Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and County Executive Ed Day Stand with Firefighters to Demand Immediate State Intervention in the Village of Spring Valley and Ramapo Code Enforcement

Amid the recent revelation of egregious violations found in several private schools signed off by the same Ramapo Fire Inspector, officials and first responders are calling for State action in local building departments

Today, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and County Executive Ed Day rallied with County Fire Coordinator Gordon Wren, Fire Chiefs, and firefighters from across the County at the Rockland Fire Training Center to demand immediate State intervention into the systematic failure of code enforcement by the Village of Spring Valley and Town of Ramapo. After learning of several schools that contain serious violations after they were signed off on by the same Ramapo Fire Inspector, the officials and local first responders are calling on the State to take action now into these municipalities.

For over two years, Assemblyman Zebrowski has been calling for State action, requesting that they open a full 381 investigation into the Village and the Town of Ramapo that repeatedly fail to properly enforce zoning and fire codes. County Executive Day, in conjunction with the County Health Department, formed the Rockland Codes Initiative to crack down on illegal housing throughout the County. Both officials have worked closely with local fire departments and first responders and have seen that this has become one of the most pressing issues in Rockland.

“The systemic and pervasive lack of code enforcement in Ramapo and Spring Valley is a clear and present danger to the safety and well-being of our citizens. For over two years I have been documenting this lawlessness and calling on the State to intervene. For an inspector to sign off on a school with dead bolted doors, exposed wiring and extension cords across a bathroom floor, shows that we cannot trust these local officials. The evidence is clear and the time for action is now. The State must intervene to protect the health and safety of our residents, children and first responders,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

“I am calling on the state to empower the county of Rockland to perform fire inspections in Ramapo,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “Ramapo is clearly not able to handle this very important job. The county is ready, willing and able to step in. Children are at risk. We want the state to give us the authority to correct this very dangerous situation.”

The rally with local first responders is another push in a series of efforts from Assemblyman Zebrowski and County Executive Day in their quest for fire safety.