Keith Jensen
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On the article What’s the Going Rate for Lawn Service in the Fort Lee Area?
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On the article Board Upholds Non-Renewal of Teachers’, Principal’s Contracts
Keith Jensen
1:33 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
ReplyIts not the Board of Ed. Its your re-elected officials that you should be frustrated with.
The Board of Ed is acting within the restrictions and guidance they have been mandated to follow.So, while Senator Loretta Weinberg continues to throw money at the Abbott Districts and Mayor Sokolich and our Council are not speaking out against her for doing so, you will watch your taxes increase to pay for the waste and corruption of keeping career politicians in office.
Now, while the children of Fort Lee are left with a diminishing education, these laid off educators can find jobs in other communities like Hoboken and Newark who are hiring. Newark already has over 400 administrators that make $100K+ (notwithstanding the pensions and benefits), so sadly we will lose these educators, but I don't worry they won't be able to find a job in an Abbott District which we pay for.
65% of Fort Lee's property taxes are for education, but only about 20% remains in town. The rest is sent to Abbott.
http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-republican-state-assembly-candidate-pushes-for-fair-school-funding
Continue to elect the same people, you will get the same results. So don't be mad.Voice your concerns openly and publicly to make a difference, not within this medium.
Next Ft Lee GOP meeting is expected to have 300 people in attendance. Come by 7:30pm, Monday May 20th at the Fort Lee Recreation Center www.fortleegop.org
By the way, anyone know where the Democrats meet?
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On the article Five School District Staff Members Facing Layoffs at End of June
Keith Jensen
11:30 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013
ReplyIts not the Board of Ed. Its your re-elected officials that you should be frustrated with.
The Board of Ed is acting within the restrictions and guidance they have been mandated to follow.
So, while Senator Loretta Weinberg continues to throw money at the Abbott Districts and Mayor Sokolich and our Council are not speaking out against her for doing so, you will watch your taxes increase to pay for the waste and corruption of keeping career politicians in office.
Now, while the children of Fort Lee are left with a diminishing education, these laid off educators can find jobs in other communities like Hoboken and Newark who are hiring. Newark already has over 400 administrators that make $100K+ (notwithstanding the pensions and benefits), so sadly we will lose these educators, but I don't worry they won't be able to find a job in an Abbott District which we pay for.
65% of Fort Lee's property taxes are for education, but only about 20% remains in town. The rest is sent to Abbott.
http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-republican-state-assembly-candidate-pushes-for-fair-school-funding
Continue to elect the same people, you will get the same results. So don't be mad.Voice your concerns openly and publicly to make a difference, not within this medium.
Next Ft Lee GOP meeting is expected to have 300 people in attendance. Come by 7:30pm, Monday May 20th at the Fort Lee Recreation Center www.fortleegop.org
By the way, anyone know where the Democrats meet?
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On the article 2013 Municipal Budget Approved, $127 Increase on Average Home
Keith Jensen
7:23 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
ReplyA unanimous approval, should we be surprised? When was the last time this Council voted on anything other than unanimously, and don't count when they abstain because of their business interests in projects in need of a certain vote.
While I think highly of our new Editor, Ms. Piccirillo as an active member of our community whose family has important positions in town, I am concerned that the reporting is not on par of what Eric Wander provided.
Ann, I would ask you to cover please cover the dissenting opinion of the public, or even those that agree, because that is where the stay at home readers will truly understand the position of our elected representatives.
This meeting ended at 9pm. I came out of my way from the other side of the County, and arrived an hour after it began as the gavel dropped to close the session, only to find they did not allow the public to ask the questions to clear up the cloaked budget that they unanimously approved. Many Mayor and Council meetings go past 10pm because of its importance.
This is a $70Million budget. Even our own partisan Congress and Assembly does not vote in absolute, yet our budget was done so in a manner without allowing public questioning, and I am let down that the Editor did not point that out.
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On the article 2013 Municipal Budget Approved, $127 Increase on Average Home
Keith Jensen
6:56 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
Reply8.15% Property Tax Increase for Fort Lee. Disguised by the Mayor, Council and Board of Education as separate tax increases: Municipal increase of 3.5% and Board of Education's raise of 4.65%. Adding these together = 8.15% increase in taxes.
Hidden by everyone, even reporters don't lump these taxes together as that is how they are collected.
For those readers new to how property taxes are added up, it includes both the school budget and the municipal budget. If you rent and don't feel you need to worry about property taxes increasing, think again as landlords will pass it on in the form of rent increases.While I have given the silver bullet many times to the Mayor&Council on how to voice a desire to fix the conundrum we are in, it falls on deaf ears. Now, the new Board of Education needs to re-ratify the last boards unanimous approval of this statement.Mayor says "school boards have no control". Why does he remain silent on helping them?
My request is still completely relevant:
http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-republican-state-assembly-candidate-pushes-for-fair-school-fundingDebt restructuring is what our elected officials are most proud of for their new budgets. What that means, is they took advantage of the low interest rates and refinanced our debt, concurrently adding to this debt. Hardly a reason to say bravo considering there were no cuts made; in fact, payroll costs have only risen.
Fort Lee will have an 8.15% property tax increase.
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On the article Mayor and Council Anticipate 2013 Tax Increase Due to Unforseen Factors
Keith Jensen
7:03 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
Reply8.15% Property Tax Increase for Fort Lee. Disguised by the Mayor, Council and Board of Education as separate tax increases: Municipal increase of 3.5% (which I find it odd that this article did not report as a %increase) and Board of Education's raise of 4.65%. Adding these together = 8.15% increase in taxes.
Hidden by everyone, even reporters don't lump these taxes together as that is how they are collected.
For those readers new to how property taxes are added up, it includes both the school budget and the municipal budget. If you rent and don't feel you need to worry about property taxes increasing, think again as landlords will pass it on in the form of rent increases.
While I have given the silver bullet many times to the Mayor and Council on how to voice a desire to fix the conundrum we are in, it falls on deaf ears. Now, the new Board of Education needs to re-ratify the last boards unanimous approval of this statement.
My request is still completely relevant:
http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-republican-state-assembly-candidate-pushes-for-fair-school-funding
Debt restructuring is what our elected officials are most proud of for their new budgets. What that means, is they took advantage of the low interest rates and refinanced our debt, oh by the way they also added to this debt. Hardly a reason to say bravo considering there were no cuts made; in fact, payroll costs have only risen.Fort Lee will have an 8.15% property tax increase.
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On the article Fort Lee's Special Education Programs Focus of Japanese Educators
Keith Jensen
7:01 pm on Friday, March 29, 2013
ReplyFort Lee does not set the lead for special education, in fact it lags in the County.
How Fort Lee was chosen is beyond me, and if I am wrong I would love to hear someone refute this example.While a strong special education may exist, and I do not think it does, the services offered with children on the spectrum for autism are not up to par with school districts such as: Ridgewood, Hackensack and Wyckoff.
The Fort Lee Board of Education has shown resistance to paying for out of district placement or home program services for children with autism spectrum disorders. They also will not hire the appropriately educated and trained professionals to provide support within their programs. If a student needs a shadow or classroom facilitator, instead of paying for a properly trained behaviorist they will hire untrained staff from within.
This often forces parents to enroll their children in private schools that allow for external support in their schools. It also forces them to struggle to afford home programs.
While what I hear is from educators and parents, and this is only a comment section, I hear it enough where I think it is credible.
Fort Lee does not fund their special education programs the way many others do, and sadly the children are affected. If you don't have children, your property values are because a great school system will command higher home values.
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On the article Proposed School Budget to Increase Taxes $82 Annually on Average
Keith Jensen
1:47 pm on Friday, March 29, 2013
Reply8.15% Property Tax Increase for Fort Lee. Disguised by the Mayor, Council and Board of Education as separate tax increases: Municipal increase of 3.5% and Board of Education of 4.65%. Adding these together = 8.15% increase in taxes.
Hidden by everyone, even reporters don't lump these taxes together as that is how they are collected.
For those readers new to how property taxes are added up, it includes both the school budget and the municipal budget. If you rent and don't feel you need to worry about property taxes increasing, think again as landlords will pass it on in the form of rent increases.
While I have given the silver bullet many times to the Mayor and Council on how to voice a desire to fix the conundrum we are in, it falls on deaf ears. Now, the new Board of Education needs to re-ratify the last boards unanimous approval of this statement.
Here is what I proposed that is still completely relevant:
http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-republican-state-assembly-candidate-pushes-for-fair-school-fundingDebt restructuring is what our elected officials are most proud of for their new budgets. What that means, is they took advantage of the low interest rates and refinanced our debt, oh by the way they also added to this debt. Hardly a reason to say bravo considering there were no cuts made; in fact, payroll costs have only risen.
Fort Lee will have an 8.15% property tax increase.
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On the article Ridgewood Violates Labor Law, Will Pay Firefighter's Legal Fees
Keith Jensen
8:50 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
ReplyOn the topic of public waste, has Ridgewood passed a resolution stating they did not want the County dispatch center as It was approved by the County Freeholders when it was Democratically controlled?
I asked elected officials just that question in Ft Lee at a debate, and they squirmed to give me an answer.
I wonder if local elected officials (regardless of party affiliation) across the county at the time went on record and voiced their concerns before our tax dollars were spent to create an expensive dispatch center in Mahwah that is not embraced by the communities for which it is supposed to serve?
As for the expense of running a Fire Dept. (paid or unpaid), here are some interesting recent statistics:
Bergen County, New Jersey, with 69 fire departments, has more fire-fighting equipment than New York City, which has almost 10x as many people.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aBe7uB32xizY&refer=usCurrently there are 149 fire companies operating from 139 fire stations and a combined total of approximately 4000 firefighters in Bergen. There are 242 engines, 68 ladder trucks, and 65 rescues within Bergen.
The career departments answer about 3500 calls per year and the volunteer departments range from 150 to 2000 calls per year.
www.bcoem.org/Fire.htm
As a former fireman, I love the firefighters, but what a budget.
Look up the FireDept expense: www.nj.com/news/bythenumbersWould love a follow up story on these Articles.
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On the article Ridgewood Violates Labor Law, Will Pay Firefighter's Legal Fees
Keith Jensen
12:41 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
ReplyRidgewood does not have the highest paid Village Manager in Bergen County. For example: $179K is what our Borough Manager is paid, although Ridgewood's is close.
You would find it interesting what the salaries of all your public employees in Ridgewood, Bergen County and the entire state with ease right here: http://www.nj.com/news/bythenumbers/
Take your time and do this on the weekend today, because you will likely be too ill to go to work after your research.
Repost this link in other comments so others know how to access this great resource.
Keith Jensen
9:45 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
$20 is what I charged back before I graduated for a typical lawn to be mowed. I don't see many young entrepreneurs doing the same. Although, I understand the going rate has not increased, unless you contract with a professional landscaper.
However, if someone needs a good deal on a lawn mowed, reach out as I know a lot of young locals that would like a job.