For a copy of the Petition for the Fall Election, please click here.
Legislator Aron Wieder, educators speak out against yeshiva oversight
Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder speaks about issues of public and private school equivalency at Yeshiva Degel Hatorah in Spring Valley Feb. 26, 2019. At left is the school’s principal, Rabbi Moshe Schwab. (Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)
“Educators at a boys yeshiva said Tuesday that the state’s guidelines for a substantially equivalent education would be prohibitive to their students’ studies.
“It infringes on our religious rights,” said Rabbi Moshe Schwab, the principal of Yeshiva Degel HaTorah. “We’re begging the commissioner to reconsider because … it’s going to infringe on the good educational system that we have. We know we have to have equivalency and we think we not only have equivalent, we’re superior.”
His pleas were targeted at a previously ignored 70-year-old law stating private school education needs to be “substantially equivalent” to public school, which gained traction a few years ago when state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia updated guidelines to enforce it. [Read more…]
Ramapo mulls future for multiple properties amid deficit, development issues
The Suffern Quarry Image courtesy Rosspilot
“Town officials continue to wrestle with the future of properties once bought for profit and for green and historic preservation as part of an ambitious plan to prevent development.
With the town facing an estimated $8.5 million deficit, officials are contending with new financial realities as demands for more housing clash with demands for open space.
On Monday night, five of those dozens of properties were discussed during a public hearing that lasted several hours and was attended by dozens of residents who packed Ramapo Town Hall. [Read more…]
State pulls monitor overseeing Ramapo building inspectors; says minimum requirement met
Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski announce plans to immediately inspect private schools for building code and fire safety on May 26, 2016. (Photo: Ricky Flores/The Journal News)
“A state monitor assigned nearly two years ago to oversee the town fire and safety inspections and building department administration has been pulled from Town Hall.
After assigning the oversight in response to years of complaints about Ramapo’s deficient enforcement of fire safety and building codes, the state has determined the Ramapo Building Department has shown improvement and now meets the minimum standards.
“”As far as I am concerned, they signed the death warrant for residents and firefighters.” Justin Schwartz
FINAL REPORT: State removes building department monitor
LETTER: State releases Ramapo monitor
LETTER: Zebrowski, Jaffee and Carlucci write the state concerned about safety of residents
Ramapo judge signs order supporting move to close illegal school
“A state Supreme Court judge has ordered the closure of a Route 306 private school operating without town approvals, but town officials said the school’s appeal will stall emptying the modular classrooms of students.
Congregation Bais Chinuch Ateres Bnos — which has been subject to fire and safety code violations — has been teaching more than 300 students for more than a year at 261 Route 306 without town permits and site plan approval.
The school’s two-year temporary certificate of occupancy expired Sept. 30, 2017. [Read more…]
Feds Arrest Seven, Including some Rabbis, in $14M Monsey/Kiryas Joel Funding Scam
By Jonathan Dienst NBC 4 New York
Published 46 minutes ago | Updated 9 minutes ago
Seven Monsey and Kiryas Joel residents – including some rabbis – were arrested Wednesday in connection with an alleged $14 million dollar rip-off of a federal school technology funding program, federal prosecutors said. The FBI arrested the seven for allegedly stealing money meant to help underprivileged children.
Prosecutors said the suspects lied to claim they were serving as independent consultants and vendors to help obtain and provide telecommunication services to private religious school students across Rockland County. Federal dollars would come from the federal E-Rate program which is funded by the FCC. But investigators said the services were never provided with the seven allegedly stealing much of the money from 2010-2016. [Read more…]
CUPON Chestnut Ridge meeting Sunday, June 10, 2-4pm
The Chestnut Ridge monthly meeting will be this Sunday at Finkelstein Memorial Library from 2 to 4 p.m.
A major topic will be the June 28th board meeting which will address the proposed house of worship law, a law which could possibly impact 90% of our village
Ramapo contaminated soil case heads to trial
Massive piles of dirt from the Rockland Sewer District No. 1’s decade-long expansion project that were placed in Sloatsburg’s Community Field nearly a decade ago have been removed.
(Photo: Michael D’Onofrio/The Journal News)
If the high-profile contaminated soil case goes to a jury trial, jurors will have to decide if Ramapo removed any contaminated soil as it was contracted to do and if it billed the local sewer district for the work regardless, a judge ruled this week. [Read more…]
1,299 Victims of St. Lawrence’s crimes ask for the Court’s Consideration
Midnight, Sunday, December 10
The petition to the Court considering the sentence for Christopher St. Lawrence closed with 1,299 signing. Thanks to everyone who signed. We will send the final total to Judge Seibel early Monday morning to become part of the record for the sentencing hearing.
CUPON Chestnut Ridge meeting Monday Nov 6
The monthly meeting of the Chestnut Ridge CUPON will be Monday November 6 at 7pm at the South Spring Valley Fire Department, 26 Red Schoolhouse Road. There will be updates on all ongoing issues and more. And don’t forget to vote Tuesday Nov 7, and make some phone calls to friends and relatives–this election is critical.