Preserve Ramapo

www.preserve-ramapo.com

You are here: Home / 2016 / September / Archives for 18th

Archives for September 18, 2016

Rockland school district fights Ramapo tax fees

by

Ramapo Central school officials are backing a proposed state law that would allow districts to collect their own taxes, which officials say could potentially save residents thousands of dollars

Ramapo Central school district attorney Stephen Fromson said under the current system, the town of Ramapo charges taxpayers 1 percent of the tax levy to collect taxes, which amounted to about $900,000 for the 2015-2016 school year. For a Ramapo Central resident with an average school tax bill of about $10,000, this would mean a $100 fee.

Besides Ramapo Central, taxpayers in the East Ramapo and North Rockland districts were charged 1 percent of the tax levy for the collection. In East Ramapo this added up to an estimated $1.2 million for the 2015-16 school year; North Rockland taxpayers were on the hook for an estimated $1.3 million, according to figures compiled by Ramapo Central. [Read more…]

Mallia charged, suspended

by

Anthony Mallia Ramapo Director of Building and Planning

Anthony Mallia arrest photo

“With the town’s Chief Building Inspector Anthony Mallia suspended with pay, a state lawmaker on Friday renewed his call for a state takeover of the town department.

Mallia, 52, was charged late Thursday in an alleged scheme to provide reduced construction permit fees for builders that prosecutors say cost Ramapo taxpapers more than $100,000.

Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said Friday that the town has been cooperating with the Rockland District Attorney’s Office’s investigation into Mallia, providing whatever documents and assistance the investigators needed. [Read more…]

Corruption cases stacking up in Ramapo and SV

by

Wordmap of corruption in RamapoThe Journal News has updated your scorecard of those Ramapo and Spring Valley politicians who have been arrested and are facing criminal and civil charges.  So far, those seen in handcuffs include: (in Ramapo) Christopher St. Lawrence, Aaron Troodler, Michael Klein, Nat Oberman, Samuel Tress, Anthony Mallia; (in Spring Valley) Noramie Jasmin, Joseph Desmaret, Walter Booker.

For a quick review of who’s in prison and who’s trying to keep out, go to LoHud here. 

State denies request to halt Ramapo Central bus changes

by

“The state has denied a request by a group of private school parents to temporarily reverse a new transportation policy that went into effect last week in the Ramapo Central school district.

Believing the district hadn’t explored all options before making a cut that affects hundreds of children, the parents asked for a stay on the changes until state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia ruleson an appeal that they filed on the new busing plan.

On Friday afternoon, Elia decided against granting the request to parents, according to a state education department spokesman. The appeal is still being reviewed, he said. [Read more…]

Public hearing on ‘blockbusting’ in Rockland set

by

Proposed No-Knock Sticker

State considers imposing a cease and desist zone in Rockland to stop unwanted solicitation.

Rising reports from homeowners of high-pressure and intimidating real estate tactics will be addressed during a state public hearing on Wednesday.

The Department of State’s Division of Licensing Services will hold the meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at Rockland County Community College, at 145 College Road in Suffern. [Read more…]

Struggling East Ramapo middle school gets $2.4M grant

by

An East Ramapo middle school is one of 39 struggling schools across the state to receive federal grants to help pull itself into better standing.

“Chestnut Ridge Middle School has secured $2.4 million to implement an educational framework that focuses more on college and career readiness. Among the eight East Ramapo schools designated by the state as troubled earlier this year, Chestnut Ridge ranked the worst and was marked as a priority school. [Read more…]