Mahwah, NJ – Town’s Moves Could Mean Shift In Orthodox Jewish Dispute

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    In this Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, photo, polyvinyl chloride piping is seen on an utility pole as a vehicle drives by on Airmount Road in Mahwah, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Mahwah, NJ – Some recent moves by a town could signal a shift in a dispute with Orthodox Jewish groups that has already prompted state and federal lawsuits.

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    The Record reports Mahwah’s township council reversed an amended sign ordinance this month and could vote to abandon a parks ordinance when it meets Thursday. The town, which is on the New Jersey-New York border, introduced the measures last summer.

    The sign amendment effectively banned the building of an eruv, a religious boundary created by placing white plastic piping on utility poles. Some Orthodox Jews consider the boundary necessary to allow them to do such activities as carrying keys and pushing strollers on the Sabbath.

    Mahwah officials contended the markers violated local laws that prohibit signs on trees, rocks and utility poles.

    The parks ordinance restricting parks to local residents was created after residents complained about overcrowding at parks and their use by Orthodox Jewish families from New York.

    An Orthodox group filed a federal lawsuit in August, and the state sued in October.

    The state lawsuit seeks to block the ordinances and seeks the return of more than $3.4 million in state grants the town has received from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

    New Jersey contends Mahwah violated the state’s Green Acres Act and noted that land acquired under the law cannot be restricted on the basis of religion or residency.

    Mahwah Mayor William Laforet, in a statement he read at the council’s Dec. 14 meeting, slammed the council’s earlier actions as an “ill-advised, poorly disguised act of discrimination” and “political misbehavior” that has tarnished the town’s image.

    An email message left for council president Robert Hermansen on Tuesday wasn’t immediately returned.

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    Information from: The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.), http://www.northjersey.com


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    7 Comments
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    6 years ago

    The eriuv was a silly concern. However the parks concerns are real and vaild.

    “The parks ordinance restricting parks to local residents was created after residents complained about overcrowding at parks “

    The attraction of suburban parks are that my kid actually gets to run around and use its facilities. When frum jews come and take over the park, it ruins that

    The_Truth
    Noble Member
    The_Truth
    6 years ago

    Towns on borders of cities, counties and states always will have this problem and there is little that can be done unless you discriminate. I moved away and am now in a different town and pay an enormous amount more in taxes. Taxes that now include paying for better facilities and amenities, including the public parks. Did I want use the park before – yes. Is there a sign saying for residents of this town only – yes. Can they stop non residents from using the park? probably not. What people need to do is pay for a new park in their own town, or negotiate with the neighboring town to pay for expansion to accommodate neighboring towns residents.

    6 years ago

    To #2 &3.

    Yes I agree the law is the law. But I see the residents point. And its not anti semtism as much as it is overcrowding.