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The Preserve Graydon Coalition puts together the Ridgewood Council Election Landslide Numbers

village Council Elections

Landslide by the Numbers

by Marcia Ringel and Alan Seiden

YOU, THE PEOPLE, DID IT.

You came out in record numbers. With your votes you said, loudly and clearly: “No more grandstanding. No more bullying. No more manipulation. No more hypocrisy. No more special interests, outside influence, self-promotion. We are taking our village back.”

You said: “We want to see planning—not plotting. We want to see dreaming—not scheming.”

You said: “No more ‘deals.’ No more promises or pledges except to the community at large.”

You said: “No more ‘council majority’ for every vote. No more insults and contempt from the dais to fellow residents and to the populace who elected them. No more ignoring the impassioned pleas of hundreds of calm, well-spoken residents on issues of great importance to us.”

GOODBYE to all that.

Hello to three independent-thinking council members who will join our two continuing independent-thinking council members to cooperate and collaborate—not conspire and collude.

Hello to true, not lip-service, transparency and sunshine, with discussions held in public and decisions made afterward, not before—as Councilman Mike Sedon assured a cheering crowd at Village Hall last night after the results had been announced.

Welcome back, democracy.

Congratulations and thank you to the large number of people who worked to get out the vote and to everyone who voted. The grassroots groups finally attained unity and showed what our village is made of. We could not be denied.

This is a historic win for Ridgewood. We can now look to the future with hope.

“Unofficial” results (must be vetted by the county to become “official”), from highest to lowest number of votes received:

Ramon M. Hache: 3867 (67.87%)
Jeffrey Voigt: 3839 (67.37%)
Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh: 3611 (63.37%)

Janice M. Willett: 1803 (31.64%)
Evan Weitz: 1736 (30.47%)
Richard S. Brooks 1656 (29.06%)

Number of registered voters: 16,740
Number of votes cast: 5,698
Percentage of registered voters voting: 34.04%

In all 19 districts, the winning candidates had the most votes.

A district-by-district breakdown of election results, showing votes cast for each candidate, percentages, and totals, is available in a table posted on the village website:

https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/images/Ridgewood/Departments/Clerk/muni2016_MUNI_2012.pdf

For a more legible type size, click on the “plus” sign in the middle of the band across the top of the screen or use the tiny arrows to increase the percentage to 200%. To read the part of the table that no longer shows, hold your cursor on the “right arrow” at the bottom right of the screen.

A small map showing the borders of each voting district can be found on the 2016 village calendar: flip one page in from the back cover. We have asked Dylan Hansen, Director, Management Information System, Village of Ridgewood, to post the map on the village website for general and future reference. He said he would, probably today.

The polling place list, by district, below can be deceptive; for example, District 12, surrounding Travell School to the south and west, votes at the high school. Check the voting map for a better idea of who lives where.

District                  Polling place

1, 2, 3                       Willard
4,7                             GW
5, 6, 10                     Orchard
8, 11                          Travell
9                                Library
12, 13                        RHS
14                              Glen
15, 16                        BF
17, 18                        Somerville
19                              Hawes

District 12 came out in force at 48% of registered voters there—a first? District 1 at 41% and District 15 at 40% displayed similarly impressive shows of strength.

Our new council members have a lot to do. They are eager to start.

They will be sworn in at noon on Friday, July 1, in the 4th-floor courtroom at Village Hall. At that time the current regime will officially end. The public is, as always, invited.

Onward.

Swimmingly,
Marcia Ringel and Alan Seiden
Co-Chairs, The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation

“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”

[email protected]    PreserveGraydon.org

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The Valley Hospital Receives Excellence Award from Vizient, Inc. for Sustainability Practices

honey-bee-3810
May 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital announced today that it has received the Vizient Excellence Award for Sustainability. The award honors The Valley Hospital’s strong commitment to good governance, community engagement and environmental stewardship in 2015. Vizient, Inc., the largest member-owned health care company in the country, presented the award on Thursday, April 14 during the 2016 Vizient Connections Summit held in Las Vegas.

The hospital received this award in recognition of its apiaries (bee hives), which are helping to combat the nearly 40 percent decrease in the New Jersey bee population annually. With eight hives in total, the bees help to pollinate a 2-mile radius around the hospital and the hospital’s offsite ambulatory surgery center, increasing the yield of flowers, fruits and vegetables over a 17,400 acre area.

Beekeeping is just one example of Valley’s efforts to “go green” and support locally produced food. In 2010 Valley signed the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge, which calls for hospitals to use more locally grown food, work with vendors to obtain products free of pesticides and hormones, purchase more organic foods, educate the community about nutritious and ‘’socially just” foods, minimize or reuse food waste, use ecologically protective food packaging and support humane agriculture systems. Initiatives to date conducted in support of the pledge include buying local produce from Catalpa Ridge Farm, which is a community supported agriculture program in Sussex County, the hospital’s commitment to buying cage-free eggs, promoting “Meatless Monday” and a year-long partnership with the community supported agriculture program offered by Hesperides Organica, a farm in Warwick, N.Y.

“We have always been big supporters of locally produced food and what could be more local that producing your own honey?” said Dawn Cascio, Director of Valley Dining. “We also like the idea of supporting the declining honey bee population while enhancing our community’s gardens, foliage, and trees.”

Since the addition of the initial two hives that marked project’s inception in 2013, the annual honey harvest has increased from 30 pounds to over 100 pounds. The honey is utilized in menus for the hospital’s patients, visitors and staff. The beeswax has been used as an ingredient in the hospital’s all-natural, house-made lip balm, body butter, hand lotion, foot balm and vapor rub. These products, along with jarred raw honey, are available for sale at the hospital’s retail locations.

“Across the country, Vizient members are leading the development of sustainability programs that make the delivery of care more environmentally conscious and resource considerate,” said Scott Downing, executive vice president, Collaboration and Performance Improvement Networks. “We are proud to recognize The Valley Hospital’s commitment in this area and their program’s achievement.

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AIR FORCE GENERAL TO SPEAK AT RIDGEWOOD ROTARY MEETING

Major General Garrett Harencak
May 9,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Major General Garrett Harencak, Commander of the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service, will be guest speaker at the regular Tuesday midday meeting of the Ridgewood Rotary Club, May 17, at Old Paramus Reformed Church Hall, on East Glen Avenue.

General Harencak’s will speak on “Airpower and Defending America As an Aerospace General Harencak, who grew up in Elmwood Park, entered the Air Force in 1983 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His assignments included command of the B-52 bomber; instructor pilot and squadron command in the B-1B bomber and service as aide to the Commander of the U.S. Central Command. Before his current assignment,General Harencak was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear
Integration, stationed in Washington, D.C. The general’s appearance was arranged withthe assistance of Ridgewood resident, Dr. Anthony Cipriano, who is President of the Iron Gate Chapter of the Air Force Association, in the New York area.

Club president, Bob Freudenrich announced that the public is invited to attend the meeting which begins with buffet lunch at 12:15 P.M. Reservations should be made by emailing Harris Reinstein at [email protected] or telephoning him at
(201) 652-7877. The cost of the lunch is $15.00, payable at the door.

In addition to Ridgewood, the local service club draws its members from Glen Rock and HoHoKus. Information on becoming a member of Rotary can be requested from Mr. Reinstein.

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Landslide Victory Signifies Major Shift in Village of Ridgewood Politics

village Council Elections
photo courtesy of Melanie McWilliams
May 11,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, the victory for Ramon Hache, Jeff Voigt and Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh it was nothing more than a total reject of Mayor Paul Aronsohn’s entire agenda . The new trio will begin their four year terms on July 1, joining Susan Knudsen and Michael Sedon.

Now the hard work has to be done restoring the luster to the tarnished reputation of the Village and building on the unique nature of the Village of Ridgewood and moving forward.

Congratulations to Ramon Hache, Jeff Voigt and Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh and all there supporters and all the volunteers who put in countless hours and faced down both threats , physical and personal attacks to do the right thing .

The Ridgewood blog would like to say thank you. Now lets move forward and build a positive future .

2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS – UNOFFICIAL

FOR COUNCIL

Jeffrey Voigt – 3839 – 67.37%

Janice M Willett – 1803 – 31.64%

Evan Weitz – 1736 – 30.47%

Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh – 3611 – 63.37%

Richard S Brooks – 1656 – 29.06%

Ramon M Hache – 3867 – 67.87%

Total Registration – 16,740
Votes Cast – 5,698
Percentage – 34.04%

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Former Facebookie…FAKEBOOK Workers: We Routinely Suppressed Conservative News

facebook-dislike-1

Michael Nunez
Today 9:10am
Filed to: FACEBOOK ie… FAKEBOOK

Facebook workers routinely suppressed news stories of interest to conservative readers from the social network’s influential “trending” news section, according to a former journalist who worked on the project. This individual says that workers prevented stories about the right-wing CPAC gathering, Mitt Romney, Rand Paul, and other conservative topics from appearing in the highly-influential section, even though they were organically trending among the site’s users.

Several former Facebook “news curators,” as they were known internally, also told Gizmodo that they were instructed to artificially “inject” selected stories into the trending news module, even if they weren’t popular enough to warrant inclusion—or in some cases weren’t trending at all. The former curators, all of whom worked as contractors, also said they were directed not to include news about Facebook itself in the trending module.

In other words, Facebook’s news section operates like a traditional newsroom, reflecting the biases of its workers and the institutional imperatives of the corporation. Imposing human editorial values onto the lists of topics an algorithm spits out is by no means a bad thing—but it is in stark contrast to the company’s claims that the trending module simply lists “topics that have recently become popular on Facebook.”

https://gizmodo.com/former-facebook-workers-we-routinely-suppressed-conser-1775461006

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Ridgewood HS Jazz Bands to Present ‘Jazz in the Wood’

Ridgewood HS Jazz Bands to Present ‘Jazz in the Wood’

May 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. ,On Friday, May 13, Ridgewood High School’s award winning jazz ensembles will present an evening of big band jazz at their annual “Jazz in the Wood” dinner-concert to be held at the Woman’s Club of Ridgewood. The bands will be joined by special guest artist Mark Friedman, a renowned jazz saxophonist and Wyckoff resident, and longtime friend to the Ridgewood Music Program. Friedman will be the featured soloist with the RHS Big Band and Jazz Lab, playing music ranging from swing to bebop and Latin to funk. This gala event marks the culmination of Friedman’s three-month collaboration with the RHS jazz bands.

The dinner portion of the program will feature a three-course meal catered by Dawn’s Catering of Ridgewood, and will include a menu of salad, pasta, chicken and dessert with gluten-free and vegetarian options available. For children 12 and under, a kid’s menu option includes chicken tenders, and fries.

Having taught private lessons to flute, clarinet and saxophone students in the area for more than three decades, Mark Friedman has gained a reputation as one of the premier teachers in Bergen County. His students have been accepted to the most prestigious conservatories and universities in the country and are regularly selected to perform in honors ensembles at the County, Region, All-State and All-Eastern levels.

Mr. Friedman received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Jazz Performance from Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University.) His teachers include Dick Volkart, Walt Levinsky, Dr. Richard Scott, Dan Trimbole, Dr. Alvin Fossner, Emile DeCosmo, and the great jazz legend, Phil Woods, whom he considered his mentor.

Mr. Friedman has toured, performed, and recorded with such great artists as Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, Tito Puente, the Big Three Palladium Orchestra, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Manhattan Transfer, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Frankie Valle, Andy Williams, Wayne Newton, the Dalton Gang and numerous others, including a Grammy Award© winning record with Machito.

Mr. Friedman is the director of the Indian Hills High School Band, and is on the music faculty at Ramapo High School.

The RHS Big Band and Jazz Lab are directed by Gary Fink and Jeffrey Haas, respectively, and feature many talented student musicians, including six who recently performed with the New Jersey Region I Jazz Ensembles. The bands will present songs in a variety of styles, including swing, bebop, New Orleans, Latin, rock and funk. Well known songs such as Earl Hagan’s Harlem Nocturne, Duke Ellington’s Perdido, Sonny Rollins’ St. Thomas, Joe Zawinul’s Birdland, and Phil Woods’ Randi will all be performed, and will feature Friedman along with several RHS soloists.

Dating back to the mid-20th century when such legendary jazz artists as Nelson Riddle, Sonny Igoe, and Red Mitchell could be heard in the music rooms, Ridgewood High School has enjoyed a long and distinguished history of excellence in jazz performance. With two big bands, a vocal jazz ensemble and various combos, the jazz program at RHS introduces students to music of different styles within the jazz genre. The Big Band and Jazz Lab have both been recognized with awards for excellent or superior performance at the NJAJE state jazz ensemble festivals, and have performed at venues around the country including Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA, Steamers Jazz Club and Café in Fullerton, CA, Bohemian Caverns in Washington, DC, the Town Centre in Virginia Beach, VA and Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, CA. Guest artists who have worked or performed with the jazz program include: Darmon Meader, Byron Stripling, Conrad Herwig, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Jarvis, Marvin Stamm, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Bargeron, Dave Stryker, Don Braden, Tom “Bones” Malone, Michael Philip Mossman, Andy Martin and many others.

There will be a seatings at 6PM and 8:30PM for “Jazz in the Wood,” and tickets are $40 per adult/$20 for children 12 and under. Tickets for the event are only available in advance, and can be purchased online at https://jazzinthewood2016.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, contact Nick Trent at (201) 805-8789 or via email at [email protected].

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Councilwomen Gwenn Hack Used Anonymous Comments to Attack other Council Members on the Ridgewood blog

gwenn hauck on safari

file photo by Boyd Loving

May 9,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, looks like Councilwomen Gwenn Hack has been  using Anonymous Comments to attack other  Ridgewood Council Members. Gwenn IP24.228.133.88  has also been posting under [email protected] to attack her fellow council members Mike Sendon and Susan Kundsen.  Since she is on her way out ,I would guess it is only fair to say that we should expect the same from the trio she supports ,Brooks, Willett and Wietz .

Gwenn Hauck
[email protected]
24.228.133.88

The unsubstantiated, unhappy comments above are designed (as usual) to further confuse the public and upset good people.

Ask any/all seniors that I spend time with if I have ever told them who to vote for, or if I have ever distributed any
campaign fliers to them. They will tell you the Truth.

It was Voight, Hache and Walsh campaigners who targeted senior citizens leaving my non-political luncheon at the last one
I would ever have (already a sad and poignant day for me) with their campaign literature as they boarded their senior bus.

I treat senior citizens as people, not as votes. I would not target senior citizens as a voting block, like they did.

A few days ago I refrained from commenting on the total fabrications written on the blog about who really behaved poorly during my luncheon, but the insults cannot go undefended when they just keep coming, and coming, and don’t relent.

You can bet that the anonymous comments posted on the Blog are ghost-written by the same mean and angry people – and worse than being unkind, they are also untrue.

Incivility in Ridgewood Council insists its the Residents FaultView Post1717 comments
2016/05/09 at 6:39 pm
Anonymous
[email protected]
24.228.133.88

3:39
Is he paying rent? People on this blog seem to make a lot of nonsense their business. Just playing the game.
What about Knudsen’s conflicts? Nothing to say about those?

People in multi-generational dwellings live longer? Really?

Residents Shocked over Gwen Hauck Serious Conflict of Interest with Valley HospitalView Post3838 comments
2016/01/08 at 4:13 pm
Anonymous
[email protected]
24.228.133.88

1:36
Letter of the law is what matters.
Also, explain how Knudsen does not recuse herself from Schedler when her parents live directly across the street from the property.
Knudsen also has three sons on the list to become Ridgewood police officers. Why doesn’t she recuse herself on all matters related to the Police department especially when the Village is currently renegotiating the police contract that her son’s could potentially benefit from.
You hypocrites, especially the Lovings, are always crying about the attacks on Knudsen and Sedon. Be consistent.
By the way, does Sedon even pay taxes to the Village? Just asking. Hear he lives in his in-laws house. We have a councilman who doesn’t even own property in the village. What a joke.

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Installing Kitchen Cabinets for Your Historic Home

Installing Kitchen Cabinets for Your Historic Home

Installing kitchen cabinets is a great way to revamp your kitchen. Aging cabinets eventually wear out, even the highest quality custom cabinetry. In historic homes in New Jersey and New York, this is especially problematic. When you live in a historic home with old cabinets, you may eventually need kitchen cabinet replacement service from an experienced kitchen renovation contractor.

At we’ve worked with many homeowners to find and install kitchen cabinets that perfectly balance personal taste with historical accuracy. If you’re looking for kitchen cabinet replacement in NJ for a historic home with a distinct period design style, call us any time for a free consultation and cost estimate.

Kitchen Renovation & Cabinetry for Historic Homes

New Jersey has a long history, and you’ll find homes that were built throughout many different periods of American history. From classic Colonial architecture and Queen Anne Victorians, to 1920s farmhouses, to retrofuturistic midcentury modern construction, each period has a distinctive look and feel. In many historic neighborhoods, homeowners may be required or strongly encouraged to meet certain standards for historic preservation.

Naturally, kitchens have evolved quite a bit over the last two or three centuries. Even in the oldest historic home, a kitchen still must incorporate a full range of modern amenities. Modern sinks, dishwashers, stovetops, and ovens are essential.

When it comes to kitchen renovation and kitchen cabinet installation in NJ for historic homes, your choice will be influenced by both the time period and the architectural style. One period of time can contain different building styles. For example, ornate “gingerbread” Victorian houses share the same vintage with the elegant simplicity and clean lines of Craftsman architecture. Each home is unique, and when you’re planning on installing kitchen cabinets, it’s important to consider both design and function.

Before the 1920s, Modern Kitchen Cabinets Didn’t Exist

It makes sense to find cabinetry that feels “natural” to your home. The wood, finish, and other aspects of design needn’t always be perfectly accurate, as long as they capture an aesthetic that suits your unique historic home. In many cases, it won’t be 100% accurate. Even having cabinets isn’t technically accurate to the time period, especially if your home predates the 1920s.

Today’s kitchens feature two key elements: cabinets and countertops. Together, they provide a continuous workspace, with ample storage underneath. Modern kitchen cabinets didn’t really take off until the 1920s, an era which saw a lot of change in the design and functionality of American kitchens.

In the 19th century, when many historic New Jersey homes were originally built, kitchens were large and open. Instead of modular cabinetry, storage was more likely to take the form of individual hutches, sometimes with glass in the front. Instead of countertops, a central work table providing space for food preparation. Obviously, modern refrigerators and even modern ovens weren’t yet a fixture of kitchen construction.

By the 1920s, kitchen cabinet installation in NJ was quickly becoming the norm for middle- and upper-class households. If you look at pictures of kitchens from the ‘20s and ‘30s, you’ll notice that they look quite a bit like a respectable modern kitchen.

Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets for a 19th Century Home

Going without cabinets and countertops simply isn’t an option for any modern homeowner. When you’re considering kitchen cabinet replacement, it’s a good idea to choose a style that, like your old cabinets, complements your home’s architectural style and time period. This can influence the wood, finish, and other elements that you choose.

Custom cabinetry is a great choice for finding cabinets you love for your historic home. These high-end cabinets are designed especially to your specifications, rather than being mass-produced in factory like stock cabinets. Custom kitchen cabinet installation allows you to choose from a nearly endless range of different woods, paints, varnishes, finishes, styles, and sizes.

Kitchen Installation Contractors in NJ

Installing new cabinets for your historic home? At All 1 Kitchen, we can help you find and install the perfect set of cabinets to meet the functional demands of modern cooking, while still fitting your home’s unique historical character. For a free consultation and cost estimate.

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The Preserve Graydon Coalition Reminds Everyone to get Out and Vote !

graydon_kids_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

Important municipal election TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 10

In Tuesday’s municipal election, Ridgewood voters will choose three fellow residents to serve on the Village Council for the next four years.

To preserve and protect Ridgewood by moving forward cautiously and thoughtfully, we recommend voting for:

ROW 1            Jeffrey VOIGT

ROW 4            Bernadette COGHLAN-WALSH

ROW 6            Ramon M. HACHE

Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, May 10.

These independent candidates are not running as a team. They are neither beholden to the current “council majority” nor supported by developers.

Please click “X” next to the three candidates with little slogans above their names on the ballot in three languages.

Every vote counts. In 2012, the die was cast by fewer than 10 votes.

Hoping for a large turnout!

Our recent newsletters on this election are posted at preservegraydon.org.

Swimmingly,
Marcia Ringel and Alan Seiden
Co-Chairs, The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation

“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”

[email protected]    PreserveGraydon.org

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How Banks, Other Ridgewood Businesses Can Avoid Becoming Cyber-Crime Victims

bank-of-america_theridgewoodblog

May 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Apparently, the heist couldn’t have been any simpler if it had been drawn up in the lunch line at an elementary school cafeteria.

In February, Bangladesh’s central bank saw $81 million disappear out a virtual window. Now it’s been revealed that, although the computer hackers used custom-made malware, they probably didn’t need to work up a cyber sweat while pulling off their long-distance theft. The bank had no firewalls to defend against intruders and its computers were linked to global-financial networks through second-hand routers that cost $10.

“It’s stunning that a major institution would leave itself so defenseless in this day and age when everyone should know that cyber criminals are waiting for you to let your guard down,” says Gary S. Miliefsky, CEO of SnoopWall (www.snoopwall.com), a company that specializes in cyber security.

But he says the episode can serve as a cautionary tale for other banks and any businesses that want to protect themselves against today’s cyber versions of Bonnie and Clyde.

“Most companies have some vulnerability and it doesn’t take a sophisticated attack to cause a security breach,” Miliefsky says. “Often on the hackers’ end of things, it just takes patience.”

For example, he says, a cyber criminal can gain access by sending a company an email with an attachment called a Remote Access Trojan, or RAT, that looks like a normal file. All it takes is for an unsuspecting employee to open that file and, voila, security is compromised.

That’s bad for companies, of course, but it’s also bad for consumers, whose bank account, credit card and other private information is at risk.

Miliefsky says it’s important to go on the offensive. Among his recommendations:

• Employers need to train their staffs. Those employees sitting at their computers each day are a company’s first line of defense. An errant click on the wrong email is like unlocking the front door, so employees should be made aware of the dangers and told what do about suspicious email.
• Companies should routinely update their defenses. Outdated technology and outdated security software make a company’s computers vulnerable to attack. It’s important that businesses periodically review their IT operations to make sure what worked last year still provides the needed security.
• Consumers must take their own safety measures. It would be nice to expect banks and retailers to protect consumer information, but the average person can’t count on that. Miliefsky suggests consumers take personal security measures such as frequently changing passwords and deleting any phone apps they don’t use. Many apps contain malware that can spy on you.

“Most people log onto the internet every day without much thought about how susceptible they are to being hacked,” Miliefsky says. “It takes vigilance to protect yourself against cyber criminals who are working hard to figure their way around security measures.”

About Gary S. Miliefsky

Gary S. Miliefsky is founder of SnoopWall Inc. (www.snoopwall.com), a cutting edge counter-intelligence technology company offering free consumer-based software to secure personal data on cell-phones and tablets, while generating revenues helping banks and government agencies secure their networks. He has been active in the INFOSEC arena, as the Executive Producer of Cyber Defense Magazine and a regular contributor to Hakin9 Magazine.

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Ridgewood Mayor Aronsohn Attempting to Divert attention from the Real Issues

ridgewood village manager

Paul,

It has been a while since this group has communicated – I hope everyone is doing well.  I received your email below and wanted to respond.

I respect Roberta. I think she has done a great job overall managing this Village.  It’s not an easy job by any means.  I personally know Roberta…she is a good neighbor and I like to consider her as a friend.  She is smart, quick, effective – I respect her and admire her and from what I have heard she has done a better job of executing than previous VMs.  However, I was shocked to see the full page ad in the news.  I was even more shocked when I read your email and was targeted with a mass email chain from someone in my neighborhood (how she got my personal email is quite a mystery).  I guess I am confused…why are we making this election about her or any village staff? Shouldn’t the election be about the issues at hand – high density housing, doubling the size of Valley hospital in the middle of a residential area? When did we turn this election into village hall staffing?  You work for a corporation so you know very well that a new boss is entitled to evaluate the existing talent pool. So why is this even a concern? No company will hesitate to bring in the right boss for fear of cleaning up the existing talent pool.  We shouldn’t either.

We have to remember, this election isn’t about any Village Hall staff.  It’s about whether we trust the people we elect to represent the town fairly and responsibly.  It’s about where they stand on the issues that we each find important to our families, to our property values, to our future, to our way of life.

It saddens me that you are trying to turn this campaign around and divert the attention away from the true issues.  Not to mention make up deceitful lies.  Not one candidate has made any statement about Roberta and her role.  It’s simply not part of this election, nor should it be.  It’s a non issue.  It saddens me that we are not able to campaign with dignity and respect for one another.  I hope that changes.

Respectfully,

Bonita Shimpfky

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Paul Aronsohn <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, May 6, 2016, 9:04 PM
Subject: Vote for Brooks, Weitz and Willett
To: <[email protected]>

Dear Neighbor,

Last week, I endorsed council candidates Rich Brooks, Evan Weitz and Janice Willett in a letter-to-the-editor, noting that they have solid experience, uncompromising integrity/ethics and a proven commitment to Ridgewood.  I also noted that they are right on issues important to me, such as the budget, the parking deck, the special needs community and the Village Manager.

This week, several additional community leaders – past and present – have also endorsed Rich, Evan and Janice – community leaders who have helped shape Ridgewood’s traditions, while moving Ridgewood forward.  And importantly, a group of residents took out a full-page ad in the Ridgewood News today, noting that “only 3 candidates are committed to keeping Roberta Sonenfeld as Village Manager – Rich Brooks, Evan Weitz and Janice Willett.”

Please see the attached list of endorsements and the full-page ad.

Needless to say, many of us believe that this year’s election is especially important, and as explained by the Ridgewood News Editorial Board, every vote matters.  Remember, in 2012, there was a difference of only 15 votes between the 3rd and 4th placed candidates.

If you have any questions, about this year’s election, please feel free to email me.  If you want to learn more about Rich, Evan and Janice — and their positive, inclusive vision for Ridgewood — please visit their website – www.Ridgewood2020.com.

Thank you for your consideration.  Thank you for voting on Tuesday.

Best,
Paul

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Not Much in the Way of Free Market Principles” at work in the Over development of Ridgewood

Paul V garage pledge

May 6 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood Blog

Ridgewood NJ, Reader challenges Ridgewood blog on “Free Market principles “claiming we are picking the candidates in favor of more regulation against “free market developers and development”.

“Ironic that “Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View” is in favor of a government that promises to be more restrictive than the alternative, but in this case, Jamsie, I agree with you 100%.

I hope you are learning the flaws in your Randian world view, specifically, left to their devices, the “job creators” would starve themselves out of existence. In the case of Ridgewood: motivated by short term benefit, the Job Creators (i.e. CBD restaurant owners and landlords) would overdevelop the CBD and surrounding areas to the detriment of our community, schools and way of life. In the long term, the quality of the schools would decline even more, the quaintness of the village would erode, property values would drop, and before you know it, you live in a version of Caldwell or whatever.

The judicious application of regulation is a good thing.”

Got to laugh on this one but the reader is a bit confused ;

The Free Market is ,”A system of economics that minimizes government intervention and maximizes the role of the market. According tothe theory of the free market, rational economic actors acting in their own self interest deal with information and price goods and services the most efficiently. Government regulations, trade barriers, and labor laws are generally thought to distort the market. Proponents of the free market argue that it provides the most opportunities for both consumers and producers by creating more jobs and allowing competition to decide what businesses are successful. ”

What we have in Ridgewood and New Jersey as well as on a National level  is called by many Crony capitalism or Cronyism , “Crony capitalism is a description of capitalist society as being based on the close relationships between businessmen and the state. Instead of success being determined by a free market and the rule of law, the success of a business is dependent on the favoritism that is shown to it by the ruling government in the form of tax breaks, government grants and other incentives.”

Developers using the Village Council forcing tax payers to pick up the tab for a parking garage that clearly benefits certain businesses  ie those that support the Mayor and his consorts is not in any way shape or form “Free Market Capitalism” but clearly a local example and the very definition of “Cronyism”. The negative issues associated with over development in the Village are all a direct or indirect cause be they foreseen and unforeseen consequences of government intervention ie.. 3066 , COAH, open space , and so on . These tax breaks, government grants and other incentives are all put in place to aid developers and to garner political contributions .

Crony capitalism is the marriage of the state and private special interests. Some people have called it corporatism, mercantilism, fascism, or even Communism.

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Village Council Candidate Ramon Hache Responds to Village Manager Rumors

Roberta
file photo of Village Manager, Roberta Sonenfeld interfering with petitioners in the CBD
May 6,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has uncovered an email going around from a resident named Cornelie Ladd regarding the retention of the Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld , It seems the Brooks, Willlett, and Weitz is already conceding defeat and are making one last desperate plea to maintain the mayors ie..developers power grip on the Village of Ridgewood .  The May 10 election is about candidates and the candidates vision for future direction of Ridgewood .

 

the email :

Dear neighbors, friends, and friends of neighbors,Without wishing to interrupt dinner / game / bath time, it’s time to find a moment to contemplate the electoral landscape ahead of the impending municipal elections next Tuesday, May 10th.

As many among us are probably aware, although elections for Village Council in Ridgewood are non-partisan by tradition and by nature, it is becoming increasingly apparent that, not unlike our national politics, this year’s elections have become polarized to a rather exponential degree.

As a consequence, although typically individual candidates are running for individual seats, this year’s candidates have coagulated into two slates of three:  Brooks, Willlett, and Weitz versus Hache, Voigt, and Walsh.

I am writing to urge you to consider that, beyond the hot-button issues, there is only one slate, the one of Brooks, Weitz, and Willis, that will offer steady support to the excellent work of our Village Manager, Roberta Sonenfeld. If you value the labors of a responsive, responsible and accountable Village Manager, I ask that you support her by voting Brooks, Weitz, and Willis. You will find the positions of Brooks, Weitz, and WIllis articulated on Ridgewood2020.com.

According to the grapevine (which never lies … !) the other slate will seek to replace the Village Manager.

If, after having done your due diligence, you find that you subscribe to the views of this message, please share the gist of it among your friends and neighbors (and encourage them to go to the polls!).

Thank you for your consideration,
with best wishes for a vibrant Ridgewood,
Cornelie Ladd

Village Council Candidate Ramon Hache Responds

Hi All,

Thank you for sharing this.  I did see the Mayor’s letter to the editor. Based on the email from your neighbor, it seems that Mayor Aronsohn is now pushing this idea through residents as well. There really is no basis. Neither Jeff, Bernie nor I have ever gone on the record to say that we have any plans of replacing the Village Manager.  I have now attended a few “coffees” with Bernie and Jeff, including the one on Wednesday night (coincidentally next door to Ms. Sonenfeld’s home) and there was no mention by us of Ms. Sonenfeld in a negative light.I will share my personal view. I have an enormous amount of respect for the position of Village Manager. It is a very demanding job. The Village Manager is under constant scrutiny while dealing with a wide range of issues on a daily basis. I see the Village Manager as a direct extension of the Council. If I am elected, I plan on sitting down with key Village employees, including the Village Manager, to evaluate them in their current role. This is no different than what a new CEO would do at a company in the private sector.  As with the way I have always treated my employees, I plan on conducting a fair and objective review. It is incumbent upon the Council to ensure that key positions in our Village, paid for by your tax dollars, are filled with the most competent and qualified people available to us. I do not know Ms. Sonenfeld personally. I think for any candidate to make a determination regarding her retention, whether pro or against, is extremely premature at this time. That would not be fair to either the Village Manager nor residents.

Unfortunately, this ugly rumor seems to stem from some political angle. Unfounded rumors such as this one only add to the divisiveness in our community. It is very unfortunate.  Thank you for sharing your concern.  I will certainly pass it along to Jeff and Bernie for their views since I cannot speak on their behalf. I would be more than happy to speak to your neighbor and answer any of her questions.  Thank you also for your continued support.

Best
Ramon
201-960-4977

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Half of immigrant-led households collect welfare as admission rules go unenforced

immigration-9

By Stephen Dinan – The Washington Times – Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Immigrants are supposed to be beneficial to the U.S. — so much so that federal law requires them to prove they won’t end up on the public dole if they are legally admitted.

But it’s a stricture honored more in the breach than in compliance, according to statistics obtained by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which found that of the millions of legal immigrants living in the U.S. and collecting welfare or other public benefits, only a single person was kicked out of the country over the last three years for becoming a public burden.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/3/half-of-immigrant-led-families-collect-welfare-as-/

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FREE DOG RABIES CLINIC AND 2016 RIDGEWOOD DOG LICENSE INFORMATION

ridgewood4thparadedoggy_theridgewoodblog
May 3,2016

the staff of the Rmidgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department would like to remind residents of the annual FREE dog rabies clinic on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 6 pm until 7 pm at the Recycling Center on Glen Avenue. All dogs must be accompanied by an adult and leashed or contained in a carrying case.

Supervisor of Health, Dawn Cetrulo would like to remind Village of Ridgewood residents that 2016 dog license renewals are due during the month of June. A $20 late fee will be charged for all renewals received after June 30, 2016.

The health department will be sending renewals via email. If you do not have an email address please call our office and request a renewal to be mailed to you. Renewal applications may also be obtained by visiting our website at

www.ridgewoodnj.net or coming in person to the Ridgewood Health Department, 131 North Maple Ave. The office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. Please call 201 670-5500 ext 503 with questions.

New Jersey law requires owners of all dogs seven months of age or older to be registered with the town they live in. In order for the license to be issued, the owner must present proof that a licensed veterinarian has vaccinated the dog

against rabies and that the duration of immunity from that vaccination does not expire before May 1, 2017. To receive the discount for a spayed or neutered pet, proof must also be provided.

In conjunction with the rabies clinic, the Responsible Pet Ownership Committee will also be facilitating free micro-chip implantations and registration to the first 75 dogs at the clinic. Please direct any questions regarding the micro-chipping to

Jeffrey Ball at [email protected]