Ridgewood Public Library - Page 185 of 218

Posted on May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 by James — 8 Comments

What’s the Right Amount of Pay for New Jersey Police Officers?

file photo by Boyd Loving

5-15-17

By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent

What’s the right amount of pay for New Jersey police officers? That question is now swirling as state Treasury data, analyzed by NJTV News and various media outlets, show the median salary for roughly 19,000 municipal police officers was just over $105,000 in 2016. The highest tend to be in wealthy, suburban towns — mostly in Bergen County where the cost of living is higher. But those directly involved with negotiating municipal salaries say there’s a lot more behind that number.

“First of all, to be a candidate you have to have a four-year degree. As of late we’ve been hiring mostly transfers because there was a period in time where the alternative route had dried up, so there’s a lot of factors that go into the hiring and promotion of officers here in the community,” said Paramus Borough Mayor Richard LaBarbiera.

https://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/whats-right-amount-pay-new-jersey-police-officers/

Posted on May 16, 2017May 16, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

HELP HONOR VETERANS AT THEIR GRAVESITES – 9 AM – MAY 20

May 16,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood American Legion Post 53 will be placing over 900 flags on veterans gravesites on Saturday, May 20th 2017. We will meet at at 9:am at Valleau Cemetery.

Everyone is invited to help us in this endeavor to honor those men and women in time for Memorial Day. Bring your children and friends and neighbors. A brief rite will take place with playing of TAPS .

Posted on May 16, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

Reader says Jeff was bashing Paulie A. during the campaign and now he’s doing his bidding

I can’t keep track of this guy. He started with setting up a table in front of Mount Carmel to collect signatures against the garage. Then he turns around and starts pounding the table to build the garage. He was bashing Paulie A. during the campaign and now he’s doing his bidding . Our Mayor went above and beyond to get Voigt elected. He then turns around and stabs her in the back. He was being helped by a very active and vocal group during the campaign. After he wins, he now calls them “attack dogs” and is critical of their tactics while he himself tells people to go up to the podium with rehearsed questions. The good thing is that every time he sends his buddies up there like Hans, Evan and Rurik, they get embarrassed with real facts. Out of the gate, he wanted to launch investigations against the people he is now siding with. I think I’m dizzy. How can we do a recall?

Posted on May 16, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

Pedestrian Hit at Intersection of Fairway Road and Northern Parkway in Ridgewood

photo courtesy of Boyd Lovings Facebook

May 16,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood EMS, and Fire Department responded to a pedestrian vs. motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Fairway Road and Northern Parkway shortly after 3 PM on Monday, 05/15. The victim, a 10 year old female, sustained non life threatening injuries to her face and knee and was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital. The driver of the vehicle involved remained at the scene and was cooperating with police officers assigned to investigate the incident.

Posted on May 16, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — 7 Comments

Reader :The question then becomes what to do to help insure the continuance of a healthy revenue stream from the commercial sector in Ridgewood .

file photo by ArtChick

No doubt online shopping has had a huge negative effect on retailers and the problem is not going away any time soon. The question for towns like Ridgewood is what to do with downtowns that were conceived and build decades ago and are now becoming functionally irrelevant. We certainly do not want or need more restaurants, nail salons or banks. So should we simply turn our backs and let the CBD continue to spiral downward ? Many residents do not seem to care one way or the other. Of course, these same folks will be the first to squeal when their RE taxes start to rise dramatically to offset the revenue decline stemming from rapidly declining commercial property values. If you think for a moment the VOR will trim it’s budget to offset declining tax revenue you are either dreaming or smoking something illegal. The question then becomes what to do to help insure the continuance of a healthy revenue stream from the commercial sector. The proposed luxury apartments will certainly help stabilize Village coffers but many residents strongly object to such development. The purpose of this post is to create an open forum on what can or should the Village do to insure the continuance of a sufficient long term revenue stream so that taxes paid by residents does not spiral out of control. Suggestions and comments please..

Posted on May 16, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — 16 Comments

Last Chance for Ridgewood to Speak Up about Public Safety Threat Posed by New Apartments

May 16,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Tuesday, May 16th is residents’ last chance to address the planning board about the massive new 66 unit, multi-retail store complex coming to Franklin and Broad from local developer John Saraceno. This high-density housing project sets off a chain reaction of public safety problems in Ridgewood. The hearing and vote is set for 8pm at village hall on Tuesday night. Between Saraceno’s 60+ families plus new stores on Franklin and the 40+ families moving in yards away at the new Chestnut street high-density development, the Franklin Ave corridor will likely be overwhelmed with hundreds upon hundreds of more cars and pedestrians creating an even bigger threat to public safety on an already dangerous road. The Franklin ave corridor has a long history of accidents and pedestrians struck by cars and busses.

High-density development downtown is allowed thanks to controversial laws championed by Ridgewood resident Saraceno and then-mayor Paul Aronsohn.

In the zoomed in version of developer Saraceno’s “rendering” above we see the already congested and dangerous Franklin & Broad intersection which will be drastically impacted by the new 5 story building and the nearby 4 story Chestnut apartments. The archway on the right is one of two entry/exit for the 150 new parking spots on Franklin. The current lot is private and not open to the public. There will be a great deal of new traffic at one of the most important, dangerous, and crowded intersections in the village.

The new light at this intersection will cost $300k, Saraceno has offered to pay 25% [which is more than the law requires]. The bigger problem is how other, non-upgraded intersections will handle the traffic flow. By law, developers of Ridgewood’s 4 new high-density buildings have only to pay a small fraction of any needed new lights.

The planning board meets Tuesday the 16th at 7:30pm in Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.

Posted on May 15, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — 5 Comments

President Trump Announces Formation of Bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Integrity

May 14,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the issuance of an executive order forming the bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Integrity. The President also named Vice President Mike Pence as Chairman and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach as Vice-Chair of the Commission.
Five additional members were named to the bipartisan commission today:

Connie Lawson, Secretary of State of Indiana
Bill Gardner, Secretary of State of New Hampshire
Matthew Dunlap, Secretary of State of Maine
Ken Blackwell, Former Secretary of State of Ohio
Christy McCormick, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission

“This action by President Trump fulfills another promise made to the American people,” said Vice President Pence. “We can’t take for granted the integrity of the vote. This bipartisan commission will review ways to strengthen the integrity of elections in order to protect and preserve the principle of one person, one vote because the integrity of the vote is the foundation of our democracy.”

The Commission on Election Integrity will study vulnerabilities in voting systems used for federal elections that could lead to improper voter registrations, improper voting, fraudulent voter registrations, and fraudulent voting. The Commission will also study concerns about voter suppression, as well as other voting irregularities. The Commission will utilize all available data, including state and federal databases.

Secretary Kobach, Vice-Chair of the Commission added: “As the chief election officer of a state, ensuring the integrity of elections is my number one responsibility. The work of this commission will assist all state elections officials in the country in understanding, and addressing, the problem of voter fraud.”

Additional Commission members will be named at a later time. It is expected the Commission will spend the next year completing its work and issue a report in 2018.

Posted on May 15, 2017May 14, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

Bill Bennett: Trump, DeVos get it right — Feds’ role in your child’s education is shrinking. Finally!

Betsy DeVos as Secretary of the Department of Education

By William J. Bennett

Published May 11, 2017
Fox News

Students of history know that governments rarely give up power without a fight. To paraphrase Edmund Burke, those who have been intoxicated with power never willingly abandon it. Yet, last year, the federal government passed a new education law which returns a significant amount of power and decision-making authority to states, districts and schools.

The bi-partisan passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act creates a unique and exciting opportunity for improving American education. The law explicitly bars the Department of Education from dictating or influencing standards or curricula at the federal level, and states and districts have a wide range of new liberties when it comes to developing accountability systems, testing and content.

But with this newfound freedom from Washington comes a newfound responsibility for excellence at the state and district level. We cannot confuse local control with laissez faire. State and local leaders must embrace this opportunity and lift expectations, not relax them.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/05/11/bill-bennett-trump-devos-get-it-right-feds-role-in-your-childs-education-is-shrinking-finally.html

Posted on May 15, 2017May 14, 2017 by James — 3 Comments

The fall of retailers means doomsday for malls

By Jonathon Trugman

May 14, 2017 | 2:12am

American retail culture may well have reached a tipping point.

Major department stores are floundering about like fish in a rapidly draining pond after reporting dreadful earnings last week.

The time-honored multigenerational giants like Macy’s, Sears and JCPenney are all looking at a dramatically different future.

Macy’s stock collapsed 17 percent after Thursday’s first-quarter report. And high-end retail behemoths like Nordstrom are getting clobbered, too. Shares of that politically petulant retailer fell 11 percent Thursday on news of its first-quarter results.

Better take a good look, because this may be last call for the mall.

https://nypost.com/2017/05/14/the-fall-of-retailers-means-doomsday-for-malls/

Posted on May 15, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — 1 Comment

Are NJ police salaries fair? Cops in high-crime areas get less

Honda-Civics-collide-Ridgewood-Police-Ridgewood-Fire-Deparrtment3-300x225

file photo by Boyd Loving

By Sergio Bichao May 15, 2017 4:00 AM

With reporting by David Matthau

Most police officers in New Jersey are earning six-figure salaries before overtime and benefits.

A New Jersey 101.5 analysis of municipal police salaries found the median police salary last year was about $105,000 — an increase of 4 percent since 2012. For comparison, the median household income in the state is $72,000.

But the highest-paid cops are not always the ones patrolling dangerous city streets.

The police departments with the most generous payrolls are often in towns that go decades without experiencing a homicide. According to use-of-force reports that departments file with their county prosecutor, cops in these highly paid towns often retire without ever having to fire their weapon in the line of duty.

Read More: Are NJ police salaries fair? Cops in high-crime areas get less | https://nj1015.com/are-nj-cops-salaries-fair-cops-in-high-crime-areas-get-less/?trackback=tsmclip

Posted on May 15, 2017May 15, 2017 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says next thing you know, there were 200 teens coming down the street looking to party

Police Called to House Party In Ridgewood

file photo by Boyd Loving

they don’t have to post it on Facebook. All it takes is one kid to text another who sends it to a group chat where it gets sent to yet another group chat, etc. It can happen in a matter of minutes. It happened to my neighbors daughter when one of her friends sent a text to her boyfriend to let him know that she was staying at a friends because the girls parents would be out late (they were around 18 yo so not young). The boyfriend sent that info to a friend as a party invite. . . . next thing you know, there were 200 teens coming down the street looking to party. The girls had to call the police but not before kids jumped in the pool, trampled flower beds, etc.

Posted on May 15, 2017May 14, 2017 by James — 5 Comments

Reader says Jeff’s behavior is frightening to see

Jeff clearly has suppressed rage issues. As another poster noted, his violent outbursts are reminiscent of Aronsohn’s and Pucciarelli’s. This behavior is frightening to see in anyone over the age of two and suggests psychiatric difficulties. Interestingly, the council members who are unendingly attacked and insulted by Aronsohn acolytes at council meetings, on social media, and elsewhere never take the bait. It’s amazing. They are grownups. But nobody should have to endure it–it’s unconscionable and the attackers should be deeply ashamed of themselves. It really is possible to discuss ideas on their merits without hurling horrible insults at hardworking volunteers. Sure, they’re paid–the same as in the ’80s or earlier–$3,000 a year for council members with another $2,000 for the mayor. For working 80-hour weeks and being yelled at.

Posted on May 15, 2017May 14, 2017 by James — 1 Comment

Mothers Day Flash Storm Topples Tree on Hamilton Road Home in Ridgewood

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

May 15,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A large tree toppled into a single family home located at 381 Hamilton Road, Ridgewood during a brief but intense storm on Sunday afternoon, 05/14. No injuries were reported in the incident. Ridgewood FD, PD and a Village of Ridgewood building sub-code official responded to the scene. Fire department personnel disconnected all utility service to the home as a precaution.

Posted on May 15, 2017May 14, 2017 by James — Leave a comment

NJ Transit Eliminates Cash Transaction for Bus Boarding at George Washington Bridge Bus Station

May 15,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT will expedite the boarding process at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, following the station’s reopening, to improve the overall customer experience by getting riders home faster.

When the station opens to customers, cash will no longer be accepted on buses departing the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. Customers will be asked to “Buy Before Boarding” and have their tickets/passes or electronic MyTix ready before boarding the bus.

Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), which accept cash, credit or debit payments, will be located across from the NJ TRANSIT ticket windows on the Level 3 Bus Pavilion. Customers can also sign up for electronic ticketing through the MyTix feature of the NJ TRANSIT mobile app, which is available free of charge on web enabled iOS and Android devices.

“We have made great strides in improving on-time performance at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, thanks in part to the ‘Buy Before Boarding’ procedure,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “We know our customers value their time, so expanding this procedure to get customers home to their families as quickly as possible is always a priority.”

This procedure is already in place at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York and has seen positive results.

By reducing cash transactions on buses, NJ TRANSIT can reduce delays associated with slow boarding and improve on-time performance.

George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovations

A private developer is redeveloping the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on behalf of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns and operates the facility. This station will feature customer amenities to improve your commute. They include a new air-conditioned waiting area with seating for 125 customers, ticket sales, public restrooms and state-of-the-art electronic passenger information boards. Bus gates are ADA compliant, and customers will no longer need to make a reservation for ADA assistance. Direct access to MTA’s A Train and 175th Street Subway Station will be available at a later date. For more information, visit the Port Authority’s website at www.panynj.gov/GWBBSredevelopment.

As part of the redevelopment, NJ TRANSIT bus routes will be departing from the following gates:

DEPARTURE GATE ASSIGNMENTS

Effective May 2017

Bus Route Gate

171 12

175 13 RIDGEWOOD

178 17

181 14

182 18

186 15

188 11