file photo by Boyd Loving
Regarding “Ridgewood eases residency requirement” (Page L-3, April 10):
The Ridgewood Village Council meeting of April 8 was the third consecutive meeting at which uncivil behavior on the part of some elected and appointed officials completely overshadowed the business at hand.
While The Record article indicates that the village’s labor attorney, Beth Hinsdale-Piller, “clarified a number of items,” it fails to mention the derogatory tone of voice and accusatory language (directed squarely at a current council member) utilized by Hinsdale-Piller throughout her remarks.
While Hinsdale-Piller had requested that no interruptions be made during her statement, the council member who was the subject of her remarks was not extended the same courtesy and was repeatedly interrupted by others.
Rude comments from the council’s dais seem to have become the norm in Ridgewood. Recent meetings have included attacks on current and former members of the council, the police chief and members of the public.
Mayor Paul Aronsohn summarized the meeting by saying that the discussions had been “good” and “healthy,” even if “not always friendly,” thereby completely minimizing the vituperative nature of these meetings.
In February 2013, Aronsohn publicly apologized for such behavior, saying the public deserves a working council, not a fighting council. More than two years later, we continue to witness argumentative, sarcastic and downright nasty comments from certain elected and appointed officials.
Ridgewood residents deserve better, and we deserve it now.
Anne LaGrange Loving
Ridgewood, April 13
I wonder if the mayor authorized the town’s labor attorney’s cost to be there or she showed up to defend herself.
The mayor stated that he asked her to come. Cost us plenty of $$$.
Let’s get real here.
If I were the labor attorney being accused, I would defend myself. Wouldn’t you?
What did Knudsen or any of you expect?
8:50
YOU need to get real. That was a non-stop assassination of Ms. Knudsen delivered at the expense of our taxpayers. There will be a price to pay for Aronsohn’s attempt to bring Ms. Knudsen down. People are outraged. You, clearly, are one of the dumb ducks on the dais, as Ms. Hauck so cutely referred to herself, Aronsohn, Pucciarelli and Roberta. Hmmmm, let’s see, I think maybe you are an attorney yourself. Sure sounds like it.
I saw Anna’s letter to the editor today.
I watch the Mets instead of attending the council meetings. Not as frustrating.
Is that wrong of me…?
We need to vote these assclowns out of office.
The last 3 council meetings have been very disturbing, with the April 8th meeting being the worst. The mayor said the labor attorney was there to “clarify some issues”. That was not the case. The labor attorney came out with guns blasting at councilwoman Knudsen. The labor attorney attempted to malign, embarrass and intimidate councilwoman Knudsen. It didn’t work. Instead, the labor attorney looked like the “mean girl” and a “bully”. Councilwoman Knudsen was calm and simply refuted the accusations of the labor attorney. It was sad to see, but even worse was that her tirade was allowed to continue once it was clear the labor attorney was there for the sole purpose of bullying Knudsen. Beth Hinsdale is not in middle school, but she sure acts like it. It disgusts me that part of my taxes are paying for her display of childishness.
When the “Village Attorney” brought her “personal attack” on a Councilman she was out of line.
Thank God she is leaving our Village for good. Perhaps, she had been planning her grand stand resignation for months.
“Ridgewood residents deserve better, and we deserve it now.”
And especially a year from now.
Have friends who don’t vote and say they don’t care? I’ve found that many people are eager to hear opinions on council candidates from friends and neighbors they trust. Give it a shot. We have a year.
I think that the Mayor and his running mates need to attend a more remedial forum on civility. The material in the current forum seems to be over their heads.
it’s time to out source the mayor, and two of the council members ,& manager and work down.
this manager knows zipo about how towns run. go back to wall st with the rest of the scamer’s.
There are comments always made about when we vote the three out. The question is – who’s going to run? There needs to be a viable candidate or we’re going to wind up in the same situation.
We have one solid candidate so far. More to come
Yes 7:54 but please no names because the 3 Amigos will start the attack campaign early.
Agreed 7:54, more to come. BTW, thankfully the candidate “must” be from the Village, so the new residency requirement does not apply.
people just get the three and the manager and any other one’s in the same plate. we have three that going to run and turn this place around. and al we do not need you at all for the mayor seat. take a walk bamboo boy.