Posted on

Is the Village of Ridgewood For Sale: Village Council Say No

Ridgewood_-Village_Hall_theridgewoodblog

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, at the Wednesday Village Council meeting, Councilwoman Reynolds asked attorney Matthew Rogers whether a cap could be put on spending for each candidate for local election campaigns. Looks like that’s not possible. She also asked whether campaign donations could be limited to Ridgewood origin. Also a no go. This came during discussion about how hard it is to get people to run for office.

Continue reading Is the Village of Ridgewood For Sale: Village Council Say No

Posted on

Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon Resigns From the Ridgewood Village Council

th 2519901513

file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon announced his resignation as a member of Ridgewood Village Council and Wednesday evening’s meeting. Mayor Susan Knudsen moved for the appointment of Councilperson Pamela Perron as the new deputy mayor effective immediately. Sedon served on the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission, Sustainable Jersey, and Green Ridgewood.

Continue reading Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon Resigns From the Ridgewood Village Council

Posted on

Village Council elections will be held on May 8th and there are 4 candidates competing for two village council seat

VOTE_theridgewoodblog

March 13,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village Council elections will be held on May 8th and there are  4 candidates competing for two village council seats. There are two challengers , Janice Willett and Alexandra Harwin
and two current incumbent council members Susan Knudsen and Mike Sedon.

Ridgewood Council candidates -Two four-year council seats

Janice Willett

Susan Knudsen

Alexandra Harwin

Mike Sedon

Posted on

Reader says The name of the person who called Mr. Sedon’s employer was never publicly revealed, but many of Mr. Halaby’s cohorts know who did it

mike_sedon_theridgewoodblog

Mr. Halaby seems to have conveniently forgotten that the dirtiest campaign trick of all was put into play by his side during the 2014 Village Council race –
An unnamed person telephoned Mike Sedon’s employer (the Staten Island Advance), spoke directly to Mr. Sedon’s supervisor, and suggested that the Advance force Mr. Sedon to drop his candidacy for Ridgewood Village Council, or be terminated from his position at the Advance. When told of the telephone call by his supervisor, Mr. Sedon chose to resign from his position rather than to continue working for a company willing to violate a NY State law that prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee’s desire to serve as a public official. The name of the person who called Mr. Sedon’s employer was never publicly revealed, but many of Mr. Halaby’s cohorts know who did it.

Posted on

UPDATE : The Ridgewood Blog Has Learned that One Council Member has Opted Out of Endorsing Maura McMahon DeNicola for the District 40 Assembly Vacancy

Maura McMahon DeNicola with Bernadette Walsh ,Ramone Hache,Mike Sedon, Susan Traina Knudsen and Jeff Voigt

photo by Maura McMahon DeNicola; Bernadette Walsh ,Ramone Hache,Mike Sedon, Susan Traina Knudsen and Jeff Voigt

November 20,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, late this morning the Ridgewood blog has received word the one council member has opted out of endorsing  Maura McMahon DeNicola .We had previously received information that the entire Mayor & Council of the Village of Ridgewood had endorsed Maura McMahon DeNicola for the District 40 Assembly vacancy left by the departure and Judgeship of Scott Rumana.

Maura said , “I can’t thank Ridgewood enough for their confidence in my leadership. The County Committee election for this vacancy will be held Tuesday evening – a very fast process and one in which I am working diligently”

 

Posted on

New Ridgewood Village Council gets off to a fast start

New Ridgewood Village Council
photo by Boyd Loving
July 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Just a quick take on last night first council meeting with the new council , if tonight is any indication of things to come, so much is going to be accomplished. Ordinance  3066 is to be repealed.There was real talk about Ridgewood Water,even addressing the law suit.
The parking issues were addressed with real common sense and many new ideas as well as recognition of the immediacy of getting things done quickly.  Roberta didn’t run the meeting and actually did what she is supposed to do, inform the council!
Rurik Halaby could not help himself. He had to praise the past council and once again went on and on about how there has never been anyone like Roberta.  He gave Susan a mild lecture and talked about his belief that Valley is a done deal and to fight this would be the equivalent of endangering lives( lifes?)He cautioned Susan not to base her decisions on a few disgruntled neighbors  and move Ridgewood forward into the future embracing change and growth.  I might have made this sound better than it actually did!  But she was very polite as usual.
Hopefully we go forward with a suit against Valley. maybe it would tie things up long enough for them to start developing all the other properties they have purchased and their argument that their expansion is for the greater good will not have as much impact in a court of law as it seems to have done with the current judge.
Posted on

Ridgewood Councilmen Jeff Voigt : It is important that in these solutions we do what is best for our Village

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood Council

Councilmen Jeff Voigt speech full text:

Village Council speech:

First, thank you for your vote of confidence during the recent election. I am humbled by that confidence and committed to working towards solutions that are in the best interests of the Village.

Most especially, I would like to thank my campaign team: Sergio Alegre, Chad Chadwick, Wendy Dockray, Carol and Kevin Mattessich, Bill McCabe and Ann Spalckhaver. They are a great group of people who care deeply about Ridgewood. I would also like to thank many of you in the audience for your help during my campaign. It was a blast to work with you and I look forward to doing so moving forward.

We have a number of issues facing us over the coming years – a few of them 800 pound gorillas that are all too obvious. The solutions to these issues actually lie within this room with those who have influence over our Village – and I am talking most specifically about those in the audience. I sincerely hope this energizes you as; you are going to be asked to help in solving these issues. This also includes those with opposing views as; we need your inputs and help in this. They say that listening to, understanding, and incorporating opposing views and differences of opinion make for better decisions. I could not agree more. Let’s work together.

It is important that in these solutions we do what is best for our Village. These solutions can result in making our Village more user friendly, accessible, attractive to others, affordable and; a better place to live for us all. We as a community can do this if we keep this this in mind – namely in doing what is best for our Village.

Let’s also try and figure out solutions through less expensive and time consuming means such as compromise – meaning opposing sides sit down with each other and give to get and; in turn win in the end.

My goals over the coming 4 years are to work with you in solving these issues for the betterment of the Village and its residents. In touring our Village infrastructure with Roberta Sonenfeld, our Village Manager, I was struck by the fact we have a number of under-utilized assets that we can take advantage of for increased revenue generation – potentially marketing these services to other municipalities/businesses. These additional $$$ can be used for numerous initiatives, including lowering our taxes. We are going to look at maximizing these assets to increase our revenue streams with the committees I will be working on.

Job one, however, and I believe as well for my colleagues on the dais, is to solve our parking issue downtown, with a focus on a re-alignment of parking spaces and streets, a smaller Hudson St garage, and with innovative pricing – while simultaneously making our downtown more accessible, user friendly, and safer.

With innovative pricing, the parking utility can be a more significant revenue and surplus generator for the Village – helping to defray other costs. Let’s also re-think high density housing downtown in a way that makes sense, fits with, and actually enhances the character of our Village. Additionally, Valley Hospital needs to be a better neighbor and come up with solutions that actually make sense for our neighbors in the surrounding Valley area. Having relevant expertise in the field of healthcare, I am confident Valley can work towards this and in turn thrive in this rapidly evolving healthcare market. With these and other initiatives, I plan to reach out to all relevant constituencies whether they be developers, Valley, the chamber of commerce, and the residents to keep the dialogue going in order to work towards viable solutions.

Not surprisingly, some of these issues have been hotly contested with the outgoing council majority – Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Gwen Hauck. I have to thank them for teeing up a number of them. It can safely be said that there was never a dull moment in

Village Hall with you on the council. One of my concerns is that future council meetings may not be as entertaining as they have been in the recent past.

Interestingly, by your making us keenly aware of these issues it may make the path towards resolution easier. Let’s use any momentum that has been gained through this process in putting some of these issues to bed.

I look forward to working with the residents and various boards and committees on these and other initiatives. We have many committed, smart, and talentedcitizens on our boards and committees and in our Village who can help in figuring out how to make this a better place to live. This is what I am actually looking forward to most – in working with you to accomplish this. My commitment is to work hand and hand with you and; in ensuring those who do the work, get the credit and recognition.

I also look forward to working with the new council – Susan Knudsen, Bernie Walsh, Ramon Hache, and Mike Sedon. You the residents have voted in 5 independently minded people and now the fun begins.

They say what you put into something is what you get out of it. I wholeheartedly agree. This is going to be my second full time job and I am confident it will be time well spent and extremely gratifying.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family – my wife Patty and my children, Ryan, Kevin, and Emily. We have lived here for over 23 years and call Ridgewood home. It is a great place to raise a family and live the rest of your life in. Patty and I plan on doing so and in calling many of you our friends and neighbors over the coming years.

Let’s all work towards making Ridgewood an even better place to live than it

already is.

Thank you.

Posted on

Ridgewood Council members and Council Elect Members Place Flags to Honor Veterans

Ridgewood Honors Veterans
photos courtesy of Ramon Hache
May 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Council members Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen along with Council elect members Jeff Voigt , Ramon Hache and Bernie Walsh spent the morning at Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood placing flags at the graves of Veterans. Thanks to American Legion Post 53 and Andy Haderthauer for allowing us the opportunity to participate in this beautiful tradition.

13254033 10209792204668976 9123644921845159954 n 1

The kids were proud too, to take part in the placement of flags on the graves of veterans at Valleau Cemetery.

The tradition is that shortly before Memorial Day, American Legion members place U.S. flags on the graves of their fallen comrades at Valleau Cemetery.

The listing were incomplete and the Legion knew that their quiet tribute missed the graves of some veterans in the 33-acre cemetery. Some graves at Valleau go as far back to the Civil War.

In the past the Legion used what could only be described as a low-tech system for noting the graves of veterans. It consisted of seven plywood boards in the shape of sections of the cemetery. On top of the boards were worn-out sheets of paper with the names of the veterans and the plot numbers. A lot of those names and plot numbers are illegible . We just had to computerize the whole system.

17-year-old Boy Scout Andy Haderthauer, a junior at Ridgewood High School heard about the problem at a Memorial Day Service and applied his computing skills to come up with a solution. Haderthauer put in about 130 hours of work to set up a computerized a system .

With the help of Valleau Cemetery Superintendent Guy Kostka, Haderthauer began his project in August. First he put the board names on the computer list, then set out on a tour of the cemetery, looking over some gravestones that date to the early 1800s.

He also  the help of some buddies and fellow Scouts, saving him days of walking the graveyard alone and three months later, Haderthauer had made up his list, and then used software to display the information by name and plot number.

Last year, there were only 350 graves at Valleau that were known to be the resting places of veterans. Now, double that number have been identified through Haderthauer’s efforts.

The project gained Haderthauer recognition as an Eagle Scout and the gratitude of the daughter of Master Sgt. Charles Ernest Hosking Jr. – a winner of the Medal of Honor. Hosking, a 24-year Army veteran, was awarded the military’s highest decoration after he was killed by an explosion in Vietnam in 1967. He jumped on a Vietnamese prisoner who was about to set off a grenade, protecting his men from the blast.

Posted on

Ridgewood News, article to try to pressure Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen to vote for bonding the garage through Ridgewood.

Reading_theridgewood_news_theridgewoodblog

All — On page 3 of the Ridgewood News, there was an article to try to pressure Mike Sedon and Susan Knudsen to vote for bonding the garage through Ridgewood. If you are skeptical of the viability of the proposed garage, please send Mike and Susan an email to let them know to stay firm on their vote and allow the referendum on the BCIA to go forward. Here’s what I sent to them:

Sent: Friday, February 26, 2016 4:23 PM
To: ‘sknudsen@ridgewoodnj.net’; ‘msedon@ridgewoodnj.net’
Cc: ‘paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.net’; ‘ghauck@ridgewoodnj.net’; ‘apucciarelli@ridgewoodnj.net’
Subject: garage

Susan and Michael,

With regards to the full page ad in the Ridgewood News today, I urge you to maintain your position on the bonding of the proposed garage.

I do not believe that a garage in that location will cover its costs and the taxpayers are going to wind up funding it. There is simply not enough demand for parking at the proposed location. There are usually many spots open right across the street. I’d support a smaller structure located more centrally and I know a lot of my fellow residents would too.

Please stay the course and know that most of the residents who voted in support of a garage did not know any specific information at that time therefore there is NO MANDATE to build anything at this time.

Feel free to contact me via email or at 201-445-8222.

Regards,
Derek Schnure

Posted on

Reader says the Sendon Email was interference with the election process and someone tried to sabotage his job and or his candidacy

DSCF0198

DSCF0198

Reader says the Sendon Email was interference with the election process and someone tried to sabotage his job and or his candidacy

I think if the Mayor had even ONCE voiced any outrage over this, and if he had pushed for an investigation, and pursued follow-up, then we would all feel more trusting of him. Yes, it was sent to the Prosecutor’s office, only after certain citizens expressed their anger. Molinelli determined it was not a prosecutable crime, and then it was eventually sent to the Board of Elections (not sure I have the correct name of the agency). Then we heard nothing. Nothing. I am quite certain that if the action had been taken against Mr. Aronsohn, he would have called out all the militia to cross state lines and subpoena the editor at the Staten Island newspaper. This is not such sensitive information that it would be so difficult to obtain. It is disgraceful that this has not been pursued with all possible resources.

The anonymous contact with Mr. Sedon’s employer (a newspaper in Staten Island) informed them that he was a candidate for public office. As such, it was indicated that this was a conflict of interest and I think Mr. Sedon’s employer told him to quit his candidacy or quit his job. The reason the anonymous caller did this was to get Mr. Sedon to quit his candidacy. Instead, he quit his job, and went on to win by a wide margin over the third candidate. If Mr. Sedon had been working for, let’s say The Ridgewood News, then this would have presented a big problem because he could not report on meetings and deliberations of which he was a part. But, this newspaper was in another state, where there could not even be a conceivable problem with him serving on a council in Ridgewood.

You choose to say that it was not such a terrible crime. Well, maybe not. It wasn’t murder or violence. But it most definitely was interference with the election process and someone tried to sabotage his job or his candidacy. Public information that was being relayed – yes, with the express purpose of putting this man off the ballot. It was disgusting.

This business stinks to high heaven. And It DOES seem of a piece with the Mayor’s bat-phone style interactions with The Ridgewood News to squelch political opposition. It has done brutal damage to our local political culture, so frustration that no culprit has been tracked down and held to account is perfectly understandable. The fact that this seamy event is seemingly being swept under the rug, or thrown down some kind of 1984-type George Orwell ‘memory hole’, tempts ordinary residents who had nothing to do with any of it to pretend that it never happened, or that the related civic damage is either not real or not lasting. In the end, though, we know this is just a convenient charade, and we are appalled at the absence of forthright leadership at the Village Council level.

show?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=355335
Microsoft Store
Hotwire US
Coffee.clubshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=363195

Posted on

Reader says Mr. Sedon is not the only wronged party. This was an act against our community, against our clean election system.

DSCF0198

DSCF0198

file photo by Boyd Loving

Reader says Mr. Sedon is not the only wronged party. This was an act against our community, against our clean election system.

The village should initiate an investigation immediately.

This crime was committed against Ridgewood as well as against Mr. Sedon. Our elected officials should have authorized whatever legal fees would be needed to pursue the facts and bring the perpetrator to light. It is two years later, but it is still not too late. Draft a resolution or whatever it is you do, and let’s get on with it. Unless there is some reason that someone on the dais does not wish to pursue this???

There are 2 reasons why the Council have drag their feet. One is the longer it goes the harder it is to investigate. Second is they don’t want the public to know the answer. The answer may not fit in their civility matrix. The three amigos should be just a upset as Councilman Sedon and the public because an investigation show Transparency in the council and something similar could be done to them in the upcoming election. So why are they not pursuing this? I will leave it up to the readers to speculate.

This incident will remain an appalling blot on Ridgewood forever whether it is investigated or not, but especially if it is not. I’m still in shock that the truth has not been pursued avidly. Failure to pursue this points a gigantic finger at those in charge. They are failing in their duty to preserve democracy (forget civility) while making it clear that they are implicit. Developments should be on the front page routinely as they are for the theft of our quarters–which morally and as an insult to the electoral process was LESS bad.

Chemistry.com

Esurance

Posted on

Readers say motivation in writing this story is questionable.

smarter-than1

Readers say motivation in writing this story is questionable.

Lets see who wrote the story. Harris the Mayors press officer. Well Mike this will be used against you at some later date at a council meet when you disagree with Mayor. Just wait for it.

Memo from Mayor to Mike. Next time you say something to the press run it by White Horse Strategist first.

The reporter’s reputation for considering himself a buddy of the mayor makes his motivation in writing this story questionable.

Coffee.clubshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=363195

Posted on

Mike Sedon Election Issue

imgres-2

file photo by Boyd Loving

Mike Sedon Election Issue

September 5th ,2014
Anne LaGrange Loving
Ridgewood NJ, At the Wednesday night Village Council Work Session, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld announced, in the form of “breaking news,” that she had just that afternoon received an update about the “Mike Sedon Election Issue,” as she called it.  Readers will recall that this past Spring, someone sent an anonymous e-mail to Councilman Mike Sedon’s employer.  The purpose of the e-mail was to derail Councilman Sedon’s campaign, suggesting that he could not serve in a public office and also work as a reporter for The Staten Island Advance.  After Councilman Sedon filed a complaint with the Ridgewood Police Department, the matter was referred to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office for investigation.
At the September 3 Village Council Work Session, Ms. Sonenfeld said she had called the Prosecutor’s office for an update, and has learned that the matter has been transferred to the State Board of Elections. She will be getting a name from the State Board, will be following through on this important matter, and will keep us updated.  Although Councilman Sedon was elected by a wide margin and is now serving as a member of our Ridgewood Village Council, the fact remains that someone tried to prevent him from being elected.   The victim of this malicious act was not just Councilman Sedon; it was our entire community and our clean election process.   When the coward who sent this e-mail is revealed, the stain on our Village’s reputation will be erased.

Microsoft Store

Posted on

Reader hopes the next 2 years will be an open, honest dialog and a good working relationship on the Village council

Ridgewood_-Village_Hall_theridgewoodblog.net_17

Reader hopes the next 2 years will be an open, honest dialog and a good working relationship on the Village council.

Al Puciarelli has recused himself from these hearings
Morgan Hurley resigned
Cyril Grant resigned
Trisha Connors resigned

The remaining 7 members will be voting on Tuesday, June 17th

Ridgewood council is suppose to have 2 members and therefor 2 votes on the planning board. Al Pucciarelli has correctly recused himself from the Valley hearings as well as the downtown hearings. This has left Ridgewood with only 1 elected representative from council for approximately 90% of the planning board meetings. When the council has it’s reorganization on July 1st, I sincerely hope Al Pucciarelli does the right thing and does not remain on the planning board. The residents of Ridgewood have been denied their representation for far too long. It’s time to have 2 members from council on the planning board that do not need to recuse themselves for the majority of the issues.

I also sincerely hope the remaining council members (Paul Aronsohn, Al Pucciarelli and Gwenn Hauck) will welcome the newly elected members with open arms, fresh minds, and a new beginning, and end the last 2 years of fighting on the council. It has been very disturbing to read and see the way the 5 of them treated each other. The best way to do this is to follow protocol and have the newly elected member with the most votes be sworn in as deputy mayor. This will show everyone their willingness to work with each other. The person with the most votes would be Susan Knudsen. If Ms Knudsen declines, it would then go to Mike Sedon. I hope the Village of Ridgewood can breathe a sigh of relief after the reorganization meeting on July 1st, knowing that the next 2 years will be an open, honest dialog and a good working relationship on the council.

Microsoft Store

Posted on

Reader says Mike Sedon certainly the right choice for Village Council

9645151

Reader says Mike Sedon certainly the right choice for Village Council

Mike Sedon is a fine man with the highest of standards. His wife is very, very lucky to have found such a wonderful husband and father for their children. His judgement is outstanding – he is not going to work for an employer who tried to force him to quit a run for Village Council in another state. Mike is now freelancing and no longer commuting to Staten Island, he is around for his children. All the right choices.

And he is certainly the right choice for Village Council. I cannot wait to see him on the dais. Sanity will finally rule.