The Ridgewood Blog
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Cigarette Tax Revenue declines
Cigarette Sales Drop Points to $12 Billion Tobacco Bond Defaults
By Michael Quint - Aug 6, 2010
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-06/cigarette-sales-decline-points-to-tobacco-bond-defaults-sims-report-says.html
Declining cigarette sales and disputes over how much tobacco companies owe to U.S. states may cause more than $12 billion of defaults on related bonds issued by California, New York City, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.
Defaults on securities that are backed only by the tobacco- company payments and were issued in 2006 and 2007 “could start occurring as early as 2030,” according a report by Richard Larkin, a senior vice-president at Herbert J. Sims & Co.
Payments in April by tobacco companies, owed under a 1997 settlement of state lawsuits claiming damages for health-care costs, fell 16 percent, according to the National Association of Attorneys General. Much of that decline stems from a 9 percent slide in cigarette sales last year, more than twice the 4 percent drop assumed in some bond sales, said Larkin, who is based in Iselin, New Jersey.
Tobacco bond defaults of $12 billion would be almost four times the $3 billion of bonds that Jefferson County, Alabama’s sewer authority defaulted on. Municipal issuers failed to pay on about $6.9 billion of bonds last year, according to the Distressed Debt Securities newsletter.
State and federal tax increases have helped push cigarette sales lower than were projected when the securities were issued. New York State raised its cigarette tax by $1.60 a pack last month, lifting the average price to about $10.80 in New York City and $8.92 in other parts of the state, according to Erik Kriss, a state Budget Division spokesman.
more:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-06/cigarette-sales-decline-points-to-tobacco-bond-defaults-sims-report-says.html
By Michael Quint - Aug 6, 2010
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-06/cigarette-sales-decline-points-to-tobacco-bond-defaults-sims-report-says.html
Declining cigarette sales and disputes over how much tobacco companies owe to U.S. states may cause more than $12 billion of defaults on related bonds issued by California, New York City, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia.
Defaults on securities that are backed only by the tobacco- company payments and were issued in 2006 and 2007 “could start occurring as early as 2030,” according a report by Richard Larkin, a senior vice-president at Herbert J. Sims & Co.
Payments in April by tobacco companies, owed under a 1997 settlement of state lawsuits claiming damages for health-care costs, fell 16 percent, according to the National Association of Attorneys General. Much of that decline stems from a 9 percent slide in cigarette sales last year, more than twice the 4 percent drop assumed in some bond sales, said Larkin, who is based in Iselin, New Jersey.
Tobacco bond defaults of $12 billion would be almost four times the $3 billion of bonds that Jefferson County, Alabama’s sewer authority defaulted on. Municipal issuers failed to pay on about $6.9 billion of bonds last year, according to the Distressed Debt Securities newsletter.
State and federal tax increases have helped push cigarette sales lower than were projected when the securities were issued. New York State raised its cigarette tax by $1.60 a pack last month, lifting the average price to about $10.80 in New York City and $8.92 in other parts of the state, according to Erik Kriss, a state Budget Division spokesman.
more:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-06/cigarette-sales-decline-points-to-tobacco-bond-defaults-sims-report-says.html
Seeking Residents to Volunteer to Serve on the Planning Board
Seeking Residents to Volunteer to Serve on the Planning Board
The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve as an Alternate Member for the Planning Board.
The Planning Board reviews site plans and subdivision applications; prepares, adopts, and amends the Master Plan; and makes recommendations to the Village Council regarding amendments to developmental regulations and the official map.
All interested residents should fill out a Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website, www.ridgewoodnj.net, under “Forms”), and send it along with a cover letter, and a biography or resume to:
Heather Mailander
Village Clerk
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
Deadline for submission is August 27, 2010
The Village Council is looking for residents who are interested in volunteering to serve as an Alternate Member for the Planning Board.
The Planning Board reviews site plans and subdivision applications; prepares, adopts, and amends the Master Plan; and makes recommendations to the Village Council regarding amendments to developmental regulations and the official map.
All interested residents should fill out a Citizen Volunteer Leadership form (found on the Village website, www.ridgewoodnj.net, under “Forms”), and send it along with a cover letter, and a biography or resume to:
Heather Mailander
Village Clerk
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
Deadline for submission is August 27, 2010
Valley Renewal: The opposition to Valley masterfully played on the emotions, fears, and paranoia of the Travell and BF parents to create broader opposition
The opposition to Valley started as an argument about the impact on the property values of Valley' neighbors. That group (the neighboring homeowners) then masterfully played on the emotions, fears, and paranoia of the Travell and BF parents to create broader opposition and paint Valley as the "evil Empire".
The reality is that no kids were injured the last time Valley expanded in the 1980s. Dozens of current Ridgewood homeowners attended BF at the time, including some of my neighbors, and I have never heard anyone mention any way that that construction adversely impacted their education or that of their brothers and sisters. None have ever mentioned any long-term health problems related to dust from the last expansion. You must keep in mind that Valley will have a hospital full of patients while the expansion is occurring. They will have to mitigate dust and asbestos out of their own self-interest in order to not harm those patients and provoke litigation.
The traffic argument is lame. 90% of the traffic on Linwood has nothing to do with Valley. The expansion adds no additional rooms. The only additional traffic will be from additional outpatient business, which may increase traffic by 3-5%. Not a big deal. The Van Dien intersection will get expanded, but Valley already owns a couple of the homes involved.
I also am tired of the argument that an expansion of Valley will result in Ridgewood declining and turning into Hackensack or Engelwood. Hackensack hasn't neen an upscale town for over 50 years, and has always been far more industrial than Ridgewood. The homes around Valley are zoned residential. You couldn't turn one into a medical building if you wanted to.
I am a Travell parent, live within a few blocks of the hospital, and am in favor of Valley's expansion. I think that the weak state of the downtown business district, our ridiculously high property taxes, and the current fiscal situation of the town and school system are much more important issues in Ridgewood.
The reality is that no kids were injured the last time Valley expanded in the 1980s. Dozens of current Ridgewood homeowners attended BF at the time, including some of my neighbors, and I have never heard anyone mention any way that that construction adversely impacted their education or that of their brothers and sisters. None have ever mentioned any long-term health problems related to dust from the last expansion. You must keep in mind that Valley will have a hospital full of patients while the expansion is occurring. They will have to mitigate dust and asbestos out of their own self-interest in order to not harm those patients and provoke litigation.
The traffic argument is lame. 90% of the traffic on Linwood has nothing to do with Valley. The expansion adds no additional rooms. The only additional traffic will be from additional outpatient business, which may increase traffic by 3-5%. Not a big deal. The Van Dien intersection will get expanded, but Valley already owns a couple of the homes involved.
I also am tired of the argument that an expansion of Valley will result in Ridgewood declining and turning into Hackensack or Engelwood. Hackensack hasn't neen an upscale town for over 50 years, and has always been far more industrial than Ridgewood. The homes around Valley are zoned residential. You couldn't turn one into a medical building if you wanted to.
I am a Travell parent, live within a few blocks of the hospital, and am in favor of Valley's expansion. I think that the weak state of the downtown business district, our ridiculously high property taxes, and the current fiscal situation of the town and school system are much more important issues in Ridgewood.
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State Pensions: Given how wrong past pension projections were, who should pay to fill the 13-figure financing gap?
State Pensions: Given how wrong past pension projections were, who should pay to fill the 13-figure financing gap?
August 6, 2010
Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public Pensions
By RON LIEBER
There’s a class war coming to the world of government pensions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/your-money/07money.html?_r=1
The haves are retirees who were once state or municipal workers. Their seemingly guaranteed and ever-escalating monthly pension benefits are breaking budgets nationwide.
The have-nots are taxpayers who don’t have generous pensions. Their 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts have taken a real beating in recent years and are not guaranteed. And soon, many of those people will be paying higher taxes or getting fewer state services as their states put more money aside to cover those pension checks.
At stake is at least $1 trillion. That’s trillion, with a “t,” as in titanic and terrifying.
The figure comes from a study by the Pew Center on the States that came out in February. Pew estimated a $1 trillion gap as of fiscal 2008 between what states had promised workers in the way of retiree pension, health care and other benefits and the money they currently had to pay for it all. And some economists say that Pew is too conservative and the problem is two or three times as large.
So a question of extraordinary financial, political, legal and moral complexity emerges, something that every one of us will be taking into town meetings and voting booths for years to come: Given how wrong past pension projections were, who should pay to fill the 13-figure financing gap?
Consider what’s going on in Colorado — and what is likely to unfold in other states and municipalities around the country.
Earlier this year, in an act of rare political courage, a bipartisan coalition of state legislators passed a pension overhaul bill. Among other things, the bill reduced the raise that people who are already retired get in their pension checks each year.
This sort of thing just isn’t done. States have asked current workers to contribute more, tweaked the formula for future hires or banned them from the pension plan altogether. But this was apparently the first time that state legislators had forced current retirees to share the pain.
Sharing the burden seems to be the obvious solution so we don’t continue to kick the problem into the future. “We have to take this on, if there is any way of bringing fiscal sanity to our children,” said former Gov. Richard Lamm of Colorado, a Democrat. “The New Deal is demographically obsolete. You can’t fund the dream of the 1960s on the economy of 2010.”
MORE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/your-money/07money.html?_r=1&hp
August 6, 2010
Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public Pensions
By RON LIEBER
There’s a class war coming to the world of government pensions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/your-money/07money.html?_r=1
The haves are retirees who were once state or municipal workers. Their seemingly guaranteed and ever-escalating monthly pension benefits are breaking budgets nationwide.
The have-nots are taxpayers who don’t have generous pensions. Their 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts have taken a real beating in recent years and are not guaranteed. And soon, many of those people will be paying higher taxes or getting fewer state services as their states put more money aside to cover those pension checks.
At stake is at least $1 trillion. That’s trillion, with a “t,” as in titanic and terrifying.
The figure comes from a study by the Pew Center on the States that came out in February. Pew estimated a $1 trillion gap as of fiscal 2008 between what states had promised workers in the way of retiree pension, health care and other benefits and the money they currently had to pay for it all. And some economists say that Pew is too conservative and the problem is two or three times as large.
So a question of extraordinary financial, political, legal and moral complexity emerges, something that every one of us will be taking into town meetings and voting booths for years to come: Given how wrong past pension projections were, who should pay to fill the 13-figure financing gap?
Consider what’s going on in Colorado — and what is likely to unfold in other states and municipalities around the country.
Earlier this year, in an act of rare political courage, a bipartisan coalition of state legislators passed a pension overhaul bill. Among other things, the bill reduced the raise that people who are already retired get in their pension checks each year.
This sort of thing just isn’t done. States have asked current workers to contribute more, tweaked the formula for future hires or banned them from the pension plan altogether. But this was apparently the first time that state legislators had forced current retirees to share the pain.
Sharing the burden seems to be the obvious solution so we don’t continue to kick the problem into the future. “We have to take this on, if there is any way of bringing fiscal sanity to our children,” said former Gov. Richard Lamm of Colorado, a Democrat. “The New Deal is demographically obsolete. You can’t fund the dream of the 1960s on the economy of 2010.”
MORE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/07/your-money/07money.html?_r=1&hp
Friday, August 06, 2010
If congressional races look bad for Democrats, the 37 gubernatorial contests are even worse.
Will the GOP Storm the Statehouses?
More than half of Americans are likely to have a new chief executive for their state come November
It must have been gloomy for Democrats when the nation's governors met last month in Boston for their annual summer get-together. The reason: If congressional races look bad for Democrats, the 37 gubernatorial contests are even worse.
A quick survey of the political landscape shows six of the seven Democratic governors running for re-election are polling under 50% and in danger of losing, while all six GOP incumbents seeking re-election are expected to win. In the 24 open gubernatorial contests, Republicans lead in 15 and are tied in three others.
More than half of Americans are likely to have a new chief executive for their state come November. Democrats are burdened by President Barack Obama's low approval ratings and, in some open races, by widespread public dissatisfaction with the state's retiring Democratic incumbent.
more:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704017904575409334019412788.html
More than half of Americans are likely to have a new chief executive for their state come November
It must have been gloomy for Democrats when the nation's governors met last month in Boston for their annual summer get-together. The reason: If congressional races look bad for Democrats, the 37 gubernatorial contests are even worse.
A quick survey of the political landscape shows six of the seven Democratic governors running for re-election are polling under 50% and in danger of losing, while all six GOP incumbents seeking re-election are expected to win. In the 24 open gubernatorial contests, Republicans lead in 15 and are tied in three others.
More than half of Americans are likely to have a new chief executive for their state come November. Democrats are burdened by President Barack Obama's low approval ratings and, in some open races, by widespread public dissatisfaction with the state's retiring Democratic incumbent.
more:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704017904575409334019412788.html
New Jersey fiscial crisis : Assembly committee to discuss $10.5B budget deficit
New Jersey fiscial crisis : Assembly committee to discuss $10.5B budget deficit
N.J. Assembly committee to discuss $10.5B budget deficit
This time last year Chris Christie said the Democratic governor should drop out of the 2009 election in shame because he allowed the state to rack up an $8 billion deficit.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/nj_assembly_committee_to_discu_1.html
N.J. Assembly committee to discuss $10.5B budget deficit
This time last year Chris Christie said the Democratic governor should drop out of the 2009 election in shame because he allowed the state to rack up an $8 billion deficit.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/nj_assembly_committee_to_discu_1.html
Colony Capital is expected to give up the $2 billion Xanadu project in New Jersey
Colony Capital is expected to give up the $2 billion Xanadu project in New Jersey
Developers to Pass Xanadu Project On to Creditors
A group led by Colony Capital is expected to give up the $2 billion Xanadu project in New Jersey to its creditors in the collapse of one of the most high-profile retail developments of the real-estate boom, according to people familiar with the matter. (Pruitt, Wei, WSJ)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703748904575412002911389406.html
Developers to Pass Xanadu Project On to Creditors
A group led by Colony Capital is expected to give up the $2 billion Xanadu project in New Jersey to its creditors in the collapse of one of the most high-profile retail developments of the real-estate boom, according to people familiar with the matter. (Pruitt, Wei, WSJ)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703748904575412002911389406.html
Bergen County Executive Race : Kathleen A. Donovan Spells Out her Positions
August 5, 2010
Dennis McNerney
County Executive
One Bergen County Plaza Floor 5 Rm 580
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Dear Dennis:
I guess you can't help yourself. Once again you have attempted to divert attention from your record while trying to distort mine. But this time you've really done it. You're trying to rewrite history to mask your failure to support Bergen County's working families.
Let me be blunt. You and your administration have supported every Democrat boondoggle from EnCap to Overpeck without any regard to Bergen's taxpayers. You provided over $100 million in loan guarantees to the failed, flawed EnCap project which left a number of communities (including Lyndhurst, North Arlington and Rutherford) in fiscal ruin. You supported the developers who had little risk and helped place it all on the taxpayers. Dennis, you were part of the problem which measures in the tens of millions of dollars of wasted tax dollars and never part of the solution.
Overpeck is rapidly taking its place at the top of the McNerney Waste Pile. Just what is the total of the cost overruns Dennis? Is it $100 million? More? You've appointed a political crony to "investigate" BCIA but just what is he investigating? Is it criminal allegations involving the former chair or the agency's overall activities? As you know, I have asked the State Comptroller to audit the four budgets that the BCIA controls. I'm quite certain you will agree that an independent audit of this agency could be quite revealing.
Now let's talk about Xanadu. My position has not radically changed from May, 2006. But the world has or haven't you noticed?
Unemployment in northern New Jersey (that's where we live Dennis) has more than doubled since May, 2006 according the Bureau of Labor Statistics within the Federal Department of Labor (3.9% to 8.9 %). Unemployment in the construction trades is today a crippling 40%.
And you're focused on a 2006 press release in which I stand up for taxpayers and, I might add, I stand fully behind today. I still believe that the Sports Complex should not be a tax haven but rather the "tenants" should be full partners in the community. This means reversing the give-a-ways to New York billionaire team owners perpetrated by two Democrat administrations in Trenton while you stood by silently.
I support completion of Xanadu particularly given the $2 billion of private investment and tens of millions of public investment that has already been made and could accept limited, additional public support (probably tax increment financing) which would have limited public risk (as opposed to the public investment in EnCap which placed incredible risk on taxpayers). Any public investment should be accompanied by significant, additional private investment. As I taught you earlier, there's a big difference between an investment and a subsidy/bailout/sweetheart tax deal. Your rhetoric is getting into the way of responsibility. I support investment in Xanadu so that it can be an economic generator for the region and help relieve unemployment which is straining working families in Bergen County. You supported subsidies/bailouts/sweetheart tax deals for the Giants and Jets, EnCap and who knows what else.
Dennis, in case you haven't noticed, Xanadu is a harsh reality. It should either be completed or torn down (and if it's torn down who's going to pay for that?). Given the investment already made the former seems like a better deal for taxpayers than the latter. Don't you agree?
And for the record, I called for the elimination of the Sports Authority earlier this year long before the commission reporting to Governor Christie formulated its recommendations. The Authority has outlived its usefulness. The complex itself should no longer be a tax haven for developers of all kinds including owners of football teams.
Dennis, I am happy that you're reading my press releases from four years ago (and probably more). At least you're trying to learn how a County Executive should act.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Donovan
Dennis McNerney
County Executive
One Bergen County Plaza Floor 5 Rm 580
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Dear Dennis:
I guess you can't help yourself. Once again you have attempted to divert attention from your record while trying to distort mine. But this time you've really done it. You're trying to rewrite history to mask your failure to support Bergen County's working families.
Let me be blunt. You and your administration have supported every Democrat boondoggle from EnCap to Overpeck without any regard to Bergen's taxpayers. You provided over $100 million in loan guarantees to the failed, flawed EnCap project which left a number of communities (including Lyndhurst, North Arlington and Rutherford) in fiscal ruin. You supported the developers who had little risk and helped place it all on the taxpayers. Dennis, you were part of the problem which measures in the tens of millions of dollars of wasted tax dollars and never part of the solution.
Overpeck is rapidly taking its place at the top of the McNerney Waste Pile. Just what is the total of the cost overruns Dennis? Is it $100 million? More? You've appointed a political crony to "investigate" BCIA but just what is he investigating? Is it criminal allegations involving the former chair or the agency's overall activities? As you know, I have asked the State Comptroller to audit the four budgets that the BCIA controls. I'm quite certain you will agree that an independent audit of this agency could be quite revealing.
Now let's talk about Xanadu. My position has not radically changed from May, 2006. But the world has or haven't you noticed?
Unemployment in northern New Jersey (that's where we live Dennis) has more than doubled since May, 2006 according the Bureau of Labor Statistics within the Federal Department of Labor (3.9% to 8.9 %). Unemployment in the construction trades is today a crippling 40%.
And you're focused on a 2006 press release in which I stand up for taxpayers and, I might add, I stand fully behind today. I still believe that the Sports Complex should not be a tax haven but rather the "tenants" should be full partners in the community. This means reversing the give-a-ways to New York billionaire team owners perpetrated by two Democrat administrations in Trenton while you stood by silently.
I support completion of Xanadu particularly given the $2 billion of private investment and tens of millions of public investment that has already been made and could accept limited, additional public support (probably tax increment financing) which would have limited public risk (as opposed to the public investment in EnCap which placed incredible risk on taxpayers). Any public investment should be accompanied by significant, additional private investment. As I taught you earlier, there's a big difference between an investment and a subsidy/bailout/sweetheart tax deal. Your rhetoric is getting into the way of responsibility. I support investment in Xanadu so that it can be an economic generator for the region and help relieve unemployment which is straining working families in Bergen County. You supported subsidies/bailouts/sweetheart tax deals for the Giants and Jets, EnCap and who knows what else.
Dennis, in case you haven't noticed, Xanadu is a harsh reality. It should either be completed or torn down (and if it's torn down who's going to pay for that?). Given the investment already made the former seems like a better deal for taxpayers than the latter. Don't you agree?
And for the record, I called for the elimination of the Sports Authority earlier this year long before the commission reporting to Governor Christie formulated its recommendations. The Authority has outlived its usefulness. The complex itself should no longer be a tax haven for developers of all kinds including owners of football teams.
Dennis, I am happy that you're reading my press releases from four years ago (and probably more). At least you're trying to learn how a County Executive should act.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Donovan
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Valley Renewal : Let's list the impact
Let's list the impact
- 6 years of construction -phase 1 only
- Additional traffic on roads that are not designed to handle the current volume
- Intersection expansion/properties condemned
-Higher property taxes residents who subsidize the village services that valley gets for free
-Road maintenance/repair costs to be paid by Village taxpayer
-Impact on water supply -- TBD
-Impact on quality of life -- the price of this cannot be measured
I could go on and on...
I don't live close to Valley, but the impact of a project this size should not be minimized. This is not a sensible plan, and there were many alternatives that Valley refused to consider because it would 'cost too much'. The message to residents... We'll protect our profits, and to hell with your property values and quality of life.
Who is to say that this is the last expansion. What happens in 10-15 years when health care needs change again? Once the expansion is complete the only option is to expand up or out onto residential or Village property. Residents have opposed each of the last three expansions, yet Valley has never shown any inclination to plan for future growth.
Valley, unlike other hospitals that have expanded has refused to compromise or act in good faith with Village residents.
They have won this round in spite of overwhelming opposition from the community and overwhelming support from the Village Council and PB. It really make you wonder who is running this town.
- 6 years of construction -phase 1 only
- Additional traffic on roads that are not designed to handle the current volume
- Intersection expansion/properties condemned
-Higher property taxes residents who subsidize the village services that valley gets for free
-Road maintenance/repair costs to be paid by Village taxpayer
-Impact on water supply -- TBD
-Impact on quality of life -- the price of this cannot be measured
I could go on and on...
I don't live close to Valley, but the impact of a project this size should not be minimized. This is not a sensible plan, and there were many alternatives that Valley refused to consider because it would 'cost too much'. The message to residents... We'll protect our profits, and to hell with your property values and quality of life.
Who is to say that this is the last expansion. What happens in 10-15 years when health care needs change again? Once the expansion is complete the only option is to expand up or out onto residential or Village property. Residents have opposed each of the last three expansions, yet Valley has never shown any inclination to plan for future growth.
Valley, unlike other hospitals that have expanded has refused to compromise or act in good faith with Village residents.
They have won this round in spite of overwhelming opposition from the community and overwhelming support from the Village Council and PB. It really make you wonder who is running this town.
Valley Renewal : the unspoken long range plan is to get this built....then quietly buy up more properties around the hospital.
you guys are missing the point...the unspoken long range plan is to get this built....then quietly buy up more properties around the hospital....then 15 years down the road after all the constuction is completed and they have again outgrown the buildings that they just finished...they will propose expanding the H zone, since they already own all the adjacent properties...
I will lay odds that is what they are thinking....
I will lay odds that is what they are thinking....
Village Council Moves to Convert Graydon South Parking Lot into Cash Cow
Village Council Moves to Convert Graydon South Parking Lot into Cash Cow
Yep, believe it or not, Village Council members have approved a preliminary plan to charge Ridgewood High School students, and car pool commuters, $250-$350 per school year/calendar year to park in the Graydon South parking lot. Coincident with the conversion of Graydon South into a “By Permit Only” parking facility, a 2 hour parking limit will be established in the Graydon North lot.
During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Village Manager Dr. Kenneth Gabbert indicated that Ridgewood’s three (3) Parking Enforcement officers would be directed to patrol both lots on a routine basis and summons any vehicles found to be non-compliant with the new parking regulations. This would, of course, ensure an additional revenue stream above and beyond the anticipated $25K in permit fee sales projected by Dr. Gabbert.
What next Mayor Killion? Pedestrian toll gates on the walking path surrounding Vets Field? Coin operated swings and jungle gyms at all Village Parks? Pay toilets in the public library and Village Hall? A charge to attend Village Council meetings?
Give us a break Keith. The Fly can’t believe you’re going to sell out our high school students for a paltry $25K! Agreed, times are tough, but this plan is just over the top.
Yep, believe it or not, Village Council members have approved a preliminary plan to charge Ridgewood High School students, and car pool commuters, $250-$350 per school year/calendar year to park in the Graydon South parking lot. Coincident with the conversion of Graydon South into a “By Permit Only” parking facility, a 2 hour parking limit will be established in the Graydon North lot.
During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Village Manager Dr. Kenneth Gabbert indicated that Ridgewood’s three (3) Parking Enforcement officers would be directed to patrol both lots on a routine basis and summons any vehicles found to be non-compliant with the new parking regulations. This would, of course, ensure an additional revenue stream above and beyond the anticipated $25K in permit fee sales projected by Dr. Gabbert.
What next Mayor Killion? Pedestrian toll gates on the walking path surrounding Vets Field? Coin operated swings and jungle gyms at all Village Parks? Pay toilets in the public library and Village Hall? A charge to attend Village Council meetings?
Give us a break Keith. The Fly can’t believe you’re going to sell out our high school students for a paltry $25K! Agreed, times are tough, but this plan is just over the top.
Master Plan : Urbanization of Ridgewood
I can't help but think there is a master plan in place to increase the size of (i.e. develop) Ridgewood.
Bigger hospital, bigger train station...two "improvements" we really didn't need per the status quo.
I'm not sure how I feel about that. I liked city living (well, Hoboken sort of counts and Hong Kong certainly does) and would live in a large city again if my circumstances demanded it. But Ridgewood is nice as it is.
There is a trend towards urbanization in the US, so I suppose a moderate urbanization of Ridgewood would be good for property values (Lord knows it will be good for the tax collector). Time will tell.
Bigger hospital, bigger train station...two "improvements" we really didn't need per the status quo.
I'm not sure how I feel about that. I liked city living (well, Hoboken sort of counts and Hong Kong certainly does) and would live in a large city again if my circumstances demanded it. But Ridgewood is nice as it is.
There is a trend towards urbanization in the US, so I suppose a moderate urbanization of Ridgewood would be good for property values (Lord knows it will be good for the tax collector). Time will tell.
Valley Renewal : Planning Board memorializing their own foolishness
Not so awesome for Ridgewood. Let’s all keep in mind this is only the Planning Board memorializing their own foolishness in the quiet month of August. Ahhhh yes the Planning Board exposes their astonishing cowardice by memorializing in August knowing the thousands opposed, to this monumental mess, are away on vacation.
This still must go before the Village Council: more discussion, more public hearings, and more Valley EXPANSION propaganda disguised as Valley Renewal literature! Start warming up the shredder and tuning up those voices of opposition!
This is far, FAR from being a done deal!
This still must go before the Village Council: more discussion, more public hearings, and more Valley EXPANSION propaganda disguised as Valley Renewal literature! Start warming up the shredder and tuning up those voices of opposition!
This is far, FAR from being a done deal!
Keep Cool
August 4, 2010
PSE&G Suggests Ways to Keep Cool and Manage Energy Costs for the Rest of the Summer
Extreme heat is resulting in higher-than-normal energy bills
(August 4, 2010 - Newark, NJ) - July 2010 has gone into the history books as one of the hottest Julys on record, with 21 days of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. This compares to one day above 90 last year. In addition, June 2010 had 13 days above 90 degrees versus zero days last year.
Because of the extraordinary temperatures so far this summer, PSE&G reminds customers that the increased use of electricity to run fans and air conditioners to escape the heat has resulted in higher-than-normal energy bills.
“We’re hearing from many customers who are surprised when they open their bills, but the costs are accurate,” said Joseph Forline, the utility’s vice president of customer operations. “Last summer was much cooler than what we’ve had so far this year. People may not recall the energy expenses associated with past very hot summers. However, there are ways to manage costs that we continually look to share with our customers.”
PSE&G is offering tips to help customers plan ahead for the remainder of the summer and control energy costs:
• Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.
• Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions permits, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. You can save 3 to 5 percent on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
• Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms. Keep filters clean.
• Plant shade trees close to the house on the South and West sides.
• Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.
• Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75 percent less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach fixtures and won’t need to be replaced for about five years.
• Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.
• Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean. If manufacturers’ directions permit, turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry feature if your machine has one.
• Take short showers. They use less hot water than a bath.
• Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.
• Unplug the extra refrigerator in your garage or basement and use it only when necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.
To view demonstrations of how to save money in your home, visit PSEG’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/psegvideo. We encourage you to share the information with family and friends.
For additional ways to save energy and money, visit www.pseg.com/saveenergy.
PSE&G Suggests Ways to Keep Cool and Manage Energy Costs for the Rest of the Summer
Extreme heat is resulting in higher-than-normal energy bills
(August 4, 2010 - Newark, NJ) - July 2010 has gone into the history books as one of the hottest Julys on record, with 21 days of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. This compares to one day above 90 last year. In addition, June 2010 had 13 days above 90 degrees versus zero days last year.
Because of the extraordinary temperatures so far this summer, PSE&G reminds customers that the increased use of electricity to run fans and air conditioners to escape the heat has resulted in higher-than-normal energy bills.
“We’re hearing from many customers who are surprised when they open their bills, but the costs are accurate,” said Joseph Forline, the utility’s vice president of customer operations. “Last summer was much cooler than what we’ve had so far this year. People may not recall the energy expenses associated with past very hot summers. However, there are ways to manage costs that we continually look to share with our customers.”
PSE&G is offering tips to help customers plan ahead for the remainder of the summer and control energy costs:
• Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.
• Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions permits, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. You can save 3 to 5 percent on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
• Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms. Keep filters clean.
• Plant shade trees close to the house on the South and West sides.
• Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.
• Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75 percent less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach fixtures and won’t need to be replaced for about five years.
• Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.
• Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean. If manufacturers’ directions permit, turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry feature if your machine has one.
• Take short showers. They use less hot water than a bath.
• Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.
• Unplug the extra refrigerator in your garage or basement and use it only when necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.
To view demonstrations of how to save money in your home, visit PSEG’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/psegvideo. We encourage you to share the information with family and friends.
For additional ways to save energy and money, visit www.pseg.com/saveenergy.
BOE budget : a bunch of obvious ways to save money that nobody wants to touch because they are too politically sensitive
There are and have been a bunch of obvious ways to save money that nobody wants to touch because they are too politically sensitive:
1. Increase class sizes by 10-20%. I had class sizes of 25-30 kids in the 60s and 70s.
2. Redistrict instead of expanding Ridge and Willard. It's absurd tht we are spending a big chunk of the bond issue to expand those two schools when we just needed to shift the boundary lines a few blocks and put more kids into underutilized Orchard.
3. Take a hard line in the upcoming teacher negotiations. Demand higher teacher contributions for medical and other benefits. Initiate a differentiated wage scale under which we can pay lower-skilled positions, such as gym teachers, less than tougher-to-replace positions such as math and science teachers. Don't cave when the teachers threaten to strike. The pain of a short strike will be worth the long-term savings generated for the taxpayers.
4. Figure out ways to save money on special ed, which is now over 20% of the BOE budget. It is an ultra-sensitive topic, but is the biggest line item in the budget after teacher wages and benefits.
1. Increase class sizes by 10-20%. I had class sizes of 25-30 kids in the 60s and 70s.
2. Redistrict instead of expanding Ridge and Willard. It's absurd tht we are spending a big chunk of the bond issue to expand those two schools when we just needed to shift the boundary lines a few blocks and put more kids into underutilized Orchard.
3. Take a hard line in the upcoming teacher negotiations. Demand higher teacher contributions for medical and other benefits. Initiate a differentiated wage scale under which we can pay lower-skilled positions, such as gym teachers, less than tougher-to-replace positions such as math and science teachers. Don't cave when the teachers threaten to strike. The pain of a short strike will be worth the long-term savings generated for the taxpayers.
4. Figure out ways to save money on special ed, which is now over 20% of the BOE budget. It is an ultra-sensitive topic, but is the biggest line item in the budget after teacher wages and benefits.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Ridgewood schools will receive close to $1 million from the federal government as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grants program.
Ridgewood schools will receive close to $1 million from the federal government as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grants program. Ridgewood will receive the largest portion of the funding with a total of $999,479.
The five year program is to "fill in the gaps" in areas where teachers have had minimal exposure to historical content.
The federal funding assists Local Education Associations partners with relevant entities to help teachers develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of U.S. history, resulting in improved student comprehension.
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
The five year program is to "fill in the gaps" in areas where teachers have had minimal exposure to historical content.
The federal funding assists Local Education Associations partners with relevant entities to help teachers develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of U.S. history, resulting in improved student comprehension.
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
Private vs. Public Sector Pay
Rutgers public-private compensation study flawed
Employer costs for employee compensation, September 2009
Total employer compensation costs for civilian workers, which include private industry and state and local government workers, averaged $29.40 per hour worked in September 2009.
Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $27.49 per hour worked in September 2009. State and local government employers spent an average of $39.83 per hour worked for total employee compensation in September 2009.
Health benefit employer costs were $4.43 per hour worked for state and local government and $2.01 in private industry.
Paid leave, including vacation, holiday, sick and personal leave, cost $3.05 per hour worked for state and local government and $1.86 in private industry.
Retirement and savings costs, which include both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, were $3.23 per hour worked for state and local government employers and 94 cents for private employers.
These data are from the National Compensation Survey's Employment Cost Trends program. To learn more about employer costs for employee wages, salaries and benefits, see "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation — September 2009" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL 09-1501.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/private-vs-public-sector-pay/
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2009/ted_20091214.htm
Employer costs for employee compensation, September 2009
Total employer compensation costs for civilian workers, which include private industry and state and local government workers, averaged $29.40 per hour worked in September 2009.
Health benefit employer costs were $4.43 per hour worked for state and local government and $2.01 in private industry.
Paid leave, including vacation, holiday, sick and personal leave, cost $3.05 per hour worked for state and local government and $1.86 in private industry.
Retirement and savings costs, which include both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, were $3.23 per hour worked for state and local government employers and 94 cents for private employers.
These data are from the National Compensation Survey's Employment Cost Trends program. To learn more about employer costs for employee wages, salaries and benefits, see "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation — September 2009" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL 09-1501.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/private-vs-public-sector-pay/
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2009/ted_20091214.htm
Valley Renewal : I'm conflicted about this.
I'm conflicted about this.
I like having a hospital that is really good near my house. If my kids get hurt or something else happens, we don't have to go far away.
I don't like the size of the proposed hospital or the way the Planning Board made their decision.
Can't there be a happy medium? Can't we get an up-to-date hospital that isn't so huge? Could a possibility be that Valley reduces the number of rooms on site since they claim that there are so many open hospital beds in Bergen County?
I think this is a honest question that if sufficiently addressed might get a lot of the protestors against the expansion to change sides.
Just a thought.
-Thed.
I like having a hospital that is really good near my house. If my kids get hurt or something else happens, we don't have to go far away.
I don't like the size of the proposed hospital or the way the Planning Board made their decision.
Can't there be a happy medium? Can't we get an up-to-date hospital that isn't so huge? Could a possibility be that Valley reduces the number of rooms on site since they claim that there are so many open hospital beds in Bergen County?
I think this is a honest question that if sufficiently addressed might get a lot of the protestors against the expansion to change sides.
Just a thought.
-Thed.
Ridgewood homes are being devalued by high property taxes.
Ridgewood homes are being devalued by high property taxes.
Ridgewood homes are being devalued by high property taxes. I agree with you that the Ridgewood voters have approved budgets in the past, however, this year they did not support the budget but had it shoved in their faces just the same.
Each and every time the BOE has asked the taxpayers to approve a budget it was with the threat of losing services benefitting our children. Basically our kids are always being held hostage by the BOE and we are bartering for their release. While I am confident the Public Information Officer, another sweet BOE deal, could put a slick spin on this: the fact remains a bigger and bigger piece of the pie is going to teacher, admin, staffing salaries and benefits. Less and less is going to the classroom and parents are supplying/paying for everything from workbooks the toilet paper!
8 of 9 years tax increases were rubberstamped. that's part of the problem. people are only finally looking at what's going on behind the scenes. we're paying "professionals" to manage the affairs of the town and they are failing miserable. the one year when people were finally pushed to the brink and rejected it, nothing happened. the 100k cut is a a slap in the face to the voters. but the BOE has no problem spending $48m if the bond passes by 50 votes. funny how that works.
btw i'm not comparing a teachers job to someone at starbucks, i'm comparing it to an office-type job. believe me, there are plenty of people with good educations etc. toiling away for less money/benefits. teachers may have a tough job but it doesn't mean they're worth what they're getting. open it up to the free market. get rid of the f'n union.
i'm sure the schools would still be quite good if the salaries were lower. first of all, where would our teachers go? there are no other schools hiring for the same reasons R'wood is not hiring. secondly,there are plenty of good teachers getting laid off from catholic schools etc. which are closing who by the way would love to make anywhere near what R'wood teachers make.
don't give me the scare tactic of the town going to shit if we don't pay up. i've heard it before and we're all sick of it. i've got several kids in the schools and i'm more worried about saving for their futures than i am to pay your fucking medical insurance.
thed
Ridgewood homes are being devalued by high property taxes. I agree with you that the Ridgewood voters have approved budgets in the past, however, this year they did not support the budget but had it shoved in their faces just the same.
Each and every time the BOE has asked the taxpayers to approve a budget it was with the threat of losing services benefitting our children. Basically our kids are always being held hostage by the BOE and we are bartering for their release. While I am confident the Public Information Officer, another sweet BOE deal, could put a slick spin on this: the fact remains a bigger and bigger piece of the pie is going to teacher, admin, staffing salaries and benefits. Less and less is going to the classroom and parents are supplying/paying for everything from workbooks the toilet paper!
8 of 9 years tax increases were rubberstamped. that's part of the problem. people are only finally looking at what's going on behind the scenes. we're paying "professionals" to manage the affairs of the town and they are failing miserable. the one year when people were finally pushed to the brink and rejected it, nothing happened. the 100k cut is a a slap in the face to the voters. but the BOE has no problem spending $48m if the bond passes by 50 votes. funny how that works.
btw i'm not comparing a teachers job to someone at starbucks, i'm comparing it to an office-type job. believe me, there are plenty of people with good educations etc. toiling away for less money/benefits. teachers may have a tough job but it doesn't mean they're worth what they're getting. open it up to the free market. get rid of the f'n union.
i'm sure the schools would still be quite good if the salaries were lower. first of all, where would our teachers go? there are no other schools hiring for the same reasons R'wood is not hiring. secondly,there are plenty of good teachers getting laid off from catholic schools etc. which are closing who by the way would love to make anywhere near what R'wood teachers make.
don't give me the scare tactic of the town going to shit if we don't pay up. i've heard it before and we're all sick of it. i've got several kids in the schools and i'm more worried about saving for their futures than i am to pay your fucking medical insurance.
thed
Missouri voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a federal mandate to purchase health insurance
Missouri voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a federal mandate to purchase health insurance, rebuking President Barack Obama's administration and giving Republicans their first political victory in a national campaign to overturn the controversial health care law passed by Congress in March.
"The citizens of the Show-Me State don't want Washington involved in their health care decisions," said Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, one of the sponsors of the legislation that put Proposition C on the August ballot. She credited a grass-roots campaign involving Tea Party and patriot groups with building support for the anti-Washington proposition.
With most of the vote counted, Proposition C was winning by a ratio of nearly 3 to 1. The measure, which seeks to exempt Missouri from the insurance mandate in the new health care law, includes a provision that would change how insurance companies that go out of business in Missouri liquidate their assets.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c847dc7c-564c-5c70-8d90-dfd25ae6de56.html
"The citizens of the Show-Me State don't want Washington involved in their health care decisions," said Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, one of the sponsors of the legislation that put Proposition C on the August ballot. She credited a grass-roots campaign involving Tea Party and patriot groups with building support for the anti-Washington proposition.
With most of the vote counted, Proposition C was winning by a ratio of nearly 3 to 1. The measure, which seeks to exempt Missouri from the insurance mandate in the new health care law, includes a provision that would change how insurance companies that go out of business in Missouri liquidate their assets.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c847dc7c-564c-5c70-8d90-dfd25ae6de56.html
Bergen County Executive race: “The residents now understand how corrupt the Democratic Party here is.”
Bergen County Executive race: “The residents now understand how corrupt the Democratic Party here is.”
GOP looking for sweep in Bergen County
Almost as important as the Bergen County Executive race, three seats – along with majority control - on the county freeholder board are for the taking in November...
...Yudin downplayed any negative impact the governor might have in Bergen County. “The Blue Laws are not an issue anymore,” he said. “The residents now understand how corrupt the Democratic Party here is.”
(Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/gop-looking-sweep-bergen-county
GOP looking for sweep in Bergen County
Almost as important as the Bergen County Executive race, three seats – along with majority control - on the county freeholder board are for the taking in November...
...Yudin downplayed any negative impact the governor might have in Bergen County. “The Blue Laws are not an issue anymore,” he said. “The residents now understand how corrupt the Democratic Party here is.”
(Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
http://www.politickernj.com/gop-looking-sweep-bergen-county
New Jersey Fiscial Crisis : Voters Want Spending Cuts Over Higher Taxes
New Jersey Voters Want Spending Cuts Over Higher Taxes Following Budget Deal
New Jersey voters support lower spending over higher taxes by almost three to one after the state passed a budget which cuts funds for welfare, mental health and in-home nursing care, a survey shows. (Baribeau, Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-04/new-jersey-voters-want-spending-cuts-over-higher-tax-following-budget-deal.html
New Jersey voters support lower spending over higher taxes by almost three to one after the state passed a budget which cuts funds for welfare, mental health and in-home nursing care, a survey shows. (Baribeau, Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-04/new-jersey-voters-want-spending-cuts-over-higher-tax-following-budget-deal.html
Last night the Ridgewood Planning Board voted to memorialize changes in the master plan that allowed The Valley Hospital to double in size
Last night the Ridgewood Planning Board voted to memorialize changes in the master plan that allowed The Valley Hospital to double in size, an issue that has divided the community for sometime. If there is to be an appeal it needs to be filed with 45 days of the memorialization.
The controversial changes, would allow Valley to increase in size to 1.17 million square feet and to add a new huge 94-foot-tall building just 40 feet from the property line of Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Residents who oppose the project fear that the project will bring years of construction creating additional traffic, potentially dangerous conditions for the children who attend Benjamin Franklin Middle School, and lower property values in the area.
Valley is planning to eliminate several antiquated buildings and replace them with brand new state of the art construction.State law now requires single-patient rooms. According to Valley the space is needed for more enhanced and modern technology to continue providing optimal care for it's patients.
the Ridgewood blog Staff
The controversial changes, would allow Valley to increase in size to 1.17 million square feet and to add a new huge 94-foot-tall building just 40 feet from the property line of Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Residents who oppose the project fear that the project will bring years of construction creating additional traffic, potentially dangerous conditions for the children who attend Benjamin Franklin Middle School, and lower property values in the area.
Valley is planning to eliminate several antiquated buildings and replace them with brand new state of the art construction.State law now requires single-patient rooms. According to Valley the space is needed for more enhanced and modern technology to continue providing optimal care for it's patients.
the Ridgewood blog Staff
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