MONROE (VINnews) — In a win for the frum community (at least for now), the Village of Monroe has delayed a vote on a zoning law, after the Attorney General’s Office warned that the proposal would violate the religious freedom of Orthodox Jews.
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Monroe, located in Orange County just outside Kiryas Joel, has a growing minority of Orthodox Jews.
According to a TV news report, on Thursday night, Village attorney Alyse Terhune recommended that instead of adopting the law, “the board table this for the purpose of reaching out to the AG’s office and finding out what it is that they seem to be concerned with.”
Activist Rabbi Yakov Mayer Ferencz was quoted by Hamodia saying: “We very much appreciate the decisive action that the attorney general has taken…We are confident that with the help of the attorney general this law and other laws that are drafted to impede the growth of the Jewish community in Orange County will be quashed.”
The proposed Local law No. 5 would restrict the use of houses of worship, the use of private homes as places of worship, and schools. The official purpose claims to be 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 a sharp letter from the office of Letitia James, 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 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.”
The letter asked 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.
After the vote’s delay, James tweeted, “I won’t allow any form of antisemitism or discrimination in New York. That includes any attempt to pass laws that could discriminate against Orthodox Jewish communities or prevent groups of people from living where they choose.”
I wonder if the Chafetz Chaim had a sign outside the entrance to Radin asking people to separate by gender….
Hearts and minds, baby, winning those hearts and minds!
I’m a non-Jew who lives in Borough Park (I read this site out of a general interest in what’s going on in the chareidi world). Efforts like this to stop the growth of Orthodox Jewish communities deeply bother me. The whole point of American society should be letting different groups of people develop and live in the way they want to.
I don’t really understand why people wouldn’t want orthodox Jews to live in their town. Borough Park is a much better place to live than many other neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
Anyways, I hope you guys know that for every bigoted maniac in charge of a zoning board there are plenty of us who don’t view the growth of your community as any kind of a threat or problem
It doesn’t target anyone as it does t outright say it
Lefty AG should support the Mayor!
victory for chasidim. unemployed yaffed trolls are bashing their balding multi chinned faces against the wall in sheer agony.
I am just waiting for Archy to post negative comments about AG James. Aziff she does not have the best interests of the community and citizen on her agenda. That is how she treats and is going to treat DJT!
“The proposed bill restricts and regulates the use of houses of worship, the use of private homes as places of worship, and schools…”
Sounds like the AG is correct: The law is aimed at PREVENTING free exercise of religion by banning minyanim that don’t have the approval of KJ Religious Leadership (ie. the Rebbe).
In other words, it aims to prevent “dissidents” (Frum Yidden who don’t follow the KJ Rebbe) from having minyanim, essentially giving the KJ Rebbe total control of a public municipality and banning “dissidents” from living in KJ.
If I’ve misunderstood this, please correct me, but it sure sounds like that.
We should all learn a bit from Satmar