Does Englewood Have a Certified Planning Board?

Did you know that there is NJ State mandated training for Planning & Zoning Board Members?Research suggests that not all of our Planning Board Members and the Zoning Board of Adjustment have completed this mandatory training.  Why are they still allowed to vote?

My question is this.....Are any of the decisions that our appointed Planning Board has made valid under NJ Law? If the members know nothing about the Municipal Land Use Law, how are they functioning as Planning Board Members? Is this the reason that the Members seem to be following a script? Who is the Author of this little Drama?

"On July 7, 2005 an act providing for the mandatory, one-time training of planning and zoning board (and consolidated land use board) members was signed into law. (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23.3 and 23.4) The training consists of five contact hours within the same calendar day. Areas of study include: the roles and responsibilities of planning and zoning board members under the MLUL, understanding the master plan and sub-elements and its relationship to other local, regional and state planning documents and the local development application review process. Each participant will complete a simple standardized test at the end of the course. All board members are required to satisfactorily complete this course..."         https://nj.gov/dca/divisions/lps/gps/pl_zoning.html

Is the Englewood, NJ Planning Board Functioning contrary to NJ Law?

The Law:
http://njpo.org/Documents/Mandatory%20Training%20Law%20for%20New%20Jersey%20Planning%20and%20Zoning%20Boards.pdf

Chips!

Update: Political signs on the median on Palisade Avenue. 
I recently wrote an article addressing the issue of the political litter on Public Property during campaign season. The lawn signs were just too overpowering and in our faces.

Then.....

Then...

On May 7, 2018, there were just as many Phil Meisner signs (The Real Democrat) as there were Michael Wildes 

(the Regular Democrat). Now all of the Meisner signs are gone. I didn't move them. I swear. I don't know who did. This is my neighborhood and I travel with my camera. Someone took them away under the cover of darkness, it seems. The signs started disappearing yesterday. By late afternoon today, the median had been stripped of Phil Meisner signs

Then.....

That is very interesting, one wonders whether misguided Wildes people moved them. Or misguided Meisner people moved them and are saying that the other side did it. It is the wild west in Englewood these days.

This has been one of the most contentious Mayoral Primary campaigns in a long time. Michael Wildes came out claiming his relationship with Melania Trump to get that out of the way. He is her immigration attorney. We have all seen footage of him standing against deporting families in the fashion that has already started.

Phil came out from the very beginning talking more about the current Mayor than about himself. We want to know about him. Phil seems to prefer we call him Frank Huttle's ally and colleague rather than his employee. The entire Meisner campaign has consisted of throwing stones, political bombshells just short of  race baiting and casting aspersions on his opponents connection to the Trumps. Hell, I would have gone to the Inaugural Ball, if invited, and I despised #45 when his claim to fame was firing people on TV.

Now...

Now to the target, race baiting mailers. My 9 year old grandson is the one who picked up the mail on his way into the house on the day that the violent Charlottesville images came into select homes. He had already met Michael Wildes and decided right away that he no longer liked him, because he was Donald Trump's friend. He said that he was going to vote for Phil and stuck to it. The 11 year old stuck to her guns also, she liked Mike. Now that the kids know exactly what is going on and want to be part of it, we keep all of the "very expensive glossies" together. They have read every single one. What a waste of dollars, enough to feed several families for a month. Today we got another one. We read it together and added it to the group. 

Something has changed. 

Now...

The 9 year old was previously 

adamant about Phil being his

favorite candidate. He could not get the image of Michael and the cheater (that is what he calls Donald Trump) out of his little mind. I asked him recently if there was anything that could change his mind about whom he would vote and his answer surprised me.

  

Now......

Yes. He said, "he can give me chips!" This made me laugh so hard I got a headache. You have no idea how much this boy loves chips. I overheard him speaking to his Mom one night. He told her that he loves her more than chips. Later, I asked my daughter, his mother, if she had any idea how much that is. 

He says that the only things he negotiates with are kind people, with candy and chips. So we need some chips over here Michael Wildes. 
Utz Sour Cream and Onion with ridges.

           .......And how are the children?

I am Real. You Are Not!

The concept of political

Michael Wildes, Amy Jones Bulluck,

Trevor Jadoo

They do not have the line,

but they are still Democrats.

campaign

signs obscuring the landscape on

"public property" during

election cycles is heating up.

This bill sponsored in the Legislature by Loretta Weinberg did not pass, but it addressed the annoying signs we see during campaign seasons. Loretta's signs were among them, so I guess she is willing to abide by the law if it is ever passed.

I have mixed feelings on the subject. In the primary, the situation is a special kind of different in Englewood.

If the Primary Ballot read as the simple example below, there would be no split down the middle of a Democratic Party that really needs to pull together. You "Real Dems" need to stop separating yourselves from the rest of us. How are we supposed to be able to identify you? Will you wear arm bands or some other trinket to identify yourselves?

Bill Feinstein, Ward 3, District 2

Bill does not have the line either.

Bill is also a Democrat.

I almost sympathize with the concept of flooding your senses with lawn signs. "We the people have been deprived of the choice with the concept of "the line". Most of the voters don't even know it, because they are so used to doing what they are told.

Everyone knows that the mind's eye goes naturally to the left. We read from left to right.  Glenn Coley was so far over to the right the last time he ran that it was difficult to find his name. I examined online ballots from other wards and districts on the Official Election Board Website, because there were complaints about this on Election Day 2017.

It is still a mystery to me why Philip Meisner petitioned to run for Mayor with one slogan and as soon as he was assured the line, he changed into a "Real" Democrat. Read his sign. What does that even mean? What is the difference?  I have heard a few explanations, but none of them are important enough to split the Party this way. This is not the time. Get over yourselves. Are you keeping track of the grade B drama in The White House?

South side of the street looking west towards Teaneck

Philip Meisner signs are prominent to the 4th

Ward.

This implies that the person

who did not get the line  is not a "True" Democrat.

How and when did we give that decision to 32 people who have no idea what the average voter wants, needs or thinks? Many of them do not even attend meetings unless there is an important vote pending. How many of them have even read the By laws of the Committee? Have you ever seen or spoken to the Committee Person for your District?

Did you know that if the 8 Committee people in your ward canvas their respective districts and decide what your ward needs, based on your input, they can be overruled by the 24 Committee people who do not live in the ward. Your 8 Committee People must convince 17 people, or the majority of the 32 total members to vote with them for the good of the your ward. How many times have Residents been deprived of what they want, need and think, because their Committee people were not up to the  task, or did not even notice? Committee People are not there to serve the politicians. Really, they are not.  I should not  have been able to sit down and look at the list of members and determine who would vote for Philip and who would vote for Michael. The process is broken.

Hello people, we see you.

Who decided that Philip Meisner is more of a Democrat than Michael Wildes? 

Again, 32 people that most of us don't even know made the decision. Compare it to 5 School Board Members making the decision to move School Board Elections to November.

Does anyone else see a problem in this? Is this the reason

North Side of the street facing west towards Teaneck.

Michael Wildes signs are prominent to the 3rd ward.

that there is a war of lawn signs taking place on the Median on Palisade Avenue?

Who is really manipulating the placement of the lawn signs on the median? It is most probably the same people who always do it in the twilight hours while the rest of us are sleeping. 

Why not just trust "We the People" to make the choice by actually selecting the person we think will do the most good for everyone. Too me, Philip Meisner represents a sect of Liberals who must be in control. They crave followers and they must control change at any cost.

Amy gets pointers from an old lawyer, 

the elder Wildes.

What is it about "We the People making the choice that is frightening to the "Real" Democrats? We are capable

of choosing our own leaders.

The Line exists as a result of "We the People" already being manipulated before reaching the polls. 

We have been manipulated into thinking that we have a choice. Wayne Hamer was given to us by the Municipal Committee. Katharine Glynn was given to the 3rd Ward by the Municipal Committee. Do you still think this is an impotent organization working in isolation? When crap like this ends, the lawn sign war will  probably subside a little.  Until then, the Party Bosses rule with the "Line".

The Ballot should read thusly for Mayor and Democratic Committee**

Democratic Nomination for Mayor

Vote for 1

***Philip Meisner

***Michael Wildes

In the General Election in November, the winner of this contest runs against the person we all know is NOT a Democrat. Stop dividing us. You are confusing the children who might be by some miraculous stretch learning something about Civics.

Real and Surreal Democrats should stop the foolishness.

I challenge Party Bosses to try the concept above and allow the people to choose.

Introducing June C. Gregg

June C. Gregg

I am excited to announce that I am running for a seat on the Englewood Democratic Municipal Committee for the 4th Ward; 1st District. Over the coming weeks, I hope to meet many of you as I canvass our district to get to know you and your concerns. My platform is community access and awareness. Open access to information, opportunities, and resources for city residents. Our district has the fewest number of registered voters in comparison to others in the city and with your help, I hope to change that. Let’s work on this together. 

I ask for your vote on June 5th! 

Please feel free to reach out to me at ward4district1@gmail.com or 201.746.5863. 

Look for me in Column 1!

Do you live in Ward 4 District 1?

Click here and find your street.

Ward 4 District 1 Residents vote at the 
Municipal Court 
73 South Van Brunt St.