READ: AG Letitia James Sends Letter to Mayor of Monroe, Opposing Law Which Could Impact Jews

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FILE - In this Friday May 21, 2021, file photo, New York Attorney General Letitia James acknowledges questions from journalists at a news conference in New York. James has announced that she is running for governor, according to three people directly familiar with her plans. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

UPSTATE NY (VINnews) — The office of Letitia James, New York’s Attorney General, has sent a letter to the Village of Monroe, opposing a zoning bill that could restrict the religious rights of local Orthodox Jews, who comprise a significant percentage of the village’s population and nearby region.

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The proposed Local law No. 5 would restrict and regulate the use of houses of worship, the use of private homes as places of worship, and schools. The official purpose claims to be intended to “promote individual constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and free exercise of religion and to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of Village of Monroe residents.”

But the letter, sent to village mayor Neil Dwyer, suggests otherwise.

“The proposed law places restrictions on residential gathering places, neighborhood places of worship, community places of worship, and schools of general instruction that could violate the rights of Orthodox Jews to exercise their religion,” it says.

The Village of Monroe, located in Orange County just outside the heavily Chassidic town of Kiryas Joel, has its own sizable and growing minority of Orthodox Jews.

The letter adds, “Proposed Local Law 5 appears to limit the ability of Orthodox Jews to practice their religion in violation of…state and federal laws. The OAG is not persuaded that the law’s stated rationale is sufficient to justify those restrictions. To the extent the proposed law addresses legitimate health and safety concerns, the OAG is not persuaded that its requirements are the least restrictive means for achieving the law’s goals.”

It is referencing several laws which prohibit the use of local zoning laws to interfere with religious practices. This issue has notably been an ongoing struggle in locales where orthodox Jewish communities are proliferating, including the Monsey region, Jackson, NJ, in addition to Kiryas Joel.

The letter asks the village to delay further action on the law while the OAG thoroughly evaluates it, and demands that the village provide a written justification for the law by September 29th.

Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel school district, tweeted: “Many municipalities in New York and New Jersey have attempted to use land use regulations to discriminate against the Orthodox Jewish community. It’s nice to see @NewYorkStateAG @TishJames standing up for the right to freely worship in every city, town, and village in NY State.

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Beny
Beny
1 year ago

Flj

The_Truth
The_Truth
1 year ago

It starts with limiting zoning, then they will limit how & what religious practice means….
Slippery slope. Beginning of the end to religious freedom.

Charlie Hall
Charlie Hall
1 year ago

We need to support politicians who stand up for our interests rather than trashing them.

Needs to be said
Needs to be said
1 year ago

I hope these zchusim don’t help her in her GET TRUMP court case.

Paul Near Philadelphia
Paul Near Philadelphia
1 year ago

Good for her.

Dr. Alex Morales
Dr. Alex Morales
1 year ago

This is like the concentration camp guard punishing the camp guards for unjustly killing a prisoner, and the capos applauding the commandant for his just decision.

Zalmen
Zalmen
1 year ago

The picture is not the only one in this country where there are now charred people who have been killed in the past year

chaim
chaim
1 year ago

Her nickname is Tish, which makes her practically a chusid, unfortunately some people are still demoncrats

triumphinwhitehouse
triumphinwhitehouse
1 year ago

why is VIN so woke that they dont let me speak? your hits on your website have fallen since you went woke.

Lgb
Lgb
1 year ago

prob getting her pockets lined

Just Asking
Just Asking
1 year ago

Umm .. is it possible that she’s correct and that the purpose of the law is to prevent “dissidents” who don’t follow R’ Aaron from opening shuls?

Just asking.