We are simply fortunate that this is a educated town for the most part and that the public serves as checks and balances. Think it is healthy that there was a housecleaning of the council because there was obviously mistrust whether warranted or not. Certain issues can now be looked at with a relatively clean slate. though some large issues like Valley will still carry forward. On that matter, I hope Ridgewood will stand its ground and not accept any cave in and also follow what other communities are doing as far as challenging the farcical tax exempt status From experience , local govt isnt easy especially for newcomers who are usually idealistic before realities set in. NJ govt excesses and obligations to an over sized public sector has impacted all municipalities .
I can say that no one should come in to local politics with a personal agenda unless it is to serve their community. Shouldnt be a stepping stone to better and greater things. Ridgewood doesnt need career politicians but civilans that fight for their townspeople at every turn. Unfortunately influence peddlers muddy the waters so much that which was once a clear vision become foggy. It can be difficult to stand against the self interests of the influential when you become influential enough to be in those circles.Others simply make mistakes out of good intent.
I wish this new council the best and hope that they remember that they were elected to serve their community first and foremost. This isnt about them but the overriding wishes of the majority. Best advice I can give is to listen to your citizenry and communicate with them with honesty. Never gonna make all happy but Ii people respect your reasoning then they can accept even if they cant embrace
Albert, Paul, and Gwenn would like everyone to believe that they stepped down and chose not to run for reelection. This is not the way it is folks. They would never EVER have been reelected and they knew it, so they tried to save face by pretending that they did not want to serve another four years. The three candidates that they supported so vigorously were trounced, pummeled to dust, and the main reason is that they were supported by the three of them. If Albert, Paul and Gwenn had run, they would have been defeated just as thoroughly , maybe even more dramatically. Then they went on to promote the garage bond with their letters and posters and videos and illegal actions, robo calls (seriously Gwenn, NO ONE wants to hear your voice on a robo call). And guess what, the bond was defeated just as dramatically as the three candidates were eliminated in May.
Ridgewood has spoken. We are sick sick sick of them, their incivility, their illegality, their arrogance, just sick of their faces.
Goo riddance to bad rubbish, we are done with the three of you. DONE.
well said. I hope we don’t cave into Valley either. another example of the bully…
I can’t imagine that Roberta would want to work for the new council. She helped obstruct two sitting members and she actively supported the three who lost.
If she insists on staying would you trust her?
And may Roberta be swept out the door with them…………please!
I wonder if the other three council candidates realize how much better they would have done in the election without the financial and verbal support, full-page ads, and parties by the outgoing council and their highly suspect supporters. At least one of them would probably have won.
7.44 is right..strong medicine must be taken with courage and determination to rid the Body of its illnesses..a new beginning..there will be some bumps here and there are disagreements..but we have a government we can trust to do the right thing for the community and town as a whole.Good Luck and great summer ahead.
The incoming Council should also clean house of those employees who both openly and secretly did the 3 Amigos bidding or were hired because they were the Queen Bee’s friends.