[PHOTOS BY ABB IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) had strong words this evening for the people attempting to block the Village of Kiryas Joel from annexing land. At a public hearing on the issue of annexation held at Beis Ruchel Paradise in Monroe, Hikind spoke for several minutes to the huge crowd.
“This is about one thing,” said Hikind. “Orthodox, Chassidic Jews are not wanted.
“It’s nice to watch democracy at work. It’s not nice to hear an undertone of hatred.
“This isn’t about Jews—it’s about Jews who look like the people here, with beards and side curls. They’re ‘different’ because they don’t socialize the same way. Some people have a hard time with that. That’s really what it’s all about. It’s not about annexation—it’s about halting the spread of Hassidic, Orthodox Jews. That’s what they’re scared of.
“If the [proposed] expansion was about people who look like them—Italian, Irish, Reformed Jews, Conservative Jews—they would not be as vociferous as they have been tonight.
“I voted against this legislation because it’s not about the State of New York, even through it’s a State bill—it was directed specifically at the Orthodox, Hassidic Jews of Kiryas Joel.”
(YWN Sullivan County Newsroom)
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7 Responses
Funny, Hikinds district is in Boro Park not in Kiryas Joel. Also Hikind and Satmar hate each other due to Zionism, so i dont get why he suddenly loves Satmar so much.
#1: Hikind votes in his position as a State Assemblyman on all State issues and laws affecting all or part of any part of the State of New York. Including the pending legislation directed at Orange County.
Regarding your second false point, Hikind and Satmar get along and have been friends for a long time. Hikind represents tens of thousands of Satmar voters in his NYC district.
to all those that say we dont have a wright or jackson
we have a hikind
SHOWMAN DOV HIKIND In his position were he
can show his face !
For a long time he (+ ALL politicians) was informed
about DANGEROUS INTERSECTION on Coney Island Ave &
ave O (near HAT BOX) and HE refuses even listen!
Now ‘SMART’ officials tried to make ‘safety island’
which is more dangerous for traffic & people
Fire trucks , buses can’t make turns ? ? ?
EVERYONE MUST COME TO INTER ave’O’ & ave ‘N’ and see
HOW WORKING POLITICIANS !
Red cones waiting for you
Maybe it’s because tehy are living in a rural area and they are not intrested in anyone coming to them. They moved there to get away from the city life and they do not want it to be invaded by anyone?
I think he should run for Senate, So the poor people in Flatbush and Boro park can have a elected official to help them change there lives.He is a great global official we need a local official that fights for the need of the local level.You have my vote for senate.
Over and over, at this meeting, individuals opposed to annexation noted their desire for the KJ leadership to sit down and discuss options. The opposition to the annexation stems from the stains that high density housing would place on water, waste disposal, and other factors that affect the entire region. Many other municipalities–in which sewer and water resources that serve the area are located–would face significant economic burdens and the need to dramatically increase capacity as a result of large increases in population. Throughout Monroe and the surrounding municipalities, residences have always been zoned for relatively sparce habitation. That protects the water/environmental resources that are limited and that we all need. The Ramapo River serves Orange and Rockland Counties in NY and also communities in Northern NJ. We all need clean drinking water. We all use the same resources. We all face the same limitations. We are not afraid of or hostile to the Satmars. All of us outside of KJ are used to seeing Hasids in our daily lives–we go to a lot of the same stores. We stand in the same lines at the bank. We use the same highways. We are civil to one another. No one cuts in line. No one hurls insults. We all need to live by the same rules–which are based on the fact that this area can’t support a huge and rapid amount of growth. I am sure that many people–and some spoke of this at the meeting–would love to be able to build another house on their property for their children. Because of zoning laws, they can’t. So their children live elsewhere, spread across Orange County and beyond. These are the rules everyone lives by. It’s what is needed to preserve the area. I hope the leadership of KJ will understand that rejection of annexation is the only viable and fair option.