Everyone Is Invited To The Upcoming South Blooming Grove Shit Show
Everyone Is Invited To The Upcoming South Blooming Grove Shit Show
Even if you're not a resident of this small upstate New York village, you're invited to watch a clear violation of the 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause take place.
As Pro-Publica made clear in their recent reporting on Ziklag, there is no greater threat to our democracy in America than the continued erosion of the separation of church and state by religious extremists:
But the Christian Nationalists are not the only group putting our democracy in danger.
Here’s a much more local example …
The Village of South Blooming Grove's Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 25th, 2024, at 8 pm to discuss 1 Roanoke Drive. A project that The Monroe Gazette has covered in detail here and here.
There will be no public comment during the meeting at this time. However, members of the public can submit written comments until Monday, July 22nd, which will be considered during the session.
(More on what you can submit to the ZBA in an upcoming post. I will also have an update on whether or not public comment is re-opened, given everything I'm about to share with you.)
The point is: Don't let the lack of public comment stop you from coming, even if you don't live in South Blooming Grove.
This meeting on July 25th at 8 pm at Village Hall is a real-time example of what happens when the separation of church and state is completely eroded in the United States of America. The potential impact of this meeting is significant, and your presence could make a difference in ensuring the boundaries between church and state are kept.
I thought our elected officials here in New York should have a front-row seat to the kind of behavior they've enabled over the last half-century, which relates to Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum and his brother, Zalman Teitelbaum's activity.
Below, I'm going to share with you my invitation to this meeting, which I shared with Dorey Houle, Tim Mitts, and James Skoufis, the two contenders and the incumbent for the New York State 42nd District's Senate seat.
Not many people realize this, but New York State's constitution also has its own Establishment Clause. It says:
"The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this state to all humankind, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his or her opinions on matters of religious belief; but the liberty of conscience at this moment secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this state."
For those of you curious, because I had to look it up myself, licentiousness means:
1. a throwing off of sexual restraint; lewd character or behavior:
2. a wanton disregard or transgression of laws, rules, or moral norms:
Given the second definition for licentiousness, the "wanton disregard or transgression of laws, rules, or moral norms," and the second half of the NYS Establishment clause, "the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to [...] justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this state" required our State representatives to be there.
And yes, I also invited NYS Assemblyman Brian Maher to attend, as his district, 101, covers South Blooming Grove. In a statement to The Monroe Gazette, Mr. Maher said he could not attend due to a conference in Denver that he had committed to participate in several months ago. Assemblyman Maher said that a representative would be present at this meeting in South Blooming Grove.
Orange County District 5 Legislator Katherine E. Bonelli, who also represents South Blooming Grove, was also invited to attend but has not replied as of press time.
I also invited Congressman Pat Ryan, but given his financial ties to the very people eroding the separation of church and state in South Blooming Grove and his alleged recent attempt to derail the NYS Budget process to score a political victory for the Village of Kiryas Joel's Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum, it's doubtful he'll attend or even respond.
Congressman Ryan’s campaign also failed to respond to numerous letters requesting his direct intervention in South Blooming Grove previously.
Congressman Ryan’s competitor for the congressional seat, Mrs. Allison Esposito, was also invited to attend this meeting.
What follows is my letter to your state senate representative and his competitors, as well as a letter you can copy and send to all three of them to encourage their attendance.
First, we'll start with my letter:
Mr. Mitts, Mrs. Houle, and Senator Skoufis,
The ZBA will hold a special meeting in South Blooming Grove on July 25th at 8 pm to discuss 1 Roanoke Drive.
The Village of South Blooming Grove was a deeded property adjacent to 1 Roanoke Drive from the Town. According to the DEC, this property is zoned as a forever green space due to its role in stormwater management.
1 Roanoke Drive would like to cut into this green space to build a parking lot for 70 vehicles regardless.
Some of our Haredi residents argue that not giving them this parking lot would infringe upon their ability to worship at 1 Roanoke Drive.
South Blooming Grove residents argue that Mr. Isaac Ekstein, one of two de facto mayors in South Blooming Grove, is a beneficiary of this zoning change as president of the Congregation at 1 Roanoke and has failed to disclose this role — and previous ownership of the property — to the public despite numerous opportunities to do so.
Here's my challenge to you:
The three of you are up for election this Fall for the same NYS Senate Seat, which includes South Blooming Grove within its district.
Will you, not a representative, YOU, pledge to appear at this meeting and speak on behalf of the residents of South Blooming Grove?
Your response, or lack thereof (Dorey, that means you), will be noted.
Mr. Skoufis, given that Mr. Ekstein donated $10,000 to your previous Senate campaign, I hope you will attend and help highlight your point that these large donations do not influence your actions.
Please RSVP as soon as possible by replying to this email or, better yet, releasing a statement to confirm your attendance at this meeting.
I have one correction to make:
Mr. Ekstein has donated $15,000 to Mr. Skoufis, not $10,000.
He donated $10,000 to the State Senator under his name. Previously, he donated $5,000 under a corporation registered to his home address, Home Care Operator Inc.
This home address of 40 Virginia Avenue was also registered to the Cong Yetev Lev D' Satmar of Blooming Grove, which is the Congregation that operates out of 1 Roanoke Drive, where Mr. Ekstein previously stated he was president at a South Blooming Grove Village Board meeting.
This address was also used for the United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove, of which Mr. Ekstein is president.
Mr. Ekstein recently sued the Washingtonville Central School District to force it and all school districts in NYS to provide busing on days and times when they would otherwise be closed.
You can copy and paste the following email to all three candidates. It's a slightly updated version of the one I sent above.
And Now, Here’s The Letter You Can Send
To: timothyjonmitts@gmail.com,info@doreyhoule.com, skoufis@nysenate.gov
Subject: You're Invited to The Shit Show in South Blooming Grove
Body:
Dear Mr. Mitts, Mrs. Houle, and Senator Skoufis,
The ZBA will hold a special meeting in South Blooming Grove on July 25th at 8 pm to discuss 1 Roanoke Drive.
The Village of South Blooming Grove was a deeded property adjacent to 1 Roanoke Drive from the Town. According to the DEC, this property was zoned, in part, as a forever green space due to its role in stormwater management. The forever green designation comes from the original deed given to the Village by the Town on behalf of the former property owners. It is not a DEC designation, it is in the language of the deed itself that the land is to remain forever green.
1 Roanoke Drive would like to cut into this green space to build a parking lot for 70 vehicles regardless.
Some of our Haredi residents argue that not giving them this parking lot would infringe upon their ability to worship at 1 Roanoke Drive. This was stated at the July 11th, 2024 ZBA Meeting. At the same meeting, congregants who spoke said that 1 Roanoke Drive had plenty of available parking.
Despite these comments about abundant parking, the Village of South Blooming Grove made a special accommodation for the 1 Roanoke Drive application after congregants said not approving this application would somehow interfere with celebrating Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, despite their contradictory statements that the shul has plenty of parking already available for congregants. It is worth noting here that all voting members of the South Blooming Grove ZBA belong to the same Satmar religious group that would directly benefit from the ZBA application being proposed concerning 1 Roanoke Drive.
Non-Haredi South Blooming Grove residents argue that Mr. Isaac Ekstein, one of two de facto mayors in South Blooming Grove, is a beneficiary of this zoning change as president of the Congregation at 1 Roanoke and has failed to disclose this role — and previous ownership of the property — to the public despite numerous opportunities to do so, including being asked directly by The Monroe Gazette at the Village Board meeting held on June 14th, 2024.
Mr. Ekstein, a paid village employee, still needs to disclose that he is a tenant of Mr. Lazer Schvimmer, who submitted the paperwork for 1 Roanoke Drive to the Village.
Mr. Ekstein also needs to clarify whether or not he is paying Mr. Schvimmer rent with this arrangement. The lack of disclosure concerning this living arrangement with the applicant and his presidency of the Congregation violates New York State Municipal law, as neither was disclosed on forms provided to the Village of South Blooming Grove concerning 1 Roanoke Drive.
The three of you are up for election this Fall for the same NYS Senate Seat, which includes South Blooming Grove within its district.
Will you, not a representative, YOU, pledge to appear at this meeting and speak on behalf of the residents of South Blooming Grove?
Your response, or lack thereof (that means you, Mrs. Houle), will be noted.
Mr. Skoufis, given that Mr. Ekstein donated $15,000 to your previous Senate campaign, I hope you will attend and highlight your claims that these large donations do not influence your actions.
The federal Constitution states that the government cannot be used to benefit one religion over another, and the New York State Constitution states that government-sanctioned action taken on behalf of a religious organization cannot be done with a wanton disregard for the laws of the State.
In this example, Revoking a forever green designation from a piece of property meant to help manage stormwater flooding to build an unnecessary parking lot for a schul operated by a Village employee. There is no more clear example of an Establishment Clause violation than this.
Please RSVP as soon as possible by replying to this email or, better yet, releasing a public statement to confirm your attendance at this meeting to ensure a fair process occurs.
I hope to see you there.
(Your name here)