News

Rockland County is moving forward with litigation against pharmaceutical companies that made and sold prescription opioids, leading to an epidemic of abuse. County Executive Ed Day says he’s not anti-pain medication, but the marketing and prescribing of opioids in many cases have gone too far…

The county has hired a law firm based in Nashville that specializes in class-action lawsuits. Day says costs will be paid from any settlement reached on the County’s behalf, if there is one, otherwise the county doesn’t have to pay attorneys’ fees, so there will be no negative impact on Rockland taxpayers. 38 drug-related deaths occurred in Rockland County in 2018, down from 40 in 2017 and 2016. There have also been an unknown number of NARCAN saves in recent years.

An Albany lawmaker from Rockland thinks recreational marijuana will make it into the budget this year. Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee says while there are minor concerns about legalized pot, it makes sense to turn the corner…

Rockland’s sheriff, however, is concerned that if it is legalized, that could impact his staff and the tasks they are assigned to if they participate in legal drug use. Sheriff Lou Falco made his pitch to keep marijuana from becoming legal at the Rockland Business Association’s monthly luncheon last week. Sheriff Falco said it’s not clear that the law would hold police, EMS or other public safety professionals to a different standard and prevent them from smoking pot…

RBA CEO Al Samuels said the threat of having employees become drug users could also impact businesses across the state…

The governor has been pushing for a law to be included in the upcoming budget due April first, but it’s not clear whether legislators will come to an agreement in time for that.

Haverstraw police have added new charges on top of the murder and attempted murder charges for the man who allegedly ran over a family, backed up, and ran over them again at the Garnerville 7-Eleven Wednesday afternoon after a dispute over smoking. 35 year-old Jason Mendez of Washingtonville now also faces menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and resisting arrest. Haverstraw Supervisor Howard Phillips told “The Morning Show” yesterday he couldn’t believe something like that could happen…

32 year-old Melissa DeLoatch of Stony Point, who was reportedly pregnant, was killed in the incident. Husband Shawn DeLoatch and three of their children suffered serious injuries, though they were not considered life-threatening. A GoFundMe has been set up by Melissa’s cousin – to see it click here. 

A 24 year-old Spring Valley woman was ticketed after turning into an oncoming police car that was coming through an intersection and responding to an emergency call yesterday. In a Facebook post, Ramapo Police said the police car was pushed into another car operated by a 57 year-old Suffern man. No one was reported injured. It was not clear where the accident occurred. 

An assemblyman covering Rockland and Orange counties likes the idea of splitting the state into two, and thinks it is worth exploring. Republican Stephen Hawley, whose district borders Canada between Rochester and Buffalo, wants a referendum to split the state into two. Karl Brabenec of the 98th district, which covers western Ramapo and parts of Orange County, says he supports the bill, with a minor change…

Assemblyman Colin Schmitt’s 99th district covers North Rockland and parts of Orange County, and while he’s not for dividing the state, which would also cut right through his district, he understands the sentiment behind the proposal…

Assemblyman Hawley is hopeful the proposal could come to the Assembly floor for debate and a vote.