GOSHEN – By a vote of 18 to three, the Orange County Legislature
approved allowing Monroe residents to vote on whether they want to allow
a portion of the town to break away and together with the Village of Kiryas
Joel become the new Hasidic Town of Palm Tree.
At least 15 votes were needed for the approval.
State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark), who represents the Village
of Kiryas Joel, said he has “long advocated that separation of Kiryas
Joel into a new town was a solution that should be explored.”
Brabenec said creation of the new town for the people of KJ “will
allow self government for both the people of Monroe and the people of
Kiryas Joel and will mitigate the differences and disagreements between
them.”
The assemblyman said following the legislature’s approval Thursday
night, “the destiny of both Monroe and KJ will be in the hands of
the voters, and I wholeheartedly endorse such a result.”
