Rockland

The Consequences of Uncontested Elections: Chaim Rose and Avrohom Fromovitz, CPA, Award Themselves Taxpayer Funded Lifetime Health Insurance

In March 2021, Chaim Rose was elected trustee of the Village of Chestnut Ridge. Shortly thereafter, for the first time ever taxes were raised 8% in one year. About a year later Avrohom Fromovitz, CPA, was appointed a trustee as well.

Soon after, in 2023, taxes were raised by an additional 45%.

In 2020 property taxes were $12.06 per $1,000.00 of assessed value. By 2025 property taxes were levied at a rate of $23.10 per $1,000.00 of assessed value, a 91% increase in just 5 years. To put things in perspective in the entire 5-year period from 2014 to 2019 property taxes increased by just 9% (from $10.54 to $11.48 per $1,000.00 of assessed value).

While burdening homeowners with dramatically increased property taxes, Fromovitz and Rose quadrupled their salaries, raising village employee payroll costs by several hundred thousand dollars. This may not sound like much, but Chestnut Ridge is a small village with a very small tax base. Small villages generally pay very low salaries. Rose raised his salary from $6,000.00 to $50,000.00 in a few years.

In 2024 after taxes had risen 71% from 2021 the village put out a misleading letter which blamed the dramatic tax increases on the rising cost of waste management, while failing to mention the village’s ballooning payroll costs caused by Fromovitz and Rose’s self-serving raises.

In reward for their prudent management, the leaders of Chestnut Ridge wholeheartedly endorsed Rose and Fromovitz, CPA, for reelection. Their support effectively prevented any serious challenge to Fromovitz or Rose.

After consolidating power Rose and Fromovitz continue to find new ways to enrich themselves at the expense of homeowners. Last month Fromovitz and Rose voted to provide themselves with free health insurance paid for by already struggling Chestnut Ridge taxpayers, which will undoubtedly lead to further tax increases. To add insult to injury, the law awards trustees with health insurance for life after 7 years, which  means that every time the village gets a new trustee who stays in office for the typical 2 terms, the village will be left with a legacy cost of a lifetime insurance policy.

To put things in perspective, Fromovitz is about 39 years old. If he takes this plan until 85 that means a bill to the taxpayers of well over one million dollars even before adjusting for inflation. For just one trustee.

“Nice work if you can get it.”

Avi Yankelewitz, Esq. The writer can be reached at avi@yankelewitzlaw.com

Against Wieder

The biggest issue on the ballot this election is Proposition 1, not the Melnik vs. Weber, or the Lawler vs. Jones race. Proposition 1, dishonestly portrayed as an equal rights amendment will negatively impact the community in many ways for years to come. See Vote No On Prop 1. This is why almost all organizations and all Rabbonim are urging the community to vote no. Even Agudah, not exactly a hard right organization, is urging a no-vote. Agudath Israel: Vote No on Prop 1 – Agudath Israel of America  “The proposed amendment would enshrine a litany of new protected classes in New York’s constitution, which would jeopardize religious freedom and undermine parental rights.” The only frum politician publicly in favor of Proposition 1, is Aron Wider who is currently running for NYS Assembly.  

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A Response to the RKOC Initiative: A Thinly Veiled Mafia Power Grab Dressed as “Unity”

The recent push by the Rabbinical Kashrus Oversight Council (RKOC) to bring Rockland County’s kosher food establishments under their control isn’t the unifying gesture it claims to be; rather, it’s a clear attempt at monopolizing our community’s kashrus standards. The RKOC is selling this initiative as a means of “standardization” and “unity,” but the real impact is nothing short of a power grab, imposing unnecessary oversight on an already well-regulated market.

One of the most alarming elements of this initiative is RKOC’s insistence that the community should boycott any establishment that doesn’t fall under their umbrella. This demand is manipulative, positioning RKOC as the only “trustworthy” option, while sowing seeds of distrust toward the longstanding, reputable kashrus organizations already serving our community. Boycotting independent establishments is a strong-arm tactic, meant to pressure food businesses into joining RKOC or risk losing community support. This approach feels more like the behavior of a controlling monopoly than that of a genuine, community-centered organization.

In fact, any establishments that signed up with the RKOC has only seen them once, and not even twice, since doing so, and therefore the oversight is scant if not nonexistent. It’s certainly not up to the normal standards of kashrus that these establishments already employ.

The RKOC does not even show up to enforce their non-halachic based standards that they contrived.

By saying that an establishment needs the RKOC, they are saying that the existing kashrus which is accepted by everyone, is somehow not sufficient!

Let’s talk about the RKOC’s claim that their oversight is currently “free” for participating establishments. While this sounds benevolent on the surface, history tells us that such “free” services often come with a catch. If RKOC gains control over Rockland County’s kosher certifications, who’s to say they won’t start charging fees or requesting “donations” later on? And if not financial, the power itself is a significant gain—turning RKOC into a gatekeeper for kosher food in Rockland County, able to dictate terms and wield influence over every establishment that joins them.

And why do we need RKOC oversight at all? Rockland County already boasts a robust system of kosher supervision, with respected organizations that have earned the community’s trust over years. These agencies ensure high kashrus standards and uphold the values we care about, without forcing themselves on establishments or introducing needless bureaucracy. RKOC’s intervention is, at best, redundant, and, at worst, a divisive tactic meant to undermine and overshadow the good work of existing kashrus agencies. We’ve survived thinking without them, and none of us are going to gehenom by eating from reputable restaurants with widely recognized hashgachos.

If RKOC is so insistent on oversight, perhaps it’s they who should be overseen. A Vaad created solely to police established agencies raises questions: What do they gain by positioning themselves above the organizations already in place? Should we accept a layer of unnecessary control simply because it’s wrapped in frum language and promises of “unity”? If anything, maybe we should form a separate council to monitor RKOC itself. Perhaps we need a Vaad to oversee all the Vaads!

This initiative by RKOC feels like a solution in search of a problem. Rockland County’s kashrus standards have been upheld well without them, and the addition of RKOC adds nothing of true value to the community. Rather than fostering “unity,” their efforts risk dividing us, imposing monopolistic control on local food establishments, and disrupting a system that has long worked effectively.

Our kehila deserves better than a thinly veiled power grab. We need transparency, collaboration, and true trust in our kashrus practices. It’s time to stand together against this unnecessary intervention. Let’s reject the RKOC’s overreach, preserve the autonomy of our trusted establishments, and protect Rockland from the influence of those who would control our food and businesses for their gain.

Let’s say no to the RKOC’s attempts to monopolize our kashrus oversight. Our town and establishments deserve freedom, not control. Together, we can ensure that Rockland remains a place of choice, trust, and authentic halachic  values.

Finally, everything RKOC stands for flies in the face of actual halachic principles. Halacha does not endorse monopolistic tactics, divisive policies, or unnecessary displays of power. By claiming to uphold standards through force and manipulation, RKOC’s actions are an antithesis to the values they purport to protect. This is not going l’fnim meshuras hadin. This reeks of the efforts of Chasidei Shotim.

Let’s rally to defend our community from this overreach and preserve the integrity of our cherished halachic traditions.