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PUBLISHED BY TEANECK VOICES
Managing Editor
Bernard Rous


Editorial Board
Natalee Addison
Laraine Chaberski
Toniette H. Duncan
Charles W. Powers
Barbara Ley Toffler


Supporters
Denise Belcher
Juanita Brown
Margot Embree Fisher
Gail Gordon
Guy Thomas Lauture
Laverne Lightburn
Micki Shilan
Gloria Wilson
Contributors
Bettina Hempel
Henry Pruitt
Howard Rose



Advisors
Theodora Smiley Lacey
Loretta Weinberg

Contents
Who is a Good Neighbor?
Op-eds
  • Voter Intimidation in Teaneck
  • Deputy Mayor Katz Attacks Teaneck International Film Festival Director
  • Vengeance is Mine
  • Deputy Mayor Kaplan Violates Election Laws
  • The Record Editorial - Endorses YES on Teaneck Municipal Questions
  • Councilman Pagan Advocated for November Elections
Announcements
  • Last Chance to Vote - Early Voting Ends Today
  • Election Day - Polling Places for Teaneck Districts
  • Volunteers Still Needed to Get Out the #voteyesTWICE
Unanswered Questions
  • Where is Teaneck's Open Space and Recreation Plan?
Town Meetings this Week
Events at the Library
Who is a Good Neighbor?
Council Shows Concern for Teaneck Residents Near Alfred Avenue...
but It’s Englewood’s Council!

On October 26, Englewood’s City Council and Teaneck’s Township Council met at the same time.  Teaneck’s Township Council went off the rails again with an attack on Teaneck’s International Film Festival.

Englewood’s Council, by contrast, conducted a dignified discussion of the possible adverse effects - on both Teaneck and Englewood residents - of Teaneck’s recent approval of a 255-unit apartment complex and a Cannabis District on Alfred Avenue

This was the second time that the Englewood Council had discussed concerns about these two projects, which isn’t surprising given that the City of Englewood practically surrounds Alfred Avenue.

And yet, our Teaneck Council did not even think to inform Englewood, much less consult with them, about these two projects with major impacts on their town.

At its previous meeting, the Englewood Council had directed the City’s engineer to investigate the construction that may begin soon at the head of Alfred Avenue. On Tuesday night, the engineer reported that he was reviewing a traffic study that he had obtained from Teaneck’s Engineering Department, but that he was even more concerned about “drainage and sanitary” conditions caused by the apartment complex.

Englewood’s engineer said that he understands that sewage and drainage overflow from the proposed apartment complex is designed to flow into Englewood’s sewage and drainage systems. Englewood Councilmembers asked whether the Alfred Avenue developer would need permission from Englewood to connect to the Englewood system.

The City’s Engineer and Township Attorney were asked to determine if Englewood owns the apartment complex property along Tietjen Avenue and Lafayette Place. The apartment complex footprint may well be just inside the Englewood border. If so, what steps could be taken to “isolate” the proposed Alfred Avenue construction and the proposed Cannabis District from Englewood residents, including possibly sealing off Lafayette Place to through traffic?

The Englewood Council also discussed how the demolition that will precede construction on Alfred Avenue will affect residents near the complex and what steps Englewood could take to “to protect” both Englewood and Teaneck residents from the effects of demolition and construction.

Previously these concerns were voiced primarily by Councilmen Wayne Hamer and Charles Cobb. But on the 26th they were vigorously echoed by Councilwoman Judith Maron. Ms. Maron emphasized that, in her opinion, the 255-unit apartment complex developer had “big money” behind its project and that Englewood should hire a “high end land use attorney” and be prepared for litigation.

Englewood Council President Cobb promised to add Alfred Avenue to the agenda for the next regular Englewood Council meeting, to keep it on future agendas, and to bring traffic engineers to those meetings, if required. (The Englewood Council’s next regular meeting is on November 23, but Englewood’s Council – unlike Teaneck’s Council – also holds workshops and the next workshop is scheduled for November 9.)

While the Englewood Council focused on the Alfred Avenue housing complex on Tuesday night, at its previous meeting that Council had directed the City’s attorney to research whether Federal laws that still prohibit the sale of cannabis could provide a ground for suing Teaneck with respect to Teaneck’s new Cannabis District.

Englewood opted out of commercial cannabis. It now finds that its neighbor has approved an all-type cannabis district to operate within a few feet Englewood’s Denning Park.

In sum, Englewood is giving Teaneck residents a second venue for supporting their fellow residents living on or near Decatur Avenue about the Alfred Avenue projects. But in addition to watching or speaking at Englewood Council meetings, Teaneck residents can return to the Teaneck Council and voice their opposition to these projects and to the underlying ratables and tax transfer revenue policies that appear to motivate them.

At last, a municipal Council has shown empathy and concern for the residents around Alfred Avenue. It’s a shame that that Council sits only in Englewood.

To see a video of the 10/26 Englewood Council meeting discussion of Teaneck Alfred Avenue, Click here.
OP-EDS
No Place for Voter Threats and Intimidation in Teaneck
by Denise Stanford-Belcher
We have all seen old grainy video footage of Black Americans marching for the right to vote - often with the brutal consequences of intimidation and threats of violence. Fast forward to 2021 - the effects are still the same. Voter Intimidation happens when those with authority threaten individuals exercising their democratic right to vote.

Those in positions of authority are seen to possess police power. Black Americans have had to walk through lines of police officers and elected officials to exercise their right to vote.

Voter Intimation is intended to frighten, hinder, restrict, prevent, and dissuade people from voting. The ACLU has taken up cases of Voter Intimidation and says "no person … shall intimidate, threaten, coerce … any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of [that] person or person(s.)

Voter Intimidation is a tactic with racist origins; its roots date back to Reconstruction. After the Civil War sizeable numbers of newly freed African Americans ran for public offices. They ran and won state and national elections. But in short order fear motivated White Supremacists to use threats of violence and intimidation to disenfranchise voters.

During that time, these White Supremacists, many having ties to law enforcement and local elected officials, would use the authority of their office to disenfranchise voters, even if it meant changing the law (by exercising a Poll Tax or creating an ordinance and/or a sub committee to investigate individuals and organizations.).

This intimidation reared its ugly head by threatening people’s employment, businesses, or organization affiliations such as membership in the NAACP, for an example.

When Deputy Mayor Elie Katz threatens to pull the funding from Teaneck International Film Festival due to Jeremy Lentz’s activism as a private citizen (See video below of Teaneck Council meeting, October 26, 2021), he and the Council cross the line into intimidation.

When Councilmember Keith Kaplan visits the Rodda Center during Early Voting days and enters the building to distribute his official Council business card while instructing voters to Vote NO for Municipal Questions 1 and 2, clearly the line has been crossed!

These disgusting tactics cannot be tolerated in Teaneck politics in 2021 – or ever.
Teaneck Voters are rightfully outraged and are speaking up and out against this Council’s autocratic dictatorial approach to governing. As they should!
We all know that voter suppression is an ugly and hateful way to fight against needed change. Click link below (and give it a few seconds):
Smooth-talking Deputy Mayor Attacks Teaneck International Film Director Jeremy Lentz Using Trump Playbook to Target Opponent: "People tell me..."

Residents Respond in Outrage
Vengeance is Mine, Sayeth the Deputy Mayor
Payback is always on the agenda of this Teaneck Township Council.

This time, council members are targeting residents for revenge based on their political opinions.

At the October 26th council meeting, Deputy Mayor Elie Katz led his colleagues in arguing that the township should eliminate sponsorship of events at the Teaneck International Film Festival in retaliation for political positions taken by Jeremy Lentz, director of the township’s leading cultural event.

This is nothing new. At the July 2018 council reorganization meeting, Gervonn Romney Rice was excluded from a leadership position by her six colleagues because she supported the council’s opponents. Denise Belcher was dumped from the Planning Board not for her competence, participation or abilities, but because "she ran against" the council majority.

What’s the best response?

Of course, we should all speak up and reject this council’s McCarthyesque efforts to punish yet another resident for exercising their right to constitutionally protected political speech.

Even better is to show your support for Jeremy Lentz by attending the Teaneck International Film Festival, which will be running from November 11th through the 21st, in-person at Teaneck Cinemas on Cedar Lane and virtually online. You can also click on https://www.teaneckfilmfestival.org/personal-contributions to make a tax-deductible donation.

Since it was founded more than 15 years ago, the Teaneck International Film festival has presented a wide variety of films that reflect the values of so many Teaneck residents. It's time that we show Jeremy Lentz and the film festival our support.
Teaneck International Film Festival

Presently, the Teaneck International Film Festival draws over 3,000 filmgoers each year. Films and talkbacks illustrate what TIFF is about - making untouchable topics part of everyday conversation by addressing racism, oppression, the...

Read more
www.teaneckfilmfestival.org
MLK BIRTHDAY COMMITTEE SUPPORTS TEANECK INTERNATIONAL FILMS
DEPUTY MAYOR KAPLAN ATTEMPTS TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS
Eye-witness Account
On Wednesday, Oct. 27th, I was at The Rodda Center as a volunteer for the One Town One Vote and Community Choice Aggregation initiatives that are on this year's ballot. After learning about the problem voters were having with voting YES on the first initiative, volunteers from our campaign organized to have people at Rodda to alert voters of this problem before they went in to vote.

We knew to stand 100 feet or further from the door as required by election law. While there, I learned that Deputy Mayor Keith Kaplan was inside. Wondering why an elected official was there, I went in to check. I witnessed Mr. Kaplan sitting just outside the auditorium where voting was taking place. He was wearing his official Town Council shirt and visible in his hand were his Town Council Business cards.

Later, as another volunteer and myself were at the end of the West End of the Rodda Building, more than 100 feet from the door, Mr. Kaplan came out and stood within 3 feet from where we were standing. As a voter approached, I politely asked if she was aware of the two municipal questions on the ballot.

She was, so I proceeded to advise her of the problem she would encounter if she intended to vote YES, and that I hoped she would. As I was explaining what to do, Mr. Kaplan approached and began shouting over me. "I disagree; Vote No".

He was clearly louder than I was. I ignored him and continued to advise the voter, but he continued to move closer. Another volunteer tried to stop him and I overheard her say "move back and stop interrupting; this is intimidation".

The voter and I did our best to ignore him, but this was extremely rude, disruptive and intimidating. Such bullying behavior is unacceptable from anyone, but especially from an elected official!

A few minutes later, Mr. Kaplan moved closer to the door of Rodda, within 100 feet (which is a violation of election law), and began to make a video of himself urging people to vote NO on the two questions, which he later streamed on FaceBook.

The County Election Board was later contacted and I was told that Mr. Kaplan was asked to leave.
The Record: Editorial Endorses YES on Teaneck's Municipal Questions
COUNCILMAN PAGAN ADVOCATING FOR NOVEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN 2015
Announcements
LAST CHANCE TO VOTE:

EARLY VOTING AT RODDA CENTER ENDS TODAY 10/31 at 6pm

TEANECK ELECTION DAY TUESDAY 11/2 AT YOUR DISTRICT POLLING PLACE
DISTRICT
1, 2

3

4, 5, 6

7, 8

9, 12

10, 11

13, 14

15, 17

16, 23

18, 19

20, 22

21
LOCATION
Firehouse #3

St. Mark's Church Parish Hall

American Legion Post #128

Lowell School Auditorium

Benjamin Franklin Middle School

Whittier School Room 114

Bryant School Cafeteria

Richard Rodda Center Gym

Presbyterian Church of Teaneck

Teaneck High School Rm 140/Gym

Hawthorne School

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Auditorium
ADDRESS
370 Teaneck Road

118 Chadwick Road

650 American Legion Dr

1025 Lincoln Place

1315 Taft Road

491 W Englewood Ave

1 E Tryon Ave

250 Colonial Court

1 Church Street

100 Elizabeth Ave

201 Fycke Lane

655 Teaneck Road
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED:
Help GOTV for #voteYEStwice on Municipal Questions #1 and #2
Teaneck Residents,

We are less than 2 weeks away from election day, Tuesday, 11/2/21, and Teaneck residents have the opportunity to vote yes on two important municipal questions. Municipal Question #1 will move Teaneck Town Council elections from May to the general election day in November when more people vote. Municipal Question #2 will provide an option to participate in a renewable energy program to all residents.

Several Teaneck Council members have launched attacks on our campaign. We need your help to get a massive YES vote for Municipal Questions #1 and #2! Can you volunteer with us to get out the vote?

Here are ways you can help:

  • Join a phone bank and make calls to Teaneck voters to encourage them to VOTE YES TWICE! No experience is necessary. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/voteyescalls

  • Canvass: Knock doors with us and help us get out the vote! No prior canvassing experience is needed. Canvassing shifts available through 11/1. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/voteyescanvass. Can’t make a shift? Email paularogovin3@gmail.com to pick up materials and canvass on your own time.

  • Join a car caravan: Sunday, Sunday, Oct 31st, 3 pm. We’ll parade around town with signs on our car to remind our neighbors about voting yes. Meet at the Black Lives Matter mural across from the Rodda Center (250 Colonial Ct.) Make signs, decorate your car.


  • Hand out #voteYestwice flyers during early voting hours at the Rodda Center. (stay 100 feet away) 

Share these volunteer opportunities with your friends, neighbors, and to the organizations you belong to. Ask people to share this email with their contacts in Teaneck. Ask organizations to share this email with their members.

We all agree that working to change the Town Council elections to November to increase voter participation and working to get Teaneck to provide renewable energy to all residents are both really important both for democracy and for the environment.
WHEN AND HOW TO VOTE
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Why doesn't Teaneck have an Open Space and Recreation Plan?
Why has the Planning Board continued to delay its approval?
Why do our neighbors get large state grants for their parks while Teaneck gets nothing? The following clip of Planning Board meeting explains much:
TOWN MEETINGS
Election Day
Tuesday November 2, 2021 from 6:00am to8:00 pm
In person voting at regular polling places – search for your address’ specific polling location on Google - simply type Voting NJ.gov.

Teaneck specific voting
At the bottom of the election day ballot you will find the candidates for the Teaneck Board of Education (3 to be chosen).
Immediately above the BOE candidates are the two municipal public questions:

  1. Whether to move Teaneck Council non-partisan elections from May to November, and
  2. Whether to aggregate the purchase of sustainable energy sources.

Teaneck Voices recommends voting YES on each municipal public question.

Municipal Open Space Trust (MOST) Advisory Board
Wednesday November 3, 2021 at 6:30pm
Zoom but public access by approval of the Chair only - contact Town clerk.

Parks, Playgrounds and Recreation Advisory Board (PPRAB)
Wednesday November 3, 2021 at 7:30pm
Zoom but public access by approval of the Chair only - contact Town clerk.

Library Board of Trustees
Thursday November 4, 2021 at 6:30pm

All meetings are open to the public and held on Thursday evenings, beginning at 6:30 PM. Due to the current State of Emergency issued by the Governor of the State of New Jersey as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Teaneck Township Council will be holding its regularly scheduled meetings virtually via Zoom. The link to participate in the Zoom meeting via computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone, meeting ID number, password, one-tap mobile numbers and dial-in telephone numbers are posted on the on the library’s website at www.teanecklibrary.org at least 48 hours in advance of all regularly scheduled meetings.

Board of Adjustment
Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 7:00pm
Zoom Link with passcode 070286
agenda information for this meeting is now available at Web Link

The agenda includes hearings seeking variance and site plan approvals for construction/alteration for several multi-family facility projects, notably the continuation of the hearing for a proposed 54 West Englewood Avenue development.

Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB) recommendations have not been included, even though they are required by Teaneck ordinance for several of the agenda projects. This is due to the failure of Council to appoint any of the nine expert SPRAB members since 2016.

Upcoming week of November 1: Annually the Manager is required by state law to hold public hearing in November with each of the Town’s department heads. Again, this year due to the Pandemic, all of those meetings – open to the public – will be by zoom.
Click here for this week’s Teaneck Library Events Calendar