TIMELINES 10/27/16

Clarkstown Pulls Anti-Carlucci and Anti-Wieder Signs from Grass
Municipal officials in Rockland County are reminding residents it is illegal to put signs in a public right-of-way, or area along a street between the curb and the sidewalk or a highway median. Signs were taken down on Monday targeting county Legislator Aron Wieder who is running for state Assembly, and state Sen. David Carlucci who is running for re-election. Clarkstown officials were unable to track down who placed the signs. Both Carlucci and Wieder’s opponents denied any connection the attack. Clarkstown officials will continue to pull signs, both political and business related, if placed in illegal locations.

Condos in Spring Valley Push Back on Violation Charges
Spring Valley’s Chief Building Inspector Walter Booker is facing pushback from the town and residents of a condominium development for ordering the residents to remove religious baths and a house of worship in the complex. Booker claims the owners of Park View Condominiums violated their village-approved site plan by adding the baths and synagogue without permits. The building violations are pending in a local Justice Court. The development’s lawyers sent Booker a letter claiming he will be sued if he doesn’t withdraw the violations. Booker’s lawyer claims he is enforcing the zoning codes, not questioning or imposing restrictions on religion.

Armed Robbery in Chestnut Ridge
On October 23, at approximately 12:11 a.m. two people, a male and a female, in Chestnut Ridge were victims of an armed robbery. Ramapo Police responded to the driveway of a home on South Pascack Road and found the victims who stated two armed males approached them, struck the victims in the back of the head then stole their possessions. Faist Ambulance transported the victims to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. The suspects were described as black males in their late teens to early twenties, approximately 6’-2” to 6’-4” wearing dark clothing and ski masks. The Ramapo Police Department is asking anyone with information to call at 845-357-2400.

Repeat DWI Offender in Hillcrest
A Spring Valley man was charged with felony DWI after a minor car accident in Ramapo according to police. Manuel Lema, 46, was also charged with misdemeanor third degree aggravated unlicensed driving and received a violation for allegedly refusing to participate in a breath test. A 2008 DWI conviction led this charged to be a felony, and the previous conviction had his licensed revoked. Lema is being held on $10,000 bail in the Rockland County Jail.

Nyack Thruway Ramp Changes with New TZ Bridge
Nyack businesses are worried with the new Tappan Zee Bridge that their primary source of customers might disappear. The new bridge will feature Exit 10 taking cars away from residential homes in South Nyack, toward Route 9W. But while this takes traffic away from homeowners and South Nyack officials who support this change, Nyack business owners are worried. The state-backed plan, called Alternative F, will allow drivers to enter the Thruway from Route 9W. Local business owner Tim Murray who owns a gas station already sees customers disappear during construction, and believes this adjustment to the interchange will drive them away. Nyack Mayor Bonnie Christian however is pleased with the change and believes it will save taxpayers money, prevent people from parking on residential streets and prevent confusion.

Clarkstown Deputy Town Attorney Enforces Town Housing Codes
Clarkstown Deputy Town Attorney Leslie Kahn is responsible for many things including supervising three full-time code enforcement officers. These officers pursue complaints and allegations against slumlords, abandoned “zombie” houses, illegal parking and quality-of-life complaints. Her team receives complaints via email, phone calls and the 3-1-1 portal on the Clarkstown website. Kahn, a former Brooklyn assistant attorney, wants to ensure safety in the town. Throughout her time in Clarkstown she has obtained eight search warrants related to illegal housing and increased fines and penalties. Her enforcers will be ensuring the town’s “do not knock” registry.

Grace VanderWaal is Recording First Album
Suffern’s Grave VanderWaal is recording her first solo album. The 12-year-old singer won “America’s Got Talent” and was signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Records, a division of Columbia Records. She has been working with Autumn Rowe, a singer and vocal coach on “America’s Got Talent.” Rowe and vocalist Greg Wells tweeted about working with VanderWaal and her success.

Discriminatory Advertisement Leaves Nanuet Health Company Paying Fines
Interim Healthcare Inc. of Greater New York, a Nanuet home health care company, was fined following an advertisement that claimed “no Haitians” need apply for a nursing position. Pennysaver ran the ad and both companies will pay $4,000 annually for a minimum of three years toward college scholarship funds administered by the Rockland Negro College Fund. The NAACP and Rockland Human Rights Commission signed a monitoring agreement and the scholarship pact with the companies. Interim Healthcare was also fined approximately $45,000. The ad ran in the New City Pennysaver on Oct. 15, 2015 resulting in protests and an investigation by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Clarkstown Receives Funds to Increase Interrogation Recording Equipment
The Clarkstown Police Department is one of four Lower Hudson Valley departments to receive funding to upgrade or purchase interview recording equipment. Recording interrogations helps increase public trust in law enforcement and aids the prosecution according to Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. The Clarkstown Police Department is receiving $23,252 to purchase and install video equipment, increase storage capacity of existing equipment and increase the rooms available to record statements. The funds come from criminal forfeiture funds and federal matched funds.