I’m not a Harwin supporter but i’m so tired of reading comments like 7:56. it would seem unless a person is born and raised in the town you have nothing to contribute or can possibly have any understanding of the problems of this town. I’m new to this town but I make a point of reading up on issues, watching and attending village council meetings, voting in elections and try to contribute to this town as best I can.
I’ve lived here since 1970. I attended the schools here and I can assure you there never was any intolerance of any sort. The problem is when new people move here they try to stir shit up to get attention since they usually have nothing worthwhile to contribute to the community.
As I have said to many of them, if you don’t like it, you can always move back to where you came from . We do not need inconsiderate nasty people here.
To the original poster: First, welcome to town. Second, let me apologize for all of the political BS that you have witnessed. By and large the people here are good and really care about the place. Most are hard working, family oriented folks that are good neighbors. Third, no, you don’t have to have lived here forever to contribute. On the contrary. Fresh, constructive points of view are not only valuable but welcome. It sounds like you are already engaged in the town’s activities and have taken the initiative to familiarize yourself with the local issues so good for you – I hope our paths cross one day if they haven’t already. Finally, don’t be put off by or tolerate being compared to people like Ms. Harwin who have moved to town expecting to be installed onto the Council with no qualifications. Ms. Harwin has never sat through a full Council meeting. She has yet to participate in any town activities that were not related to her personal campaign. She is not familiar with most of the issues that we face. She has circulated lies about our Mayor and Councilman Sedon who are two of the hard working neighbors that I talk about above. Unlike you, Ms. Harwin is in the process of learning the hard way about what it takes to be a good neighbor in a new town.
Newcomers are a blessing far more often than not. But some people like Aronsohn and any newcomer that falls under his ambit can be a real burden on the rest of us when all is said and done. Politics magnifies the damage that can be done in a short period of time. That’s the real problem that is being discussed here. Not newcomers in general by any stretch.
I hear what this person is saying. I was new to this village too a few years ago. I too made it to VC meetings, followed a lot of discussions on FB groups, was very interested in the well being of of my newfound “heaven” until I realized that this place tends to attract a lot of nuts who feel very strong that they need to turn this town into the neighborhood they came from. In the process I also learned that this place in the breeding ground of many political snakes who will do anything, ANYTHING to advance their party’s or personal agenda. I have learned that there are tons of dimwits who can very easily be taken advantage by of the political scum. Schools are led by politically motivated people, boards are populated with people who find it a hobby to play with residents money etc etc. So I have come to the point where I am slowly trying to get away from being so passionate about things. I follow this blog because most of the time it seems to attract people who know what they’re talking about.
The future of Ridgewood is bleak in my opinion. If it would be possible financially I would leave this place in a heartbeat before ship starts sinking.
Did you move in and immediately try to insinuate that people living here for decades are KKK-affiliated homophobic antisemites?
If not, then the post you are responding to likely did not reference you.
A new resident to the Village ran two years ago. Lawyer. Smart and well spoken. Made a nice pitch at the council debate that “newcomers to the town have voice and perspective”, and it sounded ok. Problem was more apparent in hindsight that we was pushing a pro-development agenda that few longtimers wanted (and few newbies wanted either). And he really had been “planted” on FAC for the sole reason of building a resume for a run council. Essentially, either he came here with HIS ideas to push on us, or, he wanted a job in politics and our former Mayor thought he could implant the guy on council for their mutual benefit. Harwin is like that guy, but on STEROIDS. Why is she even running? It’s not out of love for Ridgewood, that’s clear. In fact, one could reasonably infer that sewing discord IS her aim. Newcomers should get involved. But recent history suggests newcomers running for office is a really bad idea.
Disgraceful behaviour by all involved….put these adults in time-out.
Yet some residents proudly display Harwin signs on their lawn.
I remember every house on Clinton with pro Clinton signs on their lawn.
I chuckle to myself every time I drive by…
Do they realize how lucky they are that Trump is leading the free world?
I sure not…
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss…Garage is being built and so are high density apartments. We vote for people who make promises that, all in all, are not kept. So for all the new villagers, know two truths about this town:
i) People change when they get elected; and
ii) Your taxes will never go down.
Dear Brian, Fortunately not the giant garage, tax increase under 1 percent. Mike and Susan voted against the high density ordinances and repealed ordinance 3066 once they were in a position to do so. You can’t know how bad it was under Paul Aronsohn unless you attended meetings and tried to advocate for any position that he was against.
10.39. but most of us don’t want any raised Garage at all
we want those elected to do their jobs for us the average over taxed resident
demo
repave and number stalls
rebuild
reline
install parking kiosks
towns a shambles all roads are in disrepair.
sewers sinking into their vaults.
raised garage is being proposed for the developers interests
so let’s not confuse the facts
the it’s only a small whip does not mean it’s will be any less damaging
and surely be massive loss making and to become the new crime and pollution center. wake up the are waiting us out..classic negotiation 101
get out and vote no pro garage candidates need apply
5:28 It seems to be a common misunderstanding that the residents are madly cheering for a garage. The original vote either for or against the garage was years ago. Many people have moved away and many others have reconsidered their position. It is a gigantic waste of money and will be used only for patrons of the immediate neighborhood, for overflow parking for all the parking places not being built along with all the apartments, and out of town commuters. Meanwhile our town taxes will raise to copy our totally out of line school expenses.
It doesn’t take a huge amount of money to repeat that poll. It certainly is less expensive than investing in another white elephant. And the Water company is joining the race to see who can spend the most. They claim to our neighboring towns that their water bills were accurate and needed to properly be billed to them. And then we have such a huge surplus? Hold up on the Elks club until the courts and neighboring towns agree that Ridgewood is correct in their billing