Return all the money generated as ‘fines’ in a year as equal cash payment annually to all residents in that municipality instead of keeping it in the black hole called the municipal budget. It should be a separate equal cash payment and municipalities should not be able to call it a ‘rebate’ against property taxes or tie them together in any way.
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When you take away the ability of those in power to benefit from their misbehavior, the abuses will stop!
By Michael Symons July 24, 2017 7:03 PM
There’s a growing sentiment to do something about tamping down use of municipal courts to generate fines to support a city or town’s budget.
Committees of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the state Supreme Court are each looking at the issue now, and a state Assembly committee recently did the same. Lawmakers floated ideas such as regionalization, making municipal courts a division of Superior Court and pooling all revenues from fines.
Paul Catanese, who was a judge for 20 years in South Brunswick, Lawrence and Hamilton, said judges need to be freed up to be independent, not worrying about whether they’ll be reappointed if they levy small or no fines in cases when that’s appropriate.
“There’s always this if not explicit this implicit sense that you need more revenues from the court,” said Catanese, who said a few years ago one Middlesex County town switched judges specifically because it wanted more revenue from court fines.
“Judges know what their job is,” Catanese said. “It’s to do individual justice in individual cases. That’s what our role is. It’s not our job to raise revenues for the town.”
Read More: Feel like NJ courts are just money-makers? Here are the ideas to change that | https://nj1015.com/feel-like-nj-courts-are-just-money-makers-here-are-the-ideas-to-change-that/?trackback=tsmclip
July 25,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, by the looks of some of the comments yesterday , some residents in Ridgewood have clearly been drinking water with with lead in it for far to long.
In April the Ridgewood blog reported on the test results in the Ridgewood school system . The State of New Jersey requires all drinking water in our school facilities to be tested for lead during the 2016-2017 school year.
Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more.
It is important to recognize all the ways a child can be exposed to lead. Children are exposed to lead in paint, dust, soil, air, and food, as well as drinking water. If the level of lead in a child’s blood is at or above the CDC action level of 5 micrograms per deciliter, it may be due to lead exposures from a combination of sources. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person’s total exposure to lead. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
JULY 24, 2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of BRANDON C. RYAN (DOB: 07/30/1994; single; and unemployed) of 161 Devon Street, Kearny, New Jersey on charges of Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, and the Ridgewood Police Department under the direction of Chief Jacqueline Luthcke.
On July 16, 2017, the Ridgewood Police Department and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that a 15-year old victim was sexually assaulted by Brandon RYAN on the previous day in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
As a result of the investigation, Brandon RYAN was arrested by the Kearny Police Department on Friday, July 21, 2017 and charged with one count of Sexual Assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(4), a 2nd degree crime; and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a, a 3rd degree crime. After being processed, Brandon C. RYAN was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending a first appearance at the Bergen County Central Judicial Court on Monday, July 24, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Ridgewood Police Department and the Kearny Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
July 25,2017
the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, An anonymous tipster alleges that the Village’s tree crews are illegally dumping wood chips too close to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, on a walking path connecting Maple Field to the Graydon Pool parking lot.
Several years ago, NJDEP formally cited PSE&G for doing the same thing, only PS was dumping the chips on their right of way, which adjoins the Brook between Spring Avenue and Grove Street.
We assume the Village will plead ignorance to the law?
July 25 ,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce has been advised by Ridgewood High School of a SCAM that is going around the Ridgewood business district.
Please note a company that is asking for donations to buyT-shirts for students at Ridgewood High School is a SCAM.
The business is called Touchdown Sports, LLC –it is a SCAM…when checked, they go by several other names.
If you have been solicited, call the high school to report —
201-670-2800 x20543, ask for Maureen.
Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 90th Anniversary 1927-2017 and is one of the nation’s oldest running Chambers of Commerce .
July 24,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Saddle River County Park is a 577-acre linear park that meanders with the Saddle River and its tributary brooks. It consists of five park areas that are linked by a multi-use path, including circular paths around some ponds.
Multi-use pathway/Bicycle-Pedestrian Path: This bike and pedestrian path travels from Ridgewood to Rochelle Park and is approximately 6 miles in length. This continuous path runs through Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, Paramus, Saddle Brook and Rochelle Park and under Route 4. This path also follows the Saddle River and Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and passes by the Historic Easton Tower at Route 4. The path features a scenic waterfall at Dunkerhook Park, and there are three ponds, tree shaded picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds, tennis courts and athletic fields accessible along the path.
Readers have often commented on the poor shape of some of the recreation areas as well as the actual duck pond it self .
One read asks ,”So why does the Duck Pond look like such sh$t! It is the first thing you see when you come into Ridgewood and it looks horrible. When are they going to fix it once and for all!
Another reader commented , the “Water flow at duck pond should be fixed ..the active Brook river water flows and curves through the south side of the park..creativity please
Save the Pond from its stagnant phases create a conduit into and out of the Brook with Storm shut off valves to protect the ADJOINING properties on the north side of the Pond..storm water discharges into the pond in heavy rail..but not enough through volumes to keep the pond alive.”
MEETINGS ARE HELD THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH,
UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE
DATE TYPE OF MEETING LOCATION TIME___
Village Hall Court Room
131 North Maple Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
July 18, 2016 Reorganization & Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
August 1, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
August 15, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
September 5, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
September 19, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
October 3, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
October 17, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
November 7, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
November 21, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
December 5, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
December 19, 2017 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
January 2, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
January 16, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
February 6, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
February 20, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
March 6, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
March 20, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
April 3, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
April 17, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
May 1, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
May 15, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
June 5, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
June 19, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
July 3, 2018 Reorganization & Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
July 17, 2018 Regular Meeting Village Hall Court Room 7:30 p.m.
All meetings are open to the public, except for closed sessions, which may be held at any time. Regular
meetings may include work sessions, at which no formal action is taken, and/or items involving formal action
of the Board.
file photo by Boyd Loving
People what is going on, this new manager may be great where he came from. But all the respect like the other post said, what experienced does he have in the water department. If not this is getting very very dirty, why don’t you hire someone from a water company. How come the village is not hiring from within. We should be trying our younger workers sending him to school to climb the ladder and then you have people with experience many many years how come they can’t figure this out. What a joke
July 24,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Transgender students at New Jersey’s public schools were given new layers of protection under a bill that Gov. Chris Christie signed into law Friday.
The legislation know as (S3067/A4652), takes effect immediately and requires the state education commissioner to draft specific guidelines to help schools like Ridgewood address “the needs” of transgender students and establish policies that “ensure a supportive and nondiscriminatory environment” for those students.
Transgender students are now able to use bathrooms or locker rooms that coincide with their “gender identity”.
Schools will be mandated to provide “reasonable alternative arrangements if needed to ensure a student’s safety and comfort.”
Schools will also be required to make sure transgender students are addressed by the name and pronoun they prefer, regardless of whether a legal name change has occurred.
file photo by Boyd Loving
Flood Watch
National Weather Service New York NY
353 AM EDT Mon Jul 24 2017
…Flash flooding possible this morning…
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS
MORNING…
The Flash Flood Watch continues for
* Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New York,
including the following areas, in northeast New Jersey,
Eastern Bergen, Eastern Essex, Eastern Passaic, Eastern Union,
Hudson, Western Bergen, Western Essex, Western Passaic, and
Western Union. In southeast New York, Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn),
New York (Manhattan), Northern Nassau, Northern Queens,
Northwestern Suffolk, Orange, Richmond (Staten Island),
Rockland, Southern Nassau, Southern Queens, Southern
Westchester, and Southwestern Suffolk.
* Until 11 AM EDT this morning
* An area of low pressure along a frontal boundary will pass just
south and east of Long Island. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches
an hour are possible and may lead to flash flooding for the New
York City metropolitan area. Flash flooding will also be
possible for portions of the Lower Hudson Valley.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should flash flood warnings be issued.
July 24,2017
the staff of the Rmidgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Lead has been detected in more than half of the water fountains and sinks in 47 school districts in Bergen County, including Ridgewood according to a new report by Environment New Jersey an environmental advocacy group.
In April the Ridgewood blog reported on the test results in the Ridgewood school system . The State of New Jersey requires all drinking water in our school facilities to be tested for lead during the 2016-2017 school year.
The majority of the districts surveyed by Environment New Jersey had at least one fountain or sink where lead readings exceeded 15 parts per billion , that is the level set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that requires districts to take some action.
Most school districts shut down water fountains, replaced pipes and plumbing fixtures or installed filters to reduce the levels. Most of the time lead contamination does not come from water suppliers, but rather from old pipes and plumbing fixtures.
Eight of the 10 schools in the Ridgewood school system had at least one lead reading above the federal standard.
Politicians have of coarse jumped on the bandwagon ,led by Democrat Senator Booker , Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer and State Sen. Bob Gordon, D-Fair Lawn all have pushed for more funds ie increased taxes to save the day .
Questions arise as to where these politicians have been the last 10 years ? The Ridgewood School district has shown positive results every time they test . It seems old pipes and even older buildings are often the source . Senator Booker did nothing about the led problem the entire time he was Mayor of Newark ?
The lead in water issue seems like most things in New Jersey , ignore the problem then when it promises new funding act like it just happened and the New Jersey media blames the governor .
July 24,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, amazingly with what seems like a daily occurrence of commuter disasters Democrat Senator Bob Gordon shockingly declares NJ Transit ‘working pretty well’ ?
Senator Bob Gordon (D-38) is running for reelection this year is also serving as chairman of the N.J. Senate committee responsible for overseeing public transportation issues.
NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steve Santoro called this summers Amtrak New York Penn Station track work , an “all-hands-on-deck effort to communicate with our customers,” Warning, “This will not be a normal commute for any of us including our customers, so we ask that you; stay connected to social media and our web page for the latest information; stay ahead by building in extra time for your commute; and stay cool and try not to lose patience”
Looks like Senator Gordon did not get the memo,but you would think the guy would read a paper or turn on a TV once in a while .
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, while Paramus’s Jimmy Criscione leads the North Jersey contingent into the 96th New Jersey Junior Championship.
Davis Weil of Ridgewood who as a junior, led Ridgewood to its first trip to the state Group 4 final in several years joins the list of Bergen County golf heavyweights.
Monday will feature an 18-hole stroke-play qualifier, with the low score 16 advancing to Tuesday morning’s first round match play. With the final of this New Jersey State Golf Association event on Wednesday afternoon.
The 47th Boys Championship will run simultaneously .The Boys Championship is for ages 15 and under and will feature Liam White of Ridgewood among the 18 players competing for the title.
Let’s keep moving this summer and Dance!
For details and to register call 201-444-5600 ext 400 or visit www.ywcabergencounty.org
