KLEINER SAYS RETIRING OFFICIAL WILL LEAVE A VOID, BOARD MUST CHOOSE REPLACEMENT WISELY

KLEINER SAYS RETIRING OFFICIAL WILL LEAVE A VOID, BOARD MUST CHOOSE REPLACEMENT WISELY

To the Editor, John Giardiello – longtime head of Orangetown’s Office of Building, Zoning, Planning Enforcement and Administration (OBZPAE) – is retiring in July. Twice in the last several weeks I addressed the town board regarding the importance of filling that upcoming vacancy with someone with impeccable credentials, demonstrated independence from political pressure and a […]

Born in the USA Means Automatic Citizenship — but Is It Smart?

Born in the USA Means Automatic Citizenship — but Is It Smart?

BY DIANE DIMOND A reader from New Hampshire wrote to me to ask: “Why, just because you are born here, are you an American citizen? I know the history of this law but it is out of date and just encourages more illegal immigration.” Well, I cannot argue with that. The reader, who goes by […]

County Executive’s Corner: Fresh Air in the Sewer District

County Executive’s Corner: Fresh Air in the Sewer District

By Rockland County Executive Ed Day The more questions my administration raises about operations of the Rockland County Sewer District Number 1, the greater the stench that comes from that agency. The Sewer District is an independent agency governed by a board appointed by the Rockland County Legislature. That means that my authority over the […]

OMBUDSMAN’S ALERT: Auto Headlights Must Leave the Dark Ages!!

Safety Experts Claim That Poor Illumination Is Responsible For The Increasing Number Of Highway Deaths Especially Among Pedestrians BY DR. LOUIS ALPERT Ombudsman In Europe as well as Japan, automakers have introduced head lamps that automatically adjust to incoming traffic to reduce glare and help drivers see better;however, in the United States outdated federal rules […]

America’s Child Brides

America’s Child Brides

BY DIANE DIMOND Sherry Johnson gave birth when she was 10 years old. When she turned 11, her parents, members of a conservative Pentecostal church, decided she should marry the 20-year-old man who had raped her. Their reasoning? Marriage would deflect a criminal case and help protect the reputation of the church. Amazingly, a clerk […]