A Democrat is throwing his support behind a legislative attempt in Albany to rename the new bridge connecting Rockland to Westchester with the same name the old bridge had. A late-night, back-office deal with the former governor resulted in the new bridge being called “The Mario M. Cuomo Bridge,” but since no one much uses that, and calls it by the former bridge’s name, many feel renaming it to “The Tappan Zee Bridge” is more appropriate. The New York Post says former Rockland State Senator James Skoufis, whose district now represents other Hudson Valley counties, says he’s on board with Rockland Assemblyman John McGowan’s bill, which he picked up from former Assemblyman Mike Lawler’s bill introduced two years ago. Skoufis is the first Democrat in the State Senate to support the bill, which he is hoping passes before this legislative term ends in June.
Breaking News
Spring Valley Man Arrested, Charged in Hit-and-Run
A Spring Valley man was arrested last week suspected in a fatal hit-and-run in Ramapo earlier this month. Ramapo Police say 26 year-old Bryan Castillo-Solorzano left the scene after striking an 82 year-old woman on Hempstead Lane in Hillcrest on Saturday, February 11th. Castillo-Solorzano was arraigned, and bail was set at $75,000. He was taken to the Rockland County Jail. No other information was available.
Airmont Trustee Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession, Loses Spot on Board of Trustees
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.
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.