There has been no better opportunity than now to unite all Village neighborhoods. Citizens for a Better Ridgewood has its roots on the West Side and favors slower growth in high density housing. The Concerned Residents of Ridgewood is based in the Travel/BF/Somerville neighborhood and favors a smaller-scale modernization effort by the Hospital. Friends of Schedler are in the neighborhoods east of Route 17 and favor preserving the woodlands on that property. Most recently, a group of tax payers from all over town that favors a 4 level garage over a 5 level garage has successfully petitioned to bring that issue to a vote.
After 4 years of a “Council majority” that has claimed to know what’s best for the rest of us and has insulted anyone that has disagreed with them, it looks like we might actually be able to take the town back from special interest groups and Council members with personal agendas.
Candidates Bernie Walsh, Jeff Voight and Ramon Hache have the very unique opportunity to unite these neighborhoods in our quest to preserve our property values and the charm of our Village. Please vote for them on May 10.
That coalition might win an election but imagine them trying to agree on anything? Those groups all oppose the other groups on almost every issue. Valley folks would trade a garage for Valley; garage opponents already traded political capital and energy which allowed Planning Board to approve Valley; Schedler folks dont care about anything but their neighborhood.
There are few people who are for or against all of these issues. Even the mayor was against the Valley expansion for a long time. Besides the 5 current and 6 council hopefuls there are few people in town who actually line up on these issues. That is what is so sad about this election.
We are supposed to have a government without parties. I would be much more apt to vote for someone who was brave enough to say they support the large garage and oppose Valley. Or support housing but not Valley. Just to get someone in there who is thinking for his/her self on these issues.
Wait, so the Concerned Residents of Ridgewood and Friends of Schedler are NOT special interest groups?
10:03 – resident groups of opposing interest is called democracy. They will work out their differences out in open and compromise.
What you are doing is backdoor politics where deals are being made by developers and politicians who have no interest in the goodwill of the village.
One of the primary reasons these groups came to be in Ridgewood was to bring attention to what an awful lot of people who reside here believe to be development that is not in the best interest of the town. You could always use extra parking, but not a 400 space garage. HDH, more overkill. And Valley, the ultimate in killing a town. Do they “conflict”sometime, yes, but so what, that’s democracy. The overall effect of these groups has been positive, and that’s what counts.
I’m kind of with the “our CBD is a dilapidated mess” crowd, and I also believe that Valley should be able to renew on its existing footprint, and that the Village should sell any properties that cannot be developed in to open spaces for Village-wide use. I also think that ordinance 3066 should be repealed, and that any new development should be in-line with existing densities in the CBD even if that’s above the Master Plan requirement. Ridgewood needs serious renovation work.
Cotizens for a Better Ridgewood started when the high density housing became an issue. Students will go to GW
Where were these members for the past ten years when Valley was trying to take over the town?
James, when you write nonsense like this, do you cringe, or are you so used to being a hack that you don’t even notice.
And Bill H.’s unfortunate reference to Valley “killing” the town. Yes, Valley, Ridgewood’s Crown Jewel, that has saved more lives than can be counted.
Rurik-Since they are there to do just that, do you think if they cut back on the “expansion,” and renovated instead, they could keep doing the same thing instead of being the catalyst to Ridgewood becoming Morristown ? I really don’t expect an objective answer as you have become somewhat”famous” for running from legitimate questions regarding Valley. And your “Crown Jewel” reference has become an insult to the overall intelligence of those residing in, and out, of Ridgewood.
Mr Halaby: You comment a lot here and I find myself wondering if you really don’t understand or if you are just pretending to not understand. Either way….
Well, we are at the point where the town is literally split in half… so, maybe we have come to the point that we throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks? Well, how about this? Explore a formal split using, say Maple ave (507) as the demarcation line…2 municipalities…. If Valley’s renewal gets rammed down the throats of the east side, push non profit status then go thru shared services for the facilities on the east side… that will cure the west side east side thing… it would take years but, hey, never say never…
Meant FOR profit status…
7:16-Although Rurik may “comment a lot here,” they are always selective in nature, and he has rarely answered a question, especially regarding Valley. Rather than answer, or even have a civilized debate which he claims is a good thing but rarely acts on, even in public, he ignores it, or, goes on his “Crown Jewel” rant that I’m sure even other supporters are finding boring. Anyway, please don’t ever think he does “not understand,”he does. He just pretends, something he thinks people are dumb enough to buy into.
Bill H… you are usually level headed in your posts… what is the fixation with Mr.Halaby? He’s pro-expansion and is not afraid to let his thoughts known…. he happily takes on dissenters and he says what is on his mind and does it proudly posting his name… what’s wrong with that?… I prefer that to the “damn union thugs” and “white trash newbies” comments from the cretins in anonymity…
Paul- Trust me, no “fixation.” He has a big time personal agenda regarding the hospital at the expense of this town.When confronted with a legitimate question regarding his position he does everything but “happily takes on dissenters.” If he was so proud about posting his name he would certainly answer the question, no matter who is asking. I sure as hell don’t have a problem with answering, and neither do you (although you “prefer”) He would rather not answer. He is more “fixated,” if you will, on trying to identify who is calling him out rather than providing comments that make sense, and can be properly discussed.