The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
.. the fly has learned that that merchants in the CBD seldom show for a council meeting unless it involves the garage or a wall and whispers are heard of spas offering happy endings , while others sleep with dogs and live in a non residential commercial space …
…..the fly has heard that a not so new face , new face was introduced to Ridgewood Politics. At a recent gathering hosted by the Siobhan Winograd and the Halaby’s at Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club, the new face of the toxic trio was resident Alexandra Harwin. Harwin has the support of the “toxic trio” or the “3 amigos” known as Gwen Hauk , Paul Aronsohn and Albert Pucciarelli. This is the first time anyone has seen Albert Pucciarelli since the three were driven from office .Others in attendance were rumored council candidate Paul ” the wall “Vagianos . Who’s own candidacy is a bit controversial given the current social environment. Former Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld was also in attendance .Local observers have called the “3 amigo” endorsement the “kiss of death “. Noticeably absent was Councilmen Jeff Voigt who’s antics on the dais have endeared him to many local town folk.
the fly has learned that there is some resistance to in the Central business community to accept the estate card , which offers credits to residents toward payment of property taxes . Some resident groups are considering boycotting the central business district over their lack of enthusiasm …
….the fly would like to remind residents that that the “Reverend” Jan Philips has often been over heard disparaging Mayor Knudsen referring to Paul Aronsohn as the real mayor of Ridgewood . While Arosohn briefly held the title of mayor though his actions it was obvious he was not the mayor or Ridgewood .
….the fly has noticed that with every new suggestion for parking changes there is a concerted push to undermine the Mayors efforts .Who could believe that here in “turf town” that people suddenly are concerned with an empty strip of grass at the Ridgewood Train Station. Mind you years of neglect didn’t seem to make an impact. Every new suggestion is attacked by the same group that brought you “Garagezilla” an ill fitting monstrosity with its sole purpose was creating taxpayer funded parking so private developers didn’t have to. Recent events on Bogart and Cambridge suggest a further attempt to undermine the Village council efforts ,with engineering over reach and a failure to communicate. The Financial Advisory Committee’s recent debacle with their “alternative facts “garage report gave away the game proving unequivocally that the FAC is behind attempts to undermine Mayor Susan Knudsen as they were with previous Mayor Kieth Killion.
….the fly has learned that a proprietor of a food establishment frequented by Ridgewood High School students during lunch periods (who wishes to remain anonymous) is reporting that employees of the business find a large number of discarded coins (several dollars worth) in their trash receptacles on a daily basis (yes, DAILY).
Seemingly, the youths of Ridgewood can’t be bothered carrying around loose change, so they just throw it away.
I wonder if behavior like this is being learned at home.
Only in Ridgewood . . .
…”The Fly” has confirmed that The Mayor, on a previous occasion, prior to starting a closed session, went from being pleasant and in an instant starting screaming and calling another Councilperson a “f’n piece of “sh..t” This was witnessed by the Clerk The Mayor and the Village Attorney. July 1st can’t come soon enough!!!
…the fly has observed at the home of Mary Beth Lane, who sold her house and is moving out of the area. She is blowing town, not going to be around, but still putting her two cents in on who should run the town? Some suggest real-estate agents using the fear of development as scare tactic creating opportunities for new listings . Others have noticed a preponderance of Wietz signs on empty or for sale properties in the Village suggesting agents are helping out….
….Several weeks back it was posted on the blog that the grass roots group Citizens for a Better Ridgewood had filed suit against the Village of Ridgewood and or The Ridgewood Planning Board to stop the change in the master plan for the CBD. The Fly has since learned that no one at Village Hall has any knowledge or has been served with the paperwork . Can someone enlighten the Fly on where the law suit stands?
According to the Ridgewood News , last week, the Village Council discussed a possible change to an ordinance that would allow for the hiring of employees at a pay rate higher than the lowest salary possible on a case-by-case basis. ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/proposal-would-allow-higher-pay-rate-1.1412612 )Various excuses were made ,coupled with phony claims of looking to hire the “best”
But the real reasons seem clear to most residents they are looking to hire more of their friends at a higher rate. Its seems there was already an attempt to bring cops in from the County but the problem was they had less then a year on and the County would not release them. So this is good management? You try to save money so you bring people in at a higher step on the pay scale? Wow I must have missed this. I just want to ask you do you want an ex Paterson , Newark or Trenton cops patrolling the streets of Ridgewood?
Already we have seen the new HR supervisor is anything but personable. She has a very disturbing personality and won’t acknowledge people she has a problem with including a council member. In her first appearance before the council, she couldn’t even hide her anger about being questioned.
