February 18,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Several persons who object to BCIA involvement in the ongoing parking deck debacle have recently written letters to The Ridgewood News only to find receipt of those letters unacknowledged, and also never published.
As a result of a full page ad supporting BCIA involvement that appears in this week’s edition of The Ridgewood News, which was paid for by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, the staff of The Ridgewood Blog now wonders if The Ridgewood News has chosen not to publish too many anti garage letters to the editor for fear of losing advertising revenue from local merchants who belong to the Chamber.
Two letters in direct support of the garage and BCIA involvement are printed in this week’s edition of The Ridgewood News. There are no letters specifically opposing the BCIA becoming involved, although one anti garage letter was printed.
Is it possible that The Ridgewood News sold out its readers in favor of its advertisers?
I would like to see the anti BCIA letter, and then I will give my opinion. Can you obtain it; and print it here?
I am anti BCIA involvement and I signed the petition, but didn’t write a letter.
I don’t think the Ridgewood News selectively censors letters. I have seen numerous letters that go against the prevailing winds of opinion… especially Valley. If people feel disenfranchised they should post the letter here.
Continue to report these situations of unbalanced editorial policies so that they know they will loose paying subscribers and readers.question now How will they react.?.? Restaurants also
likely providing print ad revenue.
More and more the paper shows extreme bias.
PAul Smith – there is a new editor and since the switch our letters have stopped appearing. Started I believe mid January.
To the Editor,
I am writing to urge my friends and neighbors to let our council know we reject entering into a lease/purchase agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA) to fund the Hudson Street garage.
Our referendum vote shows that the majority of Villagers support funding a garage on Hudson street. We enjoy a triple AAA rating, and do not need Bergen County for funding. The only reason to go to the BCIA is because our own Council can not agree on the design, and the Council majority believes they and only they know best.
If funding through Bergen County, the likely results will be a garage controlled by the county. All Bergen County residents, including out of town commuters, will have the same access and fee structure as Ridgewood residents. Ridgewood’s general parking fund, which has been used to absorb budgetary overages will no longer be allowed to do so, which most likely will impact our taxes.
We elect our Council with the expectation that they will work together to represent the best interests of our Village. I would like to think they wouldn’t make decisions for our Village that they wouldn’t make in their own personal lives. Yet they approved change orders and are pushing forward with a plan to have the BCIA fund the garage when the public and the Council haven’t received photo simulations, rough site plan with footprint, details of how on street parking will be impacted etc. Would you approve funds for work on your own home without knowing what it would look like? Would you build into the street and not let your neighbors know? if you did so would you expect them to be upset?
Council members Sedon and Knudsen have stated that they would support a garage that fits on the lot, fits within the streetscape, and when their is a clear financial plan in place. Councilwoman Knudsen has repeatedly said she would like to have photo simulations to bring to the church and neighbors for their input. Isn’t that what we would desire from our neighbors? Councilman Sedon has expressed interest in having the specific financial plan in place. Again, this is a very reasonable request. We know the garage is not self funding and meter rates will rise but it has not been determined how much and what the impact will be on local businesses. Would you be willing to pay $.75-$1.00 for a coffee in town or to mail a package or might you visit Glen Rock or Midland Park instead?
I believe when all these details are known, we can achieve a 5-0 vote in favor of a garage we can all be happy with. Please email your council and ask them to work together and say no to the BCIA.
Paul Aronsohn – paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.net
Albert Pucciarelli – apucciarelli@ridgewoodnj.net
Gwenn Hauck – ghauck@ridgewoodnj.net
Susan Knudsen – sknudsen@ridgewoodnj.net
Michael Sedon – msedon@ridgewoodnj.net
Thank you, Carrie Giordano
Aronsohn connection with the Ridgewood New goes deep.. This is not the first time letters have not been published right Linda. Lets see who are owners of the Ridgewood News NorthJersey Media AKA The Record and who is the owners of the Record North Jersey Media Group (NJMG) is an independent, family-owned media company providing local news, information and services to the residents of northern New Jersey. The company is headquartered in Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson) and is best known for its daily newspaper, The Record. Stephen A. Borg
Yes the same Stephen Borg that was the key speaker at one of our Mayors civility meeting. Let not forget the ex reported for the Record aka Aronsohn Press Officer. Get real poster what you read is being manipulated
It seems that the Garage proponents have been busy beavers slapping mud on every dam in the county in order to surpress even the facade of a discussion..Well folks there was never to be any discussion by those in positions of trust ..so recognize …that we should expect resistance on every front and please sign the petition..
If you want a chance at rebalancing our priorities ..let’s start with the County not getting a foothold in our villages business..sign the petition and then we all have a chance at a different direction in the next 2 years ahead.You can sign the petition and then vote your conscients either way on Election Day..Its called democracy..what’s the rush to bond.?..where there is smoke…..
How dare the newspaper try to squelch letters from anyone on any side of the story, as long as they are respectful?! What the people are doing who are trying to stop the funding via the BCIA is completely legal and they are well within their rights. A grass roots effort like this stopped the turf field in Glen Rock. Citizens of this country have a right to act in accordance with the law. Clearly the triumvirate is very, very nervous because they are being outsmarted by honest, energetic and very intelligent individuals.
Great letter Carrie!
I am outraged at the Chamber’s Ad in the Ridgewood News today. They lied from the beginning with the say “yes” and negotiate size later when there is no negotiation. You try and negotiate and they go around you. We are not a small, rogue, nameless group! Most of us speak at meetings, write letters and emails, and stand on the streets with clipboards. So the paper lets them continue to write lies with no rebuttals?
There was an email floating around today suggesting keeping this transaction off the balance sheet will allow Ridgewood to bond more projects. First, what other massive projects are they planning?? Second, anyone who believes in off balance sheet financing needs a lesson in finance. It is still debt, it needs to be paid back and ratings agencies will still recognize it as leverage.
.
Time to cancel any subscriptions to the Ridgewood News.
Does anyone here look at the Facebook Moms and Dads and It Takes A Village? It is hilarious. Roberta is hitting LIKE to every comment, just going on down the line. Who the hell gives a good god damn what you like, Roberta? She is pitiful. She struts around like the big wheel, and then she trolls facebook so she can hit the LIKE button over and over like a little teenager. Super professional you are, Ms. Village Manager. Really. You are an embarrassment to yourself and to Ridgewood.
Well they took the ad from the anti parking folks… did the posters here kick in for it… likely not…
Wow, looks like 10:55 has nothing better to do than troll FB and police who “likes” what? Check your ego!
Paul smith, clearly you have no clue. Citizens donated way more than needed for the ad. Many are posters here.
I stopped reading that paper 20 years ago
GREEK TO ME Lays down the gauntlet by questioning the validity of the
Petition . Imagine Who benefits from such reckless spending ..and who pays the most,…
Sure…we would be happy to bring it to the courts Paul V. We all know the system is not back logged at all…Would take a few years to make it to the NJ Supreme Court and many on our side also have very deep pockets…oh wait, we just really need the next council in. Tick tock…maybe the three should try and compromise?