Slaughterhouse Press Release from Assemblyman Zebrowski

Zebrowski sends new letter with thousands of residents and local elected officials to Empire State Development

Assemblyman Zebrowski sent a letter this week to the Empire State Development Board of Directors asking that they take immediate action to rescind the $1.6 million chicken slaughterhouse grant. The grant was awarded to the Village of New Square in 2009 as part of the Restore NY program and was to be used to expand their existing (now closed) 5,000 sq/ft slaughterhouse to an over 25,000 sq/ft facility.

The letter was signed by over 2,000 residents and local elected officials who joined Zebrowski in opposition to the slaughterhouse and the $1.6 million grant. They cited the inappropriate location of the proposed facility and its close proximity to residential homes. The letter detailed the many concerns with the project including environmental pollution, failure of applicant to meet grant conditions, poor track record of plant operators and impact on local economies.

“This proposed slaughterhouse simply does not belong in a residential neighborhood. It will severely impact both the homes located across the street as well as the surrounding communities. Air pollution and water pollution knows no boundaries and Rockland County cannot afford this project,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

Assemblyman Zebrowski invited Rockland residents to join him on the letter to ESD last week and received an overwhelming response from residents throughout the county. The letter asked that the ESD Board of Directors vote to cancel funding for the project at their next scheduled meeting in June. Zebrowski demonstrated that the applicant failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant giving the Board grounds to take action.

“I, along with thousands of Rocklanders, are asking the State to reconsider the grant as circumstances have drastically changed since the time it was awarded. Economic development funding should be used to revitalize communities; not damage their viability and quality of life,” concluded Zebrowski.

Attached, find the letter that was sent to the Board this week along the list of local elected officials that signed on.

Assemblyman Kenneth P. Zebrowski

District Office:
67 North Main Street
New City, NY 10956
Telephone: 845-634-9791

Albany Office:
Room 637
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
Telephone: 518-455-5735

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h6f4cg0iygi8v0a/ESD.Adams.Letter.June2014.pdf

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x7wyorv2wytm0ho/Elected%20Officials.pdf