Tag: Jeffrey Voigt

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2016 Year End: the Village of Ridgewood’s Biggest Winners

Ridgewood's La Bella Pizza destroyed by Sunday Fire

file photo by Boyd Loving

December 31,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the staff of the Ridgewood blog has assembled the biggest winners and the biggest losers in Ridgewood for 2016.Now for the Village winners;

The biggest winner this year was the Village of Ridgewood’s new Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon. After years of constant abuse from the “3 amigos”, the two came out victorious with the sweeping victory of Jeffrey Voigt, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh and Ramon M Hache in the Village Municipal elections. While Jeff Voigt has so far been a bit of a disappointment the new council has full plate attempting to fix the mess of the previous administration.

The other major winner this year were the Village residents who put together the petitions to stop and shut down Garagezilla . The residents mobilized when their voices were ignored and took back the town. As we have learned since motivations for building Garagezilla had little to do with parking for shop owners in the CBD but more for housing development, commuter parking, certain restaurants, schools and of course an “arts center”.

The Ridgewood School system was a big winner with its much pushed for Full-day Kindergarten referendum. While the merits for children remain dubious, it certainly takes a lot of pressure off parents with more convenient hours.

We couldn’t finish the list without this one; Doug Bunza, a 22-year-old village resident who set up a go fund me page to help when his favorite Pizza place La Bella Pizza when it burned down. To the Ridgewood blog thats what Ridgewood is all about ,neighbors stepping up and taking charge. I know this is not the only good deed for the year but this one stuck out in everyone’s minds. It showed us that anyone can make a difference and we all make a difference to someone .

Our final pick this year for the biggest winner is a bit unorthodox, we decided to give it Village employees.Despite turmoil with Village leadership Village employees did a pretty good job at whatever they were doing, I don’t remember the last time no one complained about the police or fire departments for a whole year? We seemed to have no major scandal ie the meter thief and when services were not up to par it was always a management issue.

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I am voting for Jeffrey Voigt, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, and Ramon M. Hache they will exercise independent judgement in the best interest of Village residents

Vote Ridgewood

To the Editor:

I was relieved when three members of our Village Council decided not to run for another term, hoping that we would finally see a change from the consistent voting bloc and divisiveness that has occurred for the past four years within the Council.  Now we have six new candidates, but three are already calling themselves “a team”.  Should we be encouraged to vote for them and endure another 4 years of sniping within our council? Are we continuing the pattern of “our side vs. theirs?”

I am voting for Jeffrey Voigt, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, and Ramon M. Hache.  They are NOT a team, but rather will exercise independent judgement always in the best interest of Village residents.  They probably will not agree on every issue, but they are dedicated to community engagement that allows residents a voice in their future.  And most critically, these candidates share the concerns of many Village residents that growth and progress be balanced with preserving the character, size and scale of our Village.

The election is May 10…every vote makes a difference!

Carrie Giordano
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The Preserve Graydon Coalition endorses Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh Ramon M. Hache Jeffrey Voigt for Ridgewood Village Council

graydon-opening-day-2010-small

The Preserve Graydon Coalition endorses

Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh

Ramon M. Hache

Jeffrey Voigt

 

for Ridgewood Village Council

We believe that Bernadette (Bernie) Coghlan-Walsh, Ramon Hache (pronounced Ra-MONE Ha-SHAY), and Jeffrey (Jeff) Voigt are the candidates most likely to heed residents’ concerns about our village’s morphing into the type of urban environment that many moved here to escape.

Bernie, Ramon, and Jeff have been endorsed by other grassroots groups in town, including Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR), protesting the near-doubling in size desired by Valley Hospital; Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR), concerned about the results of proposed high-density housing downtown; and the Schedler neighborhood, working to preserve the woods and historic house just east of Route 17. We believe that those who favor what we love about the village would be the most likely to preserve Graydon as well.

Jeff, Ramon, and Bernie are not running as a team, nor do they agree on every issue. They would cooperate to resolve issues without falling into lockstep. Independent thinking from the dais is much missed and sorely needed.

In contrast, the other three candidates have clearly been working in sync, prematurely speaking as “we,” and have been publicly endorsed by the “council majority” (mayor’s voting bloc), who have installed their campaign signs on their front lawns. In addition, the mayor has placed placards for two of these candidates on the rear deck of his car.

Of the candidates favored by the mayor, one, who moved here a few years ago, said at Candidates Night* that his long working hours and family obligations prevented him from attending past council meetings. Another would welcome the larger school population resulting from the high-density housing she supports. The third faces potential conflicts of interest as the husband of the longtime attorney for our Planning Board.

* Video: Candidates Debate, League of Women Voters, April 20, 2016 (2 hr 10 min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0poCGnAET0

Bernie, Ramon, and Jeff would seek “more pragmatic and sensible development,” as Voigt describes his goals in a video on his website. Hache said at the League of Women Voters’ Candidates Debate that his vision included “a town with officials protecting their community from the wrong type of development.” None would override valid resident concerns to push preconceived agendas.

Our group’s name contains the key word “preserve.” We wish to preserve not only our natural, historic swimming amenity but also the small-town ambience that we moved here to enjoy. Conserving and increasing unbuilt, truly open space must be a priority of those we endorse for Village Council.

We were gratified by the warm feelings for Graydon expressed by all the candidates. We hope and anticipate that whoever is elected will remain a strong advocate for preserving Graydon and enhancing its natural beauty.

Our choices on election day will affect Ridgewood for decades to come. We urge all residents to encourage friends, neighbors, and children ages 18+ to vote in the municipal election on Tuesday, May 10. Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Four years ago, a handful of votes locked in the current “council majority” that has controlled the village agenda. Every vote counts.

To have a lawn sign delivered to your door or to offer to help, contact:

Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh
website: bernadettewalsh2016.com      email: walsh4ridgewood@gmail.com

Ramon Hache
website: ramonhache.com                       email: ramon@ramonhache.com

Jeffrey Voigt
website: voigtforourvillage.com             email: meddevconsultant@aol.com

Please vote on May 10.

Swimmingly,
Marcia Ringel and Alan Seiden
Co-Chairs, The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation

“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”

info@PreserveGraydon.org    PreserveGraydon.org

 

https://tinyurl.com/councilendorsements2016

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League of Women Voters to Hold Village of Ridgewood Council Candidates Night

VOTE_theridgewoodblog
April 3,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Wednesday, April 20, the League of Women Voters of Ridgewood will hold a moderated forum for candidates who are running for Village Council in the May 10 Municipal Election. The forum will be held at Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue at 7:30.There are six challengers for three open seats on the Ridgewood Town Council: Richard Brooks, Ramon Hache, Jeffrey Voigt, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, Evan Weitz, and Janice Willett.

The candidates will each provide a background statement and will answer questions provided by the League. There will also be time for questions from the public.

Candidates Night will be televised live on Cablevision-Channel 77 and Fios-Channel 34.Ms Barbara King from the Fairlawn League of Women Voters will moderate the forum. If you have any questions about the forum or the League of Women Voters, please contact Joan Burns at 201-615-6614.