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The town of Clarkstown is taking legal action against two area landlords officials say are housing migrants in unsafe and illegal conditions at various properties in town and around the county. At a press conference Friday in New City, officials said they were taking the actions against Simcha Schwartz of Brooklyn, who they said owns 10 properties in town, and a New City resident, Wilson Bermeo, who owns five. Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann said it takes time before these kinds of cases can be brought to court…

Rockland Congressman Mike Lawler of the 17th district said part of the problem is New York City’s designation as a so-called “sanctuary city”…

Hoehmann said one single-family residence was found to have two dozen people living there, with three families on the second floor. The suits were filed last week in State Supreme Court. The two landlords could not be reached for comment.

Less than a year on the job and the head of a local college has already been let go. That’s according to Patch.com, which reported yesterday afternoon that Rockland Community College’s new president, Dr. Lester Edgardo Sandres Rápalo, was fired after just 11 months. RCC has been wrestling with financial issues, layoffs and various cost-cutting measures implemented after an $8 million shortfall was discovered. A spokesperson for RCC told WRCR yesterday the college would issue a statement in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The MTA’s controversial congestion pricing plan is on hold, for now. The governor announced the about-face late yesterday morning, citing high financial stress and inflation that have been hurting everyday New Yorkers, noting now is not the time to launch a new toll to get into the city. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, yesterday released a video in which she listed the various items, including eggs, tuition, childcare and housing, that have become much too expensive, and to now add a $15 congestion pricing toll into the mix, would be too much of a financial strain on middle-class New Yorkers…

Republicans were quick to pounce on the move as an election year stunt. Rockland State Senator Bill Weber of the 38th district called the governor’s move a political decision to protect vulnerable incumbent Democrats up for re-election…

And that was Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Orangetown supervisor Teresa Kenny. Rockland Congressman Mike Lawler said the plan should have been scrapped entirely. The congestion pricing plan would hit cars with a $15 toll when they drive below 60th Street into the so-called Congestion Relief Zone during peak hours. Officials expected it would have eliminated 100,000 vehicles from entering the zone each day, resulting in less traffic and cleaner air in the city. Several lawsuits are still pending looking to stop the plan entirely.

A Garnerville man will spend up to three years behind bars after pleading guilty yesterday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run last summer. That’s according to News 12. 36 year-old Patrick Sharkey admitted to leaving the scene of an accident. Sharkey was reportedly driving without a license when he struck 18-year-old Dariel Rivera on Route 303 in West Nyack. Rivera was riding an e-scooter to work. Sharkey was sent to the Rockland County Jail to await sentencing in September, the prosecution had sought up to seven years.

Report: Congestion Pricing Program to be Delayed
The governor is reportedly considering delaying the implementation of the MTA’s controversial congestion pricing plan that’s just weeks away from going into effect. While she agrees with the environmental goals, The New York Times reported Governor Kathy Hochul is concerned about the timing of the toll, thinking it could deter commuters from returning to the central business district, which is still suffering from the pandemic. Under the congestion pricing plan, cars will be hit with a $15 toll when they drive below 60th Street into the so-called Congestion Relief Zone during peak hours. Officials expect 100,000 fewer vehicles to enter the zone every day, creating less traffic and cleaner air. A delay in the plan’s implementation would require approval of the New York State Legislature.

Report: Fencing at Evergreen Not Working
New fencing around the scene of the fatal Spring Valley fire that took the life of an adult home resident and village firefighter apparently hasn’t been enough to keep local vagrants off the property. That’s according to the Journal News. The owners of the Evergreen Court Home for Adults were court-ordered to secure the property, but people have reportedly been able to get into the property anyway. Spring Valley Fire Department Lieutenant, 35 year-old Jared Lloyd, and 79 year-old resident Oliver Hueston died blaze three years ago.

Report: Displaced Residents Still Out of Homes After February Fire
It’s been more than three months since a fire leveled several apartments at a complex in Spring Valley and residents still have not been able to return. That’s according to News 12. They report construction got underway Monday to repair the units damaged in the February blaze at the Surrey Carlton apartments. A spokesperson for the building’s management company told News 12 they are helping tenants replace personal items lost in the fire and covering the cost to fix some items and store them until the units are restored.

Report: Three Orange County Companies Announce Layoffs
300 people will be out of work in the Hudson Valley this summer after three area companies announced layoffs. DailyVoice.com reported the Orange County-based companies, Frito-Lay and Gen-Pak in Middletown, and Amscan in Newburgh, filed notice with the state informing them of the layoffs. Frito-Lay said 88 workers would be laid off at the end of August. Food packaging manufacturer Gen-Pak said all of its 138 employees would be out of work come August due to the trend to discontinue using polystyrene food packaging. And party supply maker AmScan will be laying off 117 employees due to “economic” reasons also at the end of August.

The town of Ramapo will have a new chief of police later this month. Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht says Police Chief Martin Reilly will officially retire on June 14th…

Taking the top spot will be Captain Daniel Hyman, who will be officially sworn-in at a ceremony at town hall on Thursday night…

Captain Hyman officially takes over as chief on June 15th.