the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, Wall Street just delivered a stunning performance! On Black Friday, the S&P 500 index (SP500) officially turned positive for the month of November, marking an incredible, rapid comeback from deep losses experienced just one week prior.
Continue reading Black Friday Bonanza! S&P 500 Records Largest-Ever November Swing from Red to Green
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey’s legalized online sports betting industry is a financial powerhouse, generating over $1 billion in revenue from nearly $13 billion in bets placed in 2024. Yet, even as legal wagering soars, experts say the illegal gambling underworld is alive and well, fueled by everything from high taxes to organized crime.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey is grappling with an undeniable housing crisis, marked by soaring prices and a severe shortage of available units. In an attempt to rapidly increase supply, the State Legislature is pushing a controversial bill, S4736, through its current lame-duck session.
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a seismic economic shift is underway, fundamentally reshaping America’s prosperity map. According to a stark new Census Bureau analysis, high-tax states—often dubbed “Blue States”—are experiencing a mass exodus of their most affluent residents, leading to a stunning financial hemorrhage.
The data reveals that New York and New Jersey alone hemorrhaged nearly $690 billion in resident income over the past decade. A staggering 2.1 million high-earners have fled soaring taxes and concerns over urban decay, relocating to sun-soaked, low-tax havens like Florida and Texas. This is not just migration; it’s a “regional bloodletting,” as economist Steve Moore describes it, fueling a historic wealth transfer from the Northeast to the Sun Belt.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, the long-feared warnings about a sharp rise in healthcare costs have materialized as the 2026 Open Enrollment period begins. New Jersey residents relying on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, employer-based coverage, and Medicare are all facing significant premium hikes, leading public officials to fear a massive surge in the number of uninsured residents next year.
The most dramatic increases will hit the nearly half-million New Jerseyans who purchase insurance through the state’s marketplace, Get Covered NJ.
Forget training wheels! The modern way to teach a child to ride is with a balance bike, and when it comes to the best starter bike, one name stands out: the Cruzee Balance Bike. As parents ourselves at My Playroom, we’ve seen how this incredibly lightweight bike transforms toddlers into confident riders. Here’s why it deserves a spot in your garage.
A balance bike is a pedal-less bike that allows children to focus on one skill at a time: balancing. They propel themselves with their feet, learning to steer, lean, and balance naturally. This method is so effective that children often transition directly to a pedal bike without ever needing training wheels.
Continue reading The Cruzee Balance Bike: Why It’s Australia’s Favourite First Bike
SHOCKING DATA: Your Halloween Pumpkin is a Financial Illusion—Here’s How Inflation Killed Your Holiday Budget
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Halloween shoppers feeling a serious “pinch” at the local pumpkin patch are not imagining things. New analysis from InvestorsObserver reveals that despite significant wage growth over the last quarter-century, the average American’s ability to afford pumpkins—a seasonal staple—has dramatically declined, hitting a 25-year low relative to income.
The sobering data confirms that the cost of maintaining cherished seasonal traditions is consuming a growing slice of household budgets, a phenomenon driven by sector-specific inflation.
Ridgewood’s ‘Open Space’ Tax Exposed? Turf Battle Heats Up, Puts League of Women Voters on the Spot
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the political temperature in Ridgewood, NJ, is soaring as the controversial topic of artificial turf fields and the Village’s Open Space Trust Fund takes center stage. A recent statement by the League of Women Voters (LWV) regarding the turf expansion has drawn significant public criticism, leading many to question the transparency and accountability of local political groups and committees.
Continue reading Open Space or Slush Fund? Ridgewood’s Turf War & League of Women Voters Under Fire
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, Mahwah Township officials have made a difficult, but necessary, decision.
At the October 20th meeting, the Mahwah Township Council approved three bond ordinances totaling $12.3 million in additional appropriations to complete the new Department of Public Works (DPW) facility on Micik Lane. This latest increase brings the project’s total estimated cost to a staggering $45 million.
From Meme Stock ‘Flop’ to S&P 500: Robinhood’s 500% Comeback—And Its Surprising New Strategy for Your Retirement
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Wall Street NY, in 2022, Robinhood was widely written off. Following a disastrous IPO and the collapse of the meme-stock frenzy, the pioneering retail trading app was seen as a relic of the low-interest-rate, YOLO-investing era. It embodied Silicon Valley hype that crashed back to Earth.
Fast forward three years, and the narrative has completely flipped. Robinhood is staging one of the most remarkable corporate comebacks on Wall Street, fueled not by fleeting hype, but by a strategic shift toward financial stability and long-term wealth management.
Continue reading Comeback: How Robinhood Ditched Meme Stocks for 401(k)s and Retirement Wealth
photos courtesy of the Borough of Saddle River
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
SADDLE RIVER, NJ – It was a day for the history books in Saddle River as the community gathered to inaugurate the magnificent Walsh Family Bridge, marking the completion of the first covered bridge built in New Jersey in over a century.
This new landmark is more than just a crossing; it’s a stunning realization of a decade-long vision to enhance the borough’s unique, historic charm and expand its beloved open spaces.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the recent budget shutdown debate in Washington has done more than just halt government services; it has ripped the cover off what critics are calling the “financial sham” of Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While former President Obama and his allies hailed the ACA as his “greatest achievement,” the latest data on health care costs and skyrocketing premiums suggests a starkly different reality for American taxpayers.
$1 Million Trailer Flop: NJ Town Disassembles Police HQ That Sat Empty for Two Years—Investigation Concluded
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Palisades Park NJ, The Million-Dollar Mistake is Being Taken Down .In a saga that has cost Palisades Park taxpayers nearly $1 million for absolutely zero use, the infamous temporary trailer meant to house the Police Department has finally been disassembled and is ready to be returned.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, on a recent episode of Ask Governor Murphy on News12 New Jersey, the governor made clear where his priorities lie when pressed about Republican legislation that would have delivered real relief from soaring energy costs.
The legislation, S-4398, introduced by Senators Latham Tiver (R-8) and Joe Pennacchio (R-26), would have suspended the sales and use tax, as well as the Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) on electric bills during peak summer months when energy costs were at their highest.
Continue reading Governor Murphy Puts Taxes & Bureaucracy Ahead of Affordability
NJ Transit Pay Scandal: Agency Hires Monitor to Investigate Union Overpayments Amid Soaring Train Cancellations!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ – NJ Transit is taking decisive action to address serious concerns regarding its administrative and payroll processes, announcing the immediate hiring of an integrity monitor. This move comes directly in the wake of documents suggesting alleged overpayments and improper payroll entries involving leaders of the major rail union.
The temporary monitor has a five-week assignment to conduct a comprehensive review, with a specific focus on financial accountability and labor practices following a period of intense strain between the agency and its engineers.
Continue reading Audit Alert: NJ Transit Hires Integrity Monitor After Alleged Union Payroll Scandal
