1 Dollar And A Dream?

Last month, October 16, 2012, we had a Fiscal Tsunami. Yeah, we did. Mayor Frank Huttle III had Professor Raphael J. Caprio, Phd. from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy-Rutgers University explain it to us in a presentation entitled, The Financial Tsunami Facing New Jersey's Municipalities. 

June 2, 1980

How do we go from a $2.3 million dollar deficit to giving an organization a building for $1 per year? So what they will spend $150,000.00 in renovations. Those renovations will benefit BergenPAC. The City is giving away these facilities in the remote possibility of generating more foot traffic in Englewood. Why? What will that do for the City/Us?

Bennett studios previously paid $90,000.00 plus utilities for these same facilities? Again, how do we justify going from $90,000.00 per year plus utilities to $1 per year. Where is the rhyme and the reason?

January 10, 1962 

Another thing, over 33 lights are out from the tracks to the monument. Many of them are out on Van Brunt Street in this immediate area. At the last Master Plan Hearing, an Englewood resident suggested that the Palisade Avenue area is not safe for pedestrians, especially after dark. The area is NOT being maintained in a manner that attracts people after dark. Therefore, I really must agree with the young lady. It is much too dark in and around Palisade Avenue. The stores. The stores are also closed during this time. So how are businesses making money? We need to see more attention given to upgrading the lighting in the areas where everyone is so dead set on bringing hundreds more people. We are talking about families and children. The average class would take place after 3:30. The latest class generally ends at about 10 pm. It is already dark at 4 pm during the time of year when most schools expect the most students. Yes, now is the busy season for this type of activity. Where is the foresight City planners? Are we taking the safety of these new people that you expect to spend their dollars in restaurants and businesses into consideration? No. You are not. You are neglecting the city and the people already here while marketing to new people in order to sell new programs. Oh wow, that sounds very much like what our school system is doing with School Choice. Get a clue people. More money, time and effort must be put into improving, repairing and maintaining what we have before attracting more tourists.

More over, we have a very fine dance studio on the south side of Palisade Avenue on Van Brunt Street in the 4th Ward. It is called Progressive Dance Studio. Now where is the need for another dance studio to expand? So Progressive Dance Studio must still pay that highly inflated rent while this Mayor's dream studio will pay $1 per year. That scenario smells profusely. Where does our 4th Ward Councilman stand on this albatross of a deal? It is worse than the one that rented St. Cecilia Elementary School building with no ADA accessibility to the Board of Education for $26,000.00 per month. It really does seem as if no one listened to the good Professor Caprio. So what was the point? Sounds a bit bi-polar in the planning.

                       “It’s a way to highlight more of Englewood,” said Councilman 

                                 Wayne Hamer. “I’m excited about the possibility.”

What exactly is in this deal for 4th Ward residents? Where is the balance between the 2 businesses that are less than 1 block apart? How is it fair for one Performing Arts School to rent a building for 1$ per year while another studio that has a long history in Englewood continues to struggle under the high rent that drives many businesses out of Englewood? It should also be noted here that this long standing school of performing arts has already established a relationship with the neighborhood and has awarded numerous scholarships to students from Englewood, Teaneck, Cresskill, Dumont, Tenafly and the list goes on. My 42 year old daughter was one of the recipients. My 23 year old niece earned a partial scholarship there. I paid for classes for my 15 year old granddaughter. There are many other families from Englewood and surrounding towns with like stories. Is this the way we repay the dedicated businesses that have stuck it out and paid Englewood's high rents for over 30 years? It does give one pause. The excitement of the 4th Ward Councilman is as expected. There is a disconnect there. We still want to know how this poor business plan benefits our ward and the other taxpaying residents of Englewood.

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Where is Englewood FAST on this one? I guess we really know where that snooty organization really stands when they have nothing to say at a time like this. Why is there no outcry against this? Fine, I will be outraged for everyone. Who is picking up the tab for this? Why not charge them what they can afford on a sliding scale. If the projection is for so many students, what is the problem. The last time I checked classes were close to $20 per student per class. Why are we giving away the use of facilities and not getting anything in return? 

What is going on here anyway? One month we are deep in debt that was described as a "fiscal Tsunami" and the next we are philanthropists. 

Are we a broke municipality when it is convenient or dramatic? We were told that we have a 2.3 million dollar deficit thereabouts. So how does it compute that we now rent a building for $1 per year to an organization that may clearly pay more? That is not sound business sense. Bennett studios was charged $90,000.00 per year plus utilities. I guess that means this town is not fond of Tony Bennett. What ever happened to that Tsunami that was threatening us with doom and gloom? When the residents want a Community Center there is a Tsunami, but when EEDC wants a deal for Bergen PAC the Tsunami is no longer a problem. Add that one to the things that make you go hummmmmm...

Who and what is EEDC anyway? Is that another word for MUNICIPALITY? Who are the members of this Englewood Economic Development Corporation? So which Englewood are they developing?Identify yourselves. So Adam Brown is one. Where are the rest of you? What are the terms of that sublease? Who will pay for the utilities? Who will pay for Mayor Huttle's dream? How do you go from $90,000.00 a year plus utilities to $1 per year? What is in that deal for the taxpayer's of Englewood? Something is wrong with this picture. Where is our Chamber of Commerce in all of this?

September 12, 2011 http://www.sonicscoop.com/2011/09/12/bennett-studios-closes/

Take a mini tour of Bennett Studios in Englewood, New Jersey. The Lion King sound track was in Production.

November 16, 2012 

http://www.northjersey.com/community/179732601_BergenPAC_may_use_former_Bennett_Studios_for_new_programs.html

November 22, 2012 http://www.northjersey.com/englewood/180469741_Local_studio_gets_new_chance.html

November 23, 2012 http://www.northjersey.com/englewood/Englewood_considering_allowing_BergenPAC_to_lease_train_station.html?page=all

The people making these plans do not stay in Englewood proper after dark. They go home. Those homes are no where near downtown Englewood. Most of the business owners also go to homes outside of Englewood. The day after Sandy hit told the true story of who lives here and near. Those Resident owners of businesses with power were open, giving gas, food, solace, cell phone and laptop charges to residents. There is an obvious disconnect when residents who live in the City do not know the history of which businesses have demonstrated a real commitment to the development of Englewood. DISCONNECT. DISCONNECT. DISCONNECT!