>The Ridgewood blog has decided to whole heartily endorse Stephen Wellinghorst in the upcoming Nov 2nd election for Council.
The staff of the Ridgewood blog after careful and cautious research and analysis of the four candidates, their platforms, statements they have made in the media, their performance at the debate, and certain topics discussed on the Ridgewood blog has come to a unanimous decision in support of Stephen Wellinghorst.
The key issues facing the Village at this time are revitalizing downtown, the current fiscal crisis, village parking, Graydon Pool, the Valley expansion, pedestrian safety, and the candidate’s ability to articulate a clear vision for the Village of Ridgewood.
However no issue has more disenfranchised taxpayers and voters than the “Valley Renewal” better know as the Valley Hospital expansion. This issue is not a matter as it has been so often characterised as those for or against Valley Hospital . The real issue in plane terms is; is an expansion of this magnitude in a residential neighborhood in the Village’s best interest?
By Valley’s own estimate the hospital is tyring to pigeonhole a 30 plus acre site into what amounts to 15 acre site . It is simply to big ,need it or not. Before the expansion Valley was one of the most respected institutions in the Village , but the tactics employed by the hospital in order to pursue this expansion have brought this into question.
The Ridgewood blog feels that Steve Wellinghorst is the only candidate with the maturity ,experience,work ethic,clarity of vision and brains to move the Village forward on this issue. Like the Train station before it ,the Village worked tirelessly to resolve many issues with New Jersey Transit and in the end each side got what it wanted .The Village got a newly renovated ADA compliant historically land marked train station with a minimal amount of down town dislocation .While NJT got to spend away to a tune of $41 million.
This same energy should be used to resolve the Valley Expansion issue and we believe that Stephen Wellinghurst will be the much needed catalyst to move the issue forward to a positive resolution for the Village.
thank you,
PJ Blogger and the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
