Ridewood NJ, Reader posts , “Paul Aronsohn – the same Paul Aronsohn that contacted one of my clients and tried to convince him not to stop using my services. All because I do not support Mr. Aronsohn’s policies. I ask you, what gives Mr. Aronsohn the right to interfere with my business operations? The answer is, he has no right to do so but he thinks because he is the mayor of Ridgewood and I’m a resident of Ridgewood, he can get into my personal business. Time to contact an attorney about Mr. Aronsohn’s big mouth.”
We have heard this story all to often , most are familiar with the attempt to derail Mike Sendon’s campaign with a despicable and cowardly email to his employer . And most are keenly aware that this was a third rate low life attempt to disenfranchise Ridgewood voters .
Advertises on this blog have been attacked and subtly threatened , fake blogs have been set up by local failures to attack this blog the list goes on and on.Playing favorites may not be a crime but it is terrible governance. Bringing Hudson County politics into Ridgewood is lowering the entire standing of this town and its residents . The bad news for the purveyors of this garbage is that this isn’t Hudson County and its never going to be . Elections come and go but Ridgewood will always be Ridgewood .
After an event that drew the likes of Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, gubernatorial hopeful Phil Murphy and state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-36), members of the Bergen PBA descended on the streets of Bergen County to make a final plea to voters to get out there and vote for Democrats. Alyana Alfaro, PolitickerNJ Read more
Democrats win their largest N.J. Assembly majority in 36 years
Democrats tightened their control of the state Assembly in Tuesday’s elections, wresting at least three seats away from a Republican party ruled by Gov. Chris Christie, a presidential candidate whose popularity has dropped at home. Brent Johnson, NJ.com Read more
Ridgewood NJ , “So am I to infer from your email that you are the one in charge of what does and does not get posted on the VOR website; is this correct? And, if so, is it within your purview to directly disregard the request of one of our elected officials regarding a posting on the VOR website?” Resident Anne LaGrange Loving .
This is a good question proposed by the Village manager , does she work for the town , the Bergen Democrats or does she work for the mayor? Can a Village Manager so openly disregard a request from a council person ? Whats the harm in pointed out an issue to the public?
Does this implies once again the Village government has no credibility with its residents ? Do people not understand after one fiasco after the other , the Village Hall, Valley Expansion, the golden toilets , firehouse in a flood zone , turf in a flood zone , traffic easement , Graydon ramp and the hits just keep coming .
Until we get a little more truth in government these controversy’s will continue to hurt the village , the merchants and the taxpayers .
Ridgewood News Letter: Be informed before you vote
October 30, 2015
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
To the editor:
Last Friday, readers of this newspaper may have been surprised to read a letter to the editor (“HPC supports parking garage”) from the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission stating that the HPC had endorsed a plan for a Hudson Street parking garage. Their instincts were correct: it’s not true.
In the letter, Vincent Parrillo asserted that the HPC “supports approval of the parking garage and encourages all residents to vote ‘yes’ for the Nov. 3 referendum.” Not so; in fact, Mr. Parrillo introduced the Oct. 8 HPC meeting (not Oct. 15, as the letter stated) as a “courtesy review” of garage drawings, stating the HPC does not vote on such approvals. I was there as council liaison.
The architectural firm selected by the council to prepare drawings showed components of a proposed design to HPC members, who asked questions and made suggestions. The meeting was entirely informational. HPC members did not approve the garage. At no time did the Village HPC discuss approval.
The letter, on official letterhead, has since been posted on the Village website. It was also published by The Ridgewood News in print and online. It’s been highlighted in the mayor’s communications, signed and sent by him through his personal email account, pressing voters to approve the garage.
Obtaining voter approval is the only reason for next Tuesday’s nonbinding referendum. Voters should therefore consider the following.
The proposed garage would occupy the entire 100-by-300-foot corner of Hudson Street, becoming the largest building in the Central Business District. At 50 to 66 feet high, it would tower over adjacent 25-foot buildings, meeting or exceeding the height of proposed multifamily housing that has been publicly repudiated as out of place in our historic downtown.
All existing on-street parking on Hudson would be eliminated, as would some spaces on South Broad. Traffic patterns on Hudson and nearby roads would be reversed. The garage would be cantilevered over 300 feet of the Hudson Street sidewalk with an additional two feet extending over the street. An additional 300-plus vehicles will be added to the already congested intersection.
To subsidize the project, the Village would increase meter rates throughout town and extend meter hours to 9 p.m. where they now end at 6 p.m. If Parking Utility revenues fell short, Ridgewood taxpayers would be held responsible for the bond and be sole guarantors of the principal and interest.
Voting “yes” would mean: “We 26,000 residents agree to pay lots more for parking, $15 million for a garage plus likely cost overruns, and maintenance and repairs forever.”
Voters harboring doubts about the wisdom of this project should consider carefully how they vote on Nov. 3. This is not a vote “for parking” but a choice about the height and mass of the proposed structure and whether Ridgewood taxpayers accept responsibility for being sole guarantors of a $15 million bond.
John Mitchell with Fair Lawn Council Candidates John Gil and Marc Zharnest with my Freeholder running mate Daisy Ortiz-Berger and Fair Lawn Mayor John Cosgrove. — withJohn Gil, Daisy Ortiz Berger and John Cosgrove at NJ TRANSIT-Radburn.
By Paul Nichols
Thursday, Oct 29, 2015
Republican candidates for Bergen County Freeholder John Mitchell, Ken Tyburczy, and Daisy Ortiz-Berger launched a campaign video debunking Democrat’s claims of millions in savings and tax cuts.
Last month Democrats aired a commercialfeaturing Freeholder Chairwoman Joan Voss in a make-believe classroom. Voss credits candidates Tanelli, Zur and Sullivan with $200 million in savings by consolidating Bergen County’s law enforcement. The spot also says the candidates created a budget with “no tax increase” and cut “$8 million” in spending.
It is apparent that the classroom Joan Voss was filmed in was not a math class.
GOP Assembly candidate whose ex-running mate wrote ‘raunchy’ book reportedly was charged in 2001 incident
OCTOBER 23, 2015, 7:20 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015, 11:14 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The already bizarre contest for a pair of state Assembly seats in Legislative District 38 took another strange twist Friday when a report surfaced that one of the two Republican candidates was charged with “attempting to cause bodily harm,” in a 2001 incident in Ocean Township.
The website PolitickerNJ reported that Mark DiPisa initially was arrested on charges of criminal mischief with damages, attempt to cause bodily harm and disorderly conduct in an Aug. 27, 2001 incident when he was a student at Monmouth University.
DiPisa shares the ballot with — but has distanced himself from — Anthony Cappola whose candidacy has been the focus of controversy over a book he wrote in 2003 that contained insults and stereotypes about African-Americans, gays, seniors, Asians and other groups.
Ridgewood NJ, Freeholder and Assembly races heat up while the Republican team is out listening to the public the Democrat Majority is out name calling.
FACT : In the last 13 years taxes have been raised 115 times by nj state legislators. Yet career politicians like Tim Eustace and Joe Lagana believe that they are doing a good job. Are you kidding me? On November 3rd it’s time to make a change. The old way just doesn’t work. Lets get rid of these two career politicians and bring an outsider in to hold the democratic led Assembly accountable and improve transparency. On November 3rd elect Mark DiPisa for Assembly along with your Bergen County Freeholder candidates John Mitchell Daisy Ortiz Berger and Ken Tyburczy along with the rest of Column one. They will work to reduce taxes bring jobs back to New Jersey and eliminate wasteful spending.
How do you learn what would be best to spur business growth and create good paying private sector jobs in Bergen County?…
…You meet with business people that are in the trenches. My Freeholder running mates and I took advantage of this opportunity at an event set up by my buddy and fellow Rotarian, Matt Libien. Thanks so much Matt! — with Norma Wellington, Del McLennonand Sabra Waxman at Solaia Restaurant.
“I truly wish that the Bergen Dems came up with an innovative bag of tricks rather than pulling out the same old, tired ones that they use time and again. Here’s the real deal. Zur is in trouble, so they’re attempting to muddy up John. It is imperative that we (all) stand firmly behind John Mitchell and help him return to the Bergen County Freeholder Board. I will be voting for him on November 3rd.” Dierdre Paul
Bergen Dems Claim GOP Freeholder Candidate ‘Turned Back on Taxpayers’
By Alyana Alfaro | 10/09/15 4:34pm
A statement released by Bergen County democratic freeholders Tracy Zur, Steve Tanelli and Tom Sullivan alleges that former freeholder and current Republican candidate John Mitchell “turned his back on taxpayers” when he was serving on the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The group claims that Mitchell “did not want to get involved” in an April 2012 action by then County Executive Kathleen Donovan to cut benefits and pensions from part-time commissioners of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority.
The Democrats’ statement alleges that “Mitchell’s unwillingness to take action set off a costly legal process that began with Donovan’s firing of commissioners two weeks later.” It also claims that “it is difficult to imagine that John Mitchell would have experienced such reluctance had he not been trying to protect some of his political buddies.
The whole point of meeting a source at a bar is to get him (or her) in as relaxed a mood as possible in order to talk.
Midway into the conversation the source began slurring his words, eyes fixed on the empty beer bottle in front of him on the bar top. The dead, almost cross-eyed look in his eyes with a hint of curiosity for the unknown, suggested that the empty bottle might as well have been a lacquered Buddha statue on sale in Chinatown for $5.99.
Another payment alleged for Democrat Party Boss Ferriero
MARCH 27, 2015, 1:17 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015, 11:58 PM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
A federal prosecutor on Friday alleged that Joseph A. Ferriero, the former Bergen County Democratic chief, was paid more than $100,000 by a criminal defense attorney after a Teaneck dermatologist was approved for a program that allowed him to sidestep prosecution on charges of groping female patients.
The money was in addition to the $100,000 federal authorities previously said Ferriero received from a Teaneck law firm that represented the doctor, Gangaram Ragi, in his successful attempt to retain his medical license.
Ferriero, on trial in federal court in Newark, is accused of using his influence as party chairman in a series of kickback, bribery and extortion schemes. The prosecution has rested, and the defense has begun calling witnesses.
After the jury was excused on Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig told the judge that the government has a right to bring up instances — not included in the indictment, such as the alleged payments — in which Ferriero allegedly used his political influence for profit.
Ferriero racketeering trial: Wood-Ridge Mayor Paul Sarlo testifies
March 20, 2015, 12:48 PM Last updated: Friday, March 20, 2015, 9:39 PM
By JOHN BRENNAN and and JOHN C. ENSSLIN
Staff Writers |
The Record
The federal racketeering trial of former Bergen County Democratic leader Joseph A. Ferriero took a dramatic turn Friday when state Sen. Paul Sarlo, one of the most powerful Democratic lawmakers in North Jersey, testified that Ferriero “pushed hard” to persuade Wood-Ridge officials to hire a software company without disclosing that he stood to profit from the deal.
Sarlo, who is also the mayor of Wood-Ridge, said the town’s decision in 2007 not to hire the company, called C3, led to a confrontation during a political golf outing the next year.
“I don’t think they were happy with my response — it got tense,” Sarlo said of Ferriero and John Carrino, the owner of C3, a Nutley-based firm that helped towns with municipal websites and reverse 911 systems.
Once voices were raised, Sarlo said, his chief of staff, Chris Eilert, “intervened to make sure it didn’t go any further” by guiding Sarlo away from the other two men.
Sarlo’s testimony came in U.S. District Court in Newark, where Ferriero, 57, of Hackensack, is on trial on charges of using his position as party chairman in a series of extortion, bribery and kickback schemes. He has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and has accused the prosecutors of unfairly targeting him.
March 12, 2015, 5:53 PM Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 10:50 AM
By Peter J. Sampson
staff writer |
The Record
Teaneck lawyer M. Robert DeCotiis testified on Thursday that he “took it as a threat” when one of Joseph A. Ferriero’s law partners said that Hartz Mountain Industries wanted to hire Ferriero’s firm to go “scorched earth” against the Mills Corp., the DeCotiis firm’s biggest client.
DeCotiis took the stand on Thursday as a prosecution witness testifying under a grant of immunity in the federal racketeering trial of Ferriero, a former Bergen County Democratic leader.
As Bergen County’s powerful Democratic Party chairman in 2002, Ferriero was in a position to sabotage Mills’ billion-dollar shopping and entertainment center, then known as Xanadu, by going to work for the rival company, DeCotiis said.
At the time, Mills, a Virginia-based mall developer, was competing against Hartz Mountain for the right to develop state land at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.
Developer says Ferriero wasn’t the only consultant paid through Teaneck law firm
MARCH 11, 2015, 7:03 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015, 9:56 PM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Former Bergen County Democratic leader Joseph A. Ferriero was not the only consultant whom the Mills Corp., the original developer of the former Xanadu complex, paid through a Teaneck law firm, a retired Mills Corp. executive testified Wednesday at Ferriero’s racketeering trial.
Under cross-examination for a second day, James Dausch said that Kay LiCausi, a former staffer of Sen. Bob Menendez, and the late Rep. Robert Roe also were paid by the Virginia-based Mills Corp. for lobbying or consulting services through the DeCotiis law firm.
Dausch testified that he believed the firm’s founder, M. Robert “Bob” DeCotiis, “tried to manage the consultants working on political stuff through his office” in order to maintain coordination of their actions.
From Mills’ point of view, Dausch added, the consultants’ bills would be easier to review if they were all listed on one monthly invoice from the law firm.
Jury Selection To Begin In Bergen Democrat Racketeering Trial
By staff
Friday, Feb 20, 2015
Jury selection is set to begin on Tuesday for the trial of former Bergen County Democratic leader Joseph Ferriero. Ferriero is accused of running the Bergen County Democratic Organization through a pattern of racketeering including bribery, extortion and mail fraud.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas denied Ferriero’s request to have U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman and his office removed from the case. Ferriero’s lawyers alleged that Fishman has a conflict of interest because, as a private lawyer, he represented James Dausch, who is expected to be a witness for the prosecution.
There is “no evidence beyond conjecture that Mr. Fishman received any information from Mr. Dausch during the course of representation that would prejudice Ferriero in this case,” Salas said. “In fact, there is no evidence that Ferriero was ever mentioned in the presence of Mr. Fishman during the course of representation, or that Mr. Fishman knew of any relationship between Ferriero and Mr. Dausch,” she added.
EX Democrat Boss Ferriero’s corruption trial will go ahead; judge sees no conflict for U.S. attorney in case
FEBRUARY 20, 2015, 2:43 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015, 11:04 PM
THE RECORD
A federal judge on Friday rejected claims that U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman has a conflict of interest that would deny former Bergen County Democratic leader Joseph Ferriero a fair trial on racketeering charges.
In a decision delivered just days before jury selection, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas refused Ferriero’s request that she either dismiss the racketeering indictment or remove Fishman and his office from the case.
The conflict of interest claim was based on the fact that Fishman, before he became U.S. attorney in 2009, represented James Dausch, a real estate executive who is expected to testify as a prosecution witness at Ferriero’s trial.
There is “no evidence beyond conjecture that Mr. Fishman received any information from Mr. Dausch during the course of representation that would prejudice Ferriero in this case,” Salas said in her ruling.
“In fact, there is no evidence that Ferriero was ever mentioned in the presence of Mr. Fishman during the course of representation, or that Mr. Fishman knew of any relationship between Ferriero and Mr. Dausch,” Salas said. “Ferriero has not been deprived of his due process right to a full and fair trial.”
Ferriero, 57, of Hackensack, was indicted in 2013 on charges that he ran the Bergen County Democratic Organization through a pattern of racketeering that included paying kickbacks to a public official, soliciting and accepting bribes as a party official, and extorting a developer. He is also charged with conspiring to promote bribery and to distribute bribe proceeds, and committing mail and wire fraud.
Ferriero’s lawyers had argued that Fishman had an “irreconcilable conflict” because he once represented EnCap Golf Holdings, a real estate developer that proposed to transform Meadowlands landfills into residential golf communities, and Dausch, a former EnCap executive. Prior to joining EnCap, Dausch was an executive of the Virginia-based Mills Corp., which was seeking to develop a proposed retail and entertainment complex on land owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_riaIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 165
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_inhaIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 166
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_mastodonIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 177
