Preserve Ramapo

www.preserve-ramapo.com

Federal judge rules Reimer ‘whistleblower’ lawsuit can go forward

by

Attorney Fred Lichtmacher Photo: Ricky Flores/lohud

“A federal judge who oversaw Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence’s corruption trial ruled Tuesday that a key witness’ civil lawsuit can go forward claiming Ramapo officials defamed and retaliated against her for cooperating with the FBI and prosecutors.

In a two-hour oral decision from the bench, U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel found that Melissa Reimer’s contact with the FBI was protected speech under the Constitution’s First Amendment.

She also ruled a jury can hear defamation charges against St. Lawrence, Town Attorney Michael Klein and Deputy Town Attorney Beth Finkelstein, who oversaw Reimer’s town disciplinary cases leading to her suspension. [Read more…]

Ramapo board changes mind, names Ullman interim supervisor; Brinn appointed to board

by

“Musical chairs continued Tuesday afternoon for members of the Town Board.

When the maneuvering stopped, the Town Board rescinded its Monday night appointment of New Hempstead Mayor Fred Brinn as interim supervisor and returned to the original plan: Deputy Supervisor Yitzchok Ullman as interim supervisor and Brinn as a board member, effective June 26, Ullman said. [Read more…]

Brinn named interim Ramapo supervisor

by

New Hempstead Mayor Frederick Brinn

At a special meeting of the Ramapo Town Board this evening, New Hempstead Mayor Frederick Brinn was named as the interim Ramapo Town Supervisor, beginning Monday June 26 through December 31, 2017. The vote was 3-0 approving the appointment. Those voting were Yitzy Ullman, Brendel Logan-Charles, and Michael Rossman. Councilman Patrick Withers was absent.

Brinn will begin next Monday, temporarily leaving his position as New Hempstead Mayor.

Michael Castelluccio
Preserve Ramapo

Vote Yes Tuesday ERCSD Budget

by

Strong East Ramapo

Journal News editorial: East Ramapo Budget Must Pass

“It’s June. East Ramapo’s 2017-2018 budget remains unsettled. That’s a scary place for the deeply divided district, which has already seen two controversial spending plans upended this budget season alone.
The district has one more chance to win approval for its spending plan on June 20. East Ramapo voters must approve the $231.6 million spending plan. The alternative — an automatic contingency budget — would freeze the district’s tax levy, even as expenses rise, precipitating yet more cuts in the struggling district.”

Read the complete editorial here.

Christopher St. Lawrence Conviction Party

by

Sweep Ramapo Clean posterPlease join our celebration of the successful prosecution of Christopher St. Lawrence on Tuesday, June 27th. And help us continue the legal fight for an honest referendum for single member districts in Ramapo.
Our party will be at the Water Wheel in Tallman starting at 7 PM. The entertainment will be free, but the drinks and food will be on you.
If you have been following our fight for single member districts in Ramapo you will remember that we first circulated our petitions and then had to spend years in court to force Ramapo to hold our referendum vote for single member districts. [Read more…]

CUPON Chestnut Ridge Meeting Monday June 12

by

The monthly meeting of the Chestnut Ridge CUPON will take place Monday, June 12, at 7 pm at 26 Red Schoolhouse Road.

The agenda includes discussions of:
The upcoming ERCSD school budge vote;
Petitions for the Village;
Ongoing construction  and properly licensed contractors performing the construction;
Increasing member and citizen participation in the Village;
and November Elections.

Ramapo GOP selects slate for supervisor, Town Board after corruption trial ousted St. Lawrence

by

Bill Weber and Robert Romanowski Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

“The long beleaguered Republican Party has named its November candidates for supervisor and Town Board, hoping the slate will end the Democratic dominance after the federal corruption trial that convicted Christopher St. Lawrence and ousted him as supervisor.

Bill Weber, an accountant who has run unsuccessfully in the past, leads the slate for supervisor, with activist Shani Bechhofer and Chestnut Ridge Trustee Grant Valentine running for the board and Robert Romanowski for Director of the Highway Department. [Read more…]

Shalom Lamm pleads guilty to conspiracy to corrupt the vote in Bloomingburg

by

The following was posted on Justice.gov. June 6, 2017

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, today announced that SHALOM LAMM pled guilty to conspiracy to corrupt the electoral process, in connection with an election in Bloomingburg, New York. LAMM pled guilty earlier today before United States District Judge Vincent Briccetti in White Plains federal court.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As he has now admitted, Shalom Lamm conspired to advance his real estate development project by corrupting the democratic process, specifically by falsely registering voters. The integrity of our electoral process must be inviolate at every level; our democracy depends on it.” [Read more…]

Mallia’s trial set for July

by

Anthony Mallia Ramapo Director of Building and Planning

Anthony Mallia arrest photo

Accompanied by his attorney, David Goldstein, Ramapo’s Director of Building, Planning, and Zoning, Anthony Mallia, appeared before Judge David Zuckerman this morning at the Rockland County Courthouse. The Judge scheduled a pretrial meeting and the start of jury selection for 10 a.m. on July 24. Mallia is charged with 188 felony and misdemeanor counts, brought by the District Attorney of Rockland.