(The Uncle received this email, signed “Cincinnatus.” )
There are those men to whom the rest of us are merely background, or pawns, or, worse yet, prey. Lacking in empathy, they are willing to do or say anything to advance their goals. The truth or a lie are of equal weight, whichever comes first to hand will do. And what happens to those of us damaged by their actions is of no consequence at all.
It seems that two such men are Ralph Caruso and Gedalye Szegedin. Each to the other, a face in the mirror.
In front of them they extend their fingers – for Ralph, there are Donnelly and Siebold and Baranowski and other such – for Gedalye, there are Wieder and Felberman and Witriol and more. Some are merely blunt instruments and some are used for finer work, but they are no more than tools, and liars all.
And behind these two men, deeper removed into the shadows, there are other men. For Caruso there is Larkin. For Szegedin there is Hirsch.
But let us keep our gaze on Caruso and Szegedin. Through conspiracy or merely confluence of interest, they have now achieved a shared goal. Woodbury is a village.
Caruso’s lust to have this come about is evident, but do not doubt that it was Szegedin’s goal as well.
These past two weeks, every action taken in the name of Kiryas Joel moved us toward a Village of Woodbury:
...Attorney Lynch’s announced (but barely felt) appeal to halt the vote.
...The sudden appearance of 200 new voters – the greatest number deciding that the bungalow colonies were their primary residences, while Brooklyn was a mere vacation venue.
...The formation of a brand new homeowners association (presided over by Kiryas Joel’s own Director of Public Safety – a President who did not even know that his members live on Milval and not Melville) with the announced intent of registering 300 disgruntled (we are told) residents.
...And, most telling of all, an astonishing letter from our neighbor, Mayor Abraham Wieder, telling us that he is such a fine and unassuming neighbor and begging us to vote “no.”
And every one of these events frightening the Woodbury folk into voting yes.
How remarkable.
How unforeseen.
Could Szegedin ever have imagined that all these actions might actually result in a “yes” vote?
Without a doubt.
How fortunate for Ralph, that when his fortunes ebbed; that when the united might of the town employees and the firemen and the policemen all seemed poised to kill this Village of Woodbury scheme, once and for all – that suddenly the powers that be in KJ act, and act again, and again, and a fourth time – and every action taken in the name of Kiryas Joel moved us toward a Village of Woodbury.
How lucky for Ralph.
How unlucky for the rest of us.
And now we must look back and ask why.
And we must look forward – and this time think past our fear and act wisely
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18 comments:
Very well written, however please answer, why was the creation of Woodbury so good for KJ? Does it seal our fate as far as annexation? If I were a judge having to rule on the subject, I would certainly see the formation of the Village (especially given the large boundaries) as a referendum against KJ, and their life-style, and probably vote in FAVOR of allowing them to annex, and annex as much land as they saw fit. So, if this was Gedalye Szegedin's ultimate goal, he has certainly attained it through Ralph Caruso and his fear tactics. Another question Uncle- if KJ moves to annex, do BOTH the Village and the Town have to fight it independently? What if one chooses not to? Does Mr. Caruso have an answer for that? And why, by-the-way, is Mr. Caruso calling the shots on this village thing anyway?
August 13, 2006
Vote clearly aims to stop Kiryas Joel
Voters for and against speak their minds
By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Woodbury - Some were enthusiastic. Some were torn. But all the voters had the same goal: to keep Kiryas Joel's charmless condos out of their town.
The referendum on Thursday was decisive. By a ratio of more than 3 to 1, residents voted to turn most of Woodbury into a village and accept whatever new taxes and complications come with it. It was the second village voted into existence in southern Orange County - the Mideast of the mid-Hudson - in just a month and a half.
Almost a dozen "yes" voters interviewed outside Town Hall all made clear that they hoped, perhaps in vain, to prevent the Hasidic community from bringing its dense housing to their country postcard of a town.
One woman, who gave only her first name - Theresa - voiced her concern this way: "Not supposed to say it, I guess, but the overrunning of Hasidic Jews."
Most used more tact and acknowledged that by incorporating a village they were blocking only one Kiryas Joel expansion option - the creation of a Hasidic village within Woodbury. Still open is the option of annexing Woodbury land into Kiryas Joel.
Those who had weighed those factors said they decided to take their chances with annexation.
"I honestly envision that the courts would have it tied up for very many years, and probably say no," David Sutz said.
Other voters thought forming a village was a terrible mistake, one that would hike taxes without giving residents the "protection" they had been promised.
"I voted 'no,' because the people who said we should vote 'yes' put out too little information, and the information that they put out was not true," said Donnie Prozzillo, an assistant fire chief.
"When the village is up and running in two years, the taxes are going to skyrocket."
Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin sounded a conciliatory note on Friday.
He said the outcome of the vote suggested "the people have given up on negotiations," although he still hopes that elected leaders from both sides will meet to resolve concerns about Kiryas Joel's growth and its future.
"I want to be clear that that offer is still on the table," he said.
Those voting against the village included a growing contingent of Hasidim who live outside Kiryas Joel in Woodbury, either as year-round or summer residents.
They recently organized a homeowners group and have begun voicing dissatisfaction with what they say are inadequate municipal services.
Why, they ask, should they support a new layer of government and taxes if they already feel poorly served and overtaxed?
"We don't see a valid, good reason why we need a village," said Michael Schlesinger, who moved to Milval Lane from Brooklyn last year.
For "yes" voters, that reason was keeping control of Woodbury. Those who described their objections to a Kiryas Joel expansion cast them almost entirely as aesthetic - or, more broadly, as different ways of life.
As Sutz put it: "If they had large single-family houses like the rest of the town, I don't think there would be any problem."
A page from the TH-R which undoubtedly will be a page into KJ's TOP 10 REASONS WHY ANNEXATION SHOULD BE APPROVED!!!!
Good Morning, Boys and Girls, glad to see everyone is FINALLY waking up to the reality of what just happened and what will happen...too bad we couldnt have done that on Thursday!!
OK so wer'e going to have a village....lets here some candidates for mayor and trustees (4)
CINCINNATUS IS NO OTHER THAN SWILLER HE NEVER STOPS TRYING
At least he is telling the truth!
still makes no sense why kj would want a village of woodbury
too much conspiracy theory, not enough facts
i'm not convinced
KJ really does not care what people think, or if we think it is conspiracy theory. They just want, grab, take, and find people with no souls to corrupt. We seem to have a bargain on those types in this town/county.
OK, so are we in agreement that creating a village has done nothing to prevent a land grab? ANNEXATION will take place. It's just a matter of how long, how much land, and how much $$$$$$$ it will now cost, since both the Village and the Town will be trying to hold on. Swift move Ralph. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to what % of your budget will go towards that fight??? And Ralph, do you think Brodsky is now going to flip his land?
As a fulltime year round Woodbury resident I'd rather have a piece of ace farm annexed than a new village of 5 square miles of nothing but what's in the village of KJ now (super high density ). I think that's why it was 3 1/2 to 1 for the village of woodbury !!!
So I guess we have compromised our principles...we have gone from "Not One Inch" to "Not 5 Sq. Miles". Whats Next? 5 Sq. Miles but NOT 10, 20, 30, please inform us, oh Carusoites, what is the price you will let KJ pay to own the whole damn town? Looks like you have already made the argument of one of Uncle Betty's writings in the "A Bedtime Story" posting.
And if it was so much easier and to KJ's benefit to form a little KJ than why didnt they just stay out of the Woodbury vote instead of doing everything that made people want to vote for it even more? In fact, you know, I dont think anyone has made a convincing post to disbute this posting we are now commenting on.
are you trying to say that now my dear son must go through new village zoning laws?
Doubtful, as Brodsky would have one hell of a law suit...you know Ralph, that little weapon that you so often use when you can't get your own way...you know, the one where you stomp up and down, hold your breath, and then take money out of the taxpayers' pockets to defend. I hope Brodsky takes you over the coals and names you and Siebold PERSONALLY Ralph...lets see if you two have enough money to defend yourselves this time, because you can't hide behind the taxpayers anymore- you've made your own bed pal!
Dear Cinncinatus:
Facilus decensus Averno...
...and that is exactly what Woodbury did
OK Unc- for all of us English speaking people- what does the last post mean?
Basically, it's a lot easier to get into hell than out.
Facilus decensus Averno...
Then that should be the motto of the new Village.
What can we say about John Baronowsi?
I love it when he curls his browski,
and I love the way his nose bends,
when he lectures and condenscends!
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