Kiryas Joel, NY – Rep. John Hall Confronts Questions About KJ Grant Money

Kiryas Joel, NY – Rep. John Hall answered questions about national tax rebates, improved benefits for veterans and a new energy policy.

But it was a question about $521,700 earmarked for the Hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel that got the most attention at a Town Hall meeting today in Woodbury.

Hall, D-Dover Plains, had been instrumental in securing the funding, part of a $516 billion appropriations bill passed by Congress at the end of 2007. Kiryas Joel asked Hall’s office for the money to purchase a radio communications system for its security services.

The village of more than 20,000 Satmar Hasidim does not have its own police department.

Radio communications would help its security services to protect it from hate crimes or terrorism, the village had argued in its application, Hall said.

Some in the audience, however considered the funding favoritism.

Woodbury Police Chief Robert Kwiatkowski argued that Kiryas Joel’s request should have fallen under the purview of Orange County’s E-911 system. Hall replied that Kiryas Joel asked for the money; the county did not.

Hall said the funding represented a small fraction of the money he was able to receive for local governments.

“When it comes to appropriations, we will do our best for any project worth funding,” he said. [threcord]