Monday, November 12, 2012

Gold ticks up on U.S. fiscal cliff worry


Gold ticks up on U.S. fiscal cliff worry
Novomber 12, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  Gold edged up on Monday in over seas trading after posting its biggest weekly gain since late August on safe-haven buying driven by worries the United States could return to recession if Congress fails to reach a deficit-reduction deal, European debt crisis contagion, looming US tax increases and an anti business regulator environment.

Friday Gold added $3.03 an ounce to $1,733.94 putting the barbarous relic near a 3-week high around $1,738 Friday. U.S. gold for December rose $3.30 an ounce to $1,734.20.

http://theridgewoodblog.net/gold-on-the-rise-on-u-s-fiscal-cliff-worry/

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Mega Millions lottery jackpot rockets to record $540 million

Mega Millions lottery jackpot rockets to record $540 million
March 29th ,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

(Ridgewood -NJ) Strong ticket sales have sent the Mega Millions jackpot to a record-setting $540 million for tomorrow's drawing.

Tuesday's lottery jackpot was hardly meager at $363 million ,weeks have now passed without drawing a top winner. Previous top jackpot in the Mega Millions game was $390 million in 2007, and was split by two winners one in New Jersey and one in Georgia.

In Tuesday night's drawing, 47 players came close, all matching five of the six winning numbers. Each of those tickets is worth at least $250,000.

The winning numbers Tuesday night were: 9, 19, 34, 44 and 51. The Mega Ball was 24.

www.theridgewoodblog.net

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Senate Democrat Bob Menendez stopped by the Ridgewood Train station Monday morning for a photo op to pitch the Federal Transit Bill

Senate Democrat Bob Menendez stopped by the Ridgewood Train station Monday morning for a photo op to pitch the Federal Transit Bill 
the staff of the Ridgewood blog 

(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) Senate Democrat Bob Menendez stopped by the Ridgewood Train station Monday morning for a photo op to pitch the Federal Transit Bill that will give New Jersey $63M in federal transit funding if it's passed by the Senate.

The bill also contains a number of programs the Senator championed including:

A New $20 Million Transit Oriented Development Planning Program.  The $20 million program will help communities create more livable communities by planning new development around new transit hubs.  The provision is based on similar language in Senator Menendez’s Livable communities Act, and in New Jersey would work in tandem with the state’s Transit Village program.

Increased Funding for the National Transit Institute at Rutgers (NTI) [$5million]. NTI provides training, education, and clearinghouse services in support of public transportation and quality of life for the entire nation.  In recent years this important national program has seen its funding slashed, despite the increased need for training in the face of an ongoing wave of retirements in the industry. This bill will raise NTI’s funding to $5 million per year from $3.8 million.

Increased Clean Fuels Program Funding [From $51.5M to $65M].  This competitive program for clean fuel transit vehicles and for refueling infrastructure will help agencies switch from dirty, expensive fuels, to cleaner, cheaper fuels.  This will help improve air quality and allow transit agencies to untether themselves from volatile oil prices.

Increased Funding for Transportation for Seniors and the Disabled [NJ Funding Goes From $6.5 M to $7.8 M]. With demand for senior transportation increasing, the bill is able to meet that demand with increased resources.

Streamlined and Reformed “New Starts” Process. The bill streamlines the process for the federal approval of new projects and allows projects designed to increase capacity on existing systems rather than just allow new systems or new lines.  Older systems such as New Jersey’s that are at capacity could, for instance, use the program to add a new station, add another track, or purchase bigger train cars.

Menendez recently found himself out of party good graces when he became the first Democrat to reject one of President Obama's judicial appointments. He first claimed  Judge Patty Shwartz, whom Obama nominated in October, was not qualified to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia.Later Menendez reversed himself and said he would support the nomination.

Menendez was also recently jilted when West New York Mayor Dr. Felix Roque, a Hudson County Democrat,endorsed Republican State Sen. Kyrillos for the U.S. Senate seat held by Robert Menendez, also a fellow North Bergen Democrat.

Sources claim Sen Menendez  was invited to Ridgewood by his friend Councilmen Paul Aronsohn . The funny thing is that no media sources except for the "Patch" also a friend of the Councilmen covered the event.

Observes found it odd the the Senator would use the controversial Ridgewood Train station as a back drop to promote more transit spending when the station has come under so much criticism for the $800,000 gutters, $2million dollars for the roof and ADA compliant elevators to nowhere .

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Village pulls through a very difficult year on its way to restoring long term financial sustainability

The Village pulls through a very difficult year on its way to restoring long term financial sustainability
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) In the recent Ridgewood News article by Joseph Cramer ,"Ridgewood officials offer up resolutions for 2012"http://www.northjersey.com/topstories/ridgewood/136819473_Ridgewood_officials_offer_up_resolutions_for_2012.html  Village Manager Ken Gabbert mentioned a number of important initiatives that were accomplished in a 2011 which he called a "year of transition,"

Gabbert cited the implementation of the Unlimited Pre-Paid Parking (UP3) and the redeployment of school crossing guards to other village positions in the summer months as part of the revamping of the Villages finances. Gabbert also went on to say that "2011 was the first full year following the financial decisions of 2010. In 2011, we entered the year down 14 percent in total staff from a year earlier and working from a tighter budget than prior years."http://www.northjersey.com/topstories/ridgewood/136819473_Ridgewood_officials_offer_up_resolutions_for_2012.html

The year was marred by severe weather that put significant pressure of Village resources. Other dominant themes were the battle between the Urbanization types vs the Keep it a Village types and Incentive pay vs Union seniority battle at the Village Hall .The Village manager was in the hot seat most of the year creating a lot of controversy working on cleaning up the financial mess created over the last 15 years.

Despite heavy criticism from pro-union factions in town the council continues to push forward with the non-union staff incentive pay program that earned Ridgewood the New Jersey State Innovation in Government Honorable Mention Award . Its nice to be in the forefront of something again.

The renegotiation of police and fire department contracts have also come under heated criticism but in the long run it seems to put the Village back on the coarse of financial sustainability while not forcing further reductions in services or as an unintended consequence ringing up massive amounts of overtime.

The other novel initiate was the Water Pollution Control Facility acceptance program and the development of a sustainable energy program for the Village. Another notable accomplishment was the dam reconstruction at Habernickel though the skeptics still remain on the wisdom of buying the so called  ,"money pit" to begin with there is no debate the reconstructed damn added needed viability to the property .

The single largest event and accomplishment of the council was running the well organized and professional hearings on the Valley Hospital expansion . It reminded many residents of the old days when Village interests were always put ahead of personal agendas and the conclusion to deny The Valley Hospital's out sized  "Renewal" proposal seemed to most to be an obvious conclusion.

Obviously there is an enormous challenge in front of everyone to preserve the Village and make the needed capital investments . The council must continue to move forward on the path of long term incremental reform to financial sustainability .and avoid and wild eyed schemes or look socialize the risk on any private investments.

http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2012/01/village-pulls-through-very-difficult.html

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Desperate Democrats look to blitz Scott Garrett with Former NY Giants linebacker Harry Carson in the 5th district

Desperate Democrats look to blitz Scott Garrett with Former NY Giants linebacker Harry Carson in the 5th district
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) Former New York Giants and Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson is said to be considering a run for Congress in New Jersey 5th congressional district against Representative Scott Garrett .

Carson recently told The Associated Press he hasn’t made a definitive decision yet but is thinking about it. Carson has never held public office,but has been talking to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about the idea of running.Carson currently lives in Franklin Lakes.

Carson spent his entire professional football career, from 1976 to 1988, with the NY Giants. Sources say that Carson could afford to finance his own campaign and obviously has name recognition.

http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2012/01/desperate-democrats-look-to-blitz-scott.html