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Discrimination complaint heard in Forestburgh

By Derek Kirk
Posted 1/10/23

FORESTBURGH – At their regular meeting on January 5, the Town Board of Forestburgh gave ear to multiple comments regarding a filed complaint alleging antisemitic discrimination  that has …

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Discrimination complaint heard in Forestburgh

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FORESTBURGH – At their regular meeting on January 5, the Town Board of Forestburgh gave ear to multiple comments regarding a filed complaint alleging antisemitic discrimination  that has recently been brought forth against the town.

As the Democrat previously reported, on December 16, the complaint was filed against the town by Eric W. Treene, partner at Storzer and Associates, P.C. and Steven Barshov, partner at Sive, Paget, and Riesel, P.C. both of whom represent Lost Lake Holdings LLC and Mishconos Mazah LLC.

Defendants in the complaint are named as the Town of Forestburgh, the Town Board, Forestburgh’s Zoning Board of Appeals, Town Supervisor Dan Hogue Jr., Chair of the Forestburgh Planning Board Richard Robbins, Town Building Inspector Glenn Gabbard, and Town Assessor Dennis Ketcham.

The complaint addresses multiple instances in which the town and members of the community allegedly exhibited antisemitic behavior and discriminatory comments dating all the way back to the purchasing of the property from former owners, Double Diamond LLC, to the recent denial of the building permits for all but one on the Lost Lake property. 

The first to speak during public comment regarding the complaint was Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Director of New York Government Relations from Agudath Israel of America. Rabbi Silber said that as the regional Orthodox Jewish community grows, they need new places to expand.

“The American Way is [that] any person can live wherever they choose as long as they follow the local laws,” Rabbi Silber said. “Unfortunately in many areas of New York and New Jersey, this has not been the case.”

Rabbi Silber said that there are many instances around New York and New Jersey where there has been a “concerted effort to keep Orthodox Jews out.”

Rabbi Silber was joined in his comments towards the Board by Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director of the New Jersey Office of Agudath Israel of America. Joining in their shared sentiment, two Orthodox Jewish Sullivan County natives also spoke before the Board on the discrimination complaint against the town.

These comments were met with pushback, with members of the Town Board and other public commenters, calling the comments against the town “slanderous.” Following the public comment, Town Supervisor Dan Hogue Jr. responded by saying that the town is unable to officially comment on pending litigation.

Additionally, the town passed a resolution that will allow them to accept monetary donations after receiving a correspondence letter from a Sullivan County native who offered to assist with legal fees and costs associated with the discrimination complaint and other similar lawsuits. 

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