The NAACP won a round in court yesterday as a federal judge agreed that the East Ramapo Central School District’s current method of board elections is unfair to black and Latino voters. U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel said the district would be banned from using the at-large method for voting in its upcoming elections scheduled for June ninth. In a statement, assemblyman Ken Zebrowski called the East Ramapo school district an “anomaly, a public school district that is run by a private school community.” He said he was glad the federal judge stepped in to force a more equitable democracy in the district. We reached out to the board of education for comment, but they did not get back to us.
News
Mid-Hudson Region Starts Phase One Re-opening; NY Gov Opens NY Stock Exchange
The Mid-Hudson region, including Rockland, went through phase one of its re-opening as guided by the state. Retail was able to offer curbside pickups, and construction was able to resume, among other things. Rockland County executive Ed Day did a Facebook Live chat with George Latimer, the county executive for Westchester, which also opened up in phase one yesterday, and said people are probably going to come out slowly…
New York’s governor Andrew Cuomo helped nudge the financial industry along, participating in yesterday’s re-opening of the floor of the New York Stock Exchange…
In his daily coronavirus press briefing yesterday, Cuomo said now is the time to take on major infrastructure projects, including the LaGuardia Airport, the Empire Station project at Penn Station, and the Hudson Tunnel Project…
COVID-19 by the numbers now, the state has confirmed around 364,000 total cases of coronavirus across the state and 23,500 deaths. In Rockland, the state says we’ve got over 13,000 reported cases, and the Rockland Health Department confirms 624 fatalities here in the county.
(UPDATED) Former Hillburn Mayor, Ramapo Legislator, Brian Miele, Dies at 70
Updated – 5/27/20 12:27pm: Former Hillburn Mayor, Ramapo legislator and former Ramapo Central School District administrator Brian Miele died yesterday. In 2014, Miele pleaded guilty to several misdemeanors, stemming from his approval of nonexistent educational credits that boosted the pay of his daughter and wife, who were both teachers in the school district. According to the Journal News, prosecutors estimated Miele cost taxpayers $2.6 million, initially charging him in a 187-count indictment carrying a maximum of 25 years in prison. Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht said his thoughts and prayers are with the Miele family. No other details about the cause of death were available. He was 70 years old.
In an interview with WRCR, Hillburn’s current mayor, Joseph Tursi, went down a list of accomplishments Miele had, including building a new youth center, improving the area’s water system and standing up to former governor Mario Cuomo who wanted to shut down the 4th street bridge for repairs. Mayor Tursi called Tuesday “Hillburn’s saddest day.” Miele was a trustee from 1975 to ‘77, then served as mayor from ’77 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2009. He also served in the legislature during a good portion of the 90’s. He was 70 years old.
West Haverstraw Man Caught, Charged with Murder After Nyack Shooting
Orangetown Police arrested 33 year-old Jason Max Jabouin of West Haverstraw, on charges of second degree murder and other charges for the fatal shooting of 30 year-old Ryan Franklin, also of West Haverstraw. The shooting took place at 10:05 am Friday morning on South Midland Avenue in Nyack. Jabouin was nabbed early Saturday morning after a traffic stop in Maryland. In a press conference Saturday, Orangetown Police Chief Donald Butterworth praised the many police agencies locally, in Maryland, and the FBI, who all assisted in the case…
Rockland District Attorney Tom Walsh said while the suspect was on the run, fear spread through Nyack and the county…
A motive for the killing has not yet been established. If anyone has any information about the incident, you can call the Orangetown Police Department at 845-359-3700 or send an anonymous tip to Tip411.
Orangetown Police Investigating Car Thefts in Pearl River
Orangetown Police need your help after a series of car thefts early yesterday morning in Pearl River. Two cars were stolen and items from cars were stolen as well. Police say the incidents took place near North Main Street, West Lewis Street, East Lewis Street, East George Avenue, and West Carrol Street. If you have any information, contact the Orangetown Police Department Detective Bureau at 845-359-3700. The police remind you to remove your keys and valuables from your vehicles and be sure to lock the doors.