What Is Governor Hochul Trying to Hide?

The New York State Governor has vetoed two Orange County preservation bills that would help local communities fight back against climate change. If given the chance, she'll veto a third.

Welcome back.

It’s your friendly neighborhood member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

I have good news and bad news.

Standard procedure when someone says “I have good news and bad news” is to always ask for the bad news first.

The good news, in most cases, can help soften the blow.

So, the bad news is that the New York State Democrats, including Assemblyman Chris Eachus, State Senator James Skoufis, and Governor Kathy Hochul, are doing everything they can to kill a NEW bill that would be harmful for their friends in the Real Estate industry.

Governor Kathy Hochul is deep in the pocket of the Real Estate industry.

So is State Senator James Skoufis, as detailed here at The Monroe Gazette.

Assemblyman Chris Eachus seems to do whatever James Skoufis tells him to do.

This new bill would also be deeply unpopular with the wealthy developers doing the bidding of hanhallah (the Teitelbaums in Orange and Sullivan County, and other leaders in the Hudson Valley’s local haredi community.)

We know this because of the extensive public relations campaign hanhallah and their machers undertook the last time the Governor had land preservation bills on her desk to sign.

We also know that, on the local level here in Southern Orange County — With a few exceptions like Monroe Town Councilwoman, Maureen Richardson — the Orange County Democrats, are led by Chairman Zak Constantine. Constantine is currently endorsing a former Republican and a syrup salesman to unseat members of the Woodbury Village Board.

Why?

Because Mr. Zak Constantine, along with Village Trustee James Freiband, are representing the interests of hanhallah over the people of Woodbury, and plan to lift the building moratorium in Woodbury at the first opportunity to do so. This is despite Woodbury not having sufficient water to serve its current population, let alone its future population.

Zak Constantine, along with James Freiband, John U. Kelemen, and Tyler Etzel Jr. will turn Woodbury into the next South Blooming Grove, which itself is already an unofficial neighborhood of the city of Kiryas Joel, according to yiddish language publications such as The KJ Weekly.

The bad news is that, despite all of us facing the threatening heat and the dangerous storms that heat powers again this summer — to say nothing of the Hudson Valley’s historic flooding (see below), which will probably become routine — and that Governor Hochul is already waffling on New York State’s ambitious Climate goals, the New York State Democrats want to continue to make things worse.

And I’m a Democrat saying this!

So … What’s the good news?

Assembly Bill A6257A / Senate Bill S4098A

Karl Brabenec and Brian Maher are listed as co-sponsors of this bill in the Assembly. You’ll note that Chris Eachus, the Democrat, is NOT a sponsor of this bill.

Sean M. Ryan, a Buffalo Democrat, is the sponsor of the corresponding bill in the NY Senate. Senator Skoufis, you’ll also note, is NOT a sponsor of this bill.

What does this bill do?

Basically, it allows every municipality in New York State (unless you have a population of over a million residents, which would exclude New York City) the option to create community preservation funds, funded through a real estate transfer tax.

So, the good news is that there is legislation that would allow (almost) every municipality in the State to help fund land preservation through the tax, should they so choose to implement such a tax.

If you live in a place like Monroe, where the Town Supervisor’s malfeasance has already cost you an arm and a leg in terms of tax increases, you’re not going to notice a real estate transfer tax. Ditto in South Blooming Grove. Just wait until the bill comes do on all those Spindlr Bulk Water trucks.

The good news is also that you can make sure the Governor doesn’t try to pull a fast one.

How?

Exposing Governor Hochul’s Sketchy Behavior Concerning Land Preservation Bills

On March 25th, I submitted a FOIL request asking the Governor’s office to provide the following:

-I would like to ask your assistance in filing a formal FOIL request with the Lt. Governor's office concerning a meeting that took place on December 13th, 2021 with former LT Governor Brian Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin met with United Jewish Communities of Blooming Grove's Mr. Joel Stern and Mr. Isaac Ekstein, who I am currently investigating for rampant fraud and abuse in the village of South Blooming Grove. Please let me know how I can go about FOIL-ing information concerning this meeting, which would include all emails, notes, minutes, and other related documentation related to this December 13th meeting.

To this day, the Governor’s office has consistently delayed fulfilling this request.

Despite the request being made in March, I was told just this weekend:

Dear BJ,

Please be advised that we require additional time to complete our response to your FOIL request dated March 25, 2024.  We will provide you with a status update on or before June 18, 2024, if we have not completed our response by then.

Thank you for your courtesy in this matter.

New York State Executive Chamber Records Access Office

That means my FOIL request will take (unless they delay it again, which they will) 85 days, and counting, to fulfill.

But that’s not the only FOIL request I sent.

On April 25th, I submitted the following request:

-I am requesting all emails, text messages, and other electronic communications sent on personal and professional devices between Governor Kathy Hochul and former LT Governor Brian Benjamin concerning legislation A5761 that was before the governor to sign.

To which they responded …

Dear BJ

Please be advised that we require additional time to complete our response to your FOIL request dated April 25, 2024.  We will provide you with a status update on or before June 24, 2024, if we have not completed our response by then.

Thank you for your courtesy in this matter.

New York State Executive Chamber Records Access Office

That’s 60 days, and counting, to fulfill.

And last but not least, On May 8th, I submitted the following:

-Communications, sent on personal and professional devices, and from personal and professional email, text messages, and other electronic communications, between Governor Kathy Hochul and Jake Adler, Director of Jewish Affairs concerning S1811/A5761 (Land preservation in Blooming Grove)

So far, the executive chamber records access office has not responded to this request beyond acknowledging it.

At this point, I think it’s safe to say the Governor doesn’t want to provide this information in a timely manner.

Why is this good?

It’s good because it means where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, there’s often truth.

We’ll get to that truth, and once it’s known, together you and I will make sure that Governor Hochul doesn’t try to pull another fast one.

But What Can I Do Between Now And Then?

I’m glad you asked.

You can copy and paste the following email to rabbittsd@nyassembly.gov, fuentes@nysenate.gov, (the Chiefs of staff for Eachus and Skoufis respectively), and stacy.lynch@exec.ny.gov (Hochul’s Chief of Staff) elizabeth.fine@exec.ny.gov (Counsel for Hochul)

Emails:

rabbittsd@nyassembly.gov, fuentes@nysenate.gov, stacy.lynch@exec.ny.gov, elizabeth.fine@exec.ny.gov

Subject:

Failure to Act On A6257A / S4098A Will Bring Electoral Consequences

Copy:

Dear Emma, Stacy, Elizabeth, and David,

I understand that Governor Hochul, Senator Skoufis, and Assemblyman Eachus are actively campaigning to stall and/or kill A6257A / S4098A before the bill can get to the Governor’s desk to sign.

And should that bill make it to Governor Hochul’s desk, members of the Assembly and Senate are being told it will be vetoed much like previous land preservation bills such as S1811/A5761 and S1810A/A5585.

I am asking you, as the respective Chiefs of Staff for these individuals, to end this campaign.

Now.

Allowing municipalities throughout New York State to create a real estate transfer tax, explicitly for funding land preservation in their community, is a matter of life and death for these communities.

2023 was the hottest year ever recorded.

2024 is expected to break that record.

2025 is expected to break 2024’s record.

2026 is expected to break 2025’s record.

And so on.

This is our future, and it will only get worse.

Attempts to stop land preservation in New York State is a dereliction of our elected representatives responsibility to protect the health and safety of all residents.

Any elected official actively trying to harm people through not supporting these bills will be voted out of office at the soonest opportunity.

The warmer weather will bring life threatening heat, storms, and flooding. It is irresponsible for Senator Skoufis, Assemblyman Eachus, and Governor Hochul to put the wants of religious extremists and the real estate industry over the needs of all New York State residents.

Senator Skoufis has, as of this writing, received $362,607.25 and counting, from New York’s Real Estate industry.

Governor Hochul, as of this writing, received $1.5M, and counting, from New York’s Real Estate Industry.

Allowing communities the capability to preserve land allows them to mitigate the growing danger of potential flooding, reduce the possibility and intensity of wildfires, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The New York Climate Legislation, passed in 2019, has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% before 2030. Allowing local communities to create a tax to fund land preservation will help meet that goal.

Pikuach nefesh.

Do you know what this means in Hebrew? It means “Saving a soul.”

This concept in Jewish Law stresses that the need to preserve all life.

If someone is in danger, this rule of Pikuach nefesh overrides all other rules and regulations set forth in the Talmud and Torah.

This is a concept that our friends among the extremists often neglect to mention when loudly campaigning for desirable real estate and against land preservation bills.

I share this concept with you in closing because, when lives are on the line, it is the responsibility of our elected leaders to put the preservation of that life above everything else.

This includes pressure from extremist religious leaders.

This includes millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the real estate industry.

Thank you for your time. I will be watching and, based on your response, will vote accordingly.

*put your name here*

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We’ll be back tomorrow with more on this bill and other local news stories.