the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, OUTFRONT MEDIA LLC – An application for preliminary and final major site plan approval for the construction and operation of a single pole, double faced, digital multimessage advertising sign which is a prohibited use and will result in a second principal use; expansion of an existing non-conforming use and bulk variance relief at 500 Route 17 South, Block 4703, Lot 10, in the OB-2 Zone.
Lou D’Arminio, Esq., was present on behalf of the applicant during a June 27, 2023 hearing. Mr. D’Arminio is a Principal at Price Meese Shulman & D’Arminio, P.C.. Gail Price is also a Principal at the same firm.
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Shame on both of them.
This is highly unethical and so much collusion is involved. First Gail Price, Paul’s friend from law school, who lives in Ridgewood with her husband, Richard Brooks, has not been able to avoid a whole lot of controversy over the years. She likely brought the billboard project to Paul or he brought it to her. He obviously benefits as a business person, restaurant owner and with lots of investments all over the village of Ridgewood. Is it a coincidence that Outfront Media, a multi billion dollar company picked Gail Price’s law firm where she is a partner, who is skilled at zoning law, I think not. Additional Price’s husband being the Chair of Parks and Rec was more than happy to help leverage influence over the giant turf field that was this mayors obsession. So shameful on so many levels.
Someone explain to my why Pee Wee did this in writing…?
Is he trying to be above board for once…?
It isn’t above board to loan money to Price and Brooks when you are the mayor and these two are leveraging influence. Maybe Paul is benefiting through some kind of kickback from Outfront Media by promising he get this application and variances passed through. Important to note that Paul has power as Mayor to re-elect zoning board members, so perhaps encouraging the billboard approval is key to get this going so the fact that it is Gail Prices’s law firm where she is a partner is highly unethical and inappropriate.
Any competent judge will certainly vacate a zoning board ruling favorable to the applicant. They should just stop the hearings now and resume only after the applicant gets a new attorney.
Yes, agree 100%!!
This may be besides the point but why would 2 successful people who are past middle age need to borrow $47k? Bad personal finance skills?
Yes. They owe a lot of money. Behind almost $50K in property taxes.
Yes, especially the partner is a law firm, makes no sense.
Shit happens.
Yes, shit happens but it signals that there maybe are some bigger issues plaguing this couple lack of money management and their intimate relationship with the mayor. You don’t know if it is a payoff for services rendered.
OK people don’t just blame the mayor and council on this subject, this had to be authorized, certified, decisions on this had to go through the village manager, and the finance department. This wasn’t just done from the mayor, there’s a lot of people at fault. If this is illegal, they’re all wrong then. I this is why I’ve been telling everyone that their foolish fellow troll. Because I keep on saying when I have the funds in the budget and we have to furlough employees, and then you’re giving out loans. Like we told you they are, all full of shit.
It was the mayor’s own money, not taxpayer funds. No approval from anyone necessary.
The village had nothing to do with this. It was a personal loan between Vagianos and his wife to Gail Price and Richard Brooks, long time friends of the mayor. He went to law school with Gail Price. Which is why it is highly suspicious that it wasn’t a payoff for something…she is a zoning pro (valley hospital and used to work for the village) and husband Brooks is the chair of the Parks and Rec board and Conservation board. So a personal loan to these 2 is a big no no and a real breach of ethics.
It’s a personal loan, it doesn’t have to go through the Village MGR and if it did, the Village MGR is team Pee wee 100%
Paul Richard Gail. All sinking like sacs of shit.
We should not expect a law firm to ethically manage its business affairs. We should expect that our elected officials conduct their business to a higher standard. The former works for money and the later works (in theory) for the community they represent. The two are separated by a code of conduct (in theory, again) in which, conflicts of interests, are highlighted as a paramount consideration when deciding to engage or to recuse oneself for the sake of good governance. We wait for our mayor’s view on good governance in this matter but the sure bet is on more conflict.
I love the theories, however Paul Vagianos has already shown everyone where his loyalties lie. Why would you push for things over and over again and why would he not recuse himself when all along he knew he gave this payoff/loan to his friends in June of this year. All the while the billboard application sits with the zoning board represented by Gail Price’s firm. This was going to be a big payoff and if her law firm is in trouble, this could probably have bailed it out. While 3 if not 4 zoning board members are up for re-election, and where Paul can vote them back in for another term, it creates a lot of speculation that he should have nothing more to do with anything related to fields, zoning, CBD decisions and a new law firm would then represent Outfront Media and the application is put on hold until that time. Period, end of story. Enough is enough with this unethical BS.
I know Paul probably thinks he was just helping his friends but the optics on this are really bad, not just for Price and Brooks. Brooks pushed for the large turf field for his friend Paul. Price’s law firm where she is a partner is pushing for the giant electronic billboard where Paul will benefit as a biz owner, perhaps this was all a scheme to get the field installed at Schedler and directly across the street, get the bright lights flashing for Paul’s many business ventures, then he could kick back more to Price as they clearly are in financial trouble and trying to live in Ridgewood is not inexpensive.
Paul is only helping if it benefits Paul
Interesting that Outfront Media, the company that applied for the variance and is being represented legally by Gail Price’s law firm, went to Schedler to take pictures and offered to put up giant trees on the berm once the application is approved. Seems a little fishy to me that they knew about the project over there enough to offer up this fabulous gift to Ridgewood. I for one smell 3 dirty rats (Vagianos, Price and Brooks).
Wonder if Gail Price/Richard Brooks or Paul Vagianos/Jeanne Bogle are shareholders in Outfront Media, the billboard company. That would be the icing on the cake.
OUTFRONT Media (NYSE: OUT) Reports First Quarter 2023 Results May, 03, 2023 Revenues of $395.8 million Operating income of $10.2 million Net loss attributable to OUTFRONT Media Inc. of $28.9 million Adjusted OIBDA of $60.2 million AFFO attributable to OUTFRONT Media Inc. of $8.8 million Quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, payable June 30, 2023
How would Outfront Media know anything about the berm over at Schedler unless Paul has been involved? They weren’t concerned with putting trees anywhere else along Route 17 where this giant neon sign would be shining into people’s houses. Seems very fishy to me that they even through that out there making the passing of the applicaiton more attractive to Ridgewood. Paul is involved somehow along with Gail Price, question is, who brought it to whom. Do we need to OPRA the docs on this?
Paul Vagianos is so dirty, he’s going to be in the news like Menendez one day soon.
One can only hope! RECALL PAUL!
Where is this ugly sign going?? Is it on the tire store property?
Yes.
The mayor and his wife have been exposed finally with a real document, giving money to people with vested interests on both sides. Assuming there is a lot more that Paul has been up to but the fact that this has come to light, it shows that this mayor is in collusion and is paying someone off to serve his own interests. They should all be hanging their heads in shame but given their arrogant nature, I am sure they all feel entitled. They’ve got some explaining to do to people who actual pay their taxes on time.
How’s your week going Paulie?
Agree that the optics are not good, but this was an arms length private transaction. Given the longterm relationship here, it hardly seems likely that this loan motivated any parties that were not already well-aligned.
Also, the Price firm has an expertise in land use, long experience in Ridgewood, and a particular expertise in billboards, so if her firm had not been retained for a billboard project it would have been mildly surprising.
Then to that I say, her firm should not have been chosen based on the fact that her great friend is the mayor, where he seeks to benefit as a business owner and in a town where she lives and seeks to benefit. Inappropriate and unethical but it seems these people look the other way when they are benefitting financially. It is just wrong.
Ethics only apply to the little people
Gail Price is also supposedly expert at Foreclosure law per her bio on the website, however her house is in tax sale and could be foreclosed upon. What does that tell you?
I guarantee that either Gail Price brought the sign to Ridgewood to save her law firm AND help her buddy Paul advertise or get a kickback from Outfront Media. Or Paul approached Outfront Media and brought Gail Price’s law firm into it as they are zoning experts. Either way, it was not ethical, improper and just wreaks to high heaven in terms of corruption IMO and if Paul has the power to re-elect zoning board members he would likely use this as leverage so they would vote in favor of Vagianos/Price.
yep, those are some serious overdue property taxes
Block/Lot/Qual: 3501. 16.01 Tax Account Id: 4782
Property Location: 777 E RIDGEWOOD AVE Property Class: 2 – Residential
Owner Name/Address: BROOKS, RICHARD S & GAIL PRICE Land Value: 443,200
777 E RIDGEWOOD AVE Improvement Value: 756,800
RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450 Exempt Value: 0
Total Assessed Value: 1,200,000
Additional Lots: None
Special Taxing Districts: Deductions:
This Property is in Tax Sale | Balance Includes any Adjustments to Your Account
Taxes
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View Tax Rates View Current Bill Project Interest
Year Due Date Type Orig Billed Adj Billed Balance Interest Total Due Status
2024 02/01/2024 Tax 8,412.00 0.00 8,412.00 0.00 8,412.00 OPEN
2024 05/01/2024 Tax 8,412.00 0.00 8,412.00 0.00 8,412.00 OPEN
Total 2024 16,824.00 0.00 16,824.00 0.00 16,824.00
2023 02/01/2023 Tax 8,199.00 0.00 8,199.00 959.28 9,158.28 OPEN
2023 05/01/2023 Tax 8,199.00 0.00 8,199.00 590.33 8,789.33 OPEN
2023 08/01/2023 Tax 8,751.00 0.00 8,751.00 236.28 8,987.28 OPEN
2023 11/01/2023 Tax 8,499.00 0.00 8,499.00 0.00 8,499.00 OPEN
Total 2023 33,648.00 0.00 33,648.00 1,785.89 35,433.89
2022 02/01/2022 Tax 8,124.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 PAID
2022 05/01/2022 Tax 8,124.00 0.00 1,622.89 146.87 1,769.76 OPEN
2022 08/01/2022 Tax 8,424.00 0.00 8,424.00 627.59 9,051.59 OPEN
2022 11/01/2022 Tax 8,124.00 1,151.10 9,275.10 2,934.19 12,209.29 OPEN
Total 2022 32,796.00 1,151.10 19,321.99 3,708.65 23,030.64
Last Payment: 06/29/22
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But why did Pee Wee leave a paper trail…?
Why not give the Brokes some cash in a dark corner of the parking garage…?
The Mayor probably didn’t think anyone would find out. No harm, no foul. Except people did find out and it is foul. there are so many layers to this situation. Also interesting that according to public records, the notary on Paul’s loan document, Margaret Sullivan, and also made campaign contributions to at least one if not more of the majority block council members. Maybe friends with Paulie too.
Yikes, they have not paid for almost 2 years. That is really sad. I actually feel really sorry for them. If I was a betting person, she probably approached Outfront in an effort to save her law firm thinking it would be a win win. Paul would re-elect zoning board persons possibly in exchange for getting the variances passed and trying to get extra large trees over at Schedler, a gift offering from Outfront Media and could also advertise Ridgewood CBD where he would be a direct benefactor. Brooks would push for the large turf field and since Paul, Siobahn and Evan wanted to turf so badly, there must be some manna from heaven with that deal as well. The whole thing is like an overripe stinky cheese that is rotting in the corner. If people just think this is just an innocent loan amongst friends, then there is an iceberg for sale in Alaska with your name on it.
I believe that Paul’s wife is also a lawyer. These people should all know better as this looks really bad for all of them. Looks like she went to Seton Hall like Paul and Gail Price did. Just a little financial lifeline among good friends they will say.
Paul, Paul, Paul. You better call Saul to get you out of this mess.
That creep should never have been appointed to Parks & Rec, much less made its chair and allowed to retain it for many years.
brooks was appointed well before paul was on the council. at most, he should have made the council attorney aware of the loan and arguably disclosed it to the public. you guys are animals – leave price and brooks alone. so what? they needed a loan? you know what they say about people in glass houses. can’t wait for SK and TL to have financial problems…
You are wishing misfortune on others, that is really sad. I don’t believe anyone except for you is wishing misfortune on others. For the record, someone just exposed a breach of ethics between 4 people who should have known better. No one cares that they needed a bailout. It is about the unethical nature of the undisclosed loan and possible collusion for special interests.
I guess this a time when “Follow the money” is very accurate. “Follow the stench” is even more so!
Use Google Maps and query for “777 E RIDGEWOOD AVE”. There is a lawn sign promoting Paul Vagianos! You can’t make this stuff up!!!
Guess what benefit was personal none of us can say anything. You can voice your opinion that’s about it. I know many individuals that give up personal loans. You don’t always have to go to the bank if you have a friend or a family member willing to give you a loan well, that’s that. This conversation is over because I was gonna assume whatever you want, all you doing is wasting your breath.
I guess you don’t understand the part where it is unethical on many levels. Might want to tune in. municipalities have to disclose such loans, personal or otherwise. They did not. It is collusion.
Imagine what our surrounding towns have saying these years about the fall of our village. Makes me sick
I was present at the 6/27 meeting
I stayed for part of the last Tues. night planning board meeting regarding the digital billboard sign .
– my feeling is this will probably get approved.
( although I don’t support it )
– the out front media attorney has the permit from Trenton.
– the out front media attorney is using the same Land Planner professional that Duncan Donuts used.
– the out front media attorney firm has a personal relationship with the Mayor of Ridgewood .
I sympathize with the “ Schedler” residents . The trees that are on the Schedler property now , are their only vision barrier, especially for homes closest to the Schedler property.
If the trees are removed ; it’s over.
Plus the lights from a ball field & cars etc. This neighborhood will fundamentally change.
– more residents need to show up for at least part of the evening when they have these meetings . Stop the installation of the billboard sign & stop the radical development of the Schedler property .
Let’s see who goes after any of them.
47 comments. This is 48. Kind of like $47k increasing to $48k with all that 10% interest Paulie is charging.
This smells as bad as the water pollution control plant.
Gail Price has been on the wrong side of Ridgewood since the early days of the Valley expansion issue.
I find it ridiculous that there are no lawyers living in or around the billboard and schedler area who can do something about this. There have to be to legal means to fight both the field and the billboard. Yet everybody cries out on social media and nothing else. PV will ram through anything he wants because he has no feelings and same will do his cronies on VC.
There is…the Mayor.
This town is done. No one wants to do business in Ridgewood, it’s such an embarrassment, no one can trust anyone from the top. The rest of the politicians in The County in State State Ridgewood politics. It’s all one big scam, it’s been like this for a long long time. It’s just now that so many off us coming out and talking and saying there peace .
You are correct….it’s all out in the open now. Not even trying to hide their crimes.
If you think it is all out in the open now, you are mistaken. More to come.
The mayor trusts his friends. So much. He filed a note with the county…just in case…
As Mayor, Vagianos has the power to elect and re-elect Zoning Board of Adjustment Members, he needs to recuse himself of this responsibility this term given the “loan” to the Partner of the lawfirm representing the Outfront media billboard. The following members of the ZB have terms expiring and can be re-elected by Paul:
Jonathan Papietro (12/31/2023)
Michael Pickholtz (12/31/2023)
Jason Curreri (12/31/2023)
Harold Maxwell (Alternate #1, 12/31/2023)
In light of this apparent scandal and where he has a vested interest, should recuse himself from any and all matters having to do with alleged impropriety and where the billboard is concerned. He should not be able to appoint anyone to zoning board this term as there is a conflict of interest and alleged unethical behavior with the $47 k loan from Mayor Vagianos to Gail Price/Richard Brooks, also, Outfront Media should have to start their application over again with new legal counsel and the application process should be vacated until such time.
He makes me sick what he has done and NOT done for our little village is disgusting! At this point, I’d be happy to have Aronson back.
im·pro·pri·e·ty
[ˌimprəˈprīədē]
NOUN
a failure to observe standards or show due honesty or modesty; improper language, behavior, or character.
Paul Vagianos, Gail Price and Richard Brooks