>Christie to propose major changes to NJ employee pensions, health benefits
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today will propose cuts in pension payments for state and local government workers and teachers, along with dramatically higher employee health benefit payments, according to two administration sources. The proposed reforms will also end annual cost-of-living pension increases for all state and local retirees, the sources said. (Method, Asbury Park Press)
>BOE SEEKS VOLUNTEER FOR FIELDS COMMITTEE
The Board of Education is looking for a volunteer to serve as Member-At-Large on the joint Village-BOE Fields Committee. The Fields Committee meets monthly to discuss the use, scheduling and upkeep of the athletic fields which are owned and maintained by the Village and the Board of Ed. Meetings are generally held the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 AM at the Ed Center. Any community member who would like to volunteer should contact Board Secretary Angelo DeSimone at [email protected]
. Any questions about the Fields Committee can be directed to Laurie Goodman, BOE Liaison to the committee, [email protected]
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>Village Council Elections : Oliver Train In short
I am putting documentation and website together now. It will up by the end of the week.
In short though:
Valley Hospital – I am against changing the master plan to the extent that Vally wants. The Hospital does need to modernize (and probably expand somewhat), but what they are asking for is not appropriate for the neighborhood.
The Hospital also needs to address the additional burden their expansion will place on taxpayers – expanded use of services, traffic, property values, COAH, it’s endless…
Turf Fields- Certainly nice to have, but we should not have spent the money to do it now. Steven’s field is particularly concerning to me. It has survived a rainstorm or two…how many more can it take?
NJ Transit – putting aside my positive bias towards all things train for a second – I think we need to wait and see on this one. The shuttle bus is certainly a problem for the taxi guy, but I think it will be a positive for many businesses – parking free foot traffic is a good thing. Who pays for it when the grant expires is the question though.
One concern I do have is the possibility of increased crime. I’ve heard that towns with Midtown direct, or other “enhanced” services tend to be easier to escape from, which makes them targets.
Graydon – I am against making changes to Gradyon. I do think that there has to be a filtration solution and we should investigate that, and I do think that the actual boundaries within the swimming area could be changed to make it easier to monitor.
Building a new pool is fine, as long as it does not end up placing an additional tax burden on residents. The Y or the Tennis club should be encouraged to step up here.
Oliver Train
[email protected]
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Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Makes Donation to the Adler Aphasia Center
Ridgewood-NJ-September 13, 2010: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Council #1736 made a $250 donation to the Adler Aphasia Center of Maywood. Aphasia is a language disorder that impairs the expression of spoken language, reading, and writing. It occurs most often from a stroke or brain injury. This frustrating condition affects a person’s ability to communicate, but does not affect his or her intellect.
The Adler Aphasia Center is a resource for people with Aphasia, their caregivers, and the community. “Through our innovative group programming, we provide a therapeutic environment that promotes successful living with Aphasia, creating opportunities for social connection and breaking down barriers to communication”, said Karen Tucker, Executive Director of the Center.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability.1 “Strokes and brain injury have a devastating effect on the entire family. The Adler Center is one of only a few such facilities in the entire country, and we wanted to do whatever we could to help out”, said Richard Hrvatin of the Ridgewood Knights council.
For more information on the Adler Aphasia Center, go to www.adleraphasiacenter.org, or call (201) 368-8585.
1 Source: www.strokecenter.org/patients/stats.htm
>Gov. Chris Christie signs order to eliminate 60 boards, commissions
TRENTON — In 2002, when New Jersey’s motor vehicle agency was “in crisis,” the state created a commission to help overhaul an agency plagued by poor customer service and poor security. (Fleisher, Statehouse Bureau)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/gov_chris_christie_signs_order.html
>N.Y.-N.J. tunnel project halted on cost overruns
N.J. halts new work on $8.7B N.Y.-N.J. tunnel project due to budget issues
New Jersey is temporarily shutting down all new work and suspending additional contract bids on an $8.7 billion railway tunnel to New York because federal officials say the project may go as much as a billion dollars over budget — money New Jersey doesn’t have. (Sherman, Star-Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/nj_halts_new_work_on_87b_ny-nj.html
>Gov. Christie signs bill allowing N.J. residents to send children to public schools in other towns
Published: Sunday, September 12, 2010, 9:00 AM
September 12, 2010, 4:06 PM
Jessica Calefati/The Star-Ledger
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/gov_christie_signs_bill_allowi.html
TRENTON — Parents dissatisfied with the quality of their local public schools can now send their children to classrooms beyond district boundaries — in some cases at taxpayer expense.
Sponsored by Assembly Democrats Mila Jasey, Joan Voss and Paul Moriarty, a new law allows up to 10 percent of a district’s students to attend any other public school in the state whose enrollment is not at capacity. If more than 10 percent of a district’s students seek enrollment in new schools, it’s unclear what criteria that district would use to select which students are allowed to leave.
The bill also requires home districts to provide and pay for students’ transportation to new schools up to 20 miles away, a significant financial responsibility the bill’s sponsors did not negate.
“No doubt, some students who find themselves stifled at their current school would prosper in a neighboring school district,” said Voss (D-Bergen). “But we also need to be fair and mindful of the necessity to balance the needs of students with costs ultimately borne by taxpayers.”
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/gov_christie_signs_bill_allowi.html
>Village Council Elections : Lou Lembo “careful planning” and “mutual agreement”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/102601674_Letter__Lembo_running_for_council_seat.html
“Lembo running for council seat
To the editor:
On Nov. 2, I will be on the ballot for the open council seat in Ridgewood. I have lived in Ridgewood for over 60 years, with family members serving over 90 years, and I feel the time has come to do my part to preserve our village. I will keep an eye on the future so that everyone can continue to call Ridgewood home.
We are facing many issues, but I feel with careful planning and mutual agreement we can lead our village in a positive direction.
There are several big-ticket items we face; I feel that every issue must be thoroughly investigated before any decisions are made.
Together we can make a difference.
Lou Lembo
Ridgewood”
>
>9/11 a Day to Remember
take a minute today to remember our community’s huge loss
>Village Council Elections : Oliver Train : “this is not a one-issue election”
I completely agree that this is not a one-issue election. I am not a one issue candidate.
Unlike Mr. Wellinghorst, both my home and place of business are in Ridgewood. I am in town three days a week.
I will be very active and vocal in making this town a better place with affordable taxes.
Before deciding who to vote for I think each person should at least hear what all the candidates have to say. I know that my campaign will have numerous opportunities to do so…please come to a coffee or get in touch with me. Dates and locations will be posted here as well as other outlets.
Thanks!
Oliver Train
[email protected]
>Kathleen Donovan Won’t Play in Desperate Democrats’ Show Trial
September 8, 2010
James Carroll, Chairman
Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
One Bergen County Plaza
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Dear Chairman Carroll,
I have been made aware of your “invitation” to appear at today’s Freeholder work session. Please be advised that I do not accept your invitation nor will I be appearing at what amounts to a “show” for the remainder of this campaign.
Your invitation is unique and without merit. I have been County Clerk for 21+ years and, until I filed to run for Bergen County Executive this year, I was never “invited” to Freeholder meetings. Your purpose is clearly political and reflects the lowest form of political abuse. It’s a pattern that has been followed since I announced my candidacy for County Executive. It is a prime example of why voters are turned off by corrupt government officials. Yes, this is an example of corruption in the truest sense.
Did you “invite” County Executive McNerney to “visit” after numerous instances of corruption and questionable practices at a number of County agencies under his control including the Bergen Academies and Bergen County Improvement Authority?
Have you made any effort whatsoever to address hundreds if not tens of millions of cost overruns identified by the Record in the construction of Overpeck Park?
The answer to these and other egregious politically inspired activities is a resounding “no”.
I understand that you have also invited Acting County Police Chief Malakas to presumably conduct or should I say once again attempt to re-ignite the witch hunt which was in fact the County’s failure to conclude audits of the County Clerk’s office for a number of years. You and the McNerney administration have attempted to paint your failures as mine. Your clumsy effort was a feeble attempt to denigrate the hardworking employees of the Clerk’s office which has earned its reputation for efficiency and customer friendliness.
Here are the facts that would never be presented during your political set-up. First, the County Clerk’s office is so well managed that we have been able to save each Bergen County family roughly $300.00 — the amount of revenue over expense that your office has taken in under my leadership. Much of those savings is turned over to you for County uses. Has that money been identified through audit?
During the past two years I have reduced my workforce and lowered by budget. Can the same be said for the County and its questionable patronage hiring practices?
To set the record straight, a police escort comes every day to our office to accompany our staff person making the daily deposits. Without an escort the deposit does not go. I do not allow my staff to go to the bank unless they go with the police. This has been the policy in place for at least twenty years, which I implemented. The Sheriff’s Officers escorted my staff when we were in the Court House, as they were in charge of security there, and the BCPD has provided escorts for my office ever since we moved into the new administration building some ten years ago.
Acting Chief Malakas received a letter from my office last Friday, requesting a meeting with him to work out a schedule. I was not in the office when he called on Tuesday. I expect we will be meeting shortly.
So there it is. There will not be a “Show Trial” in the tradition of Mao’s China or Stalin’s Soviet Union. Instead of trying to sully my record and the record of the Clerk’s office, you will have to run on your own – as will County Executive McNerney.
You will have to explain your stewardship of our of control agencies like the BCIA where the debt alone has escalated from $10 million to $450 million under your control. That’s more that $500 for every man, woman and child in Bergen County! You will have to explain why county debt and spending have grown out of control under your watch with last year’s spending increased by $85 million or $100 for every county resident.
You will have to explain why, while attempting to smear me, you blatantly appropriated some $70,000 so that the County Executive could attempt to paint over the scandal of Overpeck Park using taxpayer money to pay for what amounts to pure, inaccurate political campaign TV commercials.
You will have to explain a lot to the voters between now and November 2nd. And I can promise you that the questions that you fail to answer now will be asked again in a more formal manner next January.
Very truly yours
Kathleen A. Donovan
> Obamacare: Health Insurers’ Tie Proposed Rate Hikes to Health Care Reform
Health Insurers’ Tie Proposed Rate Hikes to Health Care Reform
Posted by Stephanie Condon
https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20015859-503544.html
Health insurers across the country are planning to raise premiums for some of their customers in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reports, and they are in part blaming President Obama’s health care reform package for the rate hikes.
On the surface, at least, the news boosts Republicans’ arguments against the Democrats’ reforms ahead of this year’s midterm elections. But the White House and other supporters of the reform package say they are skeptical of the health insurance companies’ rationale.
Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked regulators to approve premium increases of between one percent and nine percent to pay for the bill’s early benefits, the Journal reports. The rate increases would largely apply to individual plans (9 percent of Americans have individual plans) and those offered for small businesses (about 20 percent of Americans get coverage from small employers).
The early benefits cited by insurers for the rate increase include allowing children up to 26 years old to stay on their parents’ health care plans, eliminating co-payments for preventive care and prohibiting insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. These benefits apply to all plans, not just individual and small business policies.
The insurers are also reportedly asking for further rate increases they are not tying to the health care overhaul that they say are needed to cover rising medical costs. Some customers could see their premiums increase by more than 20 percent.
yes there is more:
https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20015859-503544.html
>Gov. Christie pushes reform agenda for N.J. ethics rules, pension and health benefits
As lawmakers in Trenton held a hearing at the Statehouse on his administration’s mistake that cost New Jersey $400 million in federal “Race to the Top” education aid, Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday stood before a more friendly crowd 67 miles away to push for changes in state ethics laws, pension and health benefits, education and New Jersey’s business climate. (Friedman, The Star Ledger)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/gov_christie_pushes_reform_age.html
>12 N.J. communities to receive WTC steel pieces for memorials
Twelve New Jersey communities are receiving pieces of steel from the World Trade Center for inclusion in public memorials to honor victims of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (The Associated Press)
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/12_nj_communities_to_receive_w.html
