Pine Bush, NY – According to Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office is conducting an investigation into the 396-unit housing project currently underway in Bloomingburg.
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Times Herald Record (http://bit.ly/HbHIGT) reports that the statement by Gunther—who also said she recently spoke with officials from the AG’s office—comes just a week after Orange County Legislator and Pine Bush school board member Roseanne Sullivan submitted a letter requesting an investigation by Schneiderman’s office.
In her letter addressing the project which most believe will house primarily Satmar Hasidim, Sullivan wrote, “The approvals were obtained through the misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the proposed development.”
Bloomingburg residents, as well, have requested an inquiry, citing “egregious misconduct” on behalf of Bloomingburg officials, who they say have shown a “blatant disregard for the law, freedom of information laws, open meeting laws, conflicts of interest, voting irregularities as well as concerns of financial improprieties.”
Over 200 residents packed last month’s Planning Board meeting at Village Hall, where developer Shalom Lamm was slated to give a presentation on a proposed all-girls private school—one that would service the housing project, while possibly taxing local Pine Bush finances .
That meeting was abruptly canceled after it was determined by officials that not everyone in attendance could properly hear the presentation.
“I almost feel like it’s some kind of stall tactic or something,” Bloomingburg resident Kimberly Romer said after the meeting.
Don’t they realize that any lawsuit would bring a counter lawsuit for discrimination?
Shalom Lamm is not Satmar. He is Norman Lamm’s son.
Don’t they realize the old ways of riding roughshod over everyone else are over? It’s a new world, one where Satmar can’t get away with the same stuff they’ve been doing for decades. It’s one thing wanting to build a new community, another to tax locals for the privilege.
Why would someone make 396 housing units in a community that has only 450 people? Why would the people of that town have to subsidize a private yeshiva?
Didn’t we have enough chillul Hashem in Postville where the town also had to subsidize the yeshivas??
Don’t believe all the hogwash. Support the Talmud Torah? Maybe pay some of its transportation costs, while practically doubling their property tax revenues.
I don’t know if I can condone the secretive way they obtained their permits but it’s hard to blame them now with all the anti-semitism on display from their future neighbors.
The taxes the yidden pay, usually official part of the deal, HELPS the town. Besides the economic uplift to the area. If the people don’t want it is NOT due to any cost to them. I recall in other areas upstate where the local newspapers reported how much millions of taxes the town will benefit from the deal, easing the burden for everyone.
What is there to investigate if proper permits were issued and the housing units are up to code. I don’t see how the village can oppose an private school that won’t cost them anything and will provide some construction jobs.
Best thing for the Satmars. As a politician Schneiderman will never do anything against either faction of the Satmars. He will try to nail one or two local officials. Then he will turn around and fight ‘for’ the Satmars ‘against’ the discrimination. Something that’s part of the AGs task. (Schneiderman even created a new religious rights unit in his office.)
With 396 units of housing there certainly is the need for a least one “Shabbos goy” for emergencies
If you morons could read as well as you screech, you would see the article says “possibly taxing the locals….” Before you make total fools of yourselves, think before you click send. You are embarrassing yourselves, not
Isnt satmar a sect that is against the state of Israel? If so then clearly nobody should support them either!
My understanding of the article is that bloomingburh residents claim that the May be “disregard of the law” and that approvals where “obtained with misrepresentation”
If true than satmer is wrong here.
Yes they need housing. But get it with the truth.
seriously people…it’s not about the religion. Yes, there a few nuts in every bunch and that’s what you are trying to run with here to make this a jewish issue. THE REAL ISSUE if you have read the latest newspaper article is that the frontman Mr Roe admits he lied to people about the project and the size, a man on the board admits he didn’t read the paperwork he signed and never saw 396 units and if he had he would have nixed it. Mr Roe admits he was deceitful and never mentioned the 1.4 million he was supposed to received for the deal but didn’t when Mr Lamm sued him. The REAL ISSUE is the TOWN and what the town can’t handle, the admitted deceit by the board, the lack of information that is given and the fact that any time anyone asks for anything regarding this project everyone screams Anti anti semitic! We want answers and we want the truth. 396 of any kind of housing is kind helpful for the town that has one street light, barely paved roads and only 400 residents currently. Our school system and our town can not handle that influx. It’s not a jewish, black, white, purple issue so stop making it that way.