Bethel, NY – Hasidic groups have begun a voter registration drive in the Town of Bethel after what organizers say has been increasingly unfair treatment at the hands of the Town Board.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Organizers opened an office in Kauneonga Lake about two weeks ago. They say 300 people have filled out voter registration forms.
“We Orthodox people, we like to live in peace,” said one man, standing on the steps of the office Tuesday afternoon. “We are not interested in politics, in leading the town. But, unfortunately, we have to use the power we have.”
On Aug. 14, an article appeared in the Satmar Brooklyn weekly Der Yid, announcing the formation of “Community Council of Bethel.”
This comes after a dispute in July between the United Talmudical Academy and the town over the construction of a synagogue on Schultz Road. Town officials tried to force the group to vacate the building and involve the Planning Board in a review of the plans after the fact. The UTA has taken the town to court twice this summer.
But the organizer said the timing of the UTA dispute and the formation of the council is “coincidental.”
Residents, he said, are upset generally about new zoning and a feeling that “a few people run everything.”
“It has nothing to do with the UTA,” he said. “It is not only Jewish people. We have a lot of just plain old local people.”
While the council won’t put up candidates, it will interview and endorse candidates for the Nov. 3 general election, the organizer said. Bethel’s elections are normally hotly contested and decided by a hundred votes or less. The supervisor and two board seats are up for grabs.
“I think the possibility exists that they are out to get anybody on the Town Board,” said Supervisor Dan Sturm, who has run afoul of Orthodox communities over the UTA controversy. Sturm faces a challenge from former Supervisor Harold Russell, a Republican.
“Overall, whether they are allowed to vote or not, it is up to the elections office,” Sturm said. “I am doing what I think is right. I am not going to be intimidated to act any differently. I will do what I think is right for the safety of the residents and hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”
According to the Sullivan County Board of Elections, the council has registered at least 20 people at addresses on State Route 17B and Cohen and Cohen Road. A county elections officer said the group dropped off another 31 cards Tuesday afternoon. Most are switching registrations from Brooklyn and the Monroe area in Orange County, the worker said.
While bloc voting from Kiryas Joel residents has swung elections in Monroe, Orthodox communities have never registered enough votes to control elections in Sullivan County. Orthodox voters do commonly vote in the towns of Thompson and Fallsburg, where numerous summer camps and bungalow colonies are located.
A person must live in a county for at least 30 days before an election to vote in that county. Switching registrations involves a simple act of filling out a form and signing an affidavit that the person qualifies to vote, and recording the previous address. Sullivan’s Board of Elections mails a voter registration card before the election. Election workers try to verify the person’s residency only if the card is returned in the mail. The deadline to register for the general election is Oct. 9.
In Bethel, there are voting blocs already at the gated Chapin Estate and community activist groups in Smallwood and elsewhere. These organizations have pushed for restrictive zoning.
“Our voice has not been heard,” the organizer said.
Chazak v’brur!
Use your muscle, Yidden! (The goyim understand muscle.)
Where is this town?
The way to go!
Skverer should do the same for the Homewack problem.
vos is mit hisgaris
As we have seen time and time again in Boro Park, chassidim just don’t vote.
So what’s going to happen? They’ll elect someone who will do whatever they want. They’ll allow unsafe buildings to be built and occupied. Then, when there’s an accident, and people get hurt, they’ll cry about the lack of tznius and the excess of lashon hara that causes these things to happen. Really, it’s the lack of concern for personal safety, and not following the mitzvah of U’shmartem meod es nafshoseichem.
First of all, anyone familiar with the demographics will know that they will never register a sufficient number who can demonstrate “primary” residency in Sullivan County. Second, if they try to dual register, they will be sucessfully prosecuted for election fraud. Finally, their “majorities” would simply codify the unsafe and hazardous conditions they seek to avoid having to address under the current arrangements.
Instead of the brawn, lobbying for votes, and being heard, follow the dots and dashes on the paper and file for zone accomodations, safety variances and c of o. My father a licensed plumber, has had so many offers of smears of the green in his palm to ‘overlook’ and ignore blatant violations in order for a bldg to pass inspection. He told us of a non vented gas pipe that would have caused an explosion that was asked to be signed off on, so that the bldg could be used the next day. Dead or alive.
I would like for once in history that cahsedem look inwards and say it was not antisemitism it was our behavior, not following the zoning and safety rules like everybody else.
If that happens maybe the meshiach will come
1. You can legally register ANYWHERE you reside for at least 30 days. If you have multiple residences, you can choose any ONE place where to and it does NOT have to be your primary residence. NY State will autmatically move your old registered address to the new. 2. Chasidim have many times succesfully used its blocl vote.
First: Lot of the area is jewish, they hate hasidim.
Second: this is only a treat, they should back off, but in reality we never pushed out a candidate in the catskills, but allways promised.
Its should be a bargain chip by the table, but in reality we need this votes localy too.
We never vote upstate in middle of winter, and the local politics is allways the key the elections.
They will be voting by absentee ballot.
All the Floridian snowbirds have been voting absentee for decades , a good percentage of the locals spend most of the year in Florida , Yet They vote in Sullivan County , You can too , just remember you cant be registered in two places.
Skver was wrong, it was illegal and the Judge was right by forcing them out.
UTA was right. The Jude agreed with them twice. Even the town’s inspector testified in court for UTA against his own supervisor.
The local Sheriff lives near the new Shul in Bethel, and that don’t want noise near there house.
I dont know why we don’t register in South Fallsburgh and in other Towns in Sullivan County, Homeowners pay tremendous taxes for the non jewish population and instead of appreciation,they complain of traffic and the cops give tickets etc.
Replay to #20
If we live there – yes – we have to pay taxes.
And if some of us park double etc. they have the right to call the police.
Your comments are Racist.
What will happen when Sullivan County’s court system calls one of the new citizens of the county for jury duty and they find it too far to go?
Someone who stays at a bungalow colony for about TWO MONTHS out of the year should NOT be allowed to vote in that town. Vote where their REAL residence is!!