Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence's efforts to unite people with different backgrounds ("Ramapo's diversity must unite, not divide," Wednesday Community View) is certainly a commendable goal, except for one thing. It was the action of the present and past Ramapo town boards that contributed to the present problem.

When I moved to Ramapo four decades ago, the population was much more diverse and assimilated than it is today. Zoning codes were already in place to prevent overdevelopment long before there were religious factors. In the past 20 years, we've seen town boards modify housing policies for groups that prefer cultural isolation, resulting in totally segregated population pockets. (Are New Square, Kaser and many sections of Monsey examples of diverse communities?) And the fact that these groups rely heavily on tax exemptions and public assistance hasn't motivated other Ramapo villages and Rockland towns to greet them with zoning accommodations and "welcome wagons."

Mel Cook
Pomona

View the "uniter's" message to part of his constituency on election night here.