Yes. There Is Something You Can Do About All The Crime
The Indiana Bat is an endangered species protected by The Endangered Species Act of 1973. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service welcomes your tips about construction that could harm them.
I know, a lot of you are frustrated.
The Attorney General could be on the take for hanhallah.
State Senator Skoufis could be on the take for them too, or at the very least, has no problem taking and keeping their money.
Orange County Executive Neuhaus’s office refuses to comment about the Water crisis in South Blooming Grove
Our Town Supervisors are corrupt.
And if you live in the Village of South Blooming Grove, you have a village government that is intentionally doing everything it can to make life unpleasant so that you’ll move away.
So, what can you do?
The good news is, a lot actually.
We just have to get organized.
So today, let me give you a short example, involving our friends at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Northeast Regional Office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service can be reached at: (413) 253-8274. You should always try to reach them first.
If you’re not successful, and I wasn’t when I tried to call them, you can and should call their crime tip line at: 1-844-397-8477
According to Michigan State University’s Animal Legal and Historical Center, violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) carry some stiff penalties:
Provisions of the ESA are enforced through citizen suits, as well as through civil and criminal penalties. A criminal violation may result in imprisonment and a fine of up to $50,000. A civil violation of a major provision may result in a $25,000 fine (knowing violation) or a $12,000 fine. A violation of a minor provision, permit, or regulation may incur a $500 fine. Fish, wildlife and plants illegally taken, possessed, sold, or purchased may be confiscated (the most usual outcome). If there is a criminal conviction, then equipment and vehicles that were used to violate the ESA may also be confiscated. (Emphasis Added)
I think you know where this is going …
The Village of South Blooming Grove, as well as Blooming Grove, Washingtonville, Woodbury, and Monroe, are home to the Northern Long-Eared Bat and Indiana Bat.
Both are an endangered species protected by the law.
But in the Village of South Blooming Grove, construction is often approved without discussion of the Indiana Bat’s local residence, and without permission from the New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
We saw this with Nana’s home on San Marcos Drive.
What’s frustrating is that, even when a project like Mr. Isaac Ekstein’s 1 Roanoke Drive is submitted, and the presence of the bats are acknowledged, that doesn’t stop Mr. Ekstein from clear cutting trees and otherwise violating the guidance provided by both the DEC and Fish & Wildlife.
The bottom line here is that The Village of South Blooming Grove has frequently broken the law and ignored guidance provided by Fish & Wildlife such as this:
Seasonal restriction on tree cutting: Only cut trees when Indiana bats are hibernating or concentrated near their hibernacula. For project areas affecting Indiana bat swarming habitat (near hibernacula), only cut trees between November 15 and March 31.
MANY of you, including what I’ve covered here, have documented evidence that cutting of trees, as well as the other rules, are not being followed.
So, it’s time to call the crime tip line: 1-844-397-8477.
All you need to do is give them a call, tell them there’s frequent unauthorized and unapproved construction within five miles of known Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat, and you want this behavior by the Village of South Blooming Grove to stop.
Here’s A Script You Can Use
“Hello, I’m calling to report a persistent threat to the Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat in South Blooming Grove. South Blooming Grove is a village in Orange County, New York, located an hour north of New York City.
The threat comes from the Village Board of South Blooming Grove and the Village Planning Board.
Both government bodies continue to approve construction, often without consent from the DEC, well within the habitat of both bats.
This construction does not follow any known Indiana Bat Conservation Plan.
It does not follow rules and guidance provided by your office concerning when clear cutting is allowed.
And it does not follow rules and guidance provided by your office concerning the phased cutting of trees or the temporary reforestation of trees during construction.
In almost every instance, trees are simply clear cut and new structures, often without official approval by the Village Planning Board are built.
Without the direct intervention by your office, this clear cutting will continue.
Please take swift, decisive action against the Village of South Blooming Grove and its wanton destruction of the habitat for these endangered species.”
That number again is 1-844-397-8477
I already filed my complaint with Fish & Wildlife. Now it’s your turn!