State Legislators Ask Governor To Hold Bill On Tax Exemption for Yeshiva

In New York, the Assembly and Senate sponsors of a bill (S 5658 / A7750) to allow an Orthodox Jewish elementary school in Ramapo to apply retroactively for a property tax exemption are now asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo not to sign the bill.  Yesterday's Lower Hudson Journal News reports that Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee and state Sen. David Carlucci are having second thoughts because the school is operating in violation of the zoning code and lacks a permanent certificate of occupancy. The school is holding its classes in an converted single-family house and two classroom trailers. The tax exemption bill was passed in June by the state Senate by a vote of 60-3 and by the Assembly by a vote of  136-4.