Readers Upset after Ridgewood Junior Football Association pro Albano Email
I just got an e-mail from the Ridgewood Junior Football Association. It is an endorsement for Jim Albano asking me to consider voting for him on Tuesday. It is signed by Dean Vellis whom I have no idea who he is.
I am disgusted that the Ridgewood Junior Football Association is using the e-mail I gave in good faith (to be used for purposes of team placement, game schedules, field closings or relaying information necessary about the team) to promote a candidate in an election. This is outrageous.
No parent should have to receive political propaganda for signing their child up to a sports team.
Thanks for confirming he is the “sports candidate” and that’s all he knows or cares about.
I will be voting for Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon on Tuesday
Here’s the email message, sent through the association’s registration email list–totally not OK.
Does being a good role model for children on sports teams qualify a person to be on the council?
From: RJFA registration
Date: May 11, 2014, 10:52:19 PM EDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Jim Albano
Hi All,
I am writing to you tonight as a neighbor, friend and parent.
Next Tuesday is Election Day in Ridgewood and a true leader in the youth sports community is running for Village Council.
Jim Albano has dedicated close to 20 years to working with the kids of Ridgewood. He has coached and been a great role model for our children in football, basketball and baseball.
Jim has served as President of the Ridgewood Baseball Softball Association (RBSA) for the past six years. With over 1,500 of our kids participating, the RBSA represents one of the largest youth sports organizations in the Village.
If your child plays sports in Ridgewood, volunteers like Jim Albano are the reason why. Please consider giving Jim your support this Tuesday, May 13.
Thank you all and Best Regards,
Dean
Dean Vellis
Voters beware..,…this is the underhanded tactics you will be looking at if Albano is elected.
Vote MIKE
I have received unsolicited emails from both sides – its just annoying. I am an adult and can make up my own mind.
Welcome to Cronyism in Ridgewood.
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications.
You mean like legacies who get high-paying jobs with heavily subsidized healthcare and risk-free lifetime pensions because of the Village residency requirement ? You’re telling me a kid in Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick, Glenrock, Paramus or Midland Park who scores higher on the test wouldn’t prefer a job in Ridgewood ?
When was the last time he washed those football uniforms for practice and/or games?
This old timer remembers the history of the RFA …….
I won’t be voting for Albano either
If Mr. Albano is such an asset to the sports programs, devoting countless hours to it and serving as a role model, wouldn’t it be a detriment to the Village overall to pull him away from that for four years merely in exchange for his “yes” vote on a monster baseball diamond? (No way a person could do both well.)
He is clearly uninformed about and uninterested in local politics. He has voted in village council elections twice in at least the past 22 years.
Let’s give him and the kids a break and help him continue to do what he apparently does best. Something tells me he will be greatly relieved to receive the fewest votes and exit the political life as of tomorrow night. Help a guy out!
So he is just anout sports? Nothing else to say about him. And his sport is in financial trouble.
If you build it they will come !
Is the Ridgewood Junior Football Association also a 501(c)(3)? If so, all not for profit organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.
Dean Vellis is President of the Ridgewood Junior Football Board of Directors. His actions could cause another local 501(c)(3) to lose its status. Not too smart!!!
I love sports and enjoy watching our kids from the sidelines. I’m grateful that Ridgewood has beautiful fields but will not vote for a candidate based on the need of another baseball field. Our village needs to elect officials who want to do what is best to keep the VOR a desirable place to live.
Yep! What Mr. Vellis did was a violation of the IRS code for 501(c)(3) organizations:
https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501(c)(3)-Tax-Exempt-Organizations
Federal tax exemption is not the only reason a political message on the RJFA email list is unacceptable. The group also enjoys semi-official status through the council and Board of Ed and uses taxpayer-supported property.
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/parksandrec/07FPJAN01.pdf
Village of Ridgewood and Ridgewood Board of Education Athletic Fields and Recreational Facilities Use Policy, January 1, 2007
On page 6:
Category II Permit Use
2A. Co-Sponsored Athletic Organizations
The following volunteer non-profit sports organizations are recognized by the Village Council/BOE and are considered to be co-sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department/Community School, according to the rules noted below:
Ridgewood Baseball & Softball Association
Ridgewood Biddy Basketball
Ridgewood Hoops Club
***Ridgewood Junior Football Association***
Ridgewood Junior Wrestling
Ridgewood Lacrosse Association
Ridgewood Roller Hockey Association
Ridgewood Soccer Association / Maroons Soccer Club
Ridgewood Community School
The Board of Ed, League of Women Voters, and others have been informed of this breach of trust.
It is the RJFA not mensa.
Yep for sure NOT Mensa