June 30, 2004
Bohan, KJ and the NYC Aqueduct
This reply is directed at the three hypocrites whose names emblazon the top left corner of the editorial page.
Let's go back a bit and research "your" April 26, 1998, editorial, "HUD Expose" or "your" Jan. 3, 1999, "Illegal Wells" or "your" March 30, 2001, headlining, "The Ultimate Scam." How about the multiple bus company subsidies? Who is going to handle the increased sewage produced by unlimited water?
You have the audacity to challenge my defense of my community against a monolith that has sucked the life's blood in social services out of this county and is threatening to smother the diverse lifestyle of the region should they prove successful in tapping the New York City aqueduct.
Perhaps you can produce the non-Hasidic occupants who are supposed to be living in the subsidized housing that was built with our taxes in Kiryas Joel.
I'm well aware that the July 1 vote in the full Orange County Legislature will have no effect on the "city aqueduct scam." However, it would go a long way toward showing New York City and Albany that our county legislators and county executive had the guts to publicly oppose this travesty.
Charles J. Bohan
supervisor
Town of Blooming Grove
* * *
My hat is off to Blooming Grove Supervisor Bohan. It's refreshing to see an official who is willing to speak his mind on a political "hot potato" issue. Since when does being a public official take away someone's right to voice their opinion? Charlie only said what so many other people want to. I'm tired of seeing my money wasted on projects for a single community that does nothing to contribute.
Clint Bonnett
Blooming Grove
* * *
We work closely with many Hasidic groups in New York City, including Satmar. Our mission is to foster coalitions and to build bridges between the racial and ethnic groups in the area.
It's rare to read outright, bigoted remarks by a public official, but Supervisor Bohan sets a new standard with his diatribe about Kiryas Joel. Hasidim are not a "radical splinter group of Judaism," but a significant minority of the Jewish community. Additionally, while they scrupulously observe the rules regulating activities on the Sabbath, they turn the water tap on – and off. If anyone used the term "parasite" to describe a group of African-Americans or Hispanics, they would justifiably be denounced by all.
We urge people to examine data from the latest census. The workforce participation is 83.1 percent in Kiryas Joel (measured by households with earned income) virtually equal to the 83.4 percent of Orange County. For a multitude of reasons, Kiryas Joel residents' income is lower than other Orange County households. But they do their best to provide food and shelter for their families and quality education for their children.
We outsiders can find much to learn and to emulate. Society rightly holds public officials to higher standards. If Supervisor Bohan wants to change his ways and to learn more about the facts we'll be glad to help him. Otherwise, he deserves all the brickbats he gets.
Michael S. Miller
executive vice president
Jewish Community
Relations Council
* * *
I just want to congratulate Supervisor Charles Bohan on his letter concerning the KJ pipeline. He is the first politician to "hit the nail" on the head regarding KJ.
When anyone objects to their agenda, the first thing they do is shout anti-Semitism. I wouldn't care if they were black, purple, Amish, white or from Mars. What they are doing is wrong for this area. They continue to have large families; this growth is the reason they want to expand. In other words, they are creating the need for more land and more water themselves.
My only regret is that I live in Middletown and am unable to vote for him. If more politicians spoke the truth instead of being "politically correct," Orange County would be a better place to live.
Judy Kadner
Middletown
* * *
This is a letter congratulating Charles Bohan for speaking the truth. Of course the outcry comes that he's insensitive. I'm surprised he wasn't labeled anti-Semitic. This is usually the rallying cry of this community, even if what is written is true.
Maybe it's insensitive of KJ to ruin our landscape, run the wells in the area dry, acquire land deceptively, drain resources due to its out-of-control birth rate, force communities to bend to their needs or just being a drain on the community at large. I have lived in this area more than 20 years and through all the droughts, NYC politicians have fought tooth and nail not to let anyone tap into the water tunnels. They even fight when communities wanted to use the water in the Hudson. So what payoff is this to let this one community tap into the water supply?
This had better be a wake-up call to the politicians to stop kowtowing to this community. You want to see bloc voting; see what happens when the community at large votes you out.
Steve Schumann
Washingtonville
* * *
Cheers to Blooming Grove's Town Supervisor Charles Bohan for having the temerity to speak out against Kiryas Joel.
Hopefully, more of our elected officials will follow Mr. Bohan's lead and put their principles before their hunger for votes.
Robert A. Strong
Chester
* * *
Thank you, Charles Bohan, Town of Blooming Grove supervisor, for voicing what many of us are thinking regarding the way the Village of Kiryas Joel manipulates state and local government solely for the benefit of their own village. And shame on other town leaders and Mr. Diana for not speaking up as well.
Nothing Mr. Bohan said is untrue. Just look at the recent underhanded way the sale of the Ace Farms was handled to prove his point. We cannot have a small community, run by religious beliefs, dictate to the larger community. Separation of church and state is part of our American ideal and the people of Kiryas Joel need to adopt that doctrine.
Taxpayers cannot afford to continue to build and maintain separate facilities such as libraries, schools and firehouses based on religious reasons.
William Cumming
Cornwall-on-Hudson
* * *
Hooray for Charlie Bohan; he's the only politician who calls it like it is. He has the guts to say what most of us only think of saying. If Monroe had politicians with as much chutzpah as Charlie, we wouldn't have this kind of a problem.
As far as "insensitive" or "inflammatory" remarks, I think he was being too kind. Before we taxpayers give them any more, I believe a forensic accountant should conduct an audit to see just how our money is being spent.
Charlie's not a real politician, thank God. He is just a decent guy trying to do the best he can for his community. I wish we had more guys like him in the local and county governments.
Ronald C. Valentine
Slate Hill
* * *
This is in regards to the letter of the Blooming Grove supervisor, Mr. Bohan. If coining Jews parasites and spreading slanderous lies about Jewish customs is not anti-Semitism, then what is? Let's not forget that the last one who labeled Jews parasites ended up killing 6 million of us. Tens of thousands of U.S. armed forces died battling that monster.
What "must be challenged and stopped" is the inherent animosity toward KJ residence. What must be stopped is the dehumanization of KJ's populace. What must be stopped is the almost nightly harassment by neighboring youngsters who are zooming through the streets of KJ, yelling profane remarks at anyone in sight.
Jacob Silberstein
Kiryas Joel
* * *
While I applaud your June 24 editorial criticizing Blooming Grove Supervisor Charles Bohan's inflammatory and racist letter, you do not go far enough. Mr. Bohan is a disgrace to his party and to his constituents. He should resign his office and then disappear forever into his cave of ignorance.
Michael David Schulman
Central Valley
* * *
As a longtime resident of Monroe, I have found myself troubled by the decline in relations between the Hasidic community and many town/village residents.
Blooming Grove Supervisor Charles Bohan is not the first nor the only politician to exploit anti-Hasidic prejudice for political ends in southern Orange County. But his rhetoric is the most extreme, reprehensible and unapologetically biased that I have seen.
I totally agree with your editorial that our political leaders should distance themselves from such rhetoric. I would add that all of our religious leaders should weigh in, as well.
It has unfortunately become politically correct to express anti-Hasidic sentiment in this area. Often, people do not see this as anti-Semitic. I cannot say what is in another person's mind or heart when he/she expresses intolerance for a community's way of life. I can say what is in mine when I hear such examples of such intolerance: a deep sense of discomfort. I am not Hasidic, but I am Jewish and yes, I am offended.
Personally, the growth of an Orthodox Jewish community is not nearly so threatening to me as is the continuing commercial exploitation of our southern Orange County area, or the fact that housing prices have become so inflated that many middle-class people cannot afford to locate here. KJ's search for affordable housing and infrastructure reflects an areawide need. Intolerance is not the way to satisfy it.
Carol Carey
Monroe
* * *
I think KJ should make a concerted effort to find the root cause of all the animosity and make a sincere effort to repair it. Just crying foul, playing the victim and complaining to the ADL won't work. The KJ reputation is poor; they should find out why and ways to fix it. If they need to educate, then they should do it. If they need to bend some rules, then they should do that, too. What ever it is, they should do it. Their neighbors did it for them. (school district, Monroe library, bus routes …)
This is what happens when a theocracy is allowed to strongly guide a "democracy." If KJ continues to fail in separating its "church" from state, then it willfully enters its theocracy into the tumultuous tides of politics. KJ with its bloc vote has long since made "KJ Satmar Hasidim" a political party. It's entitled to have mud slung on it from half-crazed Republicans as well as bleeding-heart Democrats. Too bad if you're "appalled and outraged." My advice is "Get used to it." You want to talk about "radical splinters," how about Ross Perot?
Nik Abbot
Chester
* * *
Relative to the letter sent by Town Supervisor Charles Bohan to legislators to enlist support for a county resolution opposing Kiryas Joel's proposed water pipeline, I agree and support his concerns regarding Kiryas Joel.
Some were offended of how he worded his criticism, but his points are valid and well taken. I agree "This is a wake-up call." Please note the definition of parasite is: person or persons who live at the expense of another or others without making any useful contribution.
Joan Birmingham
Monroe
* * *
I was pleased to see your editorial in today's paper taking to task those individuals who are introducing race and stereotype demagoguery into the KJ pipeline issue. A town supervisor blasting off so embarrassingly on town stationery speaks volumes on his belief of constituent's mindset, so I hope that those in Blooming Grove who choose to opt out of such inflammatory rhetoric, make their voices heard.
Yes, every public works project, especially one that might impact neighboring towns, deserves and requires vigorous debate. But let's keep to the issues please.
Leon Kraus
Monticello
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