Our town politics went down hill from the day Paul Aronsohn was elected and got worse when Gwenn and Albert came on board with him. All votes on meaningful issue were 3 to 2 and with Roberta Sonenfeld hired as VM after kicking out Ken Gabbert, it was more like 4 to 2. That is one of the reasons why when I look at who is backing Harwin and Willett I cringe. The whole crew is in their corner. Why? I think it is a case of revenge politics and not one bit about the issues. They are not running on issues. Try to find one and not transparency and civility. That is what you run on when you have nothing of any consequence to run on like a larger garage? Give me a break. There was a time that it might have been an issue. Now it is more like no garage vs. a smaller garage. They are clueless about what the residents are interested in and have negatively campaigned with lies and innuendos.
Yes, we used to debate issues not personalities. Arohnson and Pucciarelli really turned us into a bunch of half wits. We let them, I suppose. But, we can and we will get back on track, regardless of the outcome of this election.
Anyone paying the least bit of attention knows that the real turning point was the formation of the CRR and the rise of the blog in that fight. So yes, I would blame Valley and the very first three letter neighbor group far more than some washed up poly-sci major. The CRR did all the things that the mayor and her misguided mouthpieces have now made part of the council’s DNA. And they were the pattern for all the groups that followed.
8:03 – Totlally agree. Part of Valley’s plan assumed that residents were stupid and uninvolved. Aronson and Co made the same mistake. CRR really got the residents involved and are to be congratulated..
8:03 The councils that initiated Valley and high density are clearly to blame. No one on either of those councils said a peep about expanding Valley or about bringing in high density during any of their campaigns, but rather imposed them on a surprised electorate. Both initiatives had clearly been pre-designed and pre-planned. Similarly, the garage debacle was largely due to three council members keeping important information not just from the public, but from two other council members.
Secrecy, deceit and hubris on the part of a few council members made these groups necessary.
9:03 it looks to me like 8:03 was actually acknowledging that Valley created the CRR. To blame a council for “initiating” the Valley expansion and the apartment complexes fundamentally misunderstands how our government and our private property rights work. The council doesn’t come up with ideas for how to develop a hospital site nor do they propose how vacant, blighted car dealerships are improved. Private property owners with private property rights come up with these ideas. Councils CAN’T say where they stand on a proposed development in front of the planning board until they are presented with proposed changes (if any changes are proposed) because in doing so they could then not perform their role of evaluating and enacting (or not) those proposed changes. The process is an attempt to balance the RIGHTS of property owners with the DESIRES of the community. Thinking that a single person could make any of these changes happen dramatically overstates the power of otherwise amateur politicians. But it does look good in an Election Day Facebook post!
As Seddon said it best during the housing vote – – Arohnson lied to everyone, he just plain lied.
903 The OPPOSITE is true. VC candidates shouldn’t state an opinion on a pending application, but Valley wasnt “pending” until the VC enacted Ordinance 3066 to allow Valley to make its petition. More importantly, Valley’s “petition” was not an “application”’as defined under NJ land use law, but rather was a petiton to amend policy (the master plan), and if you think candidates can’t take positions on policy, the master plan, or on proposed ordinances, you are totally wrong. The high density petitions also came in under 3066. They were not land use “applications” but requests to amend the master plan. Gail Price, however, did a great job aiding and abetting the developers, by misguiding the PB into thinking the proposals were like solid gold site plans.
And with Ordinance 3066 now gone (thank god), that so called “process to balance” private land rights and community interest is now checked.
Harwin’s consulting firm “Publitics” helps your so called “amateur politicians” coordinate with developers to achieve huge wins for developers.
You gravely understate the power of these amateurs.
Check that, I meant that for 10:11am
Your suggestion is that 3066 was put in place by council members corrupted by powerful special interests. Since it passed unanimously you must be referring to ALL of them. I’ll refresh your memory so you know who you are indicting: Harlowe, Ringler Shagin, Mancuso, Wiest, Pfund. Before you launch an attack on Pfund (only one of the five that voted for it) and Valley remember that Valley started their process more than six months in advance of this ordinance even being discussed.
We hate that stupid picture its like a hit and run view from under their wheels