Preserve Ramapo

www.preserve-ramapo.com

“Anti-Semitism,” Racism, and Growth in Ramapo

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Commentary from Robert I. Rhodes, Ph. D., Chairman, Preserve Ramapo

Ramapo has a hero in the county legislature.  His name is Aron Wieder.  A man of great courage, he has taken on the burdensome defense of our Hasidic community.  Whenever it is suggested that high density housing is overwhelming Ramapo’s resources he goes on the attack.  This argument, he charges, is an anti-Semitic slur directed against his community.

But Wieder is not a hero, he is a racist.  He knows that much of the housing that has been built in recent years for his community was built on land formerly occupied by modest homes owned by Black and Brown families.  They were block busted out of their homes.  Most of the rest of the high-density developments in Ramapo were built on vacant land that had been drastically down-zoned as a gift to Hasidic developers. [Read more…]

Viewpoint from Legislature Candidate Vivian Street

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A Viewpoint from Vivian Street—Candidate for Rockland County Legislature District 13.

In 1619 the first documented slaves landed in the British Colony of Jamestown, from Angola. As we commemorate the 400 years of history since that fateful day, we remember that our nation and its wealth were built through forced labor and the very existence of Black men and women.

It is ironic that as this country celebrates its democracy, the Black community is still fighting for equal rights, justice and freedom.

I have attended many public hearings over the past several months in the Village of Spring Valley and the Town of Ramapo.  I must admit that the Hillcrest CUPON has been the driving force in bringing the overdevelopment issue to the forefront. [Read more…]

Candidates on the SAM Line

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September 25–Letter from Preserve Ramapo

As the election season ramps up we want to give you a whiff of what we’ve got cooking.

We are endorsing a full slate of almost 30 candidates in Ramapo and Rockland County. Nearly all of them are on ballot Row H, the SAM Party line.

SAM is the new political party that was formed during last year’s gubernatorial race by Stephanie Miner, the former Mayor of Syracuse, and Michael Volpe the former Mayor of Pelham, NY, who ran for Governor and Lt Governor respectively. [Read more…]

Spring Valley: Mallia maxes out $75k contract working for the mayor; board won’t extend it

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Anthony Mallia led away in handcuffs

Anthony Mallia led away in handcuffs arrested at his home in September 2016
Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

“The Board of Trustees has again refused to amend convicted felon Anthony Mallia’s contract after he reached the $75,000 pay threshold to work for Mayor Alan Simon, essentially removing Mallia from his paid top aide position.

Simon failed to garner the three board votes needed to amend Mallia’s contract during Tuesday’s board meeting in Village Hall.

Simon and Deputy Mayor Zack Clerina supported Mallia, while Trustees Sherry McGill and Eudson Francois rejected amending Mallia’s contract. Trustee Asher Grossman, seen as the deciding vote, again abstained.

When Francois asked why Simon persisted after two previous rejections, the mayor said, “We strongly need the services of this gentleman,” without providing specifics, and there’s a vote because “I make the agenda.” [Read more…]

Ramapo zoning board OKs high-density Bluefield Extension housing project; appeal possible

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A contested high-density housing development has won approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals, leading an opposition group to consider filing legal action to block the project.

The developer wants to build 15 to 20 units on approximately one acre off Union Road, just across the road from the massive Bluefield complex of multiple family townhouses, according to court papers once filed against the project.

Called the Bluefield Extension, the development would introduce multiple-family housing to a neighborhood of predominately single-family homes, potentially changing the area’s character, according to leaders of the Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhood, known as CUPON. [Read more…]

Substantial Equivalency and Rally at the Legislature

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From Preserve Ramapo Sept. 2:

We want to bring your attention to two initiatives that are
currently underway.

1.) Rally at the Legislature.

There will be a rally in front of the Rockland legislative office building
in New City at 6:15 PM, tomorrow evening, Tuesday Sept. 6th to protest Legislator Aron Weider for his habitual practice of crying anti-Semitism.

We will gather outside the Legislative building to hold our protest at 6:15 PM and then move into the legislative chambers to attend the meeting of the Legislature beginning at 7:00 PM. Our intent is to make use of the public comment period held at the end of the meeting to speak out about the corrosive and divisive practice of using the charge of anti-Semitism to stifle legitimate political debate. [Read more…]

Rockland Legislator Santulli calls out legislator Wieder for ‘anti-Semitic’ label

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Photo of Aron Wieder

Rockland County Legislator Aron Wieder, who opposes the new “substantial equivalency” regulations talks with people who are for it after a press conference in New City Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News)

“Rockland Legislator Laurie Santulli has requested a resolution condemning recent actions by fellow Legislator Aron Wieder, D-Spring Valley, including comments Wieder made Friday outside the Rockland County Courthouse to a community activist and earlier statements against a state Assemblywoman. [Read more…]

Pascack Ridge builder seeking zone change donated $2,500 to Ramapo re-election campaign

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Alex Goldberger Monsey Developer (left), talks with his attorney before public hearing on zone change in Ramapo Town Hall on Aug. 15  (Photo: Steve Lieberman)

“The Pascack Ridge builder seeking a Town Board zone change for high-density housing donated $2,500 in March to the re-election campaign for three board members who will vote on his proposal, according to state Board of Elections records and a board critic.

Alex Goldberger’s Monsey Affordable Homes Inc. made the donation on March 15 to Team Ramapo, the re-election campaign for Supervisor Michael Specht, Deputy Supervisor Brendel Logan-Charles, and Councilman Michael Rossman. The campaign reported the donation in its July filing with the state. [Read more…]