Don't Just Complain About Property Taxes

The poles show that Glen Ridge and Montclair know the Bloomfield school system needs improvements. How do you improve the school system without raising taxes?

The polls show that Montclair and Glen Ridge PERCEIVE that the Bloomfield school system needs improvements. Not the same thing.

Why are the choices only for another school district in baristaville? Consolidation of districts could mean combining all districts at a county level (not good for Essex Cty) or even all districts at a statewide level.

A more logical solution would be to have the state control and allocate all or most of each district's funding based on a formula that is more equitable, yet also takes into consideration each district's avg. income, avg. test score, etc.

This option still permits local control of each district's curriculum but also allows for the fact that some districts have greater challenges than others (which is what the abbott program was supposed to do but fails miserably due to local corruption).

As I've stated before on this blog, it isn't the local or even county taxes that cause NJ to be over taxed, it's the way we operate our schools - or more specifically the way we fund them.

Why are the choices only for another school district in baristaville? Consolidation of districts could mean combining all districts at a county level (not good for Essex Cty) or even all districts at a statewide level.

A more logical solution would be to have the state control and allocate all or most of each district's funding based on a formula that is more equitable, yet also takes into consideration each district's avg. income, avg. test score, etc.

This option still permits local control of each district's curriculum but also allows for the fact that some districts have greater challenges than others (which is what the abbott program was supposed to do but fails miserably due to local corruption).

As I've stated before on this blog, it isn't the local or even county taxes that cause NJ to be over taxed, it's the way we operate our schools - or more specifically the way we fund them.

Maui girl, you are correct.

However I seriously doubt that Bloomfield can compare to glen ridge's school system. Since this is about taxes, it is important to note that most Bloomfield residents don't pay glen ridge's taxes.

Just a reminder that Oakview elemetery school in Bloomfield ranked higher that any school in Montclair or Glen Ridge. It was ranked one of the best in the state.

The only reason people fight for home rule is because a) they are in township government and want to continue giving their friends overpaid jobs, or b) they are racist or classist or some other "ist" and don't want to share services with townships they deem unworthy. Combining the small, neighboring towns of Glen Ridge and Bloomfield, for example, would save taxpayers money, improve the average performance of the schools in the two districts, and get rid of some ridiculous division between the towns. And that's just one example.

Face it, Ridgers and Monclairans, you aren't getting your money's worth! I went to high school with students from 8 townships and one rough city in upstate NY. Our taxes remain HALF of what you spend here and we still have one of the best schools in the country. I now live in Montclair and am paying way too much for services I could easily share and for a school district that isn't nearly as good as it pretends to be.

Todd, you make a good point. The biggest cause, by far, of high property taxes in most of NJ is the way schools are funded.

The problem with the very premise of this thread, and in many of the discussions I've seen lately, is that they are based on the fiction that fewer, bigger school districts, or municipalities, are the way to go.

There is no reason to believe that to be true, and frankly, much to discredit the idea.

Generally speaking, New Jersey's most expensive Municipalities, and most expensive School Systems, are also New Jesrey's largest.

To make matters worse, generally speaking, New Jersey's least effective Municipalities, and the least effective School Systems, are also New Jesrey's largest.

"it is important to note that most Bloomfield residents don't pay glen ridge's taxes. "

Why would I pay taxes to Glen Ridge. I LIVE IN BLLOMFIELD.

Has anyone ever calculated a ROI on a) the money Montclair spends on special education and/or b) the money the state requires be spent?

Is the solution a) new judges or b) amending "thorough and efficient" out of the state constitution?

Combining the small, neighboring towns of Glen Ridge and Bloomfield, for example, would save taxpayers money, improve the average performance of the schools in the two districts

There is no evidence whatsoever to believe this to be true.

Now Bloomfield is "small"

"Has anyone ever calculated a ROI on a) the money Montclair spends on special education and/or b) the money the state requires be spent?"

How would one calculate the "return on investment" in terms of an educated person?

Is an education only "worth" what it produces in terms of money?

Is the education of an artist then worthless? That of a stay at home parent?

How do you put a dollar figure on the "return" part of an education?

What will happen when the Barringer students come to Bloomfield High?

(ducking)

The larger questions are:

Is Montclair willing to give up it's magnet system?

Is Glen Ridge willing to integrate?

Will any district share educational services with a district percieved as inferior to it's own?

Sure, Montclair and Glen Ridge and perhaps Bloomfield and Verona would be willing, but how would East Orange...etc fit into this picture.

If nothing else, this would be a very interesting debate.

What is a Barringer student? is it a large family like theose "cheaper by the dozen kids"?

a) Bloomfield isn't small.

b) I *highly* doubt that combining glen ridge and bloomfield school districts would benefit glen ridge in any way except to lower taxes. Glen Ridge pays higher taxes for a reason, and it's not just the lack of ratables. And people who move to glen ridge can afford the taxes -- or at least they can justify the high taxes based on the fact that the school system is good and class size is on the small side and the town is small and quiet. THAT's why a lot of people will pay to live there. If they wanted their kids to go to a bloomfield school or a montclair school, they'd live there!

Would somebody explain to me why some "posted by" addresses are grayed out and others (like mine) are bold underlined?

If you don't include an address it will be grey and without the underline.

BlueState asks:

why some "posted by" addresses are grayed out and others (like mine) are bold underlined?

I think that those who provide an email, even a fictitious one, are bold.

Good points, Todd.

I've never been able to *not* provide an e-mail address, so i always provide a faux address. is there a way to post without providing an address?

Many people who move to Montclair or Glen Ridge pay both a premium for their homes and a premium amount of tax to live in those towns. Part of this premium is attributed to "better schools" - the definition of better and accuracy of this peception are debatable, but the fact remains that many residents believe that the schools are superior to others in the area. Since a significant element of property value is tied to the perceived quality of the schools (and let's be clear, not only taxes are lower in Bloomfield, but property values are as well) you would likely see a material rebalancing in home values if districts were combined. The homeowners on the losing end will be a vocal contingent. I find it hard to believe that you would have anything short of a revolt if it were proposed that towns like Montclair and Glen Ridge combined schools with Bloomfield.

I personally don't want my bright and lovely Bloomfield kids associating with kids from Glen Ridge.

My kids have friends of all races and colors. They respect the girls in their classes.

I have never heard of a racial occurance on a Bloomfield property.

I have heard about Glen Ridge's racial problems and the fact that when a developmentally disabled girl was raped the towns people collected monies to defend the boys even though everyone knew they were guilty.

If I had a girl child I would not want her to go to a Glen Ridge controlled school.

Sorry Carl,

You really are a sorry carl. In your attempt to display your racial acceptance, you have disrespected an entire town. I am sure that there are bigots, deadbeats and such in Glen Ridge. I am also sure we will find some in Bloomfield, and Montclair.

You are naive if you think that by crossing the town line into Bloomfield, you have entered a nirvana of racial harmony and sexual tolerance and respect.

Many of the above posts underscore the very reasons it's futile to talk about trying to combine districts to save money. Most taxpayers simply won't stand for it for any number of reasons, both perceived and real.

That's why this has to be done at the state level to achieve any results that are both meaningful and palatable to most taxpayers (or at least enough taxpayers to pass such legislation).

As a pretty typical Montclairian (moved here from Manhattan a while back when the kids were little; work in TV; democrat) I could see combining the garbage hauling, the police & fire departments, and other municipal biz more easily than I could see combining the school districts.

The schools are a huge reason people move to Montclair - "good" schools that happen to be integrated. In Glen Ridge you get "good" schools but it's all white kids w/ their obnoxious jock culture (fine for republicans, but us BoBos can't have that). And in Bloomfield you get integration but crappy test scores, so the heck with that. If you combine all three, everyone gets what they don't want. ( You could say Bloomfielders will make out, but then their property values will rise, destroying the whole point of Bloomfield's existence, which is of course to be cheaper than Montclair but not as scary as East Orange or Bellevillle.)

everyone knew they were guilty.

Yeah!!

Why'd they even have a trial, anyway!

I always find it best to judge an entire town by one incident that happened more than 17 years ago (on private property, btw).

Of course, if I really judged an entire town because of one incident, I'd have to judge that Bloomfield is a town full of a-holes, because you live there.

Fortunately, I know better.

That last post by "realistic" is easily the most obnoxious thing I've read on this site in a long time.

I live in Bloomfield; I like my neighbors; I like the schools, and I admire and appreciate the teachers. I participate in my children's education, and that makes a difference. Life is good in Bloomfield.

Lady D,

I live in Montclair, and Life is good here too. I don't agree with realistic either, but my vote for most obnoxious post in this thread goes to "Sorry Carl"

Lady D -- fear not. "realistic" was actually me, cleverly lampooning the ignorant liberals who blight our county with their hypocrisy. All in fun, all in fun.

That "Right of Center" above is not me. A poster-imposter.

Not judging by the incident - judging by what happened afterwards and the town's support of "Our Guys" and treatment of the girl.

There was also a recial incident involving an Asian family earlier this year.

I don't remember the particulars- but do remember that their house or ornaments were defaced.

Then of course there is Porno Hate Train and some drinking incidents that were reported on baristanet.

If you want to sweep this pervasive attitude under the rug Fine. I don't want to expose my kids to it.

Life is indeed good in Bloomfield.

No! That "Right of Center" who denies that I am the real "Right of Center" is the imposter! I stand by my previous lampoon.

RoC,

Did you trademark YOUR name.

Can you prove it?

This thread is totally out of control.

This thread is totally out of control.

"The Barista" above is not me. A Barista-imposter.

Good One!

You knuckleheads who muddy the waters by posting under other people's names: go back to the bog you came from.

I gotta say it's making me laugh. and kudos to the hider at 4:25pm for goofing on RoC's "TM"!

In Glen Ridge you get "good" schools but it's all white kids w/ their obnoxious jock culture (fine for republicans, but us BoBos can't have that).

Realistic, it’s nice that barista provides a forum for the ill-informed, but that doesn't make the crap you spew any more true.

It's amazing how many inaccurate things you managed to conjure up in just one sentence.

1. Glen Ridge schools are 88% white, while that's higher than Bloomfield or Montclair, it's hardly a KKK meeting. Thanks to ROC for the great link on another post:

http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/data/enr.pl

2. This "Jock culture" stuff is just a load of crap, invented by some folks to sell books, and adapted by others to fit their own warped view of the world. Glen Ridge spends far less on sports than does Montclair (and it shows, look at the condition of the fields). They even charge the students $200 to play extracurricular sports. If anything, the push in Glen Ridge is to do well in academics, which helps explain why they kick your town's ass on any measure of academic achievement there is.

3. While it is hardly the blue monolith that Montclair is, Glen Ridge usually votes Democratic.

TOYS, assuming you live in Glen Ridge, is it safe to say you'd tear out of town double-fast if the 3 towns' school districts were combined?

Who cares how the town votes. I care how they treat the kids and what the pervasive attitude is and don't want my kids exposed.

Another hot day, as we stew in AC
and throw around insults so casually.
Montclair is pompous; Glen Ridge is too red;
imposters are everywhere--
'Did you see what *he* said?!'
Debbie united us as 'Baristaville',
richer and poorer and do-as-thou-will.
But as a Bloomfielder, I can't help inquire:
are we just included as fuel for the fire?

Wow,

Everytime I comment about not pre-judging Glen Ridge based upon the comments of a few folks that seem to be from bloomfield, Somebody from glen ridge comes out and make the bloomfielders seem right.

And.....Toys.....My kid is from Montclair and he's smarter than your kid..

Na Na Na Na Na Na

30 years ago it cost about $2K/year to well educate a kid. That is $6K in 2006 dollars. If Montclair could lower the $16K/year/kid spent to $6K, the school taxes could be lowered by 2/3, or the overall tax bill reduced by 40%.

As an alternate to lowering taxes 40%, the municipality might be able to offer some of the services people have been requesting.

30 years ago, there was no NJ State Income Tax, no gambling in Atlantic City and the NJ Sales Tax was 3%.

Each of these things was intended to reduce property taxes and provide schools funding.

Where have all the tax dollars gone?

30 years ago it cost about $2K/year to well educate a kid. That is $6K in 2006 dollars. If Montclair could lower the $16K/year/kid spent to $6K, the school taxes could be lowered by 2/3, or the overall tax bill reduced by 40%.

As an alternate to lowering taxes 40%, the municipality might be able to offer some of the services people have been requesting.

30 years ago, there was no NJ State Income Tax, no gambling in Atlantic City and the NJ Sales Tax was 3%.

Each of these things was intended to reduce property taxes and provide schools funding.

Where have all the tax dollars gone?

Kevin hits the nail right on the head!

It's very interesting to look at our schools thirty years ago and run the numbers adjusted for inflation. When I looked at 1968 budgets, enrollments, number of teachers, salaries, etc. what came jumping out was that a) teachers salaries HAVE NOT kept up with inflation and b) the biggest change was the NUMBERS of certified teachers on staff. Notice I said certified teachers on staff, not teachers in the classroom!

If you look at average class sizes you see high numbers, 28 or so kids per class. But if you look at kids per certified teacher you get a number like 6.

This is what has changed and has caused expenditures to boom, in my little analysis.

What do these additional teachers do? I assume they are specialists for everything under the sun, curriculum coordinators of every stripe and of course folks associated with special ed.

In Montclair, if you look at the number of FTE positions (full time equivalents) HALF the staff is devoted to special ed. That's about 1,000 students out of a population of approximately 7,000.

My solution? Federal and State government support for federally mandated programs.

I also suggest that we do some "benchmarking" and "best practices." What do expenditures and taxes look like in other states with demographics similar to Montclair? How do THEY spend their money?

...the town's support of "Our Guys" and treatment of the girl.

By "the town" do you mean the town that was sued for overzealous prosecution?

By "the boys" do you mean the cretins who received death threats and moved out of town almost as soon as the story broke?

By "the girl" do you mean the young woman who stayed in town?

It may sell books to slander Glen Ridge with alot of crap, but it doesn't make the crap true. What happened 17 years ago was a terrible thing, and frankly, I think the teenagers involved got off too lightly (in spite of the efforts of the town born-and-raised detective who did everything she could, with the full support of the police department, to actually find out what actually happened and make sure that those responsible were prosecuted to the full extent of the law, which they were), but I am sick and tired of jackasses like you constantly bringing it up like it was anything other than the anomaly it was, or that it was in any way condoned by anyone, or in any way representative of the town.

There was also a recial incident involving an Asian family earlier this year. I don't remember the particulars- but do remember that their house or ornaments were defaced.

I'm not sure that incident (I believe it was last year) was a racial incident, and in any case, it was despicable, but it pales in comparison to the stabbing in Bloomfield just a few weeks back.

Then of course there is Porno Hate Train and some drinking incidents that were reported on baristanet.

As opposed to the scores of incidents in your town that happen so often they are not usually reported because it's not news!

Every town has problems, that includes your town and mine, but as far as your holier-than-thou attitude is concerned, I suggest you take it and shove it!

Bluestate,

I love Montclair, and I love Bloomfield, they are both great towns, I have many friends from both towns and I spend alot of time in both.

However, I am sick and tired of douchebags (mostly from Montclair, but occasionally from Bloomfield) coming here, and other places and trash-talking about my town. If you think my response was too harsh, frankly, I don't care, enough is enough!

TOYS, assuming you live in Glen Ridge, is it safe to say you'd tear out of town double-fast if the 3 towns' school districts were combined?

I don't think I would move. My kids would not be affected, and there are many reasons that Glen Ridge is a great place to live. Besides, property values would crash and I couldn't afford to move, even if I wanted to.

the rape in glen ridge was indeed condoned by many people, the families of the rapists, in particular.

I don't know that it was condoned by the families; I didn't know them, so I can't say definitively one way or the other, although it seems unlikely that anyone would have condoned what happened.

I suspect, as is often the case with crimes, especially ones this contemptible, that there was a great deal of denial on the part of the family members, and probably some of those who knew them. No one wants to believe that someone you are related to is capable of such depravity.

I also know that many people in town, including myself and virtually everyone I knew, felt that the appropriate thing to do was to allow the investigation to unfold and determine what actually happened, and once it was determined what had happened, demand that those responsible be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Unfortunately, the town was also flooded with people, mostly not from Glen Ridge, who had already decided they were guilty (including some boys who apparently weren't there), and who were determined to use this incident to further their personal agendas or careers or both, and who viewed anyone who believed that the judicial process should be allowed to continue and that everyone, including those accused of an horrific crime, was entitled to a fair trial, were somehow culpable or condoning of what happened.

sorry Carl-

Your post may just have been the most disgusting and despicible post I have ever seen on this website. I was so outraged that someone could write such a biased piece of trash that I had to read through every post in the category to make sure I didn't miss any more of your garbage.

As TOYS has so eloquently stated, there are plenty of racist and otherwise delinquent things going on in Bloomfield. People tend to think that Glen Ridge is a town full of aristocratic snobs. We aren't. We're people. we live and work just as you do.

the fact that most of your knowledge seems to come from hearsay would seem to indicate that you are every bit as bigotted as you imagine our town to be. You tell your children not to asociate with us, because you are so prejudiced as to think that we are all racists. Frankly, if you are this quick to prejudge an entire group, I fail to see how that's any better than being racist yourself.

P.S.- TOYS, you're exactly right not to care. Be every bit as harsh as you wanna be, it's still too nice for that sorry carl scum.

Montclair schools are not that great. Wanna know why? Back in the day, teachers said, "Wouldn't it be great if we had someone to handle all this paperwork?" now the administrators in any given school district number 3 - 1.
I am ever so tired of folks looking to their school districts to solve all life's problems. The bottom line: North NJ kids are spoiled rotten. They either get good or bad educations, but they still are spoiled rotten. I propose a moratorium on all this posting: Everyone who would otherwise be posting, spend time teaching kids or forcing kids to mow a lawn or sweep a driveway or help a neighbor with a felled tree. Try it. You'll like it. Just like Mikey

Filho

Was this the "Toys" comment you thought was so "eloquent"???

I am sick and tired of douchebags (mostly from Montclair, but occasionally from Bloomfield)

As you can read from my posts, my original posts were in defense of Glen Ridge. I also felt that "sorry carl" was an idiot.

So when "Sorry Carl" trashed Glen Ridge, that was OK. But you are proud of "Toys" for trashing Montclair and Bloomfield.

I think we need to add Filho and Toys to the eloquently stated douchbag list.

So what did Steve A have to say?

I just read this post, and it humors me that a bunch of self-righteous adults all bicker with each other about whose school district is best - all the more to make sure that Junior and Muffy get into good colleges and you can justify your reasons for leaving NYC in the first place. Bring yo' lame self to Nutley and I'll bust yo' chops!

blue state-

obviously no offense was intended. I too felt that sorry carl was out of line, as you seem to have stated. I was also commending TOYS's attack on sorry carl, as i might commend yours as well, and i didn't see any reason why he shouldn't speak his mind.

Generally speaking, I don't always agree with every single thing a person says and absolutely nothing that they don't. For instance, I'm certainly rather opposed to President Bush, but I have no problem with his immigration policy, which seems to be rather liberal.

Of course, the redstate-bluestate mentality would tend to ignore actual issues in lieu of overgeneralized opinions, so i understand if you can't comprehend something that difficult.

I personally think that you have good kids from all towns. Most people wind up somewhere they rather not be for one reason or another, but wind up staying for other reasons. When the kids are all grown up and in the work force do you really think anyone gives a crap where they grew up? Don't you think what matters more is what kind of adult the person is, and how that person treats other human beings? You can be president of the US but that really doesn't make you any less of an a-hole, I don't care where you grew up.

Well said Viv.

on that note, I refrain from further postings on this subject. It has gotten out of control.

It wasn't just the 4 boys who were convicted of the 1989 rape in Glen Ridge others who "just watched" went on to bigger and better things that show a pervasive pattern. How can you have a pattern like this in one town? It's not a problem with just one st of parents and/or kids.

What led them to think they could get away with this? Maybe because they had gotten away with things all of their young lives.

AT NORTH CAROLINA’S Fort Bragg this February, Army Special Forces trainee Richard Corcoran got mad at his estranged wife, Michele. He’d gotten mad before, but this would mark the sixth and final time the Cumberland County Sheriffs Department would be called to break up a “domestic disturbance” between Corcoran and his wife. At 8:30 p.m. Corcoran arrived at his wife’s house and went after 30-year-old Michele with a gun, firing at her as she fled to a neighbor’s. (She was wounded but survived.) He shot and wounded another Fort Bragg soldier who was in the house and then shot and killed himself—all while his seven-month-old daughter lay in another room.

And yet Corcoran’s attack stands out. Not only had he just attended a mandated anger-management class on-post that same afternoon—calling into question the efficacy of these sessions that the Army considers the cornerstone of its domestic violence treatment program—but Corcoran had a past that should have kept him out of the Army in the first place: He had been indicted for rape at the age of 19.

On March 1, 1989, in the town of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Corcoran and six other high school athletes sexually assaulted a retarded girl with sticks and a baseball bat. Corcoran, like all the boys, admitted being present but insisted he just watched. Four of the boys were tried and convicted in a grueling five-month trial. Three days before Corcoran’s trial was slated to begin in 1994, the victim’s parents decided it was not in their daughter’s best interest to pursue another trial. The case against Corcoran, son of a Glen Ridge police lieutenant, was dropped.

http://www.motherjones.org/news/featurex/2005/07/base_crimes.html

The party was over. "Ryan's Wreck" had now passed into the folklore of Glen Ridge High School.

These youngsters were questioned briefly, their parents were informed and that was the end of that. None of them was charged with a crime. None of them was punished or reprimanded by Glen Ridge High; none of them lost his athletic privileges or eligibility.

The primary lesson was that a bunch of high school kids could raise hell and inflict tremendous pain without being penalized at home or in school. But the party also taught a more advanced lesson. To one father whose daughter was in the Class of '89, the boys who participated most enthusiastically at the party behaved as if they were gaining more legitimacy and authority as a group each time they victimized a woman. "If I think back about that period, I can see the group getting stronger, closer, every time they got together and humiliated a girl," he said. "What they enjoyed in common wasn't football. This was their shared experience. For them, this was what being a man among men was. My daughter would come home with stories -- I'd just shake my head and wonder if they thought a girl was human."
Aug. 13, 1997

http://www.salon.com/aug97/mothers/excerpt970813.html

The party was over. "Ryan's Wreck" had now passed into the folklore of Glen Ridge High School.

These youngsters were questioned briefly, their parents were informed and that was the end of that. None of them was charged with a crime. None of them was punished or reprimanded by Glen Ridge High; none of them lost his athletic privileges or eligibility.

The primary lesson was that a bunch of high school kids could raise hell and inflict tremendous pain without being penalized at home or in school. But the party also taught a more advanced lesson. To one father whose daughter was in the Class of '89, the boys who participated most enthusiastically at the party behaved as if they were gaining more legitimacy and authority as a group each time they victimized a woman. "If I think back about that period, I can see the group getting stronger, closer, every time they got together and humiliated a girl," he said. "What they enjoyed in common wasn't football. This was their shared experience. For them, this was what being a man among men was. My daughter would come home with stories -- I'd just shake my head and wonder if they thought a girl was human."
Aug. 13, 1997

http://www.salon.com/aug97/mothers/excerpt970813.html

Bottom line: If you want to save money cut the generous benefit packages given out.

The Unions will screem bloody murder but it's the only line item that can be cut.

You need Teachers, Police etc. so the salaries will remain but the benefits need to be brought in line with today's reality. These were handed out 20-30yrs ago at a much different time with little thought to what the might cost in the future. Well the future is now and we're broke. Sorry.

I'd rather have higher salaried public employees with benefits the mimic the private sector. This way wehn they are off the payroll the obligation to the taxpayer ends instead of what we have now.

the 'ledger' is reporting that our gov. jon 'taxine' is now proposing that local municipalities now impose their own taxes to easy property tax burdens.

can this idea bereft tax and spend democrat come with any solution that doesn't raise taxes? does he sit around with democratic playbook and look for creative ways to raise taxes?

Bluestate-

I did not trash Montclair or Bloomfield. Only those from those two towns (self-identified), who come here and bash mine.

In fact, I went out of my way to say nice things about both towns.

Everyone seems to blame the schools (particularly teacher salaries) for high property taxes, but no one seems to want to blame wasteful township and county spending.

I'm SHOCKED that no one has brought up that when you have fewer townships and school districts, you also have less overhead. That's fewer salaries, city cars, lower insurance and pension obligations, etc.

Also, just because folks in Glen Ridge or Montclair might be able to afford their property taxes doesn't mean its right to rape them to pay for unnecessary and redundant services. I'm a liberal, but can't imagine why anyone would pay for bigger local government and higher taxes. How can anyone defend the status quo? Why are people so afraid to share services in NJ? It's works elsewhere (kudos to the person who brought up upstate NY, for example).

Everyone seems to blame the schools (particularly teacher salaries) for high property taxes, but no one seems to want to blame wasteful township and county spending.

I'm SHOCKED that no one has brought up that when you have fewer townships and school districts, you also have less overhead. That's fewer salaries, city cars, lower insurance and pension obligations, etc.

Also, just because folks in Glen Ridge or Montclair might be able to afford their property taxes doesn't mean its right to rape them to pay for unnecessary and redundant services. I'm a liberal, but can't imagine why anyone would pay for bigger local government and higher taxes. How can anyone defend the status quo? Why are people so afraid to share services in NJ? It's works elsewhere (kudos to the person who brought up upstate NY, for example).

"Of course, if I really judged an entire town because of one incident, I'd have to judge that Bloomfield is a town full of a-holes, because you live there."

" I am sick and tired of jackasses like you constantly bringing it up like it was anything other than the anomaly it was, or that it was in any way condoned by anyone, or in any way representative of the town."

"However, I am sick and tired of douchebags (mostly from Montclair, but occasionally from Bloomfield) coming here, and other places and trash-talking about my town."

"Of course, if I really judged an entire town because of one incident, I'd have to judge that Bloomfield is a town full of a-holes, because you live there."

" I am sick and tired of jackasses like you constantly bringing it up like it was anything other than the anomaly it was, or that it was in any way condoned by anyone, or in any way representative of the town."

"However, I am sick and tired of douchebags (mostly from Montclair, but occasionally from Bloomfield) coming here, and other places and trash-talking about my town."

hiding/history:

No one I know is condoning what Mr. Corcoran did, either in 1989 or in 2005.

Let's examine the falsehoods (or actually misleading statements of fact) buried in your "reports" (which in fact are not reports at all, but mostly re-hashing of crap from a book full of falsehoods, misleading statements and false conclusions), let's examine some of them, shall we:

1. The prosecutor withdrew the case against Corcoran when it became clear that the judge was about to dismiss the case for lack of evidence (it was something like the day before the judge's deadline), everything else you may have heard or read notwithstanding.

I believe that everyone in our country is entitled to presumption of innocence under the law; clearly, you are one of these people who believe that we should do away with trials in some cases. In my mind, that makes you much more dangerous to the sons and daughters of Baristaville than anyone who I know in Glen Ridge.

2. The GRPD turned the case over to Essex County within hours of learning that the child of a GR Officer may have been involved. GRPD had nothing to do with the investigation after that, with the exception of the officer they "loaned" to Essex County, and GRPD had nothing to do with the decision to drop the case against anyone, and in fact the town was later sued for pursuing the case too far, so this fact:

The case against Corcoran, son of a Glen Ridge police lieutenant, was dropped.

May be true, but it is irrelevant and misleading, precisely the author's intent.

3. Domestic violence, and violence against women, is an unfortunate reality in the world, and in Glen Ridge, something that we should all speak out against. But the fact that Mr. Corcoran attacked his wife is no more relevant to Glen Ridge than Michael Strahan is relevant to Montclair.

4. The event known as "Ryan's Wreck" took place outside of Glen Ridge, so this statement:

These youngsters were questioned briefly, their parents were informed and that was the end of that. None of them was charged with a crime.

is true, but deliberately misleading. Glen Ridge Police do not have the authority to charge individuals (let alone juveniles) with anything that happens in another town. Of course, you probably knew that "Ryan's Wreck" did not happen in Glen Ridge, but it was much more convenient for your purposes to neglect mentioning it, wasn't it?

5. Glen Ridge High does not have the authority to suspend students for their activities off school property unless they are charged and/or admit what they did (and even then they often do not, the laws protecting juveniles in NJ are some of the toughest in the country), so this next part of the statement:

None of them was punished or reprimanded by Glen Ridge High; none of them lost his athletic privileges or eligibility.

Is also true, but deliberately misleading.

There were many lessons that could have been learned from what happened in Glen Ridge in 1989, unfortunately there was much more money to be made, and fame to be attained, by whipping morons like you up into a frenzy with half-truths and psychobabble.

We could have learned that school districts and police do not have enough options in dealing with violent and abusive juveniles. We could have learned that stronger laws were needed to protect women (mentally handicapped or not) in situations like happened in the Scherzer’s basement, instead of having it happen again and again (There was just a similar case decided against a young woman last week). We could have learned that we need to do more to protect our children, handicapped or not, from juvenile predators.

But of course, we didn’t. That doesn’t sell books or movie deals. That would mean confronting the problem in your own backyard or demanding that your state legislator propose new laws to protect young men and women or paying to overhaul our virtually useless juvenile justice system. That’s all so difficult, it’s much easier to just pretend that it is someone else’s problem, isn’t it?

Quotes, you really should learn how to read.

Here's what I said:

I did not trash Montclair or Bloomfield. Only those from those two towns (self-identified), who come here and bash mine."

Note that I said that I did bash individuals from the 2 towns who bash Glen Ridge, but I did not bash the towns

Let's examine the 3 quotes of mine you apparently are unable to read:

Of course, if I really judged an entire town because of one incident, I'd have to judge that Bloomfield is a town full of a-holes, because you live there."

Why did you leave off the next sentence? Maybe because it is much easier to understand the context? Here is the full quote:

Of course, if I really judged an entire town because of one incident, I'd have to judge that Bloomfield is a town full of a-holes, because you live there.

Fortunately, I know better.

Anyone who actually can read would see that I am specifically calling the individual I am referring to an a-hole, and specifically saying that I know better than to think that tars his whole town.

I am sick and tired of jackasses like you constantly bringing it up like it was anything other than the anomaly it was, or that it was in any way condoned by anyone, or in any way representative of the town."

Again, clearly I am addressing an individual.

However, I am sick and tired of douchebags (mostly from Montclair, but occasionally from Bloomfield) coming here, and other places and trash-talking about my town."

Here again, I am referring to individual douchebags from the towns, not the towns themselves.

Given your poor reading skills, I certainly hope for the sake of the chilren of Baristaville that you were educated somewhere else...

Toys,

I can't stand reading this anymore without responding.

Your comments are insulting to people from Montclair and people from Bloomfield just as much as comments from Sorry Carl are insulting to people from glen ridge.

Most people from all three towns are great folk, but you sir are still a douchebag.

Montclairresident,

Likewise, I'm sure.

There is a big difference between insulting an entire town, and all its residents, and insulting individuals who do so, especially while explicitly excluding the rest of the residents of the offender’s town. That you can't tell the difference tells us that in addition to being a douchebag, you are also functionally illiterate.

Toys,

Montclairresident is correct. Your writing is offensive even if try to soften the blow after the fact with your sorry explanations. You are EXACTLY as Montclairresident has indicated. And in the future, can we try to stay away from the language that is being used here. In reviewing all of the posts, it's clear that it was you that started with the foul language. I suppose you are trying to compensate for other inadequacies.

bloomfieldresident -

I was not trying to "soften" anything. If anything, my comments don't begin to capture the contempt I have for people who, with regularity, feel this site is their opportunity to slander the town I live in and my family and my neighbors.

I was, however, making it clear that I am able to separate my contempt for a few douchebags from your town (like you, for example), and from Montclair, from the generally positive feelings I have for both towns and the people who live there.

In spite of what you say, nothing I have written here is at odds with that statement. When several people (probably all the same person) tried to use my quotes to try and illustrate otherwise, they only succeeded in demonstrating their inability to read English.

As far as the "foul language" is concerned, it has always been my contention that it is the people, like yourself, who are overly sensitive to it that are usually inadequate. Personally, I have no problem calling them an a-hole an a-hole.

You are an a-hole.

Lighten up Toys, Kids are reading this.

A Typo!

In this case my mistake allows me the pleasure of insulting you again.

Last two lines should read:

Personally, I have no problem calling an a-hole an a-hole.

You are an a-hole.

my town can beat up your town

Lighten up Toys, Kids are reading this.

No kidding, including my kids. I am tired of them having to put up with being called racists, or with them hearing people imply that they are disrespectful to women, or even being called rapists, because of where they live.

Not a one of you holier-than-thou sons-of-bitches would put up with this for a second. In Glen Ridge we've put up with it because we are a nice town, and because we are mostly pretty easy going and low-key.

But enough is enough!
So no, I will not lighten up.
I will "let it go" no longer!

And God help one of you bastards if you say something to me (no one has ever had the balls to do this) or one of my kids (which has happened in the past) in person, because frankly, I'm done!

Oh Yeah.....

toys is going postal
that much is true

defending Glen Ridge
has hardened that fool

tis not most people
that live in his town

just that fool Toys
acting like a clown

Thats all I can stands, I can't stands no more.

Find me my spinach, I gotta go break some toys.

By the way......what kind of wuss picks toys as a name?

toys is going postal

Nothing could be farther from the truth, I am a law-abiding citizen.

I am simply serving notice that I will no longer "let it go"

Popeye,

TOYS is an acronym, it stands for

Tired
Of
Your
S***

Toys

I think your lying....come on admit it.....it stands for...

Tired
Old
Yellowbellied
Sissy

Toys,

Please post a link with your picture so that when I see you around I can insult you in person.

You should have picked a different town to live in Glen Ridge is known for the rape:
In 1989, athletes from the high school were involved in the sexual assault of a mentally handicapped student

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Ridge%2C_New_Jersey

get in a stupid argument online with someone you've never met and probably never will!

Toys,

Please post a link with your picture so that when I see you around I can insult you in person.

You should have picked a different town to live in Glen Ridge is known for the rape:
In 1989, athletes from the high school were involved in the sexual assault of a mentally handicapped student

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Ridge%2C_New_Jersey

Here's to TOYS,

Read up about 60 posts in the thread. that's how this whole mess got started.