Proposed “Office of Buildings and Codes” Leaves Many Rockland County Orthodox Jews Feeling Targeted Once Again

Rockland County Executive Ed Day has submitted a proposal for the founding of an “Office of Buildings and Codes”, which would replace the county’s department of buildings. If approved by the County Legislature, the new force would be given a budget of $1.5 million, to be paid for by fines levied against any violators of building codes.

Along with his proposal, Day has recommended former NYPD Officer and Suffern Mayor Ed Markunas to lead this proposed department.

Unsurprisingly, many in Rockland County’s Orthodox Jewish community see this move as just the latest in a long line of moves by legislators hostile to them, with the Jewish community being the direct target of this legislation.

“One need look no further than the two groups from the county who have been suggested to advise this department in the decision-making process,” one askan said. “They have indeed been active in pointing out violations... but they are largely active only in instances that involve Orthodox Jews.”

He refers to the following section of a statement released by seven Rockland County lawmakers:

“The Rockland County Illegal Housing Task Force and CUPON organizations are led and staffed by well-respected individuals, including current and former fire officials with intimate knowledge of the existing problems in Spring Valley at an address-by-address level of detail. To not take full advantage of their expertise would be foolish and irresponsible given what is at stake here. Further, any endeavor that fails to properly utilize the experience of these organizations simply cannot be viewed as a credible effort towards a real solution. Politics and personalities must take a back seat to making sure the most qualified people are in place to truly get this right.”

To observers of the words and actions of the legislators, these words mean only one thing: Yet another target on the back of upstanding, law-abiding citizens of Rockland County’s orthodox Jewish community.

By: Rockland Daily Staff