Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on May 9, 2014

Community groups fighting the growing influence of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish population in New York Citys northwestern exurbs are joining forces to counter the Hasidic bloc vote in this years gubernatorial election.

An organization called United Monroe opposes the expansion of Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic village that brought high-density housing to the rural town as it grew by 63 percent since 2000. Two others, Concerned Citizens Group of Pine Bush and the Rural Community Coalition, are battling plans by a Hasidic developer to build 396 townhouses in Bloomingburg, a village in the foothills of the Catskills.

The activists want to prevent what they call the next East Ramapo, a school district about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Manhattan, where critics say the state is standing idle as a Hasidic-controlled board of education cuts programs for public-school students. A group called Preserve Rockland and a coalition of religious leaders, including rabbis, are pressing Governor Andrew Cuomo for oversight.

Were essentially becoming the other bloc vote, which is really the only way to gain representation in local, county and state government, said Emily Convers, who leads United Monroe. We need to play the same game. Thats the only way to get heard. Otherwise, we can kiss the mountains and the streams and our homes goodbye.

Students of the East Ramapo School District hold a sign that reads "Save Our Schools" during a rally in Albany, on June 8, 2013. Close

Students of the East Ramapo School District hold a sign that reads "Save Our Schools"... Read More

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Students of the East Ramapo School District hold a sign that reads "Save Our Schools" during a rally in Albany, on June 8, 2013.

Tensions in the lower Hudson Valley have been mounting as members of the largest Hasidic community outside of Israel leave gentrifying Brooklyn in search of lower-cost housing and raise families with an average of four children. The local disputes over development and public education are entangling state agencies and Cuomo, a 56-year-old Democrat who faces re-election.

As the groups pool resources, theyre raising the stakes for gubernatorial candidates who have historically focused mainly on winning endorsements from ultra-Orthodox leaders. That includes Cuomo, whose fathers close ties with the Hasidim helped him win their backing in 2010.

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Hasidim Spark Backlash in NYC Exurbs That Entangles Cuomo

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