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It’s that time of year again . . .
MAY 22,2015
Boyd A. Loving
2:57 PM
Some things just never seem to change.Ridgewood has so much more to offer than an excellent school system. But I guess some folks just don’t get it.
30 thoughts on “It’s that time of year again . . .”
Anonymous
Not everyone has tons of money Boyd, They have to think about enough money money for retirement. They may be moving to apartment with low rent in a less expensive state.
Hey Boyd, you sound super insensitive. Typical Ridgewoodian.. Money does not grow on trees, Boyd.
Thanks for the memories Ridgewood. My kid will graduate and then Im out of here. 101 million dollars BOED budget good luck with that suckers. We got ours and your stuck with the bills.
Don’t get what, Boyd? Sure, it’s a nice town, but but beyond the schools, it’s really not that nicer than a whole lot of alternatives, where taxes and property prices are better. This is even more important to families who, at that point, are looking to fund their HS grads through expensive colleges.
As for the so-called great schools. I think it’s actually somewhat of a myth, but hey, let that myth continue, at least until it’s my time to sell up.
1) a public library open as many hours as ours is
2) professional fire (24/7/365) & EMS (daytime hours only, 6 days per week) service
3) rear yard sanitation service
4) public swimming facility
5) train & bus service
6) houses of worship for most denominations
7) a walkable downtown with many services
8) non partisan municipal government
9) consistently top rated schools
10) passive and active open space inventory
11) close proximity to NYC
12) a history of effective zoning controls
13) a YMCA/YWCA facility
14) a movie theater
15) 3 supermarkets
You get what you pay for. Move out of Ridgewood to almost any other Bergen County municipality and you will get less. If less is okay with you fine, but don’t say that you’re going to get the same services, because you will not.
4:56. You sound like a realtor justifying the high taxes. I will keep my money and travel. There are happy people all over the country. Bergen county is ok.
You make Ridgewood sound like an all inclusive resort, but I do not use many of the services that you list. And I am done with the biggest tax sucker – the schools.
Funny, you did not mention Valley. Personally I do not think that they add value to this town.
If you want to stay then I am happy for you. Don’t criticize those who want to go.
One of the reasons why our taxes are so high. This library palace is only used by a small number of residents. In the age of the Internet, brick and mortar are redundant.
2) professional fire (24/7/365) & EMS (daytime hours only, 6 days per week) service
One of the reasons why our taxes are so high. Other towns manage fine with volunteer FDs.
3) rear yard sanitation service
Nice, but really, it’s an extra that we like to tell to people at work. We put out recycles, our junk, and our lawn clippings by the road. Is it really that much of a difference that they come and remove (and often miss) our garbage from our yards?
4) public swimming facility
One of the reasons why our taxes are so high. Used by a small, and getting smaller, number of residents. Great in the 50s and 60s, though.
5) train & bus service
This is common throughout the tri-state area.
6) houses of worship for most denominations
I’m an atheist, but again, this is common throughout the tri-state area.
7) a walkable downtown with many services
A downtown that is struggling, beyond banks, hair/nail places, and restaurants. Eating out is the main draw, and restaurants are everywhere.
8) non partisan municipal government
Do you really want to make that claim? Even if it’s true, political affiliations really have no meaning in NJ. They are one of the same. It’s always a case of cronyism and NJ-style corruption.
9) consistently top rated schools
That ship sailed many years ago. Yes, they are good, but many in surrounding towns score better. However, thie issue has nothing to do with how good the schools are, as the folks are selling up when their kids graduate.
10) passive and active open space inventory
Maybe, but open space is found all over.
11) close proximity to NYC
So are dozens of other towns in the metro area.
12) a history of effective zoning controls
I don’t think they are any better than elsewhere.
13) a YMCA/YWCA facility
Only used by a few. The standards have gone down there and its once affordability is not what it was. Nearby gyms are far more popular.
14) a movie theater
Who goes to movies anymore? We’re all watching great entertainment on our home theater systems.
15) 3 supermarkets
So why do I and every R’Wood person I know shop at Fairway?
Boyd, listen up. Bergen County is not the only place in America to move to. Widen your horizens, buddy.
Buddy, this place is a congested city. There are many places that are not , that are beautiful and friendly with great cultural activities. Boulder…… Name the state , for one.
Shop Rite is the worst of the 3. It’s like going back in time in the age of modern supermarkets. Kings is overpriced. Whole Foods has some lovely items, and I do get the occasional item from there, but it’s also overpriced.
Actually, the response time is way WAY longer in towns with all-volunteer fire departments. So yes, if your house is on fire in such a town, it is more likely by far to burn to the ground than if you are in Ridgewood. No, I am not a fireman and no one in my family is.
Sure insurance is a few bucks cheaper with a career fire dept. but any savings are more than made up for by higher taxes. As for EMS, it’s not volunteer and so just duplicates what Valley already offers, so not sure why that’s a claim to fame for Ridgewood?
Homeowners’ insurance rates are lower in municipalities with paid fire protection. So the money you spend to fund the fire department is saved in insurance costs.
Response time…..WHO CARES???
That’s why I have fire insurance.
And besides the response time in Ridgewood makes no difference when it comes to Ridgewoods motto of “saved another basement” .
I see the Village Idiots are posting here now……here are some of the dumbest comments.
–
7:40 am – About amenity #2 -Are other towns burning to the ground? A paid FD is nice but let’s not get crazy. We could function with half the number.
–
10:25 am Sure insurance is a few bucks cheaper with a career fire dept. but any savings are more than made up for by higher taxes. As for EMS, it’s not volunteer and so just duplicates what Valley already offers, so not sure why that’s a claim to fame for Ridgewood?
–
11:34 am – Response time…..WHO CARES??? That’s why I have fire insurance. And besides the response time in Ridgewood makes no difference when it comes to Ridgewoods motto of “saved another basement” .
– It never ceases to amaze me the sheer stupidity of some supposedly educated people. Carry on dummies.
Taxes for paid fire are much higher than any commiserate home insurance savings, and home insurance doesn’t come with pensions and healthcare for life which a career fire dept does
I bet we could do as well if we had half of the number of firefighters sitting on call.
I am not originally from Bergen County so I do not feel limited to this area. There are great places to live all over the country. When I retire Bergen County is not in my plans.
My family and friends in NYS still feel sorry for me because I moved to NJ. I guess that word of the 15 reasons to live in Ridgewood has not made it to the general population
For all you temporary residents, (who move here from NYC while their kids attend school then move back after saddling us with higher taxes). Do us all a favor….Leave now
Ridgewood is a transitory town, very few families stay for generations… #29 must be one of them, how welcoming to “temporary residents”. NYC has better public schools like Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Latin, Bronx High School of Science, HSAS at Lehman College and High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies all are better
Not everyone has tons of money Boyd, They have to think about enough money money for retirement. They may be moving to apartment with low rent in a less expensive state.
Hey Boyd, you sound super insensitive. Typical Ridgewoodian.. Money does not grow on trees, Boyd.
Thanks for the memories Ridgewood. My kid will graduate and then Im out of here. 101 million dollars BOED budget good luck with that suckers. We got ours and your stuck with the bills.
Hey Paul V heres an idea. attach a “vote foe me” on the bottom of all the new “For Sale” signs.
Your wrong 12:50 money does grow on tree long enough for these people to put their kid through school and then the tree dies.
Don’t get what, Boyd? Sure, it’s a nice town, but but beyond the schools, it’s really not that nicer than a whole lot of alternatives, where taxes and property prices are better. This is even more important to families who, at that point, are looking to fund their HS grads through expensive colleges.
As for the so-called great schools. I think it’s actually somewhat of a myth, but hey, let that myth continue, at least until it’s my time to sell up.
Name the other nearby municipalities that have:
1) a public library open as many hours as ours is
2) professional fire (24/7/365) & EMS (daytime hours only, 6 days per week) service
3) rear yard sanitation service
4) public swimming facility
5) train & bus service
6) houses of worship for most denominations
7) a walkable downtown with many services
8) non partisan municipal government
9) consistently top rated schools
10) passive and active open space inventory
11) close proximity to NYC
12) a history of effective zoning controls
13) a YMCA/YWCA facility
14) a movie theater
15) 3 supermarkets
Nothing wrong with moving. My 5 bedroom house will be great for a big family. More Kids in the schools.
I am done with the schools. I can’t stay and hold back the tide of kids entering the system. There is no incentive to stay.
The taxes are too high. It is a big country with lots of beautiful places to live.
You get what you pay for. Move out of Ridgewood to almost any other Bergen County municipality and you will get less. If less is okay with you fine, but don’t say that you’re going to get the same services, because you will not.
16) A pretty reputable hospital right in town.
17) Curbs & sidewalks (except for Clinton Avenue).
4:56. You sound like a realtor justifying the high taxes. I will keep my money and travel. There are happy people all over the country. Bergen county is ok.
You make Ridgewood sound like an all inclusive resort, but I do not use many of the services that you list. And I am done with the biggest tax sucker – the schools.
Funny, you did not mention Valley. Personally I do not think that they add value to this town.
If you want to stay then I am happy for you. Don’t criticize those who want to go.
Interesting list:
1) a public library open as many hours as ours is
One of the reasons why our taxes are so high. This library palace is only used by a small number of residents. In the age of the Internet, brick and mortar are redundant.
2) professional fire (24/7/365) & EMS (daytime hours only, 6 days per week) service
One of the reasons why our taxes are so high. Other towns manage fine with volunteer FDs.
3) rear yard sanitation service
Nice, but really, it’s an extra that we like to tell to people at work. We put out recycles, our junk, and our lawn clippings by the road. Is it really that much of a difference that they come and remove (and often miss) our garbage from our yards?
4) public swimming facility
One of the reasons why our taxes are so high. Used by a small, and getting smaller, number of residents. Great in the 50s and 60s, though.
5) train & bus service
This is common throughout the tri-state area.
6) houses of worship for most denominations
I’m an atheist, but again, this is common throughout the tri-state area.
7) a walkable downtown with many services
A downtown that is struggling, beyond banks, hair/nail places, and restaurants. Eating out is the main draw, and restaurants are everywhere.
8) non partisan municipal government
Do you really want to make that claim? Even if it’s true, political affiliations really have no meaning in NJ. They are one of the same. It’s always a case of cronyism and NJ-style corruption.
9) consistently top rated schools
That ship sailed many years ago. Yes, they are good, but many in surrounding towns score better. However, thie issue has nothing to do with how good the schools are, as the folks are selling up when their kids graduate.
10) passive and active open space inventory
Maybe, but open space is found all over.
11) close proximity to NYC
So are dozens of other towns in the metro area.
12) a history of effective zoning controls
I don’t think they are any better than elsewhere.
13) a YMCA/YWCA facility
Only used by a few. The standards have gone down there and its once affordability is not what it was. Nearby gyms are far more popular.
14) a movie theater
Who goes to movies anymore? We’re all watching great entertainment on our home theater systems.
15) 3 supermarkets
So why do I and every R’Wood person I know shop at Fairway?
Boyd, listen up. Bergen County is not the only place in America to move to. Widen your horizens, buddy.
Buddy, this place is a congested city. There are many places that are not , that are beautiful and friendly with great cultural activities. Boulder…… Name the state , for one.
Colorado is nice, but if your job is in this area and there’s no hope for finding one other than the one you’ve got, you’re kinda stuck.
You really need to have experienced life in other North Jersey communities to appreciate how good Ridgewood really is.
Declan – everyone you know shops at Fairway? Did you ever hear of Shop Rite? Go there, save some money, and then you can afford to stay in Ridgewood.
Yeah Bergen has the third highest local taxes of any county in the US, so unless money is no object, there’s a big world out there
About amenity #2
Are other towns burning to the ground? A paid FD is nice but let’s not get crazy. We could function with half the number.
Shop Rite is the worst of the 3. It’s like going back in time in the age of modern supermarkets. Kings is overpriced. Whole Foods has some lovely items, and I do get the occasional item from there, but it’s also overpriced.
7:40
Actually, the response time is way WAY longer in towns with all-volunteer fire departments. So yes, if your house is on fire in such a town, it is more likely by far to burn to the ground than if you are in Ridgewood. No, I am not a fireman and no one in my family is.
Sure insurance is a few bucks cheaper with a career fire dept. but any savings are more than made up for by higher taxes. As for EMS, it’s not volunteer and so just duplicates what Valley already offers, so not sure why that’s a claim to fame for Ridgewood?
for $101mn, our schools should be top five in NJ. The fact that they are not suggests high taxes for good schools is a myth in Ridgewood
Boulder is very nice
Homeowners’ insurance rates are lower in municipalities with paid fire protection. So the money you spend to fund the fire department is saved in insurance costs.
By the way, Americans move on average every five years, so signs are up; all overt America every year.
Response time…..WHO CARES???
That’s why I have fire insurance.
And besides the response time in Ridgewood makes no difference when it comes to Ridgewoods motto of “saved another basement” .
I see the Village Idiots are posting here now……here are some of the dumbest comments.
–
7:40 am – About amenity #2 -Are other towns burning to the ground? A paid FD is nice but let’s not get crazy. We could function with half the number.
–
10:25 am Sure insurance is a few bucks cheaper with a career fire dept. but any savings are more than made up for by higher taxes. As for EMS, it’s not volunteer and so just duplicates what Valley already offers, so not sure why that’s a claim to fame for Ridgewood?
–
11:34 am – Response time…..WHO CARES??? That’s why I have fire insurance. And besides the response time in Ridgewood makes no difference when it comes to Ridgewoods motto of “saved another basement” .
–
It never ceases to amaze me the sheer stupidity of some supposedly educated people. Carry on dummies.
Taxes for paid fire are much higher than any commiserate home insurance savings, and home insurance doesn’t come with pensions and healthcare for life which a career fire dept does
I bet we could do as well if we had half of the number of firefighters sitting on call.
I am not originally from Bergen County so I do not feel limited to this area. There are great places to live all over the country. When I retire Bergen County is not in my plans.
My family and friends in NYS still feel sorry for me because I moved to NJ. I guess that word of the 15 reasons to live in Ridgewood has not made it to the general population
For all you temporary residents, (who move here from NYC while their kids attend school then move back after saddling us with higher taxes). Do us all a favor….Leave now
Ridgewood is a transitory town, very few families stay for generations… #29 must be one of them, how welcoming to “temporary residents”. NYC has better public schools like Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Latin, Bronx High School of Science, HSAS at Lehman College and High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies all are better