Tag: Ridgewood Schools

>Lightgate: BOE hoodwinked Neighbors

There are more issues than the lights potentially shining in a neighbor’s bedroom. Issues such as increased traffic, street parking and noise have an impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. While this is a typical NIMBY situation, the neighbors feel they never even had a chance to protest before it was a done deal….they were essentially hoodwinked.

The B.O.E. knew this would be controversial and that is why they did not include it in the original bond referendum, although they will claim it was a matter of cost at the time. The B.O.E. knew that sports groups would later come up with the funding for lights. The B.O.E. knew exactly what it was doing in an attempt to bypass neighborhood protests and the Village Planning Board was either ignorant of the issues or in cahoots with the B.O.E. Shame on the B.O.E. for its deception and the Planning Board for its lack of diligence.

>New Jersey cities brace for pain; reforms proposed

With cuts in state subsidies and a tighter cap on property-tax increases looming, New Jersey’s 566 municipalities face an ugly year of layoffs and service cuts. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704104104575622973305410134.html?KEYWORDS=jersey

>Ridgewood’s manager offers a glimmer of hope about village budget.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
BY MICHAEL SEDON
The Ridgewood News
Staff Writer

https://www.northjersey.com/news/109064999_Ridgewood_s_manager_offers_a_glimmer_of_hope_about_budget.html

The village manager recently revealed some positive numbers for Ridgewood’s budget heading into 2011.

Graydon Pool cut its 2009 losses nearly in half; the building department may finish the year in the black; and a number of other revenue generators are contributing to the gains, said Village Manager Ken Gabbert.

In 2009, Graydon’s expenses surpassed its revenues by about $192,000, but this year the municipal pool’s “losses” have been cut to around $100,000, Gabbert said.

The building department lost $153,000 in 2009, but could end the year with a positive $15,000, Gabbert said.

more:
https://www.northjersey.com/news/109064999_Ridgewood_s_manager_offers_a_glimmer_of_hope_about_budget.html

>ELEC: Democratic State Committee wrongfully spent on Corzine campaign

Democratic State Committee spent $227,120 for Gov. Jon Corzine’s reelection run last year, but didn’t follow campaign financing laws, according to a complaint from the Election Law Enforcement Commission released this week. (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)

https://www.politickernj.com/43017/elec-complaint-democratic-state-committee-wrongfully-spent-200000-corzine-campaign

>State cuts back aid to 225 municipalities

The state has cut a total of $100,000 in aid to 225 municipalities because some are operating inefficiently, a top state official said Wednesday. (Method, Courier-Post)

https://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20101118/NEWS01/11180345/State-cuts-back-aid-to-225-municipalities

>NJ Transit may turn to private operators

In what some fear could lead to higher parking costs for commuters, NJ Transit is weighing a plan that could privatize parking at 81 of the cash-strapped agency’s sites — including the Hamilton, Princeton Junction and Trenton train stations. (Duffy, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2010/11/nj_transit_may_turn_to_private.html

>N.J. Supreme Court to decide whether effort to recall Sen. Menendez can proceed

New Jersey’s Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether a citizens group has the right to try to recall U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. (The Associated Press)

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/nj_supreme_court_to_decide_whe.html

>EDITORIAL: Big Sister’s police state



TSA’s tyrannical tactics threaten American freedoms

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has crossed the line. As if subjecting millions of Americans to X-rated x-ray scans and public groping sessions weren’t bad enough, the agency now threatens $11,000 in fines against anyone refusing to submit to humiliation at the airport.

Oceanside, Calif., resident John Tyner found this out after he posted on YouTube a video of his degrading encounter with TSA screeners. Mr. Tyner’s catchy phrase, “If you touch my junk, I’ll have you arrested,” spread quickly, thanks to attention provided by the Drudge Report. TSA was not amused, and an official announced Monday that Mr. Tyner faces punishment for leaving the airport without submitting to the high-tech or low-tech molestation options.

The term is not used lightly. Under 18 U.S. Code Section 2244, ” ‘sexual contact’ means the intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh or buttocks of any person with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade.” It’s no coincidence that TSA initiated sexual-contact pat-downs after fliers began to refuse the pornographic scanners. There can be no question that when threats of civil punishment are used to ensure compliance, those encounters with the TSA lose their status as a voluntary transaction. It’s even more outrageous that these unnecessary searches are being conducted on children.

MORE:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/16/big-sisters-police-state/

>Migration from high-tax states to states with lower taxes and less government spending will dramatically alter the composition of future Congresses

Low-tax states will gain seats, high-tax states will lose them
By: Barbara Hollingsworth
Local Opinion Editor
11/17/10 10:00 AM EST

Migration from high-tax states to states with lower taxes and less government spending will dramatically alter the composition of future Congresses, according to a study by Americans for Tax Reform

Eight states are projected to gain at least one congressional seat under reapportionment following the 2010 Census: Texas (four seats), Florida (two seats), Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington (one seat each). Their average top state personal income tax rate: 2.8 percent.

By contrast, New York and Ohio are likely to lose two seats each, while Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will be down one apiece. The average top state personal income tax rate in these loser states: 6.05 percent.

The state and local tax burden is nearly a third lower in states with growing populations, ATR found. As a result, per capita government spending is also lower: $4,008 for states gaining congressional seats, $5,117 for states losing them.

And, as ATR notes, “in eight of ten losers, workers can be forced to join a union as a condition of employment. In 7 of the 8 gainers, workers are given a choice whether to join or contribute financially to a union

Read more at the Washington Examiner: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/low-tax-states-will-gain-seats-high-tax-states-will-lose-them-108681159.html#ixzz15aTdzCXY