the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at last night’s meeting, Ridgewood’s Village Council stunned residents by endorsing Councilman Evan Weitz’s proposal for a military flyover to celebrate the Fourth of July. Council members Pam Perron and Siobhan Winograd citing excitement over the spectacle. With unanimous support from the Council and Village Manager, the financial and environmental costs of the flyover are completely out of sync with the community’s values.
At a time when Ridgewood is investing heavily in environmental restoration, the controversy highlights the village’s ongoing environmental crisis. While taxpayers shoulder the burden of cleaning up PFAS-laden water and other contamination, the Council greenlit an event that will spew emissions, disrupt wildlife, and blatantly disregard the Master Deed’s mandate to minimize flight path pollution.
Military jets burn hundreds of gallons of fuel per hour, releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the environment. The deafening noise also poses a danger to local wildlife, particularly nesting birds, some of which are protected species.
“This decision is a slap in the face,” said one outraged resident. “We’re already drowning in cleanup costs and contamination, and now they’re adding to the mess. Our “leaders” should know better.”
Another resident said, “At a time when many around the world are enduring the horrors of war, the decision to stage a military flyover feels not only environmentally reckless but also profoundly tone-deaf.”
As Independence Day approaches, the Council’s priorities have left many questioning yet another one of their decisions. This isn’t patriotism—it’s just another reckless spectacle.
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Dumb
Was Evan in the military?
He looks like he might have been Delta Force.
Post of the day !
Desperate
Do the flyover when things are cleaned up around here
Is there a dollar cost to the Village?
There never is, the Military does not charge for their presence. They view it as a marketing and recruiting tool
This is the most “out of touch” Council in decades!
It’s OK.
They know there will be no consequences for their actions
because we are
RICH and STUPID
Frank is looking a little paunchy
A 6.6 tax increase and this is what Evan Weitz thought was important to bring to the table?
Because nothing says sustainability like jet fuel and gassing wildlife. Classic greenwashing at its loudest.
Unbelievable! The Village Manager #KeithKazmark sat there going along with it.
He likes his car. See no evil, hear no evil mode.
So disconnected from reality and their constituents. It’s as though the Council has forgotten the millions we’re already spending to undo decades of pollution.
It’s disappointing to see our leaders prioritize a flashy display over the well-being of the people, our environment and local wildlife.
they are not “leaders” they are elected officials
They are FAR from Leaders
Correct
These are hack, 2nd rate dirtbags and dingbats masquerading as politicians.
They “lead” no one.
If they are leading, then I am running the other way. Scary bunch of clueless jokers who don’t give a rat’s ass about the environment. They do give a rats ass about how low can your bird feeder go though because residents are fearful to leave their homes. Is this why we haven’t heard anything about Mortimer’s no mow may plan anymore. Wading through tall grasses will surely get you a tick bite or worse.
Out of touch. There are wars going on. People dying every day. Innocent people. And these clowns want a military show for fun?
The potential harm isn’t limited to the air. Experts warn that the deafening roar of jet engines can disrupt nesting and migration patterns, and in some cases, cause fatal disorientation or panic-induced injuries. The Ridgewood area is home to several protected species, making the Council’s decision not only questionable but environmental reckless (yet again).
Read the damn room, Council. Look beyond the top of your own nose. Ocean County, New Jersey is on fire destroying thousands of acres, homes and wildlife. NJ is facing an environmental crisis and you want to ignite multiple jets for show?
Can I cut my trees down so I can see the planes ?
Runner-up post of the day !
you would need a permit from the village engineer for that. He is a little busy right now coming up with answers to some important questions
Noise isn’t an issue if it’s in the 4th of July. The fireworks would have the same impact on wildlife. They aren’t thinking of disrupting the eco system, maybe just patriotism. Although, the bigger issue could be the cost, if it is excessive….
Patriotism?! lol, not from these clowns
I will take a flyover any day in preference to gas leaf blowers
Who needs fireworks when you can just light taxpayer dollars on fire and toss them into the jet stream
That is the job of the village manager and the council. They have spent and spent and are still going with their dog and pony show.
Ridgewood: where we clean up PFAS on Tuesdays and pollute the skies on the Fourth of July.
Whats next a flight into space for the 5 council members.
Did she do her due diligence?
Absurd.
This kind of reminds me of a game I used to play years ago as a teen, Civilization. As much as you wanted to focus on building city wall, settlers, new technology … you had to throw resources at non productive entertainment and monuments to keep virtual citizens in your virtual cities distracted. Is that what they are trying to accomplish? Give them bread and circuses? Is this to make a shock and awe 4th of July and impress the neighbors … so very ‘try hard’ …
Evan Weitz , i still dont believe this guy is a lawyer ????
Lawyer I thought he was a BEE guy 🐝🐝🐝
Evan = lawyer/compliance for a bank
Mortimer = greenwashing beeman/marketing
Winograd = housewife and turtle lover
Perron = former lawyer
Vagianos = former lawyer/diner owner, real estate owner
Who needs a military flyover when you can see enough combustible gasses coming from the village manager when he gets his hackles up. Our real village manager seems to be a real hothead.
A military flyover can cost anywhere from a few thousand to millions of dollars, depending on the type of aircraft and the duration of the flight. For example, a Super Bowl flyover with 6 F/A-18A Hornet fighter jets could cost $36,000, while a flyover with a B-2 stealth bomber could cost $122,000 per hour.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Factors Affecting Cost:
Type of Aircraft: Different aircraft have varying operational costs per hour. For example:
B-52: $48,000 per flight hour.
B-1B: $94,000 per flight hour.
B-2: $122,000 per flight hour.
F/A-18A: $36,000 for six jets.
F-15EX: $29,000 per hour.
F-18 Super Hornet: $30,44 per hour.
F-35: $41,986 per hour.
F-22: $85,325 per hour.
Duration of the Flyover: Longer flights will naturally cost more.
Number of Aircraft: More aircraft involved in a flyover will increase the overall cost.
Training vs. Special Events: Some flyovers, like those conducted for training or to fulfill air traffic requirements, may not incur additional costs to taxpayers.
Examples of Specific Costs:
A B-2 stealth bomber flight over the Super Bowl could cost $122,000 per hour.
The cost of a single Super Bowl flyover using six F/A-18A Hornet fighter jets was $36,000.
A flyover/photo-op involving Air Force One cost $328,835.
A Fourth of July flyover in Washington, D.C. was estimated to cost $1.2 million.
A Super Bowl flyover using four F-18 fighter jets could cost $450,000.
In Conclusion:
Military flyovers are not cheap, and their cost varies significantly depending on the factors mentioned above. However, some flyovers, especially those related to training, may not add to the overall budget burden.
No duh. That’s why they’re going to bond it!
last year Vagianos almost crapped in his pants when he tried to pull a fast one on village staff by suggesting a furlough. When they came out in droves and demanded accountability, Vag then all of a sudden took it off of the table. Current overspending and currently in deep doo doo with a dirty dirt clean up and they think they have the funds for a flyover?
Stupidity does not even begin to describe the literal smoke show that this crew is running. They are trying to baffle people with their glitz and glam and yet there isn’t any good judgement between the ears. It is really amazing that these people are a governing body or considered municipal “leaders”. Ridgewood is becoming an absolute joke. Where is Eugene Levy, I believe we need to resurrect “Schitt’s Creek”
idk but i called hohokus on my lunch break and I told them not to fly the flag in June. clerk told me republican mayor tom randall is in favor of flying it again. How did George floyds fentanyl overdose create this society we live in today. oh man what a martyr
I wanna see Lauren Lips and the rest of the Bezos babes fly over lol
Fly over Habernickel park and dump more toxins. It already looks like shit. Garbage cans on display, tarps hanging around and dead shit everywhere. Dump more fuel there who cares there is enough I. The ground from that old dumpy stable
Where’s that turtle guy and snake guy protecting wild life when you need him? Haha. He thinks turtle crossing sign will help…maybe stop with all the destruction anmd building and lights at Habernickel. The sign don’t do nothing!
Turtle lives do matter! In So. Jersey, they close off roads for the annual turtle crossing (signs posted). Elsewhere, crossings were made for turtles to cross safely underneath a roadway.
NJDEP
https://nj1015.com/wildlife-tunnels-save-animals-new-jersey/
Oh boy. They have the money for this. It’s cool, but come on.
Kind of funny that the group complaining about air pollution here are the same people cheering “drill baby drill” and complaining about wind energy.
windmills are not efficient. I don’t have a problem drilling our own land to keep the cost of fuel low. Do you remember summer of 2022 when gas was 5$ a gallon under Biden? this town and county not looking too good. Theres so much garbage and chemicals everywhere. Our land is becoming depleted. Our leaders don’t have any clue how to fix it. They should be a lot more proactive about finding solutions that work for us in the short and long term. This is unacceptable.
Who’s paying, it’s sick