April 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Driving down Linwood this morning and I was able to pick out the mayor’s house because it was the only house on the street with Brooks, Willett, and Weitz signs out.
Funny how he was able to make the determination to support the three candidates that will continue the destruction of the town.
The lack of judgment is astounding but par for the course.
Remember this posters. Don’t let it happen again.
May 4, 2012
Letter: Vote for Aronsohn, Hauck and Pucciarelli
The Ridgewood News
Vote for Aronsohn, Hauck and Pucciarelli
To the editor:
At Monday night’s debate, I urged voters to support three candidates: Paul Aronsohn, Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli.
To some, the request was a surprise. To others, it was merely a reaffirmation of what I have been saying for the past two months at every single campaign “coffee” event, in every single conversation on the subject and even during my extensive interview with the Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) executive board two weeks ago.
My reason for supporting Gwenn and Albert is simple: When it comes to good, responsive government, they not only get it; they are committed to making it a reality here in Ridgewood.
Both candidates believe in real fiscal responsibility and are committed to providing taxpayer relief; both candidates believe that the mayor and council should be more proactive when it comes to supporting our local businesses; and both candidates are committed to keeping our library’s doors open on Sundays.
And more generally and most importantly, both candidates share my view that public service is about serving the public – not the other way around – and that council members have an obligation to be accessible, approachable and accountable.
Regrettably, some have expressed concern with my decision to support Gwenn and Albert, because these candidates were not endorsed by the CRR. That concern overlooks the fact that the three of us all support a more proactive role by the mayor and council that would guarantee that the residents have a seat at the table and that their voice is heard. That concern also overlooks the fact that no one on the current council or running for office this year has been a more outspoken critic of Valley Hospital’s proposal than me. In fact, I am the only council member or candidate insisting that the Planning Board rescind that amendment before a new conversation can be started.
Simply stated, my convictions on Valley Hospital remain rock solid.
Regardless, the fact of the matter remains: We have an important election next week, and with it, we have an opportunity to fix all that is broken at Village Hall.
We have the opportunity to put an end to 12 percent retroactive salary increases. We have the opportunity to reform a budgeting process that too often leads to large tax increases. We have the opportunity to ensure that phone calls and emails to Village Hall – from the Building Department to the village manager’s office – actually get answered.
Taken together, next week, we have the opportunity to bring about much needed change in Village Hall, to put our government back on track, to make things right again.
In my mind, there are three candidates ready, willing and able to seize this opportunity: Aronsohn, Hauck and Pucciarelli.
Thank you for your consideration.
Paul Aronsohn
And this posters.
Aronsohn, Pucciarelli Victorious; Hauck Appears to Edge Killion
Unofficially victorious Aronsohn-led slate promises change to village government. Provisional ballots have not yet been counted and there remains a chance Killion overtakes Hauck.
Ridgewood-Glen Rock, NJ
By James Kleimann (Patch Staff) – May 9, 2012 3:46 am ET
Aronsohn, Pucciarelli Victorious; Hauck Appears to Edge Killion
Updated last at 10:59 p.m. Tuesday
When the , voters said it’s time for new leadership in Ridgewood.
In the closest election in years, voters opted for , Planning Board Vice Chairman and thus far, by the slimmest of margins, . The three leading vote-getters will take office at the reorganization meeting in July and will serve four year terms.
Technically, the vote isn’t over yet.
With 1727 votes, Hauck amassed only 16 more votes than the fourth-leading vote-getter, incumbent Mayor Keith Killion.
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Village Clerk Heather Mailander said provisional ballots still need to be counted by the county board of elections. It could take up to five or six days before the race is official, she said.
Aronsohn – whose at the candidate’s debate appeared to have paid dividends – curried the most voter favor on Tuesday night, capturing 2,479 votes.
“The thing that brought us together is the shared belief of good government and responsive government,” Aronsohn said. “That was the message we took throughout the community, to the East Side and the West…one of the biggest issues in people’s minds are the high taxes.”
The three ran on a platform of a “zero-based budgeting” approach, speaking out against raises to village management, jump-starting Valley talks, and finding a way to spark a revitalization in the downtown.
Pucciarelli amassed a comfortable 2,078 votes, placing within the top three in virtually all of Ridgewood’s 19 polling districts.
The planning board vice chair said although there are sure to be some changes with the new slate, he’ll be consistent on one thing.
“One of the things I will not do differently is my homework,” Pucciarelli said. The attorney and pilot told Patch he plans on incorporating Ridgewood’s residents into the discussion, and weighing on its talents and wisdom.
“The [budget] process will include a top-to-bottom review,” he added, remarking he doesn’t feel it’s been done before and is desperately needed.
Tuesday’s election represents a marked change in voter turnout in Ridgewood.
“What the numbers showed is people came out to vote who didn’t vote before,” Hauck said, as Mayor Killion shook her hand and offered his congratulations.
Poll numbers show West Side districts that have historically turned out 10 percent of registered voters boomed with 20-27 percent in districts this go-around. A total of 23 percent of voters turned out.
“I think that shows that everyone in Ridgewood is energized by this election and more people are interested in having a say in what goes in our government,” said Hauck, a West Sider. “And that’s good for Ridgewood.”
Mayor Keith Killion, who appears to have conceded the election to Hauck, said he had no regrets as his time on the council comes to an end.
“I did my best for four years and the people spoke,” the mayor said. “I’m looking forward to retirement. I have a shore house and I plan to spend a lot of time with my grandchildren and my family.”
I’m sure it’s in good hands,” he said of the village. Killion ran his campaign on a “back-to-basics” focus, telling residents infrastructure needs improvement and he wanted to keep “urbanization” at bay.
The former police captain took heavy criticism for the retroactive salary raises issued to Village Manager Ken Gabbert and senior management.
, a planning board member who called herself a “dark horse” candidate, expressed disappointment with the results.
“I hope the future holds the best for the town,” said the HSA member who had 1484 votes. “I’m disappointed, I would have liked to have seen the mayor get back in. It was a good experience for me. I got a lot of fabulous support from my husband [Rei] and women in Ridgewood.”
, the Paterson budget officer, didn’t receive any endorsements in the election and it might have been over for him long before Tuesday. Forenza captured only 817 votes, about half of what other candidates received.
“It’s tough running without getting any type of endorsement in the Village of Ridgewood,” he said. “I think that’s what hurt me.”
The (CRR), which had squabbled with Aronsohn after he endorsed Pucciarelli and Hauck, offered their voting bloc to Killion and Shinozuka (and ). They appear to be the big losers on Tuesday.
Until May 8, the grassroots group had not seen one of its candidates suffer defeat in any Ridgewood election, thanks in large part to high turnouts around B.F., Travell and RHS.
The CRR now faces a loss of two of its endorsees on the council – Councilman Steve and Killion’s likely loss. To make matters worse for CRR, it’s feuded with Aronsohn and has called Hauck and Pucciarelli supporters of the Valley expansion project, dubbed ‘Renewal’.
Still, the preliminary math doesn’t seem to indicate there will be hospital construction anytime soon. Aronsohn maintains he does not support ‘Renewal’ and Pucciarelli will abstain from votes due to professional conflicts. Even if Hauck were to support the project, there doesn’t exist enough votes to overturn the .
What it does mean, however, is we’re likely to see a dramatically more proactive council in that controversial arena.
The Aronsohn slate has said it wants to initiate talks with Valley to understand the hospital’s supposed needs, what the neighbors can and cannot accept, and ultimately, if some sort of agreement can be reached.
Aronsohn, who has battled with sitting council members Bernie Walsh and Tom Riche during his time on the dais, is when the new-look council begins this summer.
It remains to be seen if there is relative harmony or if contentious 3-2 votes become a staple of Wednesday night meetings.
One thing’s for sure, the political landscape has been completely altered in the village.
Aronsohn, Pucciarelli Victorious; Hauck Appears to Edge Killion
Unofficially victorious Aronsohn-led slate promises change to village government. Provisional ballots have not yet been counted and there remains a chance Killion overtakes Hauck.
Ridgewood-Glen Rock, NJ
By James Kleimann (Patch Staff) – May 9, 2012 3:46 am ET
Aronsohn, Pucciarelli Victorious; Hauck Appears to Edge Killion
Updated last at 10:59 p.m. Tuesday
When the , voters said it’s time for new leadership in Ridgewood.
In the closest election in years, voters opted for , Planning Board Vice Chairman and thus far, by the slimmest of margins, . The three leading vote-getters will take office at the reorganization meeting in July and will serve four year terms.
Technically, the vote isn’t over yet.
With 1727 votes, Hauck amassed only 16 more votes than the fourth-leading vote-getter, incumbent Mayor Keith Killion.
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Village Clerk Heather Mailander said provisional ballots still need to be counted by the county board of elections. It could take up to five or six days before the race is official, she said.
Aronsohn – whose at the candidate’s debate appeared to have paid dividends – curried the most voter favor on Tuesday night, capturing 2,479 votes.
“The thing that brought us together is the shared belief of good government and responsive government,” Aronsohn said. “That was the message we took throughout the community, to the East Side and the West…one of the biggest issues in people’s minds are the high taxes.”
The three ran on a platform of a “zero-based budgeting” approach, speaking out against raises to village management, jump-starting Valley talks, and finding a way to spark a revitalization in the downtown.
Pucciarelli amassed a comfortable 2,078 votes, placing within the top three in virtually all of Ridgewood’s 19 polling districts.
The planning board vice chair said although there are sure to be some changes with the new slate, he’ll be consistent on one thing.
“One of the things I will not do differently is my homework,” Pucciarelli said. The attorney and pilot told Patch he plans on incorporating Ridgewood’s residents into the discussion, and weighing on its talents and wisdom.
“The [budget] process will include a top-to-bottom review,” he added, remarking he doesn’t feel it’s been done before and is desperately needed.
Tuesday’s election represents a marked change in voter turnout in Ridgewood.
“What the numbers showed is people came out to vote who didn’t vote before,” Hauck said, as Mayor Killion shook her hand and offered his congratulations.
Poll numbers show West Side districts that have historically turned out 10 percent of registered voters boomed with 20-27 percent in districts this go-around. A total of 23 percent of voters turned out.
“I think that shows that everyone in Ridgewood is energized by this election and more people are interested in having a say in what goes in our government,” said Hauck, a West Sider. “And that’s good for Ridgewood.”
Mayor Keith Killion, who appears to have conceded the election to Hauck, said he had no regrets as his time on the council comes to an end.
“I did my best for four years and the people spoke,” the mayor said. “I’m looking forward to retirement. I have a shore house and I plan to spend a lot of time with my grandchildren and my family.”
I’m sure it’s in good hands,” he said of the village. Killion ran his campaign on a “back-to-basics” focus, telling residents infrastructure needs improvement and he wanted to keep “urbanization” at bay.
The former police captain took heavy criticism for the retroactive salary raises issued to Village Manager Ken Gabbert and senior management.
, a planning board member who called herself a “dark horse” candidate, expressed disappointment with the results.
“I hope the future holds the best for the town,” said the HSA member who had 1484 votes. “I’m disappointed, I would have liked to have seen the mayor get back in. It was a good experience for me. I got a lot of fabulous support from my husband [Rei] and women in Ridgewood.”
, the Paterson budget officer, didn’t receive any endorsements in the election and it might have been over for him long before Tuesday. Forenza captured only 817 votes, about half of what other candidates received.
“It’s tough running without getting any type of endorsement in the Village of Ridgewood,” he said. “I think that’s what hurt me.”
The (CRR), which had squabbled with Aronsohn after he endorsed Pucciarelli and Hauck, offered their voting bloc to Killion and Shinozuka (and ). They appear to be the big losers on Tuesday.
Until May 8, the grassroots group had not seen one of its candidates suffer defeat in any Ridgewood election, thanks in large part to high turnouts around B.F., Travell and RHS.
The CRR now faces a loss of two of its endorsees on the council – Councilman Steve and Killion’s likely loss. To make matters worse for CRR, it’s feuded with Aronsohn and has called Hauck and Pucciarelli supporters of the Valley expansion project, dubbed ‘Renewal’.
Still, the preliminary math doesn’t seem to indicate there will be hospital construction anytime soon. Aronsohn maintains he does not support ‘Renewal’ and Pucciarelli will abstain from votes due to professional conflicts. Even if Hauck were to support the project, there doesn’t exist enough votes to overturn the .
What it does mean, however, is we’re likely to see a dramatically more proactive council in that controversial arena.
The Aronsohn slate has said it wants to initiate talks with Valley to understand the hospital’s supposed needs, what the neighbors can and cannot accept, and ultimately, if some sort of agreement can be reached.
Aronsohn, who has battled with sitting council members Bernie Walsh and Tom Riche during his time on the dais, is when the new-look council begins this summer.
It remains to be seen if there is relative harmony or if contentious 3-2 votes become a staple of Wednesday night meetings.
One thing’s for sure, the political landscape has been completely altered in the village.
They are now assured of finishing 4, 5 and 6, not necessarily in that order.
Well he just made it easy for me…I’m voting for the other 3….thanks !
The Facebook site “The Truth About Ridgewood” is a censored page created by Ron Simoncini. He does PR work for the developers.
It is a censored site, only positive messages about the garage and high density housing. It supports Richard Brooks . It is creepy, written in the first person but it is difficult to locate Ron’s name. Thinks the lawn signs are great. He also thinks that residents have moved on from the parking issue and are now focusing on Graydon! In his dreams!
There is no positive dialog, just his PR ramblings. There are no Comments. Maybe the only comments were too negative so he censored them.
They did an email blast this morning. Don’t know where he got his mailing list but HS parents think that he may have used the school directory. Lots of unhappy recipients. Mau e he needs to hire a social media person.
I know he is entitled to vote and should vote the way he wants to. But I think it is in poor taste for him to have signs out.
Just my feeling.
You need to drive by the guy who has a day job.
He’s got the same three signs, and one for Plan D.
Guess he put them there when he got home from work.
I applaud the mayor for putting out those signs.
Now Villagers know for sure and they can make a choice as to whether they want to continue the divisive, failed policies of the past four years or move into the future. I say vote for progress and openness. Vote for Voigt, Hache and Walsh.
Let’s not be mired in four more years of division and destruction. Our brightest days lie ahead!!
It’s funny how people make voting decisions. One of the blog posters here, who has opposed Valley for years, is now posting in support of Brooks, willet and Weitz on Facebook and here because they will help in saving his friend’s job.
He knows Valley expansion is wrong and if Brooks or Weitz win its going to happen for sure, he is brain washed by this friendship.
best to remember all those that vote in a self destructive manner ,when it backfires on you , don’t come to this blog crying your house is getting bulldozed over, time to make grown up mature decisions, actions have consequences
and his lawn looks like dirt.
It’s his right to put signs on his property…
It’ s really a pretty simple choice. If you want “Change” based on personal agendas, and not in the best (short or long) interest of the entire town, you vote for Brooks and Weitz. If you want “Change” that makes sense, you vote for Voigt, Hache and Walsh. Not hard to figure this out. In fact, these folks have made it kind of easy.
Paul Smith you are loosing my respect and I am almost ready to call you in Rurik’s camp after your activism in last 2 weeks. I had always thought you were on the right side of issues.
So, “anonymous 5:18,” pointing out that the mayor (or anyone else) has the right to put signs on their property is on the wrong side of what issue?
Well obviously the wrong side is the side where your wife and the mayor reside.
Uh oh, Roberta’s husband Bob Carroll is trolling again.
Mr Carroll, 5:18 here. Please read complete sentence.
The mayor is on the wrong side of every issue, Robert Carroll. Only two months to go until that loser and his two buddies is history.
We have run the three of them out of office. They will tell you that they “decided” not to run again, but in truth they knew they would never get re-elected. Word is that Gwenn and Albert had tons of trouble getting signatures and people told them they would NEVER vote for them. Paul did not even bother to try.
oh gosh 5:18… I lose the respect of an anonymous blogger! oh the humanity of it all!! btw, I disagree with Mr. Halaby ad nauseum and we still have the utmost respect for each other…. the “right” side of the issues? well, you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts… and the fact is he has a right to express his opinion…
name calling is an opinion now ???
559: it’s the perception. He is saying by supporting them that all along he was really for Valley expansion etc. it’s wrong, unseemly,and what I expected.
Thed
5:18, I did read the complete sentence: “I had always thought that [ Paul Smith was ] on the right side of issues.”
And pointing out that the mayor has the right to put signs on his property is the wrong side of what issue? And simply asking that question is trolling?
@9:51. That story is not true, at least not for Gwenn. I have been told by people in the room she did have the signatures and did not proceed because her candidates were certified. Yes, as soon as she knew weitz ( who was not present), brooks and Willet would be on the ballot she said we have ” our three” and pulled her name out. If that does. Or tell everyone that they need to vote for Voigt, hache and Walsh I don’t tak now what does. Boring for the others will continue the big there’s policies and we will become that transit village they desire.
Ack sorry about @ 8:36, darn iphone. If that does not tell everyone…I don’t know what does. Voting for the others will continue the big three’s policies…
Leave Robert Carroll alone. Poor guy. He has to live with Roberta, the bobble head dictator. What a hellish life he must have.
“It remains to be seen if there is relative harmony or if contentious 3-2 votes become a staple of Wednesday night meetings.” HAH! How about bordering on 100% of votes for two years?
…or maybe for four years. Anyway, ridiculous. They should have had powwows where they decided NOT to vote unanimously on everything, to preserve what was left of their reputation as independent thinkers. Voting in sync year after year was a slap in the face to voters. It is not possible that they truly agreed on absolutely everything. Instead, they were making a point: Take this, Ridgewood.
Great, now we’ll have a new group that will vote in sync!
“How about bordering on 100% of votes for two years?” Mr. Voigt, Ms. Knudsen and Ms . Walsh all seem to be very independent thinkers. Mr. Voigt and Ms. Walsh disagreed on a few issues openly during candidates night. I doubt they will agree on everything as the other trio did…and by the way, the way our council runs things a 3-2 vote is the same as 5-0, there is no such thing as a super-majority. Hey if you need the 4th vote for a bond you can always do what the trio did and pass the supermajority and head to BCIA…oh, wait…
+4% annual property tax hikes for “emergencies” ;like retroactive pay raises and +4% annual wage increases for public safety will win 5-0 under this prospective Council…. voting has consequences James.
James, are you honestly letting some one post a challenge to the Mayor’s First Amendment rights? That’s shameless.