Orange County, NY – An Orange County elected official went on the record with plans to acquire available properties within the town and to institute a ward-based voting system, specifically noting that the measures were intended to stem the influx of Chasidic residents and their potentially powerful vote.
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According to The Times Herald Record (https://bit.ly/2Ndz9SI), Chester supervisor Alex Jamieson said that locals are concerned about the political power that could be wielded by the predominantly Chasidic residents who are expected to move into the as yet unfinished 431 home Greens at Chester development.
As of the 2010 census, Chester, which is located approximately nine miles west of Kiryas Joel, had just under 12,000 residents. As many as 3,000 Chasidic residents could eventually call the new development home.
A ward system could lessen the impact of the bloc vote by splitting the town into districts, explained Jamieson. Both Blooming Grove, near Kiryas Joel, and Mamakating, located near Bloomingburg, have instituted ward systems since Chasidic residents have begun moving into the area. Efforts in the Monsey area to implement a similar system in the Town of Ramapo have yet to succeed.
“The idea is to keep the Hasidic out so that they can’t control the town board,” said Jamieson.
Jamieson’s comments came as he announced the town’s acquisition of the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, an 8.8 acre property that was purchased for $1 million, although the town has yet to decide how the land will be used. Chester is also in the process of buying 160 acres of property near Sugar Loaf for $1.3 million and a 26 acre piece of property on Route 94, which could be used for a town pool and a running track.
All told, the town expects to spend $3.1 million on the acquisitions, which will be funded by long term bonds, if approved by the town board at its next meeting.
“People realize what the possibilities are,” said Jamieson. “The fear of KJ expanding into Chester is scaring people half to death. It’s not just the Greens at Chester. They are buying property all around it.”
At a previously held town board meeting, Jamieson also announced his intention to create a program that would preserve open space in Chester.
“We made a promise to the people to preserve as much of the town as possible,” said Jamieson. “This is just the first phase.”
Kiryas Joel school superintendent Joel Petlin called Jamieson out for his comments on Twitter, accusing him of anti-Semitism, saying that elected officials should be expected to curtail hatred instead of spreading it.
“Let’s replace the word ‘Hasidic’ in the headline with the word ‘Blacks,’” tweeted Petlin. “Say it out loud & hear how it sounds.”
Jamieson has served as supervisor for the Town of Chester since January 2014. He was arrested this past June and charged with grand larceny and filing false documents for collecting approximately $6,000 in unemployment benefits while he was working as the Chester town supervisor.
Jamieson did not immediately return a call for comment on the matter.
So if blacks moved into jewish neighborhoods in droves would the frum community be any better?
Starting to sound like Nazism !!!!
Why blame the people of Chester. When we move into a neighborhood we destroy it. When one of them drives through downtown Monsey and see what we did – why should he not be up in arms trying to protect this not happen to his neighborhood?? Svartzers bring crime – Chassidim bring blight. Everyone has a right to keep his community safe and clean. Maybe we are the problem?
However, in this day and age you can’t be open about it.
While it is correct to come out and criticize this official for his wrong comments at the same time there is a need to look internally. It is true that Esav Soneh LeYaakov is always in play, but we can’t give them reasons to despise us. Monsey is a great example of a once nice suburban area where Jews lived, to a relocated Williamsburg and Boro Park with over development and terrible traffic. Expecting locals to not resent funds being diverted from public schools for Yeshivas is unreasonable. Let there be a public outcry about these horrible comments but also some introspection about how we can be better neighbors and respect the nature of the communities we move into.
To #1 - What do you think occurred in Crown Heights, as well as areas of Flatbush?
Christopher St. Lawrence the former supervisor for the Town of Ramapo spent about 100 million dollars on property during his tenure. He promised the land would be set aside and preserved. Now the town is 8 million in the red so some of the land is being sold. Everyone in Ramapo knows that St. Lawrence had Hasidic builders that he was “friends” with and a lot of people predicted that the land would be sold to them cheap.
It shldnt scare them “half to death”. They can all die if they want a “wholesome death”. They can all move to harlem and “stay alive”. How can he get away with such comments? Imagine any white politician saying it on blacks? There wld be a pogrom in seconds
. I guess its just all part of our Galus but we defntly need to behave so we dont draw any unwanted attention.
http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180531/chester-supervisor-charged-with-theft-of-unemployment-benefits
Just saying
Frum people in CH say the same things about blacks, just in private.
Can we donate to him? Keep neturei karta out