Cronk & Dowd Report filled with questionable information and scare tactics
A report is being circulated touting support for Pucciarelli, Hauck & Aronsohn, originated by Cronk & Dowd, filled with ‘fact, figures & graphs’. It is very questionable & disingenuous…….
If it comes your way, read it through & decide whether it is real or false.
I have severe doubts as to accuracy & representation of Ridgewood.
Pages 4 & 5 …whose Municipal Tax Dollars & Expenses (what town)? No source quoted.
Page 6 “Ridgewood’s Municipal Budget Busters”….no source quoted.
On page 7 the source quoted is the Star Ledger on one column only.
Pages 8 are quotes about NJ (NOT Ridgewood only).
If some or all of this applies to Ridgewood, then it is not the fault of the present council but many councils in the past, expenses been increasing for years.
But I am mostly disturbed by the lack of sources for these “Serious Issues” & also the scare tactic of this group at the last minute.
The attacks by Cronk, Dowd and Abdoo are very similar. Aronsohn has been a council member for four years and has voted for all of those packages and has taken health benefits courtesy village taxpayers for years.
Of course benefit packages should be a shared expense for all new hires but current contracts are negotiated and settled. The bigger point, which you agree to as well, is how Cronk, Dowd, and Abdoo expect anyone to live on considerably lower salaries to live in this area.
Of course these three, and many others, met with Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarelli and formulated this “tax” platform to obfuscate the real agenda:TURF, TAR & URBANIZE RIDGEWOOD!
The TURF guys Abdoo, Cronk, Dowd, , The Cement Graydon Group Cronk Dowd and Hauck, Puciarelli who openly supports multiple condo complexes downtown, Puciarelli and Hauck who openly support the massive Valley expansion, Hauck who seeks to urbanize the village and cement over Graydon and wait, then there is Aronsohn. What does he get for all his troubles? Mr. Mayor? Not by my vote. Killion and Shinzouka only.
Judge: N.J. may have violated rule-making process for ID changes
New Jersey residents contemplating travel plans still lack clarity on what credentials will be needed to board airplanes in the future.
The state Motor Vehicle Commission wanted to roll out implementation Monday of the federal Real ID program for driver’s licenses — known as TRU-ID here — but the plans have been blocked by a Mercer County Superior Court judge, who ruled that questions remain about whether the state properly followed its own rule-making process. (Jordan, Gannett)
Now Cronk and Dowd WEIGH IN! Puciarelli, Hauck and Aronsohn attack fire and police salaries
Cronk and Dowd now come out in support of Puciarelli, Hauck and Aronsohn. Curious that these two also attack our police and fire fighters. Like Abdoo they complain about salaries in excess of $100,000 but there slick charts and glossy graphs are riddled with misinformation.
Brian Abdoo lives in a $2,000,000 home, Cronk lives in a $1,000,000 home, and Dowd lives in a $2,400,000 dollar home. They want to complain about the salaries of our firemen and police and talk about having the only paid fire department. What these three knuckleheads don’t seem to get is that the municipal budget is not allocated the largest piece of the tax pie. In fact school taxes, which they all support including TURF, is the biggest drain.
The three amigos want our police to earn less than officers in other areas of the state and less than those in New York City. What the fail to mention is they compared the lowest tiered police salaries from other areas to the highest tier of Ridgewood. The other point that fail to mention is those higher salaries are paid to officers who have given more than 20+ years of service. Why are they so inclined to pay the Ridgewood Librarian over $125,000 but not police and firemen?
With their home values averaging around $1.7 million dollars how much would they like to pay our police and firemen? $50,000? $25,000? $62,000? Where on earth would like our finest to live and raise a family? Rochester, New York? I hear there are real deals in Camden. Police and Firemen serve their community better when they live within the community.
These selfish three attempt to divide this community and serve themselves as West side residents with condescending and disparaging comments about their east side neighbors.
Never have I seen such a disgraceful display of divisiveness.
ARONSOHN MUST GO!
Bullet Killion and Shinozuka and tell CRANK , DUDD and ABDOO NO THANKS!
Russell Forenza : It was impossible to imagine him working peacefully with others
At both the recent debate and the one in November 2010, Russell Forenza just yelled and yelled and was truly frightening. It was impossible to imagine him working peacefully with others. Add to that a possible legal problem and do we really need that headache? Interesting concept to bring him in so he can drop out, #8, but then the fifth council member would be appointed by the other four and residents would have no say in the matter. That doesn’t sound good.
I choose Killion, Shinozuka, and Pucciarelli. The other 3 candidates are unacceptable; 3 must win. Love ‘em or hate ‘em or sort of both, pick the three you dislike or distrust most and vote for the others. Or write Mickey Mouse in column 1 and be prepared for someone else’s choice to win.
Regarding the original post before comments above, it was fascinating to hear all 6 candidates at the League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Night on April 30 describe Ridgewood as they would hope to see it 5 years and 10 years from now.
Everyone’s description sounded idyllic–rather 1950-ish. But if any of those in favor of a giant hospital and giant apartment buildings win tomorrow’s election, they will have to reconcile the two concepts or the lovely land of their imaginings will be gone.
Cost-Benefit Analysis Puts the Brakes on Dodd-Frank
By Steven Sloan – May 7, 2012 11:18 AM ET
Business lobbyists and Republican lawmakers who failed to stop the Dodd-Frank Act from becoming law have managed to put the brakes on many of its provisions a second way: cost-benefit analysis.
A series of legal challenges from business groups against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ended in a federal court ruling last year that the agency didn’t adequately analyze the cost of a new rule. In the months since, SEC rulemaking has ground to a near-halt, with just 24 agency economists working full-time to provide analyses for dozens of proposed policies, including 28 unfinished Dodd-Frank rules.
Turf king endorses Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarell criticizes police and firemen, attacking salary and benefits
Moments ago, after a long day at work I sat down to review my personal emails, check school info and sports emails, kids schedule, etc. In the mix was an email from Brian Abdoo who I know from a number of sports programs my kids are involved in. I began reading the Abdoo’s endorsement of candidates, Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarelli. The more I read the sicker I became. Abdoo has thoroughly disgusted me with his hypocritical rhetoric.
From 2009-2010 Brian Abdoo repeatedly endorsed the multi-million dollar controversial turf projects at Stadium and Stevens fields. As we all know the turf has been an unmitigated disaster resulting in Ridgewood Taxpayers incurring the burden of costly repairs.
Now, this same Brian Abdoo wants to express concern over taxes? He attempts to peddle Paul Aronsohn’s gimmicky zero based budgeting. Even my 6th grader understands built-in inherent cost increases. Abdoo states he wants more transparency and Village Council should “open the books”. The fact that Brian Abdoo is ignorant should not persuade anyone to his argument. Brian, the books are open. They are a matter of public record and are available for anyone to review. Brian, feel free to visit APP DataUniverse if there is anything you need to know. However, Mr. Abdoo, while doing your research you likely will not find the value of your candidate Aronsohn’s health care costs, at village taxpayer expense, for the past four years. Mr. Abdoo, while Mr. Aronsohn is busy telling you he wants to help Ridgewood Taxpayers, he has been busy helping himself for four years
.
Brian Abdoo proceeds to attack our police and firemen, attacking their salary and benefits. If this is such a concern why on earth would he support Aronsohn who voted for each and every raise, and contract , pertaining to the police & fire department. Maybe he prefers regionalized police and fire departments like Hauck and Puciarelli. Hauck announced the savings for each village taxpayer during the debate: a whopping $ 285 each! For that money I will sleep better at night with Village police and firemen.
Abdoo professes the revitalization of Ridgewood downtown and how committed each of his threesome is to this goal. Mr. Abdoo, Paul Aronsohn is the Council liaison to the Chamber of Commerce. What has he been doing for the past four years? Shopping at the mall? And Hauck and Puciarelli prefer a more urbanized Ridgewood. If they want urbanization let them move to Hoboken.
Best for last, Abdoo states each of these candidates is committed to helping Valley and residents to negotiate a compromise to allow for expansion. For goodness sake, Brian, where has Al Puciarelli been? He has been a member of the planning board forever. Hauck didn’t speak of compromise when she endorsed the massive expansion, as is, over and over again. Valley Hospital is not interested in compromise. The only time that was suggested by Valley was at the last Village Council hearing. Audrey Meyers, seeing the writing on the wall, begged council to hold off their vote so Valley could develop a compromise. Seriously, where was the compromise for six years?
Mr. Abdoo, reconsider and bullet for Killion and Shinizuka before we are in another turf-like drowning mess attributable to the likes of you.
In Shades of the May 2010 council election Jamboree email list compromised by Paul Aronsohn
Use of the email list of any organization that accepts tax-exempt donations under 501(c)(3) for anything remotely related to political purposes, including municipal elections, violates federal tax law and could lead to an investigation, fines, and/or the loss of tax-exempt status.
From https://www.rhsjamboree.org/html/what_is_jamboree.html/:
“The Jamboree Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) qualified charity and all contributions are tax deductible.”
Aronsohn’s CV says his undergraduate degree is in political communications. (That’s a major?) Did he skip class that day?
Jamboree officers might consider sending a follow-up message to the full Jamboree email list stating that the Aronsohn campaign message could damage Jamboree’s tax-exempt status and should be disregarded?
Shades of the recent school board election too, for that matter! Didn’t a certain candidate for a seat there also do something quite similar involving the mailing list of a tax-exempt group??
It is just another example of the many tactics Mr. Aronsohn has tried to use with just about everything for quite some time now. Some have become much more apparent recently – but tactics are what he’s about. His agenda is him — and only him.
It almost seems bipolar – but it’s not– it’s self-centered, tactics-laden politics — lotsa form, and not much real substance except to attack anyone and anything he perceives stands in his way. Divide and conquer, attack dog style politics- with all the hype, spin and other baloney that go with it. Sound familiar?
At least to me, that’s not what we need in local government here at all- and most especially right now. We need to work together and focus on real solutions — without all the noise of endless posturing, grandstanding and politics.
I hope enough people see him for what he is and vote accordingly. If they do, he will not be on the VC much longer.
Report: Principal Created ‘Suzy’ Facebook Page To Snoop On Students
May 7, 2012 7:53 AM
CLAYTON, Mo. (KMOX) – The principal at Clayton High School has resigned after stories surfaced claiming that she created a bogus Facebook account to spy on students.
The official reason given for Dr. Louise Losos’ resignation was a “fundamental dispute concerning the appropriate use of social media”.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Clayton students began getting friend requests from someone calling themselves “Suzy Harriston,” and many approved her without a second thought.
State’s junk food ban could take bite out of school fundraisers
By Laurel J. Sweet and Chris Cassidy
Monday, May 7, 2012 – Updated 1 minute ago
Bake sales, the calorie-laden standby cash-strapped classrooms, PTAs and booster clubs rely on, will be outlawed from public schools as of Aug. 1 as part of new no-nonsense nutrition standards, forcing fundraisers back to the blackboard to cook up alternative ways to raise money for kids.
At a minimum, the nosh clampdown targets so-called “competitive” foods — those sold or served during the school day in hallways, cafeterias, stores and vending machines outside the regular lunch program, including bake sales, holiday parties and treats dished out to reward academic achievement. But state officials are pushing schools to expand the ban 24/7 to include evening, weekend and community events such as banquets, door-to-door candy sales and football games.
Village Council Election: Which Candidates are Pro-Valley Expansion
Ridgewood voters need to decide which issues are most important to them and choose which candidates will address those issues the best. Here are your choices:
Hauck = Pro Valley Expansion
Pucciarelli = Pro Valley Expansion
Shinzouka = Anti Valley Expansion
Killion = Status Quo is Fine
Forenza = Pro Valley Expansion
Aronsohn = What ever is best for Aronsohn
Unfortunately if the issue that is most important to you is not addressed above, you are out of luck. Not one of these candidates has demonstrated any understanding of the fiscal challenges facing the Village. Not one has shown any ability to unify a very divided Village without selling out their own special interest group.
If Valley is your issue then your mind was made up a long time ago. Valley supporters need to realize that until Valley backs down or offers real compromise, the rest of the critical issues that confront the Village will go unattended to. Those opposed to the Valley expansion need to realize that the candidates that they endorse on this one issue may not have the skills to address the other issues that we face.
In the end, the real issue may be Valley itself. Valley is a business that gains nothing from enhancing the quality of life for Ridgewood residents. An overwhelmingly small percentage of Valley’s patients live in Ridgewood and an even smaller percentage work there. While your taxes are going up again this year by 7% Valley continues to pay no taxes to the Village. Shouldn’t the Village benefit more than it does from having Valley here? Might this be the biggest issue of them all?
Multiple Choirs Set for Annual Community Hymn Festival On Sunday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m., choirs from multiple Bergen County churches of all denominations will participate in the 23rd Annual Community Hymn Festival at Ridgewood’s West Side Presbyterian Church. The ecumenical event is open to the public.
Co-sponsored by the John R. Rodland Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Northern NJ Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, over $150,000 has been awarded in scholarships to future Church musicians. Rodland Scholarships are the largest such awards to Church Music majors in the nation, funded by a fall campaign and free-will offerings at the festival. This year’s winner of a $9,000 first prize is Christopher Gaza, a Masters of Music candidate at University of Oklahoma. Ganza will perform at the festival. “Songs, Hymns and Spiritual Songs through the Ages” is the theme of this year’s festival. Organists and choir directors from the various participating churches will direct or play for the over-80-voice choir, hand-bell choir, and brass ensemble. Great hymns of the Church, as well as anthems such as H. Parry’s I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me (sung at the Royal Wedding last fall), and V. Thompson’s My Shepherd Will Supply My Need will be featured. Singers are invited to join the chorus at the only rehearsal on Tuesday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Music will be provided. The church is at 6 S. Monroe St., corner of W. Ridgewood Ave.
It is an absolute truth that Paul Aonsohn told residents to vote for him and not for Gwen and Al. People have been talking about bullet voting for Killion and Shinozuka he said ” you can vote for me and not Gwen and Al”. This happened right after his pathetic debate endorsement of Hauck and Puciarelli. Before anyone even left the room. Paul knows many people have been talking about bullet voting and he is making every attempt at damage control.
So he told people they could also choose to vote for him, keith and Jane. Aronsohn is playing both sides of this and people are seeing what he really is. Hopefully the election tomorrow will result in a farewell to this two-faced, backstabbing, bully and liar who has misrepresented everything he has done or failed to do as a councilman for four years.
How dare he walk around and talk about his support for the library when he rarely to never even bothered to attend meetings!
How dare Aronsohn talk about revitalizing downtown! Where has he been for four years? Hasn’t he been the council liaison to Chamber?
How he dare he attack another candidate for supposedly being “dissed” over a polite email exchange. How old is Paul Aronsohn? What is he a 13-year-old girl? Yes, Jane teaches CCD with Marie Aronshohn. So while the ladies are teaching the commandments “thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor”, Aronsohn is doing just that with his disgusting and disgraceful lies. What a jerk.
Now the bitter frosting on the vitriolic cake: How dare Aronsohn compromise the Jamboree Scholarship Foundation to advance his candidacy? He used the Jamoboree (social) email list to advance his candidacy and many people are disgusted. Paul Aronsohn is a disgrace and should never be permitted to sit with our fine elected officials again. Please bullet for Killion and Shinizouka.
As a lifelong resident of Ridgewood, I find it sad that there is a new era of “partisan politics” in our midst. This Village Council election should be about serving the residents and taxpayers of Ridgewood not about how to “seize control” of the Council. My observation from the sidelines has been that those who step up to serve do so with the best intentions, usually at much personal sacrifice. They give their service and move on back into private life. I find this new era of outside money and paid for shills on street corners in tee shirts quite disturbing. We are bombarded daily with disgusting political maneuvering at the national level and now it seems it has crept its way into our Village.
I have carefully listened and observed the tactics, the words and the actions of those who are running for Village Council. Once you clear away the smoke, both Keith and Jane appear to stand alone for all of the right reasons. Ridgewood has seen the effects of a partisan Mayor who dreamed of a Freeholder position. That wreckage took years to recover from. I urge you to not let history repeat itself. Vote for Keith and Jane tomorrow so we may protect the future of Ridgewood from the nasty ways of party politics.
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