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East Ramapo schools board rejected settlement offer that could have saved millions, NYCLU says

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A letter raises questions about if district lawyers and board president Harry Grossman shared details of the settlement offer with the board’s two black members – Ashley Leveille and Charles-Pierre

“Black members of the East Ramapo school board were effectively shut out of settlement talks that could have headed off a month-long trial over a voting rights challenge by the NAACP and saved the cash-strapped district millions of dollars in legal fees, the New York Civil Liberties Union says.

NYCLU attorney Perry Grossman, in a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel, says the district turned down a settlement that would have waived the fees incurred by lawyers representing the NAACP during the two and a half years leading up to the trial.

The offer was rejected despite Seibel’s eleventh-hour attempt to get both sides to come to an agreement by inviting all the board’s members to a settlement conference on Feb. 10, the day the trial started in White Plains federal court. [Read more…]

Ramapo and former finance official and whistleblower Melissa Reimer settle lawsuit for $2.4M

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Photo of Melissa Reimer at one of the Ramapo hearings.

Melissa Reimer Photo: Joe Larese/ The Journal News

“Former town finance official Melissa Reimer — credited as a whistleblower in a federal investigation that brought down former Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence — and Ramapo have settled her lawsuit for retaliatory dismissal for more than $2.4 million.

The Town Board approved the agreement on Wednesday night, more than two years after three board members voted to fire Reimer on disciplinary charges after she had been suspended with pay from her $170,000 job in June 2013. [Read more…]

East Ramapo trial: Rabbi emerges from the shadows and then sprints from photographers

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Rabbi Oshry runs from reporters after leaving US District Court in Whirte Plains Photo: Tania Savayan LoHud

East Ramapo School District in Federal Court UPDATE. The Journal News February 29

“An Orthodox Jewish rabbi facing arrest for ignoring a judge’s order emerged from the shadows on Thursday to defend his behind-the-scenes role in choosing candidates for the East Ramapo school board.

And when Rabbi Yehuda Oshry’s testimony was over he sprinted from photographers waiting to take his picture outside the federal courthouse in White Plains.

That was after East Ramapo Central School District Superintendent Deborah Wortham tried to lead court spectators in a round of applause for coworkers but was shot down by the judge. [Read more…]

East Ramapo trial: Judge wants Rabbi Oshry arrested if he doesn’t show up to testify

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East Ramapo School District in Federal Court UPDATE. The Journal News February 24

“The federal judge presiding over a voting rights case involving the East Ramapo school board on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for a prominent Orthodox Jewish rabbi who has so far resisted efforts to get him to testify.

U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel gave Rabbi Yehuda Oshry until Thursday morning to appear in White Plains or face arrest.

“I don’t think he can hide in his house forever,” Seibel said Tuesday. “He’s just inviting incarceration if he doesn’t come today or tomorrow.” [Read more…]

“Orthodox community could have just voted you out”: East Ramapo school board president

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East Ramapo School District in Federal Court UPDATE  The Journal News February 21

Photo of Harry Grossman

Harry Grossman School Board President Photo: Yated.com

“East Ramapo school board president Harry Grossman faced mounting questions on Friday about his behind-the-scenes communications with Orthodox Jewish religious leaders and other members of the board.

In 2016, Grossman told fellow board member Sabrina Charles-Pierre, a black public school parent, to remember that she could be voted out at any time.

He repeated the message at least six times between April and August of that year, according to Facebook messages entered into evidence by lawyers for the NAACP.

“If there really was any desire by anybody to remove you from the board, all that would need to be done was to run a candidate against you,” said Grossman in message from July of 2016. “Orthodox community could have just voted you out in May.” [Read more…]

East Ramapo trial: Judge attacks testimony of school board president Harry Grossman

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East Ramapo School District in Federal Court UPDATE  The Journal News Feb. 20

Photo of Harry Grossman

Harry Grossman School Board President Photo: Yated.com

“The federal judge deciding a voting rights challenge by the NAACP attacked the testimony of the president of the East Ramapo school board Thursday, suggesting he crafted his testimony to avoid telling all he knew about the role Orthodox Jewish leaders play in board elections.

U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel, responding to an objection by a lawyer for the East Ramapo Central School District, offered her take on the testimony of board president Harry Grossman.

“I’m offended by what I’ve seen here today,” Seibel said. “And I think anybody who reads plain English would feel the same way.

“I cannot tell a lie,” Seibel added. “I do think this witness is not credible.” [Read more…]

What’sApp Chat reveals behind the scenes effort by Orthodox Jewish religious leaders NYCLU says

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East Ramapo School District Board in Federal Court UPDATE

“Lawyers for the NAACP on Tuesday used private conversations from the WhatsApp messaging platform to bolster their claims that Orthodox Jewish leaders led a behind-the-scenes effort to dominate seats on the East Ramapo Central School District board.

Excerpts of conversations between Harry Grossman, the district’s school board president, and others were introduced as evidence in a federal voting rights trial that will decide whether the district’s system for electing its school board members limits the participation of blacks and Latinos.

Among the conversations was a 2017 exchange between Grossman and Rabbi Hersh Horowitz, the executive director of the Monsey-based Community Outreach Center. [Read more…]

Candidate’s ‘master plan’ comment exposes tensions in East Ramapo voting rights trial

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Eric Goodman Photo: Eric Goodman

East Ramapo School District Board in Federal Court: UPDATE

“Eric Goodwin was on his way home in May 2017, as voters headed to the polls to pick the winning candidates for seats on the East Ramapo Central School District board.

Goodwin, a candidate for the board that year, noticed buses streaming into voting sites in predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods near his Nanuet home.

When he got home, Goodwin tapped out a post on his Facebook page:

“The night before the election an(d) those who want to keep the balance of power in their favor. Spending the night at your religious establishments will not mask your master plan. East Ramapo is watching your every move.”

Goodwin lost the election that year. [Read more…]

Computer Scam: Seven from Ramapo plead guilty, face prison and thousands in fines

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Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

“Nearly four years after hundreds of FBI agents and law enforcement officers raided Ramapo businesses and private schools, seven Rockland residents have pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal million of dollars from a federal program designed to provide computer technology to schools.

Prosecutors got guilty pleas to conspiracy from Peretz Klein and his wife Susan Klein, both of Spring Valley; and five Monsey residents, Simon Goldbrenner, Moshe Schwartz, Ben Klein, Sholem Steinberg and Aron Melber. [Read more…]

Last chance to switch to SAM party Thursday or Friday

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Serve America Movement

Letter from Michael Parietti of Preserve Ramapo:

Greetings Everyone,

We want to call your attention to an important new deadline that is nearly upon us.

Due to changes enacted this past fall to the political calendar, the last day to change your party affiliation for the coming election year is tomorrow Thursday, February 13th or, this Friday Feb. 14th if you deliver the registration form in person to the Rockland County BOE.

For anyone looking to join a party that will promote preserve minded, inclusive,  good government priorities, we advocate a switch to Serve America, aka the SAM Party. This is the brand-new political party that occupies Row H on the ballot.  We all used it collectively and effectively to unite our vote and deliver a potent electoral message in the 2019 election. We now need supporters to register with the party to maintain our momentum and keep the ballot line viable. [Read more…]