Ramapo and Kiryas Joel Voters Head to the Polls Tuesday

Leading Rabbanim and askanim in Ramapo urged residents to go to the polls on Tuesday for local elections, stressing that the outcome of the vote would have a crucial impact on the future of the local Torah communities.
In the town of Ramapo — which includes Monsey, New Square, the Vizhniter village of Kaser, and Spring Valley — elections will be held for Town Supervisor as well as two seats on the Ramapo Town Board.
Community leaders have credited the incumbent Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, as well as board member Samuel Baruch Tress and Councilwoman Brenda Logan-Charles, with helping to make possible the astonishing growth of the numerous Torah institutions in the area, as well as the availability of affordable housing for young, growing families.
Running against St. Lawrence is Michael Parietti, of “Preserve Ramapo,” a group vehemently opposed to what it considers to be the overdevelopment of Ramapo, and which has consistently been at loggerheads with the frum community.
Also on Tuesday, residents of the village of Kiryas Joel — which is part of the Town of Monroe — will cast ballots for two seats of the Monroe Town Board. Two of the candidates are affiliated with United Monroe, a group that was established exclusively to fight against the growth of Kiryas Joel.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the November 3rd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.