors. Very sad, shame on you, you entitled bunch of rich snobs. We have enough RATS in this town from all the food places, now there in our neighborhoods !!!!!! Don’t worry I’ll put some cheese out for you guys , but BYOB lol lol
This council continues to treat commuters like second class citizens
Who’s working out the kinks on parking Mayor Knudsen, you? And a tree farm for the Village?
Won’t take long before that Airbnb ordinance is challenged in court – where was the Village lawyer’s opinion on that? This Council appears to be way in over its head.
Sad to see the character assasination of Councilman Voigt promoted on these pages. Shame on you James.
Nicely said 1:38. Unlike the bloviators here, I actually spent the time to do some research regarding my concerns about liability coverage and Air bnb provides coverage. I doubt the ban will stand and if it does, you’ll have neighbors spying on each other and calling the cops when a stranger parks in a driveway or goes into a house. Kind of echoes some activities from 80 odd years ago… maybe we’ll have to carry our “resident” papers too…
I have had many airbnb visitors, all very decent professionals, staying for various reasons, TI Pros working 1-2 or 3 month contracts , people that had construction going on because of a fire damaged to there home and were sick of staying a hotel, CEO”s come in for 3 days , but mostly guests visiting family members for a few days coming to see newborns of there kids having kids from the UK.,Israel, Denmark, Japan.
I have never had a problem with anyone of these guests. And this has helped me out tremendously since I lost a love one that contributed to my loving home financially , a home I don’t wish to lose…..
So to the ignorant person that has threatened to call the IRS on your neighbor , you are a despicable neighbor that “ASSUMES” we don’t pay our taxes , with no proof what so ever !!!! So please call them and rear your ugly head out to all of us. Think of us when your having your $500 spa day and stuff your face with tartare. and getting your manicure and hair colored, god it’s been so long for me Maybe you should try getting a job so you wouldn’t have so much time on your hands to judge everyone around you. Make no mistake about, YOU ARE the person people talk about in town behind your back, and rightfully so you play the role so eloquently, ponder that the next time your gossiping , we all see right thought those people, they are the black sheep in our community’s !!!!!!!