Tag: Progress

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Four Years after Super Storm Sandy Governor Christie Reviews Progress

Sandy theridgewoodblog.net
October 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Friday, Governor Christie discussed the progress our state has made four years after Sandy as his administration continues to work with homeowners, business owners, and communities to rebuild and safeguard against future storms. He also conducted a small business tour in Seaside Heights, a community heavily impacted by Sandy.It is no doubt that so much more needs to be done and some homeowners are still struggling four years later trying to cut through the
the red tape .
The Governor outlined investments in rebuilding our infrastructure, getting families back in their homes and protecting our shores after Sandy including:
  • Nearly $2.5 billion in utility infrastructure hardening & resilience investments
  • More than $2 billion in FEMA public assistance directed towards recovery projects
  • Five large-scale NJ Transit projects designed to better safeguard critical components of our transportation grid
  • $7 million to fund Retail Fuel Station program to allow gas stations expedited access to back-up power during an energy emergency
  • Coordinated effort with Army Corps of Engineers to build 11 new coastal and flood protection projects statewide
  • More than $1.6 billion in federal housing assistance to help Sandy-impacted families
  • Majority of 7,600 homeowners participating in Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program are back in their homes
  • Expanded Blue Aces program, allowing residents in flood-prone areas to sell homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy
  • $207 million dedicated to support economic revitalization in Sandy-affected communities through the Stronger NJ business programs.

The Christie administration is committed to finishing the job on Sandy recovery, revitalization and resilience efforts.

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Union: Sides come closer to deal to avert NJ Transit strike

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

 

New Jersey Transit and rail worker unions on Tuesday were closer to a contract agreement to head off a strike than they were a day earlier, a union official said. Associated Press Read more

Basics of dispute

The dispute revolves around a 5-year-old contract stalemate. Unions have demanded a deal similar to the one signed in 2014 by the Long Island Railroad, with an 18-percent pay raise over seven years plus retroactive pay from 2011, when the current contract came up for negotiation. The unions also want a modest increase in employees’ health insurance payments, capped at 2.5 percent of their base salaries.

NJ Transit told the Presidential Emergency Board, which has been mediating the latest discussions, that such a plan would cost the agency an additional $183 million by 2018. In a Feb. 19 letter to New Jersey’s Congressional delegation, NJ Transit said the union proposal was “excessive,” and included “platinum-level health benefits.”

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Progress needed in level of leadership

sidewalks_theridgewoodblog

MAY 22, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Progress needed in level of leadership

To the Editor:

The current controversy about sidewalks for Clinton Avenue illustrates how paralyzed community leadership is in our town. Going back to arguments about the size of newer PSE&G power poles, it seems that the only way community improvements can be made over the objections of a very small group of residents is when the ultimate authority to do so is entirely out of the council’s hands. Ridgewood needs to progress beyond the “not this, not that” level of leadership in community development.

We have got to move away from Washington, D.C.’s political gridlock and realize that “NO” is NEVER a plan. We are extremely fortunate in having talented and committed villagers, both as residents and leaders, but we seem to have a cumulative inability to articulate systems-wide community solutions that move us in a positive direction.

Access to Ridge School is a traffic disaster that never goes away. One cause is the utter failure in long-term planning that allowed for dead end streets without sidewalks, lack of “walkable” right of ways accessing the rear of school properties, and the failure to install sidewalks on access streets.

The solution is obvious, but it means residents of some streets have to give up their current street designs and also accept parking in front of their houses. If any one group of residents can convince the council to veto system-wide community improvements for our town, no matter what the issue, then the council essentially abdicates its leadership responsibilities to other sources of authority.

This is as very sad outcome indeed.

Martin Walker

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-to-the-editor-progress-needed-in-level-of-leadership-1.1340459