At the Nov 9th council meeting, during the manager’s report, Roberta spoke of the parking committee coming to the Dec 9th council meeting with their recommendations. She said the parking committee has taken input from residents. That seems to be news to a lot of people .Most residents were not aware of any meeting where the public was allowed to give their input on record. The informal “parking forums” that took place were not “on the record” . Residents expected there to be council meetings dedicated to the discussion of the parking garage. Members of the parking steering committee should be present to hear all comments. After public comments, the council should discuss in front of the public, their thoughts on the structure.
During the managers report on Nov 9th, Roberta also suggested putting together the bond ordinance for the garage at the Dec 9th council meeting. This clearly sounds to us that things are being done backwards yet again. How exactly can you have a dollar figure for a bond when the design has not been decided? How can the design be decided before you have had a formal public meeting where everybody can express there opinions? Why is money being wasted asking the architects for different renderings, when you haven’t heard the public yet? Maybe someone will have ideas that should be incorporated into the new designs and should be heard before the architects are asked to come back with multiple designs?
Once again it seems that the residents are feeling their voices are not being listened to again regarding the many significant issues facing the village: high density housing, parking Schedler, and Habernickel.
Don’t you realize that the decision has already been made. the public input is just a dog and pony show.
Mike and Susan truly care about the residents. Albert, Paul, and Gwenn could not care less. And, sadly, they are the majority. For now.
But in this instance they need for votes. We need to show Mr. Sedon support and that he can vote no even though the majority voted yes in the referendum. They voted yes for more parking but not at any cost.
“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it…..” More of the VM’s strong private sector business savy?
The voters overwhelmingly supported it….deal with it.
2/3 of those who voted were in favor. The council was very deceptive in their push. When the voters find out that they were lied to there will be backlash.
Remember, Gwenn and Roberta both posted on social media that nothing was definite. There would be voter input. The voters who voted in favor will be reasonally mad if the council forgets this condition too. Like the on record vote to do more studies about high density housing.
The only thing that wasn’t definite was the color. I suggest the same shade of blue as at Tito’s Burritos, but covering nearly a city block. Hey so-called Historic Preservation Commission–you love the garage–would you spend years fighting the color? Where are your priorities?
VERRRRRRRRRRY tired of being condescended to, in the same way, continually re: garage, Schedler, and other big-ticket issues: “Nothing’s definite–we’re still in the planning stages–just let us do it and we’ll really think about it.” Did you get that from your copy of the How to Fool the People Rule Book? STOP IT, MAYOR–even your lies are getting old.
We need them to feel some of the pain they are dishing out to Us.
Who exactly elected a government as a dictatorship..this IS Crap. And 2.32 that’s also BS That we just roll over and play dead so you guys can recreate Potterville…for the string pullers with the cash who don’t even Live here
Dear 3.34 it was a Bait and Switch operation. ALL THE WAY
I love it, build it high and big.
The fact that they were drilling soil Coring Geo Samples AT THE SITE at least a week before the
election was known and confirmed that the Fix was IN..DONT WORRY BE HAPPY ..We are Not Sheep.We pay Taxes Ie your Salaries Why in GODS NAME SHOULD WE LIE DOWN FOR THIS..
Ron Simoncini wrote a long rambling letter to the editor in today’s Ridgewood News. He does not disclose his business connection to development in town.
He talks about “hysteria” in the anti-development community and urges us to “act like adults”. If I valued his wisdom I would be insulted but he is just out to make his buck.
He quotes the sage Jack Welch. He is known as “Neutron Jack” because he cut employees while leaving buildings intact. I guess that Neutron Jack and Ron have one thing in common – a love of buildings over people.
2:32 Get over it? I am waiting for the voter input promised by Roberta and Hauck. Remember the “prestigious” Walker Report and architect drawings were just suggestions. The size had not been determined. But they were certain that it would pay for itself. Such remarkable skills.
Does anyone think that Roberta and Hauck were trying to fool the voters? I saved screenshots from Facebook. I suggest that all residents do the same. Retain documentation before they try to delete it and say that they do not remember what they posted.
@2:32. I am actually shocked that people really trusted the mayor when he said you will have input in the design and that it will not be the same huge deck they proposed. People voted yes because we need parking and they believed the lie.
The “final design” may look like the 2nd Street garage in Hoboken. A giant metal box with no light and air. BTW, the first level of the Hoboken garage is rented to Enterprise Rent a Car. NJ Transit rents the top level of the Ramsey garage to local automobile dealers. You see, even parking garages in overbuilt cities need alternate income sources.
Stop calling the damn thing a DECK. That makes it sound like single-level over the existing lot. It is a huge, freaking gigantic structure.