>My name is Jane Shinozuka and I am running for Village Council
My name is Jane Shinozuka and I am running for Village Council. Ridgewood has been my home for 17 years. My husband and I are raising our three children – each in different levels of our school system: RHS, BFMS and Hawes – in a community that enriches our family life. I currently sit as a member of the Ridgewood Planning Board, Officer of the BF HSA executive board as well as BF’s Liaison to the Federated HSA Safety Committee. I participate as a Group Leader for the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel CCD program and also serve on the Board of Governors for the Salem Ridge Association. My association with these and many other groups over the years have strengthened my aspiration to be elected to Village Council.
Ridgewood is undeniably a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It’s filled with intelligent and compassionate residents who consistently contribute time, effort and financial help to important causes. We respond to each other in times of need with genuine help and concern. It is our civic identity and the force that drives our instinct to protect what we have in this Village. Beyond the magnanimous nature of the community, we enjoy lovely surroundings, good schools, comprehensive municipal services and overall safety. But like so many towns in Bergen County, Ridgewood is clearly struggling to maintain the day to day that we’ve all come to expect. As a Councilmember, I will endeavor to protect and strengthen those things which make Ridgewood special through realistic and prudent management.
To that end, it’s important to prioritize the careful examination of projects that most impact the Village and its residents. We need to focus on reliable emergency management procedures and flood mitigation solutions – determining what already works well and drafting strategies for improvement. Our DPW faced an unusually difficult year and the strain left some residents feeling underserved. The hurricane and the early snow storm heightened awareness of the need for emergency planning that can deliver more consistent service. Reinvigorating our CBD is also a priority and needs an interactive plan to improve efficiency in terms of permit and procedure for new businesses, pedestrian safety and parking issues for anyone visiting or doing business in the CBD.
I look forward to sharing these and my other ideas with Ridgewood residents over the next two months. Thanks to everyone who signed my petitions and gave me the opportunity to be placed on the ballot. Speaking one on one with residents reinforced my belief that I can be an asset to the community. I am a firm believer in non-partisan government and if elected I’ll be an ethical and impartial addition to the Village Council.
