“I’m happy Ridgewood chose to fly the flag, but the basis of your article was not about the flag or why it is so important to so many, and how it might be a teaching opportunity about equality, fairness and just ‘not being an asshole’ tearing down another to raise yourself up. The point of your article appears to be that Ridgewood is great and Glen Rock is not. Kind of an asshole article, tearing down one town that has no dog in the Ridgewood debate, to attempt to elevate Ridgewood.”
Unfortunately there were a lot of ugly politics at play. The pride flag was being used as an attempt to undermine the Village of Ridgewood’s Mayor Susan Knudsen and several sitting council members. A group looking to put the previous council back in place used the pride flag to pressure the Ridgewood Village council by saying, look how great Glen Rock is ,they are wonderful and you are just a bunch of ignorant bigots .
The net result is many in Ridgewood felt they were being disparaged and it led to back lash which you see in that article . It is really not aimed at Glen Rock but at Alfred Doublin of the Bergen Record , Village Councilmen Jeff Voigt and members of CRAB , Jan Phillips as well as the former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn . The unfortunate side effect or unintended consequence is an attack on Glen Rock and for that the Ridgewood blog would like to offer an apology to the Borough of Glen Rock and the Residents of Glen Rock. We did not in anyway mean to impune our neighbors ,who where simply caught in local Village political crossfire. Do not blame the Village , as editor and staff we should have made this far clearer in the article .
Ridgewood NJ, With the primary this week and all the articles about the massive amounts of money being spent on New Jersey Political races the one thing we have noticed is no one seems to really be paying any attention. Perhaps it graduation month or the reality of New Jersey coming demise , the constant calls for cutting taxes and fixing school funding all of which ring hollow or just the fact that no matter who you vote for ;criminality is rampant, corruption is king ,the state is run by Unions and special interests ,taxes will go up and all the problems will get much worse .
The well funded state Democrats have all tried to out bid each other for who can get the biggest and best tax increase, protect illegals with free stuff, harbor and promote terrorism , chase out the last bit of “free enterprise” ,further deplete the tax base and pay off all their special interest supporters
While the Ridgewood blog is still unsure if the New Jersey GOP is actually trying win or not a couple of upstarts have caught our eye.
First a 31-year-old Indian-American entrepreneur Harsh Vardhan Singh entered the governor’s race with little political background and a promise to cut property taxes and make New Jersey a national technology leader. Singh seems to be getting his feet wet for further political ambition ,but he comes off a bit naive to New Jersey’s down and dirty political landscape . He is some to keep an eye on for the future.
So that leaves us Joseph Rudy Rullo. If you say who ,you obviously don’t use social media much. Rullo an actor and small business owner who has run an off beat campaign patterned after the Trump campaign.
He has waged a one man crusade against the New Jersey establishment . Even going as far as to channel Trump’s drain the swamp line and apply it to Trenton . Rullo has managed to get into screaming matches with political opponents, tap into New Jersey Trump voters anger, use social media very effectively and offer some common sense ideas to fix some on New Jersey’s most pressing issues.
In his own words ,”As Governor I will reduce property taxes, repeal the $.23 gas tax, dissolve the transportation SLUSH fund, Veto all tax increases, cut billions in political earmarked jobs and contracts, eliminate state income taxes on pensions for retirees and add 1 billion in new revenue sources to further lower taxes. I Will dissolve the Transportation Trust Fund and consolidate all highway authorities eliminating redundant high level management positions, eliminate high cost earmark & specialty contracts tied to contributors.. It will produce millions in savings with shared services and purchases.
I will eliminate tolls and repeal the gas tax with the savings from the new efficient transparent highway entity. I will also eliminate 1.3 billion in pension fees to NYC politically connected brokerage houses and replace with licensed brokers in the state investors division to pay towards pension payment.
Superintendents and business administrators need to be reduced drastically. Instead of having one superintendent and business administrator per school district, we need to cut the number to one per county. By consolidating superintendents & business administrators, we can save $50 million per year by eliminating superintendents alone. And will work to also eliminate municipal tax assessors to one per county. I will fire hundreds of high-salary patronage jobs like indicted Port Authority’s David Wildstein, as an example, saving hundreds of millions of dollars to cut taxes. ”
Rullo is : Pro life , Pro Second Amendment and supports marijuana legalization. He wants to make NJ Veterans a priority . On school funding and education he has a lot to say ,”The Abott school districts need to be held accountable for wasteful spending and all districts need to work together to reduce cost. This will reduce the impact of inevitable changes in funding formulas with state aid. After all school districts cut wasteful spending, we need to implement fair funding formulas for property tax relief. One example is all school districts can drastically reduce costs by combined purchasing power. Another example is drastically reducing the number of Superintendents and redundant assistant Superintendents. High cost business administrators should also be reduced.
Since the start of No Child Left Behind and continued under Race to the Top, NJ parents and students have been saddled with the Common Core Standards. Parents feel like they can’t help their children with their homework because it is something they have never learned before and the children are left floundering in schools with too many children and not enough teachers to explain things to them. The State then decided to force the PARCC (Partnership for Readiness for College and Careers) test on our children. This has resulted in schools and teachers focusing their teaching efforts, not on learning, but on test results. This is wrong and only hurts our children who deserve a comprehensive learning program not a regimen of tests.
As Governor I will end PARCC testing completely and direct the Department of Education to draw up new, independent education standards that will return NJ to the top of the best educated Students in the Country.
I support school choice and home schooling.
Students come out of High School and don’t know how to balance a checkbook, write a resume or know anything about personal credit. Common Core needs to become Common Sense. Teachers need to be allowed to teach and not recite facts mandated from Washington, or some Corporation making money from our tax dollars. We need to provide better opportunities for students who decide to enter the workforce directly from high school with expanded vocational schools. The future of New Jersey depends on it! ”
On illegal immigration Rullo says the “police are overburdened with hands virtually tied because NJ is a sanctuary state. Out of state license plates and DMV fraud are the law of the land. As Governor I will implement E- Verify for all employees working in New Jersey and work with President Donald Trump to eliminate sanctuary cities across NJ. Everyone must follow the same rules in business and follow the law. Our veterans will of NJ will be first priority in NJ hospitals not illegal immigrants.”
On the Heroin epidemic Rullo wants stricter sentencing for drug dealers , “to make it a living hell for heroin dealers in NJ. With that being said they should be charged for attempt of murder for distribution and automatic manslaughter if someone dies from their distribution. ”
Rullo suports Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi efforts on Forced Overdevelopment in Bergen County, and is the one candidate for that has promised to dissolve COAH altogether while other candidates have only spoken in vague generalities or ignored the subject all together.
And finally the pervasive pension mess, Rullo says Eliminate 700 million in pension fees to NYC politically connected brokerage houses and replace with licensed brokers in the state investors division to pay savings towards pension payment. The pension fees went from 125M to 700M per year in the last 7 years.
*Open up state employee health insurance bids across America to create competition to lower premiums and get better coverage for employees.
* Dedicate a portion of recreational marijuana revenues to pay towards pension payment.
* Open up a formal investigation and audit the pension fund for the last several decades to hold politicians in both parties accountable for their actions.
The birth of PJ Blogger .By this time Blogging its seems had become quite the rage and mainstream news anchors such as Dan Rather had questioned the validity of information from nonprofessionals sitting around in their Pajama’s blogging.[13] Mr. Foytlin not a fan of Dan Rather or any of the mainstream media decided to blog under the name PJ Blogger as a play on words and to plant himself firmly in the camp of the new digital media. https://theridgewoodblog.net/today-is-founders-day-for-the-ridgewood-blog-2/
Move comes despite anchor’s own past ethics issues
By Brian Maloney January 4th, 2017, 14:17 EST
Raising eyebrows among some critics, former CBS anchor Dan Rather is now teaching an online course focused on ethics in journalism.
Called “Journalism & Finding the Truth in the News” and offered through Udemy, the class is aimed at both media career aspirants and the general public.
“In this course, Dan teaches invaluable foundations on great writing, the essentials of telling a good story, and how to remain calm and captivating on camera — useful skills for anyone fascinated by the power of the news or anyone who wants to contribute to serious journalism,” reads the course description.
“Dan’s rich history and extensive knowledge of journalism, paired with practical, hands-on exercises, creates a unique learning opportunity and rare insight from an American legend,” it continues.
Though over 2000 students have enrolled, the sign-up fee has been slashed to a mere $10, a 93% discount from the original $150 rate:
Yes, thank you James. Your huge effort in developing, nurturing, marketing, and when appropriate, crowing about the impact and popularity of this forum is a big thing that local individuals and groups who have taken the time to learn about civil society, and who now realize its vital importance as a counterweight to the nanny state zealots who are seemingly all around us, gravely appreciate. Is it too much to say that you have played a significant part in cleaning up our local politics? That you opened the eyes of Village residents to the many virtues associated with our Faulkner Act-inspired tradition of non-partisan decision-making, enough to prompt local voters to take out so much trash in one fell swoop during the most recent round of Village Council elections? If it’s true that all politics is local, then your genuinely local focus is an excellent example to other true patriots operating in your slice of the publishing industry. Please keep doing what you’re doing!!!
Ridgewood NJ, Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog is calling the 2016 election for Donald Trump .Michael Moore Warned, That Trump Will Win in the ‘Biggest ‘F–k You’ Ever Recorded in Human History’ .
Media and Pollsters look like fools ,egg on their faces .Experts proved wrong at every single turn . Seems the media and the Clinton campaign believed their own PR. Mainstream media just does not get it and is proved to be a total joke .First Brexit,then the Cubs ,now Donald J Trump !
Ridgewood NJ, the staff of the Ridgewood whole endorses Donald J Trump for President . It’s past time for a change . Hillary Clinton stands for nothing more than the current status quo of ,cronyism , political grand-standing, and corruption. Clinton offers nothing more than the same old tired out failed policies that were started during the Bush administration. Race relations get worse , the economy sinks, safety and clean water can no longer be taken for granted , enough is enough. 30 years a kid out of college made double what they are starting at now . The US has the largest amount of people out of the labor force ie …not working than any time since the 1970’s. We have seen it within our own little town , the back room deals , collusion , the political hacks time to try something new and something new never comes from voting for the same old hacks that got us here in the first place.
DONALD J. TRUMP DELIVERS GROUNDBREAKING CONTRACT FOR THE AMERICAN VOTER IN GETTYSBURG
Presents 100-Day Plan To Make America Great Again – For Everyone
Gettysburg, PA: Today, in historic Gettysburg, PA, Donald J. Trump presented a game-changing plan for his first 100 days in office. This revolutionary “Contract with the American Voter” will ensure that America’s economy is revitalized and citizens are protected.
“I’m not a politician, and have never wanted to be one. But when I saw the trouble our country was in, I knew I couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. Our country has been so good to me, I love our country, I felt I had to act,” said Mr. Trump in his address.
“Change has to come from outside this broken system. The fact that the Washington establishment has tried so hard to stop our campaign is only more proof that our campaign represents the kind of change that only arrives once in a lifetime,” he continued.
“I am asking the American people to rise above the noise and the clutter of our broken politics, and to embrace that great faith and optimism that has always been the central ingredient in the American character. I am asking you to dream big.
“What follows is my 100-day action plan to Make America Great Again. It is a contract between Donald J. Trump and the American voter – and begins with restoring honesty, accountability and change to Washington,” he concluded.
DONALD J. TRUMP CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN VOTER
“Therefore, on the first day of my term of office, my administration will immediately pursue the following six measures to clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, DC:
FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;
SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);
THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated;
FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.
On the same day, I will begin taking the following seven actions to protect American workers:
FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator
FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately
FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars’ worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.
SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward
SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America’s water and environmental infrastructure
Additionally, on the first day, I will take the following five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:
FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama
SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States
THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities
FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take them back
FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.
Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my Administration:
1. Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act. An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief, and lifting the restrictions on American energy. The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A middle-class family with 2 children will get a 35% tax cut. The current number of brackets will be reduced from 7 to 3, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The business rate will be lowered from 35 to 15 percent, and the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10 percent rate.
2. End The Offshoring Act Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.
3. American Energy & Infrastructure Act. Leverages public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years. It is revenue neutral.
4. School Choice And Education Opportunity Act. Redirects education dollars to gives parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice. Ends common core, brings education supervision to local communities. It expands vocational and technical education, and make 2 and 4-year college more affordable.
5. Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and lets states manage Medicaid funds. Reforms will also include cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of life-saving medications.
6. Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act. Allows Americans to deduct childcare and elder care from their taxes, incentivizes employers to provide on-site childcare services, and creates tax-free Dependent Care Savings Accounts for both young and elderly dependents, with matching contributions for low-income families.
7. End Illegal Immigration Act Fully-funds the construction of a wall on our southern border with the full understanding that the country Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such wall; establishes a 2-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation, and a 5-year mandatory minimum for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations; also reforms visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.
8. Restoring Community Safety Act. Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a Task Force On Violent Crime and increasing funding for programs that train and assist local police; increases resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars.
9. Restoring National Security Act. Rebuilds our military by eliminating the defense sequester and expanding military investment; provides Veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice; protects our vital infrastructure from cyber-attack; establishes new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values
10. Clean up Corruption in Washington Act. Enacts new ethics reforms to Drain the Swamp and reduce the corrupting influence of special interests on our politics.
On November 8th, Americans will be voting for this 100-day plan to restore prosperity to our economy, security to our communities, and honesty to our government.
This is my pledge to you.
And if we follow these steps, we will once more have a government of, by and for the people.”
Ridgewood NJ, in a recent editorial in the Glen Rock Patch former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn gave Congressmen Scott Garrett a Negative Endorsement .
What’s a Negative Endorsement you ask ? A Negative Endorsement is a when a disreputable person with dubious motives supports a candidate making the candidate they support even less desirable.
Aronsohn started with the usual, “On a whole range of issues, he has taken positions that are extreme and completely out-of-sync with the mainstream values of northern New Jersey. This was true when I ran against him in 2006. This is still true today. In fact, he often takes positions that are out-of-sync with the other 11 members of the New Jersey delegation — democrats as well as republicans.”
Garrett is “out-of-sync”,says the man who tried to sell out the whole Village of Ridgewood to hand full of developers .
Garrett is “out-of-sync”, says the man who every single candidate he supported in the last election lost in a massive landslide .
Garrett is “out-of-sync”, despite the fact he beat Aronsohn easily and has been reelected over and over by New Jersey Voters .
Garrett is “out-of-sync” , says the man who tried to blame PSEG Super Storm Sandy and pissed them off so much they cut power to the Village Hall .
Maybe Garrett is not “out-of-sync”, maybe Mr Ex Mayor , you are “out-of-sync” and a sore loser . To many in the Village of Ridgewood Aronsohn and his cronies represented the low water mark in Village history.
Former New York Mayor Ed Koch once said, “If you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”
I have always felt this was good advice and perhaps the Ex Mayor could seek some professional help.
Scott Garrett is a soft-spoken policy wonk , contrary to poor and biased coverage he receives from much of New Jersey’s Democratic and Union controlled media he is no “Right-wing firebrand”.
Garrett actually read Dodd-Frank all 2000 plus pages. I know not very glamorous , but what is glamorous is all the work Scott has done on making “CrowdFunding ” easier. Easy enough to have a Pizza Shop in Ridgewood rebuilt because of Indego. On a larger scale, many entrepreneurs can now raise capital independently on Wall Street Investment banks .
Scott has also pushed back on the “too big to fail” , which contrary to media coverage this has made him a target of Wall Street and a target of Real-estate interests . Do you really think all banks should be entitled to taxpayer bailouts and for that matter, Dodd-Frank makes many key industries in the US “too big to fail” creating a “bailout nation”.
To quote former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan , as a policy “too big to fail” creates a”moral hazard”. Meaning the risk in the USA is socialized while profits and concentrated on the politically favored.
Garrett has been attacked repeatedly on his supposed “anti-gay “comments , his offices have even been the target of media coordinated , media and Democrat orchestrated fake protests . No evidence has ever been offered as to these comments ,no tapes, video , pictures or transcripts ,nothing period.
While his Clintonista challenger Josh Gottheimer has accepted money from wife beaters , Saudi Arabia , disgraced ex-congressmen and every industry looking to get on the taxpayer bailout band wagon.
The reality is Garrett is conservative yes , and while he is the incumbent he is also a Washington outsider . He opposes wasteful spending ,no matter what the cost and most importantly he is what he is and makes no representation otherwise .
He proved right to be skeptical on Obamacare, and the Iranian Nuke deal, as well as the management of disaster aid .
This is why once again the Ridgewood blog endorses and will continue to endorse Scott Garrett .
For some, free speech is only good when they agree with it… otherwise it should be deleted.
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Its one thing to oppose speech with other speech. This is the essence of free speech – an exchange of ideas and opinions – even those you find offensive. Freedom is inherently messy. Authoritarianism is inherently neat, but also repressive.
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Freedom also means including everyone – another basic tenant – even those who are “below the standard”. Some might say that the definition of freedom (speech or otherwise) IS the inclusion of those who are “below the standard”. Let’s not forget that in a free society, “the standard” is a naturally occurring measure which is based on ALL participants. In a repressive society, the standard is arbitrarily set.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital has informed us that we missed “World Cat Day!”
We missed it! It was Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, but cat-owners will tell you that every day is World Cat Day anyway. We all know the world revolves around them, and they probably introduced this day to us. Humans domesticated animals such as dogs, cows, and horses. Cats moved in and domesticated themselves, at first by creating a win-win situation and taking care of the mice that invaded early man’s feed for farm animals. Before long, they realized the comforts of home and moved in, often assuming the position of head of the household. As they say, “Dogs have masters; cats have staff.” So hug your cat today, and enjoy your status as the Egyptians did – after all, they worshipped cats and wrote about them on walls (think Facebook).
Ah yes, civility! What a noble aspiration. And what better place to find numerous splendid examples than the Ridgewood Blog, where:
– the current mayor is called a “total moron;”
– the current deputy mayor is called a “moron,” “asshole lawyer,” and “jackass”
– three of the current council members are called “creeps” and “bums;”
– the current village manager is called an “idiot,” “village idiot,” snake,” “complete fool,” and “bitch;”
– and the VM’s staff are called a “bunch of shitheads;”
– a resident, Jim Griffith, is called a “senile pot-bellied old man who [anonymous commenter] suspects wears a diaper;
– and another resident, Rurik Halaby, is called an “idiot;”
– And, in the mature, let’s-make-fun-of-someone’s-name category –
The ironically-named “Civility Forums” were, collectively, a thinly- (because that’s usually all that is needed to avoid scrutiny) disguised attempt to re-define, as aggressive “incivility”, civic involvement, occasionally taking the form of mild pushback, by ordinary village residents and taxpayers not invested or interested in advancing a freakish, spawn-of-alinsky, progressive political agenda. Criticism from this blog eventually unmasked the intentions of Aronsohn, his adoring supplicants, and his friends in the media such as The Record’s Stephen Borg. The wind having been taken out of their sails, they mercifully ended that baleful series of foolish public/private meetings. Their jihad against normalcy is sure to arise again in some other form in the near future which is why we need to support small-entity actors like James who are willing to throw stumbling blocks in their path.
Ridgewood NJ, we have to laugh at this one , NJ.COM is reporting that State Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) claims that a threat was made in 2005 by Paul DiGaetano, then a leading Republican assemblyman dreaming about a long-shot bid for governor against him. In the article O’Tool claimed that he was threatened by Paul DiGaetano in a meeting over his endorsement of DiGaetano for Governor.
Wow is this a case of the pot calling the Kettle black !
The funny thing is that State Sen. Kevin O’Toole is a well know political bully who has threatened his opponents in the past and gone as far as calling their bosses at work claiming they were campaigning on company time and trying to get them fired.
O’Tool has also threatened the Ridgewood blog and it founder , in that instance he made threats from his car on Route 17 north near the Bendex Diner and only backed off when a blog staff member pulled out a camera.
O’Tool is also rumored to be plotting with with Democrat soon to be Former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn to make a run for the current seat held by Rep.Scott Garrett (R).
On this Memorial Day the staff of the Ridgewood blog remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Thanks for all your efforts to keep the US safe !
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood blog wholeheartedly endorses Jeff Voigt, Bernie Walsh, and Ramon Hache for Village of Ridgewood Council in the May 10th, 2016 elections.
The key word is “Village” in Village of Ridgewood .Technically 25,352 residents makes Ridgewood a bit larger than a Village ,but its the state of mind that is far more important. There is a uniqueness to Ridgewood that all three candidates recognize and the current council majority clearly does not. Ridgewood affords everyone an opportunity to find their own level , to contribute and to excel.
The Village of Ridgewood is chartered under the Faulkner Act offers four basic plans (mayor–council, council–manager, small municipality, and mayor–council–administrator) and two procedures by which the voters of a municipality can adopt one of these plans. The Act provides many choices for communities with a preference for a strong executive and professional management of municipal affairs.
Originally enacted in 1950, the Faulkner Act provided for three forms of government: mayor–council, council–manager, and small municipality. Within each form, letter codes designated predefined aspects of each form and its individual arrangement of options, such as partisan or nonpartisan elections, concurrent or staggered terms, all at large or a combination of ward and at large seats.
Ridgewood until recently has always been nonpartisan town with nonpartisan elections, whatever your ideology it was left at the train station before commuting home each evening.
The town operated basically in a “bubble” with great community spirit , a “can do” attitude and very high standards and expectations for what was required of its citizens . Neighbors were expected and did step up helping out, investing ,donating and doing what was necessary to preserve the special character of the Village . Everyone contributed in their own way and was glad to do it.
Citizen’s Park was bought by neighbors and donated to the Village for neighbors, Some donated property or trusts , like Pease Library or the Lester Stable. While others who were not so blessed financially would give their time coaching teams , hiring teenagers for summer jobs or just doing what ever they could and because so many contributed so much ,it was like a raising tide ,it lifted all boats.
Don’t get me wrong it was far from perfect and while change came slowly ,change occurred positively impacting everyone. We still see this today with so many opportunities for so many ; Ridgewood Sports , the Tree lighting , 4th of July celebrations, Graydon Pool , Vets Field , Super Science Saturday, Ridgewood Schools, Special needs programs, charitable giving , vibrant churches , girl scouts, boy scouts and on and on . Even today residents lead by a special needs adult Doug are raising money to rebuild La Bella Pizza after it was destroyed by a recent electrical fire . Many Village children continue to excel beyond anyone’s wildest dreams like Sammy Cermack, former Ridgewood star, drafted in first-ever professional women’s lacrosse league , long distance swimmer Charlotte Samuels or Broadway Trailblazer Ali Stroker just to name a very few . They are all products of that very unique Village of Ridgewood way of life.
Somehow around the time of the Village Hall renovation fiasco things seem to change. Doubt was cast and the Village began to change for the worse. Formerly great schools where and we quote a BOE member “glad to beat Newark” , mediocrity began to spread . The attitude became more of taking than giving ,of cronies and profiteers, special interests and special issues.The latest council majority is nothing but a product of the lowest base greedy attitudes that so typify the rest of New Jersey and their partisan supporters . It didn’t start with three but they are the product of the precipitous decline in the quality of life in the village.
Any doubt as to the decline of the Village ,take one look at the pledge being asked of the candidates to sign supporting various development in the central business district. Signed by three of the candidates Weitz, Willett and Brooks making them whole unqualified to lead Ridgewood anywhere but down the drain. The same three candidates received dubious endorsements by the Mayor and his flunkies .
Deal making against the better interest of the voters was just not done in Ridgewood , till Mayor Aronsohn and his machine politics moved into town , The fact is most people move to Ridgewood to get away from that type of back door dealing.
And most people in town realize their very large property investment ,their home is now in jeopardy of declining in value along with the rest of the town.
As a reminder the Ridgewood blog warned residents as to the dangers of Pucciarelli , Hauck and Aronsohn taking over the council. We warned of over development, Valley’s arrogant expansion plans and turf fields in every corner ,yet 66% of Ridgewood voters put their property values in danger by voting in this disastrous trio.
So here we are another election but this time the whole town is at each other throats ,name calling and threats are at a fever pitch . Three sitting council members are not even running for reelection and the mayor as predicted by this blog is hot footing it out of town.
Folks its time to take out the trash . Vote for Jeff Voigt, Bernie Walsh, and Ramon Hache all three understand the uniqueness the Village of Ridgewood and are honored to be part of it. They understand the complex issues the Village faces , the mess that needs to be cleaned up and the trust that needs to be rebuilt.
While we know Bernie for some time , we had the pleasure of meeting Jeff and Ramon for the first time and were very pleased to see they understood the concept of Village of Ridgewood and were both grateful to have an opportunity to represent the Village and its distinctive way of life .
Understanding the Village was key to our endorsement and in the words of Edward I Koch former mayor of NYC, ”If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.” we could not agree more . We were looking for a diversity of opinions that reflected the values of the community at large and in Jeff Voigt, Bernie Walsh, and Ramon Hache we are certainly we found it.
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