Tag: Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali

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New Jersey Suburbs Facing Extinction

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NJ “Affordable Housing” War: 2026 Starts with a “Sea Change” and a Federal Courtroom Showdown

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, The residential building boom transforming New Jersey’s landscape isn’t slowing down. As we enter 2026, many Garden State municipalities are waking up to a new reality after a frantic end to 2025. While hundreds of towns have officially “bought in” to the state’s affordable housing mandates, a defiant coalition of suburban leaders is taking their fight all the way to federal court.

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Suburban Showdown: NJ Mayors Ask Federal Judge to ‘Press Pause’ on Affordable Housing Mandates

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Suburbs Challenge Forced Urbanization 

photo NJ AG Matthew Platkin

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, the statewide controversy over high-density development and municipal autonomy in New Jersey has officially escalated to federal court. A coalition of local leaders, headed by Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali, is fighting to halt the implementation of the state’s new affordable housing obligations, arguing the system is fundamentally unfair.

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Montvale’s $43K Farm Lease in Jeopardy—What This Means for DePiero Farm’s Future

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, the fight over the future of Montvale’s former DePiero Farm has escalated, moving from a public bidding process to a heated courtroom battle.

Mayor Mike Ghassali has stated clearly: The land is staying a working farm, period. The controversy isn’t if it will be a farm, but who will run it—and the answer hinges on a December court decision.

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Massive Paterson Water Main Break Spurs Boil Water Advisory — Montvale Mayor & Wegmans Rush Aid to Prospect Park

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photos courtesy of Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali 

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

PATERSON & PROSPECT PARK, NJ — A major 30-inch water main break near Hinchcliffe Stadium has left thousands of residents in Paterson and Prospect Park under a boil water advisory, the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) announced Friday.

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Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali Urges Parents To Put A Stop ‘Ding Dong Dash’ Pranks

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ , Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali is urging local parents to talk to their children about the disruptive trend of “ding dong dash” pranks, which have recently caused concern in neighboring towns.

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Montvale Honors EMT Matt Goldman as 2025 Hometown Hero

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photos provided by the Mayors and Assemblyman Robert Auth

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, in a night filled with gratitude and admiration, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali proudly honored Matt Goldman, EMT with the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps, as the 2025 Hometown Hero—an honor only awarded three times in the town’s history. Goldman was also presented with the prestigious Key to the City for his selfless and heroic actions.

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Montvale EMT to be Honored for Heroic Rescue After Garden State Parkway Bus Crash

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, a Montvale emergency medical technician (EMT) is being recognized for his heroic actions following a devastating school bus crash on the Garden State Parkway.

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Bronx Man Arrested After Dragging Victim With Car, Injuring Montvale Officer in $3.5K Camera Theft

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photo Montvale Police Lt. Chris Hawken

Suspect Felipe Ortiz-Martinez Faces Multiple Charges After Bergen County Incident

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Woodcliff Lake NJ, a 29-year-old Bronx man, Felipe Ortiz-Martinez, was arrested after allegedly stealing a $3,500 Canon camera from a Bergen County liquor store, dragging the victim with his car while fleeing the scene, and injuring a police officer in the process, authorities confirmed.

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Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali Highlights 10 Troubling Facts About NJ’s Court Mandated “Affordable Housing”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali has brought attention to significant issues uncovered during the borough’s legal challenge against New Jersey’s Fourth Round affordable housing law. This lawsuit, aimed at addressing what Montvale and other municipalities deem an unfair system, reveals systemic problems that could impact towns statewide. Here are ten troubling facts Mayor Ghassali shared about the ongoing litigation.

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A Holistic Approach to Affordable Housing: A Message from Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali has written a compelling letter to Trenton, addressing the complex challenges of affordable housing and the need for a more comprehensive solution to housing insecurity. While acknowledging the importance of affordable housing initiatives, Mayor Ghassali emphasizes that these efforts alone will not resolve the underlying systemic issues driving housing instability in New Jersey and beyond.

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Legal Action on Affordable Housing Deadlines

high density housing hero

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, According to Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali, a pivotal court date in the fight against fourth-round affordable housing deadlines is set for Friday, December 20, 2024. The hearing will determine whether a stay can be granted while the case moves through the court system.

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Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali: Drone Mystery Not Solved but

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, in a Facebook post ,”Drone Mystery Not Solved but”, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali  commented that several drones were spotted last night over the Montvale and Upper Saddle River areas just around 7PM. While I’m not a drone expert, I do own a small drone that I use as a hobby. It is registered, has a permit, and I am restricted to flying it no higher than 400 feet. Additionally, I must check for any restricted airspace before each flight on an app, and the drone must remain within my line of sight at all times—those are the rules.

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The Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County Joins Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali’s Affordable Housing Coalition

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale Park NJ, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali welcomes the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County, joining our affordable housing coalition and bringing the number of towns to 29 in seven counties, representing over 300,000 residents. The addition of Woodland Park shoots down the whole “wealthy towns” are trying to selfishly block “affordable housing” argument.
Thank you Woodland Park Mayor Tracy Bennett-Kallert and borough council members for taking a stand against high density housing. Our next court date is on December 20, 2024.

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NJ State Senator Holly Schepisi, “Due to the State’s Fair Share Housing Mandates, Northern New Jersey has Faced Significant Overdevelopment”

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the staff of the ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, NJ state Senator Holly Schepisi (R-39) joined Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali and Attorney Mike Collins of King, Moench & Collins LLP for a town hall discussion Monday evening about state-mandated housing and its impact on the region.

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New Jersey Municipalities Brace for “Affordable Housing” Mandates

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, last month, New Jersey’s municipalities learned their “affordable housing obligations” for the next decade. The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) published calculations detailing the number of units each of the state’s 564 municipalities must accommodate by 2035. These mandates aim to address both current and future affordable housing needs across the state.

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