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The Villages

Nyack Halloween Parade Photos, Redistricting Rockland and More Local Stories

This week in the Villages: The return of Nyack’s Halloween parade after a three-year hiatus brought thousands to the Hudson River village. Plus, a new legislative district map for Rockland County, more local news, your weekly weather prediction, health updates, upcoming meetings and much more!

Editor’s note: Slideshow Photos by Andrea B. Swenson for Nyack Chamber of Commerce

The Lead Story: Makeover of Rockland Legislative Map Approved

As part of its once-a-decade makeover based on new census data, Rockland County’s legislature approved a new district map on Wednesday with a vote of 13 to 1.

“The plan not only reflects the changes in population and the racial diversity that exists across Rockland but takes into account a community’s ability to elect the representative of their choice,” Rockland County Legislator Alden H. Wolfe said in a press release. “While no plan can ever be perfect, I hope people feel confident in the
process that was undertaken and the resulting boundaries.”

According to the press release, the re-drawing process included the hiring of consultant, public forums in Rockland’s five towns, a handful of public meetings and forums, social meeting postings and “other efforts.”

As is often the case with redistricting, not everyone was happy with the outcome, including local advocates, the NAACP and at least one Republican representative.

Charles Falciglia, a Republican, the lone dissenting vote (three other legislators were absent from the vote), told LoHud that “on a very surface view the map, in my opinion, favors the Democrats to maintain and possibly even increase their majority, based on safer seats. Of course, much depends on who will be running/returning.”

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Meanwhile, Wilbur Aldridge, the head of the mid-Hudson Valley chapter of the NAACP, said he opposed the new map, “vehemently,” according to LoHud, because he said it would dilute the minority vote over the course of the next few years as demographics in the area change.

The leader of a group called Preserve Ramapo, Michael Parrieti, told LoHud he thought the new maps would benefit Hassidic Jewish leaders and would also split communities like Pearl River (which was separated into 2 districts) and Nyack (which was split in three ways).

Despite the criticism, legislative officials who supported the plan laid out a list goals the new map would accomplish, including:

Narrow Population Deviation: Considered the highest ranked standard when conducting redistricting. Rockland’s new plan ranges from -0.94 percent below the ideal target of 19,918 per district to just +1.24 percent above the target. New York State law allows a much larger deviation of up to 5 percent. 

Hispanic Minority District: Retains the existing Hispanic Minority District based in Haverstraw  with 61 percent Hispanic Voting Age Population in District 3. 

Minority Population In Spring Valley: Rebalances the minority population in Spring Valley to  create two solidly minority districts. These districts provide opportunities for each of the county’s  largest minority groups to effectively elect a candidate of their choosing. 

 ▪District 8 with 42 percent non-Hispanic Black Voting Age Population and 32 percent Hispanic  Voting Age Population.  

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 ▪District 14 with a Hispanic population plurality – 36 percent Hispanic Voting Age Population  and 25 percent non-Hispanic Voting Age Population.  

Communities Of Interest: Numerous communities of interest were identified by the public in  comments to the Redistricting Committee, including the request that the people within the Suffern  School District are a community of interest that needs a legislative district fully within the school  district. This was done with the realignment of the District 12 boundary. 

Fewer Districts Cross Town Boundaries: In the existing boundary map, nine legislative district  cross town boundaries. In the new adopted plan, it has been reduced to 5 (Districts 2, 9, 10, 14,  17), with just one consisting of three towns (District 1) • Improves Overall Compactness: Plan B improves overall compactness vs. the current  boundaries, with scores ranging from 2.9 percent to 7.5 percent.

Take a look at the new Rockland County legislative districts.

Here is a look at the proposed Plan A map, which was not adopted:

One of the proposed Rockland County Legislative District maps that was not adopted.

Here is the current map:

The current Rockland County Legislative District Map (since 2012)

County Executive Ed Day now has about three weeks to sign off on the maps or veto them.

Stay tuned …

Quotes of the Week

“We had asked the consultant if this was the best-possible plan. His response was there is no best-possible plan.”Mid-Hudson Valley NAACP leader Wilbur Aldridge on his discussion with Rockland County’s redistricting consultant, who helped the county draw new maps that, pending approval will be in play in 2024

Video of the week: More Halloween Parade Action!

In other relevant news: Vote! Early! Or on Nov. 8!

Early voting is happening right now! Cast your ballot today! See below for details about where, when and how.

Early voting, at a limited selection of poll sites, starts on October 29 and ends on Nov. 6. Hours for early voting are generally 9 am to 5 pm.

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Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will be open at your local poll site from 6 am to 9 pm.

Find out whether you’re registered and where you’re going to vote by clicking here.

Here’s a link to all of the candidates you will have the option of voting for.

Locally, in Rockland, we should be paying close attention to the following races:

  • The heated NY-17 congressional race to replace Mondaire Jones between Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney (formerly of the NY-18) and Republican Mike Lawler (who currently represent the state’s 97th assembly district, which includes part of Nyack). Keep scrolling below to watch a video of what I believe is their first live forum appearance together, hosted by the League of Women Voters last week. NY-17 is Rockland’s only congressional district and the House will be decided by only a handful of competitive races, including this one. (Homework for all Rocklandians: watch this forum!)
  • The 38th and 40th state senate districts
  • The 96th, 97th, 98th and 99th assembly districts
  • Several village and town trustee and council positions
  • A Ramapo town justice seat
  • Those are your most local offices, but don’t forget about state-wide races for governor and senate.

(Homework: figure out which senate and assembly district you live in and which candidates you have the option of voting for. Google them. Go to their websites and social media sites. Find out what they’re all about and how they will represent you.)

ICYM NNV’s weekly features: Bill Batson’s latest “Nyack Sketch Log”, Mike Hays’ most recent “Nyack People & Places”; and our coverage in last week’s “The Villages”. If you haven’t read it yet, please check our vision for the future of Nyack News & Views and how you can help build our coverage and capacity.

Weather prediction

Should be a warm November weekend in Rockland County with temperatures reaching into the mid-70s. [Click here for the National Weather Service‘s latest 7-day forecast for the Nyack area.]

Covid Update

Severe Covid cases and hospitalizations in the greater Nyack area have risen slightly in recent days. Due to this increase, as of Oct. 24, the CDC is now classifying Rockland County as a “medium” Covid threat level. 

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  • The county is reporting 2.33 gross hospitalization per 100,000 people (up from 2.02 on 10/11)
  • Hospital capacity, however, is not threatened.
  • A total of 30 people (last updated Oct. 24) in Rockland County are currently hospitalized for Covid related issues; 15 of those patients are symptomatic.
  • With four new departed souls recorded recently, Rockland’s Covid-related death total now sits at 1,220.
  • To find out what case and hospitalization trends look like in your town, click here.
  • Here’s the CDC’s data on Rockland.

Testing Info

  • More than 82.4% of eligible people in Rockland County are vaccinated with at least one dose. To schedule an appointment for a 1st dose, 3rd dose (for immunocompromised), or booster COVID-19 vaccine from any Rockland County Department of Health Clinic visit rocklandgov.com/departments/health/. To search for additional COVID-19 vaccination opportunities nearby visit vaccines.gov.
  • Find a COVID-19 testing site near you, by visiting coronavirus.health.ny.gov. Individuals who have questions regarding eligibility or access for testing should call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the NYSDOH website covid19screening.health.ny.gov.

Village updates

Nyack

  • Drop off humanitarian aid for victims of the war in Ukraine (, including first aid, painkillers, blankets, baby food, diapers, non-perishable food, antibiotics and more, at Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway (or at the Orangetown town hall, 26 W. Orangeburg Rd.).

Upper Nyack

South Nyack

  • Due to reader request, we have re-added South Nyack, which dissolved as an official village earlier this year. Please send us info about what’s going on in South Nyack at info@nyacknewsandviews.com.

Orangetown

Clarkstown

  • The Technical Advisory Committee, which “evaluates the technical adequacy of land development applications and decides their readiness for Planning Board review,” meets most Wednesdays, including this Wednesday, from 10 am to noon, in the town hall’s Historic Map Room.
  • For a calendar list of all Clarkstown meetings and events, click here.

Other Local Updates

South Nyack advocates have filed a petition with the town of Orangetown seeking to show support for a new Elizabeth Place Playground — the grassy play area and dog park just south of 87 and right off the Esposito trail. After South Nyack dissolved in March, the town found the playground equipment at Elizabeth Place was unsafe and not compliant with ADA regulations and removed it. A new ADA compliant park has been proposed and advocates want to see the proposal approved and implemented. Click here to read and/or sign the petition.

Nyack Schools

Rockland-wide

A rare polio case was recently discovered in Rockland County. Here’s some info on how to protect yourself:

  • New Yorkers can pre-register for a free polio vaccination appointment here or call 845-238-1956 to schedule. Walk-ins will also be accepted.
  • Vaccines are also available through local healthcare providers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers.
  • For more information on polio including symptoms and spread, visit NYSDOH’s page here.
  • New Yorkers can learn more about the polio vaccine available in the U.S. at CDC’s page here.
  • The Reviving Rockland Restaurants Grant Program will reimburse businesses between $5,000 and $25,000 for past expenses or fund future expenses for eligible outdoor dining COVID-19 mitigation equipment. Eligible entities include restaurants, food stands, food trucks, bars, saloons, lounges, taverns, bakeries, delis, cafes, breweries, wineries, and other similar places of business. For more information and to download an application visit rocklandgov.com.
  • Fill out this survey to help the county provide better digital services.

Connect with Nyack News and Views

Note to readers: We want to hear from you and welcome your input! What do you think we should be covering in your Rockland County village? Let us know at info@nyacknewsandviews.com. Send us story ideas, issues to investigate, letters, reviews, photos, videos, feedback and news tips. And read about our vision for delivering high-quality, hyper-local journalism and how you can help us fulfill our mission going forward.


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