🎧 Listen: Congressman Pat Ryan's Office Asked When He's Coming to South Blooming Grove
Congressman Pat Ryan's office claims any constituent can call their office and have their problems addressed. So why has it taken him six months to address this one?
Listen … I’ve already voted.
And I voted for Congressman Pat Ryan on the Working Families Party line, despite everything you’re about to read.
Before we get to that, I just want to explain why I voted for him despite his clear deriliction of duty in representing his constituents across Orange County …
I voted this way, on the Working Families Party line, to protest the New York State Democratic Party’s total abandonment of the people of South Blooming Grove, while also voting to protect the reproductive rights of all women, and defend Ukraine, which is the first theater in a third World War.
(If you’re not paying attention to Ukraine, you should. There are now 10,000 North Korean soldiers fighting on behalf of the Russians, and Moscow is using missiles built and provided by the Iranians. So, yeah, this is a slow-motion World War 3, and the MAGA Republicans are going to lose it because of their love for Putin.)
The local Republican elected officials are mostly a bunch of fascists and weirdos (Clovewood Kathryn, Der Fuhrer, Crooked County Executive Neuhaus), so the bar was incredibly low for the local Republican Party when it comes to South Blooming Grove. There are exceptions, of course.
Sue Fries-Ciriello and Vic Ferrarelli are both Good Republicans, which is why they have my full support. There are others like them, but unfortunately, not enough.
You’ll notice that, unlike Clovewood Kathryn (Woodbury Town Supervisor Kathryn Luciani) both Vic and Sue have issued public statements about Clovewood, and are forming a coalition of municipal governments to help stop the project from being built.
That’s the Hallmark of a Good Republican. It’s not this weirdo Trump fascist shit, which is what Clovewood Kathryn and Der Fuhrer (Monroe Town Supervisor, Tony Cardone) offer people.
Good Republicans stand by their values and beliefs but don’t demonize those who disagree, or their opponents, and seek common ground to get things done on behalf of all people, not just the ones who elected them. They get shit done.
They don’t obstruct, which is what you see with the bipartisan Immigration bill that would have addressed everyone’s issues with the border, but didn’t get passed because the big angry baby didn’t want it to be passed.
Bad Republicans are basically what you’ve seen on display throughout Orange County: They have nothing to offer anyone but grievance and bullshit. Once they get into office, they have no idea how to govern beyond sitting around and blaming everyone else for all of their new problems and challenges.
It’s so much easier to be an asshole on the sidelines than it is to actually govern.
As someone who was a Republican until I heard the president of the United States falsely claim there were “Weapons of Mass Destruction” in Iraq, I’d like to think I know a Good Republican when I see one, because I was one.
Despite the bar being so low for some of the local Republican elected officials, they still managed to trip and fall over that bar repeatedly.
For example, Assemblyman Brian Maher’s office has been responsive to residents of South Blooming Grove who have called them. That’s great, given that his Assembly district covers South Blooming Grove. But … They also haven’t done a single thing to help them after taking those calls, nor have they asked the DEC to revoke the permits granted to Keen Equities.
Another example: Crooked County Executive Steve Neuhaus has not allowed the Orange County Department of Health to issue any sort of fines or authorize actual consequential action against Mr. Stern for his handling of the municipal water infrastructure.
So if you’re like, “BJ doesn’t beat up on the local Republicans as much as he does the local Democrats,” you’re right.
It’s because my expectations for most of the local Republicans are non-existent under their current leadership of Crooked County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Der Fuhrer (Tony Cardone.)
If I were a registered Republican in Orange County? I’d start demanding some serious changes in how this party operates, and the quality of candidates it’s offering to you.
Dorey Houle sucks. I have no doubt there are at least a thousand registered Republicans in Orange County, right now, who could have just crushed James Skoufis.
But we got Dorey because she’s part of the Bullshit & Grievance crowd.
So what’s the point in writing about them? They are who they are.
I would love for things to change, because there was a time when being a Republican didn’t automatically make people assume you’re evil. The 21st Century has not been good for this political party, and that situation was made much worse by the repeal of parts of the Voting Rights Act and then the issuance of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.
If you want to know why gerrymandering and obscene wealth dictates our elections on every level (local, state, and national) it was these two Supreme Court decisions: Shelby County v. Holder and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
That brings us back to the Democrats …
The Democrats are supposed to be the party of the poor and the powerless. They are the Shield of Democracy for those who need its protection.
Unless you live in Orange County, that is.
That’s why I spend a lot more time talking about schmucks like State Senator James G. Skoufis and Congressman Pat Ryan, than I do the local Republicans.
These two represent everything wrong with the modern Democratic Party: They view holding elected office as part of a game where you’re just climbing the ladder. Skoufis wanted to run for Congress, if you recall. Ryan thinks he’s going to be president.
Both are wrong.
And both, through what’s happening in South Blooming Grove — and Woodbury as well, in the case of Skoufis — are exposing themselves for what they are: Gutless climbers willing to sell out people on their quest for higher office.
Unless you’re like Joel Stern and can cut a $10,000 check to State Senator Skoufis, he’s not going to do anything for you.
Unless you’re AIPAC and you can cut a check for nearly $180,000, Congressman Pat Ryan is going to do nothing for you.
These are facts.
Skoufis started out strong out of the gate for South Blooming Grove, but what’s clearly happened is that he was told to back off in exchange for a whole lot of votes.
(Mr. Skoufis has received the endorsement from both factions in the City of Kiryas Joel, as well as the endorsement of Mr. Joel Stern’s United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove.)
Ryan, well, we’re going to get to him in a second.
The point here is: That’s not what the Democrats are supposed to do. That’s the kind of thing Republicans are expected to do.
Do you see the problem?
Like State Senator James G. Skoufis, I believe that Congressman Pat Ryan should face a strong primary challenge over how they’ve both handled the situation in South Blooming Grove.
It’s for that reason that I’m going to share the following post with you.
Over the weekend, I got an email from Congressman Pat Ryan’s office that said:
“If there is absolutely anything my team or I can be helpful with, please do not hesitate to reach out.”
That’s what Congressman Pat Ryan’s email said.
The thing is, I have reached out. So have most of you reading this.
Here’s one example, an email sent to Chris Walsh, the Chief of Staff of Congressman Pat Ryan, that was sent on April 29th. It was never responded to:
Dear Mr. Walsh,
I am aware of an active campaign by Congressman Pat Ryan to delay the implementation of substantial equivalency education requirements for yeshivas as part of the recent New York State budgeting process. According to The Albany Times Union, Mr. Ryan, along with Governor Hochul and others, are alleged to have held up this year’s New York State Budget in order to perform a specific political favor for Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum. The nature of this alleged transaction is that if the Congressman can help delay the substantial equivalency requirement for another year, he would receive the political support this Fall of Mr. Teitelbaum and his followers in one of Orange County’s largest municipalities.
Given that Congressman Ryan has received nearly $50,000 from donors connected to Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum, which include donations from: Chaim Oberlander, Joseph Landau, Livy Schwartz, Asher Horowitz, Akiva Klein, and Bernard Mittelman, among others, it appears that our Congressman is for sale. As a constituent of Congressman Ryan, this appearance of the Congressman being for sale is a cause of great concern.
There will be a time and place to discuss why the Congressman wishes to deny Haredi children an equivalent education of that received in secular schools throughout New York State. But now is not that time.
Instead, as a constituent of Mr. Ryan, I wish to request that same level of advocacy exhibited by the Congressman for Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum. This is on a matter of great importance in Orange County: The continued criminal activity by a company known as Keen Equities LLC.
Given that the Congressman is well aware of the Village of South Blooming Grove, and that he received financial donations from a developer there prior to his visit, it’s safe to assume he is also well aware of the issues residents there face by the actions of this company.
I have first hand knowledge that the FBI, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the CDC, and the EPA are well aware of the issues caused by this company and the people associated with it, such as Mr. Joel Stern and Mr. Isaak Ekstein. Both are members of a local hate group as defined by both the FBI and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and both men are people pictured here with the Congressman during his visit to South Blooming Grove. (Mr. Stern and Mr. Ekstein are on the far right. Mr. Simon Schwartz, Blooming Grove Town Councilman and also a member of the hate group, is on the Congressman’s left.)
If all of these federal agencies are “aware” of the situation, why haven’t any of them acted?
So, I am writing to you to make a simple request.
I believe these agencies won’t act because they’re being told not to do so. For example, the EPA specifically stated to The Monroe Gazette that “Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, EPA has the authority to enforce unauthorized discharges of dredge or fill material into waters of the United States, including federally regulated wetlands.” Keen Equities LLC has repeatedly discharged unknown material into waterways that people depend on. New York State’s DEC has issued fines and violations on this specific matter, and those fines and violations have been ignored. This is a matter of public record. This is a crime the EPA is aware of, but it has not yet acted on.
Why?
I am asking the Congressman to show the same level of intervention, enthusiasm, and advocacy he just demonstrated for Mr. Teitelbaum in order to help the people of Orange County prevent an environmental disaster that could ultimately grow to harm the Hudson River itself. I am asking the Congressman to be our advocate and encourage these federal agencies to take action. The time for “monitoring” (EPA) and “being aware” (FBI) of the situation is over.
All people deserve access to fresh, clean, and safe drinking water. It is a human right as recognized by the United Nations. Keen Equities and its associates are denying that right to the people of Orange County.
This should not be a hard thing to do. This should not be a controversial thing to do. But I promise you this: If the Congressman fails to act on this matter, I will do everything I can in my power to deny him re-election, regardless of the national consequences that may bring.
Then again, in August:
Dear Claire,
I've been forwarded a number of emails from upset residents of South Blooming Grove concerning the ongoing water emergency. It sounds like the Congressman's office has finally acknowledged the emergency.
That's great news.
But here's what I'd like to ask. There are four things the Congressman can do to help resolve the environmental emergency in South Blooming Grove. I've listed them below. Can you clarify if the Congressman is doing any of the following?
1.The Congressman should draft a letter to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner, Sean Mahar, requesting that all permits granted to Keen Equities be revoked due to the company’s repeated failure to comply with stop work notices and fines issued by the DEC.
2.The EPA has confirmed they are investigating the situation in South Blooming Grove. This investigation MUST examine the following:
The rampant, unpermitted construction in the Village is releasing dangerous amounts of PM2.5 into the air. The CDC has said PM2.5 is particularly dangerous for elderly populations, of which South Blooming Grove has a significant number.
The municipal water supply’s structural failures, which the Orange County Department of Health notified the Village about in 2022 and again in 2023, and the continued permitting of more construction by the Village despite warnings provided to them that there is not enough water to supply current residents.
The continued pollution of Satterly Creek, a Hudson River Estuary, by unpermitted construction in the Village, is putting Cornwall residents in danger. Satterly Creek provides drinking water, and the continued discharge of debris and other materials is putting those residents in danger.
3. The FBI field office in Poughkeepsie has been duly informed about the ongoing situation in South Blooming Grove. In fact, they’ve known about these issues, beginning with reports of voter fraud committed by members of the United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove organization. This information was provided to them in 2021 by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. It’s now 2024. It’s time for the FBI to act and investigate this organization and its members, as you will find a direct connection between everything I listed here in this letter to this organization, specifically concerning its founding board member, Joel Stern, its president, Isaac Ekstein, and Moche Halpern.
4. Finally, the IRS has received whistleblower complaints concerning the United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove and its founders, Mr. Stern and Mr. Ekstein. The IRS should receive from your office a request to commit to investigating this organization and its financial ties with developers such as Keen Equities and Mr. Avaraham Bur Jacobowitz, who is alleged to have provided much of the money for this organization to operate. Applying both the FBI and the Southern Poverty Law Center’s definition of a hate group, United Jewish Community of Blooming Grove would qualify for such a designation and should be treated with the same scrutiny as other hate groups who often try to hide behind Not-for-Profit status.
The next day, I got this email:
Thank you Mr. Mendelson,
This is an issue that the Congressman and his staff are very much aware of and appreciate your concerns so that we have more knowledge on what the constituents want. I have passed this along to the team.
Have a good Labor Day weekend!
Claire Reid
Staff Assistant/Assistant Scheduler
Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18)
So I wrote Claire back and said I would follow-up in about a month, asking for an update on what the Congressman is doing on these four items that were suggested. Concurrently, many readers of The Monroe Gazette took my lead and sent similar requests to the Congressman’s office.
I followed-up on October 4th and got no response.
So, today, November 4th, I gave the Congressman’s office a call. It speaks for itself. Below is a lightly edited transcript. The transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Pat Ryan's Office: Good afternoon, Congressman Pat Ryan's office. How can we help you?
B.J. Mendelson: Hi, I have this email here from the congressman's office saying that if there's a problem, I should give a call. So I would just like to know when the Congressman will be coming to South Blooming Grove?
Pat Ryan's Office: Um, I don't have an answer for you offhand. I can make that an opinion in our system. I don't have, I don't know exactly when. Okay, do you know we do have our …
B.J. Mendelson: Do you know if he's been to South Blooming Grove?
Pat Ryan's Office: um, I can't speak to that directly, but I know that we've been almost everywhere in the district. I'd be surprised if we didn't go there. But
B.J. Mendelson : So you're saying that the Congressman has spoken to the people in South Blooming Grove about the water and the air issue?
Pat Ryan's Office: That's not what I said. I said that I believe that we've been to almost every part of the district. I can't be 100% sure. I don't know exactly, sir where we haven't kind of been. I don't have that in front of me right now, but if there's a concern that you are trying to get across, I'm happy to make the congressman be aware of what's going on.
B.J. Mendelson: It's been the same problem that's been reported to the congressman's office since April concerning the release of PM, 2.5 into the air. We have a very large elderly population in Southern Orange County. This is a known pollutant that is very dangerous to elderly populations. The congressman's office was made aware of this back in April, was made aware of it again back in June, was made aware of it again in July and then in September.
Pat Ryan's Office: *Silence*
B.J. Mendelson: I’m not done yet. The congressman's office was also made aware of the municipal infrastructure that contains the village's water that has been failing, that has now been under investigation by the EPA, the DEC, and the Department of Health. The congressman's office was told about this in April, again in July, again in August, and again in September.
Pat Ryan's Office: Okay, and what was that pollutant name? Again, we have it written down here? PM,
B.J. Mendelson: PM2.5 the CDC has said that, PM, 2.5 is particularly dangerous for elderly populations, including those that live in South blooming grove.
Pat Ryan's Office: Okay, any so when you say that the congressman is aware of this and you have reached out, how have people called our office to reach out?
B.J. Mendelson: They participated in the virtual town hall. They've spoken to the Congressman’s scheduler, I believe her name is Claire. Let me just double check that for you real quick. Yes, yes. There is a Claire Reid that has been notified about this.
She has written people back to say that the congressman is aware of the issue.
I'm looking at an email right now from August 30, from Mrs. Claire Reid, who is a staff assistant, Assistant scheduler, who was asked when the Congressman would be coming to South Blooming Grove. No response has ever been received. Let's see what else. I also have emails here to the press secretary for Mr. Ryan, also confirming these concerns and asking him when he would come to South Blooming Grove. And there's never been a response. So you can understand what the problem is here:
Pat Ryan's Office: Mm, and where exactly would you want the congressman to go in South Blooming Grove?
B.J. Mendelson : The congressman is free to come and speak to people at a village board meeting. Since public comment has been removed by Mr. Joel Stern, the congressman is free to go that or any village Planning Board meeting where people have to sign in, and that's only if Mr. Stern allows them to speak.
The Congressman has been invited numerous times to come to a village board meeting, a village planning board meeting, or really just to have a gathering of some other kind. You know what I do have though? There are pictures of Congressman Pat Ryan, meeting with the man who has caused all of the problems that I've just listed for you, his name is Joel Stern.
There are multiple photos, including one just recently from Congressman Ryan's office posing with Mr. Stern.
B.J. Mendelson: So I just have a simple question: When is Congressman Pat Ryan coming to South blooming Grove to address the concerns about the EPA investigation, Department of Health investigation, the Department of Environmental Conservation and their investigation, as well as the other investigations currently going on involving the man who is clearly pictured meeting with the congressman.
Pat Ryan's Office: I understand that question. I understand you calling. I unfortunately don't have an answer for you, as you would assume, and I don't, I don't know.
B.J. Mendelson: I've called before, and I've been told the congressman's office will be notified. I've been told it will be logged into the system, I was told that someone will get back to me right away. I have never heard back at any point in six months from your office when I've called asking about this.
Pat Ryan's Office: Well, what I can do is tell you what I'm able to do for my end is to log into our system. So again, I'm happy to do that for you and write down exactly what you want me to say into the system and have the Congressman team be aware of it. But besides that, that's the most I can do in my capacity here.
B.J. Mendelson: Look, I totally appreciate it. I understand where you're coming from. I know that you're just sort of frontline worker here, but I want you to know this is a problem that will not be going away. So if it's not you, then I'm happy to speak to whoever it is that I can speak to to address this, because even if the election is successful, I promise you, on November 7, I will still be calling and talking about this.
And that’s where we are now. We won’t have election results for a bit. But the second I know if Congressman Pat Ryan has been re-elected? I’ll be calling his office demanding he come to South Blooming Grove and speak to the residents who have been so greatly harmed by the man the Congressman is so happy to visit, and be photographed with.
Because one thing I can promise all of you? Even though I voted for the guy in 2024, you bet your ass I’m going to vote for an alternative candidate if one comes along to primary him.
I encourage you to do the same.
This is not what Democrats are supposed to be.
11/5/24 Update:
You know how I was asking the Congressman’s office for Pat Ryan to come to South Blooming Grove?
Well, he did. The same day as my call. But …
He just didn’t bother to show up to the South Blooming Grove Village Board meeting where the Mayor announced — to a room filled with four members of the public — that there would be no more public comment.
Instead, he again posed for photos with the guy (on the right, Joel Stern) who is causing all of the problems thousands of area residents are asking him to investigate.
What a guy!
