Examining New Jersey’s Highest in Nation Highway Costs
SATURDAY, 07 MARCH 2015 12:36
BY BRAD SCHNURE
SPECIAL TO NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
In response to concerns that New Jersey highways are the nation’s most expensive to build, operate and maintain, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) hasdrafted legislation that will give policymakers the information they need to lower costs for drivers and taxpayers.
As Doherty expressed in a recent editorial, the new measure addresses the dual concerns of excessive state highway costs highlighted in a recent report by the Reason Foundation and calls by some legislators to raise the state’s gas tax to fund new transportation projects.
“Some may quibble over how much more New Jersey spends on our highways than other states, but nobody disputes that we do spend more than everyone else,” said Doherty. “With New Jersey drivers already shouldering such a heavy tax and toll burden, it’s imperative that we find out why the many millions we spend on our roads get us so little in return.”
According to the Reason Foundation’s 21st Annual Highway Report, New Jersey’s overall highway performance ranked 48th among the states despite our roads being the nation’s most expensive. The next most expensive state, Massachusetts, was found to spend two-thirds less per mile than New Jersey despite similarities in population density, climate and highway system size.
Doherty’s legislation would create the “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force” to conduct a methodical analysis of the factors that contribute to New Jersey’s road costs, compare our costs to those of other states, and provide recommendations to complete projects more cost-effectively.
FEBRUARY 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Whether you like it or not, PARCC testing is coming to Ridgewood. The new state-mandated assessment exams are slated for administration for the first time on March 2.
Ridgewood NJ, Since the Ridgewood blog had come up more than once in the last few civility meetings Mayor Aronsohn and Jan Philips reached out to us for an invite so we updated our Last Will and Testaments and graciously accepted .The meetings of the Civility Round Table are held on Tuesday’s, once a month at 7:30 PM in the Ridgewood Village Hall Senior’s Lounge. Residents are encouraged to attend .
The meeting started promptly at 7:30 and was to my mind well attended given the time of the year . Jan Phelps hosted the meeting , with Mayor Aronsohn and Councilwomen Hauck . Everyone introduced themselves representing various groups and organizations in the Village , from the BOE , the Planing Board , the Ridgewood Library ,several local clergy , the HSA’s , RBSA and may other fine organizations that serve Ridgewood as well as a few residents . The purpose as stated by the Mayor is to create a more civil discourse in the Village .
Civility is about more than just politeness, although politeness is a necessary first step. It is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, listening past one’s preconceptions, and teaching others to do the same. Civility is the hard work of staying present even with those with whom we have deep-rooted and fierce disagreements. It is political in the sense that it is a necessary prerequisite for civic action. But it is political, too, in the sense that it is about negotiating interpersonal power such that everyone’s voice is heard, and nobody’s is ignored. https://www.instituteforcivility.org/who-we-are/what-is-civility/
The group seemed to agree that Ridgewood is a town where people like to excel , and that drive and those expectations create a very passionate , as you can see from blog comments and opinionated populace . People care about their community and thats a good thing , but many felt that sometimes we all go a bit to far .
We looked at the causes of incivility , the when and why .Sheila Brogan long time BOE member , felt that todays parents had a lot of additional pressure and worried that in todays world their kids would have a hard time doing as well as they have done . She went on to speak about the changing times and how one could expect to have several careers over a life time ,all this she though made being a parent a lot harder than it was in the past and a lot more pressure .
We managed to go till 8:08 be for someone mentioned the elephant in the room, “I want to talk about the blog”…….
I learned a lot , mostly that I am glad I can sit in my PJ’s drinking coffee writing a blog getting yelled at by anonymous commenters ,and don’t have a tuff job like the RBSA people who are pulled in many directions ,by so many demands all at once .
There were interestingly a surprising large amount of blog enthusiasts there some open and some secret admirers .
While I could see there were some sore spots , like turf fields , PSEG ,sports issues , Valley Hospital , the Village Hall renovation and alas Marty Brooks the daggers were lowered for the night .
While anonymity of blog posters took a hit as expected some pointed out that even on facebook were you know who everyone is the comments can be even nastier . A resident put it down to a type of “keyboard bravado.”
PJ’s Rules
1) Stick to issues don’t make it personal
2) Don’t take anything personal
M. Forni’s 25 Rules:The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct
1. Pay attention
2. Acknowledge others
3. Think the best
4. Listen
5. Be inclusive
6. Speak kindly
7. Don’t speak ill
8. Accept and give praise
9. Respect even a subtle “no”
10. Respect others’ opinions
11. Mind your body
12. Be agreeable
13. Keep it down (and rediscover silence)
14. Respect other people’s time
15. Respect other people’s space
16. Apologize earnestly and thoughtfully
17. Assert yourself
18. Avoid personal questions
19. Care for your guests
20. Be a considerate guest
21. Think twice before asking for favors
22. Refrain from idle complaints
23. Give constructive criticism
24. Respect the environment and be gentle to animals
December 12, 2014 Last updated: Friday, December 12, 2014, 12:31 AM
The Ridgewood News
Jack Lorenz
As flags flew at half-staff last week, the community remembered the side-by-side relationship it shared with Jack Lorenz, who for years was entrusted with the education of perhaps Ridgewood’s most impressionable citizens.
Written and spoken tributes to Lorenz, 69, who served as Ridgewood High School principal from 2006 to 2011, quickly emerged soon after the brief details of his passing surfaced during the latter half of this past Thanksgiving weekend.
Scott with Old Tappan resident Soyoung Park, the winner of the 2014 Congressional Art Competition
Rep Scott Garrett Statement on Obama’s Unconstitutional Amnesty
Nov 20, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), founder and Chairman of the Congressional Constitution Caucus, issued the following statement after President Obama announced that he would violate his oath to uphold the Constitution and grant approximately 5 million illegal immigrants work permits:
“After repeated admissions that the Constitution precludes him from granting amnesty, President Obama has chosen to cast aside his oath to uphold the supreme law of the land and is going to grant amnesty anyway. The president’s frustration with Congress, as the Washington Post’s editorial board noted, ‘doesn’t grant the president license to tear up the Constitution.’ No provision of the Constitution grants the president the power to change the law simply because the president disagrees with Congress. This sets a fatal precedent – is there no longer any limit to a president’s power?
“Today, President Obama has also turned his back on American workers and law-abiding immigrants. At a time when American workers are desperate for jobs, the president has decided to unfairly reward those who have blatantly broken the law with blanket amnesty and work permits, allowing them to directly compete with American workers for jobs that are hard to find already. I am committed to undoing the damage this unconstitutional action will have on our republic.”
BACKGROUND: As the New York Times’ Michael Shear pointed out, President Obama has already explained why he cannot do this:
In a Telemundo interview in September 2013, Mr. Obama said he was proud of having protected the “Dreamers” — people who came to the United States illegally as young children — from deportation. But he also said that he could not apply that same action to other groups of people.
“If we start broadening that, then essentially I’ll be ignoring the law in a way that I think would be very difficult to defend legally,” Mr. Obama told Jose Diaz-Balart in the interview. “So that’s not an option.”
During a news conference in Australia, he said that his earlier answers about the limits of his executive authority were prompted by people who asked him whether he could enact, by fiat, a bipartisan immigration bill that had passed the Senate, which would have provided a path to legalization for more of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants here.
“Getting a comprehensive deal of the sort that is in the Senate legislation, for example, does extend beyond my legal authorities,” Mr. Obama said Sunday. “There are certain things I cannot do.”
The president was pressed on that very issue during a Google Hangout in February 2013. An activist asked whether he could do more to keep families from being “broken apart” while Congress remained gridlocked on immigration legislation.
“This is something that I have struggled with throughout my presidency,” Mr. Obama said. “The problem is, is that I’m the president of the United States, I’m not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed.”
Sandy Aid from the Timeline of the Ridgewood blog a Quick Refresher coarse
Since the NJ Media has for so long ignored Scott Garrett we though we would fill in the gaps debunk the myths starting with our own editorial
Seems Roy Cho has joined the choirs of the Sandy Scammers
Sandy Aid should go to Victims and not Special interests
Sandy Aid should go to Victims and not Special interests
January 8, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, No opportunity squandered . With help of the local media NJ politicians have waged a carefully orchestrated plot to capture as much cash as possible form the federal government in the form of Hurricane Sandy Aid. Sandy Aid is viewed as a treasure chest of goodie for politicians to hand out to their favorite sponsors .
Sounding almost jealous on Monday New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said that Gov. Chris Christie might have “prayed” for Superstorm Sandy, because it has provided cover for what Sweeney said are the governor’s failed economic policies.
And after all failed policies over the last 3 decades have left New Jersey with little more than hope for handouts to get this economic basket case of an economy going . The New Jersey legislator with help from their colleagues in the media recently wasted over 3 months pushing a bill that would have forced dogs to wear seat belts while New Jersey suffered the worst recession since the 1930′s.
We are told the New Jersey’s economic growth in 2013 hinges to an unprecedented extent on what the federal government does — or doesn’t — do. It isn’t just a question of whether Congress eventually authorizes the full $60 billion in Hurricane Sandy relief, economists and tax experts agree . ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/Sandy_recovery_is_top_priority_for_Christie.html )
No wounder Governor Christie after what seemed like a romantic walk on the beach with President Obama has nothing but hostility for house Republicans who had the nerve to assume that Hurricane Sandy Aid should actually only go to the victims of the hurricane .
We are told that Sandy recovery is top priority for Christie, once again referring to the “need to get miles of debilitated boardwalk repaired. Thousands of devastated homes and shuttered businesses reopened. Destroyed bridges, highways, pipelines, rail cars and even amusement parks replaced.” (https://www.northjersey.com/news/Sandy_recovery_is_top_priority_for_Christie.html ) I am wondering if Christie can explain why having $154 million in the hurricane-relief fund for Alaskan fisheries? or how $2 million for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC to nake just a few is going to help rebuild the boardwalk in Seaside Heights ?
Why Christie is fighting with Congress and his own party to help pay for it supported by New Jersey ‘s media like the Ledger’s Tom Moran who published a scathing column today on Republican Congressman Scott Garrett, who cast the lone vote in the New Jersey delegation against the fiscal cliff compromise ,that raised taxes on almost everyone in New Jersey .
Congressman Scott Garrett is seen as the prime obstacle for lobbyist want to get there hands on your money. (https://addins.njherald.com/blogs/insidepolitics/2013/01/star-ledger-columnist-hammers-scott-garrett ) .
Moran seems to be in favor of the rumored back room deal between Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn and NJ Legislature Kevin O’Tool to oust Garrett and bring home the beacon by forcing a primary challenge .
Clearly the victims of Sandy have not gotten their money because the priority has been given to lobbyist who politicians deal with everyday and not to voters who most politicians only deal with once every four years.
Rep. Scott Garrett calls new Hudson River train tunnel vital
OCTOBER 23, 2014, 11:35 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014, 11:42 PM BY HERB JACKSON WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT | THE RECORD
Rep. Scott Garrett said Thursday that a new train tunnel should be built under the Hudson River “sooner rather than later” because the potential closing of one or both of the existing tunnels owned by Amtrak “would be a nightmare.”
But Garrett, in a meeting with the editorial board of The Record, said leaders in New Jersey and New York should reach an agreement first on what share of the cost they would bear if they want Washington to become involved.
Habernickel horse barn renovation scrapped for now – prefab building maybe October 22,2014 Boyd A. Loving 12:45 AM
Ridgewood NJ, Based on the recommendation of Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Council members have seemingly nixed plans to undertake an expensive renovation of the Irene Habernickel Family Park’s horse barn. The renovation project was being considered to satisfy a need for permanent restrooms and shelter from inclement weather at the expansive park located on Hillcrest Road.
Sonenfeld suggested that a prefabricated restroom may be a less expensive alternative, with preliminary estimates in the $60K – $90K price range. A $60K grant may help offset costs.
Many of you may remember that the restroom project at Vets Field wound up costing taxpayers almost $400K, and those commodes were constructed in an existing building.
Overnight Milling Project at Garber Square October 21,2104 Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood NJ, Garber Square, Ridgewood was closed in both directions (eastbound and westbound) to all vehicular traffic from 2000 hours on Monday, 10/20/2014, through 0600 hours on Tuesday, 10/21/2014 to allow for milling of the road surface in preparation for paving. This work was performed in connection with a major streetscape project approved by the Ridgewood Village Council. In addition to paving, the project will include the addition of bike lanes in both directions, the reduction of traffic lanes from two lanes to one lane, and a median island.
Ridgewood News editorial: Parking plan needs more input
OCTOBER 10, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014, 12:31 AM THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS Print
Officials took notice of public outcries over the Garber Square project this summer and PSE&G’s utility pole installation in 2013, and they learned that everyone should have a say when an impactful undertaking moves toward the horizon.
Ridgewood’s Valley Hospital sues over rejection of expansion project
OCTOBER 3, 2014, 11:53 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014, 11:56 PM BY MARY JO LAYTON STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
The Valley Hospital filed suit Friday against the Ridgewood Planning Board for rejecting its proposal to nearly double in size, arguing the board illegally sided with neighborhood opponents rather than permitting an upgrade for “an inherently beneficial regional hospital.”
For Valley, the lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in Hackensack is an attempt to end a protracted and costly stalemate with the village — its expansion plans have been defeated two times in the last four years.
Ridgewood News editorial: We need more Charlottes and the Ridgewood blog Agrees
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014, 12:31 AM THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Soon after she received accolades from the Ridgewood Board of Education this week, Charlotte Samuels, the 16-year-old world-record swimmer, made an admission: She’s already thinking about conquering the Ocean’s Seven. For those unfamiliar with the feat, which has been accomplished by only six people, it consists of open-water swims through channels from each of the seven continents.
Parking Meter Scandal : he could not have acted alone
Readers continue to speculate on parking meter security issues and continue to come up with one resounding conclusion ,he could not have acted alone .
Even a $41 million renovation of the Ridgewood Train station did not change the out dated parking meter system .
While ,Village officials said a forensic accounting firm has been retained to examine how a former employee managed to steal $460,000 in quarters from parking meters.
Although I’m not convinced that all meters would need to be replaced in order to implement a closed container/collection system, I’ll give the Village Manager the benefit of the doubt.
But, at a minimum, they should deep six those open white paint buckets/pickle containers and have all collectors use the carts depicted here:
https://www.pom.com/collectionsystems.htm
Continuing to use those buckets is a huge security risk, for the individual collecting monies (holdup/robbery) and for taxpayers (shrinkage).
It is actually very funny that we can’t afford to secure the Villages’s cash. I’m sure there is a solution out there that costs less than $460,000.
They made a deal and I’m hoping the whole story will come out eventually. Who in the police dept. is/are being protected?
Yet again, taxpayers getting screwed to protect some mob/union crony(ies) in Village Hall and/or the PD. Put in smart meters like NYC and let people use credit cards… how are we doing on Tommy Boy’s restitution ? Is he paying us back every week? The guy is obviously a wise guy, and refused to rat out his minders in Village Hall.
AUGUST 15, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014, 12:31 AM
Few believed a pedestrian plaza in Times Square would work, let alone become a permanent fixture in the middle of New York City’s Crossroads of the World. Both happened
In 2008, the American Planning Association bestowed its Great Public Spaces honor to the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, Vt. There, pedestrians freely walk on store-lined Church Street in an outdoor mall setting.
