Charting the Goings-On in Teaneck
//Teaneck is a town with a unique and proud history. I’ve created this blog to provide a place to exchange ideas and share visions for how to solve the challenges facing the town in a manner that brings diverse groups of people together. Contributors are welcome.
Please join us and help Teaneck live up to its promise.
I also created a Facebook Group where residents can bring up and discuss topics about the Township: Teaneck Today
Feel free to click the link, join and share with your neighbors.
//The Teaneck Police Department was asked to conduct a report as to traffic and safety on Larch Avenue (in the area of Terhune Street).
Here are the findings:
On Monday, April 25, 2022, the Traffic Bureau was asked to conduct a speed survey on Shepard Avenue. This request was prompted by a Shepard Avenue resident, Gina McCullars, who was concerned about a speeding problem.
A site survey determined that Shepard Avenue is a twenty-five-mile-per-hour two-lane Continue reading “Shepard Ave Traffic Study and Police Reports”
//The Teaneck Police Department was asked to conduct a report as to traffic and safety on Larch Avenue (in the area of Terhune Street).
Here are the findings:
On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, the Traffic Bureau was asked to conduct a speed survey on Elm Avenue. This request was prompted by an Elm Avenue resident, Juanita Brown, who was concerned about a speeding problem. Ms. Brown attended a council meeting to address her concerns about speeding on Elm Avenue.
A site survey determined that Elm Avenue is a twenty-five-mile-per-hour two-lane roadway that runs Continue reading “Elm Ave Traffic Study and Police Reports”
//If you have ever gone to look in Section 36 (Prohibited Parking) of our code, to see what parking regulations are on a particular block, you probably needed patience and possibly, luck.
Let’s face it — our code wasn’t written for convenience or you, as the end-user (subject to its strictures).
Has anyone in the history of time ever wondered where you are prohibited from parking except for 8am to 6pm excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays (Sec. 36-17), as distinct from where you are prohibited during those hours except (only) Sundays and Holidays (Sec. 36-16)?
If so, now you know. But seriously… who thought this was the best way to make a code?
It took the better part of two years to update our code, as decades of Council changes were never appropriately updated in a cohesive manner. But we are now at a point, where you can know what the Township Ordinances that apply to you, actually say.
So, without changing ANY regulations, I’ve drafted an ordinance that makes a relevant part of the code user-friendly. My proposed ordinance, which can be found in our agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting, combines Sections 36-13 through 36-20.5.
These changes let anyone see, at a glance:
And if these are well received, I plan on doing more of them. What sections would you like to have me handle first?
Have suggestions? Email me
(Residents (and others) should be able to glance at the ordinance sections and see what is relevant to them) Continue reading “User-Friendly Ordinances: Let’s Focus on Making Government Easier to Figure Out”
//Because of the significant uptick in positive COVID-19 cases in the Teaneck community, the manager has made the decision to close all municipal buildings to the public effective Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
The municipal buildings will remain closed to the public through Monday, January 17, 2022. We will reopen our facilities to the public on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 contingent upon data showing COVID-19 cases have declined to a safe level, and our health officer determines it’s appropriate to do so. The January 18, 2022 reopening date allows us to safely get through the Holiday season, and the fourteen (14) day post-Holiday incubation period.
Please note that the Sunshine Garden and after-school program will continue to operate at the Rodda Center until December 23, 2021. Continue reading “Township Manager re Uptick in Omicron Cases: Municipal Building Access Changes Effective 12/21/21”
//From a resident:
I heard a rumor about the Town knocking down Stop & Shop, is that true?
No.
We heard this too. It’s alarmist and incorrect.
We will do our best to explain exactly what the town has been looking at in that area. Source documents are included below with links to the originals. Continue reading “Area In Need Of Redevelopment: American Legion Drive”
//Remarks for Veterans Day, 11/11/21
Keith Kaplan, Councilman
Without veterans, without the service to a cause larger than yourselves, many of us simply would not be here today. That service, right here in NJ, earned my grandfather his citizenship — and on behalf of the Township Council and the Township of Teaneck, I want to wish everyone a happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service.
We owe our veterans a profound debt. Not merely for service, but for what that service has meant foto us all.
The history of any town is the history of its people. And veterans have always been an integral part of what has made Teaneck what we are. Even before we had our own name, our sons and daughters sacrificed for our freedoms in the 22nd infantry of Bergen County during the Civil War.
Last year, I focused on this day, at this time – and how it was inextricably linked to WWI and the Armistice signed to end the fighting for that “War to End all Wars”. In many ways, we still mirror that time, including a world struck with a global pandemic.
Just as we are meeting here today, Judge A. Demorest Del Mar spoke here in 1938. Del Mar was a lieutenant in the Navy during WWI and he said to those assembled: “We fought to retain that which we value above all earthly things – liberty. We will fight again and again to preserve it if necessary.”
Unfortunately, those words would become true too soon.
Today, I wanted to take a little time to talk about Teaneck’s WWII veterans and specifically the way Teaneck was molded by their service. Continue reading “Kaplan: Remarks on Veterans Day, 11am, 11/11/2021”
//For the first time, residents of NJ were able to vote in-person, before election day in various spots throughout the county.
Continue reading “Early Voting: A brief overview of the early data”
//PRESS RELEASE
Mayor’s Statement on Referendum Questions 1 and 2:
November 4, 2021
It is now clear that the majority of township voters who cast their ballots on November 2, 2021 chose to move our Council elections from May to November. Voters also voted in the majority to have the township pursue energy aggregation opportunities for our residents. Thus, the 2022 council elections will convert to Bergen County control in November, rather than the traditional month of May. Continue reading “Mayor’s Statement on Referendum Questions 1 and 2”
//Here’s what I know as of 7am on 11/3:
The ability of the County to add 3 numbers and provide a “Total” does not appear to be a thing.
The County has results of various sorts listed here:
As per the “Unofficial General Election Results link, the winners are currently Klein, Rodriguez and Greene.
But….
The link appears to only show two of the sets of numbers above. There are three:
Adding the election day totals and early voting totals appears to give the results that the County is currently posting on their site and that I posted last night.
When adding the Vote by Mail at the link above, the results change:
Why didn’t the County add the VBM to the results?
Were these all of the VBMs?
Are there more VBMs coming in?
These are open questions and I do not yet have the answers. But these are the links and numbers available thus far.
//By Mayor Jim Dunleavy
Teaneck Voters have started going to the Polls to vote for our Governor, Senate and Assembly Candidates, Board of Education Members, and State & municipal questions. I wanted to explain why I am opposed to both municipal questions.
Question 1 calls for the township to move our Council elections to November, joining the BoE, county, state, and federal elections, and questions on one ballot. I have heard the reasons being primarily to increase access. It is important to note that access to the polls in NJ follows the same rules for May and November Elections. Others mention the change could lead to increasing the number of votes cast in our elections. While certainly more people come to the polls in November, especially in presidential election years, the data show that the majority, unfortunately, do not vote down the ballot to local issues. I would submit that yes, they are coming to the polls, but not because they want to vote in their local elections.
I believe the move Question 1 is asking for has more political rather than altruistic motives.
Remember, BoE elections were moved to the Fall when then-Governor Christie waved the carrot of not having to get their budget approved via voter referendum, allowing the District to raise school taxes up to 2% per year without direct review of the voters. The change was not to increase voter turnout, but to control finances. I believe the move Question 1 is asking for has more political rather than altruistic motives. Some have stated what others have been thinking, that more votes will result in a different outcome for certain candidates – namely, those candidates that the group who petitioned for this referendum wish to retain. We have seen many different sets of statistics regarding this proposal, but my vision of Teaneck is not one where our residents are put in a position where local elections are an afterthought. Having attention split between our local candidates and questions amid state and federal elections does not allow the Teaneck voter to focus on what we need to decide for ourselves. This type of conflict is not necessary. We will also lose the ability to design the ballot for our township elections, a factor that has contributed to the issues with early voting on the new voting machines. A ballot that covers several pages that the voter has to scroll through is not progress. These new machines will be the ones used in future elections. It may also be worth noting that since 10 years have passed, a group has been seeking support for moving the BoE elections back to the Spring, enabling better options for budgeting for the sake of the students. Obviously, this would also let the public have greater input and control of their school priorities.
my vision of Teaneck is not one where our residents are put in a position where local elections are an afterthought
Question 2 calls for the township to pursue an energy aggregation supplier in the hopes of increasing renewable energy in Teaneck and the state. I do not know about you, but the more I read, the more confusing this system is. Some key questions every voter needs to ask themselves:
– The township and four other New Jersey towns are being targeted by Food and Water Watch, an international environmental group that is supporting the referendum efforts. Part of their activities includes soliciting dollars for their PAC, which, anecdotally, I have heard, has already started. In addition, a recent report from a fact-checking organization, Food and Water Watch – Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com) states:
“Overall, we rate Food and Water Watch left biased based on environmental positions that always favor the left. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to not always adhering to the consensus of science and the use of poor sourcing techniques.”
– Our current chair and a previous chair of the environmental commission have already stated their misgivings about the program and both recommend against it at this time.
In conclusion, we have a program proposal that is confusing, does not guarantee savings and incentivizes profits which inhibit the creation of renewable energy sources in New Jersey.
This will not affect our environment here in Teaneck.
Instead, we need to fully examine whether this is right for Teaneck. Realize also that this is not the only chance to enter into an energy aggregation program.
Do not feel time pressure. We can start it at any time without a referendum when we see that it is right for Teaneck.
Like you, I want all the sources of our energy to be renewable. However, when I see PSEG pouring billions into meeting their goal of a 50% reduction in their carbon footprint by 2030, 5 years earlier than the state goal along with township initiatives such as putting in electric charging stations, I see better in-state solutions that will have more positive impacts on our environment here in Teaneck and New Jersey. Seeing our money going to out-of-state energy providers with no impact on our environment is not what we need.