Rockland County, NY – County Exec and Nearby Residents Protest Proposed New Square Slaughterhouse

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    Rockland County, NY – Local residents, concerned neighbors and Rockland County’s highest ranking official were among those who gathered this afternoon for a protest against a proposed chicken slaughterhouse in New Square.

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    County Executive Ed Day was among the over 100 people who turned out this afternoon just across from the village of New Square to protest the planned facility, which would be located on a currently undeveloped parcel of land at the northwestern corner of New Square on Route 45, directly across from a residential area in the neighboring village of New Hempstead.

    As previously reported on VIN News, the 26,250 square foot Adir Poultry plant would replace a previously closed 5,000 square foot facility that had been closed by the federal government in 2010 after it was discovered that the plant had been selling uninspected chickens for years.

    Numerous elected officials as well as political hopefuls came to the hour long, peaceful demonstration at 2 Rovitz Place, on the corner of Route 45 and Rovitz Place, just yards from the proposed facility. Speaker after speaker encouraged those in attendance to be vocal in their protests of the project, with orange plastic pails passed around to collect monetary contributions to the cause.

    Most of the speakers, which included Day, Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and congressional hopeful Chris Day, son of County Executive Day, reiterated the theme that there is no place for a slaughterhouse in a residential community, citing potential concerns including issues of health, sanitary conditions, environmental problems, increased traffic and the negative effect the proposed facility would have on property values.

    Ed Day was quick to note that religion plays no part in his opposition to the project, known as Heritage Park.

    “It’s not a Jewish Christian issue,” Day told VIN News. “It’s not even a Chasidic, non-Chasidic issue. This is an issue of the application of the zoning law…what about the families in New Square? What about the children who live right by this processing plant?”

    Day observed that while the county considers the facility to be an inappropriate use of the land, local village boards have the power to override the county, something that he expects will happen and he is confident that should this project proceed, it will be guided carefully by the Rockland County Planning Department and no political favors or shortcuts will be granted.

    While Day noted that his goal as County Executive it to unite all residents, he was unequivocal in his opposition to the planned slaughterhouse.

    “We are here to draw a line in the sand and say ‘No, we do not approve of an obvious wrong.’ We do not put this type of facility in a residential area. We will work to try to do something make sure it does not occur.”

    Gesturing across the road towards New Square, Day urged the village board of New Square to rethink its plans.

    “My challenge to New Square is to find an alternative that is respectful and mindful of the people who live in the area, both on this side of the road and your neighbors across the street,” said Day. “And if New Square is serious about that, my office will help them find property that is more conducive, more respectful of neighbors, something in an industrial area. We stand ready to do that. We just need an extension of the hand across that road, to us.”

    A statement released by Ira Emanuel, the lawyer for the Heritage Park project, expresses a strong commitment to working with elected officials and to working with the community once the project moves beyond the planning stage.

    “Plans and studies for the proposed poultry facility off Route 45 have been ongoing for years. The developer wants to ensure full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and government standards. The plant, both inside and out, has been designed to be as minimally intrusive as possible. Special care has been taken to insure that all processing will take place inside the building, and that noise, odors and emissions are reduced to the greatest extent possible. In an effort to maintain maximum transparency, the applicant continues to provide elected and government officials with full details of the entire project. Once our internal studies are completed, the developer intends to reach out on a neighborhood level.”
    Prototype of the planned slaughter house
    Activist Mike Miller urged listeners not to accept defeat should the slaughterhouse be approved.

    “When political processes fail, injustices are taken over by the people themselves,” said Miller, who added that should the plan be given the green light, he will be planning daily demonstrations against the facility in the hopes of garnering national attention.

    “Hopefully the national political arena will help us stop this injustice because it is going to destroy our community,” said Miller.

    Several people at the protest observed that there are many in New Square who oppose the plant, but are unable to voice their opposition including Chestnut Ridge resident Ron Miller who says he has spoken with members of the New Square community at a local gas station who say they are against the slaughterhouse.

    “They told me they feel they have no voice and if they speak out they will be ostracized,” said Miller. “Everybody knows what happened to Aron Rottenberg and he just wanted to daven around the corner. If this poultry plant can have a negative effect on people’s health, they should make sure all the children in Rockland Country’s health should be protected and that includes the children of the parents who really can’t speak out.”

    A statement released by Fred Brinn, mayor of New Hempstead, addressed the poultry processing plant, saying that New Square village officials have been open about their plans and have welcomed all inquiries regarding the project and that New Hempstead will conduct its own due diligence regarding any impact on the village.

    “Our resident’s quality of life is of paramount importance to us and we will do everything in our power to protect that.”


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    19 Comments
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    jack25
    jack25
    9 years ago

    Dear VIN
    Thank you for the article and all the good work that’s put into this blog . I can see the work that went to this article its self. Unlike other site that just copy from CBS and paste it and with no photo’s at all. People start appreciating what you have!
    The visionary.

    9 years ago

    All of my New Square friends are opposed to this but are petrified to speak out for fear of retribution. A few came to the protest today but had to hide in the trees next to Jawonio for fear of being seen. I really fear for these poor people who have to live each day afraid they will be caught with unfiltered smart phones or any thoughts opposing the leadership. There is no feeling like being free from oppression. Meanwhile, the Rabbi lives in a 2 million dollar mansion on the Hudson River in Nyack while his flock barely survive.

    9 years ago

    The feds came in a few years ago and closed the plant owned by this same group for filthy conditions, no refrigeration, feathers and feces on the inside and outside walls. Poor New Square!!!! Look at what you will be getting again along with blood seeping into the water supply like it did last time. Do you really want this or need this? Within 2 minutes of this tragedy are million dollar homes. Why not put this in an industrial zone instead of a residential locale?

    Balaboos
    Balaboos
    9 years ago

    So, everyone’s gonna chicken out now?

    9 years ago

    Perhaps when the Satmar stop saying NO to Israel, others will then stop saying no to them.

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    9 years ago

    Since I don’t live in the immediate area of the proposed controversial chicken processing plant, I don’t know if I have a right to voice my opinion. But I feel that in the face of such strong opposition by the local residents, especially since the Rockland County Executive, Mr. Ed Day has extended his offer to help those that stand behind the building of the plant find another, more suitable location, they should take him up on his offer and forego its opening in that particular location.

    9 years ago

    I would definitely not like a slaughterhouse to be built next to my home, and why don’t these people understand that? Can they do what they want? If their neighbors (and their own village folk) are against it, then scrap it, it’s one thing if it’s been there a while and they are told to leave, but here they are starting anew, so do it where people don’t mind it!!!!

    9 years ago

    I feel for the residents. A poultry plant is really disgusting and inevitably, the smell will waft, no matter what precautions are made. And of course, things happen and there may welI be serious, if rare, problems. My guess is that just the delivery of poultry will be noisy, dirty and malodorous: imagine the actual processing issues. Move it to an industrial zone.

    Furthermore, I agree with previous posters regarding the freedom to object being stifled – why don’t they pick up sticks and get out of that area? I know it’s not so simple, but neither is living in fear.

    Deveee
    Deveee
    9 years ago

    If Day is against it, it must be a good thing.
    He’s a vile anti-semite.

    9 years ago

    “They told me they feel they have no voice and if they speak out they will be ostracized,” said Miller.

    And there I thought it was only supposed to be chickens!

    yosher
    yosher
    9 years ago

    Maybe it should be in Square, possibly next to the Bais Medrash.

    MayerAlter
    MayerAlter
    9 years ago

    This is just the New Square philosophy: what we want an any cost. Of course they don’t care about their goyishe neighbors. They don’t care about those of their own who will suffer from this because after all the plant will supply chickens l’kovod Shabbos and the owners will donate a good chunk of their maiser gelt to the head man. So what is there to possibly object to?