From:  Rabbinical College of Tartikov

Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations

Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026 / psmith@rubenstein.com
Ashley Trager (212) 843-9345 / atrager@rubenstein.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RABBINICAL COLLEGE OF TARTIKOV OPPOSES ROCKLAND RESOLUTION CHALLENGING U.S. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAW

Rockland County, NY, March 18, 2008 – Attorneys for the Rabbinical College of Tartikov will testify today before the Rockland County Legislature, opposing a proposed resolution which challenges landmark federal civil rights legislation.

The Legislature currently is considering a resolution asking the United States Congress to revisit RLUIPA.

In July, founders of the Rabbinical College of Tartikov filed a lawsuit to redress violations of their civil rights as protected by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), the Fair Housing Act, and constitutional protections of free speech and freedom of religion. 

Attorneys Paul Savad, Roman Storzer, and John Stepanovich are available to discuss their testimony and the impact of a revisited RLUIPA in both the local community and nationwide.

“It is my experience that RLUIPA is a tool that allows officials to make accommodations for special groups and enable communities to live together in harmony,” says Savad.

“RLUIPA has been disputed nationally, yet the U. S. Justice Department has filed only 5 or 6 lawsuits throughout the entire country enforcing RLUIPA, and two of them are in Rockland County, against Suffern and Airmont,” says Storzer.

“The Congregation wants to be a good neighbor and is still willing to work with the Village of Pomona and Rockland County to develop a plan that protects the public health and safety of the village and county, its residents, and the use of its land,” says Stepanovich.

For full versions of the testimonies, click on the links provided below:

Testimony by Paul Savad Before the Rockland County Legislature (March 18, 2008)

Testimony by John G. Stepanovich, Esq. Before the Rockland County Legislature (March 18, 2008)

Testimony by Roman P. Storzer Before the Rockland County Legislature (March 18, 2008)