NEWS CENTER
- Vandervalk & Schroeder Keep In Touch With District 39
Listen to Concerns of Bergen County Taxpayers
9/20/2009
- VANDERVALK & SCHROEDER: MORE OVERSIGHT NEEDED
Join Call For Creation of Auditor General to Save Millions & Protect Taxpayers
9/1/2009
- Vandervalk & Schroeder Earn NJEA Endorsement
Commit to Pragmatic Results for Suburban Schools
8/5/2009
- Hands Off Our Hospital
Vandervalk & Schroeder blast politicians; fight for Pascack Valley Hospital
7/15/2009
WASHINGTON TWP – While many residents of the Garden State sat home watching the Giants and Jets win on Sunday, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Hillsdale) and Assembly Candidate Bob Schroeder (R-Washington Twp) joined thousands of District 39 taxpayers at annual town days across northern Bergen County.
“I am always enthusiastic to visit local town fairs because it helps me hear the concerns of taxpayers firsthand,” commented Vandervalk. “Bob and I have heard too many taxpayer horror stories written by Jon Corzine and Democrats in Trenton. Their reckless spending and taxing policies have devastated too many families who live in District 39.”
Schroeder added, “Taxpayers are crying for help and they are demanding change in Trenton. Residents of the 39th District know that Jon Corzine and Trenton Democrats are to blame for the onerous taxation in New Jersey. They also know that adding more Corzine Democrats will only make New Jersey even less affordable.”
Vandervalk & Schroeder visited community fairs in Ramsey, Harrington Park, Norwood, and Old Tappan. They also visited the Washington Township Knights of Columbus BBQ and made a quick stop to watch half of the Washington Township Falcons vs. Rivervale Raiders football game.
Vandervalk & Schroeder said, “Today provided a great opportunity to discuss many important issues with residents, we look forward to continuing this dialogue through November and during our term in office.”
HILLSDALE – Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R- Westwood) and Councilman Robert Schroeder (R-Twp of Washington) pledged their support for legislation proposed by Assembly members Alex DeCroce, Dave Rible and Vince Polistina which would establish the Office of Auditor General.
The Auditor General will be an elected position that will have prosecutorial authority and the ability to recoup misspent taxpayer funds.
“Establishing the office of Auditor General will ensure that there is a watchful eye overseeing all taxpayer dollars,” noted Assemblywoman Vandervalk. “This common sense proposal will root out wasteful spending on frivolous programs, political patronage, and pet projects.”
Candidate for Assembly and Township of Washington Councilman Robert Schroeder added, “An Auditor General for New Jersey is a pragmatic solution to our ballooning state budgets, buoyed by political patronage and wasteful spending. With an Auditor General, we can be sure that taxpayer money is being spent frugally and with merit.”
Some critics of the proposal believe an Auditor General will just add another government position with an extra cost, despite its goal to save money.
Vandervalk & Schroeder said that taxpayers will see millions of savings in the long run, despite the short term addition of a new employee. They stated, “The money saved by the Auditor General will significantly outweigh the costs of salary and benefits. Looking at a cost-benefit analysis it can easily be seen that despite the added salary in the short term, millions will be saved within years. This is clearly a worthwhile position and we are excited to add our voices in support of this common sense proposal to protect taxpayers.”
HILLSDALE – The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) has endorsed Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk (R- Hillsdale) and Councilman Robert Schroeder (R- Twp of Washington) in their bids to represent District 39 in the New Jersey State Assembly.
“NJEA is pleased to support candidates…who share a common commitment to quality public education,” said NJEA President Joyce Powell.
“I am proud to once again have the support of New Jersey’s educators,” Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk commented. “As always, I remain committed to improving New Jersey’s school system by giving it the resources necessary to provide our children with a first-class education.”
Assemblywoman Vandervalk referenced her and Councilman Schroeder’s support for fully funding education mandates which would ensure that suburban school districts have an equitable share of state aid.
“Trenton needs a wake up call,” said Councilman Robert Schroeder, a candidate for State Assembly. “Instead of wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on pet projects, Trenton must reprioritize its spending to ensure adequate funding for our education system. Let’s give our children a state with top-rate schools, not a pile of debt spent on political patronage”
Vandervalk & Schroeder continued, “We will not be part of the Trenton games which ignore solutions in favor of political posturing. Education is not a political football and should not be treated as such. We will continue working with New Jersey’s teachers to ensure that we find pragmatic, real solutions to improve our education system.”
WESTWOOD – In response to recent remarks made by Assemblyman Gordon Johnson about the re-opening of Pascack Valley Hospital, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk and Washington Township Councilman Robert Schroeder, joined with local residents in decrying Johnson’s actions and calling for the re-opening of Pascack Valley Hospital.
“Petty politics and untrue claims by politicians from outside our community are keeping our residents from quality and timely health care,” said Assemblywoman Vandervalk. “Once again, Governor Corzine and his allies have decided to treat Bergen County’s suburban voters as second class citizens in this state.”
Vandervalk was referring to records that prove that former Pascack Valley Hospital patients are not going to Englewood Hospital – and disprove Johnson’s main contention. Both hospitals survived side-by-side for decades and claims they cannot do so today are specious at best.
“Make no mistake about it, this is a turf battle for market share and nothing else,” continued Vandervalk. “I won’t give up the fight to ensure that residents of the 39th District have the full-service medical facility they deserve.”
“As a volunteer fireman, I know firsthand the importance of a quick response time. Just one minute could make the difference between life and death for those who need immediate medical assistance,” Councilman Robert Schroeder, a candidate for Assembly in District 39 added. “The fact that Governor Corzine and his allies refuse to re-open the hospital is just another smack in the face to suburban residents in New Jersey.”
Schroeder also took offense at Johnson’s claims that re-opening Pascack Valley Hospital would in some way adversely affect the economy of the region and provided facts to show that just the opposite is true.
“When Pascack Valley Hospital closed, our area lost 1,000 jobs at the facility and countless more jobs and businesses that supported the hospital were adversely impacted,” said Schroeder. “Our community deserves those jobs back…Our economy needs those jobs back…And for a politician from outside our area to deny them to citizens ready and willing to work is just plain wrong.”
Estimates of the impact of re-opening PVH show that the initial restoration of services will bring more than 400 construction jobs during hospital renovations and there will be 800 permanent jobs when the new facility is fully operational. Added to that are jobs and economic impact in the surrounding community and businesses.
Both Assemblywoman Vandervalk and Councilman Schroeder noted, “Bergen County taxpayers send more tax dollars to Trenton and get less in return. New Jersey owes it to the residents of Bergen County to have their hospital re-opened. People need quality and timely health care no matter where they live - be it urban, suburban, or rural. The time for political games must end. It is time to what is right for all the residents of Bergen County.”