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Donovan Ocasio 11/2/25 Donovan Ocasio 11/2/25

Sullivan Fallsburg's Water and Sewer Crisis: Fairness, Accountability, and the Path Forward

Dear Friends and Neighbors

Fallsburg residents are facing a water and sewer crisis that has been decades in the making. Steep rate increases are being proposed, and many families are concerned about the fairness and sustainability of the system. Understanding how we got here—and what must be done—is critical for protecting residents, ensuring responsible growth, and maintaining the town’s infrastructure for the future.

How We Got Here

The roots of this crisis stretch back more than a decade. In 2011, the engineering firm CDM Smith prepared a comprehensive Water and Sewer Rate Study for Fallsburg. This report included detailed cost analyses and a roadmap for gradual, sustainable rate increases to cover maintenance, repairs, and system expansion. Unfortunately, the report was withheld from the public and was not incorporated into the town’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan. As a result, the community was denied the chance to plan responsibly, and the infrastructure continued to age without adequate funding.

Meanwhile, the town has experienced rapid growth, with large homes and high-density developments placing unprecedented demand on its water and sewer systems. Many new residences house far more people than typical households—sometimes six, eight, or even ten residents per home—yet the town continues to rely on outdated calculations based on a standard 300 gallons per day per household. These assumptions do not reflect real usage, leaving the system overburdened and taxpayers shouldering the costs.

The Fairness Problem

A critical issue is how developers are billed. Many multi-home developments are connected to the town’s water and sewer systems through a single master meter, rather than individual meters for each dwelling unit. This practice allows large developments to pay far less than their fair share, effectively subsidizing their water and sewer use at the expense of year-round residents. Meanwhile, single-family homes, assessed based on typical water use, are facing significant rate increases despite using far less water overall.

Fallsburg’s own published rate comparisons with nearby towns—Wurtsboro, Liberty, Monticello, and Tusten—add to the confusion. At first glance, Fallsburg’s rates appear competitive or even lower, but the presentation masks how the system actually functions. The flat fee of $48.25 for up to 15,000 gallons means that small households using 4,000–6,000 gallons per month pay as if they used triple that amount. Larger users, including developments connected by a single meter, pay proportionally far less per gallon.

Compounding this, the way Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) are calculated for Fallsburg’s consolidated sewer levy is based on an outdated formula established many years ago. These old calculations no longer reflect today’s realities—especially given the large-scale developments built in the last decade, where many homes house eight to twelve people and produce significantly more wastewater than older single-family homes.

Updating the EDU system will be complex, requiring coordination between the town engineer, attorneys, and the water department, but it is essential. Without reform, families using less water will continue to bear a heavier financial burden than high-occupancy developments. Fairness and accuracy must guide the creation of new standards that reflect genuine water and sewer usage.

Current water and sewer connection fees are also far too low. Sewer hookup fees, for example, are often calculated at $2.81 per gallon per day—a figure based on a small, standard household. In reality, many new homes have high occupancy rates and use far more water and produce more wastewater, meaning the actual cost of connecting them to the system is much higher than current fees reflect.

What Must Be Done

To correct these inequities and prevent residents from subsidizing new development, Fallsburg must take immediate, responsible action:

Require individual water and sewer meters for every dwelling unit. Each home should pay based on its actual consumption, not as part of a master meter that underreports usage.
Restructure connection and development fees. Fees must reflect actual water usage and household occupancy, including tiered rates for larger homes. Hookup fees should also be higher for properties outside existing water and sewer districts to reflect the true cost of connecting them.
Implement impact fees for all new development. Developers should contribute fairly to roads, schools, parks, and water/sewer infrastructure, just as other towns in New York do.
Establish mandatory capital escrow accounts. Developers should fund future repairs and system upgrades before construction begins.
Enforce compliance with fines and penalties. Work should not proceed without proper permits, and violations must carry meaningful consequences that deter further rule-breaking.

The Path Forward

By implementing these measures, Fallsburg can protect existing residents, create a fair system where growth pays its own way, and ensure that water and sewer infrastructure remains sustainable for the long term. Year-round families will no longer be forced to subsidize large developments that strain the system, and developers will be held accountable for the true cost of growth.

The town has an opportunity to learn from past mistakes. Transparency, accountability, and fairness must guide every decision moving forward. With thoughtful planning and equitable policies, Fallsburg can maintain its character, protect its residents, and manage growth responsibly for decades to come.

There will be an election for Town Board this fall. Several current members will be running for re-election. Fallsburg Future has decided to publish a weekly newsletter highlighting the issues that face the residents and the town. Each newsletter will highlight a particular topic of concern as well as an overview of a particular issue. We have had technical issues with our email service. It has been corrected and you are able to respond to this email.

Fallsburg's Future is a community network of concerned Fallsburg residents established in January 2016. Its Mission is to help guide the urban development of the town of Fallsburg and its five hamlets, to promote its sustainable economic development, protect the fragile beauty of its natural habitats and enhance the opportunities and quality of life for all its residents and visitors. We hope to curb the suburban sprawl that is threatening to overwhelm the town’s physical infrastructure and destroy the natural beauty that the area depends on for its future development. See us on Facebook and our website Fallsburgsfuture.com.

Donovan Ocasio 10/27/25 Donovan Ocasio 10/27/25

Fallsburg Election Alert!

Dear Friends and Neighbors

Democracy means that ideally there are choices in an election. Given all the issues Fallsburg has faced in the last year from controversy in revising the Town zoning codes, to illegal construction and ignored stop work orders, and to the Sandburg Creek turning turquoise last week, resident were rightly frustrated that Nate Steingart, a current Town Board member, is running unopposed for Fallsburg Town Supervisor.

In a surprise move, Brett Budde, Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi have announced their write-in candidacy for the Fallsburg Town Board elections on Sunday, Oct.26th. Brett will be running for Town Supervisor. Nate Steingart is already on the ballot for Town Supervisor. Josh and Dara will be running for an open seat on the Town board. Also on the ballot for Town Board are Amy Barkley-Carey, Michael Bensimon and Miranda Behan. Only two candidates can be elected for the two positions.

Please review the positions and history of all the candidates running in this election and vote accordingly. Vote Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Below is the Fallsburg for Everybody press release
Community Leaders Launch Write-In Campaign for Fallsburg Town Government

Fallsburg, NY — In response to growing calls for accountability and responsible growth, community leaders Brett Budde, Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi have officially launched a write-in campaign for Fallsburg Town Supervisor (Brett Budde) and Town Board (Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi).

The team, who have been recognized for their dedication to sustainable development, local business, and civic engagement, will run as independent write-in candidates on the Fallsburg for Everybody ticket which is committed to protecting rural lands, ensuring that town leadership listens to all residents, and to building an actual plan to deal with infrastructure issues.

Brett Budde, candidate for Town Supervisor, explains the ticket’s motivation: “Fallsburg deserves leadership that listens, plans, and works for the people, not for special interests,” said Budde. “We’re running a write-in campaign because the people of this town deserve a real choice. Our infrastructure is failing, our water mains are decades old, and our residents are paying the price. We’re ready to fight for the funding and support Fallsburg needs.”

Josh Druckman, owner of The Outlier Inn in Mountaindale, highlighted the team’s commitment to protecting Fallsburg’s rural character while creating opportunity: “Fallsburg’s future depends on protecting our rural lands and heritage while supporting investment and responsible growth in our hamlets,” Druckman said. “We can do both with thoughtful leadership.”

Dara Manzi, a third-generation Fallsburg resident and local business owner, emphasized collaboration and community empowerment: “We’ve built our businesses and our families here. We believe in this town and its people,” said Manzi. “Our goal is to bring everyone together, residents, business owners, and local organizations, to solve problems honestly and openly.”

The Fallsburg For Everybody ticket will focus on four key priorities:

Protect wetlands, the environment, and agricultural land by enforcing common sense preservation and requiring environmental audits of site plans to make sure wetlands are properly delineated before development begins.
Fix Fallsburg’s infrastructure by lobbying state and county officials to secure resources for replacing aging water mains, strengthening fire safety, modernizing essential services and developing a road management plan built around safety for high-traffic seasons.
Enforce zoning laws by increasing oversight, permit costs and violation fees for developers and new builders, by keeping low-density zoning in Rec 1 zones, and by removing loopholes for trailer and mobile home developments.
Establish a community roundtable to bring residents and visiting communities together to establish a culture of collaboration and neighborliness.

Please write-in the following names on Election Day:

Town Supervisor: Brett Budde

Town Board: Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

For more information, visit www.Fallsburgforeverybody.org or follow @Fallsburgforeverybody on Instagram
Contact: Brett Budde Email: brettnbudde@gmail.com Phone: 917-573-5916

Donovan Ocasio 10/23/25 Donovan Ocasio 10/23/25

Sullivan County's Incinerator Plan: A Toxic Step Backward

Dear Friends and Neighbors

Sullivan County is flirting with one of the most dangerous and costly mistakes in its history: the construction of a new trash incinerator in Monticello. While communities across the nation are shutting down their incinerators after decades of harm, our elected officials are considering spending more than $146 million to build one here.

If approved, this would be the first new incinerator in the United States in more than a decade. And it could be one of the worst decisions Sullivan County has ever made.

Waste of Energy, Not Waste-to-Energy

Incinerators are often dressed up as “waste-to-energy” facilities, but in reality, they are waste-of-energy plants. They destroy massive amounts of reusable and recyclable material while generating only a small amount of electricity — and a massive amount of pollution.

Burning garbage actually pollutes the air more than burning coal. The toxic smoke and microscopic particles released don’t just vanish — they enter our lungs, bloodstream, and soil. Anyone within a 50-mile radius of the incinerator could be affected depending on the prevailing winds. And instead of eliminating landfills, incinerators create a steady stream of highly toxic ash that must be buried in smaller, even more dangerous landfills. For every 100 tons of trash burnt there are 30 tons of toxic ash left behind.

Proven Health Hazards

Medical experts have been warning communities for years: living near an incinerator is a health risk. Studies around existing incinerators show alarming increases in:

Respiratory, cardiovascular, and urinary diseases
Pre-term births and babies born with spina bifida or heart defects
Higher rates of cancers, including lung, liver, bladder, gallbladder, colorectal, renal, stomach, childhood cancers, leukemia, soft-tissue sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Increased dioxins in the blood of incinerator workers

Dr. Steven Goldstein, a pediatrician, recently explained that the fine particles from incinerator ash are invisible to the eye but extremely dangerous: “These tiny particles can be absorbed into the body from the lungs or intestinal tract and then go into the bloodstream,” leading not only to heart and lung disease but even an increased risk of dementia across all ages.

Financial Disaster in the Making

Beyond the health toll, incinerators are a raw deal for taxpayers. They are typically tied to long-term monopoly contracts with “put-or-pay” clauses, which force communities to provide a set amount of waste or pay penalties. This means if Sullivan County succeeds in recycling or reducing waste, we could be punished financially.

The City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, learned this lesson the hard way. Its incinerator project led to $280 million in debt and forced the city into bankruptcy. Do we really want to gamble Sullivan County’s future the same way?

Meanwhile, property values drop near incinerators — who wants to live next to one? Far from solving our financial woes, a Monticello incinerator would saddle us with debt and make our communities less desirable.

Environmental Injustice in Monticello

Siting the facility in Monticello is not accidental. This community, already designated by New York State as a “Disadvantaged Community” due to pollution exposure and historic disinvestment, has a large Black population. Studies show incinerators in majority Black and Brown communities are twice as large as those in majority white communities.

As Alasha Santiago of the Sullivan County NAACP stated, “We cannot let corporate greed and political power exploit our community. Our lives depend on it.”

A History of Bad Ideas and Bad Actors

This is not the first time Sullivan County has been targeted. In the 1990s, medical waste company Stericycle tried to build an incinerator here. Grassroots activism stopped it — and for good reason.

Now, history may repeat itself. One company showing interest is Reworld (formerly Covanta), a New Jersey-based waste giant with a long track record of permit violations, environmental fines, and lawsuits. Earlier this year, New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation fined Reworld $878,500 for mishandling toxic ash at its Long Island facility. For a corporation of its size, that fine amounted to little more than a week’s worth of revenue — a slap on the wrist, not real accountability.

Why should we let a company with a history of environmental violations set up shop in Monticello?

Real Solutions Exist

Other communities are rejecting the incinerator myth and embracing zero waste strategies: reducing waste, expanding recycling, and creating jobs through composting and reuse industries. These approaches protect public health, preserve natural resources, and cost far less than building and maintaining an incinerator.

A Call to Action

This incinerator would poison our air, risk our health, saddle us with debt, and lower property values — all while targeting one of the most vulnerable communities in the county. Sullivan County residents must make it clear: we will not accept this toxic step backward.

Attend town and village meetings. Demand answers from every legislator. And remember — we elect them, and we can vote them out.

Donovan Ocasio 10/16/25 Donovan Ocasio 10/16/25

There is a Fallsburg Town Board election on Tues, Nov. 4, 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors

There is an election for Town Supervisor. Nathan Steingart is running unopposed. 3 individuals are running to fill 2 open Town Board seats. Michael Bensimon, current Town Supervisor, and Miranda Behan, elected in 2022, are running, hoping to remain on the board. Amy Barkley-Carey, a relative newcomer to politics, is also running for an open seat.

With these choices before voters, Fallsburg Future carefully considered which candidate best represents integrity, responsibility, and community values.

Fallsburg Future is endorsing Amy as a worthy candidate in this election for several reasons. Foremost is the important issue of following the very laws that you have sworn to uphold. Miranda Behan has apparently violated town zoning codes for years. It appears that she is refusing to comply with resolving the multiple issued violations on her properties in Hurleyville. Because she is on the Town Board, she has forced Fallsburg to spend much needed money to hire an independent inspector and attorney to pursue these charges even though, on the surface, the violations are clear-cut. We feel that disregarding Town Zoning codes and forcing unneeded expenses on the town are a clear abuse of being a Board member, both in spirit and fact. She has betrayed our public trust.

Amy Barkley-Carey offers a fresh perspective based on honesty and service.

As a candidate, Amy Barkley-Carey stands out. A sixth-generation Fallsburg resident, volunteer firefighter, mother, and owner of a 250-acre farm, Amy represents the community’s heart and values:

She attends meetings—not to grandstand, but to listen, understand, and advocate for responsible governance.
She understands rural life, environmental protection, and the importance of sustainable growth.
She is independent, unbought, and rooted in the town’s best interest, not in political machinations or outsider money.

Her dedication to civic involvement isn’t theoretical—it’s visible in her actions. Amy first came to the public’s attention at the March 4th Town Board meeting considering the newly revised building codes. (Miranda did not show up for this extremely important and controversial Town Board meeting! And more important, she also did not attend the recent Town Board approving the newly revised zoning codes.) As the wife of the Loch Sheldrake Fire Chief, Peter Carey, Amy made a strong statement stating that the new codes would endanger the safety of residents and property (3 hours and 3 minutes in)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi_zXcag6ms

Beyond her public engagement, Amy also brings firsthand experience in one of Fallsburg’s most vital sectors—agriculture. Agriculture and local farms are an important constituency in Fallsburg. She is uniquely qualified to represent these interests at the town board. Agricultural and Recreational districts have become the new political playground for developers and their constant desire to build on every bit of open land in Fallsburg, despite the well-known infrastructure issues, water shortages and sewer shortfalls.

Her vision for Fallsburg and for local farming speaks for itself:

         “Family Farming is not just a catch phrase, it’s a way of life. Saving the Family Farm; keeping it viable and growing for future generations is not just the goal, it’s the whole mission!
         For nine generations, Maple Woods Farm has been productive in the Divine Corners area of Loch Sheldrake, starting with dairy and beef, moving to horses and hay. Names, acreage and various agricultural enterprises have been added, but the mission has always remained; leave a legacy for our children to be proud of.
Pressure on the Sullivan County area grows each year, and the Town of Fallsburg is feeling it greatly. Growth is inevitable, but responsible growth that compliments our natural resources and communities is key to a successful town and environment for generations to come.
         I’m running for Town of Fallsburg Board as a Farmer, neighbor and Mother who wants to see her children happy and successful here, on family land. A voice for reasonable growth with common sense rules that benefit all and ensure a future for this town.
         I welcome conversations with all neighbors and look forward to meeting many of you at upcoming events.”

Sincerely,
Amy Barkley-Carey
Candidate for Town Council

Please cast your vote for Amy Barkley-Carey for Town Council.

Donovan Ocasio 10/9/25 Donovan Ocasio 10/9/25

Sullivan County's Half-Billion Dollar Casino Gamble: A Bad Bet on Our Future

Dear Friends and Neighbors

Sullivan County leaders are preparing to gamble more than half a billion dollars on a bailout of Resorts World Catskills. The Local Development Corporation, (spun out of the IDA), has issued $585 million in bonds to buy the casino’s non-gaming assets—hotels, a golf course, event venues, and 1,700 acres of property. Resorts World will continue to manage these properties under a long-term contract.

Officials call this a “win-win”: Resorts World sheds debt, the county takes ownership, and jobs are preserved. But the real question is this: what happens if revenues fall short and the bond cannot be repaid?

The Risks They Won’t Admit

The fact is that there will be state-approved casinos in New York City fully operating in 5 or more years. The only reason the Resorts World Casino survives is because of customers from NYC. The county’s own consultants warned against the rosy projections used to justify the deal. Cushman & Wakefield projected hotel occupancy dropping to 60% by 2029, not rising to 86% as the bond pitch claims. Capacity Consulting cautioned revenues could collapse by up to 76% once New York City casinos open. Those warnings were ignored.

Recent financial data shows a 13% revenue decline this year and zero income from sports betting—further proof that the casino’s financial foundation is unstable.

Supporters say the bonds are “non-recourse” and taxpayers won’t be on the hook. But history tells us otherwise. When public authorities default, county credit ratings drop. That triggers political pressure to stabilize finances—often through tax hikes. So while no one will admit it today, Sullivan County homeowners could very well see this gamble show up on their tax bills tomorrow.

A Fire Sale Waiting to Happen

If revenues don’t cover the debt, bondholders will demand action. The likely outcome is a fire sale of our county’s largest hospitality assets at cut-rate prices. And we already know who’s circling: powerful outside developers with deep pockets, little interest in tourism, and plenty of political influence.

Instead of strengthening local business, these properties could be carved into dense housing projects, private developments, or speculative holdings that bring no benefit to the community.

Who Really Benefits?

Sullivan County has already given Resorts World over $50 million in tax breaks. Meanwhile, the casino’s owners are investing heavily in downstate projects that directly compete with us. One justification offered for this bailout is “cross-marketing” with a future New York City casino—a questionable promise that relies on trust rather than clear financial benefit.

Why should we keep propping up a billion-dollar corporation that has never lived up to its promises here?

Adding to the concern, the Town of Thompson now depends on casino-related revenues for nearly 30% of its annual budget—making local finances more vulnerable than ever if this deal fails.

And who is watching the money? The head of the IDA is the face of this deal. But this isn’t his money he’s risking—it’s the county’s reputation, credit standing, and future.

Equally troubling is the silence of local officials when questioned about the details of this arrangement—leaving residents without answers about the long-term risks.

The Bigger Picture

The Catskills are already under pressure from overdevelopment, shrinking water resources, and loss of rural quality of life. Borrowing half a billion dollars to tie our future to a struggling resort is not diversification—it’s dependency. And dependency makes us vulnerable.

At the same time, developers continue pushing the Adelaar housing project as part of the “resort community” vision—raising new concerns that this bailout could fuel the very overdevelopment threatening the region.

What We Need

Instead of doubling down on a casino bailout, Sullivan County should be investing in real community needs:
• Aquifer study
• Water and sewer infrastructure
• Healthcare
• Affordable housing
• Small business support and recreation facilities.

A large state grant remains unused because the town never provided the matching funds needed to build a sports center on the SUNY campus—a project that would create jobs, support community growth, and bring a lasting boost to the area.

Bankruptcy is not the end of the world. Companies restructure all the time. What would be disastrous is throwing away our credibility and our future on a deal our own experts have already called a bad bet.

The Bottom Line

This $585 million bailout has too many unanswered questions, too much hidden risk, and too much at stake. With declining revenues, heavy fiscal dependence, and absent transparency from officials, Sullivan County residents deserve transparency, accountability, and a seat at the table. Until then, the smart move is simple: walk away.

Donovan Ocasio 10/2/25 Donovan Ocasio 10/2/25

Fallsburg's Water Crisis Was Foreseeable - and Preventable

Dear Friends and Neighbors

Fallsburg residents are being told that steep water and sewer rate hikes are necessary to fix a crumbling infrastructure. We are also told this crisis is sudden, unavoidable, and must be addressed with urgency. But the truth is this: the problems we face today were foreseeable, documented, and preventable — if only our town leadership had acted responsibly more than a decade ago.

In 2011, the engineering firm CDM Smith prepared a Water and Sewer Rate Study for Fallsburg. That report did not just recommend rate increases; it also included a detailed cost analysis of repairing and replacing critical infrastructure. It laid out a roadmap for gradual, sustainable increases that would have spread costs out over time and helped secure the future of our water system.

But instead of sharing this study with the public, the administration at the time, which included a current council member, withheld it. Residents never saw it. Worse still, when Fallsburg’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan was drafted, this report, arguably the most important piece of planning information available, was excluded. The result: our community was denied the chance to plan wisely, and our infrastructure continued to age without proper investment.

The CDM 2011 report is “lost” and has not been found in its entirety. The study cost at least 50 thousand dollars, and despite being paid for by taxpayers was not made public to the taxpayers. Requests for the report have been made, but the town is unable to locate it today.

Now, fourteen years later, we are facing dramatic rate hikes under proposals like Resolution 57. But these increases are not simply the result of aging pipes or rising material costs (though these are real factors). They are the direct consequence of years of inaction and deliberate secrecy. The parts are more expensive now. The repairs are more urgent. The burden on taxpayers is heavier than it ever needed to be.

And here is the painful irony: some of the individuals who failed to act then are still in power now. One is running unopposed for Town Supervisor. Two current council members, who also looked the other way as this crisis grew, are running for re-election. How can we expect different results from the same people who ignored expert advice and withheld vital information?

Fallsburg deserves better. We need transparency, every report, every study, every financial analysis must be shared with residents. We need accountability, elected officials must answer for past decisions that left us in this position. And we need fairness, existing residents should not shoulder the full financial burden of growth and development that has strained our water system even further. Developers, who profit from high-density projects that overload our infrastructure, must pay their share through connection fees and capital contributions.

The water crisis we face today is not just about pipes, pumps, and tanks. It is about trust in government, responsible planning, and protecting residents from unnecessary hardship. Fallsburg families deserve a board that will not hide reports, deny data, or look the other way when the future is at stake.

We cannot change the past. But we can demand honesty, fairness, and action moving forward. And this 2011 CDM Smith report must be found and released!

Donovan Ocasio 9/25/25 Donovan Ocasio 9/25/25

Fallsburg Needs a Moratorium - Just Like Bethel

Dear Friends and Neighbors

The Town of Bethel has taken decisive action to protect its community from the dangers of overdevelopment by introducing Local Law #1-2025, which calls for a one-year moratorium on high-density residential development. Fallsburg, facing even greater development pressure and with more fragile water resources, must follow suit.

Why Fallsburg Needs This

Fallsburg has been inundated with proposals for massive developments—mobile home parks, religious educational campuses, and high-density housing—that far outpace the town’s infrastructure and natural resources. Residents have already raised the alarm about:

Groundwater depletion (Loch Sheldrake already pumps in water from Woodbourne at night).
Failing and leaking septic systems in older communities.
Loss of farmland and open space due to unchecked development.
Increased taxes to pay for new water, sewer, and road infrastructure that developers do not adequately fund.

Bethel recognized these exact threats and enacted a moratorium to give itself time to update its Comprehensive Plan and zoning codes. Fallsburg must do the same—before it is too late.

What a Fallsburg Moratorium Should Cover

Modeled after Bethel’s Local Law #1-2025, Fallsburg’s moratorium should:

Pause review and approval of new applications for high-density residential developments, major subdivisions, mobile home parks, and conversions of seasonal communities into year-round use.
Apply to projects submitted after the date of adoption, with exceptions only for projects already under active construction.
Be in effect for 12 months while the Town Board and Planning Board conduct water studies, review the Comprehensive Plan, and adopt zoning amendments.
Focus on conservation, protecting sensitive environmental areas, agricultural land, and groundwater.

The Purpose of a Fallsburg Moratorium

This is not about excluding anyone—it’s about protecting all residents, full-time and seasonal, from the collapse of the town’s most essential resources: water, sewer, roads, and emergency services.

Like in Bethel, some may try to paint this as discriminatory. But Fallsburg’s reality is about carrying capacity—how much development our land and water can support. Residents of all backgrounds are already experiencing dry wells, water restrictions, and flooding from over-paved land.

Leadership by Example

Bethel’s leaders, Supervisor Dan Sturm, Attorney John Cappello, and Councilwoman Wendy Brown, worked collaboratively to enact this moratorium, despite pressures from developers and critics. Fallsburg’s Town Board must show the same courage.

Our town attorney, planning board, and elected officials have a duty to step in with a “stop-gap” measure that relieves pressure from developers while allowing residents and experts to help shape the future of our town.

The Next Step

Fallsburg must:

Draft and introduce a moratorium law modeled on Bethel’s.
Hold a public hearing so residents can voice support and provide scientific data on water scarcity, infrastructure, and land use.
Adopt the moratorium quickly to prevent a flood of new applications before stronger zoning is in place.

Fallsburg should not wait until our aquifers run dry, our roads collapse, or our taxes skyrocket. The Bethel moratorium is a clear roadmap for responsible governance. Now it’s Fallsburg’s turn to protect its residents, its farmland, and its future.

Donovan Ocasio 9/19/25 Donovan Ocasio 9/19/25

Fallsburg’s Future would like to alert everyone about the “Love Our Land” Parade. This parade reminds us all about the need for sustainable development in our town and the county.

Hello Friends

Farmer Brett Budde here, reaching out with a heartfelt plea.

‪‪On Sunday, September 21st at noon, the Fallsburg community will be coming together for a parade and protest in downtown Hurleyville. The event will commence at the Community Collaborative High School at 202 Main Street in Hurleyville and proceed into town.‬‬‬‬‬‬

Your participation is critical. This event is an opportunity to demonstrate our community’s strength. The Fallsburg Town Board, supervisor, neighboring towns, and county officials will closely monitor the number of attendees. The more people present, the louder our message will be. Fallsburg is facing larger problems than just zoning changes.

Our County is facing mass housing development and growth. Resources are being stretched thin in many towns due to lack of attention to this issue. Many communities have had success by showing up and forcing an honest look at what the community, environment and town services can realistically and safely support. We can make this change for Fallsburg and for the County as a whole.

We’ve made every effort to ensure that this parade is enjoyable, safe and fun for families. We’ll have stilt walkers, tractors, break-dancers, a community marching band, and even a best-dressed dog contest with a $100 prize.

At its core, this parade and protest addresses the pressing issues plaguing Fallsburg and all towns in Sullivan County.

During peak traffic hours, first responders face challenges in reaching emergency calls. Our wetlands are being developed illegally. Personal and city wells have dried out due to massive development. Additionally, fire hydrants in the summer are short on water, resulting in life safety concerns and increased homeowner’s insurance costs. We are an incredible community of citizens trying to live harmoniously in a vibrant, beautiful, natural environment, but are being taken advantage of.

We cannot afford to remain silent. That’s why I urge you to join us, bring your family and friends, and stand united with your neighbors. Together, we can organize a joyful and powerful demonstration that will capture the attention of the press, social media, and most importantly, our elected officials.

You can stay updated on our progress by following us on Instagram @FarmerBrettBudde, on Facebook under Brett Budde, and at ‪‪FallsburgCoalition.org‬‬‬‬ and fallsburgsfuture.com

If we haven’t had the opportunity to meet, please come and introduce yourself. I would be delighted to shake your hand and get to know you. I firmly believe in the strength, vibrancy, and growth of our community, and I am confident that we can make a positive impact when we stand together.

From the depths of my heart, thank you for your support. I eagerly anticipate seeing you ‪‪on September 21st.‬‬‬‬‬‬

With gratitude,
Farmer Brett Budde

Donovan Ocasio 9/18/25 Donovan Ocasio 9/18/25

The Hidden Water Crisis in Fallsburg - And What We Must Do About It

Dear Friends and Neighbors

In the lush landscape of Sullivan County, where streams thread through forested hills and lakes shimmer beneath the sun, it’s easy to forget that our water is under threat. But beneath the surface, a crisis is growing—and in the Town of Fallsburg, it’s time we faced it head-on.

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution—the leading cause of water degradation in the United States—doesn’t come from a single pipe or facility. It comes from everywhere: rain washing over parking lots and rooftops, car-washing soap flowing down driveways, fertilizer running off overwatered lawns, and waste from both humans and animals making its way into our streams. It’s insidious, decentralized, and deeply damaging.

The consequences aren’t abstract. They’re measurable and local. Polluted runoff can carry pathogens that close swimming holes, nutrients that fuel toxic algae blooms, sediment that destroys aquatic habitats, and toxic chemicals that contaminate our drinking water. These effects are already being felt, especially in overdeveloped pockets of our town where streams run brown after every storm and wells run dry in peak season.

Much of this is driven by unchecked development. As more land is paved and forested areas give way to high-density housing, impervious surfaces grow—and so does the volume of polluted runoff. When impervious coverage exceeds just 12–15% of a watershed, stream health rapidly declines. Think about that the next time you see another large-scale project being rushed through the planning board without a serious look at its environmental consequences.

Fallsburg, like every municipality in Sullivan County, has both the power and the obligation to change course. The 2020 Sullivan County “Water Resource Management Toolbox” offers a clear blueprint:

Plan Smarter: Update zoning to protect wetlands and streams. Set clear limits on impervious surface coverage. Require setbacks and buffers that preserve natural filtration zones.
Build Better: Promote cluster development that preserves open space. Incentivize green infrastructure like pervious pavements, vegetated swales, and rain gardens.
Enforce and Educate: Adopt Best Management Practices for stormwater, maintain infrastructure regularly, and ensure both contractors and residents know what’s at stake and how to help.

It’s also time for Fallsburg to convene an ad hoc water protection committee—drawing from our planning, zoning, public works, and environmental representatives—to draft a formal Action Plan that embeds water protection into every layer of local law. These goals should be supported through a mix of developer fees, local bonds, and state or federal grants. The money is out there—what’s needed is the will to act.

Sullivan County already has a Water Quality Coordinating Committee (WQCC), working in collaboration with agencies like the DEC, DEP, and The Nature Conservancy. But local leadership—right here in Fallsburg—is where real change begins. We cannot continue approving dense subdivisions and mobile home parks in areas without knowing if we have enough clean water to support them, let alone the infrastructure to handle the runoff they generate.

Water is not infinite. It does not replenish itself overnight. And it cannot be replaced once contaminated. If we want clean water for ourselves, for our farms, for future generations—we must stop treating it as an afterthought.

It’s time to put science, sustainability, and common sense back into our planning process. The tools are in our hands. The only question is whether we’ll use them.

Donovan Ocasio 9/11/25 Donovan Ocasio 9/11/25

Fallsburg Is Our Home Not a Developer's Gold Mine.

Dear Friends and Neighbors

The Town of Fallsburg is staring down a $110 million sewer system upgrade, and unless something changes fast, year-round residents will be forced to pay the price — not the developers creating the need for it.

This isn’t just a project to replace old pipes. It’s a massive infrastructure expansion being driven by the strain from high-density housing developments, summer colonies, and large multi-family residences that continue to pour into our town. The plan includes an expansion of the South Fallsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant from 3.3 to 4.5 million gallons per day and the replacement of critical piping, which is estimated to cost $2 million per mile. This isn’t just maintenance, it’s growth infrastructure.

So the question becomes: who should pay for growth?

Right Now, It’s Us, the Residents

Today, the typical single-family home pays about $650 per year in sewer taxes. After this project is completed, that’s expected to jump to $1,228 per year, and even higher for homes assessed at more sewer benefit units. Some smaller year-round homes are already assessed at 16 units, which translates to an estimated $1,312 per year, nearly five times more than their current cost.

And why? Because the system needs to be expanded, not because of the people already living here, but to accommodate the rapid pace of large-scale development that’s changed the face of our town.

Developers Are Not Paying Their Fair Share

Currently, Fallsburg charges a one-time sewer connection fee of just $2.81 per gallon per day (GPD). For a home assumed to use 300 gallons per day, that’s just $843 per unit — a laughably low figure considering that some of these new homes house 8 to 10 people and can easily use 600–800 gallons per day or more.

Even at the current rates, they should be paying at least $1,700 to $2,300 per house, and if they’re coming in from outside the district, closer to $13,000 per home.

These developers are building for profit, often with outside funding, and leaving the ongoing burden of repairs, upgrades, and long-term service to Fallsburg taxpayers. Fee schedules must be drastically updated. If developers think this town is a “gold mine,” as one speaker stated at the March 4 public hearing, then let them pay “gold mine” prices. That comment wasn’t just arrogant, it was an insult to every working family, senior citizen, and lifelong resident who has been here through thick and thin.

This Town Is Not a Developer’s Free-for-All

Fallsburg is not rich. Many residents live on fixed incomes. This is a working-class town. We cannot and should not be forced to cover multi-million-dollar expansion costs just so developers can maximize their profits. We wouldn’t be replacing pipes at $2 million per mile if the infrastructure weren’t overburdened by the scale and pace of development.

This isn’t about religion. It’s about fairness. It’s about math. It’s about survival.

When homes are built for large families, with 6, 8, even 10 children, they should be charged sewer fees that match their usage. They use more water. They produce more wastewater. They put more wear and tear on roads, schools, and utilities. The per-household fees and infrastructure buy-ins need to reflect those realities.

What Fallsburg Must Do Now
1. Immediately raise sewer connection and development fees to reflect real usage — including higher rates for large, high-occupancy homes.
2. Tie future hook-up fees to actual occupancy, not outdated 300 gallon-per-day assumptions.
3. Impose development impact fees across the board, for roads, schools, parks, and water infrastructure, just like other towns in New York do.
4. Freeze all new sewer connections until a fair cost-sharing plan is adopted that protects current residents.
5. Require developers to escrow capital funds before a single shovel hits the ground.

A Final Word

The people who live here full-time, who send their kids to school here, who drive these roads year-round, who support our fire departments and libraries, deserve better.

Fallsburg is not a blank slate or a cash cow for outsiders. It is a town with a heart, a history, and a community. If there’s gold here, then we, the people who’ve cared for it all along, deserve to keep it in our hands.

Let’s make sure growth pays its own way, so that Fallsburg doesn’t lose everything that makes it home.

Donovan Ocasio 9/4/25 Donovan Ocasio 9/4/25

A Faith-Based Call to Protect Creation: Why People of Faith Must Respect the Land

Dear Friends and Neighbors

Across all major faith traditions—Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and more—there is a profound and consistent message: the Earth is sacred, and we are entrusted with its care. These spiritual teachings are not abstract ideals; they are active commands to live with humility, reverence, and responsibility toward the natural world.

Today, many rural communities face a new kind of threat—not from neglect, but from overdevelopment. Clear-cutting forests, draining aquifers, paving farmland, and transforming rural land into dense, city-like zones for profit may bring short-term gain to a few, but they violate long-standing faith principles that demand respect, balance, and stewardship.

In Judaism, the Torah forbids the destruction of fruit trees, even in war (Deuteronomy 20:19–20). This principle, Bal Tashchit, has evolved into a broader ethical command against waste and unnecessary harm. The land is to be given rest during the Shmita year (Leviticus 25), underscoring nature’s right to renew itself. These are not merely agricultural customs—they reflect a moral architecture that prioritizes sustainability over exploitation. When rural land is bulldozed and paved, when waters are diverted or polluted, we fail in our obligation to “work and guard” the garden of creation (Genesis 2:15).

In Christianity, both the Old and New Testaments celebrate creation’s intrinsic worth. The Psalms say, “The trees of the forest will sing for joy” (Psalm 96), while Paul writes that “all of creation is groaning” under the weight of human sin (Romans 8). In Revelation 11:18, there is a dire warning for “those who destroy the Earth.” Christians are not passive bystanders—they are called to be active stewards, recognizing the land not as property to be conquered, but as a divine trust to be nurtured.

In Islam, the Qur’an declares humanity as khalifah—stewards of the Earth (Qur’an 6:165). Prophet Muhammad emphasized the value of trees, water, and moderation, teaching that even at a flowing river, one should not waste water. The Qur’an condemns fasad—corruption on Earth—warning that human excess and greed lead to ruin (Qur’an 30:41). Overdevelopment for personal gain, when it harms nature and communities, is precisely the kind of imbalance Islam teaches us to avoid.

These values are not limited to the Abrahamic faiths. Hinduism speaks of the Pancha
Mahabhuta, the five sacred elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space, which must never be desecrated. Buddhism teaches interdependence—that to harm nature is to harm ourselves. In both traditions, trees are sacred, rivers are holy, and spiritual progress requires harmony with the land.

When developers exploit rural lands for unchecked construction, they are not just violating local zoning laws or environmental policies—they are ignoring a divine covenant shared across traditions. They tear down not only trees, but moral boundaries. They dry up not only wells, but the spiritual duty of restraint.

People of faith must lead by example. To be silent in the face of ecological damage is to be complicit. Whether we pray in a synagogue, church, mosque, temple, or forest clearing, we are called to the same sacred truth:

This Earth is not ours to exploit—it is ours to protect.

Some point to the notion that God gave humanity "dominion" over the Earth (Genesis 1:26) as a license for control or consumption. But dominion, in its truest scriptural context, does not mean domination; it means responsibility. The original Hebrew word radah implies stewardship marked by care, wisdom, and justice, not conquest. It is a call to shepherd the land as one would tend a flock, with vigilance, compassion, and humility. To invoke dominion as a defense for overdevelopment is to misinterpret a sacred trust as a permit for destruction.

For those guided not by faith but by reason; the imperative remains the same.
Even without religious belief, we can recognize our deep dependence on healthy ecosystems and the ethical responsibility to preserve them. Science makes clear that overdevelopment, pollution, and habitat destruction jeopardize not only biodiversity but
human survival itself. A secular commitment to justice, compassion, and sustainability leads us to the same conclusion: this Earth, though not sacred in a divine sense, is irreplaceable—and deserving of our protection.

Let us act not out of fear or politics, but out of faith. Let us remember that our deepest traditions honor the land, and let us ensure our children inherit forests that sing, waters that nourish, and soil that is still alive with possibility.

Donovan Ocasio 9/2/25 Donovan Ocasio 9/2/25

Parade News!

Dear Friends and Neighbors

The Fallsburg Coalition for Sustainable Growth is proud to host the “Love Our Land” Parade & Peaceful Protest on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 12:00 noon in Hurleyville. We hope you will join us!

This event is both a celebration of community and a call to action. At the heart, we aim to raise awareness. For years, reckless and unchecked development has been going on in Fallsburg endangering our natural resources - the essence of our community's charm and sustenance. If we remain indifferent, we risk losing both our resources and our beloved community.
In addition, we are marching to raise awareness about other urgent issues facing our town:

First responders are too often unable to reach people in need because of traffic congestion during emergency calls, putting lives in danger.

Lack of water in local fire hydrants, leaving firefighters without adequate resources.

Threats to private well water caused by unchecked development.

Environmental dangers including weakened wetland protections, septic overflow risks, and destruction of bald eagle habitats.

Destruction of irreplaceable agricultural farmland in Fallsburg.

Alongside these concerns, we will celebrate with music, creativity, and community spirit — including a community marching band, a break dancing crew, stilt walkers, roller skaters, and a best-dressed dog costume contest (with a $100 gift bag prize for the winner!).
We are still looking to see if a group of people might want to participate in a rollerskating crew. Let us know if you’re interested.

How Can You Help?

We need volunteers and entertainers to make this event safe, effective, and inspiring:

Musicians (Especially Brass Players!) – We are forming the “Love Our Land” Community Marching Band, and we’d love to have as many brass players and other musicians join us as possible to bring big sound and energy to the parade.

First Responders & Safety Volunteers – EMTs, nurses, firefighters, and others trained to support participants and ensure safety.

Route Marshals & Crowd Guides – Helping direct parade groups and keeping movement safe and orderly.

Stiltwalkers & Entertainers of All Kinds – Jugglers, dancers, puppeteers, skaters, or anyone with creative talents that will bring life and joy to the parade.

General Volunteers – Assisting with setup, water stations, performers, contests, cleanup, and more.

How to Participate:

Bring a Sign: Please keep messages focused on public safety and environmental issues only. This is a festival of community and inclusion, let's be together and share our concerns in unity.

Dress for the Theme: Wear either an animal costume celebrating nature and wildlife, or red, white, and blue to show unity and pride.

Set Up a Table: We invite environmental organizations and social welfare groups to host a table at the event so they can connect directly with the public, share resources, and build community engagement.

Join Us from Anywhere in Sullivan County: These issues don’t stop at the Fallsburg town line. As goes Fallsburg, so goes the county. Environmental issues have no boundaries — we welcome participants from every corner of Sullivan County and beyond.

This is a community-powered event, and your participation — whether marching, volunteering, performing, or spreading the word — will help us celebrate our town, protect our land, and demand a safer, more sustainable future.

If you can volunteer, perform, join the marching band, bring a group to table, or enter the dog contest, please reply to this email with your name, contact information, and how you’d like to contribute. We’d love your help!

Please — share this email widely with your networks, friends, and colleagues. The more voices we gather, the stronger our message will be.

If you would like more information about Fallsburg Collision for Sustainable Growth
Check out our website https://www.fallsburgcoalition.org/ or on Instagram
@farmerbrettbudde

We are also looking for donations to pay for our lawyers
https://www.gofundme.com/f/fallslegaldefense

With gratitude,

Fallsburg Coalition for Sustainable Growth

Brett Budde
brettnbudde@gmail.com
917-573-5916

Donovan Ocasio 8/28/25 Donovan Ocasio 8/28/25

Condemn Hate, But Don’t Silence Accountability in Sullivan County

Dear Friends

The discovery of “Jews did 9/11” scrawled into a cement post at Thompson Square Mall jolted many of us. The Sullivan County Coalition Against Antisemitism called the vandalism “grossly antisemitic,” and local officials swiftly condemned it. Their outrage is justified: blaming Jews for a national tragedy is a classic, dangerous conspiracy trope that historically precedes discrimination and violence.

Those who still think antisemitism is a relic of the past should look at the numbers. The Anti-Defamation League recorded 1,437 antisemitic incidents in New York in 2024—a record high and an 18 percent jump in a single year. Our own county has seen assaults on Orthodox pedestrians and egg-throwing attacks this month alone. Hate crimes are real, rising, and must be confronted without hesitation.

But something else is also true: legitimate criticism of communal behavior—especially around land-use, water, and code enforcement—cannot be dismissed as bigotry. Fallsburg residents have raised detailed concerns about overdevelopment straining aquifers and infrastructure, opaque zoning variances, and a perceived “inside track” enjoyed by certain developers. Questioning those practices, demanding environmental studies, or insisting everyone follow the same rules is not antisemitism; it is citizenship.

Too often, the charge of antisemitism is leveled reflexively to halt that discussion. When a neighbor asks why a 159-unit mobile-home park in a REC zone is moving forward without a hydrogeologic review, the response should be data—not an accusation of prejudice. Weaponizing the word “antisemitism” in this way corrodes public trust and, ironically, makes it harder to rally people when genuine hate rears its head.

There is also an optics problem the Orthodox and Hasidic leadership cannot ignore. Insularity, bloc voting, and a reluctance to engage with the wider community feed resentment. Closed-door decision-making and rapid, large-scale development projects feel dismissive of longtime residents who worry about water shortages or rising taxes. Those dynamics do not excuse graffiti or harassment, but they do explain why some locals feel unheard and angry.

We are therefore confronted with two moral imperatives that are not mutually exclusive:
1. Unambiguous condemnation—and prosecution—of antisemitic acts.
2. Unflinching insistence on transparency, equal enforcement of codes, and respectful dialogue about growth.

Failing at either obligation will deepen the fracture. Demonizing Orthodox neighbors for who they are is wrong. Equally wrong is allowing any group—religious or otherwise—to invoke victimhood as a shield against legitimate scrutiny.

Sullivan County can model a healthier path. Local boards should hold open forums where engineers, environmental scientists, and residents examine data together. Faith leaders—Orthodox, Christian, Muslim, and secular alike—should appear side-by-side to denounce hate while also pledging cooperation on zoning and infrastructure challenges. And ordinary citizens must call out conspiracy graffiti and attend planning-board meetings in equal measure.

Hate thrives in silence; so does unaccountable power. It is time we refuse both.

Donovan Ocasio 8/21/25 Donovan Ocasio 8/21/25

Absentee Voters Cost Fallsburg Needed Tax Dollars

Dear Friends

When you sign a voter registration form in New York, you swear, under penalty of perjury, that the address you list is your primary residence. In other words, you are declaring that you live in that town more than anywhere else. Most of us take that statement seriously. Yet in Fallsburg, a growing number of part-time or seasonal homeowners appear to be voting locally while filing taxes, claiming school aid, and accessing services somewhere else. The result: Fallsburg bears the costs of their political choices but gets none of the fiscal benefits.

Why Residency Matters
State and federal funding formulas rarely track where someone casts a ballot; they track where that person lives on paper for taxes, schooling, and public benefits.

Dollars follow data points such as:

the address on your New York State income-tax return;
the district where your children attend school;
the county that bills Medicaid for your doctor visits;
the parcel where you claim a STAR exemption.

If those data points say “New York City” while your voter card says “Fallsburg,” as an absentee voter, you get a free ride, while year-round residents are left to carry the full cost of maintaining our town’s service and infrastructure.

The Hidden Cost to Year-Round Residents
Consider water infrastructure. Fallsburg’s pipes and wells are strained every summer. Road maintenance, emergency services, and solid-waste disposal all scale with population, not with voter turnout. When seasonal voters help decide who sets our tax rate or approves new development, but their own state and county taxes are credited elsewhere, permanent residents foot the bill twice, once in higher property taxes, and again in overstretched services.

Ensuring the System Is Fair
This is not about targeting any religious or cultural group; it is about accountability.
If Fallsburg is good enough to be your hometown at the ballot box, it should be good enough to be your hometown on April 15, and in Albany’s funding spreadsheets.

Here are practical steps officials and citizens can take:

Audit the Voter Roll Against Tax Records. A confidential cross-check of registered voters with STAR exemptions, property-tax classifications, and state income-tax filings would reveal who truly claims Fallsburg as a domicile.

FOIL Key Data. The Freedom of Information Law allows residents to request lists of properties receiving seasonal-use designations, condemned-property notices, or water-shutoff logs. Comparing those lists to voter addresses illuminates potential misalignments.

Review School-Aid and Medicaid Allocation. Local lawmakers should ask state agencies whether Fallsburg’s population surge is reflected in per-pupil funding and Medicaid reimbursement. If not, why not?

Educate the Public. Many part-time residents may not realize the fiscal domino effect of declaring Fallsburg for voting but not for taxes. A polite information campaign, much like the recent push for recycling compliance, could close that knowledge gap without confrontation.

A Call to Action for Our Representatives
Fallsburg’s Town Board, county legislators, and state delegation should champion a simple principle: residency declarations must carry their fair share of revenue. That means pressing Albany to adjust funding formulas when voter rolls and tax rolls don’t match, and supporting legislation that ties STAR and other exemptions to the same primary-residence standard used for voting.

Below is language you can adapt for a letter or public-comment period:
“Fallsburg welcomes every lawful voter.” However if our voter rolls are growing faster than our share of state aid, something is wrong. We urge a transparent review of residency-based funding so that infrastructure, schools, and emergency services are financed in proportion to actual usage. This is about fairness, not politics.”

Democracy is sacred, but so is the social contract that pays for roads, teachers, and paramedics. Fallsburg should not be treated as an ATM: votes withdrawn here, deposits made elsewhere. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too—and Fallsburg taxpayers should no longer be stuck with the crumbs.

Donovan Ocasio 8/14/25 Donovan Ocasio 8/14/25

Why Fallsburg Residents Shouldn't Be Left Holding the Bill

Dear Friends

Fallsburg is in the midst of a serious infrastructure crisis. Our water and sewer systems are strained beyond capacity, our roads and public services are under pressure, and the bills for upgrades are skyrocketing into millions of dollars. Yet somehow, the people who’ve built this town, who live here year-round, who pay their taxes and play by the rules, are the ones being told they must foot the bill.

Let’s be clear: the reason we’re facing this fiscal emergency is because of unchecked development. High-density housing projects, massive seasonal colonies, and oversized multi-family homes have been allowed to spread across Fallsburg without any meaningful long-term financial planning. The infrastructure costs we now face are not simply about aging pipes; they’re about expansion, because our systems were never built to support this kind of population surge.

Who’s Causing the Costs?

When the South Fallsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant is expanded from 3.3 million to 4.5 million gallons per day, that’s not being done to help the residents who’ve lived here for generations. It’s being done because developers keep coming — building homes designed for very large families, with bunk beds lining the walls, sometimes eight to ten people in a single house.

The town still uses outdated calculations based on a “standard family size” — around 300 gallons of wastewater per day — to assess sewer use. That might work for a small household. But it doesn’t work when homes are regularly housing double or triple that number of people. And it certainly doesn’t work when developers are deliberately exploiting these outdated formulas to build more, use more, and pay less.

What Are Residents Paying?

Currently, the average single-family home pays about $650 per year in sewer taxes. Once the infrastructure expansion is complete, that will jump to over $1,228 — and higher for homes assigned more sewer benefit units. Some residents are already assessed at 16 units, meaning they’ll pay more than $1,300 per year. This might be manageable in a wealthy suburb — but Fallsburg isn’t one. We are a rural, working-class town where many people live on fixed incomes.

On top of that, Fallsburg has roughly 40% tax-exempt properties. That’s almost half the town not contributing to the local tax base, including many of the large-scale seasonal developments driving up the infrastructure demands in the first place. So again, who’s going to pay? It’s us — the residents who live here full-time.

Developers Are Not Paying Their Fair Share

The town’s current water and sewer connection fees are laughably low. For example, sewer hook-ups are charged at a rate of just $2.81 per gallon per day. That’s less than $900 per unit. Yet many of these units easily use 600–800 gallons per day—sometimes more. Even at today’s rates, the connection fee should be two or three times higher. If a development is being built outside an existing sewer district, those fees should climb closer to $13,000 per unit. Anything less is a gift to developers at the expense of taxpayers.

This needs to stop.

If developers want to build, they must be required to pay for the true cost of the infrastructure they’re depending on — not only up front, but long term. That means:

Significantly increased connection fees based on actual water and sewer usage.
Tiered fee structures for larger homes and higher-occupancy developments.
Development impact fees that account for the wear and tear on roads, schools, utilities, and emergency services.
Mandatory capital escrow accounts — paid by developers before permits are issued — to help fund future repairs.

A Culture of Rule-Breaking — With No Real Consequences

Even more infuriating is the blatant disregard for building codes by many of these developers. It has become common practice in Fallsburg for construction to begin without permits. In these cases, the Code Enforcement Officer issues a Stop Work Order. But what happens next? A few days pass, and the work resumes — as if nothing happened.

Take Rose Road as an example. After building illegally, the developer was fined $48,500. And yet, they continued to violate codes. No amount of court appearances seems to stop this behavior because the fines are too low, and enforcement is too lax.

This is why we need a change in town law. I propose the following penalty structure:

First Stop Work Order: $500 fine (doubled if no permit exists)
Second violation (within 30 days): $2,500 fine (again, doubled if unpermitted)
Third violation: $10,000 fine, a three-month construction freeze, and a three-month delay in any permit applications

Fallsburg must send a message: This town is not a free-for-all.

This Is About Fairness

None of this is about religion or politics. It’s about math. It’s about fairness. It’s about survival.

Fallsburg is our home. We should not be punished with soaring taxes and utility bills simply so outside developers can profit. We shouldn’t be subsidizing expansion that benefits absentee landlords. And we shouldn’t be asked to trust in calculations and formulas that don’t reflect reality.

We need truth — starting with a full, transparent audit of infrastructure costs. We need enforcement. And we need financial policies that protect the people who live here, not the people who just come to build.

Let’s fix the system — not on the backs of Fallsburg’s residents, but by making those who are causing the impact pay for it.

Donovan Ocasio 8/7/25 Donovan Ocasio 8/7/25

Local Control! Forestburgh and Mamakating Show Fallsburg the Way Forward

Dear Friends

A shift is happening in Sullivan County—and Fallsburg needs to pay attention.

In just one week, two towns, Forestburgh and Mamakating, stood their ground against inappropriate, large-scale development. Both communities relied on the strength of their local laws, the integrity of their planning processes, and, most importantly, the voices of their residents. The message couldn’t be clearer: when towns enforce their zoning codes with consistency, transparency, and courage, they can protect their character and future.

Forestburgh: A Win in Federal Court

On July 9, the U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the Town of Forestburgh in a high-profile legal battle with Lost Lake Holdings, LLC (LLH), a development group seeking to bypass environmental and zoning protocols for a massive resort-style housing project. After purchasing the property from previous developers who had undergone a lengthy approval and environmental review process, LLH attempted to materially change the scope and nature of the development, pivoting to high-density, full-time housing without the prior environmental safeguards.

The town pushed back, and LLH sued—claiming religious discrimination because the principals of the group are Hasidic Orthodox Jews. While the court acknowledged the sensitivity of those claims, it ultimately found that the town’s actions were lawful, appropriate, and consistent with local and state land use law.

This ruling affirmed what residents and Forestburgh leaders had argued all along: zoning is not discrimination. Upholding local codes, requiring proper environmental review, and stopping unauthorized construction is not only legal—it’s responsible governance.

Supervisor Dan Hogue put it plainly: “We will continue to represent the interests of Forestburgh residents… and remain focused on ensuring that any development within the town complies with the law and the community’s long-term vision.”

That’s leadership. That’s local government doing its job.

Mamakating: A Vote of Confidence in the Public

Just days later, on July 16, Mamakating’s Town Board voted down a set of proposed zoning amendments that would have opened the floodgates for fast-food restaurants, self-storage units, and smaller lot sizes near Exit 112. Despite some officials expressing support for “pro-business” policies, they listened to overwhelming community feedback and chose restraint.

As Supervisor Michael Robbins stated, “There are some things that we still like in the law, but there are things we don’t like.” Councilman Peter Goodman added that the zoning needs a more thoughtful, studied approach with public participation. “Your input made a big deal,” he told residents.

This wasn’t anti-growth. It was pro-community.

What Fallsburg Must Learn

Forestburgh fought in court. Mamakating fought through process. But in both cases, town leaders chose to respect and enforce their zoning codes rather than yield to pressure—be it political, financial, or litigious. They understood that zoning laws aren’t just bureaucratic hurdles; they are the safeguards that protect water, land, quality of life, and the public trust.

Fallsburg is at a crossroads. Development proposals continue to pour in—many from absentee developers who don’t live here, don’t send their children to local schools, and don’t have to deal with the consequences when wells run dry or septic systems overflow. Town residents have shown up, raised their voices, filed FOIL requests, submitted comments—but all too often, it feels like no one is listening.

If Fallsburg wants to reclaim its future, we must:

Demand full enforcement of current zoning laws—without fear or favor.
Insist on independent hydrogeologic and environmental studies before any major development is approved.
Push for transparent planning and zoning board processes, with written findings, documented votes, and adherence to the Town Code and SEQRA law.
Reframe the narrative: being “pro-business” does not mean abandoning our responsibility to current residents or the environment.
Reject the false choice between growth and protection. Forestburgh and Mamakating prove we can have both, when it’s done right.

The path forward isn’t easy. But it is clear.

Towns like Forestburgh and Mamakating have drawn the line and defended it, in courtrooms and town halls alike. It’s time for Fallsburg to do the same.

Donovan Ocasio 7/31/25 Donovan Ocasio 7/31/25

Where Is the Accountability? River Valley Estates (Foxcroft Village) Crisis Demands Town Action

Dear Friends,

In the heart of Loch Sheldrake, the residents of River Valley Estates, formerly known as Foxcroft Village, continue to endure a humanitarian crisis. For years, they’ve lived with contaminated water, raw sewage, illegal rent hikes, and neglect so extreme it has triggered multiple legal actions, including a major lawsuit now filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. And yet, at a recent public forum attended by the Attorney General’s Office, NYS Assembly member Paula Kay, and residents desperate for help, a glaring silence came from the very people who should be leading the response: Fallsburg’s town officials.

The Town Supervisor, two board members, the town attorney, and the head of Code Enforcement were all present. Not a single one of them spoke. Not one expressed concern. Not one offered help.

Filed on October 10, 2024, the State’s lawsuit accuses River Valley Estates, LLC, of exposing more than 200 residents to dangerous and unsanitary conditions, including contaminated water, sewage overflows, unsafe roads, and illegal rent hikes. The lawsuit seeks $2.3 million in restitution and nearly $300,000 in penalties for ongoing violations that stretch back years. It is the second time the State has gone to court over this park, the first in 2018, with many of the same unresolved problems resurfacing.

The septic systems at River Valley Estates are failing and leaking. The water, described by residents as putrid, oily, gritty, and sulfuric, is not safe to drink, bathe in, or cook with. A boil water order has been in effect since June 2024, and residents say tap water often appears brown or smells foul. Raw sewage backs up into homes and floods yards. The roads are crumbling. The electricity is unreliable. Meanwhile, residents, many of them low-income, are forced to buy bottled water just to survive.

Residents are not just being neglected; they’re being exploited. The lawsuit reveals that from 2019 to 2023, residents were subjected to illegal fees: mid-lease rent increases, improper garbage charges, and even credit card surcharges, all in violation of New York housing law.

“This isn’t just a tenant dispute,” said Assistant Attorney General Justin Haines at the forum. “This is a violation of the warranty of habitability, the legal right to live in safe and livable conditions.” He emphasized that the owners were told in 2018 to find help to identify leaks. “So it’s sort of unacceptable that there are still leaks.” This is a public health emergency happening in the Town of Fallsburg.

What is even more alarming is the proximity of this mobile home park to the Neversink River, a major tributary of the Delaware River, part of a federally protected watershed. Failing septic systems are likely to leak sewage into the ground, raising serious fears that contaminants are entering the groundwater, and potentially, nearby surface waters. These risks don’t just affect the residents of River Valley Estates. They could threaten everyone in the area who depends on clean water and a healthy ecosystem.

Although the lawsuit is being handled at the state level, that does not excuse inaction at the local level. The Town of Fallsburg has legal obligations under public health and building safety codes. The Code Enforcement Department should have been monitoring River Valley Estates. The Town Board should be working with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) to demand immediate investigations and environmental testing. Instead, the silence is deafening.

Residents report that speaking out has led to retaliation, including threats of eviction, fines, or even racist remarks. Others say repairs are only cosmetic or incomplete, and that the basic infrastructure remains broken.

Assembly member Paula Kay acknowledged residents’ frustration with the slow pace of legal action and noted that help was on the way. She pledged to coordinate with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley for additional legal support, recognizing that some claims may require private lawsuits to seek full compensation. “We’re all in this together,” she said. “This has gone on too long.”

The Town of Fallsburg needs to wake up. The residents of River Valley Estates have waited long enough. They deserve clean water, functioning infrastructure, and safe homes. If the Town continues to remain passive, it is complicit in the suffering of these residents and in any future environmental damage that spreads from this site. The longer the Town fails to act, the more it appears that their silence is one of indifference.

Donovan Ocasio 7/24/25 Donovan Ocasio 7/24/25

When Fallsburg’s Zoning Laws Mean Nothing: Rose Road Violations Reveal Erosion of Enforcement

Dear Friends,

In the farming community of Woodbourne, a story continues to unfold—one that’s no longer just about zoning, it’s also about whether the Town of Fallsburg has the will or capacity to enforce its own laws.

The case of the Rose Road property, once the McKean horse farm and now owned by YNHK LLC, has become the symbol of everything that has gone wrong with land use governance in Fallsburg.

This week, The Sullivan County Democrat confirmed what residents have been saying for months: despite a court-ordered settlement in May 2024, illegal activity has resumed on the site. The settlement and the zoning codes are being ignored. And the Town Board is watching it happen.

In June 2023, YNHK LLC, representing a developer with a long history in Sullivan County, purchased the agricultural-zoned property—part of NYS Agricultural District #4—and within three weeks, built three large buildings without permits, turned a horse barn into a dormitory, and converted two farmhouses into apartments. These actions took place in blatant defiance of local zoning, building, and health codes.

Fallsburg brought legal action in both Town Justice Court and New York State Supreme Court. Eventually, the town settled. YNHK admitted its violations, paid $48,500 in fines, and agreed not to occupy or use the site “for any use” until it secured proper site plan approval, permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy. The developer would have to submit applications to the Planning Board, and the Town reserved the right to enforce zoning compliance.

But according to firsthand reports, now confirmed by The Democrat, the settlement has been ignored.

Residents recently observed multiple families back on the property, contractors working around the clock under light towers, and trucks making daily deliveries. Even more alarming, the unpermitted barn—once used as a dormitory—is now allegedly being prepped to house laborers for other camps in the area.

A large 8-foot stockade fence now blocks visibility from the road. Three Jersey cows have been added, and neighbors reported seeing them underfed, standing by empty troughs in the July heat. A calf was photographed being born in a hay pile.

In a June 16, 2025 email to The Democrat and the Town Attorney, Jerry Skoda—a farmer, former zoning committee member, and retired Cornell Cooperative Extension director, wrote:

“The owners have again ignored and violated every provision of this settlement… The town owes it to its residents, taxpayers, and law-abiding citizens to enforce all laws and court orders equally.”

Meanwhile, YNHK’s attorney, Jonathan Kroll, insisted to The Democrat that “the property is currently being used as a farm, consistent with its legally intended use,” and that “YNHK remains fully committed to following all local codes and regulations.”

But the town’s own records contradict that. According to the article, no site plan approvals, permits, or certificates of occupancy exist. In other words, the occupation and ongoing construction are illegal.

Supervisor Michael Bensimon pledged action at the July 15 Town Board meeting. Since then, The Democrat reports no follow-up from him or the building department. Neither has responded to repeated requests for comment.

This is a symptom of a deeper problem in Fallsburg: enforcement of building and zoning laws is weak, inconsistent, and—when it comes to RLUIPA—easily manipulated. The federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act was meant to protect against discrimination. But in Fallsburg, it’s increasingly used as a legal shield to bypass zoning entirely.

Attorney Daniel Barshov, representing YNHK, reportedly warned the Planning Board that RLUIPA allows religious groups to build “whatever they determine as necessary.” That interpretation stretches far beyond the law’s intent.

To make matters worse, YNHK has cloaked its intentions in the language of religious freedom. On several occasions, the developer appeared before the Planning Board seeking approval for a so-called “religious educational facility”—complete with dormitories, mikvah, school, pool, and support structures. At every meeting, Planning Board members said clearly that none of these uses are allowed in the agricultural zone.

“You applied for permission to build a school… We are not allowed to do it,” board member Arthur Rosenshein said at the March 10 meeting.

By June, YNHK had been removed from the Planning Board agenda after failing to submit required engineering and design documents. Yet on-site activity continues anyway.

This is not the intent of RLUIPA. The law was designed to protect against discrimination—not to be used as a loophole for developers to override zoning codes.
Fallsburg already permits religious uses and retreats in designated zones. What’s happening at Rose Road is not worship—it’s a camp, school, housing compound, and now possibly a labor hub, all in a protected agricultural area. The misuse of religious protection here is strategic, not spiritual.

Zoning laws must mean something—or they mean nothing.

If these violations are allowed to stand, Fallsburg’s entire zoning code becomes unenforceable. Every developer will see what happened at Rose Road and draw the same conclusion: build first, claim religious use, and let the town negotiate its way to surrender.

The town must act now—not just with words, but with real enforcement:

Revoke occupancy of the Rose Road property immediately.
Enforce the court-ordered settlement in full.
Publicly state the town’s position on illegal religious-use claims.
Remove “House of Worship” as a permitted use in the Ag Zone to close the RLUIPA exploitation loophole

Fallsburg has been a welcoming home to several religious communities over the decades. But the town must also be pro-zoning, pro-law, and pro-accountability. Our rural character, water supply, infrastructure, and fair governance are all on the line.

As Skoda wrote, and as the latest evidence shows:
“Just like their original actions, they are arrogantly ignoring the court order and all its provisions… Knowing and ignoring the enforcement is also criminal.”

If zoning laws mean nothing, then so does every oath of office, every public hearing, every page of the Town’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan. The erosion of enforcement on Rose Road isn’t just destroying farmland—it’s undermining the very foundation of public trust in Fallsburg.

It’s time to stop looking the other way.

Guest User 7/7/25 Guest User 7/7/25

Residents Call for Revisions to the Town’s Proposed Zoning Laws

Dear Friends,

Since the unprecedented turnout of over 425 Fallsburg residents at the Town Public Meeting on March 4 (congratulations to all of you!) there has been a lot of positive activity challenging the proposed change of the Town’s Zoning codes. Among the problematic changes are the loosening of restrictions on building developments in designated AG (agricultural) zones and a provision that would allow 50% increases in the size of existing non-conforming bungalow structures if they meet code requirements.

Of the 60+ residents who addressed Town Board members in March, all but a few expressed their opposition to such expansion. Speakers focused on the negative impact that it would have on the Town’s rural character, our precious farmland and forests, our fragile water and sewer infrastructure, town and private wells, crowded roads and light pollution to name a few.

Our quality of life is at stake – for all of us.

Since March, various groups and individuals, including Fallsburg’s Future, have undertaken extensive research to underscore the urgency of these problems. Generous residents are providing funds to mount legal challenges to the proposals. A new group called the Fallsburg Coalition for Sustainable Growth has been actively consolidating these efforts. This group is actively seeking to join all grassroots groups and concerned citizens in the Town to build power among residents. If you are interested in getting involved, please complete this survey!

We are also grateful to Catskill Mountainkeeper which provides comprehensive educational and legal programs for the entire region.

The March 4 meeting made it clear: people in this town care deeply, and we’re stronger when we act together. Dedicated residents have spent countless hours researching zoning codes, development proposals, and infrastructure issues as well as showing up at Town meetings.

We’ve connected with agencies like the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), NYS Department of Health, and Sullivan County—not just to advocate, but to understand and take action.

We’re not experts, but we’ve become informed and better prepared. Here’s what we’re up to now and what’s next:

• Sharing timely information through social media and local groups so residents know when key meetings are happening and what’s at stake.

• Engaging with neighbors—online and in person—to grow our network and invite more people to participate.

• Raising thousands of dollars through grassroots events and GoFundMe to support legal counsel focused on the interests of year-round residents and environmental protection.

On July 3, residents published a prominent ad in the Sullivan County Democrat (see ad below), citing the GoFundMe campaign and urging citizens to provide further funding for legal representation that will articulate concerns of residents.

A member of The Town Board recently acknowledged that the Town’s attorney is working with both the attorneys for the developers as well as our community attorneys to find a mutual compromise.

Please consider donating at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fallslegaldefense

Thank you for your support in challenging the unfettered development and the status quo of business as usual. We all deserve a say in the future of Fallsburg. Please check out these organizations and join us.

Fallsburg Coalition for Sustainable Growth
https://www.fallsburgcoalition.org/

Catskill Mountainkeeper
www.catskillmountainkeeper.org

Fallsburg’s Future
fallsburgsfuture.com

GoFundMe campaign
https://www.gofundme.com/f/fallslegaldefense

Eamon Lebow 3/22/25 Eamon Lebow 3/22/25

Share your voice!

400+ individuals turned out in historic numbers at the March 4th Town Board meeting to protest egregious zoning amendments. Over 60 residents spoke with the vast majority raising issues about water, sewer and overdevelopment as well as legitimate legal reasons to reject zoning changes.

Thank you for taking your time to express your opinions to the Town Supervisor and the Board. This time they had no choice but to hear you. Unfortunately, these issues are not yet resolved.

Legal representation is now scheduled to meet with the town lawyer to try and mutually agree on the zoning changes. For now, the Town Board has postponed the vote on the amendments. But as a community, we must remain active and alert!

A group of individuals, many who spoke at the March 4th meeting, are in the process of organizing the community to make sure our views continue to be heard and to put pressure on the Town Board to take into account the wishes of the full time residents.

A survey has been created to gauge what issues you feel are most important.

To be successful, we need volunteers to aid in this effort. If you feel like you would like to be engaged, even in a small way, please take a moment to complete the online survey.

Take the Survey!!

https://bit.ly/SEFallsburg

In addition to the high turnout and thoughtful citizen comments at the Public Hearing, the effort to fight the zoning amendments has also been made possible by engaging legal support.

If you wish, you can support the Fallsburg Legal Defense Fund to help continue the fight.

Please Donate Today!

https://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/snc

Your donations are tax-deductible. You can contribute via Catskill Mountainkeeper

You must write “Fallsburg Legal Defense Fund” in the Honoree Line.

Thank you and let’s keep going, Fallsburg!

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Share your voice!

Let’s protect Fallsburg’s future

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