Civility - Page 4 of 7 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on April 4, 2015 April 3, 2015

Ridgewood still deserves better

To the Editor:

When Thomas Yotka, Ridgewood’s newly appointed building department director and construction code official, proposed numerous (and in some cases significant) increases in permit fees at the March 11 Village Council public meeting, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen requested more data to justify the proposed changes. Although Mr. Yotka had cited only three other municipalities’ fees in his report, Councilwoman Knudsen had compared the proposed fees with those of several others and found some inconsistencies.

Two weeks later, at the March 25 Village Council work session, Mr. Yotka provided additional details to Village Council members. It seems, from the discussion, that the permit fee increases proposed by Mr. Yotka may be in line with those in many surrounding municipalities, although the final discussion and official council vote on fee changes have not yet taken place.

This was a fine example of transparency in government, and we have Councilwoman Knudsen to thank for it. All of us who have obtained permits for home improvements know how expensive these are, and how they can add up rapidly if a large project is undertaken. Thanks to the diligence of Councilwoman Knudsen, if our fees do increase, we can at least feel reassured that the charges will reflect current standards.

Sadly, this positive occurrence was immediately marred by uncivil, condescending remarks from Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli. They made it clear that Councilwoman Knudsen’s request for this additional data had not, in their opinions, been necessary and had required Mr. Yotka to expend excessive, exhaustive and unnecessary effort. Furthermore, when Councilwoman Knudsen stated, politely, that she did not appreciate a gratuitous swipe by the deputy mayor, he replied nastily and sarcastically. Councilwoman Knudsen, to her great credit, maintained a calm, professional demeanor.

In February 2013, Mayor Paul Aronsohn apologized for similar behavior on the part of the Village Council, saying that the public deserves a working council, not a fighting council. There have been other such outbursts in the last couple of years and now here we are yet again. Mayor Aronsohn speaks of civility often, and insists that public discourse must be polite. As chair of the March 25 meeting, he could have interrupted the nasty comments, and apologized to Councilwoman Knudsen and the public for these counterproductive interruptions to an important discussion. Moreover, why didn’t Councilwoman Hauck and Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli behave respectfully in the first place? The remarks by Councilwoman Hauck and Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, coupled with the silence of Mayor Aronsohn, exemplify incivility.

My greatest annual expense is my property taxes, as it is in many Ridgewood households. I appreciate when our elected officials are cautious, thoughtful, and informed of the facts before spending tax revenues or increasing our fees. Collegial, productive discussions about village business cannot occur when Village Council members are disrespectful and quarrelsome. Over two years ago, the mayor said that we deserve better, but sadly it seems that we are still not getting what we deserve.

Anne LaGrange Loving

Ridgewood

Posted on April 3, 2015 April 3, 2015

Reader says public matters are being discussed, and decisions made, by a majority of the council in advance of the public meeting in clear Violation of the Sunshine Law

First Councilwoman Susan Knudsen was told to recuse herself from a closed meeting on this subject at the suggestion of the Village Manager and now information was withheld from her about this same subject.What the hell is going on in Village Hall. Who is the employee that contact Civil Service and who directed this employee to do this, Why can’t Councilwoman Susan Knudsen have that information. Why didn’t the attorney contact the Councilwoman and speak to her about this issue instead of directing another Village employee to withhold the information. WHO IS RUNNIG THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD.?

The circumstance described by Ms. Knudsen demonstrates that public matters are being discussed, and decisions made, by a majority of the council in advance of the public meeting during which the discussions and decisions are supposed to take place on the record. This reduces the public meeting to the status of a charade, because the result desired by the majority has already been determined in advance! As we all had suspected, it now appears clear that the Sunshine Law has been violated. Violations of the Sunshine Law don’t just happen–they are usually undertaken when the majority wants to avoid scrutiny for something they wish to do that the public might find odious. We all owe Ms. Knudsen a debt of gratitude for sticking to her guns and airing this issue out publicly.

Posted on March 30, 2015 March 29, 2015

Reader suggests Roberts Rules of Order a good read for the Village Council

Hey there Mr. Mayor you chair the meetings. Surely you are well-versed in Roberts Rules of Order. As such, you know that part of Roberts Rules reads as follows: “Avoid all personalities. Never allude to another person by name or to motives.” Under points of order it reads, ” Infraction of the rules or decorum in speaking must be raised immediately after the error is made.”

So do you mind telling the citizens of Ridgewood why you allowed TWO of your elected comrades to speak so nastily and dismissively to Councilwoman Knudsen? Why didn’t you rein them in, or at least reprimand them immediately and publicly ? Some leader you are. You certainly have no regard for civility.

Al and Gwenn were completely uncivil to Susan, in different ways. Al, by not being able to control himself and say to Susan, “it’s not all about you, don’t flatter yourself”. Gwenn was uncivil by gushing over the data that Tom had provided and inferring it was a waste of his time. Wasn’t he just doing his job? Isn’t that data important so the council members can vote having actual facts? Susan always delves further to get the whole picture before voting. I may not always agree with her, but I am confident she never votes without having the facts.

Posted on March 27, 2015 January 20, 2019

Aronsohn pokes fun at Mahwah Town Council Re: recent meeting fiasco

file photo Boyd Loving

Aronsohn pokes fun at Mahwah Town Council Re: recent meeting fiasco
March 26,2015
Boyd Loving

Civility For Thee…

…but not for me. As if his verbal thrashings of former village council members were not enough, a certain someone is at it again. While pontificating on the importance of “civility,” he performs the nearly impossible feat of serving up a heaping helping of boorish incivility to yet another colleague. The next nonsensical forum Mr. Mayor convenes should be an in-depth analysis of why the fellow to his left can’t seem to mind his manners. The unintended consequence of those “transparent” public meetings is a never-ending video stream of reference for anyone who may have forgotten just how uncivilized Frick and Frack can be. Aahhh, Mahwah..such a lofty goal.

Ridgewood NJ, Just moments after Ridgewood Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli and Councilwoman Susan Knudsen got into a rather heated verbal exchange on the dais (over a report Knudsen had requested from the Village’s new Building Department Director Thomas Yotka), Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn publicly poked fun at Mahwah’s Town Council in connection with a recent meeting in Mahwah, captured on video, at which the tempers of several Town Council members flared up.

This longtime Blog reader and contributor now wonders if Mr. Aronsohn actually listens to or looks at anyone but himself during meetings of the Ridgewood Village Council.

Because if he did, he would certainly recognize that the behaviors of many people sitting on the dais along side of him (both elected and appointed representatives of the Village) are far from being what I would classify as respectful of others. Phrases such as “. . . don’t flatter yourself” and body language like a deliberately exaggerated rolling of the eyes (in response to an impassioned speech by a member of the audience or Councilperson) have no place on the dais.

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. An old, but appropriate, proverb with respect to Village Council actions of late.

https://politickernj.com/2015/03/council-members-criticize-mayor-after-mahwah-meeting-meltdown/

Posted on March 20, 2015 March 20, 2015

Reader says Please keep growing TRB.com, PJ! We need it here in Ridgewood, now more than ever.

Reading_theridgewood_news_theridgewoodblog

Reader says Please keep growing TRB.com, PJ! We need it here in Ridgewood, now more than ever.

Yes, thank you PJ, and please bear in mind that if for whatever reason you stop providing this local service, not only will the sheer quantity of local public discourse immediately plummet, but its tenor and quality will also take a big hit. This is so in no small part because others whose personal political stock in trade appears to be in gratuitous humiliation and vilification of well-meaning colleagues and private citizens will be emboldened to increase the frequency and scale of their misbehavior.

With all the difficulties you can’t avoid, and must therefore endure, as a modern digital publisher of smallish size, you deserve to be recognized for your inspiring creativity, civic-mindedness, and clear devotion to essential Western values such as freedom of conscience, speech and association, virtuous self-government based on sound morality and a decent respect for the interests of one’s neighbors, and a healthy American skepticism when it comes to the stated, implied, or hidden motivations of elected and appointive government actors at all levels.

Local officeholders and policymakers, and municipal managers, employees, appointees, board members and volunteers know, or at least should know, that when it comes down to brass tacks, TRB.com exists purely for the long-term benefit of the Village, its citizens, its taxpayers, and other residents. Any solicited or unsolicited criticism that comes their way from these parts or at public meetings is meant not for the sake of negativity or to drag anyone down, but to further the best interests of the village as they are perceived in good faith by your very neighbors. Because this fact may not be readily apparent when current issues are being hotly discussed, or when commenters insist on exercising their right (within reason) to remain anonymous, it should not go unmentioned for very long, and it ought to be called to mind by all local actors on a regular basis so that as few people as possible end up with their respective noses out of joint when the dust settles. (How’s that for a public civility strategy, Mr. Mayor?)

Please keep growing TRB.com, PJ! We need it here in Ridgewood, now more than ever.

Posted on March 20, 2015 March 20, 2015

Reader says Diversity of thought is the most socially beneficial form of diversity

Reader says Diversity of thought is the most socially beneficial form of diversity.

Thesis. Antithesis. Synthesis. Repeat. This is the very definition of social progress.

“Small is the number of them that think with their own minds, and feel with their own hearts.” (Albert Einstein)

Diversity of skin color is a dying distinction over which paleoliberals, thugs and other hustlers are obsessed, solely for their own benefit. Someday we’ll wake up and find ourselves rid of them. What a blessed day that will be!

OTOH cultural distinctions are both particularly sticky and extremely consequential. The in and outs, ups and downs, benefits and drawbacks, of cultural diversity are therefore demonstrably worthy subjects of national discussion.

Race? Not so much.

Posted on March 18, 2015 March 18, 2015

Ridgewood continues civility roundtable talks

file photo

Ridgewood continues civility roundtable talks

March 16, 2015 Last updated: Monday, March 16, 2015, 10:49 AM
By Mark Krulish
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News

Another round of discussions on the concept of civility took place last week, this time in the more informal and intimate setting of the first floor senior lounge at Village Hall.

The discussion, which was led by the Rev. Jan Phillips, began with the reiteration of the purpose for holding these meetings, which was not to dictate comment or limit speech, but rather to eliminate hate speech and promote understanding between people.

“I had done a program with Pastor [Gregory] Lisby of Christ Church,” Philips said. “We were talking about backlash that has been happening because of these committee meetings and he said there’s this notion that telling people how to behave civilly is such a classist thing. That’s not where we’re coming from.”

The group explored how communication and behavior can shape a person’s perspective and examples of incivility during public meetings, while also branching off into various topics that affect the community.

Hans Jurgen Lehmann, a member of the Ridgewood Zoning Board of Adjustment, noted there have been times when audience members at meetings express skepticism that professionals testifying on behalf of applicants are being truthful with the information they give to the board.

“When they listen to the experts from the applicant, they don’t trust any of those people,” Lehmann said. “They just think they’re out there to scam them, but they are very factual.

“I’m constantly puzzled, in this society that’s supposedly very democratic, why we’re so suspicious about government. I just don’t get it,” he added.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/civility-discussion-continues-in-ridgewood-1.1289918

Posted on March 14, 2015 June 27, 2021

Reader says The Mayor and his team have a major credibility problem

Reader says The Mayor and his team have a major credibility problem

The Mayor and his team have a major credibility problem. Regardless of whatever accomplishments they tout from now until the next election, they cannot escape their past and ongoing mishandling of Village matters. They are arrogant and vindictive and even when they try to hold laughable forums on civility, they inadvertently violate the Sunshine Laws. They’ve been caught in secret meetings developers, they have been caught accepting free tickets to fundraisers, they have publicly humiliated both their political adversaries and any resident that has dared to voice a contrary opinion. None of them has the guts to address any of these particular issues publicly yet they all seem to post here anonymously to advance their personal agendas to try to defend the indefensible.

It’s unfortunate that our town’s elected leadership acts the way these 3 have. At this point, anything that any of them proposes should rightfully be looked at skeptically as none them can be taken at their word. Both individually and as a trio, this group bas failed miserably at gaining the public trust.

Posted on March 10, 2015 June 27, 2021

Readers Say the Mayor and his two Council Comrades (the three Amigos ) have shown nothing but contempt for the Faulkner Act

file photo by Boyd Loving Gwen on the Lamb

Readers Say the Mayor and his two Council Comrades (the three Amigos ) have shown nothing but contempt for the Faulkner Act

How much integrity or civility did it take to show up ostensibly as a member of the public at the first “civility forum”, grab the public microphone, p**s all over the sunshine law by blatantly involving himself as the third of three Village Council members (a quorum of the Three Amigos) needed to trigger its provisions, and then later, generously forgive himself for helping to violate both the letter and the spirit of that critical state law?

Here’s another criteria on which to consider the record of each member of the three amigos. How did they react at the time when another amigo behaved badly? Did they express sympathy for or empathize with the non-amigo victim? Did they criticize the fallen amigo, did they support, defend, or praise same, or did they stay silent/keep mum (following the eleventh commandment: thou shalt not speak ill of another amigo)? If not a candidate or officeholder at the time, are they on record with a private opinion, or can they be prevailed upon to express one now? If not, why not?

How about the African Queen Skype call to insure the Paul and Albert remain Mayor and Deputy Mayor and seal the deal on the BLOCK VOTE

If a broken (analog) clock is right twice a day, the Three Amigos can do the right thing, on occasion, and if it serves their collective interests.

Notice how none of the three ever bothers to deny that they are operating in league with each other? This is just another telltale sign of the kind of politically partisan behavior–including specific actions taken in concert in accordance with previously agreed-upon plans–that are not supposed to occur in non-partisan villages like Ridgewood that are organized under the Faulkner Act.

Is it that the Three Amigos despise our form of government, and wish nothing less that to bring about some kind of fundamental transformation? If so, this seems vaguely familiar, like some sort of deja vu…

Posted on March 9, 2015 June 27, 2021

Reader says Next Election Cycle the three amigos to at least claim the moral high ground and hypocritically accuse their opponents of incivility.

file photo Boyd Loving

Reader says Next Election Cycle the three amigos to at least claim the moral high ground and hypocritically accuse their opponents of incivility.

No presumptions should ever be made about a given officeholder’s current or future odiousness to the public, or about the notion that “now they’ve really cooked their own goose”, certainly leading to a lack of success at the upcoming polls and a failed re-election bid. Corruption can sway election results, but, and perhaps more importantly, an honest but weak or timid election opponent (read: McCain, Romney) can serve to further embolden an ethically compromised incumbent, giving them the breathing and maneuvering room they need to avoid accountability, right at the time they were expecting their opponent to oratorically “put it to them”, for lack of a better term. One must always have a well-developed plan for preventing one’s opponent from gaining or maintaining electoral momentum.

In the upcoming election, we can expect the three amigos to at least claim the moral high ground and hypocritically accuse their opponents of incivility. No opponent can be expected to survive this type of an attack who does not step toward the punch, immediately painting the ‘amigo’ in question as a brazen hypocrite by immediately reciting, preferably from memory, every act of three amigo incivility that seems to apply, and then refusing to back down in the face of the dishonestly indignant reaction (including by their friends in the media) that will be sure to follow.

Posted on March 8, 2015 June 27, 2021

Talk of Civility Masks the Truth: Capitulation

Talk of Civility Masks the Truth: Capitulation

“Civility” can be a cloak used to mask an agenda of dominance. Agree with me, or give-in to my viewpoint, and you’re a nice, civil person. Disagree, and you’re either stupid or evil – and, either way, uncivil.

“Those who talk most about civility,” wrote Richard John Neuhaus in his landmark work, The Naked Public Square, “usually define it in terms of their accustomed way of doing things. ‘Their way of doing things means they continue to be in control. We mean to take over – nicely, if possible, but if that’s not possible, well, civility is not the highest of the virtues.

Well lets not forget what he and his running mates have done in the past with their attacks on fellow council members, employes and citizens and vote accordingly. Don’t be fooled by all this civility act. They are trying to smooth over their image so they get re elected and continue the BLOCK VOTE that they have enjoyed.

Posted on March 7, 2015 March 6, 2015

‘Civility’ is another vague concept

‘Civility’ is another vague concept

March 6, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
The Ridgewood News

The limits of civility

To the Editor:

Work obligations prevented me from attending the panel on civility, so I offer my observations here.

“Civility” is like “decency,” or “freedom,” or any number of other vague concepts against which no one could sensibly argue. My college professors called such terms “glittering generalities” and warned us to beware of hiding behind them.

“Civility” can enable the sophist to evade challenge by deflecting the emphasis from what is said to how it is said. “What a rude, mean, tactless thing to say” is not a refutation of an underlying argument, only a deflection. Sometimes harsh criticism is deserved and hard words are unavoidable.

I was particularly uncomfortable with the correspondent in last week’s paper who deplored questioning motives. Motives that cannot stand up to questioning are likely to be questionable. For example, “nonprofit” is simply a form of corporate organization in which any excess is ploughed back into the corporation rather than disbursed as dividends to shareholders; there is nothing especially virtuous about it, and though the corporation is nonprofit, individuals who derive their income from it generally are not. Many a scoundrel has cloaked himself in the robes of righteousness, and over the past few years the chorus of voices demanding more accountability for “nonprofits” has grown in both number and volume..

With regard to anonymity, the Federalist Papers were written under pseudonyms; it is understandable that critics of wealthy and powerful institutions might well want not to risk retaliation.

In sum, critics are well advised to avoid ad hominem arguments, intemperate words, and insults because they undermine your logic and alienate possible allies. But otherwise, as Harry Truman said, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

A.C.Willment

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-to-the-editor-civility-is-another-vague-concept-1.1283635

Posted on March 6, 2015 September 13, 2021

Reader says Sarcastic Retorts by Deputy Mayor Unwarranted and Unacceptable in the Village of Ridgewood

file photo by Boyd Loving Councilwoman Knudsen

Reader says Sarcastic Retorts by Deputy Mayor Unwarranted and Unacceptable in the Village of Ridgewood

Can we define how civil it was the way they treated Councilwoman Knudsen last night???? PUCCIARELLI was like a thug with his sarcastic retorts in the face of her comments.

I presume Councilwoman K. said something reasonable or supportive of what the average resident would expect the council to do, Councilman P. disagreed with her because of some personal agenda he’s got going, and, because he’s one of the three amigos, he had license to ridicule her in accordance with the “new normal” of civil discourse in Ridgewood. What got him spun up this time?

You have to watch it on the ustream. The meeting was so long that it is in two separate U-streams. Go to this one first: https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/59529870

Susan’s zinger begins at 2:16:20, but back it up a bit and listen to what Mike Sedon says about the fact that the local hiring law has been broken repeatedly in the past 25 years. Now the three amigos want to change the law to reflect the way it has been followed (illegally). In other words, they have been breaking the law all along, so let’s change the law.

Susan claims that the Open Public Meetings Act was broken last week when they made her leave the closed session and go home. At one point Albert actually got sarcastic about it, and Susan came right back at him for his snotty comment.

Susan and Michael were aces, absolutely on point and the other three were a total train wreck.

Ms. Knudsen appears to have been deceptively advised to recuse herself when the statute required no such thing.

This is uncivil in the extreme.

One’s mind further boggles at the inexplicable statement by Atty. Rogers that although for 25 years the town has been acting ‘inconsistent with the ordinance’ in failing to accord Ridgewood residents hiring preferences when the ordinance required such preference, this does not mean that the village has been ‘breaking the law’. What the heck is the difference between acting inconsistent with an ordinance, and breaking the law, other than using about five extra syllables to say the same darn thing? And the cure for this is to change the ordinance, not fix the hiring practice? You’re right, Mr. Sedon and Ms. Knudson, the real news story here is not a defective ordinance, but a systematic flouting of a law leading to a generation’s worth of Ridgewood-based applicants being improperly snubbed in favor of non-residents.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. The village manager and village attorney sound concerned about improperly snubbed residents potentially seeking to undo some recent hiring decisions.

Posted on March 5, 2015 June 27, 2021

Civility Roundtable Meeting – Monday, March 9th

coming after you

Civility Roundtable Meeting – Monday, March 9th

Following up on the February 24th Civility Roundtable, residents are invited to attend the next meeting on March 9th . We will explore how communication and behavior shape our perspectives. The meeting will be held at 7:30pm in the Senior Lounge at Village Hall.

Rev. Jan Phillips will lead the discussion. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Posted on March 2, 2015 June 27, 2021

Readers feel the Mission of the “Civility Forums” is nothing more than Censorship and Control political speech of Village residents.

Readers feel the Mission of the “Civility Forums” is nothing more than Censorship and Control political speech of Village residents.

I have not been able to attend the the so-called Civility Forums initiated by Paul Aronsohn of Ridgewood. I am sure that most of us would like to have the volume lowered in public discourse. The irony is that much of the high volume public discourse is perpetrated by politicians, pundits, and the print and electronic news media. I agree with the blogger that it is elitist that elected officials, a lobbyist, and a newspaper publisher would use their position and power to imply that anonymous bloggers are in someway destructive to the democratic process. I should not have to remind the participants that history is riddled with people in power who have sought to control and re-write the public narrative to their satisfaction. Mr. Tedesco and Paul Aronsohn should read Robert’s Rules of Order to maintain orderly public meetings. Public opinion, free speech, and dissent are the domaine of all the people including those who choose to remain anonymous.

“Ed Koch once said ,”If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”

But not according to Stephen Borg, Publisher and President, North Jersey Media Group, who insisted that the whole problem is that since people have found their voice through social media they have come to so many different opinions civil discourse has fallen .Things were so much better when North Jersey Media had a monopoly on public discussion and could always dictate terms . Borg implied that elites like himself we the only ones qualified to make those decisions. Borg pointed out how this blog and its anonymous posters are the greatest enemy to not only American Democracy but to the dominance of North Jersey Media Group. While I was rather flattered that the Publisher and President, North Jersey Media Group thought this blog shook the very foundations of civil discourse and was viewed as the barbarians at the gate , I would suggest the far larger problem might be the totally bias, and slip shot reporting of his Media Empire. Borg set the tone for the evening which came down silencing critics and reasserting the elitist “we know better than you ” , so time to be quite .https://theridgewoodblog.net/civility-forum-moves-forward-to-squelch-public-dissent/ “

Yes, it does sound as if some Gruber-like sentiments about the general public were expressed at the most recent event of Mr. Aronsohn’s series of discussions designed to lay the groundwork for the Obama administration’s plans for naked and direct government censorship of the political speech of individual citizens.

The general public, as a whole, has and regularly displays, far more integrity than do, as a whole, the self-appointed elites in this country. That’s why the following sentiment has always rung so true:

“I would sooner be governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than by the two thousand members of the faculty of Harvard.”― William F. Buckley Jr., Happy Days Were Here Again: Reflections of a Libertarian Journalist

Hillary Clinton, pining for Aronsohn-style “civil discourse”…as if! Sounds suspiciously like Borg with her complaint about non-standard media sources.

Hillary Clinton Blames ‘Different Media’ For Dividing Country by Charlie Spiering/Breitbart , the Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton complained that “different media” are dividing the country, making it impossible for people to even have a conversation with each other.”

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