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CONGRESSMAN LAWLER LEADS LETTER DEMANDING IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO HOW ANTI-SEMITIC QUESTION APPEARED ON STATEWIDE EXAM

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Washington, D.C., 2/2/2023… Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17)  was joined by 8 of his Republican colleagues from New York in sending a letter to Governor Hochul and New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa demanding an investigation into how an anti-Semitic question appeared on a statewide Regents Exam.

“I was appalled to see this blatantly anti-Semitic question on the New York State Regents Exam,” said Rep. Lawler. “It displays a serious lack of oversight at the New York State Education Department and calls into question the review and approval process for the exam. How someone could have signed off on this, a question that seemingly calls into question the very right for Israel to exist, is beyond absurd.”

“Which is why we are calling on Governor Hochul and Commissioner Rosa to open an immediate investigation into this matter, so that we can hold those responsible accountable for this heinous action,” concluded Rep. Lawler. “It is imperative that we take on anti-Semitism wherever it attempts to take root and a thorough investigation into this matter should help prevent a question of this nature from ever appearing on a state Regents Exam again.”

“The inclusion of the anti-Semitic question in the New York State Regents Exam in Global History and Geography is unsettling and demonstrates a startling lack of oversight by the New York State Education Department in reviewing their testing materials.  Sadly, proponents of antisemitism continue to use all tools at their disposal to advance their hate filled ideology as is evidenced by the anti-Israel verbiage included in this winter’s statewide global history and geography test.  Governor Hochul and state education department officials must investigate this matter, ensure the proponent of the anti-Semitic question is held accountable, and work to prevent such hateful language from ever appearing in Empire State testing materials again,” said Congressman D’Esposito.

“Israel has the right to exist and any effort undertaken by the New York State Education Department to undermine this fact is shameful. In light of recent crimes against the Jewish community and a pair of deadly shootings in Israel over the weekend, we need to be doing more to combat antisemitism and reinforce the relationship between the United States and Israel,” said Congressman Molinaro.

“Anti-semitism in any form is vile, unacceptable, and I condemn it in the strongest way possible. New York students should be learning and tested on real history, not ideological revisions. I urge Governor Hochul and Commissioner Rosa to act in the best interest of our students,” said Rep. LaLota.

“It defies comprehension how such a blatant anti-Semitic question passed through the layers of approval process in our state’s education system, but unfortunately, it’s a reflection of the far-left anti-Israel ideology that is permeating our government. I stand with my colleagues in condemning these teachings and calling on them to be immediately removed from our Regents exam with a public apology to New York’s Jewish community,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy.

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Legislator Hofstein: MTA Needs Discounts For Rockland Commuters Before New Manhattan Tolls Are Charged

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Rockland County legislators want better treatment from the MTA as it prepares to launch new tolls estimated to cost daily commuters who drive into Manhattan an extra $3,000 annually.

The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Central Business District Tolling Program could launch as soon as June. “At the very least, we deserve to be treated fairly and this New York City MTA plan does the complete opposite,” Rockland County Legislator Minority Leader Lon M. Hofstein said. “No discounts will be made available to Rockland commuters. Instead, these commuters are looking at a $15 per day toll – a brand new tax – just because they work in downtown Manhattan.”

Legislator Hofstein is the sponsor of a resolution unanimously adopted by the County Legislature that calls on the Governor and the State Legislature to delay the new tolling program until passage of a state law mandating discounts for Rockland and other drivers entering the city after crossing the Tappan Zee or George Washington bridges.

The Central Business District Tolling Program, also referred to as congestion pricing, would affect vehicles entering all parts of Manhattan at or below 60th Street, excluding the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway, and the Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel connection to West Street.

State lawmakers and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo authorized the plan in 2019 as a way to ease traffic and reduce air pollution in NYC’s congested business core and as a way to raise $1 billion annually for upgrades to the city’s transit system. Approximately 4,000 daily Rockland commuters travel into the congestion zone. Drivers who cross the Tappan Zee or George Washington bridges on their way into the congestion zone will get zero discounts.

Legislator Hofstein said the treatment of Rockland drivers mirrors that of the “metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax,” a 2009 payroll tax put in place on employers and the self-employed not only in NYC, but Long Island and Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Duchess and Westchester counties.

Yet, Rockland still hasn’t seen any bang for the buck despite the additional funding it has been providing for the past 15 years, still has no one-seat train ride into Manhattan, and still has no significant MTA system improvements in Rockland. Just the opposite, Rockland experiences a $40 million value gap between how much is paid into the MTA via taxes and other revenue versus the services provided.

The overwhelming majority of revenue to be collected by the new congestion pricing tolls is slated to cover the costs of operating the NYC Transit bus and subway system.

“Rockland and other commuters outside New York City are again being forced to supplement transportation costs for commuters who live in New York City,” Legislator Hofstein said. “The commuters using the New York City Mass Transit System should be held responsible to supplement the cost for any improvements made. To place the burden on those commuting from Rockland is unfair and just wrong.”

He added, “The MTA and others need to stop seeing people who live outside New York City’s official boundaries as ATMs that they can just keep draining. This new toll, which is a tax, is going to cause hardships on many families who are already struggling just to get by,” Legislator Hofstein said.

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Government

Rockland County Civil Service Examinations Must File By March 22nd

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Apply NOW for these upcoming exams for Human Resources and Personnel positions in County & Local Government!

• Employee Benefits Clerk
• Human Resources Manager
• Human Resources Technician 
• Labor Relations Specialist
• Personnel Administrator

Positions offer : Competitive pay & benefits, including paid time off, NYS pension system & health insurance; training; promotional advancement; service in your community.

Exam Date: April 13, 2024
Last Filing Date: March 22, 2024

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