The dispute over a proposed Tartikov Yeshiva in Rockland County returns to federal court Feb. 10.
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Karas will hear arguments in regards to the village’s request to dismiss a lawsuit by Congregation Rabbinical College of Tartikov. In its lawsuit, the group accused the village of prejudice against Chassidim, and alleged that its zoning discriminated against the planned Yeshiva.
“We expect a ruling to be made after the oral arguments,” John Stepanovich, a lawyer for Tartikov, said last week of the hearing scheduled in White Plains.
The village of Pomona, which is home to about 3,000 people, was upset two years ago by the news that 1,000 or more students and their families could be coming to live in the Yeshiva’s six-story apartment buildings.
But Paul Savad, a Nanuet attorney representing Tartiko, said the intent was to build only enough for 250 students. “It’s not like all of a sudden 1,000 students are going to appear in the village of Pomona,” Savad said, explaining that the higher figures were initially used only for planning purposes showing the maximum build-out of the property.
“But that was just for the environmental review,” Savad said. “All we’re asking for is that the village must consider our request for 250 students.”
What could keep the village from considering the application is an ordinance that prohibits non-accredited educational facilities from building dormitories. Tartikov doesn’t qualify for accretidation because it has no certifiable academic program.
Tartikov has also sparked debate among its neighbors in Pomona because of its efforts to obtain tax-exempt status. Locals have complained that the high concentration of organizations with tax-exempt status in Monsey and Spring Valley unfairly increases the burden on the remaining taxpayers.
(Dov Gordon – YWN / LoHud.com)
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Tartikov has also sparked debate among its neighbors in Pomona because of its efforts to obtain tax-exempt status. Locals have complained that the high concentration of organizations with tax-exempt status in Monsey and Spring Valley unfairly increases the burden on the remaining taxpayers.
that is why in the united states we have a separation of church and state. that is why we have the court system that we have , to decide these matters weather we like it or not.
if you loose then you move someplace else.