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Oral Argument for Ward Referendum Appeal Scheduled for Sept. 5th

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Scales of Justice

The Appellate Division Second Department has calendared the oral arguments for the Ward Referendum Appeal on Tuesday, September 5th, 2017, which happens to be the day after Labor Day. This opens up the possibility that a revote on the Ward Referendum might take place on the upcoming general election to be held on Tuesday, November 7th. That likelihood is, in truth, hard to predict and will ultimately depend upon how and how soon the Court rules. Nonetheless, the September 5th date for Oral Arguments does open the door for the possibility of a Referendum revote on the November 7th general election.  [Read more…]

Four Thousand Shades of Ramapo Gray

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Rockland Legislator Charles Falciglia

The writer is a member of the Rockland County Legislature

The two properties commonly referred to as the Matterhorn Nursery and Minisceongo Golf Course represent approximately 175 acres in the Town of Ramapo targeted for development. The Matterhorn property was purchased through a foreclosure auction for 5.1 million by deed dated August 22, 2014. The purchaser was Summit Hempstead LLC; or in other words, John Doe one through ten at the time of purchase.

The Minisceongo property was a straight buyer/seller transaction for $32 million consummated in January of 2016. The majority purchaser is Mount Ivy LLC, with a minority purchaser, Lindifrim Pomona. The Minisceongo purchaser’s are floating plans for hundreds of townhomes. [Read more…]

Eruvs didn’t create Ramapo’s problems, bad zoning decisions did: JN Editorial

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The following editorial appeared in The Journal News on August 11, 2017

“Many have been worried about a recent expansion into New Jersey of a Ramapo-area eruv — a near-invisible boundary that allows Orthodox Jews more freedom of movement during the Sabbath.
Some say the boundary would extend eastern Ramapo’s chaos and crowded conditions into their backyard.

But Ramapo’s mess can be blamed on policy, not PVC piping; ill-planned zoning and lax building code enforcement caused the issues in Ramapo, not eruvs attached to utility poles. [Read more…]

Ramapo seeks operator for money-losing Spook Rock golf course

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Spook Rock Golf Course Lohud file photo

“With the town golf course losses estimated upward of $800,000 annually, town officials are looking to save money by hiring a company to operate and maintain the facility.

The Town Board approved a request for proposals with hopes of drawing an operator for the town-owned 150-acre, par 72 course Spook Rock Golf Course.  The request for proposals allows officials to negotiate with firms, as opposed to seeking bidders, acting Supervisor Yitzchok Ullman said Thursday.

“The issue is the town is losing approximately $800,000 annually,” Ullman said. “We want to see what’s out there.” [Read more…]

Spring Valley Tax Insanity

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Steve White

Three Spring Valley trustees have caused a tax catastrophe for the village.
Almost 2,000 taxpayers had a double-digit increase in 2017! Over 700 got a 50% increase in one year, and for 200 unlucky homeowners taxes more than doubled!
How did this happen? Trustees Grossman, Fonvil and McGill abolished the Assessor’s Office, and gave the job to the towns of Ramapo and Clarkstown.
This was done over the objections of village trustee Emilia White.
Last November, The Journal News quoted trustee Emilia White: “I don’t know how anybody in their right mind would think of giving the town of Ramapo the job of assessing the village’s property while the town itself is under investigation for fraud.” [Read more…]

Tax Watch: Spring Valley tax mess gets messier

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Spring Valley homeowner Steve White says the loss of the village’s assessor has led to a shift in the property tax burden from commercial property owners to homeowners. (Photo: David McKay Wilson/The Journal News)

“The property-tax mess that has engulfed Rockland County’s biggest village this summer just got messier.

It’s a mess that involves inaccurate tax bills sent to every Spring Valley property owner, a consolidation of assessor services encouraged by the Cuomo administration that went horribly wrong, and unprecedented tax breaks available to just one part of the village.

It’s a tale of two villages.

Those living in Spring Valley’s Clarkstown section will absorb the full tax impact of increases caused by the consolidation effort, with some seeing their village taxes double or even triple to as much as $4,600. [Read more…]

Ramapo illegal housing cleanup must continue: JN Letter

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Justin Schwartz

The following letter was published in The Journal News August 2, 2017 — The writer is Rabbi Justin Schwartz, Chairman of the Rockland Illegal Housing Task Force

Re “Ramapo ex-inspector Anthony Mallia gets no jail time, won’t pay restitution in plea deal,” July 31 article:

The Rockland County Illegal Housing Task Forcewas created in response to unlawful and dangerous housing conditions and its goal has always been to eliminate illegal and unsafe housing in Rockland by all legal means. The removal of Anthony Mallia as the chief building inspector of Ramapo and his felony conviction is a step in that direction. [Read more…]

Ramapo ex-inspector Anthony Mallia gets no jail time, won’t pay restitution in plea deal

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Judge David Zuckerman Photo/The Journal News

“Anthony Mallia, the former Ramapo building inspector charged with 188 counts of undercharging contractors for permits and shortchanging taxpayers by $150,000 in the process, won’t serve jail time and won’t have to make restitution, a judge decided today.

Mallia, 53, pleaded guilty to two counts. He pleaded guilty to first-degree tampering with public records, a felony, and was promised by the judge a sentence of five years probation. He also pleaded guilty to official misconduct and will received three years probation. The sentences will be be served concurrently when Mallia is sentenced Oct.  31. He waived his right to appeal. [Read more…]

Mallia trial postponed until July 31

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Anthony Mallia Ramapo Director of Building and Planning

Anthony Mallia arrest photo

Anthony Mallia, former Director of the Ramapo Building Department, was scheduled to appear before Judge David Zuckerman this morning at the County Courthouse. At the hearing, Mallia’s attorney, David Goldstein, asked for and received an adjournment until 9:30 am, July 31. Mallia is facing 188 felony and misdemeanor counts.