Ridgewood NJ, While we looked away village expenses are now up 181%. We also now have the largest municipal government in Bergen County . Our village manager has hired a director of finance, a director of human resources and there are other hirings of part-time employees to fill in positions. Our village manager has not only a secretary but a full-time assistant. Some of the other positions also have assistants. Things must be good. We should expect a major tax increase down the line.
MLS # 1535930
456 E Saddle River Rd, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath,
1 Half Bath, Ranch Thomas Panso, Sales Associate Keller Williams Valley Realty
With a year to go before the contract with the operators of Bergen Regional Medical Center expires, county officials are weighing several options for the institution. That decision will affect tens of thousands of patients, renew scrutiny of the for-profit company that runs the hospital, and affect regional health care for decades.
The 19-year contract between the company that runs the Paramus hospital, Bergen Regional Medical Center LP, and the Bergen County Improvement Authority, is set to expire in March 2017.
Lawmakers, several county officials and others say it’s time for a change.
Critics complain the agreement has shortchanged patients and taxpayers and allowed a for-profit company to skirt millions in repairs while reaping substantial profits from the county-owned hospital.
“This was never a good deal for the people of Bergen County,” said state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck.
There’s much more at stake than drafting a new agreement.
Experts say it’s essential to preserve Bergen Regional — a linchpin in New Jersey’s fragile mental health system as more psychiatric facilities close and other hospitals cut or eliminate unprofitable mental health units. The hospital’s services are needed more than ever for seniors, addicts and even children.
“Although it’s a county facility, Bergen Regional is crucial to the entire state mental health system,” said Phil Lubitz, associate director of the National Alliance on Mental Health of New Jersey.
In the next several months, county officials will consider fundamental questions: Should the hospital continue providing psychiatric, long-term and acute services? Is it wise to have a for-profit operator continue to manage the county’s facility? Are staffing and equipment adequate? Should Bergen County invest capital in a hospital that serves so many patients who don’t live in the county?
Ridgewood Nj, If you read the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce’s ad in TRN, one of the big bullet points is that the bond would not count against Ridgewood’s bond rating. This is horrible for several reasons: 1) It’s similar to a child using their parent’s credit card. That lets the child run up more credit on their own. 2) The BCIA has a position of power over the Village’s decisions 3) The bonding through the BCIA is a political nod to Aronsohn’s Democrat buddies for future personal political advancement. 4) The actual cost to own the building outright is significantly higher. This deal stinks to the high heavens. Mr. Vagianos, please go back to being a restaurateur and serve all the people – not just the ones who’ll build you a garage a block from your business.
Chamber of Commerce/Paul Vagianos begged the council to cooperate with each other and “do this in house”…see video of Council meeting Jan 27th…
Roberta dodging his questions of “will this be open to all Bergen County residents?”— the answer is YES, Roberta
Yes, Paul Aronsohn has been “working with the BCIA for 3 years” on this scheme-WHY? Yes, this will cost more than funding within the Village of Ridgewood Yes, parking meters in CBD will be extended until 9pm and increase to a triple the rate it is now Yes, Ridgewood residents will pay the same as out of town commuters Yes, this garage is for Bergen County, not for the people of Ridgewood who will pay dearly for it
Yes, the 3 amigos are shoving this thru as an end run around our municipal government. It is disgraceful and Ridgewood deserves so much better.
To sign the petition, go to https://www.no2bcia.com to find locations and people to sign with. Thank you!
The petition is to repeal ordinance No 3519, which allows the village to enter into a 25 year lease purchasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA)
Ridgewood NJ, the purpose of the garage from the very beginning seems to have been to build a commuter garage for NJT and Bergen County in Ridgewood ,moving to make the Village a transit hub
The Village of Ridgewood (the “Village”) is undertaking the construction of an $11.7M parking deck on Hudson Street (the “Project”). There are two ways the Village can finance this Project over a 25 year period. First, the Village can issue its own General Obligation Bonds (the “Village Bonds”). Second, the Village can finance the project through the Bergen County Improvement Authority (the “BCIA”), which would issue County of Bergen Guaranteed Lease Revenue Bonds (the “BCIA Bonds”). In either event, the Village will be responsible to pay 100% of the debt service on whichever bonds are issued. (https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/hudson/20160129BCIAFin.pdf )
the choice :
Transaction Costs: The model includes up-front fixed costs of issuance of $162,500 for the BCIA Bonds vs. $92,500 for the Village Bonds. These costs include typical municipal bond transaction fees such as bond counsel, financial advisor, auditor, credit rating agency, printing, etc. In addition, the analysis assumes the underwriter’s discount would be essentially the same under either scenario. The BCIA Bonds also include the upfront authority financing fee of 12.5 basis points (“bps”) of total par amount of BCIA Bonds, the annual authority administration fee of 5 bps based on the annual outstanding par amount of the BCIA Bonds and an annual trustee fee of $1,000. (https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/hudson/20160129BCIAFin.pdf )
as per usually the most expensive for Village Taxpayers is the best choice .
Going to the BCIA , once the money is approved, it tends to appear almost instantaneously, accruing interest long before the project can even get started. That is a significant reason to reconsider this plan or ploy and an excellent reason, if it does happen, not to ask for a cent more than is needed. But losing control over the way commuter spaces are priced is a huge problem and there are undoubtedly more.
There will be approximately 320 car garage. 4 levels. The mayor said in the last meeting that 2 levels may be dedicated to commuters. That’s about 160 cars for commuters. We currently already have one level, which is mostly used by Ridgewood commuters. Lets say the second level is used by Bergen County commuters at no extra money compared to Ridgewood commuters. So, 2 levels are either used by out of Ridgewood commuters or commuters who are already using this lot today without the garage.
With remaining 2 levels, we will get 160 new spot, presumably for non commuters. Cost – 12.3 million in new bond, 500K bond has been already spent + 450k already spent on environmental studies in 2014 & 2015 on this lot. = 13.25M.
That’s 82,800 for every new parking spot created for CBD. This assumes that the project will not go over the budget. With the way this council and village manager are spending the money, this is highly unlikely to stay in the budget.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
341 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016
…COASTAL LOW BRINGING SNOW TO REGION INTO THIS AFTERNOON…
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST
TODAY…
* LOCATIONS…NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY…THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY…AND
NEW YORK CITY.
* HAZARD TYPES…MODERATE SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.
* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE MID 30S.
* TIMING…RAIN AND SNOW WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW BY DAYBREAK. SNOW
WILL CONTINUES INTO EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO SNOW AND REDUCED
VISIBILITIES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
FEBRUARY 3, 2016, 4:58 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 7:57 AM
BY JOHN SEASLY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Six young men have been arrested in connection with a string of armed robberies of gas stations and convenience stores throughout Bergen County, the acting county prosecutor announced on Wednesday.
The robberies happened between March 2014 and January. In one of the holdups, a gunman shot a gas station attendant with a 9-millimeter handgun and two other robberies involved “brutal assaults,” said Gurbir Grewal, the acting Bergen County prosecutor.
The prosecutor’s Special Investigations Squad began looking into the robberies in April 2014. Between March and June of that year, a pattern began to emerge as six Delta Gas Stations in five towns were targeted.
In each case, a gunman asked the gas station attendant for change for a $20 or a $50 bill, and as the attendant counted the change, the gunman pulled out a handgun and demanded the money, Grewal said.
On May 12, 2014 in Teaneck, an assailant pistol-whipped an attendant. On June 9 that year in Ridgefield Park, the gunman shot the attendant in the chest with a 9-millimeter handgun, then reached into his pocket and took the money, Grewal said. The attendant underwent surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center and survived.
In November 2015, in a joint investigation of two Lodi robberies by local police and the Special Investigations Squad, police identified David Thomas Jr., 21, of Lodi, as the gunman responsible for the Lodi robberies as well as those throughout Bergen County in 2014, Grewal said.
JANUARY 31, 2016 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2016, 1:21 AM
BY ROBERT FELDBERG
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD
Tony-winning actor Robert Sean Leonard is experiencing not one, but two homecomings.
The more literal is his return from California – where he played Dr. James Wilson in eight seasons of “House” — to Ridgewood, where he was raised.
“My brother, who’s a cop in Ho-Ho-Kus, called about two years ago to tell me that he heard that this lovely old Victorian house near where we grew up was for sale. So I just called the owners, cold, and asked if they were thinking of moving,” Leonard said, with a brief look of mortification on his face as he recalled his audacity. “They said they weren’t, but I told them that if they ever did want to sell, to give me a call.”
A year ago they did, and last month Leonard, his wife Gabriella and their two daughters, Eleanor, 7, and Claudia, 3, moved in.
In the midst of unpacking boxes, though, Leonard was often absent, because of his other homecoming – his first role on the New York stage since returning from Los Angeles.
He’s appearing in “Prodigal Son,” which was written and is being directed by John Patrick Shanley, the author of “Doubt.” Now in previews, the drama opens Feb. 9 at the Manhattan Theatre Club’s off-Broadway space at the New York City Center.
With a kind of full-circle neatness, Leonard, whose breakout role was a prep-school student in the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society,” portrays a prep-school teacher in the play, which is based on Shanley’s own experience as a working-class Bronx boy attending a New England private school.
“I was told that Shanley was interested in me,” Leonard said. “I read the script and I liked it; it’s a very unique play, very surprising. Kind of like a ‘Twilight Zone’ episode.”
Leonard, who started out as a child actor, is known for his enthusiasm for stage acting, and he’s built an impressive list of Broadway successes.
He made his debut replacing Matthew Broderick in Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” and his subsequent plays have included “Arcadia,” “The Iceman Cometh,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and “The Invention of Love,” for which he won his Tony. During a break from “House,” he came to New York to do “Born Yesterday.”
Many of the plays he’s done, on Broadway and elsewhere, are revivals of classics, which, he said, made “Prodigal Son” a different kind of challenge.
“Working with an author who’s breathing is an unusual experience for me,” he said,
At 46, Leonard still has an enormously engaging boy-next-door quality. He’s unstintingly praising of other actors, enthusiastic, good-humored and unassuming — he kept apologizing for being late for our interview at the theater (he hadn’t seen the message moving the start time up a half-hour), and he good-naturedly posed for a photographer right after walking in, without even a glance at a mirror.
Ruptured Gas Main Closes Route 4 in both Directions
January 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, A construction company performing work on Route 4 westbound under Forest Avenue in Paramus accidentally struck and ruptured a 6 inch high pressure natural gas main shortly before 1 AM on Saturday, 01/30 causing the complete closure of Route 4 in both directions near the incident site.
As of 2 AM on Saturday, PSE&G supervisors on the scene anticipated the leak would not be stopped and repaired until at least 5 AM or 6 AM on Saturday. Paramus PD, FD, and Rescue Squad personnel are all on the scene. Traffic control assistance is being provided by numerous Bergen County law enforcement agencies along with NJDOT personnel. No incident related injuries have thus far been reported.
The Council Majority ie 3 amigos have decided that although the proposed bond was not approved by the super majority that they would do an end run and get the money from the BCIA.
Worse than the extra fees involved in getting money from these outside place (and no way is this extra cost netting out to $2,200) is the fact that Ridgewood will lose control and be forced to open up the garage to outside commuters.
Faulty and incomplete analysis on BCIA bond. Even if the Council assumptions are correct on the bond fees being offset by lower rate (BIG if), you complete disregard the lost revenue by going through the BCIA. Ridgewood would lose out on the additional $750/pass per year ($750 residents – $1500 non-residents). Even if you only assume that 10 out of town cars use the garage for commuting we lose out on $187,500 over the life of the bond. We take the risk, the BCIA gets the reward – foolish.
While I’m all for helping our neighboring towns, Ridgewood commuters must come first. If we have unused commuter spaces fine let others park here. Bergen County as well and NJ transit has it’s own agenda and that agenda isn’t in the best interest of Ridgewood. It is a major mistake to take any money from these outside agencies
Assemblyman Joe Lagana (D-38) is making reform to New Jersey’s inheritance and estate taxes a priority for his second term in office. The Democrat has introduced a bill, A611, that would boost the current threshold for the estate tax from where it currently sits at $675,000 to $1.5 million. His plan also includes limiting the inheritance tax from impacting next-of-kin family members of a deceased person and shifting class c and class d beneficiary classifications. Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNjRead more
Ridgewood NJ , Ridgewood Police and the Ridgewood Board of Ed took proactive measures Tuesday after Police in nine North Jersey towns received bomb threats on Monday evening and on Tuesday morning, disrupting the school day for thousands of local students . Schools in Bergenfield, Clifton, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Garfield, Hackensack, Leonia, Teaneck, and Tenafly received the threats. Some school systems instituted lockdowns while others evacuated. While threats turned out to be a false alarm Ridgewood Police and BOE rightfully took no chances .
We have received several inquiries today concerning threats to area schools today. Approximately 9 schools throughout Bergen and Passaic Counties received threats and have taken appropriate measures to address their specific needs. Although our schools have not received any threats, the Ridgewood Board of Education and the Ridgewood Police upon hearing of the regional issues, took proactive measures, conducting school security checks of all schools. This proactive approach is part of our ongoing efforts with Dr. Fishbein and the Board of Education towards enhancing the safety of our schools and community.
