Blooming Grove, NY - Judge Won't Halt Voting For Village

Blooming Grove, NY - A last-ditch effort to stop Thursday's vote on the creation of a new village failed, but a landowner opposed to the election is still fighting it. "I'm disappointed and surprised," said Hal Greene. "I don't know that there's too much I can do at this point. Let the people decide ... I think they're making a big mistake."

An Appellate Court judge denied Greene's request to stop Thursday's vote on whether roughly 2,800 people want to incorporate as the Village of South Blooming Grove. Greene hoped to halt the election until after his appeal is heard next month.

Supporters of the village-creation are pushing for it, to promote more local control of zoning and protect the 4.98-square-mile area from annexation by the nearby Village of Kiryas Joel.
"They can go ahead with the election, but if the Appellate Division decides the petition isn't sufficient, then the election is invalid," said Terry Rice, Greene's lawyer.

The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday at the South Blooming Grove firehouse, Route 208. Only residents who live within the proposed village boundaries are eligible to vote.