Government
By WALTER KORFMACHER PH.D.
February 7, 2023
I am writing today about the proposed One Westfield Place project. I attended a special Streetworks event recently to learn about the sustainability design concepts that are planned as part of the One Westfield Place project. I was very impressed by the many design features of the new buildings.
To the Editor: My wife and I have lived in Westfield for more than 50 years. Our children are graduates of Westfield High School and I served the community for 36 years as senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, president of the Westfield Foundation and Westfield Ministerium, and in numerous other ...
Dear Editor, As a New Providence property owner, I was very pleased to see that Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D) of the NJ 11th Congressional District, and Congressman Mike Lawler (R) of the NY 17th Congressional District, have introduced a bipartisan bill to restore the SALT property tax ...
I am writing in regard to the One Westfield Place proposal. And to be clear, while on the Town Council I voted to designate the areas being considered for the current proposal as Areas in Need of Redevelopment. I was, and continue to be, a supporter of Smart Growth. My view of Smart Growth however ...
Dear Editor, Re the Jan. 31, 2023 WO Council meeting. Former council member Cindy Matute-Brown conducted herself in a most craven manner. During public comment Matute-Brown blatantly accused Councilwoman Susan Scarpa of “whitewashing” her approach to the locating of cannabis dispensaries within ...
This is Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac. Today is Friday, Feb.3rd. The Township had 145 new cases of Coronavirus in the last seven days, which is about our average for the last few weeks. We unfortunately had our second COVID death of the year with the passing of a 91-year-old man. Please keep ...
With thanks for inspiration to Joe Salemme who addressed the issue of PILOTs and School Funding last week. As he pointed out, the project's own numbers show that the Southside parking lots will generate $780,752 in Land Tax Revenue over 30 years ("North/South Zone" in their table), or an average of ...
Groups of Westfield residents have been trying for months to analyze the important financial assumptions to the One Westfield Place project and determine risks and hidden costs. Based on the limited financial information being made available, these are among the major financial concerns so ...
I’d like to share an experience of mine that I’m hoping might add some useful information to the discussion of the One Westfield Place project. I only recently learned that Dan Biederman will be working with HBC | Streetworks and the Downtown Westfield Corporation to help design the project’s ...
OPINION Hello Everyone, Bill Spadea today publicly called for Russia to be allowed to keep the Donbas region of the Ukraine. This statement exemplifies why Bill Spadea's lack of intellectual curiosity, his inability to learn about an issue before speaking, and his impulsiveness disqualify ...
OPINION Hello Everyone, Bill Spadea today publicly called for Russia to be allowed to keep the Donbas region of the Ukraine. This statement exemplifies why Bill Spadea's lack of intellectual curiosity, his inability to learn about an issue before speaking, and his impulsiveness disqualify ...
OPINION Hello Everyone, Bill Spadea today publicly called for Russia to be allowed to keep the Donbas region of the Ukraine. This statement exemplifies why Bill Spadea's lack of intellectual curiosity, his inability to learn about an issue before speaking, and his impulsiveness disqualify ...
The GWACC Chamber of Commerce has been monitoring the discussions of One Westfield Place development proposal and as a professional business organization, we fully support the idea of bringing additional businesses into Westfield and to have sufficient people in town to support those new businesses ...
On 1/21/23, in response to a resident’s question on the Mayor’s Facebook page asking how PILOT payments could impact taxpayers and the school budget, Mayor Brindle stated: “I agree with you 100% that great schools are key to maintaining property values. That’s why schools are always paid first ...
As someone who has a keen interest in the future of our downtown, I have been closely following the debate about Streetworks' redevelopment proposal. A group of residents calling themselves Westfield Advocates has started a petition, while others are calling for a referendum on the redevelopment ...
I’m no stranger to Westfield. As an 8-year resident of Maplewood, I’ve had the pleasure of making Westfield a regular haunt to visit friends and enjoy your shops and delicious restaurants. It’s fair to say, it often eased my reluctant-suburbanite angst after leaving the city. Westfield’s ...
The Town Council has been working on this "plan" for at least 3 years behind closed doors and was just recently launched in December to the public. Initially, I was a supporter of improving the downtown business district, but my excitement turned to dismay when the Town Council finally disseminated ...
Rent control will be the subject of the Phillipsburg Town council work session on February 14. Excerpted from the public record of the council meeting of October 18, 2019, attachment of Joseph Meyner with editing by Joseph Meyner The municipal code of the town of Phillipsburg is hereby ...
A few thoughts about the January 18 Wayne town council meeting which turned out very well for Wayne taxpayers. Mayor Vergano’s request to become full time, with a pay raise of $120,000 and full medical coverage was met with an overwhelmingly negative public response which perhaps caused Mr. Vergano ...
STOP the Wawa While I like a good Wawa hoagie as much as the next person, I want something other than an expansive store and large gas station in our sweet downtown. Our town is trying to create a cohesive, traditional feel in Berkeley Heights, and the last thing this town needs is this massive ...
On Jan. 5, 2023, I wrote a letter to the editor explaining my view that a non-binding referendum on Westfield’s proposed redevelopment plan is legal under controlling statutes and caselaw. My position is primarily based on the fact that the two statutes cited by the town council (the Municipal Land ...
Dear Editor, The threat of overdevelopment looms large throughout New Jersey. Intelligently managing development is a challenge that every community faces, and New Jersey is literally and philosophically at a “crossroads.” Due to its geographic location within the Northeast corridor, New Jersey ...
Dear Editor, The threat of overdevelopment looms large throughout New Jersey. Intelligently managing development is a challenge that every community faces, and New Jersey is literally and philosophically at a “crossroads.” Due to its geographic location within the Northeast corridor, New Jersey ...
During the seven years I was a town council member, the town's clerical staff gave every council member every written communication exchanged with: all government agencies, public utilities, and organizations with which the town has contracted services. This was done regardless of whether it was ...
Dear Editor, The threat of overdevelopment looms large throughout New Jersey. Intelligently managing development is a challenge that every community faces, and New Jersey is literally and philosophically at a “crossroads.” Due to its geographic location within the Northeast corridor, New Jersey ...
Dear Editor, The threat of overdevelopment looms large throughout New Jersey. Intelligently managing development is a challenge that every community faces, and New Jersey is literally and philosophically at a “crossroads.” Due to its geographic location within the Northeast corridor, New Jersey ...
Civil Disobedience has been and continues to be a great American tradition. More than that, this country went to war with itself over the ideals of self-determination and freedom. Obedience to a government (at any level) that feels it can do whatever it wants to you, your children, and your ...
This discussion is about the control of information. Webster's definition of control is "the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events." The entire governing body should be made aware of all town government information. If one branch of town government is allowed ...
Over a decade ago my family and I relocated to New Jersey from down south. Looking for a place to live to raise your family is a challenge and trying to do it when you are over 1000 miles away is even tougher. We were looking for a community where your neighbor brought over casseroles when they ...
RE: Proposed Ordinance No. 1-2023 introduced at the January 4, 2023 meeting Dear Council President Mazzei & Council Members, I am writing to you on behalf of myself and several other concerned Wayne residents and voters Salvatore Schifano, Robert Nulman, Dianne Douthat and Linda ...