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Former Police Officer Who Stole $105,000 from PBA Will Not See Jail Time

John-Campbell

November 21,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON NJ, Attorney Christopher S. Porrino announced that a retired police officer who formerly served as president and state delegate of New Jersey Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 59 in Cape May was sentenced today for embezzling large sums from the union over a period of five years. The state’s investigation revealed that he stole approximately $105,000.

John Campbell, 49, of Cape May, a retired Cape May police officer, was sentenced to six months of home detention under the county’s alternatives to incarceration program, including electronic monitoring with an ankle bracelet, and five years of probation by Superior Court Judge John Porto in Cape May County. He also was ordered to serve 300 hours of community service, pay a fine of $5,000 and provide full restitution to the union of $105,000, which was paid in full today. Campbell pleaded guilty on Aug. 10 to a charge of third-degree theft by unlawful taking. In pleading guilty, Campbell admitted that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from PBA Local 59 from 2012 through 2016, while serving as the state delegate for the union, by using the union’s checking account and a business American Express card to make unauthorized personal purchases, expenditures and withdrawals that were unrelated to union business.

Campbell was initially arrested on July 13 as a result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau and the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. Deputy Attorney General Brian Uzdavinis prosecuted the case and handled the sentencing for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Anthony Picione.

“Campbell was entrusted with access to the credit and checking accounts of his PBA local, but rather than living up to his duties as a police officer and leader of this union, he corruptly chose to embezzle over $100,000,” said Attorney General Porrino. “This was a crass betrayal by a man who took an oath to uphold the law.”

“We have zero tolerance for people who use their positions of trust to steal from the organizations and people they were appointed to serve,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We will continue to work closely with the New Jersey State Police to investigate and prosecute corruption aggressively.”

“Campbell made the decision to betray the trust of not only his fellow law enforcement officers but also the community which should have benefited from the funds he absconded with,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The consequences of his actions should serve as reminder that no one should consider themselves above the law.”

While serving as the local PBA’s state delegate from 2012 through 2016, Campbell used credit and debit cards issued to him by the union, and paid for with union funds, for a variety of unauthorized personal expenses unrelated to union business, ranging from modest purchases at convenience stores and gas stations to more exorbitant purchases involving time shares and home improvements.

Campbell’s thefts came to light after a change in leadership of PBA Local 59 in July 2016, when an audit was conducted and suspicious credit and debit card charges were discovered. The information was referred to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, which in turn referred the case to the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police.

The investigation revealed that Campbell made more than $70,000 in unauthorized personal expenditures through the American Express account alone, including, for example:

over $30,000 for time shares in Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico;
over $16,000 for utilities and services, including gas, electric, telephone and TV services;
over $5,000 for clothing and jewelry purchases;
over $7,500 for purchases of electronics, furniture and cabinets;
approximately $5,000 on various convenience store and gas station purchases; and
a $500 designer Christmas tree.

He used the PBA debit card to make additional personal purchases and obtained approximately $9,700 for his personal use through debit and ATM withdrawals, as well as unauthorized checks.

Attorney General Porrino commended all of the members of the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau and Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau who worked on the investigation.

As a result of the investigation, additional alleged thefts were discovered that led to a charge against a second official of PBA Local 59, former treasurer Kyle Grossman, 39, of Lower Township, N.J. Grossman, who also was a Cape May police officer, was charged by accusation on Oct. 12 with third-degree theft by unlawful taking for allegedly stealing approximately $5,000 in union funds for his personal use. He waived indictment on that date, agreed to pay $5,000 in restitution, and forfeited his job as a police officer. He was admitted by Judge Porto into the Pre-Trial Intervention program. The charge against him will be dismissed if he successfully completes the program. Grossman agreed to enter a consent order under which he will be permanently barred from public employment.

Attorney General Porrino and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free Corruption Tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to confidentially report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The public also can log on to the Division’s web page at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.

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Federal Tax Reform Might Push New Jersey to Reform Tax System

Phill Murphy -Sara Medina del Castillo

November 20, 2017
Joseph Bishop-Henchman

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey has long been the punching bag of state tax scholars. The state has the worst state business tax climate of the 50 states and the third highest overall state and local tax burden (behind only Connecticut and New York). Any New Jersey resident knows they pay the highest property taxes in the country, but other taxes are also high: income taxes (5th highest top rate), corporate taxes (6th highest in collections), sales taxes (16th highest in collections), cigarette taxes (10th highest), and gas taxes (8th highest) are all high, and New Jersey is currently one of two states with both an estate and an inheritance tax (the estate tax half is scheduled to be repealed in 2019, but we’ll see if the new Governor changes this). The state has more outbound net migration than any other. One bright spot: you can drink away your sorrows, with a mere 12-cent per gallon beer tax, lower than 40 other states.

The state and local tax deduction considerably reduces the sting of New Jersey’s tax bill, and it’s no coincidence that four of thirteen Republican nay votes on the House tax bill came from New Jersey representatives. New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and newly elected Governor Phil Murphy, both Democrats, had pledged to make a higher income tax on millionaires a key early priority in 2018.

Now, however (Politico):

“We’re going to have to re-evaluate everything” if a federal bill repealing the state and local tax deduction becomes law, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said Wednesday in Atlantic City. Just days before, Sweeney had said he would make passage of a millionaires tax his chief priority in the new administration. “I’m just saying that what’s happening in Washington is concerning the hell out of me,” he added.

The changes to SALT are likely driving the reassessment. As ITEP, a group that promotes millionaires’ taxes, has explained, the state and local tax deduction “makes state income tax hikes a good deal,” since “income and property taxes are effectively less costly to state residents than are sales and excise taxes.” Take it away and New Jersey residents must pay full freight for their state and local governments. That may explain the seemingly contradictory rhetoric that millionaires taxes won’t affect the economy but eliminating the SALT deduction will be terrible.

If federal tax reform prompts New Jersey to overhaul its tax code, it’s long overdue. There are 244 townships, 265 boroughs, 49 cities, 15 towns, 3 villages, and 677 school districts. The three-member board running Tavistock, NJ, is a majority of the borough’s 5 inhabitants. A 1912 article recounted the history of New Jersey tax administration, which is a seemingly unending tale of bloated local government, corruption, and inequitable assessment. In the 1960s, railroad scholar George Hilton noted that the state’s practice of loading its property tax burden onto interstate commerce had ruined the viability of every railroad crossing the state. A 2003 state report dryly observed that state revenues had grown 1,700 percent since 1970, compared to population growth of 19 percent and inflation growth of 483 percent. The state adopted a sales tax in 1966 and an income tax in 1976, both with promises that they would be used to reduce crushing property tax burdens. Today New Jersey still has the nation’s highest property taxes, but with high income and sales taxes as well. It’s probably time for a rethink.

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Glen Rock Mayor Encourages all Residents to Attend the Presentation on Community Energy Aggregation Program aka the Glen Rock DEAL

Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer

November 20,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer is encouraging residents to attend what he sees as an opportunity for Glen Rock rate payers  , ” I strongly urge people to try to attend the presentation on Glen Rock DEAL on November 30th. If you are cynical, please assure that you have all of the facts before allowing your cynicism lead you to the accepting and spreading of misinformation on social media or elsewhere. You can find some info right here:

The Environmental Commission is currently evaluating an opportunity to enroll PSE&G customers into a community energy aggregation program that would provide cheaper electricity while adding more clean sources of energy.

Participation in the program is voluntary. Residents are automatically enrolled, unless they “opt-out” before the program starts. They can also opt-out anytime and for any reason during the entire duration of the contract and revert back to PSE&G with NO termination fees, by notifying PSEG by phone or email (see FAQ below).

https://www.glenrocknj.net/index.asp?SEC=A12FAE01-EB9C-477B-A107-0CD8400A724F&DE=85241729-0CBC-47C9-B25A-64A16304C0D9&Type=B_BASIC

It is important to note that this change can only happen with the passing of an ordinance which will include, as always, an opportunity for a public hearing. This will happen in early 2018.

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Stay Clear of Snowflake University

003+grad

November 19,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in a recent opinion piece for the New York Post ,Dr. Everett Piper suggest ways to keep your college bound kid out of Snowflake University. Piper is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University and the author of the book “Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth.

Generation Snowflake, or Snowflake Generation, is a neologistic term used to characterize the young adults of the 2010s as being more prone to taking offence and less resilient than previous generations, or as being too emotionally vulnerable to cope with views that challenge their own. The term is considered derogatory

In the Article Piper states , The ugly truth is that colleges around the country have been bowing down to the snowflakes that riot on their campuses. We saw an example of this at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., last spring.

What we call on the Ridgewood blog : Participatory Fascism , something that seems to have run a muck in the Village in recent years and particularly recent weeks .

“At the University of Missouri, a relatively small group of students held a sit-in at the campus library for two days in the fall of 2015. The demonstrators demanded that all staff, faculty and students go through training that aligned with their myopic and closed political worldview. They actually stipulated that any student who didn’t complete the training couldn’t enroll in any classes. The group didn’t stop there. They demanded the resignation of both the president and the provost and, shockingly, the board of trustees capitulated. By rewarding these rioters and accepting their demands, Evergreen and the University of Missouri did nothing but enable further selfishness and dysfunctional behavior at their respective institutions.”

Piper says these Snowflake schools are about , “Teaching political correctness rather than truth”  he goes on , “Intellectual and moral nihilism serves as their foundation and they actually disparage the idea of absolute truth and right and wrong. Education should not be about celebrating opinions and feelings but rather about pursuing facts.”

A Ridgewood blog reader once said , “American schools are almost communist now. They dole out oppression dressed as education in more ways than one. What once was opinion is now fact and what once was economics and statistics is hate speech.”

Piper states this is a direct result of the snowflake doctrine that there are absolutely no absolutes, and that wrong and right, truth and falsity, everything related to morality is determined by people rather than facts. It is scary to think that a generation that has been taught there are no moral standards will become the judges, lawyers and legislators of the future. How can you govern without understanding the importance of truth?

Pier concludes , “Education should be about the promulgation of the bigger and better ideas. It should be more about Socrates and St. Paul than about self-actualization and social engineering. The best education is one that is grounded in those ideas that are tested by time, defended by reason, validated by experience and confirmed by revelation.”

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Opioid Wars :Attorney General Porrino Expands War on Opioid painkillers by Going After Drug Company Founder

prescription-drugs

November 19,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ,Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced today that New Jersey has filed an amended consumer fraud and false claims complaint against Insys Therapeutics, Inc. – maker of the powerful opioid-fentanyl drug Subsys – that adds as a defendant John N. Kapoor, billionaire founder of the company.

Insys and Kapoor are accused in the State’s complaint of endangering the public through a greed-driven, unlawful marketing campaign designed to exponentially increase sales of Subsys by making fraudulent claims and unlawfully incentivizing health care providers to prescribe Subsys to an inappropriately broad array of pain patients.

Subsys is only approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating breakthrough cancer pain in opioid-tolerant cancer patients.

Filed in Superior Court in Middlesex County, the State’s amended complaint notes that Kapoor not only founded Insys and is its principal shareholder, but also held executive management positions in the company including Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Kapoor’s public claims that he was “not involved in day-to-day operations” concerning Subsys and that he was merely “an investor” in the company are contradicted by documentary evidence, the State’s amended lawsuit notes. The complaint charges that, in reality, Kapoor exercised “firm direction” and “close management” of the illegal push to have Subsys inappropriately – and dangerously – prescribed for patients with routine chronic pain.

“This individual (Kapoor) founded Insys and for all intents and purposes ran the company. We reject the suggestion that he had only a hands-off, observer’s role in the process of illegally expanding the off-label prescription market for his company’s flagship drug Subsys. And, as our amended complaint filed today makes plain, we believe that available evidence suggests otherwise,” Porrino said. “We allege that Mr. Kapoor was firmly at the controls as Insys coldly set aside any concerns about addiction and death, and forged full-steam ahead with a campaign to have more doctors prescribe Subsys to more patients, and to have doctors who were already prescribing the drug prescribe higher doses. Naming him as a direct defendant credits his alleged role in a calculated scheme to drive profits at the expense of human life, and allows us to look beyond the corporate veil and obtain a judgment against Mr. Kapoor and his personal assets.”

Among other things, the State’s amended complaint alleges that the greed of Kapoor and Insys put “hundreds” of lives in jeopardy and “led to the death of at least one New Jersey resident” – a 32-year-old Camden County woman who was prescribed Subsys for fibromyalgia. In addition, the suit notes that two New Jersey state employee health benefits plans paid a total of approximately $10.3 million to reimburse Subsys prescriptions between 2012 and the third-quarter of 2016, while the State Worker’s Compensation Program paid another $300,000.

The lawsuit includes three counts alleging violations of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act and one count alleging violations of the New Jersey False Claims Act. The suit asks that Insys and Kapoor be assessed maximum civil penalties for each violation of the Consumer Fraud Act, and seeks three times the State’s actual damages for violations of the False Claims Act, per that statute. The suit also seeks to have Insys and Kapoor held responsible for costs and fees incurred by the State in bringing the case.

From the 2012 market launch of Subsys until the present, the drug has accounted for approximately 98 percent of net revenues for Insys, a Delaware corporation with headquarters in Chandler, AZ. Insys, which has raised the price of Subsys every year since its launch, sold $74.2 million worth of the drug in New Jersey between 2012 and the third-quarter of 2016.

The State’s complaint alleges that Insys’s corporate decision-makers – led by Kapoor – devised a strategy to expand what they recognized as a limited market for Subsys by aggressively pushing “off label” uses of the drug – even to podiatrists and other specialty practitioners who typically would have little call to treat cancer patients or prescribe powerful Schedule II painkillers. (Off-label use denotes use of a drug for purposes other than that for which it was approved by the FDA.)

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N.J. Residents Deceived into Paying Scammers via Western Union Can Apply for Compensation from Settlement Fund

IRS Scam

file photo by Boyd Loving

November 19,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced today that New Jersey residents who were deceived into sending payments to scammers using Western Union’s wire transfer service can now apply for compensation from a $586 million fund related to a multi-state settlement with Western Union in which New Jersey participated.

According to Porrino, New Jersey residents may be eligible to receive compensation if they were the victim of a fraud-induced money transfer using Western Union services between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017.

New Jerseyans who reported to Western Union, or to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, that they were the victim of such a scam may soon receive a claim form in the mail. The claim form will be sent from the Settlement Administrator of a related federal settlement within the next two weeks.

The form will contain instructions explaining how consumers may file their claim to receive compensation. Consumers who do not receive a claim form in the mail but believe they may have an eligible claim can visit www.westernunionremission.com or call 1-844-319-2124 for more information on how to file a claim.

Filing a claim is free, so consumers should not pay anyone to file a claim on their behalf.

No one associated with the claims process will call to ask for consumers’ bank account or credit card number. All completed claims forms must be mailed back to the Settlement Administrator by February 12, 2018.

“Unfortunately, con artists use all types of ruses and tall tales to convince people to wire them money – and they sometimes succeed. Some of these ‘send money’ scams may appeal to the target’s humanitarianism or love of family, while others may suggest the would-be victim needs to wire money in order to claim a big sweepstakes prize,” Porrino said.

“The position of the states in this matter was that Western Union must be more vigilant going forward,” Porrino said, “but consumers can protect themselves, too, by exercising great caution in the face of overtures asking that they send money. If a person is being told a loved one is in need or in danger, we urge that he or she proceed with deliberation and make every effort to authenticate the story independently. And if a supposed ‘bargain’ or ‘contest prize’ sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We recommend that they not take the bait.”

Announced by Attorney General Porrino in January 2017, a multi-state settlement with Western Union Company resolved an investigation by the participating states focused on fraud-induced money transfers – specifically, the wiring of money by unwitting consumers to third-party con artists using Western Union’s wire transfer service.

Under the settlement, Colorado-based Western Union was required to develop and put into action a comprehensive anti-fraud program designed to help detect and prevent future incidents in which consumers who are the victims of fraud utilize Western Union to wire money to those defrauding them.

New Jersey was a member of the multi-state Executive Committee that spearheaded the Western Union investigation. Deputy Attorney General Cathleen O’Donnell, assigned to the Division of Law’s Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, and Division of Consumer Affairs Chief Investigator Laurie Goodman, as well as Investigator/Team Leader Aziza Salikov, handled the Western Union matter on behalf of the State.

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Bergen County Towns Vote to Reject Forced Overdevelopement thru Affordable-housing

CBD high density housing

November 18,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hillsdale NJ, Ballot questions were overwhelmingly approved in four Bergen County towns, Residents in Hillsdale, Park Ridge and River Vale voted this month in support of non-binding questions that called for the towns to stop issuing permits for large-scale housing projects until statewide affordable-housing rules are established. Dumont voters also approved a question that asked if the state Legislature should make appointments to the Council on Affordable Housing board and amend the Fair Housing Act. In each case residents voted against forced overdevelopment, did not want high-density apartments in their towns,  and they particularly reject high-density apartments built because of builder’s remedy lawsuits.

In 2015, the state Supreme Court ruled that municipalities should bypass the non-functioning Council on Affordable Housing and go directly to trial court judges to determine their affordable-housing obligations. Since then, many towns have been involved in costly litigation involving the Fair Share Housing Center, an affordable-housing advocacy group, to determine how many units of low- to moderate-income housing they constitutionally must provide.

Fair Share Housing has been accused of setting affordable-housing numbers that are unrealistic in relation to the ability of the town to absorb such significant housing levels. The fact is with housing comes infrastructure, police, fire, schools, sewage and water . Many politicians have referred to the Fair Housing Act as the “developers full employment act”

Local lawmakers are hoping Trenton is listening . Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, drafted the questions passed in Hillsdale, Park Ridge and River Vale. Schepisi, R-River Vale, has been at the forefront of efforts to come up with a statewide affordable-housing solution. She believes there is a more responsible way to meet obligations to provide low- to moderate-income housing and has been covered on this blog extensively .

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Small Business Saturday Coming November 25th

CBD Ridgewood by ArtChick

photo by ArtChick

November 18,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, ‘Tis the season to Shop Small®! On main streets across America, small businesses are getting ready to welcome customers on Small Business Saturday, celebrated this year on November 25th. Results from the 2017 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released today by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and American Express, show six in ten (61%) U.S. consumers are aware of Small Business Saturday going into the day, and of those, 82% plan to shop at a small, independently-owned retailer or dine at a small, independently-owned restaurant on the day.

Created by American Express in 2010 as a way to help small businesses get more customers, Small Business Saturday is held annually on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Now entering its eighth year, the day is embraced by independent merchants of all kinds—from traditional brick and mortar retailers to service providers to e-commerce businesses. And as consumer shopping habits continue to evolve, they are prioritizing small businesses – even those online: the report found that 59% of consumers said they are likely to seek out a small, independently-owned retailer when shopping online on Small Business Saturday.

“Small Business Saturday provides people an opportunity to discover and celebrate the variety of small businesses that make their communities thrive,” said Elizabeth Rutledge, Executive Vice President, Global Advertising & Brand Management at American Express. “Beyond visiting their favorite go-to spots, shoppers say Small Business Saturday inspires them to visit places they have not been to before and would not have otherwise tried.”

Consumers Will Make Small Businesses a Big Part of Holiday Shopping Plans
Among those who are aware and who plan to shop on Small Business Saturday this year, 65% say the main reason they will support local, independently-owned retailers and restaurants is because they value the contributions small businesses make to their community.

The 2017 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey found:

As much as 80% of all consumers surveyed say at least some of their holiday shopping will be done at small, independently-owned retailers or restaurants;
Three-quarters (75%) of all consumers surveyed are planning on going to one or more small businesses as part of their holiday shopping;
90% of all consumers surveyed agree it is important for them to support small, independently-owned restaurants and bars;
Of consumers who are aware of Small Business Saturday, 89% agree that the day encourages them to Shop Small all year long, not just during the holiday season;
For those who are aware and who plan to shop on Small Business Saturday, 44% plan to spend more this year compared to last year.
Nine-in-Ten U.S. Consumers (90%) Say Small Business Saturday® Has Had a Positive Impact on Their Community.
90% of consumers aware of the day say Small Business Saturday inspires them to explore new independently-owned retailers and restaurants.

“Supporting small businesses is critical to the health and livelihood of our national economy and local communities,” said NFIB CEO and President Juanita Duggan. “We are proud to partner with American Express to bring attention to the importance of small business and look forward to another successful Small Business Saturday.”

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Thanksgiving Weekend Deadliest Holiday on our Roads with Drunk Driving Claimed 800 Lives from 2012-2016

Honda Civics collide Ridgewood Police Ridgewood Fire Deparrtment4

file photo By Boyd Loving

November 18,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is reminding the millions of Americans who will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday to plan ahead for a non-drinking driver to get them safely to their destination.

From 2012 to 2016, drunk driving crashes killed more than 800 people over the long Thanksgiving weekend, making it the deadliest holiday on our roads (6 p.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Monday).

“Thanksgiving is a time for families and tradition, and each of us can do our part to prevent the 100 percent preventable tragedies caused by drunk driving,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church, whose 18-year-old son Dustin was killed in a teen drunk and drugged driving crash. “Please take advantage of the many options for getting home safely — a designated, non-drinking driver, rideshare, taxi or public transportation.”

In addition to MADD’s Tie One On… for Safety® red ribbon holiday campaign, MADD joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in urging everyone to “Make It to the Table: Don’t Drink and Drive this Thanksgiving Eve.” On Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving, MADD will blitz its social media channels with reminders to plan ahead by designating a non-drinking driver, using public transportation, rideshare or taxi if plans include alcohol.

MADD encourages everyone to spread the word on Nov. 22 and throughout the holiday season by using MADD’s holiday hashtag #HomeForHolidays, along with #buzzeddriving and #designateddriver.

“Thanksgiving Eve is just the beginning of the busy holiday season, and MADD will be out in full support of law enforcement’s efforts to protect our roads through New Year’s Day,” said Sheehey-Church. “Our wish is for everyone to make it home for the holidays.”

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Reader says Schedler be modeled after the wild wooded area in Central Park

schedleraerial-072613-rn-tif

I have suggested to the council in writing, that Schedler be modeled after the wild wooded area in Central Park , NYC. In other words with paths , but otherwise preserved , pristine nature, in all its grandeur. And life giving to plants and animals and us, keeping out pollution, trees providing oxygen, and an inspiration to us all. Here is the link: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/a-secret-section-of-central-park-will-soon-re-open-to-public-after-82-years-051016

It is called the Hazlett Nature Sanctuary. The area is now open to the public.

Dead trees in Schedler which attract insects provide food for birds and are called snags. They could be allowed to lie along the ground, if pose a danger of falling.
But there are enough residents in town who want to destroy Schedler.

After all there is plenty of open space, around town right, around Bergen County, around the country around the world. Who needs it. Above all and most importantly WHO NEEDS NATURAL BEAUTY, nature. If you want beauty go the the central business district in Ridgewood and see all the stuff that is for sale.
Oh do not forget, BE SURE to add a Starbucks on the Schedler property when you develop it properly.

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Village of Ridgewood and the Ridgewood Village Council received the 2017 Innovation in Governance Award, honored by the National League of Cities

Village of Ridgewood and the Ridgewood Village Council received the 2017 Innovation in Governance Award, honored by the National League of Cities

photo courtesy of the Village Hall

November 16,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations, to Mike ,Susan and Heather  Village of Ridgewood and the Ridgewood Village Council received the 2017 Innovation in Governance Award, honored by the National League of Cities and Sustainable Jersey Silver certified!!

Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs.  By supporting community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity, Sustainable Jersey is empowering communities to build a better world for future generations.

The Sustainability Champion award recognizes municipalities that have scored the most points in the Sustainable Jersey certification program in three population categories (large, medium and small).

“The Sustainable Jersey municipal awards recognize the outstanding work being done at the local level,” said Randall Solomon, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Donna Drewes. “We are extremely impressed by the innovative and effective sustainability programs and initiatives of these towns. They deserve to be commended for their accomplishments.”

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Ball Fields Back on the Table for Schedler Property in Ridgewood

Schedler Property in Ridgewood

November 16,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, once again the Schedler Property in Ridgewood seems to be in play. Rumors are swirling on the east side of route 17 ,that the current tree clearing is really  to make way for more ball fields .

Jacqueline Hone commented on Facebook on Ridgewood History, “There has been an ongoing debate about the Schedler property in Ridgewood. Artifacts dating back to the Revolutionary war were discovered on this property. Here is a British Lieutenant’s sword, dated 1747, found at Schedler. Also, a letter written by the same man describing his approach to battle on this site. Our Village Stewards are moving towards converting this historical, untouched, wooded area into another ball field. Many felt the area should be preserved historically and left as a nature/discovery walk. How do you feel about this? Does anyone have pictures, stories or artifacts related to Schedler?”

Mayor Susan Traina Knudsen  also commented on Facebook saying , “The previous plan for a 90′ field required clear cutting the lot to accomodate a 300′ outfield, plus a practice area, seating, parking lot, bathroom/concession and more. That plan also included the removal of the historic house plus a 60’H x 300’L errant ball net along route 17….my recollection of the size.

This Village Council unanimously voted to repeal the plan for the 90′ baseball field at the location and subsequently appointed an ad hoc committee to look at how to best proceed with the property.

It is fair to say the Schedler neighborhood is very well represented on the Ad hoc committee. Other members include two VC ,VoR staff, representation from both Wildscape & parks/rec, and residents.

This Village Council is committed to doing better and preserving one of the last remaining historic Dutch frame houses in New Jersey…the Zabriski/Schedler house has a Certificate of Eligibility for historic recognition and is listed in the Historic element of the Village of RIdgewood Master Plan.

To date, no new plan has been presented for VC review; however, I anticipate one or more plans will be forthcoming in December.

Matching grant money has been awarded for both the house restoration and property. Work on the house requires appropriate historic restoration and will begin early spring-ish 2018. Non-historic structures will be removed including the garage and severly damaged shed. Additionally dead and fallen trees will be removed allowing for new, healthier growth on the ground beneath the tree canopy.

I hope and anticipate a compromise will include a neighborhood children’s playground, a smaller practice/playing multipurpose field, and walking nature paths – all while maintaining a healthier, densely wooded lot.

Doing nothing leaves a blank slate for future plans. Development and implementation of a thoughtful plan, accomodating a variety of interests, is important for the entire community.

In closing, there has been significant resident input in this process including council meetings, public meetings, public hearings at both the Village and county level, emails, neighborhood meetings and more.”

 

Why Making The Schedler Property in Ridgewood Into A Ballfield Is Dumb

https://theridgewoodblog.net/why-making-the-schedler-property-into-a-ballfield-is-dumb/

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Jury May Get New Instructions on Menendez “just friends” defense

menednez_ridgewood trainstation_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

November 15,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, the Jurors in the bribery trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and a wealthy friend Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen could hear new instructions from the judge Wednesday as they resume deliberations.

The jury finished Tuesday without reaching a unanimous verdict on any of the 18 counts against the New Jersey Democrat .Deliberations began last week, but the jury was forced to be restarted on Monday after a juror was excused for a previously scheduled vacation and was replaced by an alternate.

The Jurors have since remained  deadlocked, but were told  to keep going and to “take as much time as you need.” by U.S. District Judge William Walls .

The New Jersey Senator is being charge with  accepting an abundance of campaign donations, gifts and vacations from Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist. In return, he used his position to lobby on behalf of Melgen’s business interests, according to prosecutors.

Melgen allegedly directed more than $750,000 in campaign contributions to entities that supported Menendez, according to the indictment, which prosecutors said were inducements to get Menendez to use his influence on Melgen’s behalf. Prosecutors have also accused Menendez of trying to hide the gifts.

Melgen paid for Menendez and his girlfriend to stay for three nights at a Parisian hotel where rooms typically cost about $1,500 per night and allowed the senator the use of his private jet, according to prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors said that Menendez “sold his office for a lifestyle that he couldn’t afford.”

The indictment also alleged that Menendez pressured State Department officials to give visas to three young women described as Melgen’s girlfriends.

Menendez has vehemently denied the accusations against him and claimed that he and Melgen have been friends since before the former became a senator, and the trips were nothing more than friends traveling together

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Reader says We’ve had a decade or more of helicopter parents, participation trophies and general coddling of anyone who needs to be considered “special”

285-KidsHeadphones

We’ve had a decade or more of helicopter parents, participation trophies and general coddling of anyone who needs to be considered “special”. As a society we have failed these kids by not teaching them how to both win and lose with dignity or to be accountable for their behavior. Once the kid grows beyond his parents’ ability to fix everything for him, the kid is faced with the harsh reality of natural consequences to his actions. The real world is not a kind place and we have raised a generation of kids that are wholly unprepared to face it.

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Ridgewood School Board : The fights were mutually conducted and were fueled by social media, with a genesis dating to this past August.

Dan Fishbein 10

November 15,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood High School Administration has completed its investigation into the serious incident that occurred two weeks ago.  According to its investigation, the Administration has concluded there were two (2) fights between the same two (2) students: the first on Friday, October 27, 2017, and then on Saturday, October 28, 2017.  Both fights occurred after school hours on school property.  One student was injured. The fights were mutually conducted and were fueled by social media, with a genesis dating to this past August.

The District is aware that the Ridgewood Police Department has completed its investigation and has charged two students for their roles in the fights.
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

49 Cottage Place
Ridgewood, NJ
07450

201-670-2700, ext. 10530
[email protected]

The Ridgewood Board of Education and Administration are concerned that the students chose to resolve their dispute with violence rather than to report their issues to school officials or an adult who could have taken action.   Students regularly bring their concerns to school administration and that is why we have a low incidence of fighting and Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB). We are a school district and understand that students make mistakes in action and judgement and it is our job to administer consequences when necessary, teach better behavior, provide therapeutic counseling when warranted and accepted.  Our schools regularly educate and counsel our students to make good decisions.  We are proud of our students, but they need redirection when they make mistakes. Accordingly, the High School Administration will utilize it’s a variety of interventions, including the use of education, counseling and school discipline to discourage such behavior in the future.

District Administration is open and transparent whenever possible.  However, due to student privacy laws, the Administration is unable to discuss individual students and disciplinary consequences that may be imposed.

While an investigation is ongoing, every attempt will be made to dispel rumors, but our focus must be on a thorough investigation and certainty of the final determination.  Only the administrators and the police, when necessary, who are conducting the investigation know the pertinent facts.  We would like to remind the public to be aware that the misuse of social media impedes an investigation when misinformation and falsehoods are disseminated. When working with children and adolescents, serious incidents sometimes occur.  Our staff excels at dealing with serious situations and does so with compassion and care.  While people might point fingers and make false accusations when students make poor decisions, we assure you our administrators always work towards resolution and a goal that students will learn from the experience.  School officials and counselors are available to support and assist all students in learning from this unfortunate event.