the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, in what The Ridgewood Blog will now boldly categorize as nothing more than a jackass, insensitive, and despicable attempt by Village officials to squelch public dissent, a uniformed Ridgewood police officer was ordered to be present during the entire Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) meeting held on Tuesday night, November 28th.
The sole discussion item during the aforementioned meeting was the proposed installation of a 40 foot high electronic billboard on Route 17 southbound near the NJDOT Park & Ride facility.
Needless to say, most individuals who own residential property along the Route 17 corridor aren’t too pleased by the thought of having a giant electronic billboard plopped down smack in the middle of their neighborhood. Many of these residents have attended the ZBA meetings religiously, and publicly expressed their respective frustrations with the proposal.
Posted meeting minutes of every single ZBA meeting held since February of 2022 during which the application by NYC based Outfront Media, Inc. was discussed are devoid of any indication that the behavior of an individual meeting attendee/participant, or group of meeting attendees/participants, would warrant police presence in the meeting room to maintain order.
So, who all of a sudden ordered a police officer to be present at scheduled ZBA meetings during which the billboard application appears on the agenda, and why? Could it be that some well connected Ridgewood business owner who would like a place to advertise was concerned by the numbers of people speaking in opposition to the application and felt a bit of intimidation was in order? Or is it that someone at Village Hall is just tired of hearing from taxpayers who live near Route 17 and felt that the presence of a uniformed police officer would cause them all to shut up.
Whatever the misguided reason, enough is enough. No more cops in the meeting room. If needed, they’re only 1 floor away. Stop the disrespectful insanity now!
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It is very interesting that there has been actual fear and intimidation at Village Council meetings, where they mayor and the majority block village council members, that include Paul Vagianos, Siobahn Winograd, Evan Weitz because the are actually friends with the sports groups and have enabled bad behavior that actually resulted in an assault by someone not that long ago and one by the same individual (DD) years ago as well. Nothing was done except that they guy, who knew he could not be banned, agreed to not attend meetings for one month.
More intimidation
I think you need to question why you look at the police as intimidation?
You people are overthinking this. There was one individual that was getting a little overheated but was put in his place by the Zoning Board attorney.
If he was put in his place by the ZBA attorney, why were the police asked to be there?
Many people attend. These meetings are very angry. I personally witnessed people screaming, cursing punching the wall. It’s a little crazy. Many people are upset on how the village is turning into a city. None of us can stop this what’s going on county.
whoa, I have been to every single ZBA meeting related to this topic of the neon billboard and not one time was there any bad behavior or anyone punching a wall. What meetings are you talking about? you are certainly not referring to these as they have been very calm. Yes, no one wants this except for the billboard company and the property owner, because for them, it is only about making money and not public welfare or safetly in any way, shape or form. But no one has acted unreasonable to the point where an armed officer, who we regard as protectors, would be required. They would be required at any sports related VC meetings where the sports groups try to intimidate. There are a few and they know they do it and actually take pleasure in trying to instill fear.
This is not true and does not represent any of the zoning meetings on the billboard. No one has ever punched a wall. Please stop spreading mis information. Whatever the reason, it is not a reflection of any of the past billboard meetings.
I swear I’m going to show up one night in a clown suit.
The clowns are already there in regular suits.
Love the name. There are also the other 2 bozo the clown bullies and was actually snickering with his pal DD and was hiding fully clad in uniform (a grown man, if you can believe it) behind the video camera when CBS was in the house. You cannot make this stuff up.
Elections have and will continue to have consequences! Keep voting blue.