Ridgewood NJ, This is the Hudson Street lot at 9:20 Friday morning. I do not know how many Village Council meetings I have attended at which members of the Chamber of Commerce stated that this lot is filled to capacity first thing in the morning every morning with commuters and restaurant workers. My crummy little camera does not show the scope of how empty the lot was. Please vote NO on June 21. We might (operative word is “might”) need a small increase in parking, but we certainly do not need the gigantic garage that Aronsohn, Roberta, Hauck and Pucciarelli are continuing to promote in the waning days of their time in “power.”
Ridgewood NJ, A Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Patrol Officer and two (2) police department supervisors responded to Ridgewood High School (627 East Ridgewood Avenue) shortly after 11 AM on Friday, 6/10 in response to a 911 telephone call from a school employee reporting dozens of students running amok in the school’s main hallway with plastic swords in their hands. Police confiscated an undisclosed number of swords and reported damage to at least one (1) classroom’s windows. No immediate arrests were apparent.
On June 21, the registered voters in Ridgewood will be asked to vote on the following referendum:
“Shall ordinance No. 3521 submitted by referendum petition providing for the Council of the Village of Ridgewood to issue $11,500,000 bonds or notes to finance the cost of constructing the Hudson Street parking deck, be adopted?”
As those who voted for all three of us (Bernadette Walsh, Ramon Hache and me) know, we are in favor of a parking deck on Hudson. It is unclear however, whether this bonded amount addresses funding for the current garage design – Version D. The way this referendum is worded obfuscates this issue. I personally am not in favor of Version D which includes 5 levels/4 stories and; results in a diminution in the width of Hudson St from 3 lanes down to 2 (eliminating parking on the North side of Hudson) – it is just too large and out of character with the surrounding community. A smaller garage (e.g. one level and story less) would be more in keeping with the look/feel of the surrounding buildings and could fit the footprint better without taking away street width. The Financial Advisory Committee which studied all sizes of garage designs found a smaller garage (e.g. 4 levels/3stories) to be financially feasible.
Further, the Hudson Street garage should not be examined in isolation. One of the main purposes of this rather large garage (Version D) is to help satisfy parking issues that would result from high density housing being built at the Brogan and Ken Smith sites. This does not help other issues the downtown faces vis-à-vis parking in other areas of the CBD, traffic, and public safety. In other words, the Hudson St garage addresses a symptom but not the disease.
We as a community need to examine the totality of parking, traffic, and public safety within the CBD (i.e. a more comprehensive plan). A more comprehensive plan should include such issues as additional parking (including the Hudson St garage); possible diagonal parking on reconfigured one way streets in the CBD (which would increase the number of spaces and parking revenues); mobile apps for finding parking; and new lights and signaled crosswalks at some of the major intersections (for improved traffic flow and public safety). The new council should take this up at its earliest convenience and; my guess is it likely will.
I am voting no (to not adopt ordinance No. 3521) on June 21. As a Village, let’s put together something that makes sense, is clear as to what our monies are to be used for, and makes our CBD more user-friendly.
As the New Jersey Board of Education deliberates whether high school students should have to pass certain math and English exams to graduate, one state lawmaker wants to throw another subject into the mix.
Assemblyman Jay Webber, a Republican from Morris County, is sponsoring legislation to require students to pass a civics test, using the same set of questions asked of immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship.
His bill (A3894) is nearly identical to one introduced during the last legislative session by then-Assemblyman Charles Mainor, a Democrat. Mainor’s bill (A4226) never made it out of committee.
Under the latest proposal, students would have to correctly answer at least 60 of 100 questions. Students would be asked, for example, what the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are called (answer: Bill of Rights), who becomes president if both the president and vice president can no longer serve (answer: Speaker of the House) or what stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful (answer: checks and balances).
Students would first take the test in ninth grade. Those who don’t pass would retake the exam each year until they passed. Local school boards would decide the method and manner in which the test is administered.
Ridgewood NJ, we have to laugh at this one , NJ.COM is reporting that State Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) claims that a threat was made in 2005 by Paul DiGaetano, then a leading Republican assemblyman dreaming about a long-shot bid for governor against him. In the article O’Tool claimed that he was threatened by Paul DiGaetano in a meeting over his endorsement of DiGaetano for Governor.
Wow is this a case of the pot calling the Kettle black !
The funny thing is that State Sen. Kevin O’Toole is a well know political bully who has threatened his opponents in the past and gone as far as calling their bosses at work claiming they were campaigning on company time and trying to get them fired.
O’Tool has also threatened the Ridgewood blog and it founder , in that instance he made threats from his car on Route 17 north near the Bendex Diner and only backed off when a blog staff member pulled out a camera.
O’Tool is also rumored to be plotting with with Democrat soon to be Former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn to make a run for the current seat held by Rep.Scott Garrett (R).
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Elks Lodge, a long-standing village foundation established in 1922, has lost its charter recently. Our venture to restructure the lodge has come to an abrupt halt.
We provided countless charitable programs to our community, and many go unnoticed.
The Grand Lodge of Elks came in and took our charter off the wall and changed our locks, with no good reason other than a greedy property grab!
Sadly, our teen Antler volunteer program consisting of 22 youths can no longer function either, through no fault of their own.
We require substantial attorney fees to defend our positions, which we are asking all of our benevolent friends to assist us with.
Any amount donated is very greatly appreciated!
We hope to be back in our building and servicing our community with our wonderful charitable works, but will need your help!
With your kind contributions, we look forward to celebrating with you all on our beloved Fourth of July.
..the REA believes it a political move that they should now pay for their healthcare, and that the “social contract” always was that teachers would be low payed but have job security and free healthcare. I think the reality of what has transpired with our healthcare system has not yet dawned on the REA. Many people can not pay for their own healthcare let alone shoulder the burdens of theirs, increased taxes, etc.
…most people are now taking home less money than they did six years ago. No one is getting more than a 1 – 1.5% increase a year and everyone’s health care premiums are skyrocketing. And in the private sector, a lot of those premiums are paying for high deductible policies (my family policy is costing me $5200/year and only kicks in after the $3000 out of pocket). Again, everyone is bringing home less which means we can’t afford to pay more taxes. Sad, but true.
My employer switched to a high deductible health plan this year. I still pay $1000/ mth in premiums (employee share) plus now I have a $5k deductible.
So, my son sprained his ankle and now I get a $1000 bill from Valley because I haven’t hit my deductible yet. (That’s with the insurer negotiated rates). All doctor visits other than preventive care are out of pocket until the deductible is hit.
Thank you Obama for accelerating this for happening to me because our employer is trying to avoid the Cadillac tax.
the staff of the Ridgewood with a little help from our friends
Ridgewood NJ ,According to Ridgewood resident Derek Schnure this Another Aronsohn propaganda piece — you’ll see if you drill into the info on the website. VOTE NO!
The word is the video was produced by a company that the son of the Hillman lighting company owns or works for. So there may have been no cost. However, was it filmed when Roberta, Chris, Bob, etc were working? Meaning that they were making this film and reading our mayor’s script when they were supposed to be actually working? Now there’s a cost
Dear Nattering Nobs of Negativity,
Earlier this week, I sent an e-notice reminder to vote in this week’s primary election. I also indicated that on June 21st there would be another election to determine whether or not to finance a parking deck at Hudson Street. There is background information on the website that you may want to consider while making your decision. Here is the link: www.ridgewoodnj.net
Best,
Roberta Sonenfeld Village Manager 201-670-5500, ext. 203
Please pray for Jack. He is in HUMC in ICU. He got hit in the neck with a lacrosse ball and landed up with a fracture larynx and damage to vocal chord. Nancy and Tom are hoping to know more this afternoon on how the Doctors will proceed. Jack continues to smile.
Update on Jack. Surgery to repair larynx and possibly vocal chords is today in the morning at 11. He is being a trooper! Will be in PICU for about a week. Thanks for all the prayers , calls , emails and texts. I have gotten all of them and are trying to keep up on them but it’s basically impossible. Now the funny part ……my doctor who did my surgery is here doing surgery today and is making a house call to me to remove my stitches. How awesome is that!
Once again, we’re given a “take it or leave it”, “all or nothing”, “our way or the highway” choice on an important matter. I’d love a small parking deck at that location but this referendum gives us two choices: 1.) A 5 story garage which will never be full and doesn’t fit on the lot or 2.) Vote NO.
I had held out some hope that after such a decisive election, the outgoing Council majority would have stepped aside on this issue and left it to the new Council. Yea, maybe not. I can’t say enough bad things about how these 3 elected officials have acted over the past 4 years and they’re apparently trying to go out with one last deplorable bang. They are ignoring the clear will of the people for what can only be personal gain or the desire for revenge against those that have disagreed with them.
11.5 MILLION US Dollars of Ridgewood Taxpayer money.!
June 9,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Reader says , “Garage is not needed outside of a permanent record of the series of back door deals and shameful attempted hoodwinking of the community.Let the Garage plans Rot on exhibit at the new Mayors office as a reminder that government serves the community rather than the special interest restaurants with other people’s cash to spend.”
From the take back Ridgewood Facebook page ,”Please vote ‘NO’ on June 21st, and let the new council pick a contractor for Hudson Street Garage after July 1st. The new council can see through the project to it’s completion and can be held accountable for picking the right contractor.”
The same page points out , “NO BIDDING. Contractor is being decided with ZERO transparency and ZERO accountability, as they won’t be here to see through the project once the contract is awarded.
.
Which way are you going to vote on June 21? Do you trust Mayor Aronshon with our 11.5 Million and will allow him to award the contract with no bidding and zero transparency in his last 9 days or would you rather let the newly elected council pick the contractor, so they can see through the project to it’s completion and are held accountable for making the right decision?”
We have fought against Valley and garages and numerous other issues in this town. It is time to fight for our children, but so many parents feel intimidated by these teachers. They will be marching in their red outside before you go into the meeting. They have put us down. They tell us we are not educated that we don’t know the facts. The FACT is that we can not open our mouths because as soon as we do, you crush our opinion. We all see the signs around town, but maybe the teachers and the BOE should be looking at the how many houses don’t have signs…Unfortunately only two scenarios exist…the first the contract is settled which means the BOE gave into the bullying tactics of our teachers and unions. The only benefit to us is our children won’t be punished anymore…The second scenario is the contract doesn’t get signed in which case we will be living through hell. The disrespect these teachers have shown the students and parents is unacceptable. The days of teacher appreciation are over.
On Tuesday, June 21—in less than 2 weeks—Ridgewood will hold a special election for a binding referendum (unlike the nonbinding referendum on the parking garage last November) on whether the Village should bond $11,500,000 for a parking garage on Hudson Street.
Bonding…and binding.
See below for important information on voting by mail.
What the ballot will say
You will be asked to answer yes or no to this question: Shall ordinance No. 3521 submitted by referendum petition providing for the Council of the Village of Ridgewood to issue $11,500,000 [in] bonds or notes to finance the cost of constructing the Hudson Street parking deck, be adopted?
What the ballot doesn’t reveal
The $11.5 million bond was linked from the start to garage design “D,” consisting of 4 stories with 5 parking levels. The southern wall would extend 5 feet beyond the existing parking lot, over the sidewalk and into Hudson Street. The narrower street would contain two lanes rather than the current three: one for parking across the street from the garage and one as a combination “thru lane” and turning lane into the garage.
If the referendum passes
One might think that with a binding referendum coming up, garage-related activity would be “on hold”—but no. In their zeal to make this project happen and to fulfill promises made, the outgoing council “majority” of Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck, aided by Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, are actively pursuing completion.
Their goal is to sign a contract just before leaving office, committing the Village to Design D and letting the new council cope with the fallout.
Progress toward a construction contract is well under way. A consultancy firm was recently hired to confirm cost estimates by the architectural firm that created Design D and to engage in preconstruction preparations. If the referendum passes, that same consultancy firm will go out to bid immediately. Legal advice has been sought at taxpayer expense as well. Yet a “no” vote on theJune 21 referendum would nullify all this. How’s that for fiscal responsibility?
If, as the “council majority” continues to insist, the bond is not tied to any design, why is a firm being paid $20,000 to work further on Design D, only weeks before the result of a binding referendum could stop the project in its tracks?
In addition, rumor has it that the contract would carry prohibitively steep penalties for making any changes (change orders), further tying the new council’s hands while committing the Village to this massive edifice permanently.
Residents who want a garage, please note: the three incoming and two continuing council members are not opposed in principle to building a parking garage, including on Hudson Street. All, however, acknowledge that the designs proposed to date are too big. They’d appreciate a chance to think smaller and to try lower-cost, less-disruptive ways to enhance downtown parking. They do “get it,” and they want to do something. But not this.
On May 10, voters made a clear statement of trust for the incoming council. The three new council members won in every district. A “no” vote on the referendum would allow them and their two continuing council member colleagues to do their job unshackled by “deals” of the past.
How to vote
If you want the new council to be given the chance to try comprehensive, achievable parking solutions designed to benefit commuters, residents, and the entire Central Business District, voteNo to the referendum.
If you approve of the amount of the bonding, have no problem with under-the-radar deals, and are willing to let garage design “D” rise noisily in the mist, you may wish to vote Yes—with the understanding that the three council members who have pushed so hard for this project will be out of office on July 1, leaving the new council members—and us, the taxpaying residents— holding the bag. A very big bag.
It may be of interest that Rev. Msgr. Ronald J. Rozniak, P.A. (Father Ron), Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (down the street from the proposed garage), stated flatly in the church’s June 5 weekly bulletin: “the parish will never endorse the [currently proposed parking] deck.” (Full statement at https://www.olmcridgewood.com/images/pdf/bulletin.pdf.) The church’s traffic consultant, he continued, considers the planned reversal of direction of Passaic and Hudson Street traffic unnecessary.
Why that reversal? Because behind the scenes, an agreement with special interests was made to reroute the traffic.
The traffic-direction-reversal plan can be reversed. But the enormous structure that has been dubbed GarageZilla and GarageMahal, once built, would loom over us for a very long time, as would paying for it.
Please ignore whatever means may be used over the next two weeks to entice or confuse voters into approving the $11.5 million bond (and, unspoken, Design D) on June 21. Let’s recall the acres of “Vote yes for parking” signs that littered the landscape before last November’s referendum, when it was known but not divulged that all the garage designs under consideration at that time would have occupied a significantly larger chunk of Hudson Street than Design D. Many whovoted “yes” later wished they hadn’t. What else don’t we know?
Developers and others are desperate to build this thing. The lame-duck council members pushing for it would not be accountable for it.
Let’s JUST SAY NO.
Consider voting by mail
If you can’t vote in person on Tuesday, June 21, or if it would be inconvenient, consider voting by mail.
June 21 is the day after RHS graduation. Ridgewood schools will have closed for the summer. Many residents will be on vacation already or busily planning trips. You don’t even need a reason to vote by mail; if it appeals to you, do it.
If you or your teenage children (age 18+ by June 21) who are registered voters wish to have a say in what happens with this enormous and precedent-setting downtown project, but may be out of town or otherwise occupied or preoccupied and might not vote that day…you can vote by mail (now called Vote by Mail Ballot, no longer Absentee Ballot), if you start soon.
There are two steps: applying for a ballot and receiving it, then completing the ballot and mailing it in.
Or pick up a copy at the Village Clerk’s office during Village Hall business hours (8:30 am–4:30 pm, Monday–Friday). Or call and ask to have one mailed to you: 201-670-5500 ext. 201.
Indicate which election: Where you are asked in which election you wish to vote by mail, check “Special.” Where you’re asked to specify, write: Referendum. For the date, write June 21, 2016 (or 6/21/2016). (We have done this in the application form provided above.)
Your name: For your vote to be counted, you must write and sign your name precisely as it appears in the voting records. If you aren’t sure about a middle initial, spelling, or other item, you can check. Go to: njelections.org or voter.njsvrs.com. Click on “Am I registered?” and follow the simple instructions.
Remainder of form: Fill in your address, the date, etc. Fold, seal, and apply first-class postage (one 47-cent or Forever stamp).
If you mail the application form, the county clerk in Hackensack must receive it at least 7 days before the election (that is, by Tuesday, June 14). Therefore, it’s best to send the form promptly.
You may also submit the application in person at any time up to 3 PM on the day before the election (that is, by 3 PM on June 20).
If you mail the application, in due course you will receive a ballot for the election requested. On the ballot, check the desired box (Yes or No) and mail the form. A return envelope will be provided, but you must use your own first-class stamp (again, 47 cents or Forever). (Ballots for future elections may require more postage, depending on weight.)
Vote-by-mail ballots must arrive in Hackensack before the closing of the polls on election day (June 21). Mail early—at least five days before.
Once you have applied for a Vote by Mail ballot, you must vote that way.
If you have questions about obtaining or using a Vote by Mail ballot, you may call the League of Women Voters of New Jersey at 1-800-792-VOTE.
Dads Night Band concert at Graydon: Sunday, June 12, 3–6pmLifelong Graydon member and longtime Preserve Graydon Coalition supporter Pete Diamond proudly reports that the Somerville–Hawes Dads Night Band will play the first show in Graydon‘s all-new SummerConcert Series on Sunday, June 12, at 3pm.
Free to Graydon badge holders; $10 for others. Some of the proceeds will support the DadsNight Scholarship Committee.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Officer Peter Tuchol, Jr. and a New York Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) Railroad employee who did not wish to be identified survey a downed tree in the rear of 334 Lakeview Drive, Ridgewood that stopped freight train traffic on the NYS&W’s main line between Ridgefield Park, NJ and Binghampton, NY. The tree fell at approximately 12 noon on Tuesday, 06/07, according to a nearby resident. A railroad crew was expected to clear the blockage late in the afternoon.
