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PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF THE BERGEN COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO THE BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

Bergen County Sheriffs department theridgewoodblog.net

Photo By Boyd Loving

PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF THE BERGEN COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO THE BERGEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
MONDAY, JULY 23, 5 PM
NJ Tea Party Coalition

Eagle Forum of New Jersey

Carolee Adams, State President

MONDAY, JULY 23, 5 PM, ONE BERGEN COUNTY PLAZA, 5TH FLOOR, HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY

OR CONTACT OUR 7 BERGEN COUNTY FREEHOLDERS

(CONTACT INFORMATION AT END)

The Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders will convene a second public hearing concerning the proposed consolidation of the Bergen County Police Department into the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. Savings could amount to $17.7 Million by the third year of implementation. The first public hearing was aborted due to a protest regarding an unrelated matter. It has been reported that some Freeholders may seek to punt the decision to a “non-binding” public referendum this November.

Background:

In May 2011, the Bergen County Prosecutor ordered an independent, professional study of the subject officially titled: “The Bergen County Law Enforcement Consolidation Study.” The Study cost $623,000 and was paid by forfeiture funds/seized criminal funds from the Prosecutor’s Office. The Study offered 3 options, compacted here:

1.Reduce the size of the County Police

2.Initial reduction of the County Police, followed by a second reduction prior to a transfer of the remaining personnel, functions, etc. to the Sheriff’s Department

3. Eventual elimination of the County Police with a transfer of its key functions to the Sheriff’s Department to save $17.0 – $17.7 million per year by the third year of its implementation.

Here is the link to this 190+ page study by Guidepost Solutions LLC:

https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcresources/PDFs/Bergen%20Report%20Final%2005%2013%2011.pdf

Highly politicized within the Republican Party, itself, Bergen County Executive, Kathleen Donovan, who considered the elimination of the County Police as ill advised, formed her own task force, commonly known as the Creamer Taskforce, to counter the proposal. Its members, such as J. Fletcher Creamer, contractor; Maura DeNicola, Freeholder; Jeffrey Bader, Woodcliff Lake Councilman, issued its own 35-page report.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS

-Bergen County is one of only 2 NJ counties (Union is the other) with a county police.

-Over the past 20 years, Essex and Hudson counties have eliminated their county police and Middlesex dropped its parks’ police department.

-Reportedly, the bulk of the 2010 County Police calls for service occurred in Hackensack, Paramus, Teaneck, Englewood, and Mahwah – all representing relatively large police departments. In effect, the majority of Bergen County municipalities required minimal assistance, most local police departments patrol county roads in their communities, and numerous police chiefs interviewed for the study concluded that the County Police routine patrol function was not a primary benefit offered by the agency.

-The county patrols county parks and county facilities.

-It is suggested that critical public safety functions of the county police including, but not limited to SWAT; K-9; and Bomb Squad, can be effectively accomplished with consolidation into the Sheriff’s Department within a year.

SOME CONCERNS:

SAFETY-ALWAYS. In light of the horrific tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, and added public anxiety, continued public safety must ever be assured. In Aurora, the key law enforcement agencies involved are: local police; county Sheriff’s Department; and the FBI.

The Guidepost Study clearly states that this consolidation can be accomplished without jeopardizing public safety. The emphasis of the consolidation is to save on duplication in two areas: the patrol function with local towns and command structure.

INFORMED PUBLIC

If the Board of Freeholders decides to place this on a “non-binding” referendum in November, will the majority of the public be sufficiently informed to knowledgeably vote? This writer invested 40 hours to become better aware of the county’s role in law and public safety including the initial Guidepost Study presentation; the first public hearing; 16 hours covering 3 days of budget hearings of the County Police; the Prosecutor’s office; and the Sheriff’s Department* where I was the only member of the public to attend; and local public/private meetings and conversations. Shouldn’t the freeholders have all the information they need to vote NOW on the consolidation?

If the Board of Freeholders places this on a non-binding referendum, and the public passes it, will the current Freeholder Board act immediately to implement, or wait until a new Freeholder Board takes effect in 2013 despite changes that could occur post the November election?

FINANCIAL

Will the bulk of the $17+ million savings be returned to the taxpayers/municipalities after all the costs of the merger are deducted? If no, where will the funds be used?

CONCLUSION

It is important to develop your own informed opinion about this proposal. Also, discuss with your local Mayor and Council and encourage a representative to attend the hearing and contact the Freeholder Board, too. While Bergen County municipalities are concerned about a “cap”, the savings provided by the consolidation will help to safely and prudently meet local budgets and reduce taxation.

Importantly, the Sheriff has offered the Bergen County Police Chief a role of Chief within the consolidation. Further, due to approximately 70 upcoming retirements, it has been suggested no jobs will be lost.

When I attended the aforementioned Bergen County law and safety budget hearings, I was immensely impressed with the *presentation by the Sheriff’s Department. It ranked with some of the finest corporate budget presentations I have attended in the past. Top notch. Sheriff Saudino’s control of overtime, expense control, and knowledge of law enforcement appear outstanding. With that, I believe a consolidation into the Sheriff’s Department will not only be cost effective, but professional and with the utmost of safety awareness and implementation. And, as taxpayers, we must ensure that such an impression continues over time.

I join with State Senator Gerald Cardinale and Freeholder Candidate Peg Watkins to support this common sense consolidation. I believe our safety will be well upheld and continue to be modernized. Personally, I am an ardent advocate of law and order on all levels and fully respect, admire, and support the men and women in uniform who bravely and professionally provide for our safety and peace. I trust the resolution of this issue will be exemplary: safety wise, fiscally responsible, honorable, and reached within a similar peaceful environment that such law and order engenders.

WRITE/CALL/E-MAIL/FAX YOUR OPINION

BERGEN COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

ONE BERGEN COUNTY PLAZA, HACKENSACK, NJ 07601-7076

(Fax remains the same for all: 201.336.6290)

John D. Mitchell, Chairman – 201.336.6277 [email protected]

John A. Felice, Vice Chairman – 201.336.6275 [email protected]

Maura R. DeNicola – 201.336.6276 [email protected]

John Driscoll, Jr. – 201.336.6281 [email protected]

David L. Ganz – 201.336.6280 [email protected]

Robert G. Hermansen – 201.336.6278 [email protected]

Joan M. Voss – 201.336.6279 [email protected]

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Ridgewood Water storage tanks now at 76% of capacity

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Ridgewood Water storage tanks now at 76% of capacity
July 21,2012
the staff of the ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , Ridgewood Water Is Feeling the heat after 10 straight years of summer water restrictions . According to the Ridgewood News (RN) ,”As of this morning, we were at a level of 76 percent in our storage tanks,” Village Manager Ken Gabbert said Wednesday. “That’s indicating that we’re getting a very good level of cooperation from the residents of the four communities, and we did have a long weekend when we were watching every foot on the storage facilities.” ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/163221036_Ridgewood_Water_says_residents_are_cooperating_in_water_usage.html )

The RN goes on to say that Ridgewood Water officials have not yet determined when restrictions would be lifted, nor did they speculate how today’s rainfall would impact storage tanks.

As we all know Stage II water restrictions were “Declared” on July 10th Stage II water restrictions mean that residents, businesses, governmental agencies, and all other water users must adhere to Stage II restrictions. No irrigation is allowed on Mondays at any time. Irrigation using a handheld hose is allowed at any time except Mondays. Stage II limits irrigation to alternate days based on the street addresses of properties. Irrigation of properties with odd-numbered addresses shall be permitted on odd-numbered days, while irrigation of properties with even-numbered addresses shall be permitted on even-numbered days.

While the issues is and has been for the last 10 years not that there is not enough water , but the inability of Ridgewood Water to pump and Store water fast enough .

Everyone is well aware of the dangers of low water pressure or not having enough water . The inability to fight a fire or sufficient reserves to offset a water main break like the Village experienced on July 14th when a 10 inch water main broke between Circle Avenue and John Street.(https://theridgewoodblog.net/16338/ ) or two months ago a construction crew working on a gas main replacement project for PSE&G struck a water main at the intersection of Godwin and West Side Avenues. ( https://theridgewoodblog.net/water-main-break-godwin-west-side-avenues/ ) could create a serious issues without needed reserves.

The Bergen record reported that “miles of leaky, aging pipes — routinely loses track of 25 percent of the water it treats before a drop ever reaches customers. And other suppliers lose even more.” ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/bergen_safety/North_Jersey_drinking_water_going_to_waste_as_system_leaks_lose_25.html )

And while it was nice to see Ridgewood Water admit to the Ridgewood news that , “Restrictions on water usage are not unfamiliar to Ridgewood’s water department customers. Moritz said that he could not remember “any other year that we have gone without them.”https://www.northjersey.com/news/163221036_Ridgewood_Water_says_residents_are_cooperating_in_water_usage.html ) It does not excuse the continued unacceptable situation and third world conditions of Ridgewood’s valuable water supply. Making Ridgewood Water more a liability than an asset.

Chemistry.com

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Five myths about free enterprise

brooks arthur theridgewoodblog.net

Five myths about free enterprise
Arthur C. Brooks | The Washington Post
July 13, 2012

The 2012 presidential campaign is shaping up to be a battle of two economic philosophies. One favors a greater redistributive and regulatory role for the government; the other prioritizes the values of free enterprise, including private property, individual liberty and limited government. Given the economic hardships the United States has endured in recent years, it is tempting to conclude that free markets are no longer best for us — but that would misread our history, and buy into myths about the impact of free enterprise.

“Given the economic hardships the United States has endured in recent years, it is tempting to conclude that free markets are no longer best for us — but that would misread our history, and buy into myths about the impact of free enterprise.”
-Arthur C. Brooks
https://www.aei.org/article/society-and-culture/free-enterprise/five-myths-about-free-enterprise/

1. Free enterprise hurts the poor.

The Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011 and plenty of politicians would have us believe that the free-market system is a contest between the ultra-rich and everyone else (the “99 percent”). But in fact, there never has been a greater force for helping the poor than free enterprise.

Since 1970, the percentage of the world’s population living on the equivalent of less than a dollar a day has fallen by more than 80 percent. Hundreds of millions of people have been pulled out of grinding deprivation.

This miracle was not the result of U.N. development projects or U.S. foreign aid. It was free trade, rule of law, property rights and entrepreneurship that achieved this miracle. In China alone, free trade and foreign investment lifted 400 million Chinese out of absolute poverty between 1981 and 2001.

Whatever the Occupy movement claims, every American earning more than $34,000 a year is in the world’s top 1 percent, as World Bank economist Branko Milanovic calculates in his book “The Haves and the Have-Nots.” Americans make up less than 5 percent of the planet’s population, but we’re about half the members of the world’s 1 percent. And we’ve accomplished that through our commitment to free enterprise.

2. Free markets are driven by greed.

I once asked Charles Schwab how he built the $16 billion investment company bearing his name. He never said a word about money. He spoke instead about accomplishing personal goals, creating good jobs for employees and the sacrifices along the way — including when he took a second mortgage on his home so he could make payroll.

Entrepreneurs are rarely driven by greed. According to Careerbuilder.com, in 2011, small-business owners made 19 percent less money per year than government managers. And as Northwestern University business professor Steven Rogers has shown, the average entrepreneur fails about four times before succeeding.

Free markets and entrepreneurship are driven not by greed but by earned success. For some people, earned success means business success, while for others, it means helping the poor, raising good kids, building a nonprofit, or making beautiful art — whatever allows people to create value in their lives and in the lives of others.

Earned success gets at the heart of “the pursuit of happiness.” The General Social Survey from the University of Chicago reveals that people who say they feel “very successful” or “completely successful” in their work lives are twice as likely to say they are very happy about their overall lives than people who feel “somewhat successful.” And it doesn’t matter if they earn more or less; the differences persist.

3. Free enterprise breeds envy.

Americans don’t resent the wealthy. In a poll in April, the Pew Research Center found that 88 percent said they admired people who get rich by working hard.

This is one way the United States is exceptional. In the World Values Survey conducted between 2005 and 2007, researchers asked people in 54 nations whether success flows from hard work or from luck and connections. Americans were more likely than people in other developed countries — twice as likely as the French, for example — to say success comes from hard work.
“In a society that rewards initiative and offers opportunity, free enterprise fosters aspiration and ambition.”
-Arthur C. Brooks

In a society that rewards initiative and offers opportunity, free enterprise fosters aspiration and ambition. In a social democracy with economic stagnation, you find envy, resentment, unrest — just look at Greece and Spain, where people are demanding government benefits instead of demanding to keep more of what they earn.

4. The free market caused the financial meltdown.

It wasn’t free enterprise that was at fault; it was the lack of free enterprise. Statism and its co-dependent spouse — corporate cronyism — melted down our economy.

As my American Enterprise Institute colleague Peter Wallison has documented, two decades of misguided government policy contributed to a massive bubble in housing. When it began to deflate, so did the whole financial system. And who showed up first in the bailout line? Large corporations, including car companies and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Find me an opportunistic politician chumming the waters with tax loopholes, and I’ll show you a corporate shark.

This isn’t the free market at work — not even close. It’s a toxic mix of big government and its corporate clients. We need more free enterprise, not less — free enterprise where entrepreneurs put their money on the line and earn a profit or suffer a loss.

5. Free enterprise is unfair.

When I was an economics professor, my students would sometimes argue that it was “not fair” for the rich to have so much more than the poor. So halfway through the course, I proposed that a quarter of the points earned by the top half of the class be passed on to the students in the lower half, to improve grade equality. Unanimously, the students agreed that this would be unfair.

I didn’t have to spell out my point much.

Income redistribution is necessary to pay for the state and desirable to finance a social safety net, but as long as incomes are legitimately earned, redistribution is not intrinsically “fair.” For a majority of Americans, fairness means not redistribution, but rewarding merit — and that is what free enterprise does.

In 2006, the World Values Survey asked a sample of Americans to consider two similarly placed workers, one of whom was more reliable and efficient than the other. Was it fair, they asked, that the better one was paid more? Approximately 89 percent of respondents said it was.

And since 1973, the General Social Survey has asked Americans this question: “Some people say that people get ahead by their own hard work; others say that lucky breaks or help from other people are more important. Which do you think is most important?” For 40 years, between 60 percent and 70 percent of Americans have chosen “hard work.”

Unless you believe that Americans don’t earn their success, you must recognize that free enterprise makes our nation more fair.

Arthur Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute and the author of “The Road to Freedom: How to Win the Fight for Free Enterprise.”

https://www.aei.org/article/society-and-culture/free-enterprise/five-myths-about-free-enterprise/

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Ridgewood’s Graydon swim team unified and unbeaten

Graydon swimlanes theridgewoodblog

photo by www.artchick.biz

Ridgewood’s Graydon swim team unified and unbeaten

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
BY ANTHONY LOCICERO
CORRESPONDENT
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — No longer is there a separation among the Graydon Pool lifeguards, Learn to Swim instructors and Graydon swim team. Ridgewood Parks and Recreation has put together a new regime and unified the program as a whole. Swim team coaches are also members of the lifeguard staff and/or Learn to Swim staff.

“Parks and Recreations wanted to bring the whole program under one umbrella,” said aquatics director and assistant pool manager Dan Burzinski. “The change was done to kind of streamline things. A lot of the stuff is more integrated.”

The new swim team head coach is Barbara Farrell — who goes by B. Leigh — who recently graduated from Kent State. Farrell worked with the American Red Cross along with Burzinski, who swam collegiately at the University of Massachusetts and the Learn to Swim program. She also oversees Learn to Swim, which has 95 kids in the program.

Former Ridgewood High School and current University of Richmond swimmer Megan Morales coaches the swimmers 11-and-up. She’s also been a lifeguard at Graydon Pool for the past four years.

Mark Farrell — no relation to the new head coach — is in his first year coaching the nine and ten year olds. He is a Washington Township resident and Westwood High School and Ramapo College graduate.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/163140726_Graydon_swim_team_unified_and_unbeaten.html

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Surveys ask: How are we using our iPads?

ipad theridgewoodblog.net

Surveys ask: How are we using our iPads?
By MIKE MURPHY
Good Morning Silicon Valley

A pair of surveys released today detail the latest trends in what people are doing with their iPads. The interesting bits in a nutshell: The wildly popular Apple tablets are being used more, and more often for business purposes.

The third annual iPad usage survey from Business Insider found that people are spending significantly more time on their tablets. 47 percent of those polled use their iPad between two and five hours a day, up from 41 percent last year and 38 percent in 2010, and 10 percent use it five to eight hours a day (up from 8 percent last year). Overall, 64 percent reported increasing their time on the iPad once they got past the giddy initial exploratory phase. That increased usage is coming at the expense of desktops and laptops — 47 percent now consider their iPad their primary computer, up from 29 percent in 2010. Web surfing is the most popular iPad activity (taking up 37 percent of users’ time), followed by email and social networking (21 percent). The survey found almost 60 percent of web browsing by those polled is now done away from a traditional computer, with 45 percent using their iPads the most and 14 percent using smartphones the most. People also seem to be happy with their iPads — 84 percent have no interest in a Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 tablet, and 70 percent say they wouldn’t be interested in a smaller iPad.

In a separate survey, Consumer Intelligence Research Partners found that business usage increased among buyers of the third-generation iPad, according to All Things D. The report found 21 percent of new iPad users intended to use if for business purposes, 8 percent more than those buying older-model iPads. That could indicate that as the iPad gets more powerful and more enterprise apps are built, the tablets are being seen as must-have items by corporate America. All Things D notes that 94 percent of Fortune 500 companies are jumping on the iPad bandwagon. “Now that Apple has launched three generations of the iPad, it’s become clear that they intend it as a tool, not a toy, especially with the improved display and faster connection,” CIRP partner Michael Levin told All Things D.

All in all, more good news for Apple as it prepares to announce its quarterly earnings next week.

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Advertising placements at Ridgewood train station pitched

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Bomb shelter theridgewoodblog.net

 

Ridgewood NJ, Village officials remain on the fence about several aspects of New Jersey Transit’s (NJT) proposal to sell advertising space at the Ridgewood train station.

New Jersey Transit is proposing the placement of advertisements on platforms and the pedestrian underpass at the Ridgewood train station. Council members and other residents left last week’s work session meeting with a better understanding of NJT’s plan; however, many were not yet convinced that the initial ideas presented by NJT representatives are in the village’s best interest.

In addition, some council members suggested that the transportation corporation, which operates the country’s largest statewide public transit system, must completely fulfill the obligations of the recent $40 million renovation before moving forward with the advertising project.

As of early this week, NJT and its advertising contractor, Titan Outdoor, had hopes of working with the village to sell and install advertising placards at the train station. Transit officials are targeting spots on the platforms and the station building as well as the walls of the pedestrian underpass. The ultimate goal for both NJT and the village is an increase in revenue, transportation officials said.

 

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NJ adds school districts to test new teacher, principal evaluations

BlogICON theridgewoodblog.net 6

NJ adds school districts to test new teacher, principal evaluations

As a new tenure reform bill awaits Gov. Chris Christie’s signature, his administration is moving ahead slowly with the system that could provide the centerpiece of the reforms: a new teacher evaluation system.

A few weeks later than expected, the state Department of Education yesterday announced another 10 mostly suburban districts would be participating in the pilot of a new teacher evaluation system this coming fall.

The state also had hoped to add an additional 10 districts from the pool of communities with high concentrations of poverty, but decided to reopen the grant process when the first round failed to come up with enough qualified districts, officials said.   (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0717/2228/

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Ben Bernanke Warns Congress on ‘Taxmageddon’

Ben S Bernanke theridgewoodblog.net 1

Ben Bernanke Warns Congress on ‘Taxmageddon’

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Capitol Hill today that any modest gains the economy is making could all be lost if Congress doesn’t take action to avert the so-called “taxmageddon” by the end of the year.

“As is well known, U.S. fiscal policies are on an unsustainable path,” Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee. “The most effective way that the Congress could help to support the economy right now would be to work to address the nation’s fiscal challenges in a way that takes into account both the need for long-run sustainability and the fragility of the recovery.”

Congress is facing a year-end “fiscal cliff,” the intersection of several tax provisions — notably, the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts, $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts because of the sequester and expiring payroll tax breaks, which, if not addressed, could cost American taxpayers $310 billion in tax increases next year.

“Recovery could be endangered by the confluence of tax increases and spending reductions that will take effect early next year if no legislative action is taken,” Bernanke said.

https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/ben-bernanke-warns-congress-on-taxmageddon/

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DOE grants final charters to just nine schools

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DOE grants final charters to just nine schools

The Christie administration yesterday put out a short list of charter schools given final approval to open in the fall, but more interesting was the far longer list of those not getting the go-ahead.

Nine schools were granted final charters, according to the announcement from the state Department of Education late yesterday, including four in Newark and two in Camden.

More notable was the department’s decision to postpone 10 other school openings for another year, including the state’s first all-online schools. Another 13 schools that it had approved earlier were outright rejected.   (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0716/2241/

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Ridgewood Little League on a roll tops Wayne

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photo from https://www.rbsa.us/

Ridgewood Little League on a roll tops Wayne
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
BY JJ CONRAD
STAFF WRITER
The Record

PISCATAWAY — Ridgewood’s Pat Cummings is starting to get a nice reputation of being a clutch player.

Not once but twice during Monday night’s first-round Little League Section 1 game against Wayne National, Cummings blasted late-inning, go-ahead homers. His three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth gave Ridgewood an 8-5 walk-off victory that ignited a wild celebration at home plate.

One inning earlier, Cummings capped Ridgewood’s go-ahead four-run fifth inning with a two-run no-doubter to center to give the District 4 champs a 5-4 lead. And last week, it was Cummings’ two-run homer that snapped a tie in the district final.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/162709426_Community_Relations_Advisory_Board_finalizing_anti-bullying_awareness_plan.html

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N.J.’s first online charter school delayed a year

online charters theridgewoodblog.net

N.J.’s first online charter school delayed a year

The state’s first proposed full-time virtual charter school will have to wait at least year to begin educating students.

The state Department of Education today announced approval of nine new charter schools for September, but said the New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School, a full-time online charter school, would instead be given a “planning” year to further develop “academic and operational components.”

However, two offering a mix of online and traditional learning did receive approval. Both Newark Prep and Merit Preparatory of Newark Charter School intend to offer “blended” learning in a school setting, Newark Prep serving high school students, and Merit Prep starting by enrolling sixth-graders.  (Rundquist, The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/njs_first_online_charter_schoo.html

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NFIB Responds to Obama’s “you didn’t build that” Statement

dan danner theridgewoodblog.net

NFIB Responds to Obama’s “you didn’t build that” Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2012 — The following statement is the response from NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner to President Obama’s declaration over the weekend that “If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”

“What a disappointment to hear President Obama’s revealing comments challenging the significance of America’s entrepreneurs.

“His unfortunate remarks over the weekend show an utter lack of understanding and appreciation for the people who take a huge personal risk and work endless hours to start a business and create jobs.

“I’m sure every small-business owner who took a second mortgage on their home, maxed out their credit cards or borrowed money from their own retirement savings to start their business disagrees strongly with President Obama’s claim. They know that hard work does matter.

“Every small business is not indebted to the government or some other benefactor. If anything, small businesses are historically an economic and job-creating powerhouse in spite of the government.”

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Banning those whom you disagree with is intolerant and un-American.

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Banning those whom you disagree with is intolerant and un-American

In a recent letter to the editor (The Ridgewood News, July 13, 2012) ( https://tinyurl.com/7hb3xvs ) the writer noted “I cannot understand why the continued and growing presence of the Tea Party in the Ridgewood Fourth of July parade is tolerated or permitted.” The writer then goes on to say that the Tea Party’s presence in the parade “alters the parade’s naturally inclusive character.” I don’t understand the logic: ban a group that the writer does not like to make the parade more inclusive, huh? The writer also states that the Fourth of July parade is a “non-partisan celebration of community service,” really?

July Fourth is not a day, as the writer says, “to honor public servants, elected officials, police, fire and other emergency service workers, military veterans, schools, hospital workers” (however honorable that may be). Even the parade rules state that the purpose of the parade is to celebrate The Declaration of Independence. I will point out that The Declaration is an extremely politically charged document, or as King George would have thought: partisan. We should not dishonor the sacrifice of our founders by changing the meaning of the day to some politically correct idea void of any connection to its true meaning of: Independence.

On March 23, 1780 a Revolutionary War battle was fought right here in Ridgewood, and many of our Bergen County citizens died in the Revolution. On July Fourth it is our duty to celebrate our freedoms, independence, and to remember the sacrifice of not only the American Revolution but all who have loved freedom. As Abraham Lincoln admonished us in his Gettysburg Address – “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The New Jersey Tea Party Coalition (a citizens movement) marches in Ridgewood on July Fourth to celebrate the birth of our nation and to promote a new birth of freedom. We are proud Americans and we participate in the parade to support the tradition of what John Adams called “the great anniversary.” We march as people of this great land to celebrate and promote our American freedoms, and the preservation of liberty. Those ideals belong to “We the People” – not to either political party. Supporting the principles within our Nation’s foundational documents is not partisan or offensive – It’s American!

Banning those whom you disagree with is intolerant and un-American.

Tim Adriance
Co-founder of the New Jersey Tea Party Coalition

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Congressman Scott Garrett Celebrates his Birthday in Ridgewood

Scott Garrett birthday theridgewoodblog.net

Photo by Dawn Cody

Congressman Scott Garrett Celebrates his Birthday
July 16.2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , Congressman Scott Garrett took time out to celebrate his birthday this past Sunday . Congressman Scott Garrett, (5th District ,New Jersey) birthday celebration was held in a Ridgewood home this past Sunday . The two hour celebration was heavily attended .

Attendees included Linda Schafer the Mayor of Ringwood , John Mitchell Free Holder Chairman , Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan and many more .

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Remember to Separate Recycling from Garbage

201202recyclesummons

Example of Warning:

Remember to Separate Recycling from Garbage

NOTICE: Separate Recycling from Garbage

NJ State law requires that recycling and sanitation be separated in the disposal process. This will reduce the amount of garbage for disposal which currently costs the Village over half a million dollars annually.

We ask your cooperation in following the law. If recycling is included in your garbage, then THE GARBAGE WILL NOT BE PICKED UP. A yellow sticker will be placed on the bags/container, with collection instructions.

If you have any questions, please call 201/670-5585.