Information before referendum vote was confusing
NOVEMBER 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Details on garage were ‘confusing’
To the Editor:
When the village manager and council asked residents to vote on a non-binding resolution to build a parking garage, it did not tell voters what they voted on had little bearing on reality. We were told to look at the village website for a description of the garage, financial plans, the Walker study, etc. for facts before voting. The words “draft” was on the rendering and “preliminary” on the financials, so voters really didn’t know what they were voting on, yet the ballot was specific. On the basis of the wording on the ballot, residents by a 2-1 margin voted yes. The town was very careful to use the words “non-binding,” but I doubt many understood the ramifications, that nothing on the website, in the plans, in the financials was definite. Yet we were told just the opposite.
All the money spent on the plans and financials was only for an “idea” of what was planned. All the details, the explanations, the reasoning taxpayers would not be responsible because of the very detailed financial plan, were not accurate.
Residents were told time and again to look at the website for details before they voted. There was nothing “non-binding” about that. The picture on the “Vote Yes” signs for the garage was a partial rendering of the presentation to the public. Yet in a statement made on Facebook, both the manager and a council member said the vote was just to give an “idea” and in fact there was no decision about size, cost, etc. I don’t think voters knew when they voted. If there was no decision, why spend time, money and signs for this. The goal was to gauge public opinion, but the time, the signs, the letters urging the vote, was time better spent working with neighborhoods on more urgent matters.
It appears we have a council more dedicated to public relations than to good government. This is discouraging to say the least.
Mayor Aronsohn, in his recent Ridgewood News column, excoriated the author(s) of a flyer for what he characterized as inaccurate information. On the other hand, he sent a robo-call to residents urging them to vote yes, stating he was doing this at his own expense as a private citizen. So it was all right for him to do this, albeit he wasn’t anonymous (to his credit) with inaccurate information, but it was not all right for an anonymous flyer to be sent with accurate information? “Non-binding” usually refers to the number of votes pro and con, not on votes based on inaccurate information entirely. The council has turned this on end.
This is a further example of confusing information, vague ideas stated as facts, backpedaling, decisions made without public input. This is not transparency or good government. We deserve better.
Wouldn’t it be nice if all the unsatisfied neighborhoods got together to figure out a way to make our council and manager more transparent?
Ellie Gruber
Ridgewood
Ms. Gruber, if you want more transparency, please do not vote for those who obfuscate their positions. It was well-known that at least 2 of our current 5 had agendas.
11:10 AM: Another case of the pot calling the ketttle black. What is it exactly you’re trying to say?
the 3 amigos are well know to be involved with the Hudson county machine , anyone with open eyes knew there goal was to loot Ridgewood for all it was worth
That comment is dumb, 11:10. How do you know whom she voted for, and what difference does it make? They lied then, too.
Those who voted in favor of a garage had no business voting because they had no clue as to what is going on.
1:56 PM: Just the kind of voters Aronsohn and his crew were hoping they could find.
The kind that think carpet bombing the town with signs was for the cool kids campaign would do. What Rags . Those that did not vote shame on your houses
They do not resemble the cool kids that I knew. Could you even imagine Albert as cool???
It is revenge of the nerds.
Anyone
, could see the wording was a lie.
Wonderful Ellie, thank you so much for clearly stating what so many of us are thinking. There are many great minds in Ridgewood, many smart people. Unfortunately, three of the five elected council members are not among them
I for one am tired of all these people from the Gruber family telling me that I’m too stupid to make the right decision.
An anonymous flyer with accurate information would have been fine.
11:05 – If you knew Ellie, you would know she’s not telling you what to do or how to vote. She simply wants correct information provided to voters so that you will be informed when they step into the voting both.
There are a lot of smart people in Ridgewood and they voted 2:1 for something that they spent time understanding and asking questions about. That sounds like pretty good government to me and to imply otherwise, simply because you don’t agree with the outcome, is offensive to 64% of voters.
More COOLAID for the willing.wait till this monstrosity is framed up in steel and concrete. Violating the Skyline for decades to come.VALLEY Re Application will be next and why not
@9:57, clearly you are one of the confused. The vote was for parking downtown. Period. We were promised it was not for any of these specific designs but that was all negotiable. Now we are told they would like to pass something mid December. So much for public input.
9:57 – nice try Albert. Nopw, they did not vote for something that they understood. Because you and your buddies made it so completely cloudy and confused. No one knew what they were voting for when they voted yes. They thought they were just voting for increased parking, not one of your developer pals to make a lot lot lot of $$$$$
The Whole Parking referendum is a scam bait and hurry to Switch and needs a complete halt and investigation of those involved.Valley sharpening their Appeal Pencils as rightly they should if we build such an expensive Eyesore..some think this will be a moneymaker while mr mrs tax paper bears all the Tax risk,FOR WHAT , THE RESTAURANT MAFIA
IN THIS Town.scandalous Size and Design violations in both Size and improper Site Scale to this neighborhood .
@2:11 So I’m going to assume that you’ve been to Village Hall to see all the designs that are posted there for all to see. You’ve provided your input and feedback already? What are you waiting for?
11:05 hits the nail on the head. Who is Mrs. Gruber to tell us that we’re too confused to cast the right vote? Reminds me of an article I saw: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/11/10/obamacare-architect-yeah-we-lied-to-the-stupid-american-people-n1916605
3:04 – No need to personally attack Ellie. She speaks the truth. Get out from behind your massive ego and you might actually learn something.