Candidate Lists Negatives Of Proposed Slaughterhouse

To the Editor:

As the candidate running for Supervisor of Ramapo who has, and will always, advocate for the best interests of the people of our Town, I have to oppose the proposed slaughterhouse.

As everyone knows, I am a big proponent of bringing ratables into our Town as a way to help reduce the financial burdens of the Town; which are crushing residents through heavy taxation.   By ratables, I mean I want to bring sustainable businesses into our town; small business and big business which can add to our Town’s culture.  Although I believe we should be excited to let new business blossom here, having a slaughterhouse in this area is not justifiable or warranted.  

This concept was proposed once before and was turned down, shunned, and protested by nearly all.  When approving a business for operation in Ramapo, we have to think of all of the surrounding neighborhoods which will catch the brunt of the impact.  We need to think of smell, runoff, disease, extra-traffic, noise, and the excess use of our precious resources.  

According to United Water, we have a fresh water problem and that is why they want to build the desalination facility.  Our sewer systems are already over-burdened, antiquated, and will not handle much more without extensive improvement.  We need to grow our town intelligently, but this slaughterhouse will not be an intelligent addition to our community.

This project has been brought up to Albany, the health department, local government officials, O.S.H.A., and others; unanimously they have said it is a bad project.  I am for the construction of projects which will benefit our town, its people, and its future; I cannot support something so opposite.  I am in agreement with the neighbors surrounding this project who have opposed this project or any like it which has the potential to cause great discomfort and harm to our neighbors, our Town, and most of all our natural resources.  

Just because an entity owns a plot of land does not mean it can do whatever it chooses with it outside of the law, especially if it will cause a public nuisance.  Although I stand for cultivating a business culture in our town, this is something I cannot stand for.  We have neither a place nor tolerance for something that promises so much trouble. 

Bring to me all of your projects and plans; if it is within the law or is something that will truly be a benefit to Ramapo and its people we should move forward.

Smart and safe development is what we want, but this is neither. There is clearly no room in Ramapo at present for an entity which offers so many negatives and so few positives.  As of late, only one politician has given his blessing for this project; but in doing so he makes me question his judgment.  

One politician standing on his bully pulpit to enthusiastically lend his support to this project in ignorance of not only the people he currently represents but the people seeks to, is just like building a baseball stadium after putting up a referendum in which the majority of the town voted it down.  We can’t afford to allow another politician with a nice smile to bulldoze the town with his defiant actions and ignorant ears.  This is why I promise to lead Ramapo with understanding, compassion, business sense, dignity, and loyalty to our town.  

This one of the many reasons why I am running for the position of Supervisor of Ramapo.  I want to unite the town and make sure every voice is heard, and I want to make sure that there will be a Ramapo in the Future, not just the ruins of a town lost to ignorance and greed.

Sincerely,

Scott Goldman

Suffern

www.goldman2013.com