Wednesday, July 29, 2009
State preps for court fight with Hasidic camp
State Department of Health officials are preparing to commence a court action against a Hasidic group that won't leave the former Homowack Lodge, sources say.
The camp, which is operated by Congregation Bais Trana, opened in early July without a permit and the group has already defied a Monday deadline to leave. The state last week obtained a Commissioner's Order to Vacate the resort, located off Route 209.
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-C-Forestburgh, said Tuesday that she's confident DOH is handling the situation correctly. She and other sources have been told the matter appears headed for Supreme Court action. "I asked about a timeline and they were not able to tell," she said.
DOH officials visited the camp Monday and found a large group of girls and families still occupying several buildings.
Mamakating Supervisor Bob Fiore said some of the campers have left. "I would say approximately 50 percent of the people are gone and there are signs more will be leaving." Fiore said the town will check Wednesday, but has deferred enforcement to DOH.
DOH believed about 265 campers and 35 families were staying on the grounds.
The resort, now called Machne Bnos Square, is owned by another congregation, based in the Rockland County Village of New Square. New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer recently visited the properties, a source familiar with the situation said. Spitzer did not return a telephone call on Tuesday seeking comment.
The owners have been "very elusive" about who is in charge and who owns the properties, the source said. This has made dealing with the situation even more difficult.
"The Department's top priority remains the safety and the well-being of the residents at the former Homowack Lodge," DOH Spokesman Juan Merino said Monday night in a prepared statement.
"The Department was on-site today and is working to ensure compliance with the commissioner's evacuation order. We take these types of situations on a case-by-case basis; it's an ongoing process."
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090729/NEWS/907290351
The camp, which is operated by Congregation Bais Trana, opened in early July without a permit and the group has already defied a Monday deadline to leave. The state last week obtained a Commissioner's Order to Vacate the resort, located off Route 209.
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-C-Forestburgh, said Tuesday that she's confident DOH is handling the situation correctly. She and other sources have been told the matter appears headed for Supreme Court action. "I asked about a timeline and they were not able to tell," she said.
DOH officials visited the camp Monday and found a large group of girls and families still occupying several buildings.
Mamakating Supervisor Bob Fiore said some of the campers have left. "I would say approximately 50 percent of the people are gone and there are signs more will be leaving." Fiore said the town will check Wednesday, but has deferred enforcement to DOH.
DOH believed about 265 campers and 35 families were staying on the grounds.
The resort, now called Machne Bnos Square, is owned by another congregation, based in the Rockland County Village of New Square. New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer recently visited the properties, a source familiar with the situation said. Spitzer did not return a telephone call on Tuesday seeking comment.
The owners have been "very elusive" about who is in charge and who owns the properties, the source said. This has made dealing with the situation even more difficult.
"The Department's top priority remains the safety and the well-being of the residents at the former Homowack Lodge," DOH Spokesman Juan Merino said Monday night in a prepared statement.
"The Department was on-site today and is working to ensure compliance with the commissioner's evacuation order. We take these types of situations on a case-by-case basis; it's an ongoing process."
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090729/NEWS/907290351
Comments:
ya ya, old trick. judge will rule eviction within 30 days, which is after the summer. anti antisemitism, hu?
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: July 30, 2009 5:14 PM
: July 30, 2009 5:14 PM
