Chaptzem Blog!      

Hats off to state Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski and Haverstraw Supervisor Howard Phillips for requesting a probe into a $1.6 million grant for a chicken slaughterhouse in New Square. ("Haverstraw official seeks grant probe," Sept. 5.) However, no one should hold their breath waiting for an investigation to start. During the 2007 election, a Monsey man convicted of vehicular homicide in Pennsylvania was transferred to the county jail by a Pennsylvania judge with support from Rockland jail administrators. It is illegal under New York state law for the sheriff's department to accept such a transfer. In addition, the prisoner was also allowed to go home on certain weekends. Although an investigation was called for to see if Sheriff James Kralik had a role in the transfer, the silence was deafening. In the end, the sheriff lost the popular vote in the towns of Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown and Stony Point, but won the election by approximately 3,000 votes because of the Ramapo Hasidic bloc vote, which the sheriff has long courted.

Fortunately, leaders like Zebrowski and Phillips have the courage to come forward despite the usual scare tactic of being labeled anti-Semitic. These issues are about power, money and politics and nothing to do with religion. The public has a disdain for present-day politics, but this apathy only makes the bloc vote that much stronger. So, whether it is primaries or general elections, be educated about the issues and please get out and vote. It is our only hope.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20090925/OPINION/909250311/1016/OPINION01/Apathy%20only%20makes%20the%20bloc%20vote%20stronger