the staff of the Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, in the Ridgewood Board of Education election this week there were seven candidates for two seats. Two individuals won. Which means, of course, that five individuals lost. That five would lose their bids was a foregone conclusion.
Instead of graciously conceding to FOURTH place, Mr. Michael Lembo has taken to social media to bitterly blame everyone for his loss. Among other things, he writes:
This campaign was rough, and that’s an understatement. Unfortunately, a small group decided to attempt to rewrite history and claim horrific things about me, my friends, my family, and everyone I care about. You know me, and know that never once have I done anything unethical, wrong, or illegal. In fact, the ones who felt the need to chop me down did so. I wish them the best in their sad lonely lives. It takes a lot more than name calling and anonymous lies to hurt me.
Then he very snarkily wishes the “new board” good luck and says they will certainly need it. Wow. Just wow.
Adding to it, his girlfriend (who to be clear is NOT A FAMILY MEMBER lol but she does work for the Ridgewood schools) has likewise taken to the internet with a wild diatribe that blames her guy’s loss on money, people being “bought,” and she speaks of “an infamous group of people (whom now, I will absolutely be naming one by one,) being outed. But mostly, I am looking forward to having the love of my life back- taking a breath of fresh air and removing himself from the dark hole of toxicity that he has been needlesslesy dragged into for years.” She describes feeling “terror” that her boyfriend lost the election.
The Ridgewood Blog applauds all who took the time, effort, and passion to run for these two seats. However we find this extremely nasty and in some aspects threatening response to a loss to be shockingly sad. Ridgewood is better than this. Far better to accept your loss, congratulate the winners, and move on.
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Just confirms he wasn’t the best candidate for the job
Lembo and girlfriend, Ridgewood voters thank you for proving their point.
Bye bye now. 👋👋
Is that his daughter..?
Nope she’s 40 and just hot as hell. Sorry that angers you.
Who said anything about being angry and I would disagree about hot as hell and it is really unprofessional and quite a bit unethical with all of the nepotism hiring the girlfriend, just saying,
you like girls Lisa?
When was the last time you had an eye exam. Cute? Yes. Hot as hell? No.
She’s hot in my eyes, baby. If you really knew her soul, you would understand the deep beauty she possesses.
Her soul didn’t guide her to not take a job that her boyfriend gave her. So not so sure her heart is a pure as you are trying to make it out to be. When is wrong not wrong.
you two should get a room already
Entitled…but he got bitch-slapped by the voters.
He’s not wrong.
It seems like therapy is in order for both of them. I do not understand their level of attachment and attraction to a local BOE role. Does it give you a celebrity status?
Two aggressor peas in a pod.
“You know me, and know that never once have I done anything unethical, wrong, or illegal.” Would his wife (not the girlfriend pictured) vouch for this statement?
“You know me, and know that never once have I done anything unethical, wrong, or illegal.” Cue the court docs and personnel files.
So does she, the girlfriend, get fired now?
Mike your father would be ashamed of your behavior.
Well said. He mentioned in his campaign his family and their long tradition of Ridgewood service, but he neglects to protect their honor and spirit with this sort of behavior.
How dare you. This is the most disgusting of all these cowardly, hateful comments. Mr. Lembo is less than a year grieving the father he loved and modeled himself after. Shame on you.
The 3 of you need therapy. Lembo, the girlfriend and you. Grieving a father has nothing to do with exhibiting bad behavior. You need your head examined.
Wow. Two hot headed losers
This pair is out to lunch. What did they expect would happen? Since being elected in 2020, both paraded around publicly acting like clowns, abusively disrespecting the mother of Mike’s children, fellow Board Members and aligning with special interest groups. Not to mention, getting said girlfriend and her sister jobs within the district. The run away train had to be stopped!
As Ms. Van Zile’s best friend of 30 years I am appalled and insulted by this comment. First of all, you clearly know nothing of Mike and Laura’s deeply loving relationship or immense levels of care and respect for his children. To assume you know anything about the end of a marriage based on rumor is mind blowing and wildly ignorant. Would you like anyone making judgements on your personal relationships?
Second, my friend is graduate level educated (also an RHS alum) and needs no assistance getting work. She has chosen to serve her community. That is her right. Your statement about her family’s employment is absolutely false. The Van Zile family have been pillars of the Ridgewood community for decades. A family of warmth, generosity and public service. This slander is baseless.
Laura is a woman with a golden heart. A friend that will hold another up in the darkest of moments. She is absolutely a clown. The funniest lady I know. She can always provide the laughter and levity needed in hard times. That’s a gift. Not an insult. Perhaps you envy her wit and joie de vivre?
It is shameful and gross the way you cowardly anonymous keyboard warriors have used my dear friends image, private information and personal life to create petty, hurtful drama and pathetic political gain. These are two real people you repeatedly, endlessly rip apart. You’ve hurt us all.
As a Ridgewood alum and returned parent I am painfully saddened at what my beautiful, classy town has become. We will not forget this horrific behavior in elections to come.
Lady, you are one twisted sister. Glad you have a good friend, but that has zero to do with getting a job your BF gave to you. Pillar of the community? Get a grip. She could have chose to work anywhere in Ridgewood.
let her be.
she has the hots for Laura.
What in the homophobic crap is this? I am sorry true friendship and love amongst two women makes you uncomfortable.
She substitute-taught all over the district, as well as, other towns. I know because I speak with her at least once daily. You are wildly ignorant of this situation and grossly judgemental. You do not know the real details of this situation. Instead, you stay wrapped in rumors, conjecture and hatred. I hope that feels good in your soul. I really wish you would leave my friend alone.
You don’t know the half of it with these two. You better hope you’re not on their “list.”
You don’t know a quarter of who these people are. Clearly from the NON STOP slander and harassment they’ve endured ALL YEAR , they are on this “list” of pathetic, cowardly commenters. Leave good people alone to live their lives.
Lembo was terrible on the Board.
Hey people on both sides, I wouldn’t celebrate too much. In the end, it’s still a villager Ridgewood one big mess. And if you think that a certain part is going to change things think again. We told you things are being run throughout the town from behind the curtain. This is why the same things occur from new elections, new ministration‘s, remember from NASA, the suits change, but the monkeys don’t, or vice versa, which, ever. You get the drift just sit back think about that comment for a bit open up your eyes and ears and see what’s going on. I’ve been around a long time And the shit that goes on it’s just amazing. Good luck to everyone.
You are so correct with your analysis. The titanic is about to sink.
Yes, our Village is a big mess because of people like the Vag, Whino, Weitz and Perron. They do not have the best interests of all Ridgewood residents in mind when they attempt to spend our money. They want to do things in a vacuum and lie. It is really awful. From the mayor giving money to his friends for vested interests, possible kickbacks on turf, pro sports initiatives, the billboard and other things in the CBD, this list goes on and on.
Lembo and the bimbo are pitiful. Posting all these ridiculous photos of themselves and talking about butta bowls and lashing out at anyone who got in their way. All of this was absolutely conduct unbecoming of a Board of Education president. For god sake’s Mike you could’ve acted like an adult. Did you really think the intelligent voters of Ridgewood would vote you back in after you and your girlfriend’s shenanigans?
“butta bowls?” Please enrich me; I have no idea what a “butta bowl” is.
“Ridgewood Intelligent Voters” ???? – Are you for real? Same who voted for the current 4 amigos in VC? Give me a break.
Bimbo? You say this? This is the year of the Barbie movie???
I’m so sorry it bothers you to see a confident, sexy, educated blonde woman enjoy her life.
Y’all need to do some serious soul searching on what you hate so much about yourself that you have to repeatedly tear into an innocent, loving woman who you do not know.
I know this woman far better than you ever could. I am not hiding my name. Come find me and say this to my face. I will educate on the real, amazing, beloved LVZ.
The tallest nail always finds the hammer.
“Come find me and say this to my face.” Absolutely hilarious, menacing to prove the point even more.
Bimbo and Barbie are 2 different things. Didn’t you watch the movie. If you did, you wouldn’t have commented. There is no comparison. When you are holding an elected position and parading around like a knucklehead (both of them) then that speaks volumes. Lembo did not do a great job, that is why he was there-to do a great job. If their egos are hurt, that is too bad. Grow up and move forward. There’s comfort in knowing that birds of a feather flock together and they have you to comfort them in their time of need!
Innocent? Having an affair with a married man is far from innocent. Laura would meet in town parking garages and in cars to perform sexual acts in public and Lembo would document and show friends and coworkers as an officer and as BOE president bragging! So let’s not paint LVZ her as Mr. Roger’s innocent daughter…when you and I both know her history is far from it since we have known her for so long!
Lisa as Laura’s best friend of 30 years (and someone who I personally know enabled the affair from the start with them ie gathering at your house to hook up, double dates, encouraging them to continue the affair despite him being married with kids) you 100% knew Lembo was married (and he still is) and was living with his family. So to write these comments is very misleading as you are rewriting history and flat out lying! Why don’t you post your texts with Lembo and LVZ when they started their affair and you encouraged them to continue! I understand sticking up for your best friend if they are in the right…however you are being delusional if you are calling LVZ innocent…she has been a willing and active participant as a homewrecker and their is no way you can paint that in the right! If you want to be a good friend you should tell her what she needs to hear (dont mess with a marreid man and his kids) and not what she wants to hear (go for it who cares hes married…you love him). We all aren’t perfect and we make mistakes but as your friend I need to tell you it seems you suffer from the same diseases as Lembo and LVz…falsifying reality and lack of accountability….ie gaslighting.
I have no doubt and know personally if LVZ was secretly having an affair with YOUR husband and drastically impacting your kids/your future with their affair paraded in town your tune would be different.
There is no reason to cheat. I get falling out of love and moving on but not while married. I dont get Lembo cheating for years and coming home to his wife and kids as if nothing happend… trying to live two lives. Using police social media to cheat, side jobs, conventions etc. If LVZ and Lembo wanted to be mature civilized adults then they should have waited for Mike to move out and be divorced as their are young children involved. Instead they only cared about themselves and their toxic affair. They continue to flaunt their relationship infront of Lembo’s young kids and were all over town for the kids friend’s to see which is embarrassing. Who knows the true impact this will have 30 years from now on these innocent kids!
The innocent is Lembo’s wife and their kids who have had to deal with the consequences of Lembos and LVzs poor and reckless behaviors that have completely flipped these poor kid’s worlds upside down. But I see you are only concerned with lvz…she’s a big girl….she made her bed…let her lie in it.
This is the last comment I will make on this disgusting site. Whomever you cowardly Anonymous Ridgewooder is, you don’t know anything of the Lembo’s marriage nor of the relationship between Laura and Mike. You may know Laura and I as RHS alums but you are certainly not our friend. That is clear from what you write here. You don’t know what we text, talk about or how we have socialized. That is our private life and friendship. Just the way the ENDING of the Lembo’s marriage is their private life. Just the way Mike and Laura’s relationship is their private life. Marriages and relationships can be over long long long before divorces are final. People separate. Marriages end. It’s allowed. People have a right to live and conduct their personal lives as they see fit. It is no business of anyone else. It is not yours to judge, name call and obsess over. The obsession is bizarre and very disconcerting. I have a firm American belief in the pursuit of happiness. Clearly you and those populating this blog, making homophobic judgemental comments don’t share that belief. It’s a shame.
As I said in an early comment, I don’t hide my name. I have nothing to be ashamed of. At a mighty 5 foot 1.5 inches, I mean no menacing. I only mean that if anyone wants to have a real conversation about this topic, don’t hide behind your keyboard like a little punk. Talk to me directly. Stop me in town. Strike up a conversation on the Hawes playground. Find my public cell and call me. I’m happy to give you insight.
I finished with this gross, petty, pathetic local online drama. I wish you all find peace within yourselves and power within that peace.
Bimbo? This is the year of the Barbie movie?
I don’t need to be anonymous. I know what I say about my friend is true. If you want to know who the real, incredible, kind and loving LVZ is just come ask me. I’ll tell you in great detail why I love her so much and how much of a bimbo she isn’t. She is far far more emotionally intelligent than any of these anonymous commenters, have proven themselves to be over the past year.
Lembo‘s post seem to express complete shock that he woke up Wednesday morning and was no longer an elected board member. What the heck? There were seven candidates for two slots. What kind of ego would make him so sure that he would get reelected? Especially when his campaign consisted of Ridiculous stunts.
So is there any truth to the rumor that he was pulled off the job and put on the desk for awhile?
“butta bowls?” Please enrich me; I have no idea what a “butta bowl” is.
It is a pickup football game after thanksgiving. nice try though.
I truly had no idea what butta bowls meant….why the “nice try, though?” I was just asking for my own edification.
its “nice try” because disgusting people always assume that OTHERS also think disgusting things like they do.
They cannot understand an innocent request for knowledge.
In case you were wondering…
Jamiroquai are an English funk and acid jazz band from London. Formed in 1992, they are fronted by vocalist Jay Kay, and were prominent in the London-based funk and acid jazz movement of the 1990s.
Hey, at least he admitted he lost his election.
Unlike some people I could name.
Correct, let’s not forget that Dani spent nearly $12,000 dollars to convince voters to vote him. What a joke!
Dani is the best, along with Kwak. They do their job!!
is it official yet?
Sorry, your are an idiot like those two. You need to wake up!
“Hey, at least he admitted he lost his election.
Unlike some people I could name.”
I know!
Clinton is still going on about it.
Also , Stacey Abrams…
The level of disrespect coming from the these “Anonymous” comments is absolutely disgusting and straight up childlike. You hide by the name “Anonymous” so you can spit venom at two people you know little to nothing about. I’ve known Laura since the our days ant BF. Within that time period she has exemplified characteristics of a true friend who cares about those she loves. She is family person. She cares for this town and is part of the community. Mike is good man with a good heart. To brand her with some Scarlett Letter as if you know what the full details are of anything in her life and Mike’s life speaks very highly of your low character. These are two consenting adults who love each other but for many it seems that their happiness brings misery to others. Get over it. Step out of your adolescent mind.
Related but separate, Dani doesn’t even have kids in the Ridgewood schools so any decision he makes effects those of who do. He just doesn’t want to pay taxes for the school system his children don’t attend. Why residents would elect someone in that singular context doesn’t make sense but whatever?
You haters have ugly souls.
Oh pleeeeze. Mr. Dani has had children go through RPS. What kind of parent would deny their child the opportunity to attend Bergen Academy vs. Ridgewood High School. He let his daughter decide and she chose Bergen Academy (smart young lady!). Mr. Dani has focused money on academics while reigning in unnecessary spending. The less spent on greedy repeat sole-source contractors who come in with outrageous bids, the more money for the classroom. People who don’t like ridgewood taxes sell when their kids are out of school. Mr. Dani is still here because he cares deeply about education.
Believe it or not, taxpayers without children in school care. I was here well before I had children in RPS and I am still here decades after they graduated. Think about what would happen if we all packed it in and left. 68% of my $30k tax bill goes to RPS and I have no kids in the school…..3 new kids in my house will cost RPS $60k/year x 13 years. Do the math and then complain about the rights of people supplementing YOUR child’s education… SMH!
The child has every right to go any school they choose, especially to Bergen Academy. No one is arguing that. The original point being argued is that he doesn’t have kids in the school system yet his decision can and will affect those of us who do. If you don’t like it then move. Ridgewood schools promote a Tradition of Excellence and not a Tradition in Mediocrity. In order to provide with top notch teachers and an high quality education for the youth of tomorrow the money is well worth it. As stated before, if you don’t like the tax payer money that goes to the students just move.
The ultimate “I have no good response” response . . . “If you don’t like it move.” The same could be said to you . . . if you don’t like the fact that taxpayers without currently enrolled students can be elected to the BOE, then MOVE! If I move, YOU will have to pick up the tab for the 3 kids who move into my house. If you move, we all win!
And go back and read . . . I never said I had a problem paying taxes . I paid them for years before I had kids and for decades after they left RPS.
Mr. Dani’s track record of working to IMPROVE schools. is well documented.
Take a break from your keyboard warrior tactics and look at the past 3 years (note: your buddy Mike was on the BOE during this time of improvement, something he should be proud of).
Hey JS- “He just doesn’t want to pay taxes for the school system his children don’t attend.” Every RW homeowner, which Dani is, pays taxes regardless of whether children attend or not attend schools.
Ha.
JS
what is that… about 1/10 step better than Anonymous?
This moderator is deleting my comments. I said nothing offensive. No cursing. I defended my friend. This blog is gross.
OK Karen take a break
No need to use Racial slurs.
Lembo and Bimbo …love it LOL
can you say off the rails……..
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks”
The ultimate “I have no good response” response . . . “If you don’t like it move.” The same could be said to you . . . if you don’t like the fact that taxpayers without currently enrolled students can be elected to the BOE, then MOVE! If I move, YOU will have to pick up the tab for the 3 kids who move into my house. If you move, we all win!
And go back and read . . . I never said I had a problem paying taxes . I paid them for years before I had kids and for decades after they left RPS.
Mr. Dani’s track record of working to IMPROVE schools. is well documented.
Take a break from your keyboard warrior tactics and look at the past 3 years (note: your buddy Mike was on the BOE during this time of improvement, something he should be proud of).
Lembo has hired his girlfriend sister, and he’s hired his girlfriend for two positions. Not only that, he has served on the human resources committee for the board. This guy is a massive ethics violation. He struts around like he such hot stuff, but he’s a disgraceful member of the board and I am so glad he’s been voted out, and very definitely so. Came in forth, but he was assuming he would be the top winner. Sorry, Mr. Lembo, people recognize you for what you are. You are a SORE LOSER. BUH BYE
Word is that his fellow police officers do not like him AT ALL
Lisa – His girlfriend may be your friend. But she is NOT a nice person. She is borderline insane in her protection of her beloved boyfriend. And oh did we mention homewrecker? Regardless, she is not an elected official a should be off the radar. But she has inserted herself relentlessly into his defense so she has become a quasi public figure herself. Thank GOD the voters woke up and voted him out. The Lembo name of his father and grandfather has been trashed by this man whose morals are in the toilet. Definitely not a role model for the children in the schools. Good riddance to both of them