|
RCBJ-Audible (Listen For Free)
 |
RCBJ put out a call for 250-word mini essays to help celebrate our seventh year of publication and you responded! You’ve told us what you think. You’ve shown us what you’re passionate about. Every single essay embodies what it means to live productively and consciously in a community. In September we published nine essays. In October we published five more. Here are six new ones.
- Keep On Tuning In – Don’t Let The Talk/Music Die on AM Radio, by Jeff Lewis (WRCR-1700-AM Radio Host)
- Indivisible Rises Up in Rockland, by Bill Batson (IROC Steering Committee Member)
- Unlocking Talent: The Arc Rockland’s Solution to Workforce Gaps, by Erica Amoroso (Communication Director For Arc Rockland)
- Judith Stone Tells Rockland Green Her Concerns About Rockland Green’s Stewardship of the Proposed Animal Shelter (Former Hi Tor Volunteer & Animal Advocate)
- Rockland Home For Heroes Is A Model Program For Homeless Veterans, by John Murphy (Founder & Board Member, Rockland Homes For Heroes)
- It’s Time To Opt Back In To Cannabis Retailing, by Rick Tannenbaum (Editor Of Marijuana Monday Newsletters)
Keep On Tuning In – Don’t Let The Talk/Music Die on AM Radio
Jeff Lewis
You may have heard recently that American auto manufacturers are balking at including AM radios in cars. With all the fancy gadgetry in cars these days, AM radios would be too cumbersome, they claim.
That would be a shame since much of our entertainment, news, and other valuable information comes through the classic AM radio band that can’t be found in many other places. Here in Rockland, radio station WRCR AM 1700 still provides local news, weather, traffic and conversation in a polite atmosphere that social media cannot replicate.
Is social media handy? Sure.
Is it a good method of communication? Sometimes, it can be, but I’d sooner trust a familiar voice on the airwaves than some stranger in a Facebook group whom I’ve never met. Who knows? It could be a bot from China or Russia posing as a neighbor.
As co-host of “The Morning Show with Jeff & Will,” I may sound a bit biased in my defense of AM radio. It’s where I got my start in the media business, as a reporter, and news anchor at the old WRKL AM 910 back in the 1990s. To see AM radio pushed out because car manufacturers find it inconvenient, well, that would just be sad.
If you haven’t heard “The Morning Show” in a while because AM radio has been an afterthought, I ask you go to give us a second look. Be a participant. Discard that Twitter post and give the Facebook group a rest. Put social media in a time-out and hit us up on the AM band. It’s where the cool — and informed – “kids” hang out.
Jeff Lewis co-hosts “The Morning Show with Jeff & Will on WRCR-AM-1700
Indivisible Rises Up in Rockland
By Bill Batson
Indivisible Rockland Organizing Committee (IROC) has held two events in 2025 to resist the unconstitutional, cruel, and corrupt actions of the new Republican administration in the White House and Congress. Because much of our infrastructure was bequeathed to us by Rockland United, a previous formation of the national call to action known as Indivisible, we got a running start.
We are residents of New York’s 17th Congressional District, united in our commitment to defend democracy and oppose any actions that undermine the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. We stand together to ensure that the current administration is held accountable. We oppose efforts to weaken institutions and erode democratic norms. We will organize to uphold civil liberties and justice for everyone.
On January 20, we took the occasion of the inauguration of the 47th president and the Federal holiday observing the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to announce our intention to resist and offer our protection to marginalized communities targeted by day one Executive Orders: We conducted a short, silent march in Nyack past sites significant to immigrants, women, African-Americans and the LGBTQ community. Our first organizational meeting was held on February 10, 2025, with more than 300 participating in person or digitally; we were at capacity at the Valley Cottage Library. Many others had to be turned away because the library venue was at capacity.
If you want to know more about IROC, please visit our website. You can learn about upcoming actions, and steps you can take every day to resist and defeat the current administration in Washington.
Respectfully submitted by the IROC steering committee. Members are Bill Batson, Pascale Jean-Gilles, Nelcy Garcia De Leon , L’Tanya Watkins, Debbie Stedge, Darcy Casteleiro, Tracey Obenauer.
For more information visit Indivisible Rocklandunited.org
Bill Batson is a member of the IROC steering committee
Unlocking Talent: The Arc Rockland’s Solution to Workforce Gaps
Erica Amoroso
Many Rockland businesses are struggling to find reliable employees. Meanwhile, a significant, often-overlooked talent pool exists—people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Misconceptions about ability lead to missed opportunities, limiting inclusivity and leaving potential untapped.
The Arc Rockland’s Supported Employment (SEMP) program bridges this gap by connecting businesses with skilled, dedicated employees, while providing extensive support, including job coaching, individualized training, and ongoing workplace integration. This isn’t just job placement; it’s a long-term investment in success, ensuring both the employee and employer thrive.
Businesses such as Beckerle Lumber, PECO, LEGO, Dunkin’, and Orange & Rockland Utilities have embraced inclusive hiring, benefiting from the dedication and reliability of employees who receive services from The Arc Rockland. One standout is Kenny Jungberg, who recently retired from O&R after 34 years of service, proving that when given the right support, employees with IDD build lasting careers and bring immense value to the workplace.
Rockland employers looking for loyal, hardworking employees should look no further than The Arc Rockland’s SEMP program. Workforce shortages are solvable. Inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart business.
Erica Amoroso is Communications Director for The Arc Rockland
Judith Stone Tells Rockland Green Her Concerns About Rockland Green’s Stewardship of the Proposed Animal Shelter
I write today to relate my concerns and objections to the newly proposed animal shelter.
- Animal care/control/shelter and management and humanitarian concerns are issues that concern public health, safety and legal implications. Such authority should be under the authority of the Health Department & local/ county law enforcement – not Solid Waste Management.
- The proposed new shelter location is in a noted flood zone, on contaminated land in a remote site, on a narrow winding road.
- The proposed location is proximal to a sewage treatment plant (which emits unpleasant odors), other industrial buildings, and across the road from a proposed 454,000 square foot warehouse facility to house 75 trucks with 24/7 operation (on a small narrow road). This will mean constant traffic, noise, and truck fumes in close proximity to the proposed shelter.
- The proposed location is unattractive, it offers little space for safe dog walking.
- The proposed 28,000 square-foot facility seems excessive for the needs of Rockland’s current and projected population.
- The cost of this proposed facility has ballooned from $8 million to $18 million in a short period of time with projected tax implications for 30 years, given the $40 million in debt repayment; separate from the millions in ongoing operational costs.
When the original Hi Tor Animal Shelter was built in the late ‘70’s, it was expected to last a decade or two. For decades, the county and towns neglected the physical plant. It is my firm belief that Rockland County deserves an animal shelter that is centrally located, in an attractive, public-friendly location, led by an appropriate authority that will encourage public interaction, adoption, volunteers, donors. We must provide for the animals, be they lost, surrendered or homeless. And employees too deserve a pleasant, safe work environment. A tax-funded project like this must serve as a model of accomplishment, not a boondoggle. If this location is inappropriate for residential housing, senior care, government offices, or a playground, which I believe it is, it is also inappropriate for an animal shelter.
Judith Stone is a former Hi Tor volunteer and animal advocate
Rockland Home For Heroes Is A Model Program For Homeless Veterans
By John Murphy
The story of the American military is as old as America’s Revolution. It’s peak was WWII.
Books, movies, everyone, especially Veterans, etc. have tried to tell its stories.
Even Rockland County has tried many times, but it’s not possible, even though it had a fantastic story of WW II’s Camp Shanks, “Last Stop USA,” for 1.5 million military. The stories will always be told.
This is our story of “Rockland Homes For Heroes, Inc.” and it is a happy one.
The story begins in 1997 when a few friends created a charity, “Joseph’s Home, Inc.”, named after my brother, a veteran, and opened a 26-bed home named “Missing In America, Inc.” for veterans. It wasn’t perfect so we closed it down.
In around 2009 the Federal Government declared 15 acres of the former Camp Shanks property available for use to house homeless citizens. A few friends created a charity name “Rockland Homes For Heroes, Inc.” and applied for the property just for homeless veterans and we won.
It turned out to be a gift from heaven. Eight of the 15 acres were the Rockland headquarters of the US National Strategic Program of Nike Missile defense during the 50’s and their buildings were simply abandoned. And now they were ours!
With the help of the Federal Government, we converted two offices on Western Highway to eight apartments. They proved to be successful in every way and Rockland welcomed us with gifts and contributions.
We were so successful, we applied for funding from New York State, which helped us convert the former buildings on the second tier of the property into 14 one-bedroom apartments.
With the help of the Rockland Community’s contributions, we turned the offices into beautiful fully furnished permanent affordable and supported homes. A model admired by all.
Why?
The former homeless Veterans had something most Rockland residents have – privacy, three rooms with very modern, handicapped accessible bathrooms, washers and dryers, separate storage space and personal support from the “Loeb House, Inc.” With the gifts of the businesses and families of Rockland, the property around the apartments was landscaped into a charming development.
This is a great solution for our former homeless veterans who may have suffered from military experience, which can be very destructive in both peace and/or war. We will probably never know the reasons for being homeless, but we know each served honorably in an American uniform.
I close with love for all who created this from our Federal, State, County and Town Governments’ support and the overwhelming kindness of our businesses and families, which involved contributions in so many different ways that scream with respect for our Veterans. But the most deserving are the members of the Board of Directors of “Rockland Homes For Heroes, Inc.” who I work with: Will Warren, Mart Wortendyke, Monica Toscano, Carlos Martinez, John Manifold (Veteran), Tom Micelli (Veteran), Susan Branam (Veteran), Dan Hooker (Veteran).
John Murphy is the founder and a board member of Rockland Homes For Heroes Inc.
It’s Time To Opt Back In To Cannabis Retailing
When MRTA, the legislation that legalized recreational adult-use marijuana in New York passed, towns and villages that did not want dispensaries or cannabis lounges in their borders had to affirmatively opt-out of retail cannabis sales. Four of the five Rockland towns and many villages in Rockland County opted out, leaving just a few locations where dispensaries could open. Zoning laws further limited dispensary locations, putting them in many cases on the outskirts of central business districts. Nyack opened up most of its commercial strip to retail dispensaries and has Treehouse Cannabis, the only legally operating, tax-collecting, licensed dispensary in Rockland County.
The sales tax on retail cannabis is 13% with the local municipality that hosts the dispensary getting the lion’s share of the local portion. As of January 31, 2025, the 43 operating dispensaries in the Mid-Hudson Region collected and contributed $3,139,144 in regional tax revenue. Here in Rockland, the Village of Nyack is the only host recipient, where Treehouse Cannabis, open to adults only, is responsibly operated in a clean and secure environment.
It’s not that cannabis is not sold or used in other parts of the County. Illegal sellers that pay no tax (and sell untested and unlicensed products) abound. Rocklanders also travel to Bergen, Westchester, or Orange County and the taxes they pay there benefit those localities. Commuters to New York City buy cannabis in the city which has over 100 dispensaries, pay tax there, and bring the product back to Rockland.
It is naïve to think that opting out of retail sales equates with keeping cannabis out of local towns and villages. If anything, residents in those towns and villages travel, generally by car, to purchase weed.
It’s time to stop pretending that keeping cannabis retailers out keeps cannabis out. There is a process whereby a town or village can easily opt back in to retail sales, shut down illegal sellers, stop cannabis commuting, and collect tax dollars. It’s a win-win.
