Tag: Ridgewood Art Institute

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ACLU launches Lawsuit against 12 New Jersey school districts for allegedly requiring citizenship ID

RHS

July 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing 12 school districts in New Jersey, alleging that the districts’ policies requiring an identification card are unconstitutional.

The 12 districts are ; Northern Valley Regional High School District in Bergen County; Bellmawr School District, Sterling Regional High School District and Winslow Township School District in Camden County; East Orange Community Charter School in Essex County; West New York School District in Hudson County., Sea Girt School District in Monmouth County; Harding Township School District in Morris County; Watchung Hills Regional High School District in Somerset County; Montague School District in Sussex County; Cranford School District in Union County; and Allamuchy School District in Warren County.

In a lawsuit file Thursday the group said that the districts are preventing children from going to school by requiring that they have an ID card that includes a Social Security number or valid immigration status.

The ACLU clams ,“It is not possible for immigrants who lack Social Security numbers or a valid immigration status to obtain such identification,” state the lawsuits. “Therefore, these residents and their children are prevented from registering for school and are denied equal protection of the laws.”

New Jersey state law mandates that school districts cannot deny a public school education to students based on their or their parents’ immigration status.

“In a state where one in five residents is foreign-born, at a time when our president has made the exclusion of immigrants a key part of his policy agenda, it’s more important than ever for every school district in New Jersey to meet its obligations, both to New Jersey’s families and to the Constitution,” ACLU-NJ Staff Attorney Elyla Huertas, who filed the lawsuits, said in a statement.

Several of the school districts pushed back against the suit, arguing they do not base enrollment decisions on a student’s immigration status, according to NBC News.

“The Watchung Hills Regional School District does not condition entry into our District based upon a student’s or parent’s immigration/visa status or any other discriminatory reason,” Elizabeth Jewett, the superintendent Watchung, one of the schools hit with the lawsuit, said in a statement.
Some of officials from schools hit by the lawsuits told the outlet that they were reviewing their districts’ paperwork and policies posted online to ensure they were in line with the policies in place.

In an email to NBC, Northern Valley schools Superintendent James Santana called the claims “misleading.” He said his district complies with all state and federal regulations, and that “we are going to vigorously defend ourselves against these baseless charges,” according to NBC News.

Well it would seem progressives in those districts will quickly cave and sell out tax payers , the fact is you need to prove you live in a district to send your kids there. Secondly , as for immigrants, there is a huge difference between legal immigrant s and illegal immigrants regardless of what the main stream media would want you to think.

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AG Grewal Announces Working Group on Municipal Court Prosecutions of Marijuana Offenses and Other Crimes

POT-SMOKING-KID

July 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ,  Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today named the members of a working group of criminal justice stakeholders that will review the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in marijuana-related and other offenses in municipal court, as well as other issues relating to the role of municipal prosecutors.

The 20-member working group will represent prosecutors from the state, county, and municipal levels; defense attorneys; police; civil rights organizations; and other community leaders. This broad spectrum of stakeholders reflects the collaborative approach that Attorney General Grewal has taken with respect to all policy initiatives he has spearheaded during his tenure.
The Attorney General first announced that he would convene a working group to study and advise him on the scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretionary authority in a letter issued earlier this week. The Attorney General will consider the working group’s advice when he prepares a directive—expected in August—that will provide guidance about the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in marijuana-related cases in municipal court.

In creating the working group, the Attorney General is taking action to respond to recent developments that raise concerns about quality of justice being administered in New Jersey’s municipal courts. First, last week, a New Jersey Supreme Court committee released a report that makes a series of recommendations for policy changes and legislative proposals aimed at promoting the fair administration of justice in municipal courts. Also last week, the Attorney General issued a letter addressing the proper scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretion in marijuana-related cases and invalidating a memorandum issued by a municipal prosecutor who purported to decriminalize marijuana.
“I look forward to hearing from this working group about how we can improve the equal, impartial, and uniform administration of justice in our municipal courts,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Every day, my Department works with criminal justice stakeholders to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This working group will review how the municipal prosecutors under my supervision can contribute responsibly to the progressive solutions we are seeking.”

“Chief Justice Rabner has called on New Jersey’s municipal courts to adhere to the Judiciary’s high standards of integrity, independence, and fairness, without regard to any outside pressures,” Attorney General Grewal noted. “The working group that we are establishing today will kick start a parallel review of the scope and appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion in municipal court, including in prosecutions of marijuana offenses.”
The members of the new working group will include:
Veronica Allende, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice within the Department of Law and Public Safety, who will chair working group;
Matthew Berns, Counsel to the Attorney General;
Richard T. Burke, Warren County Prosecutor;
Pat Colligan, President of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association;
Claudia DeMitro, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice;
Annette DePalma, President of the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors’ Association;
Stephan Finkel, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Law and Public Safety;
Charles Fiore, Gloucester County Prosecutor;
W. Reed Gusciora, Mayor of Trenton;
Jake Hudnut, Chief Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Jersey City;
Van Lane, Deputy Public Defender for the Monmouth Trial Region;
Robyn B. Mitchell, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice;
Jiles H. Ship, New Jersey Police Training Commissioner and Past President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and
Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP);
Ahmad Rasool, Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Newark (or a designee);
Amol Sinha, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey (or a designee);
Richard T. Smith, President of the New Jersey State Conference of the NAACP;
Steven A. Somogyi, Assistant Director for the Municipal Court Services Division of the New Jersey Judiciary;
Sherry Stembridge, Assistant Essex County Prosecutor;
Esther Suarez, Hudson County Prosecutor;
John Zebrowski, Chief of Police, Sayreville Police Department.

The working group may offer recommendations to the Attorney General on issues including the proper scope of municipal prosecutors’ discretionary authority, in general and with regard to marijuana offenses in particular; the manner in which chief municipal prosecutors exercise their authority over other municipal prosecutors, subject to the supervisory authority of the county prosecutors and Attorney General; and the ethics, integrity, and independence of municipal prosecutors from improper outside influence.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Grewal asked all municipal prosecutors in New Jersey to pause marijuana-related prosecutions in municipal court until September 4, 2018, while the Office of the Attorney General solicits advice from the working group and develops statewide guidance. The Attorney General’s directive from earlier this week does not affect law enforcement officers’ authority to make marijuana-related arrests or County Prosecutors’ authority to prosecute marijuana-related offenses in Superior Court. The Attorney General’s forthcoming directive will address how marijuana-related prosecutions may proceed in municipal court after September 4, 2018.
While the working group will advise the Attorney General on municipal court prosecutions of marijuana-related offenses—in time for the Attorney General to issue his directive in August—the working group may offer advice on other topics, to inform longer-term, progressive reforms concerning the role of municipal prosecutors.

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Reader says If I owned a business in CBD I would be mad that I didn’t get the same perks as Healthbarn

Habernickel Park Gate House

In order to hold Stacey to her lease that would require tax $$ which is crazy. Since she is unable to follow what she presented in Nov 2015 & what’s in the lease the lease should be terminated. On top of taking neighbors to court she is the hostile one that needs to go. Anyone who thinks she does good things for the village must be getting free zucchini’s too. What should be noted is everyone entering the park is under surveillance because of Stacey. Blinding lights in the parking lot also the result of having this business in a park. Tim said all Parks & fields would have the same lights installed has that happened yet? Maple was redone did that part of the parking lot get the same intensity lights? If I owned a business in CBD I would be mad that I didn’t get the same perks as Healthbarn free advertising on Parks & rec website special events that are held at Healthbarn its favoritism at its worst. On top of all that Stacey still feels the need to falsely charge neighbors of harassment. Supporting Healthbarn is supporting this kind of behavior from the village who stands by her & Stacey who is doing it.

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Reader says Very very strange things going on

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That’s right who is God. I never seen a church open up at 2 o’clock in the morning. Very very strange things going on all the windows are all smoked so you can see Jhuuu that’s right who is God. I never seen a church open up at 2 o’clock in the morning. Very very strange things going on all the windows are all smoked so you can see In , hummmmmmm, We’ve heard that at times they do not let the police or the 40 appointment for an inspection. We believe that’s been documented too. Refusal entry on many Municipality inspections.

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Ridgewood Resident Reports a “Defiant Trespass”

ridgewood police

July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood police report that a Southern Parkway resident reported a defiant trespass was discovered to have occurred in the past after the victim reviewed his surveillance camera footage on July 19th. The victim identified the person as a key holder who entered his residence without notification or authority to do so. The incident was documented as a matter of record.

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Reader claims NOBODY cares about current Ridgewood residents

clock

How can anybody feel betrayed by Hache? He is realtor for God’s sake. Why would he care about your quality of life? I never expected much from him even though I gave him my vote. But it’s not only him. I’ve heard so many stories about VC from other towns across NJ. NOBODY cares about current residents. It is all about outsiders be it developers or businesses or low income families. NJ is a state of crooks where you can be bought and sold for very little. Honesty and decency are foreign terms. You have no say over the place you live, you’re a stranger in your own village/town. If you try to protect your way of life you’re biased and racist. The worst is that everybody is scared to stand up to these allegations. I would like to stand up to Antine and tell her in the face that “yes, I am against Newark kids coming to play in Ridgewood because before we provide for outsiders we need to take care of our kids first so shut the hell up and get lost. You stink of hypocrisy” but can’t do it because I know I will be crucified and the first to condemn me would be my own VC members let alone the majority of hypocrite lefties that are swarming everywhere. Until I can afford moving I will just shut my mouth and try clear my mind of this ugliness.

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Ridgewood Mayor Celebrates the 28th Anniversary of the  Americans with Disabilities at Ridgecrest

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July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, Village of Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hache celebrates the 28th anniversary of the  Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hache said . “Very grateful to have had the opportunity to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at Ridgecrest. Thank you Sue Ullrich for the invitation.”

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Graydon Pool: Green flag, yellow flag , red flag

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Green flag, yellow flag , red flag

July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to Marcia Ringel of Preserve Graydon ,the  Summer weather is quixotic. How do you know when Graydon has been temporarily closed because of thunder or lightning?

Look for the flag: red means closed, green means open, as at the Shore. A yellow flag means that Graydon is open provisionally; patrons should be prepared to leave in case the predicted bad weather strikes. (No rip tides.)

Notification of closure due to weather was requested at a Village Council meeting by longtime resident Boyd Loving, and the village followed up with the flags. Maybe in the future the triggering of the lightning detection system could be connected to the website? Or sent automatically to members via email? On the wish list.

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NJ TRANSIT AND NEXTDOOR PARTNER IN COMMUNITY POLICING INITIATIVE

All Clear at Ridgewood Train Station

file photo by Boyd Loving

July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  The New Jersey Transit Police Department  has partnered with Nextdoor, a global, private social network for neighborhoods to utilize the social media app to help increase active “eyes and ears’’ surrounding NJ TRANSIT’s infrastructure.

“Safety is the number one priority for NJ TRANSIT,’’ said Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “The New Jersey Transit Police Department is continually looking at innovative strategies to maintain a safe and secure transit system and is the first transit police department to leverage the Nextdoor neighborhood social network. It will improve direct communication for both sides by allowing the sharing of vital information. Residents will have a chance to express their concerns regarding safety to the very officers who patrol and command their ‘home turf.’ It is a win-win situation.’’

This first-of-its-kind partnership between the New Jersey Transit Police Department and Nextdoor will enhance community policing by helping decrease rail line crime and accidents and promote interaction between those who live within a close proximity to NJ TRANSIT rail and light rail lines and stations, and bus terminals.

“NJ TRANSIT understands how important it is to maintain positive relationships with the local communities we serve,’’ said New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “By utilizing the Nextdoor network, the members of the New Jersey Transit Police Department will be able to directly communicate with our unofficial “eyes and ears,’’ the members of the communities we serve. At NJ TRANSIT, we see the partnership with Nextdoor as a tool to strengthen our connections to these local communities, and it gives our neighbors a way to get to know the men and women of the New Jersey Transit Police Department.’’

For video of today’s news conference, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHEcsdukwDI

The New Jersey Transit Police Department will not be able to access residents’ network information or content on Nextdoor.

With access to Nextdoor’s public agency platform, the New Jersey Transit Police Department will be able to geo-target Nextdoor residents who live within a one-mile radius of rail and light rail lines and stations, and bus terminals to:

  • Inform nearby residents of criminal activity such as theft and vandalism;
  • Educate residents on how to report suspicious activity;
  • Provide educational information on how to teach children about the dangers of railroad tracks; and
  • Increase the number of residents who interact with New Jersey Transit Police officers who patrol nearby stations and terminals.

Nextdoor is free for residents and the New Jersey Transit Police Department.

Founded in 2010, Nextdoor is a private, hyperlocal social network for neighborhoods used by verified NJ residents. Local residents use Nextdoor for a variety of things such as finding a babysitter to addressing crime and quality-of-life concerns.

This past spring, the New Jersey Transit Police Department conducted a pilot test of the platform for neighborhoods along the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and Morris & Essex stations. Feedback indicated that neighbors were overwhelming in favor of the partnership.

Those who live within one-mile of NJ TRANSIT’s rail and light rail lines, train stations and bus terminals may sign up for Nextdoor at https://nextdoor.com/agency/new-jersey-transit-police-department/?i=ktzxwqknqbpdnxqhmhwr.

To report a crime in progress or request immediate police or emergency assistance, call 9-1-1 or the New Jersey Transit Police Communications Center at 800-242-0236 or text NJTPD (65873).

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Forced Abortion Suit Against Alleged Ridgewood Cult to Proceed

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July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A lawsuit against a Ridgewood church, the World Mission Society Church of God that some former members have described as a cult is moving forward after a judge denied a motion to dismiss a woman’s claim that she was subjected to “psychological harm and trauma” after joining and that she was pressured to have an abortion.

The World Mission Society Church of God has been applauded for its efficiency and devotion in community emergencies has been accused of being a cult by former members and experts alike. The religion centers around the belief that a South Korean woman in her 70s is the physical manifestation of God. Among many alarming accusations, the allegations that officials forced members into having abortions are the most shocking.

Former members claim that because one of the tenets of their beliefs was the idea that the world would end in 2012, congregants were encouraged not to have children. One woman, Michelle Ramirez, has a pending federal lawsuit that details the coerced abortion that still causes her to have nightmares about the apocalypse. Ron Ramos, a former church leader, claimed that he never saw anyone directly tell a member to terminate their pregnancy, though it was often implied.

In the federal lawsuit, that was filed in 2014, the suite alleges that the World Mission Society Church of God deprived a former North Jersey woman of sleep, overworked her and alienated her from friends and family as a form of “brainwashing” in order to destroy “her independent will.”

The plaintiff, Michelle Ramirez, also alleges that the church defrauded her by persuading her to donate 10 percent of her income without revealing its true beliefs. Former members have said they attended the church for months before being told a South Korean woman in her 70s is the living manifestation of God.

The church has denied the lawsuit’s allegations in court papers.

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel three day Mission Trip

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photo courtesy of OLMC

July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, at Archdiocese of Newark Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry.

While on their three day Mission Trip serving those at the Fr. English Center, Paterson; St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen, Newark and Camp Sunshine right here in Ridgewood, our junior high teens met Cardinal Tobin as they were getting ready to depart for their day of service on Tuesday.

Cardinal Tobin was at the retreat center in Kearny to bless the new statue of St. John Paul II placed in front of the main building. Our teens were using the center as their main base of operations and met Cardinal Tobin as they were waiting for their bus!

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Ridgewood Police Intervene in Road Rage Incident

ridgewood police

file photo by Boyd Loving

July 27,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A North Pleasant Avenue resident contacted the Ridgewood Police Department on July 24th to report a road rage incident which began in Franklin Lakes, N.J. then continued through Wyckoff and Midland Park before ending in Ridgewood. The victim reported the incident as she entered into the Village of Ridgewood and reported she was being harassed by an unknown person operating grey colored Toyota Pickup. Patrol units responded to the victim’s location on Franklin Avenue, however the unidentified person driving the Toyota Pickup had turned off Franklin Avenue prior to patrol’s interaction with the caller. Patrol units checked the area but were unable to locate a vehicle matching the caller’s description.

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Accused of Placing only Most Expensive Hospitals as OMNIA’s Tier 1 partners

Valley Hospital

July 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ according to Beckers Hospital review ,Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey paid a consulting group $1.7 million to produce reports on how the health insurer could develop its OMNIA Health Plans, which place hospitals in two tiers based on quality and cost. Lower-ranked hospitals argue three reports from McKinsey & Co. obtained by NJ Advance Media show Horizon steered McKinsey’s research to include the state’s most expensive hospitals into Tier 1, according to NJ.com.

Valley Hospital sued Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield after it was placed on the tier 2 list .

Becker’s Hospital Review previously reported 10 findings from McKinsey’s reports on June 28. Below are another five highlights from the analysis:

1. In Horizon’s first 2014 memo to McKinsey, the health insurer outlined OMNIA’s objectives: narrow down Tier 1 and 2 hospitals and lower the health insurer’s costs. Under OMNIA, if policyholders want the lowest out-of-pocket costs compared to other Horizon plans, they must visit one of the 36 hospitals in Tier 1 that agree to accept lower reimbursements from Horizon in exchange for more patients.

2. All major New Jersey health systems Horizon later designated as Tier 1 hospitals — Hackensack Meridian Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Health in New Brunswick, St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and Atlantic Health System in Morristown — were absent from McKinsey’s initial top 14 hospitals, according to NJ.com’s analysis of the reports. The documents reveal Horizon CEO Kevin Conlin told McKinsey to downplay how much a hospital’s size and cost would affect which hospitals the firm chose for OMNIA’s Tier 1 partners. Horizon argued OMNIA’s value-based model meant “past financial performance is not necessarily indicative of future cost of care,” according to the report.

3. In addition, one of the reports from May 2014 highlights how OMNIA intended to steer patients away from hospitals in New York. McKinsey analyzed 2013 data to show how much Horizon paid physicians and hospitals in New York, and how much placing New York hospitals in Tier 2 would positively affect Tier 1 hospitals. For example, McKinsey projected Hackensack would see $25 million in profits “from volume in other hospital in service area,” as well as $8 million from other competitors like New York.

4. In a lawsuit, two Tier 2 hospitals — 451-bed Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J., and 284-bed CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, N.J. — claim Horizon “breached its duty to act in good faith” by placing them in OMNIA’s Tier 2, thereby costing them millions of dollars. Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck was also a plaintiff in the hospitals’ case until June 26, when it and Horizon announced they had reached a confidential settlement.

Full report from NJ.com

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/07/here_are_the_documents_horizon_did_not_want_the_pu.html

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Readers Rattle off a Litany of Complaints of the village choosing to support a business over the quality of life of tax payers

Habernickel HealthBarn USA protest

file photo by Boyd Loving

Many changes during my 28 years as a neighbor of the Habernickel Horse Farm. The once bucolic setting transformed into a chaotic mix of nonstop Health barn business activities and recreation programs. Hillcrest Road is a mess and wildlife is disappearing.Fear of retaliation keeps neighbors quiet.

Stacy Antine stalks the neighbors. She takes photos of them walking their dogs in the park and she instructs her employees to do the same.  She has a timeline in a few of them and they are NOT afraid to share it or speak out. This business destroyed a park and the owner made it personal and took neighbors to court. Ramon was aware of this situation and now as Mayor is promoting it. What a disappointment .

Be careful in that park. Antine keeps a list of all who enter even-neighborhood kids with backpacks what out. Unless you pay to go you get written up It is NO longer a friendly neighborhood park thanks to healthbarn and the village for still allowing it.

I heard that Antine was accusing neighbors of being racist, and now that I remember those hearings was back when Aronsohn and Sonenfeld ruled the dais that was the case then. People who spoke up against using a public park for a private enterprise were accused of not wanting children from Newark to come to lily white Ridgewood. Whenever the racism card is put down on the table all bets are off. She is despicable.

the neighbors are willing to let everyone know what Stacy Antine owner of healthbarn did to them in their own neighborhood where they must pay a ton of taxes to live Ramon should be ashamed to promote this business after the owner pulled a stunt like the one she did. Everyone should know and be aware that the village is choosing to support a business over the quality of life of tax payers

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Fire Heavily Damages Classroom at the Willard Elementary School

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photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

July 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A fire heavily damaged a classroom at the Willard Elementary School, 601 Morningside Road, Ridgewood on Wednesday morning, 07/25. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which also sent heavy smoke throughout the building’s entire first floor. Ridgewood Fire Department extinguished the fire within minutes of arriving on scene. The school was occupied by over a dozen construction and maintenance workers when the fire broke out. Everyone was safely evacuated from the building. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood EMS, and Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel also responded to the incident. The fire’s origin and cause remains under investigation.