Always

Vote like the lives of your children depend on your doing so!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Tragic Disconnects

Do we have Disconnects in Communication or just plain old negligence?

Disconnect #1 While listening to one of the presenters on the October 22, 2012 Master Plan Hearing, I was taken aback. One of the concerns of her group was that Palisade Avenue itself was dangerous. I thought, what is she talking about. The truth of the matter is that we must all give a little, including yours truly. Last night, after dark, a group of us decided to walk the avenue. We were quite honestly looking for the Campaign Headquarters of a political candidate that is supposed to be located near Wells Fargo. We did not find it. On the way back, I started counting the street lights that were in need of bulb replacement or repair. I counted 33 lights out on both sides of Palisade Avenue beginning west of the railroad tracks down to the monument.  These lights include the tall traditional street lights and the short quaint and classic accent lamps that are mounted on the green poles. You  know the ones on which they hang the Christmas lights and decorations.  I made a mental note to forgive myself for thinking that the presenter had been too hard on Palisade Avenue and whether or not it is safe. She is absolutely correct. It is too dark on Palisade Avenue. It is not a welcome nighttime walk. There were 4 of us, 2 men and 2 women. I don't think it is a walk that I would have wanted to take without the men. Lighting on both sides of Palisade Avenue west of the tracks need new bulbs or they need repairing. That is neglect. If we want people to come here to live, shop, eat, work, visit or just to walk around, we must do a better job of making it safe and well lit at night. There were also numerous children on the street unaccompanied by adults. Needless to say, they need a place to go that will not cost them any money. I am sure that their presence would probably frighten more than a few people who live on the other side of the railroad tracks.


How did it look before this?
You must be logged in to Facebook to
see this album,
Disconnect #2
Community Baptist Church was the site of Councilman
Hamer's 1st 4th Ward Meeting. The 4-2 Committee person complained about the historic garden located on the corner of Lafayette and Genesee. He said it was an eyesore and that it should be sold and made into something. That garden may date back as long as 70 years ago. We have established that it has definitely been handed down far more than 50 years. When I arrived in Englewood it was being cared for by one of my grandmother's friends and her former landlord. I think his name was Cecil Bacote. There are stories of him plowing and going about the City with a horse and a wagon. Many people remember him taking care of the garden that far back. The care and maintenance of this garden has changed hands many times since then. We have exchanged seeds, plants and stories from early Englewood and the south. Many residents, including myself have contributed to the garden and have eaten food from it. When I replaced my large backyard garden with a swimming pool, I gave my roto tiller to the man who worked the Lafayette garden. He showed up at my house every season since with bags of vegetables from the garden.  He seemed overwhelmed and totally surprised that I gave him a roto tiller that would have cost him over
The small plot behind the Auto Shop that used to be a garbage dump for leaves, wood chips and yard refuse
from other parts of the City. I wanted to photograph them working, but it never happened.
When they saw the camera, they posed.
$300 if he had purchased it. The 4th Ward Committee Person was very adamant that this eye sore of nature must be sold and turned into something. In other words, he wishes to "pave paradise and put in a parking lot" because he doesn't like the garden. It is doubtful that the lot is large enough to build a house, at least, I hope it isn't. Did he consult the residents? Did the person who ordered the garden razed to the ground collard greens and all consult the residents who have been eating from it for years? The proper way to put a garden to sleep for the winter is to turn the dead stuff into the soil after harvesting the cold crop (collard greens and kale). He also mentioned the lot across the street behind the Auto Body Shop where the city used to dump refuse. The man must have personal thing against vegetable gardens or gardeners. I really must say that I prefer the garden to the pile of mulch that used to be dumped behind the Auto Shop by the City of Englewood. The City should forge relationships between these gardeners instead of alienating them based on  the prejudices of one man. Perhaps the gardener would have put his own garden to sleep for the winter in the correct way if he had been part of the decision making. Given proper respect and half a chance people will participate in making their neighborhoods better.

Disconnect #3 At this same meeting a 4th Ward Resident asked that missing and or damaged fence around the brook be replaced in order to insure the safety of the children playing in the area. Think about this now. The safety of neighborhood children and destroying a neighborhood garden dating back farther than any of us can remember. Which thing should take priority and be acted upon with haste? Exactly. Take a look at the fencing or lack thereof. The large photo above shows fence missing on the eastern side of the brook. Keep in mind that the 3rd street bridge has been removed. In the area pictured below is approximately 50 or more feet of missing fence that may never have been installed. Notice the date stamp. It was pointed out on April 19, 2012 during the "photo opportunity" that preceded the June election that the fence should be installed to insure the safety of children living and playing in the neighborhood.

The fence is just as invisible as the 3rd street bridge that has been removed that allowed egress into Mackay Park and access to it for play or just a walk about. April 19, 2012 was a day of much excitement at the end of 3rd Street. The excitement ended  few weeks later when a backhoe was caught on a manhole cover and a sewage line was damaged. This rendered all of that luscious harvest totally suspicious of human consumption. Human fecal matter is potentially harmful to human health and life. So the beautiful picture below was marred and the area was all but abandoned except for the children who find it a fascinating place to play. Note. It is a fascinating, beautiful and potentially dangerous place to play, because of the missing fence.

This garden has the potential to be one of the nicest places in the City in which to chill out. 
Disconnect #4 As you can see from today's photo below, this area may now be referred to as an eyesore. Are we going to send in the bulldozers? Are we going to raze it down to the ground, because it needs some tender loving care? Perhaps we should consider having a conversation with a Landscaper who lives about 4 doors down the street from the garden. I think he even has a couple of children who play in the area. Perhaps a neighborly agreement may be struck to make sure that this area is always a lovely place to sit and read when the weather allows. Perhaps we should take up the practice of building bridges in all neighborhoods instead of tearing them down. It is just a thought. Sometimes a little good will goes a long way.

Making this a beautiful Community Garden and pleasant place to sit and for children to play is a great idea. Perhaps it is time for some follow through. There may be a few more mild days left when the sun is inviting and warm on our faces. When we begin to practice what we preach we may find that we are making a better world. Click here for the photo album that documents the development of the 3rd Street Community Garden. You must be logged in to Facebook in order to view the photos.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

It Is Official: The Fix Is In!

The Master Plan Public Hearing: The Major objective of a master plan is to determine land use within the municipality. The Board of Education is one of the largest land owners in the City. Why is it not included in the talks? Where are our Board Members? The employee projections on the power point presentation did not include ALL educational institutions in the city. The number would have been much higher. What is up with that? Where was Treeco and Benzel Busch?
If one paid close attention to the goals of the Master Plan, it seems that Englewood is for sale. Were we consulted when these objectives were being formulated? Why was the Planning Board not introduced? Master Plan=Planning Board.
Do a little FACT finding about Master Plans.
The Citizen's Guide to New Jersey Municipal Master Plans. http://www.thewatershed.org/images/uploads/SBMWA_Master_Plan_Guide.pdf

Another Fact Sheet regarding Master Plans. http://www.strafford.org/factsheets/fs_mp_format.pdf
We must learn to consult our New Jersey Permanent Statutes. Municipal Land Use Law
We must become informed residents with questions that hold elected and appointed officials accountable? What are the odds that taxpayers and the Governor would agree? What does the Mayor really want?
New Jersey Planning Officials Manual. http://njpo.org/NJPO_Master_Plan_Manual.html
Alas, what is one to do when one finds that the Governor agrees that another Master Plan at this time is wasteful. Governor Christie has given Municipalities 10 years now in between each Master Plan. http://www.northjersey.com/news/127675113_LOCAL_ISSUE__municipal_Master_plan_revisions_Towns_hail_extended_timetable.html It is reassuring that I am not alone in my thoughts on this whole Master Plan thing. What is the REAL objective? This Master Plan work is contributing to the Municipal Tsunami. The average Master Plan is now done every 10 years.

Again, I will say that I do not support the fact that we are  paying another group of consultants to come up with a Master Plan for Englewood. We have far too many pressing problems facing us today. It is time for Englewood to recover from her identity crisis. We are not one Community. There are splintered factions inside each ward. All one has to do is take a closer look at the number of houses of worship in Englewood alone. The City is not that large and we have pretty close to one hundred houses of Worship. So tell me when this diverse Community ever comes together. Not at school.  Not in our houses of worship, not on the sports field, and certainly not in a Community Center. Where and when do we all come together? Only during this time of indoctrination. What do we have in common? What are the issues that concern us all? We need a change of focus.

That being said over 200 people attended the 2nd Master Plan Public Hearing held at Ahavath Torah Synagogue on Broad Avenue. There was standing room only. I also do  not like the apparent fix that has been put in place in terms of discussion at these meetings. It is not a forum where residents actually get to have their say on the future or even the present state of Englewood. The big decisions have already been made. The consultants were clearly elicited to make sure things remain status quo.

The Consultants presented the Mayor's "Vision" which they themselves admitted was very similar to the 2009 Master Plan Vision. It included some of the same information from the old one and most of the photos and information on the updated 2013 version that was included on the City's Website. I will not go through all of the presentations even though I took copious notes. Community concerns are much the same as they were in the first Master Plan Public Hearing on June 26, 2012.

The Impending Tsunami of Municipalities: On Tuesday, Raphael J. Caprio, Phd. from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University gave a talk on the state of New Jersey's municipalities, There was a lot of talk about Tsunamis and the lack of cash in Englewood's Municipal coffers. For nearly a year, we witnessed a drama where the school board pontificated about deficits. An audit was done to reveal the fact that there was no deficit. Yes.There is a Tsunami of indebtness and no cash flow. There is a Tsunami of events that put the 99% under attack from other quarters. There is a Tsumani of information intended to hold us in abeyance. There is a Tsunami of someone else's FACTS left at our doorsteps. How do we go from a "State of the City" address that says we are broke to a Master Plan Meeting where millions are projected to be spent. A great deal of time was spent describing doom and gloom in the Mayor;s "state of the city" address. We were assured in many different ways that we are in the midst of a financial crisis. Keep in mind that the projected cost of the light rail is over $800 million dollars. We are told that this money comes from the state coffers. That is funny. Remember that there is only one pot of money. That pot of money is collected from taxpayers like you, like me. It is all the same money. 60 cents of every dollar collected from 
taxpayer goes to the local school district. Why is the condition of the school system NOT being discussed as part of this Master Plan? They are discussing the buildings sold by the school district.

Light Rail: A great deal of thought has gone into the planning for this big event that may not even happen. It has clearly been rejected by Tenafly. Englewood residents vary in their ideas of whether we even have a choice to accept or deny this future big event that may not even happen in our lifetimes. A good deal of attention was given to the fact that Englewood Hospital employees would benefit a great deal from light rail. Well, as someone who sat for nearly six hours in Englewood Hospital's emergency room on June 27, 2012, I could care less about that Hospital. I lay on a bed in the emergency room in pain for hours with a bloody leg, while they did whatever. They did actually try to get me to pay the $25.00 co-pay before even cleaning my wound. Excuse me if I do not get all giddy with what makes Englewood Hospital's commuting employees more comfortable. One group actually made a great observation. The idea was that residents of other towns would crowd into Englewood in order to use the "lightrail" and cause tremendous traffic and parking problems. It should also be noted that the station is projected to be located smack dab in the vicinity of three schools. The image of all those cars bring the lyrics of a song to mind. "...You pave Paradise and put up a Parking Lot..."

My problem is that the City is exhibiting the same concept as the Board of Education. They have created a very indelicate and tenable situation with their attempts to bring in more "white people without children" while demonstrating clear indifference to the ones already here. What is wrong with the current residents of Englewood that makes our current administration seek to bring in more different people? It has already been clearly demonstrated that this lip service about diversity and being OneCommunity is a load of baloney. We have many and varied problems that must be dealt with before incurring expense bringing in new problems of which we know nothing.

Benzel Busch: Owns quite a lot of property/land in the area to be developed. They also employ a great deal of people and were not listed as one of the businesses that offers a great deal of employment in the area. One must wonder about this obvious omission.

Open Space: The thing that struck me as peculiar and not surprising was the time spent on items of particular interest to the public. The words "open space" was up on the screen for less than 6 seconds. A rendering was shown with tiny green pockets that were supposed to represent green space. The presentation sped on dealing mostly with light rail. One resident even pointed out the fact that the material in the presentation was not representative of what was discussed at the Master Plan Meeting in June of 2012. At this time, the presenter got a little testy and suggested that they had spent a great deal of time making up this presentation for "us" and proceeded. Well gee whiz, our tax dollars actually paid him to do this. So shut up and listen to the criticism. (And stop referring to us all as "you people")

The Community Center: The consultants followed the script very closely and showed an example of a 7.5 million dollar recreation center in Fairlawn.  This act in itself was very comical since they picked the most expensive Center in Bergen County in order to demonstrate to Englewood Residents that we cannot afford a Community Center. Get a grip guys! You are insulting us! Another thing. The Mayor was given a guided tour of the Rhoda Center in Teaneck, New Jersey. Perhaps he and the City Manager should also take a guided tour of the ones in Lodi and Garfield. These Centers were created in existing buildings. Does anyone in this group know the difference between a Recreation Center and a Community Center? They are not one and the same. Community Centers may contain recreational activities, but much more is encompassed. Perhaps the Planners do not wish the various Community groups to commune on the various issues that are discussed at regular Community gatherings in Community Centers.\

James Street: This is one of those Community issues that was not discussed and seems taboo to this group. Why was it not on the list? It is Downtown. it is a blighted area downtown. I predict another set of TAX ABATEMENTS that the average taxpayer will end up paying for down the road. I spent some time on James Street today. I still miss one of my favorite places to purchase garden products and seedlings. All of the empty space on the west side of the street started me thinking about how large Von Roth's Nursery and Garden supplies actually was. I have loads of questions about how a row of houses might end up in the condition of those on James Street. My questions include how the blighted houses just happen to all connect to other property already owned by the same 1 percenter. I also learned to my dismay that the open lots across the street on the West side of James Street also belong to the same 1% er, I do not believe in coincidences. Back in the day a name was given to landlords when such obvious things happened. I also learned that this was some type of historical section of town. So why is there going to be demolition going on? My brother is a builder. If he looked at those houses, he would tilt his head to the side.
"Why are they tearing those houses down, again?
So I look at those houses with my brother's eyes. Why are they being torn down? I also look with my forensic CSI eyes. So what did the investigation into that matter reveal?
James St. house burning.
Another James St. house burning.

Leading the Discussion: We talked about varied issues in our group. The presenter for our group reported about 90 percent of his own ideas. In other words, he wrote down our ideas but gave his own to the public. Even the present 4th Ward Councilman noticed this obvious bias in opinions and spoke on it. We were all incensed. It was a betrayal. A commercial property owner was in the group. Even though his problem manipulated the discussion, the presenter had to be told by one of the group members that he had left out those issues. He left out nearly all of our issues. It was clear that he was following a script and had been instructed as to what was to come out of our discussion. He did not mention the fact that the commercial owner had been denied the building of 8 affordable housing units on 26 East Forest Avenue. In case one didn't notice, he skedaddled out of the place soon after his presentation. He was totally aware of the fact that we were not happy with his presentation.

Who gives a sh*t about the Mayor's Master Plan?:  Strong words. Yes. You bet. Folks have been asking members of our group the same question for over a year.
"Why are you so angry?"
We have a few questions for all of the happy people. What makes you so happy? What are you being given or promised that is making you so satisfied while others are justifiably angry?

How many more 25 year tax abatements do we see in this Master Plan? Whew!
Our state Comptroller has already warned us that this practice hurts the average taxpayer. According to the experts, tax abatements cause municipal Tsunamis. What will it take for us to stand up and listen while reading the writing on the wall? One day you describe a Municipal Tsunami and the next day you describe a plan that will exacerbate the Tsunami. That makes no sense at all. At the same time we are told that even though we are diverse, we are OneCommunity. Crap! Crap! Crap!
These various and diverse Communities need a place to commune and discuss issues that impact on all of us. It is time we all stop relying on other people to give us their FACTS. We must begin to read more and communicate across Ward and religious lines in order to find our own FACTS. What makes us alike instead of what makes us different. Although I am not a supporter, I heard what Rabbi Shmuley was saying at Ebenezer Baptist Church on October 20, 2012. And yes, he is a politician looking for votes, but there are things we must glean out of what everyone is saying these days, regardless of political affiliation.


Study finds tax abatements for developers leave property owners paying more taxes

Friday, October 19, 2012

Mobilize the Elders in the Village and Protect the Children


Recent Luring Attempts in Northern New Jersey
Over the past 10 days, there have been a series of possible luring attempts in Bergen and Passaic Counties. It is not clear whether any of the cases are related but there are similarities in some of the vehicle and person descriptions. Here is a timeline and summary of the recent incidents: 

Saturday October 6th – Maywood
An 8 year old girl was playing in front yard of her grandfather’s house when she was approached by a man who asked if she wanted to come to his house to see his puppies. The man was described as a white male in his 50’s or 60’s and was on foot. The girl did not respond to him and ran from the area.

Tuesday October 9th – Oradell – A 7 year old female was playing in her front yard when a small gray vehicle stopped and a male e
xited the vehicle. The man was described as being an older white male with gray balding hair. The juvenile did not engage in conversation with the man but ran into the house. The juvenile’s mother attempted to locate the actor but he had already left the scene.

Friday October 12th – Hackensack – At approximately 7:30am, an 11 year old boy was approached by a Jeep Wrangler as he was walking to school. The driver was described as an older white male with stubby facial hair, wearing sunglasses and a black skull cap. The boy was asked to get into the vehicle but he refused and walked away. 

Friday October 12th – Ridgewood - At approximately 3:30pm, a 13 year old female reported that an older model, small, black, 4 door vehicle slowed down beside her as she was walking home from school. The occupants of the vehicle were described as three black males in their twenties. They reportedly asked the girl to get into the car. She refused and was able to run home without any further incidents.

Friday October 12th – Hawthorne – A 13 year old girl was near a wooded area at a recreational field when a man in a hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans grabbed her by the wrist. There was a youth soccer game in progress on a nearby field. The girl was able to break free from the man.

Tuesday October 16th – Fair Lawn – A resident reported seeing a dark colored Jeep stop near two children as they were walking to school. The children ran away and told police that they Jeep’s windows were rolled up and they did not speak with any occupants. The driver was described as a white, middle aged man. 


Friday, October 19th - Westwood - 
Rendering of man identified in
Westwood luring.
The search is on for a predator. Westwood Police reported another attempted luring of a child in New Jersey. A 13-year-old girl was walking to Westwood Regional Junior/Senior High School Thursday morning at about 7:10 a.m. when she was approached, according to Westwood Police.





Artist rendering of New
Milford suspect
Friday, October 19th - New Milford New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro said that the girl was stepping off her school bus at the intersection of Hanley Avenue and Hanley Boulevard at around 2:30 p.m. when a man in a silver, four-door vehicle approached her and offered her a ride.





The Waldwick Police Department has increased patrols in school areas as well as at youth sporting events and at local parks. Anyone who observes a suspicious vehicle or person is asked to call 911 or the police department at 201-652-5700 without delay. Parents are encouraged to remind their children to be aware of their surroundings and avoid talking to strangers.

Englewood Police Dept. (general) 201-568-2711


Do not take your eyes off your children in the parks and playgrounds. Report unsafe conditions to the City Manager, to the Mayor and the Councilwoman at large. Start a Tsunami of support for the safety of our children. Do not allow elected officials and law enforcement to ignore our concerns.




It is Time to End Taxation Without Representation!


A strong 4th Ward is needed in order to combat the forces that keep us down and abolishes our very spirit to survive. We must fight against the legacy of Taxation without Representation. We may as well begin in our own wards. We have power in our Votes.
Let our voice be heard....
Some very important dates are listed below. Join us and let your voices be heard. Share the journey that Curtis E. Caviness embarked on long ago. He fights for the residents of the 4th Ward. He knows the meaning of the word neighbor.

Ebenezer Baptist Church
Meet the 4th Ward Candidates for Councilman
Saturday, October 20, 2012 6:00 pm

Master Plan Public Hearing
Monday, October 22, 2012, 7:00pm

Ahavath Torah Synagogue
240 Broad Ave.
Englewood, NJ

Candidates Debate October 23, 2012
Sponsored by League of Women Voters
Public Safety Complex 7:30 pm
Van Brunt Street

City Council Meeting Oct. 24
7:30 pm City Hall

Converse with Our 4th Ward Candidate
The Center in King Gardens
6:00 pm October 25, 2012
You will be heard.

City Council Meeting
October 30, 2012 - 7:30 pm
Municipal Court

November 6, 2012
Find our candidate and cast your vote for the leader that YOU select.


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Massa Is Still Pushing His Plan


On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Mayor Frank Huttle III hosted a presentation by Raphael J. Caprio, Phd. entitled, The Financial Tsunami Facing New Jersey's Municipalities. It was all about how New Jersey municipalities are basically broke and must learn to spend more wisely. At this meeting, the Mayor informed Englewood Residents that our Master Plan of 2009 was stale. He continued on to inform us that he has the answer. To that end, he has used our tax dollars to hire another set of consultants to devise HIS Master Plan for our fair city. We arrived with our opinions and he gave us our FACTS. It is important to note here that no one took advantage of the privilege of the floor that was offered when his power point presentation was over. There was no need. He had already given us our facts.

Wayne Hamer at the podium
City Manager, Tim Dacey
Deputy Chief of Police, Larry Suffern
Mayor Frank Huttle III
The 1st Public Master Plan Public Hearing was conducted on June 26, 2012 at Community Baptist Church. Approximately 300 residents attended. They had prepared for 50 or 60. Some of the residents of the 4th Ward left feeling slightly roughed up. We were divided into groups and instructed to discuss what the Mayor wanted us to talk about in order to arrive at the destination that he wanted. We are cognizant of the fact that most of the space available to be developed is located in the 4th Ward.

The 2nd Public Master Plan Hearing will take place at 7 pm on October 22, 2012. 

PLACE: The Ahavath Torah Synagogue
240 Broad Avenue 
Englewood, New Jersey

This meeting will be much like the 1st one in that the topics of discussion will be controlled. The meeting will focus on four topics:

  1. the impact of the light rail
  2. the downtown district
  3. community services
  4. and future job growth
Do not allow this to deter you from attending the meeting. Look carefully at the allowed topics. We still have much freedom of discussion. It is of the utmost importance that everyone attend this very important meeting. The future of Englewood must not be left in the hands of a few people. 

We all pay taxes and if we must attend meetings and fight for representation, then so be it. We must be ever mindful of the fact that the cards are stacked against us. People from other Wards of the city have already chosen the 4th Ward Councilman. Examine the Certificate of Wayne Hamer, you will notice that only 2 residents of the 4th Ward signed this document. Mr. Hamer did not follow the dictates of Title 19:13-20 NJ Election Law and petition the residents of the 4th Ward for their support. As Residents of the 4th Ward, we were denied our say when he was placed on the ballot without collecting signatures from the 4th Ward. This very act may be interpreted as a form of voter suppression. In the language of an educator, Mr. Hamer did not complete the minimum basic requirements necessary to become candidate for 4th ward councilman. He did not hand in his assignment.

Where did this begin? Who allowed it to happen? When will we have our say?


Do we want this type of chicanery and skulduggery to become normal practice in Englewood? Are we supposed to grin and shuffle along pretending to be happy? We already do not have representation on the Board of Education. If Mr. Hamer wins, we will no longer have 4th Ward representation on the City Council. He will have debts to pay to the people who looked the other way while we were denied our rights. Do we want the Mayor and residents of other wards to give us our leaders? Are we supposed to be satisfied with that? Why is Mr. Hamer satisfied with this? Mr. Hamer has some hard questions to answer. As Incumbent, what stopped him from petitioning the 4th Ward residents for their support? Incumbents must also petition for support. What backroom deals were made that put him on the line beneath the President since he did not follow protocol? Is this the type of puppeteering we may expect if he is elected?

On a brighter note, the church was near empty. Let us hope that 4th Ward residents were sending the Mayor a long over due message to back off. 

When these events are examined together, a bleak picture that is all part of the NEW and improved Master's Plan is revealed. We must reject the Mayor's facts and investigate the data for ourselves. It should be clear to all by now that this administration is as solid as that amphitheatre that was constructed in Depot Square. If we allow this to happen our rights will be sucked into the same sinkhole as the near $163,000.00 awarded for the ill placed out door theatre. 

           We need a 4th ward councilman who cares about the needs of the people in the 
4th Ward.
We do not need or want an overseer.

I look forward to seeing numerous residents from all Wards at the 2nd Master Plan Meeting on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7:00 pm.



Monday, October 8, 2012

Participate In Your Own Salvation: Vote

The beginning is near. The issues and events in this town mirror the larger ones taking place nationally. The events concerning jobs in the medical and educational fields are a local example. Unemployment numbers have gone up locally. We are feeling the pressure of the poor economy and class warfare. There are almost no Obama signs out. This is in sharp contrast to the hundreds of Rothman signs that were displayed in the area before the primary. What is that? What does it mean? Oh, I have seen maybe 3 signs. One has been up for months. Is someone sending us a message? Englewood IS the petry dish. Romney followers are not likely to reveal themselves publicly here in good old Democratic Englewood. Is Englewood still Democratic? The recent events of the school board have fueled the already festering attitude of apathy. We must be ever mindful of this. We cannot allow the energy that went into fighting that evil to dissipate and keep us away from the polls on November 6.

It is important that Every American exercises his/her right to vote. The time to allow ourselves to be overcome by apathy is long gone. Our very lives are at stake. Our hard earned tax dollars are misspent right here in this community and it is high time we awaken to that fact. We don't have to look at Romney sending his money to Swiss banks or the Cayman Islands. We can look at our Municipal government sending $5.8 million dollars to Melville, New York instead of depositing it in a bank in Englewood. That $5.8 million dollars represents tax dollars collected from us by the city and used by the city to purchase a building owned by us/the Board of Ed.  Now isn't that an interesting web? EPSD adds insult to injury by depositing our hard earned tax dollars in a bank in New York. This crazy action includes both the municipal and education sectors. We must send a clear message to elected officials that we are firmly aware of the fact that our tax dollars should benefit the residents of Englewood.

I did not always agree with Jack Drakeford. As a matter of fact, the first and last time we broke bread together, I invited myself to lunch with he and one of the Englewood Clergy. I let him know that I did not like the idea that egress into MacKay Park had been cut off on 3rd St. and Elmore Ave. It was interesting, he had always thought of it as escaping into the neighborhoods out of MacKay Park. Think about that. Even the most knowledgeable of us get so bogged down that we don't even know when we have taken on and mirror the ideas of the oppressors. We the People need elected officials who are willing to fight with us on the issues that are important to the
well-being of our children and our community.

Donald MacKay not only planned exits out of the park, he planned entrances into MacKay Park as Egress for the residents on those streets in times of emergency. Fire and flood and other natural disasters were frequent occurrences. Check out old photos of Englewood's 4th Ward nearly totally underwater.  In the event of a fire or real emergency, the residents of Elmore and 3rd Street will be trapped.  In order to escape the danger, they will be forced to run towards it. We are talking about safety and possible loss of life especially among children and the elderly.


Fund raising with their coach and families on Palisade Avenue

On several occasions, I have watched dedicated coaches practically beg the City Council and the Englewood Board of Education for permission to use the soccer, basketball and little league fields. The entire Recreation Department needs an overhaul. How is it that tax paying residents involved in making sure their children get a good background participating in team sports must beg for a field on which to play and practice? I find that to be unacceptable. If those young people, their parents and their coaches must fund raise on the streets for matching funds so be it, but the City surely owes them something. That whole arrangement should go back to the drawing board and terms should be renegotiated. The existing situation does not encourage residents to nurture the "Little Raiders" long enough for them to become part of "The Raider Nation" at the high school. Don't get me wrong, they should all raise funds, but they should always know that in the least they should have a field on which to play. They should not be forced to beg for something for which their parents have already paid. Other towns have "open gym" nights several days in the week. Why is it that Englewood does not? The facilities paid for by the taxpayers should be open to taxpayers. This is just another reason we must all exercise our right to vote. Aren't these organized teams part of the Recreation Department?


Remember the dates below. Don't just register to vote because a group of people in the barber shop, McDonald's or even in an uplifting program at your church suggested that it is a good idea. Look yourself in the mirror when you shave or apply your makeup. Ask the person looking back at you if he/she has done anything to bring about positive change for the community at large. Is the person in your mirror willing to change his/her ways? All politics is local. Start by voting for local politicians, people you know. Then vote for the president.  Every person has the power to affect change. Start now. Sleep better tomorrow.

October 16, Voter Registration deadline for November 6 general elections
October 30   Vote-by-Mail Ballot Applications due by mail to county clerk
November  5   Deadline for in person Vote by mail Ballot App. by 3pm
November 6   Election Day....Exercise your right

New Jersey Voter Registration Information
You can register to vote if:
You are a United States citizen
You will be 18 years of age by the next election
You will be a resident of the State and county 30 days before the election
You are not currently serving a prison sentence
You are not on probation or parole because of a felony conviction

Registration Deadline: 21 days before an election (October 16, 2012)
Questions? visit www.NJElections.Org or call toll free 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837)

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Do You Approve Of How Your Tax Dollars Are Spent?: Follow the money


Put your tax dollar to work for you. 
Find out more about how the money is being spent. The City of Englewood recently purchased Liberty School from the Board of Education. When did the money change hands? Why is it not recorded anyplace? Why is it taking so long for my opra of the transfer to be fulfilled? There are too many questions regarding money in Englewood, New Jersey.
How are our tax dollars being spent? Keep in mind that even if you live in an apartment building, you still pay property taxes. It is included in your monthly rent. The landlord responds to property tax increases by increasing your rent. Visit the website of the City of Englewood.  Review the services provided by the City of Englewood. Are you satisfied? Take your concerns to the City Council.
Tax Bill Percentages
Schools 46.19%  Pay more attention to this one. They are spending an awful lot of money and the children are not achieving. Expectations must be set higher for students and staff all the way up to the Superintendent. There is evidence of waste and segregation among students. They claim that every student has a college application and acceptance in hand upon graduation. Great. How many of them end up in remedial classes for literacy or math? How many of them complete college? Where is the data driven evidence from the last 10 years that supports the assumption that those college acceptances were even utilized? How many of those applications are in manila envelopes on the bottom shelves in guidance offices collecting dust?

Municipal  42.69% Your tax dollar is funding each of the services listed. I recently read an article about Gullah Island off the coast of South Carolina. Direct descendents of slaves live on a small island and survive by fishing and farming. Their taxes have recently been raised from $300 per year to over $3,000. They have only one paved road, no city water line, no gas line, no garbage pickup. Absolutely no services. What in the heck are they paying for? In the end, these direct descendents of former slaves will be forced off this valuable shore property. The land left them by their ancestors will probably end up as Timeshare resorts or beachfront hotels. America is defaulting once again on a promisory note. Check out the video-documentary that demonstrates how unfair taxation may be used to destroy entire cultures. Again, are you satisfied with the services that you are promised? Example: How long does it take to plow your street after a snow storm? How do you rate police and ambulance response time in your neighborhood? Actually and unfortunately I know about ambulance response time. As of 2011, it was rather satisfactory. Ask more questions. It is your right.
     Office Locator - Visit these offices. Ask questions and get your money's worth. A tree fell on a friend's car outside my house. It was a city tree, it flattened the car like a pancake and tore up the sidewalk. The sidewalk stayed that way for over a year. I am retired so I had time to watch people trip over this ragged place on a daily basis. I was not treated very nicely when I visited a city office and asked why the sidewalk was not being repaired. Lately, I have thrown nice away and I use a different tone when complaining about problems in my neighborhood.

Library 1.58%  - Are you and your family taking advantage of the services provided by the public library. It was also attacked earlier this year by budget cuts. Did you get excited? Neither did I. We must do better and demand more from our library. It must be something that we fight harder to keep. We must never allow an entity to enter our town or school system and abolish the library. We must also take advantage of available programs and demand more. Make sure everyone has a library card and knows how to access the resources on the home computer. My 15 year old granddaughter was slapped with nearly a $5 fine, because she did not know that she could renew the books online. The fines are getting rather steep. Avoid paying late fees by renewing the checkout of books and other materials online.
Friends of Englewood Public Library.
Children's programs.

County 9.42% Bergen County resources and services

County Open Space 0.12%
Open Space Partnership of Bergen County
Preliminiary 2015 Open Space Sub-Regional Funding Allocations
Municipal Park Improvement Program
Bergen County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland & Historic Preservation Trust Fund
Summary of Project Awards for the City of Englewood 1999 - 2009 (page 8) updated 2012



A sinkhole in Depot Square Park
July 9, 2012, 7:40pm
2001 Englewood Depot Square $25,000 Municipal Recreation
2002 Englewood Depot Square $37,500 Municipal Recreation
2003 Englewood Depot Square $125,000 Municipal Recreation
2005 Englewood Depot Square Amphitheatre $165,625 Municipal Recreation

2008 Englewood Basketball and Tennis Court Reconstruction $155,000 Municipal Recreation
2009 Englewood Denning Park Soccer Field $94,500 Municipal Recreation
2011 Englewood Mackay Park Play Equipment $50,000 Municipal Recreation
2011 Englewood Phelps-Mackay Park Gatehouse Historic
Preservation Plan $22,000 County Historic Preservation

August 25, 2015 - Update of Project Awards -  Page 12 for Englewood allocations
2011 Englewood Phelps-Mackay Park Gatehouse Historic Preservation Plan $22,000 County Historic Pres 
2013 Englewood Mackay Park Gatehouse Historic Rehabilitation Documents $16,000 County Historic Preservation 
2014 Englewood Glenbrook Park Play Area Improvement Project $11,000 Municipal Recreation 
2014 Englewood Mackay Park Gatehouse Exterior Restoration $166,150 County Historic Preservation 

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE COUNTY OF BERGEN OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED 2014 FUNDING ALLOCATIONS 
City of Englewood - $166,150.00 for Mackay Park Gatehouse Exterior Restoration

This hole is capable of
swallowing a small
child or a pet whole.
Imagine getting your adult
foot stuck in that.
Do you buy that $587,625.00 was spent on Englewood Parks since 2001? That amount makes me think of that tree bridge that lay across the brook connecting MacKay Park to 3rd street for years. It was dangerous and inviting to a group of children who no longer had a 3rd street walkway over a concrete bridge into the park.

I was trained in the theatre and would love the idea of an Amphitheatre in Depot Square. I would probably love it even more if it was in MacKay Park. The question is of course, where is the Amphitheatre? That is the park that I frequent with my grandkids. We go there after the library before going to McDonald's and home on Saturdays. Where is the Amphitheatre?




Dangerous!
When was the last time anyone ever admitted that we pay for the upkeep of parks and the "Open Space" of Bergen County? Does a fenced in MacKay Park still qualify to be called "Open Space" in the formula provided? Loopholes. Use the links and learn about Bergen County and Englewood's Open Space that is disappearing rather fast. I must really take another look at Depot Square Park and all of that renovation listed above. Amphitheatre?  Gee! Was $353,125.00 enough money to fix the very dangerous sink hole pictured to the right. rabbatomarco@co.bergen.nj.us





Tax Bill Dollar Components
Schools $49.1 million
Municipal $45.4 million
Library $1.7 million
County $10.0 Million
County Open Space $0.1 million
Open Space PartnershipofBergen CountyCounty Program Policy and Procedures Manual

Check out the dollar amount that is collected from tax payers for the operation and maintenance of schools. How much of that is used to directly impact student achievement? You would think that Englewood parents and residents would get more respect from the people who share the fruits of taxpayer dollars. The money is collected from all of us, not just the few that are high profile and well liked by the special folk. At school board meetings Dr. Carlisle promises that there is significant access to computers, because of the available units in the Library. Has Dr. Carlisle ever visited the Englewood Public Library?

Are we satisfied with the way our tax dollars are being spent?

Did you notice that tax abatements do not help homeowners? On the contrary, we end up funding the tax abatement of a developer that we never even wanted in the first place? Meanwhile, the big developer is reclining in his study looking out over the "open space" in communities like Upper Saddle River, Montvale, Bernardsville, or Alpine. Many of us are looking at a boarded up school building where our grandparents, parents and siblings attended school while watching our children play in the streets. These are questions that should be put to Lynne Algrant and the City Council. Perhaps Mr. Wayne Hamer might be able to answer a few of these once he is given the answers.

                                      Pride of Place.