Satisfaction and disappointment were among the reactions Thursday morning to Democratic Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence’s arrest on charges related to the funding of the town’s controversial baseball stadium.
Michael Castelluccio of Preserve Ramapo, which has been seeking to oust St. Lawrence for years, called the charges “a beginning, not an end, to what needs to happen in the Town of Ramapo.”
He said the arrest was “not only a vindication, but it’s also a tremendous shot in the arm for his grassroots political group “to continue as watchdogs and sources.”
“We are very gratified by the action taken by the FBI today,” Castelluccio said. “If their preparation is as thorough in their case against St. Lawrence as it was for the Spring Valley officials now in federal prison, we can look forward to a similar outcome.”
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said in a statement that the arrest didn’t bode well for faith in government.
“Elected officials are entrusted with the public’s money,” said Day, a Republican. “When they squander it or use it inappropriately, trust in government is damaged. If these allegations are true, this is a very sad day in Ramapo and all of Rockland.”
The Ramapo Republican Committee released a statement expressing shock at the arrest.
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