the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog is endorsing Melanie Hooban for Village of Ridgewood council . While we don’t see eye to eye on every issue with Ms. Hooban we feel she is the best and only choice for the Village .
Ms. Hooban has minded the Village while many others have minded the gravy train that is Village of Ridgewood tax payers .
She was one of the few to push back against much of the over development that has so negatively impacted the quality of life in Ridgewood.
While others including her opponent can not even answer a simple question , “Where is the water for the high density housing going to come from “?
Hooban already serves on the Ridgewood Planning Board and plays a pivotal role in both the Visioning committee and Master Plan process working hard to ensure the future of Ridgewood.
Bad decision making in the past has damaged the prestige of the Village, put a damper on property values and hurt the quality of life. Stupid developement is just, stupid.
Without better planning “No Flush Fridays” may be in the Village of Ridgewood’s future, but if development is in the cards , The independent minded Hooban ,takes stewardship of the Village seriously and has a proven track record of working to protect Ridgewood’s small-town charm while advocated for reasonable development .
This is a no brainer. The Hooban is the best candidate for the position by far and a candidate who will look out for the best interests of our community. Pauli V is in it to enhance his financial interests.
I’m comfortable that she won’t change her stance on things like Jeff did once he got onto the Council.
A vote for Melanie is a vote for the bright future of Ridgewood! Her opponent is in this for his own personal business interests and nothing more. The fact that she will try to make the town respect the 2 1/2% property tax Is enough to get my vote. Routinely the town breaks the state constitution amendment of raising her taxes more than 2 1/2% per annum.. this needs to stop!
She’s got my vote!
My opinion from watching the debate and reading campaign materials from both candidates. Both Paul Vagianos and Melanie Hooban are in this for personal reasons and both have something to gain from being elected. Paul’s buildings will have tenants and his business will thrive if he has his way to make Ridgewood a ‘destination’. On the other hand, Melanie wants to keep the community feel alive and make Ridgewood a great place to live for people of all ages whether they want safe streets, turf fields, playgrounds, pocket parks, new trees. Melanie will listen to all concerned citizens and vote with the goal of making Ridgewood great again. I am going to go with Melanie’s goals and reasons for running over Pauls. Simple decision.
Go Melanie!
Paul V is the second coming of Paul A.
Can’t risk that.
Melanie hasn’t gained ANYTHING since doing this. That should show you right there that she’s in it because she cares.
She’s done this at great personal expense- and at her oppositions bidding.
Let’s not forget the dirty democratic machine found the “wanna be included” nobody CEO of the YMCA as a buddy and used him to do their bidding to get her out of running. Someone probably promised him something and that shady guy just bit. Only thing he’s running is that place in to the ground.
Everyone should take a deep look at the disgusting dem machine after this is over -but In the mean time:
VOTE HOOBAN
People are saying Frank Democrat Delvecchio said if she wins he’s walking away from running political campaigns forever.
PLEASE let’s give him his wish.
This election has shown the character of many people, who are supporting Paul V for their personal or political gains.
Let’s elect Melanie to show grass roots still works.
Less than a week before the election, and I’ve yet to hear anything concrete from either candidate- just the usual pablum about “making things better” but nothing specific as to how. Both are running on image….and both RMAD and the Blog are all too happy to go along with it. (Much easier to add to the upoar and rabble-rousing than to do some critical thinking, I guess)
Disappointed all around.
Once the high density housing was approved under Paul Aronshon the Village was stuck dealing with the consequences of that decision and will be for a very, very long time , this decision was compounded buy other foolish decisions that have been made since hurricane Floyd. Giving up the school budget vote ,was a step in the wrong direction and added to the decline of the Village . When you go from “they town” to “a town”, at best its called damage control .
I’m voting for Melanie primarily because I believe she will base her decisions on what is best for the people, not on what is best for her wallet. Secondarily, I’m casting my vote for Melanie in protest of the slanderous smear campaign being led by Laurie Bender.
“People are saying Frank Democrat Delvecchio said if she wins he’s walking away from running political campaigns forever.
PLEASE let’s give him his wish.”
Just sayin’ Frankie is supporting Kwak.
This is Laurie Benders regular routine isn’t it??
Frankie supporting kwak has hurt Kwak. And frankly shes the strongest candidate. Why’d she sell out to him. She didn’t have him last time.
Remember the comment from the BOE debate?
“There’s frank delveccho front and center. I’m voting for whoever he is NOT supporting”
He’s yesterday’s news. And bad news at that.
what exactly does frank delveccho have to do with the BOE?
I am voting for Melanie for many reasons but the biggest for me is that she is not a sell out like Sedon, Voight and Hache
SEdon and Hache sold HER out.
Delvecchio too.
May they all forever need her assistance and May she lose their numbers.
“This is Laurie Benders regular routine isn’t it??”
Vote for Hooban. Bender is clueless. She’s a loudmouth has been. Always telling people what to do. You know she’s wrong because she hates this blog. Vote Hooban. Vote smart!
she is a big Paul Aronsohn lover
Vote for Melanie. Laurie is a control freak who has to have her way. Melanie is the best choice by far.
“She is a big Paul Aronson lover”
Yeah I guess you heard what I heard then…
Wonder if Gwennie knows the history…
“she is a big Paul Aronsohn lover”
Who?
Laurie Benders ?? (not Melanie Hooban)
The problem is certain members of the council will try to Squeeze her from making decisions that she doesn’t want to, I hope she stands her ground . Obviously there’s some kind of power coming from the mayor and council and trickling its way down to Commanders. In a sneaky way, because this things been going on the past 10 years that someone’s calling the shots from behind the drapes if you know what I mean.
Big Paul aronson lover yes. Bender not melanie.
Ah the dirt.
Nothing quite like a woman scorned. And with Bender it’s Time and again I hear….
Who’s going to squeeze melanie? Mike Sedin ? He can’t squeeze a lemon.
She’ll be fine.
If you think she’s the next Susan you should probably expect she can at least hold her own.
Well that’s great news. I just don’t like the dirty Chess that they play.
The ethically challenged Frank should walk away from politics. He’s firmly ensconced in the democrat machine of Bergen County. His conflicts of interest and patronage are legendary.
I’ve now Ms. Bender for decades; to insinuate that she has anything to do with Paul Aronsohn is incorrect. To insinuate that she had a romantic or sexual relationship with him is just downright libelous. These outrageous comments and innuendo are nothing more slanderous smear campaigns against Ms. Bender. Love her or hate her, I am 99.99% that there is no prior relationship between her and Aronsohn. Talk about hurting someone and their kids. Geesh.
Nothing to see here folks. Move on.
where do we vote early?
Former mayor had his fling with fellow council member but the idea of him as the village gigolo is laughable and/or gag worthy. Is that the only thing people can think about? Total lie. Grow up.
Back to the topic at hand – Vote Hooban!
More good news for Melanie – the groups in town supporting reasonable development have put out a letter of support of her candidacy.
Melanie is wonderful. I already voted for her. And Kwak
I wasn’t sure who to vote for, but after I read that slanderous piece by Lori Bender I am definitely voting for Melanie.
I have known ms bender for decades too. She is smart and involved I will give her that. But oh my god her ego knows no bounds. She thinks she is the only involved citizen. She condescends to everyone. I dislike her immensely and I don’t believe one word of her nasty post about Melanie
I am voting Hooban absolutely And Kwak.
” I have known ms bender for decades too. She is smart and involved I will give her that . . . .”
All true but for sure, she dislikes Aronsohn as much as you dislike her. Innuendos that she has slept with Aronsohn are slanderous and extremely hurtful.
Oooohhhhhh so we see how to get under Laurie Benders skin being up how Paul scorned her that lady doth protest too much.
If that hag could be called a lady.
Go accuse someone else of hate speech Lauri. It’s been a day or 2.
Surprised she never said that about Gwen given the circumstances. Tee hee
Bender is on a par with Voigt. Evil. Conniving. Sitting up at her computer all night making shit up, plotting. Alone. Always alone. Maybe because the chip on her shoulder is so heavy that she can’t make it up the basement stairs from her laptop of lies.
My main concern with Melanie is that she will not be an independent voice on the council but will rather follow verbatim whatever the Mayor proposes or decides. Its obvious she supports all the Mayor’s policies and that the Mayor fully backs her. I and most people are predicting that if she gets elected she will become the Mayor’s lackey. This scares me because if elected there will be no independent voices on the council.