Times Herald Record
"My View"
May 05, 2006
Record touches lots of 'hot buttons' on Kiryas Joel
By Ari Felberman
The Record included the Kiryas Joel administrator in its list of "The Record's Most Powerful." In the write-up, you noted that Kiryas Joel was a "hot-button topic" and that brings me to my point: Unlike the Orange County Human Rights Commission, which avoided the "hot-button topic," the Record seems to enjoy pressing the "hot button."
Cases in point: You write that developer Jonah Mandelbaum built hundreds of units with hundreds more on the drawing board. You then write that developer Nachman Kanovsky - ¦ built close to 1,000 homes, almost all eventually bought by Orthodox Jews." If the religious beliefs of home buyers is newsworthy, why didn't you enlighten us about the religious beliefs of the buyers of Jonah Mandelbaum's "hundreds of units"?
The "hot button" is getting warm.
You named five individual builders who, together, built thousands of units in Orange County in just the past few years and called them "powerful." On the other hand, the housing units built in Kiryas Joel are dubbed "uncontrolled growth," which will cause Kiryas Joel to "own Orange County."
The "hot button" is getting hot.
You then write, - ¦ when KJ has 50,000 people and owns Orange County, King Szegedin will rule us all." This statement is sadly tantamount to shouting "fire" in a crowded theater. This incendiary statement implies that growth in Orange County, outside Kiryas Joel, has come to a complete halt, and that just isn't so. As a matter of fact, 40 years from now, when Kiryas Joel will have 50,000 people, Orange County may have 1 million people! So how do you figure that Kiryas Joel would rule?
Besides the point that Kiryas Joel never had any designs or desires to rule anyone, Kiryas Joel never even put up a candidate to run in Town of Monroe or in County Legislature elections when they would have won hands-down.
The "hot button" is getting hotter.
You threw in the mix these juicy statements: "the indomitable KJ machine," "dashing off screeds" and "conjures projects few other municipal leaders would contemplate." You portrayed the Kiryas Joel leadership as omnipotent in a "Cardinal Richelieu" sense when in reality it should be seen for what it is - forthright and caring.
Let's face facts. Hasidic communities aren't welcomed with open arms anywhere in Orange County. As such, Hasidic Jews wishing to live in Orange County have but one choice, the Village of Kiryas Joel. Village leaders are cognizant of their responsibilities and act accordingly. They remember how they struggled to provide their residents services that other county residents take for granted, whether it's water, sewer or education for the village's handicapped children.
Yet, after all its accomplishments, Kiryas Joel never sought to expand its power base, not very Richelieu-esque.
The "hot button" is getting red hot.
Jews the world over recently celebrated Passover without fear of the infamous "blood libels" or their repercussions. The civilized world now knows that the "blood libels" were baseless. But how many tens of thousands of Jews were slaughtered before the now-civilized world became enlightened? Fear-mongering, especially on "hot-button topics," can be extremely dangerous.
Kiryas Joel residents extend their hand in friendship to their neighbors to jointly build a better Orange County.
Ari Felberman is government relations coordinator for the Village of Kiryas Joel.
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6 comments:
I was 3/4 of the way thru this article thinking "Gee, he hasn't mentioned the word "fear" once, when whoops! there it was!!!
You know, his arguments rely too much on emotion and not on fact.
However, do not take this as a defense of the THR, because their sensationial coverage of all things KJ leaves alot to be desired.
Ari Felberman- Oh woe is me..we. Lets all get out our hankies.
Town delegations live high in NYC
By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Each February, town officials and employees from across the state converge on Manhattan to hear the latest in municipal government, take courses, shop for consultants and compare notes with their peers.
Those who go call the annual Association of Towns conference an invaluable learning and networking opportunity. But for many, it’s also time to party in high fashion for a few nights, with much or all of their expenses covered by taxpayers back home.
This year, quite a few brought their spouses – and their Zagat restaurant guides.
Italian food, anyone? Two Woodbury officials tucked into a $150 meal at Patsy’s Italian Resaurant at 236 W. 56th St. one night – later reimbursed by the town.
I hear it was none other than our conscientious supervisor enjoying a nice dinner on the town's dime . I guess it's just another example of a democrat blowing the town's money. Have you noticed that when it comes to his own issues, he has no problem spending your money. take a look at his block. there must be a 100 signs telling people not to park there. just look how many signs are in front of his house. I can't wait until this year's budget. i hear he has no problem spending money
As always you are wrong again, it was not supervisor but two others I was told.
Travel/Relocation Expense Reimbursement
§ 8.1 Per Diem Meal and Lodging Expenses
The State agrees to reimburse, on a per diem basis as established by rules and regulations of the Comptroller, employees who are eligible for travel expenses, for their expenses incurred while in travel status in the performance of their of ficial duties for a full day at either of the following schedules and the rates set out therein at their option:
Unreceipted Expenses
In the City of New York and the Counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester, not to exceed $50, except as specified by the Comptroller in accordance with law.
In the Cities of Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Binghamton and their respective surrounding metropolitan areas, not to exceed $40, except as specified by the Comptroller in accordance with law.
In places elsewhere within the State of New York not to exceed $35, except as specified by the Comptroller in accordance with law.
In places outside the State of New York, at least $50 per day except as specified by the Comptroller in accordance with law.
Receipted Expenses
Receipted lodging and meal expenses for authorized overnight travel in locations within and outside of New York State shall be reimbursed to a maximum of published per diem rates as specified by the Comptroller. Said rates shall be equal to the combined per diem lodging and meal reimbursement rate provided by the Federal government to its employees in such locations, except that in Rockland County receipted lodging and meal expenses shall be reimbursed according to the Comptroller's rates in effect on March 31, 1988 until the combined per diem lodging and meal reimbursement rate provided by the Federal government to its employees equals or exceeds that rate. At that time, the Federal rate will apply.
In locations for which no specific rate is published, receipted lodging and meal expenses for authorized overnight travel in locations within and outside of New York State shall be reimbursed to a maximum of the combined per diem lodging and meal reimbursement rate provided by the Federal government to its employees for such locations.
The rates in (1) and (2) above shall be revised prospectively in accordance with any revision made in the per diem rates provided by the Federal government to its employees.
In recognition of the fact that meals and lodging which are fully accessible to employees with disabilities may not be reasonably available within the specified rates, reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses will be allowed as specified by the Comptroller.
When the employee is in travel status for less than a full day, and incurs no lodging charges, reasonable and necessary receipted expenses will be allowed for breakfast and dinner as determined by the Comptroller in accordance with law.
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