The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photos by Derek Michalski
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, A New Year, but the same old problems for Upper Saddle and Saddle River communities. Apparently brown Wonka water is good for home values in one of the richest zip codes in the United States 07458. Of course I am being facetious. All kidding aside have you checked your home value lately?
Continue reading New Year But Same Old Runoff Problem for Upper Saddle and Saddle River Communities
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ ,in another case of Democratic immunity ie “white privilege” the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund endorsed United States Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) for reelection. With more than two million members across thirty states, LCV is one of the most prominent environmental advocacy organizations in the country.
Continue reading League of Conservation Voters endorses United States Congressman Josh Gottheimer
Derek Michalski
Upper Saddle River NJ, Wednesday January 29, 2020, twenty seven days after January 3, 2020 discharge/pumping/overflow (or whatever terminology you want to use describing releasing millions of gallons of brown water per week into Pleasant Brook/SaddleRiver) and 4 days after filing consecutive complaint with NJDEP Mr. Roy Otto representing Bergen County Soil Conversation representative visited the site on a clear sunny day. When I asked him why they never show up while Toll Brothers discharges the mud a/k/a “colloidal clay” he couldn’t answer and referred me to his bosses. To be honest I don’t suspect any foul play on his part but it is laughable that in three-year-long period they never visited (to my knowledge) the site during the “discharge activities”. He also advised me to send him any pics of pumping since he wasn’t present during any such activities. I connected him with Lisa Rozner from CBS who was eyewitness of such illegal in my opinion activities. Perhaps I am wrong and perhaps all major developers in the state of NJ hoist their 5 inch fire hoses and pump stormwater into neighbors’ ponds. Perhaps. That’s New Jersey for you. And to those officials who still live under the rock please refresh your memory and please watch Lisa’s program again: https://www.google.com/…/23/bergen-county-brown-streams/amp/
by Derek Michalski
Upper Saddle River NJ, WEEKEND UPDATE from “BrownUpper and Saddle River: Unfortunately pumping continues on the site of Toll Brothers located at 19 Meadowbrook Road in Upper Saddle River. The question now is who allowed Toll Brothers (again and again) to release “colloidal clay” a/k/a mud into local streams Pleasant Brook/Saddle River. Is it a part of new “remediation procedure” to get rid of mud from construction site and dump it onto private properties of Toll Brothers neighbors. Who’s idea was that? And please get serious and stop blaming Trump for it.
file photo by Derek Michalski
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, ENVIRONMENT & HOME VALUES: Does drinking water quality affect house prices? GreenUSR home values are still in decline. How about air pollution and other forms of environmental impact (100 acres tree removal, etc.). Perhaps it is time to study the following concept?
Continue reading ENVIRONMENT & HOME VALUES: Does drinking water quality affect house prices?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
UPPER SADDLE RIVER NJ , Upper Saddle River residents who subscribe to the Borough’s Swift911 emergency notification system received a blast email Monday at 1:19 pm alerting them not to an urgent immediate situation in town but rather a message from Mayor Joanne Minichetti trying to explain away her failed leadership.
Continue reading UPPER SADDLE RIVER MAYORAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONS MAYOR’S USE OF SWIFT911 EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, at the USR September council meeting questions, were raised concerning the annual municipal audit. Municipalities are required to undergo an audit on a yearly basis. Recommendations are made. These audits are very thorough and stringent. Each municipality’s audit must be reviewed, posted on the municipality’s website and sent to the Department of Community Affairs for their review. Our auditing firm, Lerch, Vinci and Higgins have completed the Borough’s 2018 audit. It can be found on www.usrtoday.org.
Continue reading Upper Saddle River Moves to Sure Up Finances
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, On August 28, 2019 the following email was sent to Toll Brother by Boswell Engineering lifting the Stop Work Order on that portion located in Upper Saddle River.
Please allow this email to summarize the chronology of this project since the issuance of a Stop Work Orders for this project on July 23, 2019. This email will also rescind the Stop Work Order issued on July 23, 2019 subject to the terms noted below.
Continue reading Apple Ridge Stop Work Order Lifted by Upper Saddle River
photos by Derek Michalski
“If anything Toll Brothers removing 1000+ trees, replacing with new ones and bringing fresh clean top soil – in turn cleaning up 100+ acres is actually a good thing. Why doesn’t anyone blame the building departments – where is the frustration and anger in the incompetence from these town building departments? Toll Brothers is following their requests – building department should have been proactive and requested more from the beginning of the project to reduce the likely hood of run-off from future storms. As for home value some residents are complaining in the reduction of home value – however they are building luxury homes and should in fact bring the area up in value.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, Bergen residents express serious concerns over brown water that’s originating from nearby development construction site.
According to CBS News ,”Some Bergen County residents say they a water emergency on their hands.”
Continue reading CBS News Revisits Apple Ridge Development Site
“What kind of music would you like Toll Brothers to bring to Upper and Saddle River? “Toll Brothers proudly supports the communities in which it builds; among other philanthropic pursuits, the Company sponsors the Toll Brothers Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network, bringing opera to neighborhoods throughout the world.” For more information, visit https://www.tollbrothers.com “
we suggest : Metropolitan Opera Orchestra – Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries – Ring (Official Video)
MINUTES OF THE MEETING WITH TOLL BROTHERS BOROUGH OF UPPER SADDLE RIVER JULY 24, 2019 1:00 p.m.
ATTENDEES:
USR Mayor Joanne Minichetti Craig Cherry, Toll Brothers Div. President Ramsey Mayor John Roth John Peck, Toll Brothers, Div. Sr. VP James Dougherty, USR Building Official Rick Hoff, Toll Brothers, Attorney Robert Regan, USR Borough Attorney David Fultz, Toll Brothers Joy Convertini, USR Deputy Municipal Clerk Carmine Merlucci, Toll Brothers Bobby Fleshman, USR Public Works John Lehane, Toll Brothers Kevin Boswell, Borough Engineer Quentin Weist, Ramsey BA Frank Rossi, Boswell Engineering Jay Kruse, ESE Consultants Mark Mayhew, SVP, ESE Consultants
Continue reading Upper Saddle River officials and Toll Brothers’ arrive at a Corrective Action Plan and Schedule to Lift Stop Work Order
“In Upper Saddle River residents rely on well water for drinking, cooking and showering and bathing. When the water is contaminated it renders the homes uninhabitable. It is unconscionable that the water supply has been compromised. Our water supply should be guarded and not compromised by profit seeking developers. This should have been and should continue to be the top priority for our elected officials.”
“Apparently this situation is nothing new as far as this builder is concerned. Just read the following links and watch the interview with Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel who has been documenting Toll Brothers’ storm water runoff violations for over 20 years now.”Basically, they appeared to be out of control,” said Bob Murphy, agent for the Canton Conservation Commission. ”Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and they didn’t seem to care.”
Here is the link: https://graphics.boston.com/globe/spotlight/toll_brothers/stories/day2_bar2.htm
”Basically, they appeared to be out of control,” said Bob Murphy, agent for the Canton Conservation Commission. ”Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and they didn’t seem to care.”
“In several communities, Toll Brothers has ignored or paid little attention to the environment and local environmental regulations in its rush to build new homes and maximize profits, according to local officials and court documents. In a lawsuit filed by Schuylkill Township, Pa., the town said Toll flouted environmental rules ”all for the purpose of enhancing their profits.”
