Nice letter in the Ridgewood News from Mr. Halaby…in order to keep the CBD viable in 30 years, we should build the garage, which in turn will revitalize the CBD and make our grandchildren proud. Funny that some are willing to spend $10 million plus on a garage but will debate and attack the Schedler plans to no end( I am neither pro or con at the moment). Give me a break. Welcoming the future is not looking 5 years out sir….even looking out 2 years, it’s very clear that this town needs to adapt to the dominance of online shopping and the increased use of car services like Uber. This garage is not the future. In listening to Mr McCandless at the council meeting, where he clearly and concisely pointed out that this town does not have a parking shortage, i find it incredible how one can argue that this garage will solve an imminent problem in this town. This council needs to deal in the world of facts, not unicorns and rainbows….taxes are already high and agreeing to build this garage on the belief that it will solve a non existent problem is not what you were voted onto the council to do. The argument that this has been debated for 40 years and so we should build it is laughable. In 1980, maybe they should have built one, and we’d probably be arguing today on how to get rid of it. The current and future council members have got to be way more fiscally responsible then they have been, this towns tax base is not a piggy bank for special interests and backdoor dealmakers.
Make the citizens of Ridgewood Great again.Stop this bullshit boondoggle..it’s not too late..the carpetbaggers housing and politicos will be long gone with the cash and moving onto their next victim communities..clear case of others peoples (OUR) money and future higher taxes to pay for the bonding which will have to be paid as a priority obligation to the banks and funding sources..they love town infrastructure debt..they know the taxpayers have to be assessed to Pay them Back,Stop this huge mistake..we are not talking about the health bond or turf fields here..this is a forever damaging proposal.Pave ,insert concrete curbing ,storm sewers lighting and lines for car stalls and get back to work VC
VC, listen up. Lease the Hudson lot to a developer for 99 years. Let the developer pay for it completely. Let them charge what they want to make it a profitable. Let them pay the cost of maintenance. Let them cut deals with local merchants, banks and restaurants for validated parking, and take nothing from them except the usual property taxes. Then, see how many developers step up. If the number is ZERO, then you have an indication that the idea is a LOSER. The Village already collects taxes from the CBD property owners, so why LOSE money by going into the garage business?
A land lease is a type of financial arrangement in which the ground under a structure is leased, rather than sold to the builder, meaning that the land and the structure are owned independently.
The Village should enter into a long term land lease with parking garage company who will pay to construct and operate the parking facility.. Since they are an independent business they should be able to charge whatever rates they wish.. Ultimately the market will determine how much people are willing to pay.
Ridgewood NJ, Several Ridgewood High School students heading home at the end of school on Friday afternoon, 03/02, found their cars had been damaged by a tree that fell while they were attending classes. Ridgewood PD officers responded to take property damage reports. The vehicles were all parked in a privately owned lot; no word was available from the lot’s owner as to how long it would take to have the tree removed in order for cars to be driven or towed away. Fortunately no one was injured .
Ridgewood NJ, Village Council Special Public Budget Meeting – Friday, March 2, 2018 5:30pm (tonight)
Introduction of 2018 Budget Process – Village Manager and Chief Financial Officer
Discussion Items:
a. Review of Departmental Budgets and Capital Budgets
Building Department
Zoning
MIS
Parks and Recreation Department
Graydon Pool
Streets Department
Fleet Services
Recycling
Solid Waste
Yard Waste
Water Department
b. Wrap-up and Next Steps
BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE: March 2, 2018 – 5:30pm to 10:00pm March 9, 2018 – 5:30pm to 10:00pm March 16, 2018 – 5:30PM to 10:00pm March 21st at 5:30pm – final budget overview & setting the tax rate Tentative: March 28, 2018 Budget Introduction April 25, 2018 Budget Adoption
Ridgewood NJ, A large tree located on the property of the St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 169 Fairmount Road, Ridgewood, fell to the ground on Friday morning, 03/02 blocking the street and causing power outages in the immediate area. Ridgewood PD, FD, and Shade Tree Division personnel responded to the incident. A PSE&G Electric Division employee was also observed working at the scene. No injuries were reported and the tree did not strike any structures during its fall.
Ridgewood NJ, Alfred Doblin is out at the Bergen Record . He either quit or was forced out. Nancy Meyer also left on Monday . It looks like a big shake once again at the failing daily . Ridgewood residents may remember Doblin for attempting to interject his bigoted opinion in the Ridgewood “Rainbow Flag” controversy . Doublin along with the “Community Relations Advisory Board of Ridgewood and Glen Rock” and Councilmen Jeff Voigt called the mayor Susan Knudsen a Homophobe because she dared to attempt to figure out what the law was and would not fall for the bullying attempt by the group.
The group pursued its bigoted agenda and pushed both Glen Rock and Ridgewood into displaying its “white only” bigoted rainbow flag . According to the group ,”Black Lives Matter ” flag installed in Ridgewood and Glen Rock is the racist white only rainbow flag . The new multi cultural rainbow flag includes black and brown stripes. “The black and brown stripes are an inclusionary way to highlight black and brown LGBTQIA members within our community,” said one source involved with the flag-raising event who asked not to be named. “With all of the black and brown activism that’s worked to address racism in the Gayborhood over the past year, I think the new flag is a great step for the city to show the world that they’re working toward fully supporting all members of our community.”
Doblin even doubled down on attacks and character assassinations of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Kundsen . Alfred P. Doblin is the editorial page editor of The Bergen Record. In his latest column he once again praises Councilmen Voigt and goes on the offensive against the Mayor. Doblin continues to cling to the silly fallacy his editorial led to the flying of the rainbow ie gay pride flag at Ridgewood’s Van Nest square . ( https://theridgewoodblog.net/doblin-doubles-down-on-attacks-and-character-assassinations-of-ridgewood-mayor-susan-kundsen/ ) .
This character attack led OPRA requests flying and many attacks as well as counter attacks between the Mayor, her supporters, Doublin and councilmen Voigt ,some of it even being settled in Bergen County court.
Ridgewood NJ, Nominating Packets for Ridgewood Village Council are still available ,but the deadline for filing completed nominating petitions is March 5, 2018.
Nominating packets are available for Ridgewood residents who are registered voters of the Village of Ridgewood and wish to run for, and serve on, the Ridgewood Village Council. They may be picked up at the Village Clerk’s Office in Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. This year, there are two positions, with four-year terms, to serve on the non-partisan Village Council which will be voted on at the May 8, 2018 Municipal Election. The newly elected Councilmembers will be sworn in and take office on July 1, 2018.
Any questions concerning the Municipal Election should be directed to the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 205 or by email to: [email protected]. or [email protected].
At Ridgewood High School, we believe that students should create bonds through their teams and clubs. We host many events to create opportunities for students to come together throughout the school year and all of these events are monitored by school professionals in a safe environment.
However, students sometimes take it upon themselves to create their own opportunities, such as dart wars, scavenger hunts, or other similar activities. Ridgewood High School does not condone these unsanctioned events.
Because of the heightened awareness of shootings, we strongly urge students to not participate in “dart wars.” Although students use nerf guns during these games, the strategies employed by students to target other teams may be misinterpreted in today’s climate. The Ridgewood Police Department has been informed of the school’s concerns.
To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, legitimate team and club events will always be approved and monitored by a coach, advisor, or administrator. Parents should counsel their children that students should not participate in unsanctioned activities where there is no apparent supervision.
Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Fishbein outlines RPS security measures.Please take a moment to read a March 1 letter to the Ridgewood community on RPS security protocols and practices:
March 1, 2018 Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff and Members of the Ridgewood Community: As the recent Parkland shooting has raised a number of worthy questions from our community members about school safety, I am writing today to address this important topic. Across the district a highly developed safety plan and security protocols are in place at each of our buildings that are designed for both the prevention of, and response to, a variety of security breaches, including, but not limited to lone shooter incidents. Individualized to each school and regularly reviewed for effectiveness, the plan ranges from specific technology-based and mechanical installations like locked doors and web cams, to ongoing practice drills for our students and staff, and professional development. Regular training, evaluation and dialogue with Village of Ridgewood safety officials is another key component of the plan.
This closely coordinated effort is further buttressed by a safety curriculum that works in tandem with our goals for academic excellence and focuses on avoiding dangerous situations. We strive in the Ridgewood Public Schools to build a trusting environment in each building so that our students and staff feel comfortable coming forward with any concerns or knowledge that might impact school safety. We encourage open dialogue and consider the practice of “see something, say something” to be a valuable aspect of our safety plan.
The answer to the question, “Is my child safe?” is yes. Ridgewood schools are very safe. We work hard to provide a secure environment and continuously look to add precautionary measures and other enhancements that will bolster our safety standards and practices. We have a great relationship with Village emergency services professionals, whom we welcome at our practice drills and depend upon for feedback. Parents and guardians, staff and students can be reassured that children and staff are out of harm’s way when they enter our buildings each and every day. Safety is the foundation upon which our mission of excellence is built. Without it, our children cannot be free to fully engage in the learning process, nor are our teachers and staff able to do their jobs.
Of course, there is always room for improvement. In the wake of Parkland, we are again reviewing our protocols with our administrators, staff and students, as well as with the police department and other safety professionals. We will try to learn from that tragedy and implement any adjustments or measures that will further strengthen our security plan.
It is a good time to ask everyone to also look to improve their personal approach to safety. In order to maximize the effectiveness of our security measures and minimize human error, everyone must also do their part by respecting the rules, approaching our drills seriously, and also reporting any safety deficiencies — like open doors — to the building principal or my office. And, while our students and staff are very kind and considerate, opening doors for strangers entering our buildings greatly diminishes security and weakens our ability to enforce the requirement that all visitors report to the Main Office or sign-in area. Posting sensitive information on social media can also weaken our safety and potentially create danger.
The above measures constitute the broad strokes of a carefully created, deep-level plan for assuring the safety of our students and staff in the event of a school shooting, even as we know that events of this type are unlikely to occur and somewhat random. A list of more detailed ways the district seeks to provide a safe environment is also provided at the end of this letter.
I hope I have succeeded in allaying concerns about our district’s safety protocols and practices. It is also my hope that I need not address this issue ever again, while recognizing that a lot must happen before my hope becomes reality.
I look forward to further dialogue on this important topic and welcome suggestions on how we can optimize our partnership to make our schools as safe as possible while also continuing to be welcoming and supportive learning environments.
Thank you for your continued support of the Ridgewood Public Schools. Sincerely, Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools
Elements of the Ridgewood Public Schools Safety Plan While a tragedy like Parkland is unlikely to happen in Ridgewood, we must be prepared as best we can. The Ridgewood Public Schools safety plan includes: • A strong partnership with the Ridgewood Police Department, the Ridgewood Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management and other first responders up to the county level and beyond. The Ridgewood Board of Education, the Ridgewood Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office sign an annual Memorandum of Agreement that ensures partnerships, coordinates tactics and shares information. The Ridgewood Police Department partners with surrounding municipal police departments to practice “live fire” entrees in our schools several times a year, which have been proven effective during occasional false alarm incidents. • Twice monthly training (one fire drill and one safety drill) for all students, faculty and staff. The value of these drills cannot be overemphasized; as seen in the Parkland shooting, they are effective in maintaining calm order and minimizing harm. • Secure exterior entries: Locked exterior doors that are visibly numbered to aid swift emergency response; ID swipe card entry systems; exterior and interior police-accessible video surveillance cameras. • Secure classrooms that are locked at all times and equipped with Voice over IP phone systems enabling calls for assistance and/or 911; exterior-facing classrooms numbered to aid swift emergency response; room signage and markings to aid students and staff during drills and emergencies. • Share 911 software installed on staff cell phones for drills and emergency communication. • Safety professionals: Recently established position of Safety/Security Director and recent hire of a school safety officer. • Community partnerships: Formal reciprocal evacuation agreements with local houses of worship, schools and secondary sites; outreach to extend our lockdown software to local preschools; security guards posted at school voting sites on Election Day, in partnership with the Village of Ridgewood. Planned improvements include: • One-button lockdown solution with notification out at our fields and playgrounds, as well as signal strobe lights on exterior of buildings. • Visitor “kiosk” software/badge systems for our schools, which will require 100% visitor sign-in at our offices. • Re-establishment of the School Resource Officer positon with the Village.
Ridgewood NJ, at the Wednesday evening meeting resident Bill McCandless called the Walker analysis deeply flawed , he went on ” the facts are very clear the Walker report is a reference point we all use , page 15 shows multiply lots weekday day time under 85% , page 16 weekday evenings shows open parking throughout the entire Village , page 19 weekend nights we have an empty parking lots , Walker shows large surplus parking exist in the Village .”
“Weekday existing conditions 57% parking occupied , and weekends 194 spaces go empty .There is no parking deficit , we paid for it twice . to hear this from Walker the fact is the parking Garage unnecessary and unneeded in Ridgewood.”
Apartment builders need a lot. Make the builders pay for a large portion of the garage IF WE BUILD ONE. Otherwise, make them provide adequate parking in their construction. This “most of the residents won’t have a car” stuff is as big of an imaginary concept as “There will almost no new school children” is a pipe dream. Even though Ridgewood’s education is no longer good enough for national bragging, it is better than some school districts. You say “people buy and leave the second their child graduates”. Renting an apartment will accomplish the same thing at a much cheaper cost. Those are the families who will fill the apartments. Is Ridgewood going to set a limit for the number of people in each apartment? These people, like many of our current apartment dwellers, are used to being crowded. It would be worth it to many if it meant putting their children into a better school. Now, each of these families must have at least one, if not two, cars to get the parents to work. And they’ll need much more water than a single older couple would utilize, etc. etc. Ridgewood taxpayers shouldn’t need to pay more than a very few dollars if the builders must pay and the big businesses (most of whose owners are not Ridgewood residents) should be forced to contribute also. They’re the ones screaming that “their businesses will fail w/o a garage”. Let them “put their money where their mouth is”!.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT anticipates regular weekday service on its rail, bus and light rail systems for the service day on Friday, March 2 and regular weekend service on Saturday, March 3 as parts of the state are subject to an intense Nor’easter with coastal flooding, high winds, heavy rain, and even snow in northwestern New Jersey predicted. Cross-honoring is in effect for rail, bus and private carriers and light rail for Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3.
Bus Route Nos. 196/197 only bus tickets and passes will be accepted during this time on the Port Jervis Line trains to/from Harriman, Tuxedo and Sloatsburg. Additionally, Shortline Bus will also cross-honor in Orange County, N.Y. The Warwick plan will be instituted if conditions warrant.
NJ TRANSIT will have personnel and assets in position to address any issues that may arise during or after the storm, which is expected to bring strong wind near the coast and flooding to low-lying areas.
NJ TRANSIT’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will open during the early morning hours on Friday and key personnel will monitor any impacts on the system throughout the duration of the storm.
Customers are strongly advised to monitor the status of the system by checking njtransit.com frequently. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for My Transit Alerts, which provide customized notifications via email or text message based on a customer’s preferred mode of travel. My Transit alerts can be accessed by creating a free account on njtransit.com. In addition, customers are advised to monitor NJ TRANSIT’s social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook, as well as tune in to broadcast traffic reports for the latest information.
Important Notes:
Cross-honoring will be in effect for Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 on NJ TRANSIT bus and private carriers, rail and light rail services. At this time, it is not anticipated that there will be cross-honoring on PATH or NY Waterway ferries.
Regular weekday service for rail, bus, light rail and Access Link will operate as long as conditions allow.
Bus Route Nos. 196 and 197 only bus tickets and passes will be accepted during this time on the Port Jervis Line at the Harriman, Tuxedo, and Sloatsburg Stations. Shortline bus will also be cross-honoring. The Warwick plan will be instituted if conditions warrant.
Before starting your trip, visit the Travel Alerts page at njtransit.com for up-to-the-minute service information. This information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
Customers are encouraged to sign up for the My Transit alert system on njtransit.com, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone.
Allow extra time getting to and from your destination. Use extreme caution when walking on exposed sidewalks or station platforms and when boarding trains and buses.
Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT…
The Flood Watch continues for
* All of southern Connecticut, most of northeast New Jersey, and
all of southeast New York.
* From Friday morning through late Friday night
* A deepening coastal low late Thursday night into Friday will bring heavy rain across the area, with the potential for 2 to 3 inches of rainfall. Heavier bands could produce localized
higher amounts.
* Smaller rivers and streams across the area will be most vulnerable to the possibility of flooding. In addition, poor drainage urban flooding is possible and may be enhanced by the
effects of coastal flooding.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be
alert for possible flood warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT…
* WINDS…North 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.
* TIMING…Strongest winds from Friday afternoon through Friday night.
* IMPACTS…Damaging winds will be capable of downing trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Limited visibilities will make travel difficult.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A High Wind Watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph…or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.
