Commentary
- Of Signs and Mushrooms - October 31, 2009
- Tales from the Trail Reports from the Campaign Trail
- Senior Housing Applications - October 26, 2009
- MasterPlan documents - October 18, 2009
- Does this sound familiar? - October 17, 2009
- Hawthrone Terrace Travesty - October 14, 2009
- Secrets on Elm Place - October 13, 2009
- Stealth Candidacies - October 7, 2009
Give your vote more firepower!
Vote for John Stendor and Roland Weimer
for Leonia council on Nov. 3rd
Of Signs and Mushrooms by Roland P. Weimer
Campaign season and yard signs go hand in hand. Anybody driving through Leonia has seen them: a few red & blue with the familiar running elephant or a lot more in yellow & green. But a new kind of mushroom has been sprouting overnight. Philip Choi, or is it the Leonia Democratic Committee, have put up their signs as well - and crossed the line at the same time.
First, as a lower case "r" republican I find it significant that Philip Choi's running mate doesn't rate a mention on those signs or flyers. I recall a democratic, if not Democrat accepted outcome of the primary in June. Peter Knott is not supported by the party, whose primary he won. Too bad for Peter and too bad for democracy in Leonia. To claim that only one candidate is endorsed by the Democratic Party after a contested primary is exactly the reason we are having, at long last, a contested election. Because this must stop! These are the same people who ran a parallel petition primary for "stealth candidates" ( click here for my full commentary). The question is not whether deals are made in the back or the front of a jewelry store. Not even whether any deals are made in the council chamber. The issue is that only one group of people, who think and act alike, are running this town. And that must stop, too! And it will on Tuesday thanks to Leonia voters!
Which brings me back to signs and mushrooms. Philip Choi's blue signs have shown up suddenly. He is late to the game, but that is fine by me. Yet when these signs showed up they did so not just on private lawns, but on public grounds, nailed to trees and on vacant properties. They were also placed on private properties without permission by absent owners and when removed upon the owners' request the signs miraculously reappeared overnight. The mushroom metaphor seems apt, and poisonous mushrooms at that. This is not how this campaign has been conducted by all candidates. It smacks of desperation. But, more importantly, it smacks of disrespect - for the rules of civility, the law and the people of Leonia.
So, my fellow Leonians, every time you see one of those blue signs, think about what kind of town you want to have. One where a single group of people runs it as if it is theirs. Or a town where different points of views can be debated, better solutions can be found and we can disagree respectfully on issues and principle without crossing the line. Your vote - Your choice!
Tales from the Trail by Roland P. Weimer
The campaign for council is in full swing in Leonia. For the first time in a long while there is a contested election - and it shows! Since this is my first foray into elected office I thought I might share some insights, stories and anecdotes from the campaign trail. Some are funny, some are telling and, hopefully, all are entertaining.
The Big Issues
Deadly Taxes - Dangerous Development - Disconnected Government
If we can fix these three issues people will be happy.
Who is reading this stuff?
Writing is a lonely occupation. Missives online included. I have often wondered whether anybody reads the stuff I write beyond those who instantly take offense. It appears that there are more readers than I thought. I have been surprised and humbled by the many positive comments I have received from Leonians who know me only from my postings on the LTA listserv. It is also encouraging. Even the mayor and council read what gets posted and comment on it negatively while they have chosen not to use this forum for providing information. Too bad, but about to change!
No English
Running for office in small town Leonia means retail politics. Talking and (yes) listening to people, discussing their concerns and introducing yourself to the voters. I have been doing this with my running mate for the last couple of weeks at street corners, in front of Donkin Donuts and CVS, or just walking the streets. The reactions vary widely. From "Thank God for running!" and "Good luck!" (the meaning of this one changes with the inflection of the speaker from encouraging to mildly ironic) to the annoyed "I have no time". The best one, so far, has been the following:
I am standing in front of CVS handing out flyers and introducing myself to Leonians. A father with two kids, one in his arms, is walking into the store when I make my approach. "Hi! I'm Roland Weimer. I'm running for council." The father doesn't want to be bothered and replies "No English! No English!" and disappears into CVS. Just before the sliding doors close, the son asks "Daddy, why did you just say 'No English'?" I didn't hear the answer, but thought it was really funny and maybe there is a lesson in it for us all. An honest "No, thank you" would have been more effective than a white lie.
Why aren't you running as an Independent?
Let's face it. Running as a Republican in Leonia is not the easiest path to elected office. On numerous occassions I have been asked why I did not run as an Independent. Good question. My answer is: I am who I am. I am a fiscal conservative with a social conscience. (I am not a Libertarian and I'd be happy to discuss the distinction with those who mistake me for one) I am open-minded, but principled. I do not expect people to agree with me on every issue and I won't make promises I don't intend to keep. By outlining clearly what I believe in and stand for people will be able to judge for themselves. Leonians pride themselves in their independence and so do I. They can prove it at the ballot box; I will during the campaign and on the council.
Traffic
Standing at street corners in Leonia teaches you some things about traffic. 1) It's bad. That includes the traffic and the drivers (see below). Yankees, bad weather, the President or a water main break anywhere near Leonia and we are stuck. 2) There are more out of towners frequenting our businesses than you may think. They can't vote for me and are happy to let me know. 3) We could easily solve our fiscal problems by enforcing the no "J turn" policy. I could have made a killing last weekend. 4) Jitneys seem to be related to rabbits. They multiply and multiply. They also rumble at high speeds through our residential streets, idle at street corners and cause honking and swearing by otherwise peaceful commuters. 5) There are no bicycle paths nor bicycle stands. There are many bicyclists regardless of weather.
more musing ... maybe soon
Hawthorne Terrace Travesty by Roland P. Weimer
Last week’s mayor & council meeting revealed more details about the travesty on Hawthorne terrace. Residents, whose trees have been chopped down, found out that only two of the eight trees were approved for removal. That leaves six mature shade trees that are now wood chips prematurely. And why? The mayor kept asking one of the upset residents “You know why they had to be cut?” She didn’t enlighten the public, but from between the lines it appears they were removed because they lifted the sidewalks. And the sidewalks? Well, they are being replaced for some of the neighbors, but not all, plus curbs and aprons, too. The town will eventually pave the road and this is in preparation. Since when does the borough pay for curbs and sidewalks and driveway aprons? I just did mine. Can I send in a bill?
As the mayor would have us believe it is all the fault of the lowest bidding contractor. They should have informed the residents and they should not have cut down those trees. And, maybe, they should not have put up those no parking signs “by police order” either. Since our police department didn’t know anything about those signs, who ordered the no parking? Did we delegate this police authority to a civilian contractor? Who is minding the people’s interests?
Things are just curious in Leonia. Business as unusual. Nobody knows what’s going on, nobody tells anybody what is going on, and once you find out your trees are down, your cable’s cut and your internet no longer entangles you in the world wide web. Time to make a change and bring some sunshine into this fog.
Stealth Candidacies by Roland P. Weimer
The Leonia council campaign is slowly heating up. For the first time in years we have a truly contested election for council with six candidates vying for two seats. The mere fact that this is a competitive race has already shown some fruits. The next few weeks will bring more of the burning issues affecting Leonia to the forefront, where they belong.
In this context I still owe an answer regarding the stealth candidacy issue is raised in early September. You may already know some of the answers, but in the interest of openness and transparency, here we go: I think it is a good idea to provide some background first.
I am relatively new to Leonia having lived here only since 1999. I am certainly new to Leonia politics, but I have followed the exchanges on this ListServ and in private conversations about the oddities of one-party rule in Leonia, a main motivator for me running. So, when I became a candidate for council on the Republican ticket, I was naturally curious to find out against whom I was running. I asked the Bergen County Election office and found out that in addition to the Democrat primary candidates (including insurgent Peter Knott) five (!) "independent" (quotes to be explained shortly) had filed petitions for the general election, which must be done on or before primary election day (before the polls close). Since then, June 2nd, Paul and Brad have been independent candidates and I welcome their contributions to the debate. I believe the fact that we are running and have passionate, open discussions has already resulted in a much better understanding of the issues and is offering clear choices for the voters on Nov. 3rd.
This, however, is only part of the story. Unbeknown to most Leonians some curious political maneuvers have also taken place. Paul and Brad are not the only "independents" who had filed Certificates of Acceptance by June 2nd. Three candidates had filed by June 2nd and have withdrawn their names by the Sept. 2nd deadline. Since I was challenged on point, I went to Hackensack and obtained copies of all petitions that were filed. What is curious and should be of interest to our fellow Leonians is that, besides Brad's wife Noreen, Ingrid Brennan and Arthur Zayat had also filed, and now withdrawn, their candidacies as "independent" candidates. Why is this of any public interest? Why should anybody care? The signers of their petitions include the entire mayor and council! That is right, the Democrat establishment in town was not satisfied with having a primary challenge, they ran an "insurance" slate of "independent" candidates. Before the polls closed on primary election day they filed for two additional candidates. Just in case! In effect, Philip Choi and Joyce Raspa-Gore, two sitting Democrat council members running for re-election, signed petitions for two candidates to run against themselves! And their slogan? "Independent Leonia Democrats"! How nice to get two votes in a primary.
That's the kind of shenanigans that one-party rule and an entrenched political system gets you. My running mate and I have called for more transparency and open government as have other candidates in this campaign. John and I have no problem with other independents running. But this?! A stealth slate to be used as insurance just in case the voters exercise their right of making a choice? Please join us in condemning these machinations that poison the body politic. What does Peter Knott think about these back-door activities by his fellow Democrats? He is now on the same party ticket with the people that instigated this scheme. If we were him or one of his supporters we would be outraged.
Does this make any difference with regard to the issues that concern Leonians? Usually it wouldn't. It would be the silly games of people that don't trust their fellow citizens. But we live in a town and county that is dominated by one party. Decisions are made behind closed doors. Let's put an end to it now! Put some checks and balances back into the system!
Leonia needs a watchdog against one-sided partisan control of the mayor and council. John and I will stand up for Leonia's taxpayers! We will challenge the status quo! We will be able to say NO! Too many decisions affecting our daily lives and pocketbooks are made behind closed doors. We will bring them to daylight so that the people can decide whether their representatives deserve their vote and trust!
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Secrets on Elm Place by Roland P. Weimer
One of the many problems that plague our town is the lack of transparency and openness of our government. This forum has long discussed this lack of transparency and has proven to be a better source for information than our elected officials. The mayor seems to disagree. Instead, she has complained at a recent council meeting about the misinformation spread here.
Two things come to mind: 1) The mayor and council have failed to provide necessary information to their constituents and shouldn't complain about alternative venues they are ignoring and 2) in the absence of verifiable information the void will be filled by rumors and innuendo (not my insight).
More to the point, the mis- or non-information by the town council and mayor appear to be by choice and design, not due to a lack of available channels. The parking fee ordinance for the Elm Place parking lot is a case in point. More than a year ago, Don Smart (remember our downtown development consultant?) recommended a significant increase in parking fees. In the meantime, the Elm Place parking lot has been repaved and the new fee structure ... well, let's say, the new parking fees have been hidden from public view. The mayor went as far as cutting off a council person from even mentioning it in order, and I paraphrase, not to get people upset. I asked about it during the last M&C meeting and the mayor confirmed that nothing will be decided, i.e. voted on, before January 2010! Rest assured that the upcoming election has nothing to do with it.
At the same time, people who will be directly affected (residents, employees of businesses nearby, ACS staff) will have to wait and wonder whether it is true that the permit fees will go up to $400.00 per year.
If the mayor and council succeed in sneaking this one past the election it only proves, again, that a change is needed on the council.
Here is a YouTube video about how our county freeholders are spending our money cluelessly.
Our mayor and council may or may not know what they are voting on, but the public surely doesn't find out either.
Draft Leonia Master Plan Reexamination Report
Draft Economic Plan 10-15-09 Part 1
Draft Economic Plan 10-15-09 Part 2
Draft Economic Plan 10-15-09 Part 3
Draft Economic Plan 10-15-09 Part 4
Proposed Community Facilities Plan 10-09
Please click HERE to download the LRHC II Application Package. I have added blank page indicators and page numbers to ensure that you have the complete package. The document is in PDF format and is 5.2MB large. Please be patient while downloading.
All applications are due on November 11, 2009 by 4:00pm.
Click here forthe general information on the LRHC II.
Based on the information provided by the Leonia Retirement Housing Corporation at the recent Mayor & Council meeting, the LRHC will advertise the availability of senior housing in newspapers as required by law. Due to the federal funding, no preference will be given to Leonians. It is, therefore, very important that as many Leonians as possible, who are interested in and qualified for these apartments, apply.
The eligibility criteria are given in the docuemt for the two sets of aprtments. There are two sets because of different sources of funding used. Once the LRHC has received the applications (the deadline is November 11, 2009) a lottery drawing will be held to establish a waiting list.
Although the LRHC will only distribute applications on Oct. 28 and 29, we post the forms here as soon as they became available. Please tell any Leonian you know who may be interested in applying.
Vote for John Stendor and Roland Weimer
for Leonia council on Nov. 3rd
VOTE for a clear voice for all Leonians
VOTE for an independent point of view
VOTE for transparency in government
VOTE for fiscal responsibility
