RC’s New Office of Building and Codes Launches Today, Sends out 20 Inspectors: Orthodox Jews Continue to Feel Maligned

By Sarah Morgenstern

The new Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes in Pomona opened its doors today as Rockland assumes full control over Spring Valley’s Building Department to comply with former New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado November 2021 order to do so.

“This is the first time in the state of New York that this has ever been done,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “It is a very unique scenario.”

“To get through the county’s backlog, we have 20 certified code inspectors and several support staff ready to go, which consists of county employees, Spring Valley employees, and private contractors to focus,” said Ed Markunas, a former NYPD officer who serves as the office’s director.  

Whether residents should feel concerned about feeling bombarded by inspectors, community leaders say it is too early to tell.

“It is just the first day,” one leader said.

For now, inspectors are expected for focus on the common areas, boiler rooms, and sprinkler systems of multi-family homes and commercial buildings, but not necessarily apartments.

After falling behind on buildings inspections over the years, to give itself time to catch up, Rockland County issued a moratorium in the distribution of all new buildings permits for the next 30 days. 

“We will prioritize [inspections] based on safety,” said Markunas said. “We are prepared to increase staffing and inspectors, as needed.”

In addition, Markunas explained that the county “will also do a comprehensive review of all of the outstanding violations.”

Many Orthodox Jewish residents of Rockland County, however, feel that the state’s move for the county to take over Spring Valley’s Buildings Department is just the latest legislation that is a result of hostilities expressed to the Jewish community after two groups: the self-appointed Rockland County Illegal Task Force and Private Schools and the Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhoods (CUPON) loudly protested a variety of issues in the community, expressed unfriendly behavior to local Jews, and launched a continuous string of phone campaigns to state officials to launch incessant complaints.

“They really stir the pot against the Orthodox Jewish community. Every little thing that they can use against us, they will,” one resident said. “We have a very harsh, small group of really vicious anti-Semites, who are real haters. 

In addition, Rockland County Legislator Alden H. Wolfe, a few weeks, ago had to call out one of the members of the “task force” for using an anti-Semitic trope, when he alluded to Jews as “hidden persuaders” to the government.

While the new Buildings and Codes office is located in Pomona, Markunas added that a smaller Rockland County Buildings and Codes satellite office will soon be created in Spring Valley at the Village Hall, which he will also supervise.