A Nanuet roofing company has been fined $687,000 for workplace safety violations at a New Jersey work site. The fine comes one week before a trial was scheduled to begin, with the company, ALJ Home Improvement, withdrawing its challenge to the U-S Labor Department’s violations. The Labor Department said company founder, 41 year-old Jose Lema, had a history of fall hazard violations with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Since 2019, OSHA has inspected the company ten times and cited multiple fall-related violations, including two that involved fatalities, one of them at a worksite in New Square. That incident led Lema to plead guilty last month to criminal charges in New York, and sentencing is scheduled for May. He faces six months in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
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Gas Prices Tick Upwards in Lower Hudson Valley
You may have noticed gas prices are inching their way up again. The average from Triple-A shows an increase in our area of 12 cents a gallon from last month to $3.55. WRCR market analyst Ken Mahoney of Mahoney Asset Management in Chestnut Ridge says the price of crude oil has been inching its way upward since November…
New York’s average gas price has crept up about 18 cents a gallon since mid-January.
Child Injured After Hit by School Bus in Monsey
A 6-year-old boy from Monsey is recovering after reportedly being hit by a school bus Tuesday morning. That’s according to DailyVoice.com. The incident reportedly happened around 9:30 Tuesday morning on West Maple Avenue. Police said the injuries were serious but not life-threatening. No other details were available.
NYS Republicans Release Antisemitism Report
The New York State Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group yesterday unveiled their report with recommendations on how to address and combat antisemitism. Over the last year, the group has been holding roundtable meetings in Rockland and Nassau counties. Rockland State Senator Bill Weber of the 38th District was a participant in the project. At a press conference yesterday in Albany, Weber said the group has come up with five bills they’re suggesting the Legislature should make part of the state budget, including new protections on college campuses…
Another bill would create the “New York State Antisemitism Vandalism Act” to make vandalizing pro-Israel print as a class A misdemeanor.
Holidays Could Play Role in Whether NYS Budget Passes On-time
Just four more days before the New York State budget is due and one local state lawmaker says the sides are still far apart. Rockland State Senator, Republican Bill Weber of the 38th District, isn’t sure whether it’ll be late or not, partially due to the upcoming Good Friday and Easter holidays…
But State Assemblyman, Democrat Ken Zebrowski of District 96, covering Clarkstown, Haverstraw and Nyack, says there is agreement in many areas, it’s that the numbers aren’t adding up just yet…
There are some consequences if the budget doesn’t pass on-time. It could mean some state employees, contractors, charities and social service agencies don’t get paid. Legislators also wouldn’t get paid, though the governor would still get a paycheck. The deadline is April first.