file photo by Boyd Loving
by Rurik Halaby
Amazing scoop, worthy of Woodward and Bernstein. A Pulitzer in the offing?
For the record, I am personally supporting Rich Brooks, Evan Weitz, and Janice Willett. Rich I have known since he and Cynthia were active in the Red Cross. Evan and Janice I have only met recently.
For the record, I have not contributed a red cent to their campaign, and I have no plans to do so.
For the record I never interviewed them before I endorsed them and so I don’t know their positions on Valley, the Apartments, the Garage or Schedler.
For the record I am supporting them because they are people of the highest integrity, who embody the decent Ridgewood we moved to 47 years ago. People with vision and intelligence to help us meet the challenges of the future.
For the record, I don’t have a foggy idea who Valley is supporting if they are supporting anyone. I support Valley’s Renewal because the interests of Ridgewood’s Residents are best served with a world class hospital keeping up to date. And yes, wake up and smell the coffee, the courts will no BUT support Valley, Ridgewood’s Crown Jewel. And No, Valley does not pay me. It does not pay my wife either. She is a long-term volunteer who would be rich if she got paid minimum wage for every hour she spent volunteering there.
For the record, for you miscreants who criticize my wife: Ask the 1,000 people who enjoyed yesterday’s Daffodil Festival what they thought of the event which she organized. If every one of you misfits would spend a minute volunteering for every hour you spend belly aching, Ridgewood would be the proverbial Camelot you think you live in.
For the record for you ignorami who criticized my wife for planting daffodils and day lilies in the CBD, the topic of the Festival was to protect the pollinators. She was able to obtain a large supply of milkweed seed which grade school kids are planting at Twinney’s and elsewhere.
For Anon 1:16:
Rurik Halaby is a long-term resident who cares about the future of Ridgewood. Identify yourself and I will be pleased to discuss what Ridgewood is going through.
Rurik Halaby is the person who paid out of his own pocket for two mailers to go out to every household in Ridgewood encouraging people to vote. And to vote for whoever. But to vote.
Rurik Halaby, 75 years old, believes in the old Greek proverb: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
He plants a tree, so to speak, in a town he is helping to destroy and somehow we should all be thankful. Another ego gone wild.
Mr. Halaby, I feel the utmost gratitude to the acting military of the United States of America and the military veterans who are living at home.
To show my gratitude I plan to ask the council to pass an ordinance that states that anyone who insults another resident or group of residents for their beliefs on how Rlidgewood should develop,or any other belief, at a council meeting during public comment, that that person must be escorted out of the hallowed chambers of the Village Hall.
I am a citizen of the United States of America by birth. I grew up with the belief that freedom of speech is sacred in the United States of America. To insult another person or group of persons for stating their beliefs is against the Constitution o the United States and it instills fear into people, making them afraid of participating in public comment due to fear of incurring insults.
Diane, please explain to me what an ordinance requiring a resident be escorted from a council meeting if they insult other residents has to do with showing gratitude to military Veterans. As a Vietnam era Veteran and life long resident of the Village I fail to see the connection.
Let’s be clear. Weitz, Brooks and Willet are Mayor Aronson’s handpicked cronies. Rural is just a pawn doing Arohnson’s bidding.
We’ve had enough. As I fondly recall one of our candidates asking in a presidential debate: “are we better off today than we were four years ago?” Do we want 4 more years of distrust and destruction? That’s what the Weitz, Brooks and Willet trio have to offer us. They want to be the new “three amigos.”
Please don’t be fooled – – lets say adios to the three of them now. We can’t survive four more years of Mayor Aronsohn and his cronies running our town into the ground.
Diane,
I think you’re a little confused about the constitution and the definition of “free speech” in America. I’m sorry, but insults (and a lot worse – think KKK marching down Ridgewood Ave this 4th of July) are protected as free speech under the constitution of the United States. Your proposed ordinance will go nowhere. Next.
BTW – Are the insults thrown at Valley and its employees ok with you in the “hallowed chambers” of Village Hall?
“hallowed chambers”… classic!
Thanks Rurik, your support to Rich Brooks, Evan Weitz, and Janice Willett confirms that they will be Valley and big business supporters. We need representatives who work for the residents, who pay taxes here.
I will vote against Rich Brooks, Evan Weitz, and Janice Willett.
The military is fighting for our right to freedom of speech, and other rights. Those who threaten citizen’s right to freedom of speech by hurling insults at them in a public forum are negating those rights.
In any case, if I am making a faulty connection please excuse me.
There should be an ordinance prohibiting insults of residents at a public forum. It does threaten freedom of speech. Residents should be encouraged to come to public meetings and express their opinion. We need more public participation, not less. Public speaking is a scary situation in itself. To believe that one might be insulted for expressing their belief is unacceptable.
Apparently Rogers Rules is supposed to address the situation of insults. It does not. So we need a stronger more enforceable rule.
Diane do yourself a favor and pull out a copy of the Constitution.
You are so ignorant of its contents that it’s scary.
Start with the First Amendment.
Read a couple of Supreme Court opinions about Free Speech.
I’m no fan of the blowhard Rurik Halaby, but he has every right to make his voice heard.
“Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof; or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press; or the Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble, and To Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.”
Robert’s Rules of Order is the short title of a book, written by Henry Martyn Robert, that is intended to be a guide for conducting meetings and making decisions as a group.
“The Legend of Rurik” coming soon to a movie theater near you.
Diane,
Please just stop! The military is fighting for many things, but right now freedom of speech isn’t high on the list. It’s a very big stretch to say fighting the Taliban or Isis is about defending our first amendment rights. To try and make a connection between military service and having a council member not treat you fairly when you speak your mind at a council meeting is not only misguided, it’s insulting to our men and women in service.
The kids who wore the surgical masks and placards to the planning board meeting were exercising their first amendment rights. Personally, I thought it was a little over the top, but I would defend their rights to do this.
escorted out for insults…that’s funny…people barely get escorted out for physically assaulting others…
Diane, I agree that the military is fighting for our right to freedom of speech, along with the other rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution. However, I still don’t understand how an ordinance limiting someone’s speech is honoring those who have served and are now serving in our Armed Forces. I truly believe you have made a faulty connection, unless of course I am missing something……
Watch your mailbox just before Election Day for Rurik Postcard #3 touting his favored candidates.
An 81/2 X 10 glossy, personally autographed by me for my many fans on the Ridgewood Pravda, I mean Blog.
I still believe their should be an ordinance that says anyone who insults someone at a council meeting is out of order and should be escorted out of the room. In debate classes in college’s those kind of low life insults are not allowed.
Hello! If the Taliban won the war and the other terrorists we would have NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Our soldiers are fighting for our freedoms.
No one should be allowed in a civilized civic forum to insult citizens for their opinions.
Paul Aronsohn did hold civility forums and speak about that; but he himself is not following those rules. He lets insults go on. That is why we need an ordinance. Insults discourages participation in the public forum.
Rurik, because of you I am going to vote for Walsh, Voigt and Hache.
Previously , I was only going to vote for Hache. I like his ideas about shared services.
Rurik – can you clarify if you will still support these three candidates if they claim they don’t support Valley expansion plans and will not vote in favor of the planning board decision?
summary of Robert’s rules on one website.
Speaking through the chair
When addressing another member, you never go wrong by speaking through the chair. Refrain from using the member’s name if you can avoid it. Respect is conveyed by depersonalizing comments made in debate. For example, “Mr. Chairman, does the member who just spoke have information on the cost of his proposal?” works much better than, “Dang it Fred, have you thought about how much your stupid idea is gonna cost us?” Formality has its benefits.
The chair person of the meeting, in this case the council, has the power to prohibit disrespectful speech.
Rurik and Dom continually reminiscing about the Ridgewood they moved to 47 or 57 years ago. And Rurik, name calling? That’s the best we can get out of a Stamford man?
Brooks, Weitz and Willet will never win.
First Gwenn endorses Brooks then Rurick wndorses all three. Their endorsements are political poison.
Diane who decides what an insult is You? Residents on both sides of any argument and any Council members should developed thicker skin. People should stop being political correct and speak their mind. If your felling get hurt then just go home.
There is nothing sadder than a misguided old man trying to remain relevant.
Anonymous April 19, 2016 at 2:33 pm said,
There is nothing sadder than a misguided old man trying to remain relevant.
`
Actually there is something sadder, a young snot nosed kid who has no respect for older people.
Anon 2:33: Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina
“Actually there is something sadder, a young snot nosed kid who has no respect for older people.” This I agree with.
Don’t forget the lawn signs on Albert’s lawn for Willet and Weitz. In this case it is entirely fair to judge people by the company they keep.
Weitz has been in town less than 4 years but has already served for years on the FAC and now he wants to be on the council? Boy he moves fast.
1:36 p.m. At a recent council meeting, Mr. Boyd Loving had to get up and say: Enough is enough with the insults.” He was speaking in regard to Mr. Halaby calling other residents liars.
It was the meeting of the budget presentation. I was watching it on TV.
You guys should be ashamed of yourselves; acting like uncivilized people. You know what I quit being involved. Why should I try and try; go about your savagery.
“Weitz has been in town less than 4 years” and is CHAIR of Financial Advisory Committee and now running for council?
Do you see a repeat of 2007/2008?
Sorry 3:59 but old alone doesn’t buy someone respect. Especially when this particular old person has no respect for anyone that disagrees with him. Fornicators? Really? And you talk about respect?
There are few people that I have disagreed with more strongly than Pete Smith, but there are few people that I respect more than him. He and I disagree on many, many, issues, but he is so forthright and intellectually honest that I have nothing but the highest regard for him. I finally met him face-to-face and it was a joyous occasion for me. PLUS he has the courage to identify himself in his postings. It is the cowards who hide behind Anonymous that I have ZERO respect for. This is America. If you have something to say, just stand up and say it. What are you afraid of?
Again Diane who set the bar. What may offend one person may mean nothing to another. Are we now going to employee an “Insult Monitor ” at every Council meeting. Is there a list of words that may not be used. How about dirty looks are the allowed. Hand motions are they ok? Why don’t you just SUCK IT UP.
5:06 pm. Your response only serves to prove your ignorance and juvenile thinking. Congratulations!
Have you ever been to college? Yes, there are a list of word;s it’s characterizing your opponent rather than sticking to the argument.
Boyd Loving would be a great “insult monitor” wouldn’t you agree. He is the one that accused your husband; 6:40 p.m.
1:36 p.m. At a recent council meeting, Mr. Boyd Loving had to get up and say: Enough is enough with the insults.” He was speaking in regard to Mr. Halaby calling other residents liars.
It was the meeting of the budget presentation. I was watching it on TV.
You guys should be ashamed of yourselves; acting like uncivilized people. You know what I quit being involved. Why should I try and try; go about your savagery.
Rurik is the communist. He attempts to squelch anyone who disagrees with him.
Why do you go on a blog where people comment anonymously – and then complain ablut it?
Stick to Facebook.
@5, worse. These candidates are all connected to Roberta aren’t they?
Rurik, Roberta, three amigos, developers, Vagianos on one side…is there any question who to vote for??
Rurik you’re giving me an identity crisis! And thanks, it’s always a pleasure to lock horns civilly with you and it was nice to meet you in person. And your photo is quite statesmanlike.
In regard to the military comment, I didn’t know servicemen and women fly planes, drive tanks and shoot guns so affluent suburbanites can take verbal potshots at each other…
Hi James – here is a reader says story for you. Please take it if you find it interesting. I was surprised to find this fact and thought the voters should know:
Was Evan Weitz planted in Ridgewood by special interest groups?
It is a widely known speculation that our current mayor was sent to Ridgewood to bring Hudson County politics to Ridgewood. He ran for the office as soon as he moved to Ridgewood and has strategically placed the right people in different committees over the years to get the job done for developers and politicians. Rumors are that he is already renovating his house and preparing to move out once his task is done.
We looked at the council candidates for 2016. All but one are long term residents. Something VERY interesting came up for Evan Weitz. He moved to the village in late 2012 and in 2015 he was appointed to Financial Advisory Committee and made it’s CHAIR by resolution 15-301. We DID NOT find any other committee or volunteering experience from Evan before his role in Financial Advisory Committee and when he was made the chair, Janice Willet was Vice Chair of the committee already. She wasn’t promoted to the CHAIR of the committee and instead he was brought in and made the chairman. He has no prior experience with municipal financing in other towns or any experience with how Ridgewood works and our village’s finances or resident needs. He has not served in any other committee. Evan is an attorney by trade and has no experience or degree in Finance. This was evident with his answers in council meeting when he was cross examined.
So the reader asks what is the rationale for bringing a new comer to Financial Advisory Committee and bring him as the chair. Who brought him in? Who are his backers? This is he representing there? Is he being planted to complete some work that PA could not complete?
Can anybody think of another guy who moved here and moved in fast…and has now destroyed everything before moving on?
Ridgewood went into the crapper years ago when the democrat moved here from NYC
The old ridgewood of 40-50 years ago was much nicer, due to the polite non -confrontational pushy newcomers. The housing prices collapsed and people moved here that brought their piss poor attitudes that belong elsewhere . They expect to tax tax tax in order to change things for their temporary ten year stay here then bail and go back to NYC. We don’t need concrete water parks, full day kindergarten , or more sports fields .
And these low class no class newbies have littered the village with their political signage, friggin discgrace . This is Ridgewood not ridgefiield.
Paul Smith: My apologies, but what’s in a name, a rose…..Sorry!