Rest of Ramapo must vote and be heard

By SANDRA SOLOMON
(Community View  The Journal News    Original Publication: July 31, 2007)

I have always enjoyed the world of science fiction, never thinking I would be living in such a world. At a Ramapo town board meeting several years ago, a representative of the Hasidic community said: "who needs trees." I tried to visualize such a world. Would it be like living on Mars, but with lots of housing? Another representative of the Hasidic community was quoted as saying: "The reason we came here is to raise our families in a safe place, away from the influence of the outside world." Are we the invaders from the outside world?

What is strange is that the group of people given preferential treatment by our elected officials are those who promote overdevelopment, show no concern for the balance of nature, and no tolerance for diversity.

Members of the Hasidic community have protested the planned building of a Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Monsey, saying it would bring too much congestion, up to 16,000 vehicles on Route 59. Yet in Pomona, they are attempting to build a rabbinical college that would add thousands of people to a single-family area, and they expect tax-free status. Is this a double standard?

Why are four areas in Ramapo designated for Adult Student Housing? Why are accessory apartments approved by Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and the Town Board? I asked this question to one of the councilmen. His reply was that if they don't get what they want, they will do it illegally. Do we need a change of public officials to represent us? An article in the New York Times gave a reason for this alliance to the Hasidic community: "… the community is considered a powerful voting block … officials have been careful not to alienate its members."

In order to achieve a balance between preserving the existing lifestyle and the needs of the Hasidic community, we must have representation. I don't think people in Ramapo realize their individual importance. It is demonstrated through voting. Wake up. Become active. Save Ramapo. Vote or we might find ourselves living in an alien world.

The writer is a Suffern resident.