Less than 24 hours after it was posted, the Rockland County Republican party pulled what was panned by many as an offensive and anti-Semitic video off its Facebook page. The video suggested Ramapo Legislator Aron Wieder and the Hasidic and Orthodox community of Ramapo were planning to take over the county. The video was criticized by the state Attorney General and area political leaders from both sides of the aisle. Rabbi Justin Schwartz is the chairman of the Rockland County Illegal Housing Task Force, and said the video was “deeply disturbing” and called for the head of the Rockland Republican Party and those responsible for it to step down…
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said the video “set a troubling tone for a necessary conversation about over-development” and added “the content of the video is factual.” The video prompted Day to cancel a press conference he was going to have with other area political and community leaders about code enforcement. Rockland State Senator David Carlucci said the video attempted to create fear and division without solutions. Even the governor weighed in, calling the video disgusting and adding, “There is no excuse for anti-Semitism masquerading as concerns over zoning.” After viewing the video, callers to “The Morning Show” yesterday had differing opinions…
In a statement to WRCR yesterday, Rockland GOP Chairman Lawrence Garvey said it is not a religious issue, but rather about “the greed of a handful of elected officials.” On Twitter, Wieder called the video “shameful.”