Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Ridgewood

Tuesday, May 24^th, 2022

Park West Loft in Ridgewood

WELCOME TO THE CIVICS

Civics - Ridgewood Wants YOU!

Civics is “the study or science of the privileges and obligations of citizens” (dictionary.com)

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Citizens’ responsibilities include:

• Support and defend the Constitution
• Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws
• Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others
• Pay taxes
• Serve on a jury when called upon
• Stay informed of the issues affecting your community
• Participate in your local community (uscis.org)

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We’re glad you’re here!

Quiz Time! ��Test Your Knowledge of Ridgewood’s Government and Community!�

• Feel free to work with a partner, and write your name(s) on the quiz
• We will collect them
• Prizes for the winners!

Ridgewood Village Council - How It Works

• Non-partisan, at-large election of 5 Councilmembers
• Councilmembers select a mayor and a deputy mayor among them
• The role of the Council is to set policy for the Village
• The mayor is the chair of the Council
• The Council appoints the Village Manager, who executes policy and is accountable to the Council
• Some background:
• New Jersey’s Municipal Manager Law of 1923, (NJSA 40:79-1 et seq.), ushered in non-partisan, rational, efficient, business-like government with professional administrator
• New Jersey’s Faulkner Act of 1950, amended 1981, 1, (NJSA 40:69A-1 et seq.), allows for different types of municipal charters. Ridgewood has the Council-Manager Faulkner Act form

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Meet Your Elected Officials - Village Council

There are 5 Village Councilmembers:

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• Councilmembers serve for staggered 4-year terms

Susan

Knudsen

Michael

Sedon

Lorraine

Reynolds

Pam

Perron

Paul

Vagianos

Ridgewood Board of Ed - How It Works

• Non-partisan, at-large election of 5 Board members
• Board members select a President and Vice President among them
• Board members appoint a Superintendent
• The Superintendent is an ex officio (non-voting) member of the Board
• The role of the Board is to ensure that the schools are well run
• Ridgewood’s Board of Education oversees 67% of the municipal budget

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Meet Your Elected Officials - Board of Ed

There are 5 members of the Board of Education:

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• A non-voting student member sits on the Board
• Board members serve for staggered 3-year terms

Hyunju

Kwak

Michael

Lembo

Saurabh

Dani

Sheila

Brogan

Mohammad

Mahmoud

Watch Your Government at Work

The Board of Education usually holds public meetings every other Mondays at 7:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. in the summer)

• 49 Cottage Place across Franklin Avenue from Christ Church, 3^rd floor meeting room
• Sign up for e-notices through Ridgewood Public Schools (including non-parents)
• Visit ridgewood.k12.nj.us to watch the livestream, or participate via call-in, or Fios channel 33

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The Village Council holds meetings open to the public on the first, second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.

• 131 North Maple Avenue in front of Vet’s Field, next to the Library, 4^th floor courtroom
• Check your Village calendar
• Sign up for e-notices from the Village Clerk
• Visit ridgewoodnj.net to watch the livestream, or Fios channel 34

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Ridgewood Interfaith Clergy Council

• Mission/Role
• Meetings
• Activities

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Community - Diversity and Inclusion – Join the Conversation!

• Rev. Mack Brandon’s Zoom Meetings 🡪 now on Monday
• Go to Mack Brandon’s personal Facebook page

on Mondays for the link

• A New World: Growing Better Communities

Together for All with Rev. Arturo Lewis

and Don Wheeler, sponsored by the

Community Peace and Justice Network

• Go to https://cpjnetwork.org/

League of Women Voters

• A political, non-partisan, non-profit organization
• It never aligns itself with any party or candidate
• Mission
• Register voters
• Promote informed, active participation in government
• Select policy issues for study and, if warranted, advocacy. On a national level, policy positions include expansive voting rights, campaign finance reform, universal health care, environmental protection, and gun safety measures
• History
• Formed in 1920, shortly before the passage of the XIX Amendment, in order to help educate newly-enfranchised women exercise their right to vote

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Ridgewood Population - 2020 Census*

• Number of Residents: 25,979
• Demographics by Age:
• Under 5 years: 6%
• 5-17 years old: 23%
• 18-64 years old: 57%
• 65 years and over: 14%
• Gender: 51.8 % female
• Education:
• High school graduate or higher: 95.5%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 76%
• Median Income: $184,355

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• Race:
• White: 78.8%
• White alone (not Hispanic or Latino): 72.3%
• Asian alone: 15.5%
• Hispanic or Latino: 7.9%
• Two or more races: 3.5%
• Black or African American alone: 1.2%
• National Origin:
• Foreign born: 21.0%
• Persons in Poverty: 3.3%

* Note that the ACS survey data collected by the Census Bureau since April 2020 differs somewhat

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3 Ways to Vote in the Primary Election on June 7

1. In Person Early Voting
• Visit lwvridgewoodnj.org on June 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th

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• In Person on Election Day (June 7^th) at your regular polling place
• Check your sample ballot for your polling location

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• Vote-by-Mail
• Must be postmarked by June 7^th or dropped into the drop box in the Village Hall parking lot (131 North Maple Avenue)

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*Note: You must declare a political party affiliation in order to vote in the primary

LWV Voters Service

• Voter registration table - REGISTER HERE TODAY!
• You can register on a paper form or online, including here using this QR code!
• Re-register if you have a new address, changed name or changed signature
• Am I registered?
• Check the NJ Elections App or call the Village Clerk
• We can also check for you at our table in the back!

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LWV Voters Service - Find Your Precinct

Shop Local - Your Central Business District (CBD)

• The Village of Ridgewood was founded in 1894. The actual Central Business District began before the formal establishment and remains a bustling center of activity today
• The CBD in Ridgewood runs from Garber/Wilsey Square to Maple Avenue with the “Tree Streets” (Chestnut, Oak, Walnut, Cottage (formerly Beech) and Maple) intersecting them

• Fun Fact! The oldest business in Ridgewood is CC Van Emburgh's on Maple Avenue, and one the oldest buildings in Ridgewood is the Archibald-Vroom House which was built in 1789
• Today, Ridgewood is still a bustling community with over 300 businesses and a vibrant restaurant scene combined with retail and services. The CBD contributes significantly to our budget and is a draw for both residents and visitors

RIDGEWOOD YMCA

• The Ridgewood YMCA was founded in 1902 and celebrates its 120^th anniversary this year.
• Each YMCA is unique and distinct – while sharing a mission, programs and services are unique to each one. The Ridgewood Y is not the Wyckoff Y!
• The Ridgewood Y serves Ridgewood plus nearly 40 other communities through our Oak Street and Camp Bernie branches
• Fun fact! The Ridgewood Y opened programs to women in 1971-four years ahead of the national YMCA mandate
• Today the Y serves all – regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation
• We offer programs and services at low or no cost to those who cannot otherwise afford to utilize the Y, including scholarships for children to attend our preschool, camps and swim lessons, and for seniors living with chronic conditions such as cancer and Parkinsons to participate in our robust Prevention & Care programming
• Volunteer opportunities are always available!

Lend a Hand If You Can! �Part 1: Business, Civics and Charity

• BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
• Central Business District Advisory*
• Ridgewood AM Rotary Club
• Rotary Club of Ridgewood
• Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
• Ridgewood Guild
• CITIZENSHIP AND VOTING
• Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
• League of Women Voters of Ridgewood
• Ridgewood 4th of July Committee
• Ridgewood Municipal Alliance
• Ridgewood VFW Post 53

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• COMMUNITY SERVICE
• YMCA
• College Club of Ridgewood
• Family Promise of Bergen County
• Jamboree Scholarship Fund, Ridgewood H.S.
• MLK, Jr. Committee of Ridgewood/Glen Rock
• Ridgewood Newcomers Club
• Social Services Ass’n of Ridgewood and Vicinity
• Somerville/Hawes Dad’s Night
• Woman’s Club of Ridgewood
• Feed the Frontlines
• S.H.A.R.E./Ridgecrest

*Government organization - interview and selection process

Lend a Hand If You Can!�Part 2: Education

• SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS
• Federated Home and School Association* (“Federated HSA”)
• Ridgewood Education Foundation (“REF”)
• PARENT ORGANIZATIONS
• Home and School Associations at every school
• Learning Services Home and School Association (“LSHSA”)
• Japanese Parents Association
• Korean Parents Association

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• DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
• Community Relations Advisory Network (CRAN)
• MLK, Jr. Committee of Glen Rock & Ridgewood
• Ridgewood Chinese American Association (RCAA)
• Ridgewood Indian Association
• Ridgewood Ambassadors for Global Citizenship (RAG)
• Sexuality and Gender Association (SAGA)
• LOCAL COURSES AND SEMINARS
• Bergen Community College
• Ridgewood Community School
• Ridgewood Public Library*

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*Government organization - interview and selection process

Something for Everyone!�Part 3: The Environment

• CONSERVATION
• Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands
• Green Ridgewood Committee*
• Ridgewood Open Space Committee*
• Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission*
• Ridgewood Wildscape Association
• GARDENING
• Project Pride*
• Women Gardeners of Ridgewood

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• PARKS & GREEN SPACES
• Citizen’s Park
• Dunham Trail
• Graydon Park
• Grove Park
• Gypsy & King’s Pond Park
• Irene Habernickel Family Park/HealthBarn
• Leuning Park
• Maple Park
• Pleasant Park
• Schedler Property Park
• Twinney Pond Park
• Van Neste Square
• Veteran’s Memorial Park & Field
• Wild Duck Pond & Bike/Walking Path

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*Government organization - interview and selection process

Something for Everyone! �Part 4: The Arts

• PERFORMING ARTS
• Kasschau Bandshell Committee*
• New Jersey Choral Society
• Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus
• Parlance Chamber Concerts
• Pro Art Chorale
• Ridgewood Choral
• Ridgewood Friends of Music
• Ridgewood Singers

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• CULTURE AND ART
• James Rose Center for Landscape & Design
• Ridgewood Arts Council*
• Ridgewood Arts Foundation
• Ridgewood Art Institute
• Ridgewood Historical Society & Schoolhouse Museum
• Ridgewood Public Library
• Ridgewood Walks/Ridgewood Talks
• New Players

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*Government organization - interview and selection process

Something for Everyone! �Part 5: Safety, Access, Seniors, Sports

• SAFETY & ACCESS
• Citizen’s Safety Advisory Committee*
• Ridgewood Community Access Network*
• SENIORS
• Age Friendly Ridgewood
• Hobbyists, Retired Men’s Club
• HILT (Highlights in Leisure Time)*
• Ridgewood Senior Housing
• S.H.A.R.E.
• OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & CAMP
• Ridgewood Parks and Recreation/the Stable*
• Ridgewood Walks/Ridgewood Talks

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• SPORTS & FITNESS
• Graydon Pool & Park*
• Ridgewood:

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*Government organization - interview and selection process

• Baseball/Softball Association
• Biddy Basketball
• Football Association
• Hoops
• Junior Cheerleading
• Junior Football
• Junior Wrestling
• Lacrosse Association
• Maroons Soccer Club
• Roller Hockey
• Soccer Association
• Softball - Adults
• 40+ Soccer
• YMCA

Join the League of Women Voters!

• Meetings are in the Senior Center of Village Hall at 12:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month
• The next meeting is our final meeting of the fiscal year on Thursday, June 16^th - feel free to drop in as a guest!
• Committees include:
• Voters Service
• Education
• Climate/Environment
• Gun Safety
• Affordable Housing
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

All are welcome! Men, non-citizens, and youth ages 16 years old and up

Quizlet - Answer Key

1. (c) 26,000 (25,979 to be exact, according to the 2020 Census)
2. (b) Monday
3. (a) 5
4. (a) Village Councilperson - 4 years; BOE members - 3 years
5. (a) Yes
6. (b) No
7. (d) Graydon pool
8. (a) Yes
9. (b) June 7
10. (c) 19 voting districts

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