An Airmont Village Trustee has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of illegally possessing an unregistered firearm. That’s according to The Journal News. Brian Downey’s plea effectively ends his tenure on the Board. He’ll be sentenced June first. He was arrested in September 2021 and charged with possession of unregistered firearms, federal badges and ID cards. The suspended Ramapo deputy building inspector still faces 11 local charges, and he’s reportedly expected to plea there later this month. Airmont mayor Nathan Bubel appointed Planning Board member Morris Friedman to take over Downey’s seat, which he won in March 2019.
Breaking News
Mass Shootings Around Nation Put Local Authorities on Alert
The mass shooting Monday night at Michigan State University in which three people were killed and five others were hurt put local officials on alert here in Rockland. Sheriff Lou Falco says whether there is a local connection or not, shootings of that scope always hit local authorities’ radar…
43-year-old Anthony McRae killed himself after the shooting spree. Investigators later found years ago he lived in Ewing Township, New Jersey, near Trenton. The school district there closed Tuesday after McRae was found with a note reportedly threatening Ewing schools. In the most recent mass shooting, two men were reportedly taken into custody late yesterday after an incident at an El Paso, Texas, mall left one dead and three people injured. We’re now up to 72 mass shootings for the year so far.
New Rockland Office of Buildings and Codes Marks One Year of Work in Spring Valley
It was one year ago yesterday that Rockland County took over the Village of Spring Valley Building Department with its own Office of Buildings and Codes, as ordered by the New York State Department of State. In the past year, 844 properties that were inspected were found with multiple violations, with one exception – and that was a firehouse. Around 7,500 violations were issued on those inspections and a quarter of a million dollars levied in fines. At a press conference yesterday, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said conversations have already begun between the Village and the Department of State regarding the eventual return of the Village’s Building and Codes department, but it’s not clear how that transfer will happen…
While a typical municipality might find one or two violations per property, the OBC is finding properties in the Village of Spring Valley averaging 10 violations. OBC Director Ed Markunas said the substandard living conditions they’ve found makes life even more difficult for Spring Valley residents and first responders…
Day said he expects the OBC to complete three years’ worth of inspections in the two years they’ve been given by the state. If you have a complaint in the village of Spring Valley you can call the OBC at 845-364-3700.
Man Killed In Thruway Crash Friday ID’d by NYS Police
The man killed Friday morning after an accident on the New York State Thruway in Rockland, which snarled traffic in both directions during the morning commute in Nyack and West Nyack, has been identified. New York State Police say 60 year-old Arnold Sanchez of the Bronx was killed when the cargo van he was driving crashed into a Thruway Wrecker that was providing traffic control for a disabled vehicle in the left shoulder, partially in the left lane. Police say the van was traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed. The disabled vehicle was being loaded by Congers Collision at the time and no one was in the Wrecker when the crash occurred. No other injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Driver Killed After Crash on NYS Thruway in Nyack Friday
A man was killed Friday morning after an accident on the New York State Thruway in Rockland, which snarled traffic in both directions during the morning commute between exit 11 in West Nyack and exit 12 in Nyack. New York State Police say the accident occurred around 7am when a Thruway Wrecker providing traffic control for a disabled vehicle in the left shoulder, partially in the left lane, was rear-ended by a cargo van traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed. The disabled vehicle was being loaded by Congers Collision at the time and no one was in the Wrecker when the crash occurred. The driver of the cargo van, who was not identified, was taken to Nyack Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. No other injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.