Introducing Englewood's Assistants

 When is the Assistant Deputy City Manager going to be introduced to We, the People?

We pay his salary. It is an insult that this man has not been formally introduced to us.  This speaks to what the Council and the City Manager thinks of us. According to his Linkedin profile he has been Deputy City Manager in Englewood for 5 months.

John Birkner

While serving as Westwood Mayor, he ran for NJ Assembly.

In his own words...

"Hello, I’m Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr. and I’m running for State Assembly in District 39.Often when I tell that to people, they say how discouraged they are by the state of politics today. It’s a sentiment I share. That’s exactly why I first ran for mayor back in 2007. At that time, our town’s politics had become as unproductive as anything we see today in Washington or Trenton.

My message then, as now: bring people together and work toward making our town better for everyone – not just Democrats, not just Republicans: everyone.

From day one, I looked for ways to improve our community, by identifying and prioritizing long neglected infrastructure needs and stimulating small business growth. I received millions of dollars in grant funding to modernize our rail crossings and improve pedestrian and vehicular safety, and reclaiming a municipal landfill to create 110 acres of active and passive recreation parkland. I worked to Protect our drinking water supply by remediating lead contamination, replacing leaky sewer lines, and reducing flood risks. Because senior citizens deserve a voice in how their town is run, I created Westwood’s first Senior Citizen Advisory Board.

When Pascack Valley Hospital closed its doors. I committed to the job of building support to reopen that hospital.Not many people believed it could get done. I recognized how critical that hospital was to the entire region – not just for the medical care it provided, but also the jobs and local businesses it supported. Cutting the ribbon on the new Hackensack University Medical Center at Pascack Valley was one of the proudest days in my public service.. We got there by earning overwhelming public support throughout the region, and working across the aisle to build a true bi-partisan coalition of state and local officials coming together to do something bigger and more important than any party label.

That’s exactly how my running mate Gerry Falotico and I are going to fight for our district in the Legislature. We’re dealing with neglected roads and bridges, a broken transit system, underfunded local schools, and toxic chemicals threatening our drinking water.

We need to recover from the legacy of Chris Christie’s refusal to confront the serious issues of gun violence, women’s healthcare, and climate change, aided by politicians like Bob Auth and Holly Schepisi who put party loyalty and ideology ahead of serving our communities. Families in North Jersey pay some of the highest taxes anywhere. But for all the money we send to Trenton, we aren’t getting nearly enough back into our district to meet our needs.

Well, if you want change in Trenton, you have to change the people you send to Trenton.Gerry and I are running on our records of bringing results to the communities we serve. I know that we can win this election by earning the support of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.

Together we can help all the towns of the 39th district by: standing behind our teachers and first responders, caring for our seniors and veterans, supporting our small businesses, protecting our environment, and treating all people with dignity and respect – no matter their gender, their skin color, who they love, or how they pray.

In short, we can make our district the sort of place where all our kids will be proud to grow up."   John Birkner Jr.'s campaign rhetoric.

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When is the Assistant Superintendent of Schools going to be introduced to the public? The one thing that I really liked about Dr. Carlisle's leadership is that he introduced all new hires and gave them the opportunity to speak to the Board and the Public. I was sitting directly behind her at a School Board Meeting. I did not know she was the Assistant Superintendent. She should have been introduced to the public. Based on my research, she deserves to have been introduced. What is up with this disrespect of We, the People?

Dr. Laura Scamardella

School No. 5 Principal Dr. Laura Scamardella was surprised by the honor and was excited to share the news with her staff.

“I am completely in awe of the recognition and remain humbled by the tireless work my entire staff continues to do each and every day for our students,” she said.

Englewood Public School District Agenda, On page 5 of 5

September 17, 2023  8:57 AM

APPROVAL – ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT

 WHEREAS, the Board of Education, accepts the recommendation of the Superintendent, to approve the employment contract of Dr. Laura Scamardella, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT; and RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts the attached contracts as approved by the Bergen County Executive Superintendent with a start date to be determined through June 30, 2024.

Dr. Scamardella's Mission and Mantra

https://www.eseanetwork.org/ds/schools/linden-school-number-5

McCloud Speech

Just in case you are wondering why I keep voting for this guy.

1. He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School.

2. He is proud to have graduated from Dwight Morrow High School.


3. He is consistently and publicly proud to have been born and raised in Englewood, NJ.


4. He maintains healthy friendships with other DMHS Alumni, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.


5. He is present, respectful to the public and is able to read the room. He hears us.


6. He knows that he has to read, learn, question and share activities in his assigned Board Committees. He shows up ready to participate.


7. I respect him and believe that his votes in all areas will hold as priority the academic achievement, health and safety of our children.


8. He has fun, he is a scholar and shows up at the Community Garden with his gloves ready to work. He gets that "therapy from the soil" thing.

Send out the weekend warrior call and he arrives, gloves and all.

"'

9. He is diligent in keeping up to date on the training provided by the New Jersey School Boards  Association.

10. He is growing as a School Board Member and he grows some really beautiful mums, almost as pretty as mine. 

He will work hard for your children.

Vote William Feinsten 

Column #2 November 7th

Gross Negligence or Stupidity?

 

Northern New Jersey is under possible severe weather warnings for this weekend. So why is it that this much protested against worksite has been left like this over the Holiday weekend? Why is this massive crane perched over Englewood and not over the worksite? Why was it not secured? Why was it left over the Holiday? 

Is anyone watching what is going on over there? Is anyone listening to the Residents in the area who have been complaining about construction on this site since before the work even started? 

I would not like this thing hanging about anywhere near my home. As it is, another 4th Ward Resident sent me this photo because he is concerned about his property, his family and neighbors who live in the area?

Is anyone keeping tabs on this work? Is this okay with the powers that be? Who will be held responsible for any property damage or injuries that could occur as a result of this obvious negligence?

The Loaded Agenda

 Englewood Residents:

Please watch and listen to the latest Englewood City Council Meeting. Pay close attention at the 2 hour 37 minute point. 2:37:14.

Elected Government Officials are totally out of order when they behave as if they have been attacked when Voters point out inequities in their decisions on how to use public money.

It was totally inappropriate for Councilpersons, Dr. Ken Rosensweig and Dr. Lisa Wisotsky to begin a dialogue while sitting on Council, in session that intently mixed the affairs of Church and State.

This discourse took place while the Mother of a murdered Mentally Distressed child sat behind me longing for answers. That Mother had to listen to testimony that suggests that the thing that she dreads has already happened. As she grieves for the loss of her son who was killed by an enraged Policewoman, who seemed in Mental Distress herself, she learns that this Mentally Distressed Policewoman may have already been promoted to Detective.

The statements of these Elected Government Officials urged members of the public to go on Social Media and Stand Up Against the hatred of Jews. It made my heart hurt. I could hear the Mother's breathing change as did mine.

The room became hot with rage, but the desired "reaction" did not come. The Public which was made up of African Americans with only 3 persons lacking melanin, did not take the bait. The meeting continued.

Madame City Council President:

Was it okay to use the "dog whistle of anti-semitism" when they felt tired, intolerant and pressed to provide answers to explain Council decisions? Did that not make you feel uncomfortable?

That loaded agenda was hiding something. Perhaps it was the Resolution that suggests the City Council is for sale. The Developer says that the City has accepted $100,000 to amend the project that they are proposing to build on the Wetlands. Wow! Isn't that interesting. Money makes it okay to develop Flood prone areas. The Council's time and ours must be used more wisely. At least the Board of Education gives us the agenda to review while we wait. We also get to wait in a place where we can sit down and read the agenda. If I remember correctly, that is also what the Council did at one time. Perhaps we should revisit that practice.

Closed Session was so long that one Council Person found it impossible to keep his eyes open once the Public Session commenced. Is that the reason he started a conversation that would have previously caused a riot?

Next time, create a lighter agenda so Council Members won't have to resort to baiting a grieving family to riot so the meeting can be dismissed.

https://www.youtube.com/live/biyhzlRp4hw?feature=shareTo