Ridgewood’s Thin Line: Public Resources, Private Sales
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Don’t get us wrong—we love Bookends. For years, the beloved local bookstore built its business and stellar reputation around bringing high-profile authors to Ridgewood at its downtown location.
However, a recent shift has raised valid questions among local residents and not the first time the Village seems to be promoting a private event. When an upcoming author appearance moves to the Ridgewood Public Library and receives promotion through official Village-related social media channels, taxpayers have a right to ask: Who benefits from this arrangement?
Where Public Programming Meets Private Commerce
Public-private partnerships can certainly bring immense value to a community when executed correctly. Yet, when public facilities, municipal staff, and government communication channels intersect with private enterprise, transparency becomes essential.
Several key questions surrounding the arrangement remain unanswered:
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Event Logistics & Costs: Who organized the event, and who is covering the expenses for venue usage, staffing, and operational costs?
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Vendor Selection & Policy: Was Bookends selected through an established municipal policy or open vendor process? Could another local business or bookseller receive the same opportunity?
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Financial Terms: Does Bookends compensate the Ridgewood Public Library for the space to sell books, or do they keep 100% of the proceeds?
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Use of Municipal Resources: Why are Village public-information resources being deployed to promote an event that yields direct commercial benefit to a private business?
The Need for Local Transparency
There may well be a reasonable explanation, such as shared revenue or cultural enrichment initiatives. However, when government-backed platforms feature book sales labeled “courtesy of Bookends,” the boundary between civic programming and corporate endorsement blurs.
Is this simply solid community programming, or is Ridgewood skating too close to the line between serving the public interest and favoring a private entity? Taxpayers deserve clarity.
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Tags: Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County News, Local Government, Public Library, Local Business, Transparency
total left wing fake news
wow village a$$kissers decend on the blog moments after publication
Mike Kelly is a shrew, we can at least agree on that.
Why does the Village Manager feel the need to post this on his social media pages as well? Isn’t it enough that it’s already being posted on the Village and Ridgewood Public Library pages?
Not a smart move for Bookends. Part of the excitement surrounding these author events was seeing the line outside the store and the buzz it created in downtown Ridgewood. More importantly, those events brought people through Bookends’ doors, where they browsed the shelves and often purchased far more than just the featured author’s book.
They are expecting a lot of people. The library and bookstore should work together. They are not competitors. Promote reading.
I do not get excited standing in a line.
This is not a “left” issue. It is the blog manufacturing an outrage to get clicks. You got me.
So the Village of Ridgewood is now in the marketing and promotional business?
9-11 has become grift for many.
I know that sounds harsh, but the timing of this book proves it.
Kelley is documented in his own columns as someone completely comfortable hurling racial slurs and epithets against white people, once writing the crowd that attended Woodstock looked like mayonnaise on white bread. When asked if he would be comfortable snarkily referring to certain other ethnic groups as, for example, a crowd of refried beans on a tortilla, or a field of eggplants, the question was met with silence.
Why is a publicly funded library hosting an event at which a particular private retailer gets the book-selling opportunity, and why is the Village government’s social-media apparatus promoting it?
Promoting the library, ok
Promoting CBD business, ok if consistent with other business promotions. Where is SID or chamber in all of this. Why aren’t they on the flyer
Library fee for space, don’t care who pays for it as long as it’s not Keith or free.
Good for book end thinking outside the box and how to make more money and stay alive.