the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Back in 2014 a Village employee was charged with stealing somewhere north of $1 million from Village parking meters . No one seemed to notice the $460,000 or 1% of our Village annual budget . Makes you wonder what else goes missing every year ?He took the money over a 2 year period. Someone in finance didn’t notice a quarter of a million dollar shortfall 2 years in a row? Residents asked ,how can this be, he must of paid some one off, what a scam. and don’t tell me that no others new about this. bull shit. right ,right, come on .he is lucky that he did not meet big bubba . he would of never lasted in the joint.
But Village officials steadfastly refused to offer any other payment option for meters and parking kiosks other than cash, thus making it easier for employees to continue helping themselves. There are so many security breaches in the collection process, none of which officials will admit to in public.
Thomas Rica known in the Village of Ridgewood as ‘coin boy” or the “meter thief” was convicted and sentenced for stealing nearly 2 million quarters from the Ridgewood parking system.
Initially, Rica paid a $64,337.55 down payment, to be followed by $2,000 a month in monthly payments over the five years he will serve probation. Ricca also agreed to forfeit his $30,000 pension as part of the plea deal and $4,000 Ridgewood seized from his home. Shockingly Rica received no jail time .
Fat fingertips.
Seriously? Taxpayers will be responsible for funding this? How about we just provide a stylus at each kiosk?
The buttons are too small? For whose fat fingers?
What users? Not village residents! We don’t pay for parking. Everyone knows that. So who are the complainers?
Anyway, looking forward to the new designer kiosks. Honestly, the old ones look stupid next the designer garbage cans. They could have just said that and it would have been an instant green light.
who is we ????
The WE that constantly bitches about parking and claims they never pay for it, going so far as to shop and use the post office out of town because of it.
The buttons ares so small even the squirrels can’t use them……..
It costs too much so we can spread it out over several years.
Who said that, Evan?
Comical the buttons are too small but the buttons on your iPhone are just fine.
KA-BOOM! Nailed it.
I suggest if you want a vibrant downtown, get rid of the paid parking.
I’d guess the net revenue is insignificant after;
salaries, benefits, vehicles, commissions to credit card, and negative publicity vs towns with free parking such as glen rock , allendale and glen rock
I’ve lived here for over 50 years and its a pain in the ass to park, even for the post office, so i go to the other towns.
Simply chalk the tires and double the overtime fees and the revenue likely will exceed the net. Also, no coins to disappear. BTW how did that guy avoid jail?
One of the WE you were looking for, James.
the meters were established to keep the riff-raff out of Ridgewood , now Ridgewood is the riff-raff
How much more of OUR money can they waste on things that WE DO NOT WANT ?
Hold my beer …
Are they going to be replaced with No-Tracking, No-Account, No-Credit-Card Quarter Meters ?
Coin Boy wants meters back…
Ridgewood should be like Glen Rock and Allendale, no kiosks on the street just time limited to shopping not commuting. Keep the kiosk parking fees for the parking garage